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Volume 39, Number 38
Linda Farneth Due to an unspecified bomb threat, both Westmoreland County and Colonial Beach Schools were forced to evacuate students early on Sept 9. No injuries were reported. The woman suspected of making the threat has been arrested. Authorities have charged Jackqueline M. Payton, 41, of Richmond County with communicating a bomb threat. More charges are pending. Payton was arrested without incident at 11:40 p.m. on Sept 9, just nine hours after the call came to school Payton officials. She is incarcerated at Northern Neck Regional Jail and is being held without bond. Payton will have her first court appearance on Sept 15 in Westmoreland General District Court. If convicted, she could face up to a decade in prison. Communicating a bomb threat is a Class 5 felony and carries a penalty of one to 10 years in prison. When Payton was apprehended she admitted there was no bomb and gave no motive for the threat, according to Westmoreland County Sheriff, C. O. Balderson. More than 2,000 students were evacuated from area schools on Sept 9 when Westmoreland school officials received a bomb threat. At approximately 2:14 pm a call was received at the Westmoreland County School Board Central office. Baslderson said the caller claimed
there was a “bomb in one of the schools in Westmoreland County or in one of the buses.” Westmoreland school officials immediately notified the Westmoreland County Sheriff ’s office, and Balderson deployed several resources to handle the situation. Within minutes of the call, Deputy Karl Wendell came to the Colonial Beach School Board office and apprized Superintendent Dr. Kevin Newman of the situation. Wendell gave Newman some direction on how to begin the evacuation at the school. Fire and rescue personnel showed up along with police and bomb technicians The kids were evacuated while police swept the buses before loading children on to go home. “We followed orders.” Newman said. “There is protocol for every safety issue. The teachers began following protocol. They followed it to a tee. They all did what they were trained to do. I am very satisfied with the faculty and the communication from the police department.” After the incident, the faculty was briefed on the specifics of the emergency. “Our goal was to address and neutralize the threat. This was a unique situation, not having a specific school to look at, it was a countywide situation,” Balderson said. Seven schools and a fleet of buses had to be searched, including: Cople Elementary School, Montross Middle School, Washington District School, and Washington and Lee High School, as well as Colonial Beach’s high school, middle school and elementary school. Balderson did not have numbers but he said a lot of manpower, resources and volunteers went into investigating the incident.
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Two enter pleas for Colonial Beach school fire Richard Leggitt Two Colonial Beach men have received one-year jail sentences for setting the fire 18 months ago that destroyed the 100-year-old Colonial Beach Elementary School. The fire that destroyed the historic school disrupted classes for students and teachers and has damaged the finances of the school board and the town. Westmoreland County Commonwealth’s Attorney Julia Sichol said Thomas Peery and Parrish Muse have entered guilty pleas to misdemeanor vandalism. Westmoreland County Circuit Court Judge Herbert Hewitt sentenced
the pair to 12-months in jail on the misdemeanor charge. The pair also entered pleas of guilty to felony charges of arson and breaking and entering but those charges were held in abeyance for 12 months. According to testimony in court, Peery, 24, and Muse, 21, and Carlos Bermudez, 19, of Colonial Beach deliberately set the school,fire on Jan. 5, 2014. Bermudez is still facing charges in the case and is scheduled for trial on Oct. 22. All three were charged with felony vandalism, arson, conspiracy to commit arson and breaking and entering. However, the conspiracy charged was not,prosecuted.
Peery and Muse entered guilty pleas on a misdemeanor vandalism charge. They were placed on two years’ supervised probation, ordered to participate in a substance-abuse evaluation, instructed not consume alcohol or illegal drugs, have random drug screens, and perform 200 hours of community service for the town of Colonial Beach or the Colonial Beach schools. They were also ordered to pay restitution to the fire departments that responded and the Town of Colonial Beach for the $1,000 insurance deductible. Sichol said if the pair successfully complete the probation period, the felony charges of arson and breaking
and entering pending against them will be reduced to misdemeanors and they will receive suspended sentences. “If they violate probation, they will be found guilty of the felonies and sentenced by the judge,” Sichol said. “The agreement was reached after consulting with a representative from the school board and Dr. Kevin Newman.” Peery, Muse and Bermudez were arrested after a year long investigation by Virginia State Police into the 15-alarm fire that destroyed the historic two-story school building. All three of the suspects are former Colonial Beach students.
Photo courtesy of the Kinsale Museum
Shots fired into Colonial Beach residence Linda Farneth At approximately 3:10 am shots were fired at a residence located at 151 6th street. An 18-year-old female who was inside the residence was struck by one round and fled to a nearby house, according to Sgt. Les Parsons of the Colonial Beach Police Department, who was first on the scene. Parsons said the victim was taken to the the hospital with non-lifethreatening injuries to her leg and has since been released.
Colonial Beach police called in the Westmoreland County Sheriff ’s forensic team to assist with the investigation according to Capt. Chris Hawkins. Parsons said all round casings have been accounted for and shots were only fired into the one house. “It appears to be isolated rather than random at this time” he said. Colonial Beach Police Chief Danny Plott said the investigation is ongoing and is being led by Investigator Captain Bruce Hough.
Kinsale Foundation Board Chair Lois Spencer and her husband, Boyd, salute as the National Anthem sounds for the beginning of the 2014 Rubber Duck Derby Race. This annual event helps raise funds to keep Kinsale Museum and the Foundation in operation.
Kinsale’s 38th annual homecoming set for Saturday Richard Leggitt From an early morning pancake breakfast to an afternoon Rubber Duck Derby, residents, former residents and visitors will help celebrate the 38th annual Kinsale Day Saturday as the Westmoreland County port town showcases its history. “The importance of Kinsale’s homecoming on the third Saturday of each September cannot be overestimated,” said Lynn Norris, the director of the Kinsale Museum. “The day draws folks from as far off as Florida and California to return
to their roots, as they find out what’s been happening here during the course of the past 12 months.” The day will begin with its traditional pancake breakfast beginning at 8 a.m and continuing until 10 a.m. at Kinsale’s Masonic Lodge. Vendors, artists and crafters will set up displays of everything from art to produce to jewelry in the town park beginning at 10 a.m. “We are looking forward this year to some reminiscences by the daughter of the town’s first fire chief,” said Norris. “Also songs from Danny Bowen - a historian, waterman and
musician - about Kinsale’s past and life on the water over the years, as well as a silent auction in the old Ice Cream Parlor.” From 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., the Red Cross Mobile Blood Bank will be set up at the Kinsale Firehouse. Norris said donations are urgently needed. Potential donors are asked to bring a photo ID, eat something before giving blood and to refrain from drinking alcohol before donating blood. “All are welcome to the annual meeting of our Kinsale Foundation, starting at 11 a.m. followed by lunch, the Rubber Duck Derby, and an ice cream social,” Norris said.
King George ribbon cutting Photo by Phyllis Cook
The King George Meat Shop celebrated its store opening with recent ribbon-cutting ceremony. Pictured (left to right): Director of Economic Development Linwood Thomas with Chief Deputy Treasurer Randy Jones, Economic Development Authority member Jean Fraysse, Supervisor Joe Grzeika, and new business owner Jeff Green holding giant scissors, Supervisor Ruby Brabo and Commissioner of Revenue Jo Ann Ando. Economic Development Authority member Monika Philbrick were also present. The King George Meat Shop specializes in fresh seafood, beef, pork, and chicken along with assorted cheeses and lunchmeat selections. The shop is located 7185 Kings Highway, King George, VA.
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Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in the duck derby. During the ice cream social at the old Ice Cream Parlor ,there will be more than 88 items up for bid at a large silent auction. “You do not have to be present to be the winning bidder on a silent auction item,” Norris said. Lunch at the event will feature crab cakes, hamburgers and barbecue as well as snacks and refreshments for luncheon guests. For more information, please contact Lynn Norris at (804) 450-7651 or go to www. kinsalefoundarion.org.
Correction: An out-of-date ad for King George Pediatrics was in the King George Community Guide. The correct ad is on page 8 of this edition of The Journal. We apologize to Dr. Zavelsky and King George Pediatrics.