Virginia Viewpoints
Town Budget
Council ponders school construction Page 8
General Assembly scores on ethics Page 2
T he Volume 39, Number 18
Sports W&L Girls soccer snags victory Page 5
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Colonial Beach • Westmoreland
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Wednesday, April 29, 2015 50 Cents
Plott tapped as next Colonial Beach police chief Linda Farneth The Colonial Beach Town Council has chosen Robert Daniel Plott as the town’s new chief of police. The announcement came at the council’s April 23 work session. Contract negotiations were not finalized at the time of the work session and have not yet been made public. Plott served more than 33 years with the Virginia State Police, retiring as the fifth Division Commander of the Bureau of Field Operations in Chesapeake. “He has held positions of increasing responsibility which reflect his commitment to extremely high professional law enforcement standards,” Town Manager Val Foulds told the council. The process of choosing a chief began with the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police (VACP). The group reviewed, vetted and ranked 26 applicants, narrowing the search to six. “The goal of the Chiefs Association is to promote professionalism in policing.” Donna Schrad, VAPC’s executive director, told the
council, “So when ever we have an opportunity to work with a locality that is looking for a new chief, the reason we have an interest is that our main goal is making sure that the citizens of Virginia are well served with professional and ethical police services.” Foulds said on April 27, that VAPC performed an intense. detailed review, followed by an hourlong interview with each candidate. Plott scored the highest of all six final applicants. The council then conducted an interview with Plott. Afterward, the council accepted VACP’s recommendation to hire Plott and voted at the April 23 work session to offer him the position. Plott is currently reviewing the contract. Council members expressed hope that he can start work on May 4. Mayor Mike Ham said that if necessary, the council can extend the contract of Acting Police Chief Bruce Hough. The council named Hough as acting chief on Jan. 2, following the resignation of Police Chief Elizabeth Legg.
Drug-raid suspects arraigned in Westmoreland and King George counties Richard Leggitt A Colonial Beach woman, one of 11 suspects swept up in two April 16 raids by the Tri-County Drug Task Force, has been released on $6,000 bond after appearing in circuit courts in King George and Westmoreland counties. Amanda M. Head, 49, is charged with nine drug-related charges in King George including distributing crack cocaine, child endangerment and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. In Westmoreland, Head is charged
with distributing crack cocaine, possessing a firearm while possessing crack cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Circuit Court Judge Judge Hebert Hewitt granted Head’s request for a court-appointed attorney. The task force raids were the result of a six-month undercover investigation and led to the arrests of six men and five women. The raids, called “Operation Double Tap,” were conducted in the 200 block of Mattox Avenue in Placid See ARRAIGNMENT, page 8
Linda Farneth
Elementary students watch as Katelyn Dunaway and Brittany Hayes plant an Willow Oak in front of the Colonial Beach Elementary School. The planting was part of the 2015 Earth Day celebration. Students learned about how planting trees can improve air quality and create a cleaner world.
Earth Day festivities include tree planting Linda Farneth Colonial Beach students participated in two events rolled into one on Earth Day. Ground was broken for a pair gardens at the First Street School, which will contain Willow Oak and Flowering Understory trees, both native to Virginia. Students from kindergarten to high school seniors learned about the art of tree planting. “It’s not just about digging a hole and putting it in the ground,” said
Colonial Beach Green Team Leader Diana Clopton. She then pointed out that all trees have a flare, which, when planted correctly, grows and spreads out just above the soil. Clopton explained this to high school students Katelyn Dunaway, Brittany Hayes, Collin Blandford and Alexis Johnson before letting them teach other the students as they planted the trees. Elementary Students gathered in front of their buildings to watch the planting of the new trees and discuss their impact on the environment.
Colonial Beach Artists’ Guild hosts Spring Fling Linda Farneth The Colonial Beach Artists’ Guild held its first Spring Fling for art lovers. The festivities took place April 25 at the Monroe Bay Inn Bed and Breakfast and included live music, food, wine and art. Steve Griffin, John Murphy and Marty Caporaletti all played guitar and sang. Artist Vicki Marckel painted a lake scene during the event, which was raffled off at the end of the festivities. Joan Coffey drew portraits, and the guild showed off a portrait created by Cassie Downey, a senior at Colonial Beach High School and winner of the guild’s $500 scholarship. More than 30 different artists’ works were displayed. The Art Guild is seeking new members. The group meets monthly and offers display venues for artists. The guild sponsors the Second Friday Art Walks, as well as procuring spaces at the Potomac River Festival and the Colonial Beach Boardwalk Art Show. CBAG produces the annual Potomac River Regional Art Show every summer, which is cosponsored by the Colonial Beach Chamber of Commerce. For more information, go to colonialbeachartistsguild.org.
School principals Jennifer Grigsby and Michele Coates, along with Tania Shand, co-founder of Colonial Beach Green, led the activities. Colonial Beach School Superintendent Dr. Kevin Newman and Town Councilman Mike Looney also attended. Mike Gray, of Gray Construction donated time and equipment to prepare the planting sites. Walker Sand and Stone donated and delivered mulch to the site. Members of Colonial Beach Green, which promotes green initiatives
Plans underway to create new exhibits to honor James Monroe Richard Leggitt
LInda Farneth
Artist Joann Coffey sketches Marty Caporaletti. Coffey often does portrait work during the Second Friday Artwalk at the JerrettThor Gallery.
and sustainability, treated the kids to educational presentations. Founder Tania Shand discovered Colonial Beach in 2001 while looking for a property to buy. “Colonial Beach has a lot of natural resources,” she said. “This is a perfect place to try to preserve sustainability and promote green initiatives.” As the group grows, Shand wants it to promote sustainability around the boardwalk, as well as emphasize improved storm water management and smart development.
Former President James Monroe’s birthday was Tuesday, April 28. Westmoreland County is honoring its native son, the fifth president of the United States, with the construction of a halfmile, scenic historical walk to be completed by the end of the year at the James Monroe Birthplace in Colonial Beach. The Westmoreland Board of Supervisors, working in conjunction with the James Monroe Memorial Association, and federal and state governments, has approved plans to spend more than $700,000 to complete the James Monroe Historic Project. The scenic walk – along with a bicycle trail, a canoe launch, an overlook and a picnic pavilion – will be built on 73 acres already purchased by Westmoreland County at the location on Route 205 where Monroe was born on April 28, 1758. The site is already the location of the
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James Monroe Birthplace Memorial and a visitor center. The Monroe Birthplace Project will feature an interpretation center that chronicles Monroe’s achievements. In addition, Westmoreland County will build benches and granite historical markers every 210-feet along the scenic trail telling the story of Monroe’s career. “One hundred years from now when folks walk this trail, it will stand as a tribute to President Monroe,” said Westmoreland Board Chairman Darryl Fisher. The project will arise near a grassland meadow along Monroe Creek that was once part of a 1,500 acre plantation owned by Andrew Monroe, James Monroe’s grandfather. “Very few people have See MONROE, page 8