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T he
Colonial Beach • Westmoreland
Volume 40, Number 30
Where the wild things are
Wildlife Center brings animals to Cooper Library Richard Leggitt
Wilson, a box turtle; Quinn, a great horned owl; and Delphine, a blind opossum were the star attractions at the Cooper Library in Colonial Beach last week as the Wildlife Center of Virginia introduced children to some of the wild animals that are found in the area. "They are our educational ambassadors," said Raina Krasner, the wildlife center's outreach coordinator. Krasner and Ashley Perry, a wildlife center volunteer, entertained and educated a packed room of children eager to learn about the animals. The Wildlife Center of Virginia, which is located in Waynesboro, was formed in 1982 to provide care for Virginia's injured or ailing native wildlife. We have helped more than 1,000 animals this year and currently have more than 140 patients at the center, Krasner said. Krasner, who has been employed at the wildlife center for four years, said animals who have been injured or are sick are rehabilitated if possible and then returned to the wild. "We rely on the public to give us a call when
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Manslaughter charged in drug overdose case Woman caught hiding in shed in Westmoreland Richard Leggitt
Photo by Richard Leggitt
Ashley Perry of the Wildlife Center of Virginia talks with a crowd of children at Colonial Beach’s Cooper Library last week about the center’s work with injured and abandoned animals. With her is Quinn, an injured Great Horned Owl being rehabilitated at the center. they see an animal that needs help," Krasner said. She said baby cottontail rabbits and deer fawns that have been
abandoned or lost their mothers are among the most frequent patients at the wildlife center. The center also gets
injured eagles, hawks, snakes, bears, foxes and many other animals as well opossums, turtles and owls.
The King George Sheriff 's Office last week arrested a King George woman and charged her with involuntary manslaughter in connection with a drug death that occurred in the county last year. Mary Evelyn Trainum, 53, had been indicted by a King George County grand jury in connection with the death of a 26-year-old man who died of a fatal drug overdose. Sheriff 's officers said they found her hiding in a shed in Westmoreland County. In addition to involuntary manslaughter, Trainum was charged with illegally distributing drugs.
Law enforcement officers said Trainum was released on bond after being held briefly at the Rappahannock Regional Jail. Sheriff 's officers said Trainum allegedly supplied the drugs that resulted in the death of a King George man on Oct. 30 of last year. At the request of his family, authorities have not made public the identification of the victim, who was found dead at his residence as a result of an overdose of oxymorphone, the chemical designation for brand names Opana, Numorphan and Numorphone. Sheriff 's officers said the victim was connected to Trainum, who officers said has several past arrests for illegal drug offenses, by cellphone records. Trainum was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison in 2008, but all but seven months were suspended, according to authorities.
Teachers learn about Va. history at Stratford Hall Richard Leggitt
Historic Stratford Hall, the Westmoreland County plantation that was home to the Lee family of Virginia, last week hosted more than two dozen high school teachers from across the state and from far away as Texas, Ohio and California. It was the sixth annual Stratford Hall Teacher's Institute and the subject this year was: The environmental history of the Virginia Tidewater from the 1300s to the 1700s. "We were pleased and honored to host 25 teachers from around the nation," said Jon Bachman, Stratford Hall's public events director. "If success is judged by the intellectual quality of the academic instruction, and the warm engaging conversation then this year’s Institute was a striking success," Bachman said. The conference, which was held July 20 through 23, was designed to help
teachers who work daily to motivate and encourage students in subjects like history and the environment. The summer teacher institute is a sponsored educational opportunity on the grounds of Stratford Hall for public school teachers of the social studies, geography, environmental studies, government and history in the fourth grade through high school. "The Teacher Institute presents nationally respected scholars and practical information for classroom teachers offering engaging and insightful seminars," Bachman said. "It is our belief that through enriching subject areas teachers can build memorable and useful lessons." This year two historians and two geographers talked with teachers about the realities facing early English colonists as they encountered the difficulties of survival against the backdrop of a climatic period known
as the Little Ice Age on Virginia 1300 AD to 1700 AD. The Little Ice Age period was one of drastic and dramatic climatic swings, according to Bachman. Bachman said It is believed that these swings in turn brought about significant historic changes to the indigenous peoples throughout tidewater Virginia as well as well as adding to the difficulties of experienced by the early English colonists. "These drastic weather patterns affected almost any type of food production, especially crops highly adapted to use the full-season warm climatic periods with the growing season shortened by one to two months compared to present day," Bachman said. "To understand the history of a place is to understand the fundamental role that geography and climate plays in the decision making of the inhabitants."
Photo by Richard Leggitt
Dr. Kevin Hardwick talks with teachers from Virginia and across the nation at Stratford Hall Friday about the challenges facing early colonists in Tidewater Virginia. Stratford Hall hosted its annual Teacher’s Institute focusing on the environmental history of Virginia from 1300 to 1700.
Benefit set for restaurant owner Coffman Bands will come to support cancer patient Richard Leggitt
Photo by Richard Leggitt
Vickie Coffman has been a popular fixture at High Tides Restaurant, which she owns with her husband Bryan. Coffman is suffering from brain cancer and a benefit will be held for her on Aug. 13.
Friends and customers of Vickie Coffman, who owns High Tides Restaurant in Colonial Beach with her husband Bryan, are organizing a benefit to help defray some of the medical costs facing Coffman and her family. Coffman, 58, is battling brain cancer and is currently an outpatient at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore. Coffman was diagnosed with two brain tumors on May 13 and underwent surgery at Johns Hopkins on May 16th. "The doctors were unfortunately only able to remove most of one of the tumors. A biopsy was performed and the tumors were found to be malignant," organizers of the benefit said in a letter to businesses seeking help with the Aug. 13 event. Coffman, who is known for her
generosity to Colonial Beach schools and other local events, is seeing a loving return of her many good deeds over the years. "Just about every business in town has donated something," said Charles Pompell, Coffman's son. The benefit will be an all-day affair with top flight bands, a silent auction, a golf cart poker run and a motorcycle poker run. "There is going to be a lot of stuff going on," said Pompell. Music at the event will feature the bands Radio Redline, the Night Hawks and the popular Australian band Longreef, which has performed frequently in Colonial Beach in recent years at High Tides and the adjacent Black Pearl Tiki Bar. Tickets for the music, which will begin at 3 p.m., are $15 per person. The organizers are seeking donations for the silent auction. Items can be anything from a gift card, a gift basket, or anything that can be auctioned off on the 13th. "All money raised will go directly to Vickie Coffman towards her medical costs," the organizers have pledged.
W&L's Wild is getting ready for football Richard Leggitt
Josh Wild, Washington & Lee High School's new varsity football coach, has only met with his players for a few moments since he was hired. But he already has at least one clear goal for the season. "My most important goal right now is from day one, we are improving," Wild said. "If we make consistent progress that will be a good start." "I have had about five minutes with the players so far," Wild said. "Our first practice is July 28th and then we will see what we have got. But every position will be open to competition." The Eagles open the season on Aug. 25 at King George. Wild is planning to tailor his offense and defense to the talent he has available. "I
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am a former running back and I love running the football," Wild said. But it is also exciting and fun to throw the ball all over." "We will just have to see what our talent allows us to do," Wild said. "In the meantime, we are going to tell our kids every day to make sure they are doing the little things right. That's what makes a difference.." Wild is making steady progress . He has hired a number of new assistant coaches, Spencer Sadler, Ed Futch, Will Owens and a returning former W&L assistant, Jacob Spears. "They are going to be a vital part of what we are doing," Wild said. The new coach and he wife, Beth,