08/26/2015 Colonial Beach / Westmoreland Journal

Page 1

Opinion

sports

sports

70 years ago, U.S won the peace

Colonial Beach football preview

W&L Varsity volleyball

Page 2

Page 4

T he Volume 39, Number 35

News

school demolition bids revealed page 8

Page 5

POSTAL CUSTOMER

Colonial Beach • Westmoreland

Wednesday, August 26, 2015 50 Cents

helping you relate to your community

Community celebrates Reber’s life, passion for American history Richard Leggitt A moving memorial service took place Friday at Stratford Hall as a standing room-only crowd gathered to honor Dr. Paul C. Reber, the nationally known executive director of the historic plantation in Westmoreland County. Reber, 56, was killed in July while cycling in a rural area near his Westmoreland home when his bicycle collided with a tractor trailer as he was riding on State Route 604. The friends and associates from Stratford Hall, the cycling and tourism communities and Reber’s family shared tears at the plantation’s Oval while remembering his passions and achievements. Reber was an avid cyclist and had

often written about the joys of riding the wooded, rural roads in Westmoreland County. He was a frequent sight as he maneuvered his Cannondale Supersix bicycle on the back roads, always wearing a helmet. W. Jay Abbott, a long-time cycling friend, was among those who spoke at the memorial service. Also speaking was Custis Glover, president of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Association, which owns and operates Stratford Hall. “We are in a good place to honor Paul and remember the impact his life, his talents, his incredible intellect and his integrity had on Stratford and on all of us here today,” Glover See Memorial, page 6 Photo courtesy of Stratford Hall

Members of the Westmoreland County’s Shiloh Baptist Church gospel choir offered music at a Friday gathering that celebrated the life of the late Paul Reber, who served as executive director of Stratford Place Plantation in Westmoreland County.

King George schools back in session!

Planning Commission recommends rezone of Douglas Avenue property Linda Farneth

Photo by George Whitehurst

Line ’em up and move ’em out! Students at King George Elementary School board the buses after the first day of hte 2015-16 school year. The school’s parking lot became a sea of colorful backpacks and t-shirts as students headed home to share what they had learned with their families.

Shoplifter banned from Walmart Richard Leggitt Last year a group of high school students, as part of a class project, sat in King George Circuit Court listening as Commonwealth’s Attorney Keri Gusmann prosecuted cases, including a number against defendants accused of stealing from the Walmart store in Dahlgren. After one particularly tough sentence was ordered for a Maryland man charged with shoplifting, the group of youngsters was asked what they had learned during their court visit. “Don’t steal from Walmart,” was the response from several of the students. Pretty good advice. With the close cooperation of Gusmann and her staff and King George Sheriff Steve Dempsey and his officers, the Walmart on Route 301 in Dahlgren

spends a great deal of time and effort deterring shoplifters and thieves who incorrectly view the large store as easy pickings. Walmart has security tags on merchandise, asset protection associates roaming throughout the stores aisles watching for thieves and dozens of security cameras monitoring the store including the parking lot. “Basically from the time people enter our parking lot, while they are In the store and as they leave the parking lot, they are on camera,” said Assistant manager Dale Brandon. “These are state-of-the-art cameras that can even read license plates as people are exiting the parking lot.” “We enforce shoplifting laws because when people steal from us they are taking money from our customers. We pride ourselves on our low prices, but shoplifting

makes it more difficult to keep prices low.” In King George Circuit Court Thursday, 33-year-old Nicole Hicks of Colonial Beach was headed to jail because she didn’t get the message. Hicks was convicted for shoplifting women’s clothes and other items at Walmart earlier this year. She received a one-year prison sentence. However, Judge Herbert Hewitt suspended six months of the sentence subject to three years of supervised good behavior. And one more thing: “You are banned from the King George Walmart for life,” Hewitt told Hicks, a requirement that is ordered for all those convicted of stealing from Walmart. “Unfortunately, this is another See walmart, page 8

The Colonial Beach Town Council charged the planning commission with exploring options for rezoning and marketing the old Colonial Beach Elementary School campus. The council wants recommendation for rezoning the property after the buildings have been demolished. At the commission’s Aug. 20 meeting, Commissioner Dianne Clopton presented her findings. After researching rates for commercial space located in Colonial Beach, Clopton found a range of rental rates from $1.23 per square foot for a single-family house on Colonial Avenue to $20 per square foot. Clopton reported that spaces in the Food Lion shopping center run roughly between $12-$15 dollars per square foot. This price does not include any renovations by the leaser. All improvements must be made by the lessee. The shopping center on Euclid Ave runs about the same price. During her research Clopton discovered that little or no marketing

is done on the available spaces. Furthermore she stated the majority of commercial property owners who rent space are from out of town and have little to no knowledge of what is going on in Colonial Beach. Clopton said the town should move away from labeling itself as resort because that limits the income potential to a three-month window in the summer. “The beach is not the place to promote, no one wants to swim in the water,” she said. Based on her findings, Clopton suggested that the commission recommend rezoning the old school property at 316 Douglas Ave. to Commercial Residential. Clopton said there are no places to go to hold major events such as weddings, conferences, meetings, adding that a building on the hill would have a 360 degree view of the river, the bay and the rest of the town. Chairwoman Robin Schick commented that Riverboat has a nice room upstairs, but Clopton pointed out that not everyone wants to walk See COMMISSION, page 8

Board hears construction-funding options Linda Farneth Senior Vice President Ted Cole of Davenport Finance Consultants of Richmond presented an overview of the Colonial Beach’s debt service for the next 40 years. Debt service is the obligation of debt the town has to pay for various, loans, grants and bonds (borrowed money) to complete capital improvement projects or purchase needed equipment. Cole presented two options for financing the school during his presentation to the Colonial Beach School Board at its Aug. 19 meeting. Davenport analyzed the towns debt from fiscal year 2016 until 2054 to determine how the town could pay for the new proposed elementary school. Obligations that are paid by tax money, obligations that are paid through utility bills, and funds that are used for school construction

or rental fees for temporary classrooms. The goal was to map out different ways the town could pay for a new permanent elementary school to be built to replace the temporary modular units (mod pods) students are currently housed in. The town recently instituted a real estate tax increase, of which 2 cents has been earmarked for the funding of the proposed new school. The seated council has also resolved to raise the real estate tax rate by an additional 3 cents over the next two years. That 3 cents would also be earmarked to pay off the new elementary school. Davenport told the school board that each year the town’s current obligations are being paid would decrease as the years passed. The first proposal would require the town to continue to anticipate a debt balance owed, for tax supported debt only, at the same level it is in 2016,

Now you can follow local breaking news daily on our website at www.journalpress.com

but using the decrease amounts to pay toward the new school building. For example, the tax-supported debt service for all debts in 2016 amounts to $600,000. In 2018 the tax-supported debts owed would drop to roughly $360,000, leaving $240,000 to go toward paying for the new school. However this option would require a larger tax increase than the current council anticipated. The town and school system are currently paying mod pod rental fees of $194,000 for the elementary school mod pods and $66,000 for the middle school mod pods. See FUNDING, page 8


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.