SPORTS DRIFTERS BASEBALL IS REBUILDING. Page 4
Colonial Beach • Westmoreland
Volume 39, Number 14
Wednesday, April 1, 2015 50 Cents
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Robin Grove Park will not be sold Colonial Beach Town Council members Mike Looney and Wanda Goforth are opposing plans to sell Robin Grove Park. Their announcement at the council’s March 26 work session effectively derailed the plans of the owner of Boat House Marina to purchase the property. Situated on Monroe Bay, the park sits adjacent to the marina owned and operated by Bill Bowman. Because it is waterfront property, any sale of the parkland requires approval by a super majority of the council. In a letter to the council last April, Bowman noted that rapid erosion along the park’s shoreline was having a negative impact on his ability to do business. He offered to purchase the property for $100,000. He also pledged to secure and stabilize the shoreline once the property transfer was complete and as soon as he could obtain the necessary work permits. He estimated the repair costs at between $100,000 to $150,000. Bowman attended the Mar 26 meeting to address council concerns and answered several questions, but
W&L boys track team makes its mark in first meet Page 4
MARK FIKE’S OUTDOORS REPORT IS BACK. Page 7
POSTAL CUSTOMER
T he
Linda Farneth
Spring Track
OUTDOORS
had his hopes dashed when Looney and Goforth stated their opposition to the sale. Looney told Bowman his decision was not personal. He said the Comprehensive Plan calls for 35 acres of developed park land and active school sites. When the comp plan was written, the town had approximately 11.4 acres, which represents only 31 percent of the requirement, according to Looney. He expressed concerned that the sale of property would decrease that figure. Goforth voiced similar concerns. “I agree with Mr. Looney that we need more parks and I have a real problem selling true waterfront,” she said. “God doesn’t make more waterfront, and we don’t own much waterfront and for that reason I would like to see it kept and developed.” Bowman expressed disappointment at the outcome but said he was not angry, noting that the purchase would have taxed the marina’s resources. “It was going to be nothing but a money drain with no revenue return,” he said. See park, page 8
School reduces funding request from Town
Donkey Basketball
Linda Farneth
Leonard Banks
Donkey Basketball is here to stay. On March 26 at Colonial Beach High School, basketball fans from across the county came out to support the teachers, students, administrative staff, town officials and business owners play against each other while riding a donkey. Amid the four-legged basketball frenzy, four teams competed. Colonial Beach High School PTA president Tara Moy spearheaded the project, along with a group of volunteers. All proceeds were donated to Colonial Beach High School.
Westmoreland, King George firefighters respond to house fire Richard Leggitt The King George Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services, aided by fire fighting units from Stafford and Westmoreland counties, battled a dangerous house fire that engulfed a two-story residence filled with what King George Fire Chief David Moody described as “large amounts of ammunition.” Firefighters and other emergency personnel responded to the fire shortly after 1 a.m. on March 26 to find a house at 9545 Bloomsbury Rd. in King George fully ablaze. Ammunition exploding within the house gave the scene the feel of a war zone. Two fire fighting vehicles, an engine truck and a battalion command vehicle, were damaged by the exploding ammunition. An adult and a child who had been sleeping in the house when the fire broke out escaped injury. Despite the dangerous conditions, no firefighters
or emergency responders suffered any injuries, according to Chief Moody. Moody said the two King George vehicles received some body damage due to large amounts of rifle and handgun ammunition exploding in the home and hitting both vehicles multiple times. The engine truck also received some minor damage to some of its light lenses due excessive radiant heat. “No firefighter injuries occurred, and all operations were from an exterior defensive method,” Moody said. Moody added that fire department officials are investigating the cause of the fire and will file insurance claims for the damages caused to their equipment. Although the two people in the house and several dogs escaped the flames, seven parrots owned by the family died in the fire. “These types of home fires are the deadliest because they occur
when people are sleeping,” Moody said. “This fire is another example of how quickly a fire can spread and emphasizes the importance of having working smoke detectors, a home fire safety plan, and having multiple exits throughout the home.” “The occupants surviving this fire is credited to the quick actions taken by both the adult and child, knowing what door to exit the home, and not making a fatal decision to go back in,” Moody declared. About 30 firefighters responded to the fire, which was not far from the King George landfill. Moody said the occupants of the house were alerted to the fire before smoke alarms activated when one of them smelled something burning and woke up. They were able to escape the fire before the exploding ammunition turned the area into a shooting range. Both occupants were evaluated by EMS and did not require medical attention.
Photos courtesy KG Department of Fire, Rescue, & Emergency Services
Alpacas flourishing in Montross
Taxpayers will not be charged for State Police presence at Bike Fest
Richard Leggitt
Linda Farneth
When Ken Chatham first talked with his wife, Gwynne, about his idea of raising alpacas, she was skeptical but eventually agreed. “I think she thought I was having a mid-life crisis,” Ken said. No one thinks that today. Ken’s idea has turned into a flourishing business that involves the entire Chatham family and is drawing attention to Montross. Residents and visitors often pause to watch the Chathams’ 21 alpacas parade around their fenced pens next door to Stan’s Skateland on Route 3. “We researched the business for three or four years,” Ken said. “It Richard Leggitt
See alpacas, page 8
The Colonial Beach School Board has approved a $6.8 million 201516 school year budget proposal. The document now goes to the Colonial Beach Town Council, which has the authority to allocate local money to the school system. The school board’s final budget request is almost $17,000 less than the first draft. However increased state funding has allowed the school to lower its request for local funding by $132,529 while still adding staff as originally planned. The 2015-16 budget reinstates five positions cut from last year. The positions include a math coach, a part-time librarian, a part-time custodian, a bus driver and one elective teaching position. School Superintendent Dr. Kevin Newman said the school has been utilizing computer electives. Board member Michelle Payne said many students who are not self motivated need the instructional guidance of a teacher. Newman added that the current bus schedule has been hard to maintain due to the need for another driver. Once a new driver is hired, the school system will need to lease another bus. That lease is included in the proposed budget. The first draft of the budget projected revenue from the State based on a lower Average Daily Membership of 550. Colonial Beach Schools Finance Director Donna Carver said enrollment is increasing, so the school has projected next year’s ADM at 565. That, coupled with Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s approval of a state budget that includes a 1.5 percent salary increase for Standards of Quality positions, has raised the state funding by a $117,691. SOQ positions include only staffing required by law based on the number of students attending. Additionally the state has lowered the retirement contributions schools have to pay for employees retirement funds from 14.7 to 14.06 which in turn lowers the total budget at the federal, state and local levels.
The Chatham family - Tiffany, Ken, Ken II and Gwynne - proudly show off two-month old Lady at the family’s growing alpaca farm.
After the Virginia State Police provided heavy coverage for last year’s Bike Fest in Colonial Beach, town officials expressed concern that they would be charged for services at the 2015 Bike Fest. VSP Captain Steve Chumley assured the Colonial Beach Town Council at its March 26 work session that taxpayers will not bear the cost. “We would provide all the traffic services needed at no cost,” he said. However if State Police are needed for the interior of the festival, such as in the concert area, the VSP normally charges for such services. “Customarily those services are paid for by the event planners,” Chumley said. “We wouldn’t need
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that many on the inside. We are here for you and we will provide the resources that are needed.” First Sgt. Jeremy Kaplan and Sgt. Troy Smith joined Chumley to discuss last year’s event with the town council and answer questions concerning the upcoming event and their services. Chumley said last year’s bike fest event used many law enforcement agencies. “Sometimes these events draw so many people the potential for things See VSP, page 8