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Volume 39, Number 31
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Stratford Hall executive director dies in cycling accident out,” said Glover. Tributes poured in from others in The well-known and popular the Northern Neck Region, many executive director of historic of them noting Reber’s passion for Stratford Hall was killed last week drawing visitors to the area. “This is a devastating blow in a tragic accident while cycling in to tourism,” said King George rural Westmoreland County. Paul Reber, 56, was fatally injured Supervisor Ruby Brabo, who had when his bicycle collided with a worked with Reber on the Northern tractor-trailer as he was riding on Neck Tourism Commission (NNTC) for the last four years. “Paul was such State Route 604. “On behalf of the entire Stratford a great advocate for tourism and Hall family, including board he saw the economic development members, staff, and supporters, we potential of the assets of each of the are all shocked at the loss,” said individual counties in the Northern Custis Glover, president of the Robert Neck. He’s definitely irreplaceable.” The Virginia State Police are still E. Lee Memorial Association, which investigating the accident, which owns and operates Stratford Hall. “Paul has had a great impact on occurred on July 22 just north of State all of us, and Stratford has benefitted Route 607, Kinsale Bridge Road. Law from his leadership and guidance, his enforcement officers said Reber, who energy, love of history and the Lees, lived in Kinsale, was traveling south his involvement in his community on Route 604, Sandy Point Road, on and the Northern Neck. He was his bicycle when he was passed by a deeply committed to ensuring tractor trailer. “There was room on the road for Stratford’s well being, day in and day Richard Leggitt
both the bicycle and the truck, but for some reason the bicycle came into contact with the right side of the tractor as it passed,” said an investigating officer. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured in the crash and has not been charged. Reber, who frequently traveled the Westmoreland County back roads on his Cannondale Supersix bicycle, was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Badly injured by the collision, he was rushed by helicopter to the VCU Medical Center in Richmond. He died at the hospital Thursday night. In addition to his work at Stratford Hall, Dr. Reber was chairman of the Northern Neck Tourism Commission and a board member of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. “Paul was a tireless advocate for See DIRECTOR, page 8
Photo courtesy of Stratford Hall
Paul Reber poses in front of Stratford Hall, birthplace of Gen. Robert E. Lee, in this undated photo. Reber, who served as Stratford Hall’s executive director, died due to a July 22 a cycling accident in Westmoreland County.
Honoring America’s lost warriors: Davey’s Battle Brothers Ride 2015 set for Aug. 15 Linda Farneth
Photo courtesy of Sonja Ruhen
Jim Bell , Jimmy Brinkley and Edward Lewis stand next to the grave of Sgt. David Ruhen while Scott McMillion sings “Drink a Beer” by Luke Bryan during a ceremony at the 2014 Davey’s Battle Brothers Ride The annual ride, which runs from Fredericksburg to Quantico Cemetery to Manassas raises money to help the families of America’s killed and wounded warriors.
King George supervisors give initial approval to new subdivision plats Phyllis Cook The King George Board of Supervisors has approved two preliminary subdivision plats. The County Planning Commission had previously reviewed the plats and recommended approval by the supervisors. Oakwood Estates Subdivision The supervisors approved a request on June 30 for a preliminary plat for Oakwood Estates subdivision on a request by Quality Built Homes. Supervisor Ruby Brabo voted against the action. The request had likewise been reviewed and recommended for approval by the Planning Commission on June 9 on a split vote of 5-3 with Ross DeVries, Bill Robie, and Gary Kendrick voting against the action. The request proposes development of a residential cluster
subdivision with 181 lots on 508 acres. 62 percent of the property is proposed to remain in open space in perpetuity. The location is on Route 611 (Eden Drive) with access from that road. It is identified on Tax Map 25, parcels 6 and 61. The property is zoned Rural Agriculture (A-2) with a density of one dwelling per two acres. The project is to be served by private wells and septic drain fields. Walnut Hill Subdivision The supervisors approved a request on July 21 for a preliminary plat for Walnut Hill subdivision requested by Jay E. Jerrell, III, Operating Manager, JPI-Walnut Hill, LLC. The request had likewise been reviewed and recommended for approval by the Planning Commission on July 14. The request proposes development of a residential cluster
subdivision with 42 lots on 122.98 acres. 64 percent of the property is proposed to remain in open space in perpetuity. The location is in Dahlgren on Route 624 with portions touching Route 206 and U.S. 301 and identified on Tax Map 9, Parcel 34. A divided entrance is proposed at Route 624. The property is zoned Rural Agriculture (A-2) with a density of one dwelling per two acres. The project is to be served by public water and sewer provided by the King George County Service Authority. Jack Green, the county’s director of community development, provided a primer on the subdivision and zoning ordinances at both the July 14 commission meeting and July 21 board meeting. Green said he thought the See SUBDIVISIONS, page 8
Sonja Ruhen has turned the tragedy of her son’s sacrifice into an opportunity to pay tribute to all those who America has lost, honor those who serve and raise money for veterans by hosting Davey’s Battle Brothers Ride 2015 on Aug. 15 starting at the Mason-Ruhen Readiness Center National Guard Armory “Dec 21, 2004 was a day that changed the lives of so many. It left some with so many questions and others in a place of non-belief,” Ruhen said. “This was a day when a suicide bomber walked into a mess hall in Mosul Iraq filled with American soldiers and ignited a bomb. That was the day our country mourned the loss of 14 amazing lives and left so many others with injuries that in some cases may never heal. Those of us who were hit the hardest were those who lost the most, our husbands, uncles, brothers and child.” On that fateful day Sgt. David
Allen Ruhen, a native of Stafford County, was standing amongst the 14 American soldiers that were killed in that mess hall. Since that day, Ruhren has continued to support America’s protectors and honor its fallen soldiers. One of the events Ruhren created was “Davey’s Ride” in 2007 – a motorcycle ride that helps raise funds for wounded warriors and their families. Throughout the years “Davey’s Ride” has helped college-bound high school graduates on their paths to reaching their goals with scholarships. It’s helped children of fallen soldiers ensure a nice Christmas and it has raised funds for “Hope For The Warriors” In 2014, the 10-year anniversary of the loss of Sgt. Ruhen, the ride was renamed to “Davey’s Battle Brothers Ride” to let it be known that this ride supports and honors all of America’s military service members past, present and future. Since that year the ride has raised funds for “Serve Our Willing Warriors.”
For over seven years SOWW has been in operation helping wounded and ill soldiers feel a little taste of home during their stays at Walter Reed and Fort Belvior Community Hospital. Annual events include gift-giving at holidays, summer cookouts and visitation with lonely service members and family members. To learn more about SOWW go to willingwarriors.org. Ruhen said, Davey’s Battle Brothers Ride is not only to raise funds. It has become an opportunity for all to come together in a day of remembrance, a day of honor, a day of respect, but mostly it’s a day to say thank you and “You will never be forgotten” to those who have died in defense of America. This year’s ride will start at Fredericksburg’s recently renamed “Mason-Ruhren Readiness Center,” so named in honor of Sgt. Ruhren and Sgt. Nicholas Mason of King See RIDE, page 8
Virginia sets back-to-school season sales tax holiday Aug. 7-9 Phyllis Cook Shoppers are encouraged to save themselves some money by shopping during the weekend of Aug. 7-9. That’s when this year’s Virginia sales tax holiday for clothing and school supplies will take place. Virginia shoppers can save the general sales tax of 5.3 percent, and 6 percent when shopping in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads localities, during the upcoming sales tax holiday on a wide variety of items. During the sales tax holiday period for clothing and school supplies, consumers may make tax-free purchases of school supplies with a selling price of $20 or less per item and articles of clothing with a selling price of $100 or less per article. With school starting earlier this year in King George, on Aug. 24, the sales tax holiday comes just in time to prepare for purchasing school supplies and clothing items.
There are numerous items exempt from sales tax even for those with no children in school. Many of the eligible items are used in home offices or by artists and musicians. And various items of clothing and shoes are likewise exempt as long as they have a selling price of $100 or less per article. School Supplies Virginia defines school supplies as items commonly used by a student in a course of study. The item need not be intended for use in school, nor actually be used in school activities to qualify for the exemption. So long as the item appears on the state-approved list, does not exceed the threshold cost of $20 per item, and is purchased during the sales tax holiday period, the purchase will not be subject to sales tax and use tax. The following items that are included in the term “school supplies” and are therefore, exempt from tax during the sales tax holiday
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period: Binder pockets, binders, blackboard chalk, book bags, calculators, , cellophane tape, clay and glazes, compasses, composition books, crayons, dictionaries and thesauruses, dividers, erasers (including dry erase marker erasers and dry erase marker cleaning solutions), folders-expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila, glue, paste, and paste sticks, highlighters, index cards, index card boxes, legal pads, lunch boxes, markers (including dry erase markers and dry erase marker kits), musical instruments, musical instrument accessories, and replacement items for musical instruments, notebooks, See TAX HOLIDAY, page 8