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King George
Volume 40, Number 7
Wednesday, February 17, 2016 50 Cents
helping you relate to your community
Hearing on $42 million school budget set Feb. 22 Phyllis Cook The King George School Board will give the public a chance to weigh in on a $42 million operating budget proposal under consideration for fkiscal 2016-17. That amount would compare to the division’s current year operating budget of $38.6 million. A public hearing will take place 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, in the Revercomb board room. It will be followed by a regular business meeting at 6 p.m. Adding $4.4 million for school debt service and $1.5 million for the cafeteria fund, Superintendent Rob Benson’s proposed budget request totals $47.92 million. “The good news is, with the governor’s proposed budget, the revenue to the division would be a $1.6 million increase,” Benson said when he laid out his proposed request for the division at a Saturday morning budget session Feb. 6. The proposal relies on a local increase from King George taxpayers of $2.4 million to give the division $16.9 million in local funding compared to $14.6 million from the locality in the current year. The revenue figures are based on an average daily membership of 4,230 proposed for 2016-17, 10 students fewer than in the current year’s budget. Supervisors may boost the ADM number, considering the high number
of new positions Benson is requesting. The budget is proposing at least 19 new positions, including five general education teachers, one at each school, to account for growth. Other new positions would include three elementary teachers for STEM and two for special education — general disabilities and vision. Other new positions would include a special education paraprofessional, two counselors for elementary, another social worker, another school psychologist, a new central office clerical position, a division public information coordinator and reinstatement of a third mechanic for the bus garage. The gifted coordinator position would be increased to full time, in addition to a part-time nurse for preschool and a part-time nurse to teach a new certified nurse assistance program at the high school, possibly to be combined into one full-time position with benefits. Another factor contributing to the higher budget proposal is an 8 percent increase in health insurance, if the board elects new coverage through Virginia Local Choice Plans. Otherwise, continuing with the same insurance products is estimated to bump up costs by 18 percent. All employees would get raises. Salary goals include 1 percent to reimburse employees for a required increase in the Virginia Retirement System. Salary scale adjust-
Dr. Canizares’ schedule change puts focus on care provider shortage Primary health practitioners are in short supply Joel Davis
At 74, Dr. Roberto Canizares, says it’s time to slow down a bit. After 42 years practicing primary care medicine in King George, he’s backing off his schedule to a couple of days each week. “I still enjoy what I’m doing, and I’m worried that if I retired, some of my older patients, Medicare patients, would not get seen,” said Canizares -- “Dr. C” to many patients. “If I can do it I will do it.” That’s good news for Arlene Jacovelli, who is a co-owner and manager of Community Care Clinic in King George. “He’s the last of a breed,” Jacovelli said. “An independent country doc-
ments are proposed for most employee groups to make them competitive with the top three regionally, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg, Caroline and Colonial Beach. “We looked at all the neighboring divisions and we rebenchmarked the majority of the salary scales,” Benson told The Journal. “All employee groups would see a minimum of 1.3 percent increases. We created the new proposed scales for each employee group and then placed each employee on their anticipated step for next year to create the budget.” To address the School Board’s goal for raising teacher salaries, that group would get a new scale, increasing the current step No. 1 from $38,204 to $41,000, which would bump up the rest of the steps, with step No. 30 at the top being paid $70,000, up from the current $63,318. The Master’s degree supplement would increase from 7 percent of step No. 1 salary, going from $2,674, to 7 percent of the employee’s annual salary. Slides providing highlights of the proposal, along with a complete line item budget and all adjusted salary scales can be found on the School Board website in the Feb. 6 board packets. To see it, go online to http:// www.kgcs.k12.va.us hover cursor over ‘School Board’ in the header, click on ‘2016 Board Packets’ and open the two packets for Feb. 6.
The early week snowstorm dumped almost 10 inches in the Northern Neck including Monroe Bay.
Heroin, pill epidemic sweeping region Richard Leggitt
Area law enforcement officials are concerned about the growing rate of heroin addiction in King George and Westmoreland counties and across the area and state. "We are seeing a significant rise in heroin use," said Westmoreland County Sheriff C.O. Balderson. "Heroin is extremely addictive and dangerous with cases of overdose that's causing death. We will continue our unwavering efforts to combat all illegal drug activity with an increased emphasis on this particular problem". As an example, law enforcement officers note
that the multicounty burglary spree that ended with the arrests of three persons several weeks ago was fueled by a desire for money to feed heroin habits. "The heroin epidemic has become extreme," said King George Sheriff Steve Dempsey. "We have taken down several large heroin operations in the county recently, but unfortunately heroin continues to be available." Dempsey said the epidemic "has been something we have been seeing for sometime. In most cases people find themselves addicted to prescription pills but end up turning to heroin because it is easier to get and it is cheaper"
"People who are addicted to heroin can't function and can't work " Dempsey said. "The pursuit of heroin becomes their whole way of life, they are always looking for ways to finance their next buy of heroin. It is a day by day thing." Kristin Brewer, 23, and James Purks, 24, both of King George, and Thomas Nicolaou Jr., 26, of Fredericksburg were arrested last month and in connection with multiple break-ins and burglaries in King George, Westmoreland, Fredericksburg, Hanover Spotsylvania and Stafford counties. OfSee Heroin, page 8
King George tourism committee’s first meeting this week Phyllis Cook
Canizares tor with compassion and caring for rural communities.” Jacovelli knows someone like Canizares is rare because CommuniSee CARE, page 8
A King George tourism advisory committee will hold its first meeting this week at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, in the board room of the Revercomb Administration building, behind the courthouse on Route 3 (Kings Highway.) That meeting time, date and location were established by Ruby Brabo, chairman of the Board of Supervisors at a Feb. 2 meeting. “We need to set their first meet-
ing. Then they can set their time and date for monthly meetings going forward,” Brabo said. Supervisors also appointed six members during the same meeting, with the potential for more to be added at this week’s meeting on Feb. 16, too late to be included in this edition. Under the committee charter, membership is to be made up of those from the categories of agriculture, artisan trail, bed & breakfast, Chamber of Commerce, hotel/ motel, museum, outdoor recreation,
and events/catered events. The members so far are Michelle Darnell, bed & breakfast, Laura Orrock, hotel manager of Hampton Inn Dahlgren, Lauren Harbaugh, Volunteer with Dahlgren Heritage Museum and King George Museum, Jane VanValzah, Artisan Trail, Terri Rinko, King George Chamber of Commerce, and Justin Cox – officer of Friends of Caledon State Park — outdoor recreation. Brabo also directed the county attorney, Eric Gregory, to attend the first meeting. “He can attend and
give them the tourism funds piece from state code and explain that to them. Otherwise, they will function on their own and will have a secretary and provide reports to us,” Brabo added. According to the charter, advisory committee’s duties and responsibilities include advising the board on specific strategies and matters related to enhancing tourism and related initiatives and making recommendations for the use of desigSee Tourism, page 8
King George man convicted of drug distribution Richard Leggitt
Correction In a photo caption accompanying this photo on page 5 of the Feb. 10 edition, the Colonial Beach player was identified incorrectly. He is AnaJai Lewis.
A King George man will be sentenced in King George Circuit Court on April 28 after he was convicted by a jury for two counts of distribution of a controlled substance. Thomas R. Johnson, 31, was convicted last Thursday after a one-day trial. Johnson was convicted for selling PCP and Ecstasy to an undercover police informant on Dec. 31, 2014. Johnson had been convicted previously of drug distribution so his recent convictions carried added penalties.
“Any and all drug dealers in King George County are on notice that selling poison for profit could result in decades in prison.” King George Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Charles Clark Additionally, Johnson has three other drug charges pending in King George. The King George jury of six men and six woman that convicted Johnson recommended a sentence of seven
years and six months on each charge, leaving him facing a prison sentence of 15 years. At his formal sentencing, the judge can impose a different sentence.
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"Any and all drug dealers in King George County are on notice that selling poison for profit could result in decades in prison," said King George Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Charles Clark, who prosecuted the case. The jury recommended that Mr. Johnson spend 15 years in prison for a single drug deal. There is no question about where the community stands on this issue."