Antiques
news
sports
Handmade quilt needs preservation
Additional Election results Page 4
Football: W&L falls to essex in tough loss
Page 2
T he Volume 40, Number 45
Page 6 POSTAL CUSTOMER
Colonial Beach • Westmoreland
helping you relate to your community
Wednesday, November 4, 2015 50 Cents
Balderson wins re-election in Westmoreland County Sheriff’s race Linda Farneth Incumbent Westmoreland County Sheriff C. O. Balderson celebrated his third victory at Stan’s Skateland in Montross, with friends and family on Tuesday night after the election results came in. Balderson won in a landslide, garnering nearly 2,500 Balderson votes or 68 percent. He has served as Westmoreland’s sheriff since 2008. Challenger J. Byron Wilkins netted just under 1,200 votes, or 32 percent. “I am extremely thankful and so very humbled to have been re-elected as your sheriff,” Balderson said after the results were tallied. “Words alone can’t express my deepest appreciation for the support that has been given to me. It will not be forgotten nor taken for granted. I look forward to
continuing to serve as your sheriff.” Aside from serving as Sheriff for Westmoreland County since 2008, Balderson serves on the Training Committee with the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy and with the Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute Board of Directors and is a Commissioner with The Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission. (VLEPSC) Balderson is a lifelong resident of Westmoreland County. After graduating f r o m Wa s h i n g t o n Wilkins and Lee High School, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice and Public Safety from Virginia Commonwealth University. In 1992, Balderson joined the Virginia Department of Forestry as a Chief Forest Warden. Before being elected for Sheriff in See SHERIFF’S RACE, page 8
Photo courtesy of C.O. Balderson campaign
Winners in Westmoreland’s elections celebrated Tuesday after the tallying of votes. The victors included (front row, l-r) Board of Supervisors Chairman Darryl Fisher, Westmoreland Commonwealth’s Attorney Julia Hutt Sichol, Westmoreland District Dorothy Dickerson Tate, and Sheriff C.O. Balderson.
Election brings changes to Westmoreland School Board Richard Leggitt Tuesday’s election meant dramatic changes for the Westmoreland County School Board, which has been the object of criticism and controversy for the past two years as disagreements and scandals have roiled parents, teachers and students. The Westmoreland School Board picked up at least three new members. At-large candidate Patricia Lewis defeated Jerry Mulholland, winning, 67.2 percent of the vote. Lewis had 2,124 votes to Mulholland’s 826. Ralph Fallin won the school board’s District 3 seat, defeating incumbent Coralynn “Polly” Wise. Fallin netted 61.5 percent of the vote, garnering 482 votes, to Wise’s 301 votes. Sandra Ramsey ran unopposed and becomes the new District 1 board member. The unofficial returns were posted by the Virginia Board of Elections Voters expressed concern, noting that the Westmoreland Public Schools has had two superintendents and there have been
three principals of Washington and Lee High School in the last 24 months. One principal was forced to resign after a drunk driving arrest. The school system was cited by the Internal Revenue Service and the Virginia State Retirement System for failing to promptly pay withholding deductions, much to the dismay of county officials. There also have been several controversial personnel actions that led to protests by parents and students. As they prepare to take office, the new school board members will face the dilemma of tight budgets and increasing demands for services. Two current school board members did not seek election, District 1 member Karen Jackson and At-large member Gennard Reed. The At-large race turned into a spirited contest between Lewis and Mulholland. Lewis, an active participant in parent activities at Washington and Lee, is an employee of Westmoreland State Park and the wife of Washington and Lee Athletic Director Malcolm Lewis. She is a lifelong county resident,
a Washington and Lee graduate and the mother of two sons who graduated from W&L. Mulholland is a retired U.S. Navy captain, a former teacher in Fairfax County and has taught for seven years in Westmoreland County. He campaigned on a pledge to improve student scores in math and science. Additionally, board member Daniel Wallace was unopposed for the District 4 school board seat. In the District 3 race, Fallin campaigned against Wise by pledging to move Westmoreland schools in “a new direction.” Incumbent Westmoreland County School Board Chairwoman Iris Lane was forced to wage a write-in campaign after she failed to get enough valid signatures on her petitions to qualify for the ballot in District 2. Lane ran unopposed for the District 2 school board seat in 2011 and was also unopposed this year but the petition problem meant she was required to conduct a difficult and complicated write-in campaign to hold her post. She succeeded, garnering 365 write-in votes, guranteeing her another term.
Tight contest marks District 4 Westmoreland supervisors race Richard Leggitt W.W. “Woody” Hynson, a leading Westmoreland County official for two decades, faced his toughest election contest in years Tuesday as he was challenged for his longtime District 4 supervisor seat by Keith Dickerson, the popular Colonial Beach High School girls basketball coach. With 100 percent of precincts re p or t i ng , unofficial returns from the Virginia Board of Elections Hynson showed Hynson winning 326 votes, or 55 percent, versus 270 votes for Dickedrson, or 45 percent. Speaking after the returns were tallied, Hynson pledged to focus economic development and prudently managing the county’s finances. “We have got to bring jobs to Westmoreland County,” he said. “And over next four or five years we
will be building a new high school. I years and his 2015 Colonial Beach have been involved in that for some girl’s team posted a perfect 10-0 1A time, so my focus is going to be a East record and went to the state conservative one trying to be careful championship tournament. A former Westmoreland supervisor about the difference between needs is also returning to the board. and wants.” Russell Hynson, “ R u s s ” the current Culver of board of “[M]y focus is going to be a Hague will supervisors conservative one trying to be careful replace v i c e about the difference betwen needs District 2 chairman, and wants” Supervisor has been Rosemar y chairman – Westmoreland Supervisor W.W. Hynson Mahan, who and vicedefeated chairman him in 2011. of the board Culver was several times during his tenure. The owner unopposed in Tuesday’s election. Mahan, whose one term was of a large corn and soybean farm. Active in the Virginia Farm Bureau, marked by her efforts to increase Hynson, has been the board’s only funding for teachers and education, acknowledged Republican member decided not to run for reelection this and is well known for his strong year. The remaining Westmoreland support for keeping county taxes low and restraining spending. He and board members were also unopposed. Board Chairman Darryl Fisher work Chairman Fisher, who represents District 1, is a well-known Baptist smoothly together. Dickerson is the brother of a minister in the county. current board incumbent, District Tate, who represents Montross, 3 Supervisor Dorothy Dickerson was also unopposed, as was Colonial Tate of Montross. Keith Dickerson Beach businessman and District 5 has been a basketball coach for nine Supervisor Larry Roberson.
Montross Fall Fest a hit with attendees Richard Leggitt When organizers of Montross’ Fall Festival were forced by weather to postpone it earlier this month, they were concerned about attendance at the rescheduled event. Not to worry. Visitors and local residents filled the town Saturday as the Fall Festival was a big hit with crowds. “All in all it was a beautiful fall day and the streets of Montross were filled with festival goers, so it was a win- win for our visitors, vendors and local businesses too,” said Montross Vice Mayor Terry Cosgrove. “It was great seeing more arts and craft vendors around old courthouse square and the parade was excellent.” Crowds by the hundreds gathered
“[I]t was a beautiful day... It was a winwin for our visitors, vendors and local businesses...” – Montross Vice Mayor Terry Cosgrove
on the courthouse square and along the downtown streets sampling the wares of vendors, talking with political candidates and listening to the blues band Hard to Tell, which played on the courthouse steps. Cosgrove called special attention to the Washington and Lee High School marching band which performed in the parade. “Under the leadership of husbandand-wife music and band teachers
Now you can follow local breaking news daily on our website at www.journalpress.com
Rob and Kelly Wright, this group has come so far over the last several years. It was a joy to see them not only marching and playing but they have added several ‘show’ marching routines to the repertoire,” Cosgrove said.