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King George
Volume 39, Number 43
Wednesday, October 21, 2015 50 Cents
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Online absentee ballot application available until Oct. 27 Phyllis Cook
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Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe announced last week the Oct. 14 launch of the Virginia Department of Elections’ new Citizen Portal, which allows Virginia voters to apply for an absentee ballot online. The secure online system takes voters through the application process step-by-step and allows users to sign the application using their Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) credentials. Voters without DMV credentials can still use the system to print a completed absentee ballot application to mail to their local voter registration offices. “My administration is committed to making it as easy as possible for
Are you eligible to vote absentee? There are numerous reasons
making voters eligible to vote absentee, including being out of the precinct on Election Day. In-person absentee voting is an effective choice for those with other reasons, including travel for out-ofcounty appointments, long commutes or those expecting unpredictable work hours on Election Day. Any voter with a question about whether they qualify to vote absentee should contact their general registrar’s office by phone or go online to find the requirements at http://elections.virginia.gov. Absentee ballot applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27 in order to receive a ballot in the mail. Once a voter receives his or her
absentee ballot in the mail, he or she has until Nov. 3, 2015, at 7 p.m. to return the completed ballot to their voter registration office. In-person absentee voting at local voter registration offices is available until Oct. 31, 2015, including the last two Saturdays before the election. For more information about inperson absentee voting, including available office hours and locations, please visit the Department of Elections’ website at http://elections. virginia.gov/. Voters can also find information about the upcoming election, including what’s on their ballot, by visiting the site or calling the Department of Elections toll-free at (800) 552-9745.
Spotsy driver sentenced in King George DUI case Richard Leggitt
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all eligible Virginians to vote,” Gov. McAuliffe said. “It shows Virginia is leading the way to empower every qualified Virginian to make his or her voice heard in our elections.” Completing the online application results in a paper absentee ballot being mailed to the voter. Election Day is November 3. Voters can go online to: http:// elections.virginia.gov/ to view their registration record and request an absentee ballot. The site will also show voters what will be on their ballot for the Nov. 3 election and view other election related information.
A Spotsylvania man, who had a wreck in King George that injured a passenger in the car he was driving, has been sentenced to more than a year in prison after pleading guilty to driving under the influence. Brian Patrick Freel, 57, appeared in King George Circuit Court Thursday
and was sentenced for driving while under the influence of alcohol and maiming someone while driving under the influence. He had entered pleas of guilty to the charges in an earlier court appearance. Freel received a sentence of six years for an accident that occurred on June 8 in King George, but four years and nine months were suspended.
According to King George Commonwealth’s Attorney Keri Gusmann, Freel was driving on Long Leaf Lane when he ran a stop sign and caused the accident. Freel’s car collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Long Leaf Lane and State Route 218. A passenger in Freel’s car, 30-yearold Jenna Homes, received serious
injuries in the accident and Freel was arrested. An investigation by Virginia State Police revealed that Freel was under the influence of alcohol and marijuana at the time of the accident. Officers said Freel admitted that had been drinking at the home of a friend in King George prior to the crash.
Granger, Scaramozzi compete for James Madison District BOS seat Phyllis Cook James Madison District voters will have a choice of two candidates on the ballot for that district’s seat on the King George Board of Supervisors on Nov. 3. Richard A. Granger and Anthony A. “Tony” Scaramozzi are each seeking the position. Both are employed at the U.S. Navy Base at Dahlgren and neither has held a previous elected office. The James Madison seat is coming open due to incumbent Joe Grzeika’s announcement earlier this year that he would not seek another term. The King George Board of Supervisors is a fivemember board with staggered terms of four years for each member, with three new terms beginning on Jan. 1, 2016. The board positions are part-time, with professional administrators hired for the hands-on work of implementing policies set by the governing body. Brief profiles of the two James Madison District supervisor candidates follow: Richard A. Granger Granger, 37, is new to politics and campaigning. He moved to King George in 2005 from Maryland. He is a civilian employee at the Navy base at Dahlgren. “In particular, I work on software development on Navy
systems,” Granger said. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in computer science from Virginia Tech in 2000. His local involvement includes community service as a member of the South Potomac Civilian-Military Community Relations Council, and as a committee chairman at Oakland Baptist Church, where he also teaches Sunday school to first and second graders. He is also a volunteer soccer coach with King George Parks and Recreation. Granger has plans for the county if he is elected. “I will serve King George by working with residents to determine how we as a county want to address issues,” he said. “In particular the county needs to develop an economic strategic plan to determine Granger how we want to develop the county, which would help to generate revenue streams. “This increased revenue could then be used to address issues with the debt the county currently holds as well as addressing a deficiency in the support of services, for instance fire and rescue, and schools.”
Granger also wants more transparency. “Lastly I desire to see information made more readily available to residents.” Anthony A. “Tony” Scaramozzi Scaramozzi, 58, has lived in King George since 1985. He is employed at the Navy base at Dahlgren. “I have had leadership positions throughout my career at the Navy Base, including at the Branch and Division Head level, in multiple departments,” Scaramozzi said. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in computer science from University of Mary Washington in 1997, a Master’s in public Scaramozzi administration from Indiana University in 2001, and a Master’s in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College in 2009. Scaramozzi served in the U.S. Navy from 1979-85. His various appointments to county committees by the Board of Supervisors include his current service on the
Planning Commission, where he is in his fourth term as a certified Planning Commissioner, and as a member of the South Potomac Civilian-Military Community Relations Council. He also served two terms on the King George Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. His other community service includes as a Sunday school teacher and deacon, as a volunteer soccer coach with King George Parks and Recreation, and as a participant in school curriculum development and as a judge for school science fairs and as a Fall Festival parade judge. “I am a lifelong independent thinker, adaptive leader and team player,” Scaramozzi said. “My vision for King George emphasizes excellence in education, economics, and quality of life.” He elaborated on his intention regarding those themes. “For education, I will collaborate with the school board to provide the highest-quality education for our students to build life-long learners and competent, responsible citizens. I think economic success involves balancing career-oriented business development, genuine debt management, effective service operations and a fair fee structure,” Scaramozzi said. “Quality of life is protecting our environment, rural character and our water supply, and supporting our police, fire, health, and emergency services, and providing recreational opportunities across King George.”
Tractor Supply Company to open store at Route 3 and U.S. 301 Phyllis Cook King George is getting a new business on Route 3 in Shiloh, with Tractor Supply Company’s final site plan expected to be approved on Nov. 10. “Tractor Supply will build a new facility directly behind the Sheetz just past the intersection of Route 3 and U.S. 301 as you head east toward the Northern Neck,” said Linwood Thomas, the county’s director of economic development. He indicated the retail chain will make capital investments of approximately $ 3 million in land and building infrastructure and employ between 18 and25 people. “We have been working this project for almost 18 months and this will be a welcome addition to the county and fit nicely with the rural character of King George,” Thomas said. Shiloh Supervisor Cedell Brooks has been pushing for more development at that intersection for several years and is pleased about this addition into the county’s most rural district.
“A lot of the farmers currently need to go Board of Supervisors, expressed satisfaction at to Fredericksburg or Tappahannock for their the news. supplies,” Brooks said. “I think it will be a great “As the chairman of the Board of Supervisors, help to the farmers and to the community at I am excited to welcome Tractor Supply large.” C ompany Tractor Supply to King carries supplies George and equipment C o u n t y ,” needed to he said. maintain farms, “Founded ranches, and in 1938 as a animals, with mail-order – Linwod Thomas, King George County Economic Development Director tractor/trailer tractor parts and supply parts accessories. business, it It also offers is wonderful clothing and to see the footwear, lawn growth and garden supplies, trailers and accessories, and expansion of the company today with sprinkler/irrigation parts, power tools, tool over 1,422 stores in 49 States. Tractor Supply and gun safes, fencing, welding and pump is a great fit in a locality like King George that supplies, propane amd heating supplies, lawn still strives to maintain its rural character and mowers; as well as equine, dog, cat and other support our local farmers and agribusiness. pet supplies; power generators and more. We thank Tractor Supply Company for their Jim Howard, chairman of the King George investment in King George County.”
“... This will be a welcome addition to the county ...”
The formal announcement of the new company was made at last week’s meeting of the Planning Commission on Oct. 13, when the site plan was reviewed in a presentation by Jack Green, director of community development. The final site plan was submitted by TXC CXC, LLC, on behalf of Tractor Supply Company. The retail sales store site contains 15,242 square foot building with 12,891 square feet of outdoor display area, associated parking, and stormwater-management facilities. Public sewer will be provided by the King George Service Authority with lines being extended from the Sheetz Store located at the northwest corner of the intersection of US 301 (James Madison Parkway) and Route 3 (Kings Highway). A vote on the final site plan was postponed until next month, since several final comments by the Virginia Department of Transportation had not been received in time for the scheduled agenda item. The approval authority is the Planning Commission, which is expected to vote for approval at its next meeting on Nov. 10.
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Clarification In the Oct. 14 edition, the profile of Dahlgren District Board of Supervisors candidate John Jenkins failed to mention that he earned a Master’s degree in journalism and mass media from Clarion University.
Correction The Oct. 7, 2015 edition of The Journal misspelled the name of King George Middle School basketball player Loren Tolliver. The Journal strives for accuracy and regrets this error.