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King George
Volume 39, Number 21
Wednesday, May 20, 2015 50 Cents
helping you relate to your community
King George resident tops Historic Half Marathon Commission nixes
draft fracking regs Phyllis Cook
Photos: Marty van Duyne/News Net News
(Left photo) Col. David Maxwell rushes to catch up with Britta Ultz Baxter to present her medal after she takes first place in the Historic Half women’s division. (Right photo) Stephen Harrison rips through the banner held by Rep. Rob Wittman (l) and NCIS actor David McCallum to claim first place in the men’s division of the Historic Half. Marty van Duyne News Net News
Fredericksburg – Her name appeared as a possible top three finisher, but Britta Ultz Baxter planned to run first in the Historic Half Marathon women’s division. True to her plan the 36-year-old King George resident was the first woman to cross the finish line in the 8th Annual Marine Corps race. Baxter finished with a time of 1:27:32.41, full 3 minutes 15 seconds of her next closest competitor. Stephen Harrison, 26, of
Fredericksburg took first place in the men’s division with a time of 1:14:58.01. Earlier in the morning 24 year old Kyle Rogers, also of King George, crossed the finish line of the Semper Fred 5K in 19:57.81 to earn second place in the men’s division. NCIS actor David McCallum served as official starter of the Half Marathon and Rep. Rob Wittman (R-1) fired the gun to start the Wheelchair Division. Unofficial results from the Semper Fred 5K, Historic 10K, and Historic Half can be found at www.MarineMarathon. com
First Place Winners: Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon Male: Stephen Harrison, 26, Fredericksburg - 1:14:58.01 Female: Britta Ultz Baxter, 36, King George - 1:27:32.41 10k Male: Aaron Naraine, 16, Fredericksburg - 41:17.40 Female: Chelsea Hill, 24, Richmond - 44:59.19 5k Male: Tanner Jacobs, 16, Stafford - 19:42.12 Female: Gabrielle Martinez, 20, Fredericksburg - 21:47
The King George Planning Commission voted to recommend that the board of supervisors not approve proposed changes to the county’s fracking regulations without first reviewing a new advisory opinion by Virginia’s attorney general. Fracking is a method of drilling for natural gas that involves highpressure injection of chemicals into rock formations thousands of feet underground. The process creates cracks in ancient shale beds, allowing the extraction of natural gas. King George is located over the Taylorsville Basin, which includes a portion of the Chesapeake Bay. State regulators are revising regulations for drilling in the Taylorsville Basin. Any changes to King George regulations could change again after the completion of state revisions. The county has worked for the last year to tighten drilling restrictions should a drilling application be submitted. The planning commission took action May 12 on two votes having to do with stricter proposed ordinance amendments for oil and natural gas drilling and wording to address drilling in the county’s Comprehensive Plan for land use. By a 5-1 majority, the panel voted in favor of Commissioner Bill Robey’s motion to recommend not approving changes. Six of the current eight planning commissioners were present. Commissioner Doily Fulcher voted against the measure. Robey and commissioners Karla Frank, Tara Patteson, Ross DeVries and chairman Josh Colwell voted in favor. Robey cited Attorney General Mark Herring’s advisory opinion as
the reason the county should wait to revise its fracking rules. Herring’s May 5 opinion states that localities may use their zoning authority to prohibit “unconventional gas and oil drilling.” It says a locality may also use its zoning power to regulate certain aspects of fracking, but only to the extent such regulations are reasonable in scope and are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Virginia Gas and Oil Act, or regulations properly enacted pursuant to that act. Prior to the vote, a public hearing drew comments from three residents. Andrew Ball spoke against the potential for “largescale industrialization” of the county with fracking, saying the Comprehensive Plan should go further to prohibit the discharge of contaminated effluents into environmentally sensitive areas. He also asked for a change to the proposed restriction of 1,000-foot setback of well bores from occupied buildings, roads, waterways, or resource protected areas, saying it should be measured horizontally on a surface projection of the underground course of the drilled well. Holly Graf and Alessa Leming also went on record against fracking. Graf urged tighter restrictions, while Leming urged a higher bond amount to fund groundwater cleanup when needed. Jack Green, director of the King George Community Development Department, said the board of supervisors likely will review the recommendations on June 16, along with the new advisory opinion. The board could address stricter changes or could set a date for a public hearing on the current proposals.
Benson proposes admin changes at school division central office Phyllis Cook King George Schools Superintendent Rob Benson is asking the school board to consider creating three new administrative positions and deleting one current position, along with other position adjustments at the central office. The position to be deleted for next fiscal year would be director of human resources, currently held by Bill Wishard, who is retiring at the end June. Benson proposed the changes during a May 11 meeting while reviewing adjustments to categorical amounts proposed for adoption of the 2015-16 budget, which takes effect July 1. The three new positions would be director of administrative services, coordinator of human resources, and a part-time coordinator of human resources. Benson envisions the full-time human resources position to address personnel in educational
certificated positions, while the parttime position would address noncertificated, classified personnel in support positions. Benson is proposing the director of administrative services supervise the two human resources positions, as well as the heads of transportation, maintenance and operations, technology, food service, and custodial services. Another central office adjustment would increase the coordinator of gifted services from half-time to three-quarter time, and add the responsibility for overseeing federal grant Titles I, II and III. An existing position of student database specialist at central office would expand to include responsibilities for a division inventory system. The estimated cost for the proposed personnel changes is $153,000. To address the cost, Benson suggested some non-personnel cuts, primarily for various purchased services, and equipment and supplies.
Other changes in the proposed $38 million school operating budget for 2015-16 include costs of $16,000 to increase some athletic stipends, club sponsorships and some department chairmen, and $32,600 for the addition of two modular classrooms at Potomac Elementary School. There is also a cost savings of just over $222,000 due lower salary costs stemming from a one-time retirement incentive program offered during the current school year. Benson’s proposed categorical budget would provide employee raises with scale adjustments incorporating 1.5 percent raises for all employees. Teachers would see an additional 1.5 percent increase incorporated into an overhaul of the teacher salary scale. The school board took no action at the May 11 meeting. More discussion will take place at the next school board meeting, to be held at 6 p.m. May 27.
Highlights of proposed 2015-16 School Division Budget • •
Creation of full-time Director of Adminnistrative Services Creation of full-time Coordinator of Human Resources
• • •
Creation of part-time Coordinator of Human Resources 1.5 percent pay raise for all division employees Additional 1.5 percent scale-adujusted wpay increase for teachers
See BUILDERS, page 8
Photo by Kecia Wharton
KGHS students learned of the dangers of distracted driving during special classes by the KG Sheriff’s office.
Defensive driving on tap at KGHS Richard Leggitt Why wear a seat belt when you are driving? Because you are four times more likely to die in a traffic accident if you are not belted in. That was one of the lessons being taught last week to King George High School by the King George Sheriff ’s Office and Drive Smart Virginia.
Drive Smart Virginia is a nonprofit formed 10 years ago to teach young people about the dangers of driving, especially when distracted or not using seat belts. The organization joined with sheriff ’s officers and teachers on May 13 to teach students about safe driving. The event took place outside behind the KGHS gymnasium. Students participated in activities designed to discourage distracted
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driving, including use of a driving simulator sponsored by Drive Smart Virginia. King George Sheriff Steve Dempsey and state Del. Margaret Ransone were among those encouraging the students to drive safely.