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T he
POSTAL CUSTOMER
King George
Volume 39, Number 47
helping you relate to your community
Wednesday, November 18, 2015 50 Cents
Fairview Beach Shoreline Axel on patrol as county’s newest police dog study to move forward Richard Leggitt
Phyllis Cook The King George Board of Supervisors took action on Nov. 4 to authorize a request to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers asking for a shoreline protection feasibility study for Fairview Beach under federal flood control legislation of 1946, as amended. County Administrator Travis Quesenberry commented last week on the status of the request for the study. “We look forward to the United States Corps of Engineers’ study and its results,” Quesenberry said. “We have been in contact with Mr. Anthony Clark of the Corps of Engineers. Mr. Clark has initiated creating a new project for the Fairview Beach shoreline protection feasibility study, which will establish a project number and will permit the Corps of Engineers the ability to make funding requests.” Quesenberry relayed that Clark estimated the earliest potential timeframe for funding to be released would be sometime around March 2016. The issue of shoreline erosion has plagued Fairview Beach for decades, with various fixes attempted by the Fairview Beach Residents Association over the years in conjunction with Fairview Beach, LLC. The subdivision was first established in the 1920s. Prior to the action this month by supervisors, the issue was last
publicly discussed at a meeting on Sept. 15. At that time, county attorney Eric Gregory briefed supervisors on the issue. Fairview Beach may not apply directly to the federal government for a shoreline study. “The agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers requires a local sponsor and that sponsor has to be a public entity,” Gregory said. That local sponsor is the county. The two Fairview Beach entities have previously asked King George to request a study, but in the past were unable to commit to providing potential funding to cover the study’s costs, should it exceed the $100,000 covered by federal funding. Supervisors had been reluctant to put the county on the hook for an unknown, potentially unlimited, amount of funding toward the study. The county does have an interest in stemming the continued bank erosion because the King George Service Authority has a wastewater pipe running along the north side of Route 696 between that road and the Potomac River. But the county could instead protect its pipe by initiating a project to move the pipe to the other side of the road. The Virginia Department of Transportation likewise has an interest, since continued erosion could affect Route 696. See STUDY, page 4
King George County Duty Sheriff Wayland Carter and his partner, Axel, King George’s newest police dog, began work last week. The new crime fighting partners just graduated from K-9 school and earned their canine services certifications. Axel is a 17-month old German Shepherd from the Netherlands. “He is very much a puppy,” Carter said. “He loves to run and play, but he takes training well. He pays attention to my head nods and my hand signals.” Carter, who grew up in King George County and graduated from KGHS, described working with Axel is a dream come true. “It’s an excellent opportunity. I love dogs and I have seen what the other handlers have accomplished,” he said. Carter and Axel completed a six-week canine course with professional instructors in Culpeper and will continue Photo by Richard Leggitt their training on the job in King Deputy Wayland Carter and his police dog, Axel, are now on patrol as George. King George’s newest K-9 team. “We will continue to go to bi-weekly training together in “Actually, we have learned that and Deputy Alison Nowaki have Culpeper and also do in county had to learn about a dozen Dutch using a different language for training. It takes about a year to commands to work with their dogs. commands is beneficial,” Dempsey form a solid bond with a German “The commands are easy to learn,” said. “This way, if a suspect we are Shepherd,” Carter said. pursuing tells a dog to ‘stay’ the dog said Carter. Axel and Kilo, King George’s In fact, King George Sheriff Steve doesn’t respond.” other police dog, only respond to Dempsey said the training has been Dempsey was King George’s first commands in Dutch, so Carter helpful. canine officer beginning in 1980.
“My dog’s name was Bandit. He loved to work and be in the patrol car. The commitment, dedication and loyalty is amazing with K-9 teams, it goes both ways from handler to dog and from dog to handler,” Dempsey said. Kilo, with the King George Sheriff ’s Office for three years, has been used for search and rescue; narcotics detection; building searches; and tracking and pursuit of fleeing suspects. Now Axel will be joining him on the job for citizens of the county. “The success most often experienced is the immediate surrender of the suspect when they see the dogs,” Dempseysaid. Both dogs are certified by the Virginia Police Canine Association as well as the Department of Criminal JusticeServices. Patrolling with their handlers, they will work rotating shifts for the sheriff ’s office. Carter and Nowaki have home kennels for their dogs. The kennels were constructed by the King George Sheriff ’s Office. They are 8x12 storage units with porches, heaters for winter and cooling fans for summer. Both handlers spend a lot of time with their dogs whether they are on duty or off duty. “We are together pretty much all of the time,” Carter said. “He is very friendly and I am enjoying being with him. We are going to be a good team.”
Faddis Concrete buys adjacent lot in King George Industrial Park “The expansion of Faddis Concrete serves as another positive step in our vision as we work to build out the Faddis Concrete purchased the lot industrial park,” Quesenberry said. adjacent to its existing property in Thomas reported to the Economic the King George Industrial Park. The Development King George Economic Authority, saying Development Authority county investment unanimously approved “The expansion of Faddis Concrete serves is bringing the sale of the five-acre lot more interest to the concrete company as another positive step in our vision...” by prospective for $105,000 on Nov. 12. businesses to the Linwood Thomas, – Travis Quesenberry, park. The county Director of Economic King George County Administrator constructed a Development, said the lot fiber optic cable was priced at a discounted infrastructure line rate due to the poor into the industrial topography of two of the park providing the acres for industrial use. availability of Internet access to all Faddis intends to use the acreage for employees. “Anytime you have a chance to lots. Negotiation is also ongoing with outdoor storage. “At this time Faddis will use the support the growth of an existing Columbia Gas to bring a natural additional lot to store their products business it is exciting,” Thomas said. gas line into the park for tenant County Administrator Travis ready to be shipped up and down the Eastern Seaboard and has no Quesenberry also commented on See FADDIS page 4 immediate plans to expand the the purchase of lot #15. Phyllis Cook
building itself, or add additional jobs. But this gives them that option, long-term, as they continue to grow,” Thomas said. The company currently has 50
Mercy displayed at KG Circuit Court Photo courtesy of the South Potomac Pilot
Capt. Mary Feinberg, USN, commander of Naval Support Activity South Potomac, recently presented the facility’s American Patriot Award to King George County Supervisor Joe Grzeika.
Dahlgren presents award to Grzeika Phyllis Cook King George Supervisor Joe Grzeika was presented the American Patriot Award from Naval Support Activity South Potomac by its commanding officer Capt. Mary Feinberg. The presentation took place on Nov. 5 at the final 2015 meeting of the Community Relations Council (COMREL). Grzeika told The Journal he was
not expecting it. “I was taken completely by surprise by the award from Captain Feinberg at the COMREL meeting,” he said. “I am humbled and honored to have been recognized, but my efforts are about the security and viability of Dahlgren and operating together as the single community we are. I enjoyed, and hopefully made a positive difference, since at the end of the day it is about King George and the base at Dahlgren
and how together we make one plus one equal three.” Prior to the close of the meeting, Feinberg made the presentation. “I personally not only want to thank him for not only his service to the COMREL but for his service to the NSF Dahlgren and his personnel over the last 20 years,” Feinberg said. See Award, page 4
Richard Leggitt Officials in King George County Circuit Court exhibited patience and compassion Thursday in dealing with a brain-damaged defendant who was convicted of drug distribution but was unable to be sentenced to prison because of his illness. Daniel Skergan, 57, of King George was charged with two counts of distribution of an illegal substance. Law enforcement sources said Skergan was video taped selling oxycodone to an undercover informant on two occasions last June. Skergan entered a plea of guilty to both the charges but his health issues presented a problem for the judicial
system. “The Rappahannock Regional Jail said they cannot accept him as a prisoner,” Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Charles Clark told Circuit Court Judge Herbert Hewitt. Skergan received a traumatic head injury in an accident several years ago, has recently had a heart attack and is scheduled to undergo two upcoming surgeries. After conferring with prosecutors and Skergan’s defense counsel, Vincent Ventura, Judge Hewitt sentenced Skergan to 10 years in prison and suspended all but one year. However, the judge agreed to allow Skergan to serve the one year at home using electronic incarceration. “It is the first time in 13 years that
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I have agreed to allow a defendant to use electronic incarceration,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Keri Gusmann. “It is a very unusual situation.” Hewitt also ordered Skergan to maintain good behavior for a period of 10 years, pay restitution to the Virginia State Police for funds used in the drug buys, enter substanceabuse counseling and meet regularly with a probation officer. Skergan was allowed to keep a restricted driver’s license so he could attend medical appointments.