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T he
Volume 40, Number 29
Page 4
POSTAL CUSTOMER
King George
Beat heat with taste of Christmas Farmers market to host event with Santa, Ms. Claus Phyllis Cook
King George Farmers Market will hold its second annual Christmas in July market day July 23. Market vendors will be joined by craft vendors 8 a.m. to noon in the parking lot at King George Elementary School, 10381 Ridge Road (Route 205 at Route 3). Santa and Ms. Claus will be in attendance 9 to11 a.m. The event is sponsored by InFirst Federal Credit Union. Barbecue by Backwoods BBQ will be available. Crafters signed up include Chrissy's Beads, Go Cali Enterprise LLC, L&J Art and Crafty Treasures, Ed's Pens, Lilla Rose and Not Just Jars. “There are more vendors in the works,” Farmer’s Market President Agostinho Caldeira said. “Come on over and shop for your fresh vegetables, baked goods, get an early start for Christmas, and meet See Santa, page 8
Wednesday, July 20, 2016 50 Cents
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Montross man indicted for KG traffic death DUI, homicide charges brought in death of Gainesville woman, 26 Richard Leggitt
Photo by Phyllis Cook
Customers and vendors transact a little business at the King George Farmers Market.
A 28-year-old Montross man has been indicted in connection with the June death of a Gainesville woman who was killed in a single vehicle traffic crash in King George County last month. The victim was identified by Virginia State Police as Katelyn A. Kipp. Kipp, 26, was a backseat passenger in a 2001 Toyota Tacoma that ran off the left side of the road, then overcorrected and flipped over four times. There were four occupants
in the vehicle, which was driven by Garrett, and none of them were wearing seat belts, according to law enforcement officers. All four occupants of the vehicle had serious injuries in the crash, which occurred on Route 218 or Caledon Road, a mile east of its intersection with Vertical Ridge Road, and all were transported to Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg. Kipp died at the hospital a short time after her arrival. Garrett was indicted by a King George County grand jury on charges of involuntary manslaughter, driving under the influence, manslaughter-DUI, DUI maiming and possession of marijuana. In addition to Kipp's fatality, authorities said at least one of the other passengers in the crash has permanent injuries.
Judges’ verdict: New courthouse needed in KG Phyllis Cook
Two judges came to a verdict last week in King George and pronounced the need for a new courthouse in King George County. An order as to when that will take place will be decided by the Board of Supervisors. Deliberations on the topic were put off until its next work session meeting near the end of this month. If supervisors decide to fund the design and engineering in the next couple of years, followed by actual construction, it’s possible a new courthouse could be completed prior to the old one turning 100 years old. The county courthouse was built in 1923. The discussion with judges was part of a parade of other requesters to come before the supervisors at a
work session on July 12. All departments with projects requested for funding in the current fiscal year of a proposed fiveyear Capital Improvement Program were invited to make their cases before the board. There were two projects bringing the judges to the table last week. One is a $140,000 project by the county administration to purchase and install a large geothermal system for humidity control at the courthouse. The unit would replace the current seven rooftop heat pumps purchased in 1994 which continue to need repair. The second project is $950,000 requested for design of a new courthouse in the current year. When Circuit Judge Herbert M. Hewitt and Juvenile & Do-
mestic Relations Judge Joseph A. Vance IV appeared before the King George Board of Supervisors on July 12, they both discussed the humidity problem. Vance stressed the problem in his courtroom. “The heat and the humidity are just difficult to bear in the courtroom, and there’s mold in there,” Vance said. “It’s hard to bear when I’m sitting up there with that great big black dress on.” Circuit Court Clerk Vic Mason addressed humidity elsewhere in the courthouse. Three large dehumidifiers run in the Commonwealth Attorney’s office with an estimated 25 to 30 gallons emptied from them every day. The point was well-taken. Court personnel moved on from See Judges, page 8
Photo by Phyllis Cook
King George County judges are asking for a new building to replace the existing courthouse.
Regional officials gather to discuss health care facility options Phyllis Cook The need for a freestanding emergency room in King George was outlined and stressed at a regional meeting of stakeholders, elected officials and health care providers on July 11 in King George. But the high cost of construction and staffing such a facility required by industry regulations could be out of reach. Ruby Brabo, chairwoman of the King George County Board of Supervisors had called the meeting to discuss the potential for a satellite emergency room/urgent care facility to serve the areas of Colonial Beach, western areas of Westmoreland
County, King George County, Port Royal and northern areas of Caroline County. Supervisor Jim Howard co-hosted, with more than 25 people attending. The regional organization heads present were Tim Ware of George Washington Regional Commission, Jerry Davis of Northern Neck Planning District Commission and the Curry Roberts of Fredericksburg Regional Alliance. The health care providers represented were from Mary Washington Healthcare, Sentara Healthcare Group and Hospital Corporation of America. Other officials from King George included Fire/Rescue Chief David
Moody, and Director of Economic Development Linwood Thomas. Several were present from Colonial Beach, including Councilman/Vice Mayor Eddie Blunt, and Cathy Bokman and Peter Fahrney both from Colonial Beach Foundation. Several stressed the need for 24/7 urgent medical care with Brabo asking Chief Moody to delineate the problem from the perspective of emergency responders. Moody said the average response and turnaround time for King George adds up to just under two hours, saying many take three hours or more to transport patients and return from one of three health care destinations, including Mary Washington Hospital,
Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center or Charles Regional Medical Center in Maryland (formerly Civista). “Our EMTs and paramedics are also firefighters,” Moody said. “This has cascading consequences when we have long transport and return times. If somebody’s house catches on fire, then it compounds that factor, as well. Last year we ran close to 3,200 emergencies, about 88 percent were EMS generated, with 1,609 transported to hospitals for medical/trauma.” In addition to homes, businesses and vehicle accidents, he said they also respond to the few doctors’ offices in the county and the one urgent care center, Gateway Medical Urgent Care.
“But we don’t need a place where we can pick up patients. We need a place where we can deliver patients,” Moody said. Others agreed. “We are looking to have a conversation about a satellite emergency room that could function as an urgent care facility, maybe with a dozen beds, especially for when you have a situation where you need to stabilize a patient,” Brabo said. She said a possible location might be at the intersection of U.S. 301 and Route 3 (James Madison Parkway and Kings Highway), saying the county was constructing a water line to the intersection, which already has sewer available.
She asked for health care providers to chime in. Dr. Mike McDermott, president and CEO of Mary Washington Healthcare didn’t sugarcoat his response. “The cost of the infrastructure and equipment required for a freestanding emergency care facility is quite extraordinary. It’s not just one doctor. And it’s a whole host of infrastructure that’s necessary,” McDermott said. He also said all services must be offered to anyone who comes in the door, as in any emergency room. McDermott recounted how they See Health, page 8
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