Opinion
Sports
News
Memorial day musings on national cemeteries
Bushrod Foundation honors local students Page 4
arrests from local law enforcement
Page 2
Page 8 POSTAL CUSTOMER
T he
Colonial Beach • Westmoreland
Volume 40, Number 22
Wednesday, June 1, 2016 50 Cents
helping you relate to your community
Montross Council told MWH cancer center will open in July Richard Leggitt The Montross Town Council at its regular monthly meeting last week was told the new Mary Washington Cancer Center will open in July. Council members listened intently as representatives from Mary Washington Healthcare outlined plans for the cancer center. "We are excited and very determined to provide good cancer care to the patients who will come through our facility," said Whit Yelverton, Corporate Director of Oncology Services at MWH. "This is an
important event for Montross and for all the Northern Neck," responded Montross Mayor Joey King. Mahogany Baylor Hart, who grew in Montross and is now a marketing specialist for MWH said, "This is one of the most exciting projects I've worked on. Being from Westmoreland and having two grandparents succumb to cancer, I know the impact cancer has on the region." "Extended travel for care puts an additional bur-
Photo by Richard Leggitt
Members of the Montross Town Council listen intently as representatives of Mary Washington Hospital lay out their plans to open a new cancer center in Montross in July. From left are Councilman Jesse Alt, Mayor Joey King, Vice-Mayor Terry Cosgrove and Councilman Clinton Watson.
See Center, page 8
N Neck native buys Nash & Slaw funeral homes Storke operation to take over both local facilities, in King George and Colonial Beach Richard Leggitt
Thanking veterans on Memorial Day
Photo by Richard Leggitt
Veterans from throughout the area were at the old Westmoreland County Courthouse Monday to honor fallen warriors on Memorial Day. Among the speakers was Virginia Del. Scott Lingamfelter, right, a Vietnam combat veteran.
Md. man gets 38 years for King George murder Richard Leggitt A Maryland man who was one of three people convicted in connection with a brutal 2014 robbery and murder of a King George man was sentenced to 38 years in prison last week. Anthony Goodman was actually sentenced to a total of 103 years, but all but 38 years of the sentence were suspended. Goodman, 32, of Upper Marlboro, Md., was sentenced by King George Circuit Court Judge Patricia Kelly for the slaying of 20-year-old Ronelle Johnson. Johnson's cousin, 20-yearold Gregory Gaines was wounded in the incident, but survived. “You are a dangerous individual,” Judge Kelly told Goodman prior to his sentencing. According to Commonwealth’s Attorney Keri Gusmann, Goodman set up the robbery that resulted in Johnson’s death. "While nothing can bring Ronelle back, I believe that the sentence is just," said Gusmann. "I hope and pray that the convictions of Goodman, Clinton and Shanks can bring
A King George native who has successfully operated a funeral home in Caroline County since 1993, has purchased the Nash & Slaw funeral homes in King George and Colonial Beach. The businesses will officially change hands this week. David Storke, who owns the Storke Funeral Home in Bowling Green, will operate the two funeral homes as the Storke Funeral Home, Nash & Slaw King George Chapel and the Storke Fu-
“I like him and he likes me and I thought it would be a good fit for the community to have someone local who won’t be selling out to a conglomerate.”
Formwe Nash & Slaw owner Edwin Taliaferro Jr
neral Home, Nash & Slaw Colonial Beach Chapel. Storke purchased the two funeral homes from Edwin Taliaferro Jr., who had operated them since 1983. The Storke Funeral Home and the two Nash & Slaw homes have been serving their communities for more than a century. “I like him and he likes me and I thought it would be a good fit for the community to have someone local who won’t be selling out to
a conglomerate,” Taliaferro said of Storke. “If I didn’t think they would be happy with him, I wouldn’t sell it to him.” Storke said he plans to add staff and remodel the two additional funeral homes and also will also add a crematorium. Storke's brother-in-law, Bill Moore, will run the King George Chapel and Taliaferro will stay on for at least a year and manage the Colonial Beach funeral home.
Sisson’s Produce ready for summer Richard Leggitt
some peace to the Johnson/ Gaines/Boxley family." Gusmann was referring to two others arrested and convicted in conGoodman nection with the robbery and slaying. Andre Michael Clinton, 29, of Bladensburg, Md., and Tennase Michel Shanks, 45, of Colonial Beach were convicted earlier this year and both are in prison. "I would also like to thank the family for the faith and the trust that they placed in me," Gusmann said "Ronelle was killed over two years ago and I know they were in agony waiting for a resolution." "This was a very difficult and demanding case and I want to publicly thank the King George Sheriff ’s Office for the extremely thorough and professional job that they performed
Several weeks of rain in May slowed the local fruit and vegetables market temporarily, but Sisson's Produce in Montross is now open and preparing for a sizzling summer of selling fresh fruit and vegetables to area residents. "The cold and the rain has slowed things a bit," said Gary Sisson, who operates Sisson's Produce and the 650-acre Level Green Farm with his wife Carolyn. "But with the sun and the heat, it will catch up real quick." "The weather has moved everything back a little, strawberries are just coming," said Carolyn Sisson. "We are picking asparagus now. Lettuce, onions, snap beans, Swiss chard and peas are coming." Carolyn said local tomatoes will be available by mid-June and local watermelons and cantaloupes should be available by the Fourth of July. "We are looking at a very busy summer and fall," Carolyn said. Much of the produce at Sisson's is a product of Level Green Farm, a Westmoreland County Century Farm that has been operated by Gary Sisson’s family since 1800. While waiting for the fresh local fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers to make their appearance, Sisson’s Produce, which is located on Route 3 in Montross, is already providing a wide variety of produce grown
See Goodman, page 8
See Produce, page 8
Photo by Richard Leggitt
Sisson’s Produce in Montross is open and looking for a sizzling summer season providing the area with local fresh fruits and vegetables. Kay Allen, a graduate of Washington and Lee High School, is one of a number of youths helping customers at the popular produce stand.
Now you can follow local breaking news daily on our website at www.journalpress.com