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Police and fire department news from around the region
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Colonial Beach • Westmoreland
Volume 40, Number 32
helping you relate to your community
Wednesday, August 10, 2016 50 Cents
Residents, police turn out for Night Out
Annual celebration of community, against crime draws crowds Richard Leggitt
Law enforcement joined with citizens from the area last week to celebrate National Night Out in Westmoreland County and Colonial Beach as part of an effort to promote police and community relationships that have been strained recently in some parts of the country. The two separate events were very successful, as families and children joined officers from the Westmoreland County, Colonial Beach and the Virginia State Police to renew, build and strengthen ties at that are essential to the community. "The outpouring of support we have seen since Dallas and Baton Rouge has been great," said Colonial
Beach Police Chief Danny Plott as he and his officers, along with members of the Colonial Beach Rescue Squad talked with interested citizens at the Colonial Beach Town Hall. "Colonial Beach has been doing this for years," said Westmoreland County Sheriff C.O. Balderson. "This is our first year. Having so many people come out is heartfelt and greatly appreciated.” "National Night Out is a great occasion to express the importance of law enforcement and community partnerships," said Balderson. “I want to thank those who attended as well as all of the agencies represented at this event. The fellowship and comradery shared throughout the evening is a true testament to the importance of law enforcement and communities working together." In addition to the Westmoreland sheriff 's officers and the Virginia
Photo by Richard Leggitt
Christian Guzmann, right, of Tappahannock prepares to knock a police officer into the water tank at the Dunk the Detective" booth at the Westmoreland Night Out. At left, organizing the participants is Westmoreland Deputy Joey Gordon.
See Night, page 2
Beach planners wrestle with mural rules Richard Leggitt
Photo by Richard Leggitt
Colonial Beach Planning Commission members, Robert Busick, left, and Diana Clopton discussed with their colleagues last week whether or not the Beach should implement a ordinance regulating the murals that are appearing around the town.
At its regular August meeting last week, the Colonial Beach planning commission wrestled with whether or not the town needs an ordinance regulating the murals that have begun appearing around Colonial Beach this summer. Some members of the commission are concerned that the half dozen murals that have appeared on the sides of buildings and businesses this year have the potential to damage the community's welcoming image. "It’s too much, it's distracting," said Diana Clopton, a commission member who is a landscape designer. "Can there be too many murals?," asked commission member Robert Busick. "Regulation and order are not necessarily bad." Bowing to the obvious concerns of some of the members, the commission decided to obtain more research before making a recommendation on the matter to the Colonial Beach Town Council. "The August meeting was just an initial converSee Murals, page 2
Crepe Myrtles panned Planning commission rejects trusty landscape standby Richard Leggitt
Pity the poor crepe myrtle. When Robert Busick, a member of the Colonial Beach Planning Commission, proposed adding the colorful crepe myrtle last week to the list of native species on the beach town's approved shrubs and trees for landscaping, he ran into a buzz saw. "Crepe myrtles are so passé now," declared fellow commission member Diana Clopton. "The crepe myrtle is not a native species," Clopton told the commission as it worked on recommendations to amendments to a landscaping ordinance for the Colonial Beach Town Council.
"There are four or five other things that are 10 times prettier and have beautiful blooms," said Clopton, a landscaping designer, as the commission conducted its August meeting Thursday. Clopton's resolute comments on the crepe myrtle will be sadly received by the hundreds of Colonial Beach residents who have flowering crepe myrtles growing in their yards or on their property. Crepe myrtles have been a constant for landscapers and gardeners in the Northern Neck for more than 200 years. Crepe myrtles, which feature brilliant clusters of orange, red or purple blooms each summer and fall, have been a staple of southern living since the late 1700s. Originally from China and Japan, the crepe myrtle was
Ensuring kids’ bright beginnings Richard Leggitt
The King George Family YMCA, along with sponsors and volunteers, helped 100 at-risk children get ready for school days last week by providing backpacks full of school supplies and a shopping trip to the Walmart in Dahlgren. "This was the fourth year of YMCA Bright Beginnings," said Elizabeth Taylor, executive director of the King George Y. "This is a wonderful program with so much community support from businesses, private donors and volunteers. It was like Christmas but better." Joining the YMCA in helping prepare children for success at school were over 200 volunteers from the community including the King George Sheriff 's Office and the King George school system, along with members of the King George Foxes varsity football team. Sponsors for the event, which included the Walmart management and staff, the Birchwood Power Plant, Moore Dentistry, NSWC Federal Credit Union, Rotary Club of King George and Subway. The excited schoolchildren participants were provided backpacks full of school supplies. "More than 100 backpacks were donated," said Taylor. "Local businesses donated over half of the backpacks and the
Photo by Richard Leggitt
Members of the King George High School Foxes varsity football team were among the volunteers helping needy children at the YMCA’s Bright Beginnings event last week. More than 100 children received backpacks of school supplies and $100 in clothing for school this year as a result of the program. rest were donated by King George County citizens." "King George County is a county that cares and puts their caring into action!," Taylor said. "The Y was able to distribute any extra backpacks to children on the waiting list for the program." "Every year we try to do some kind of community service project," said King George High School foot-
ball coach Jeff Smith, as he watched his players in their blue and gold football jerseys interact with the young Bright Beginnings participants. "This was a great event for us and for all of the children." In addition to the backpacks of school supplies, the children selected to participate in the Y program See Bright, page 2
Photo by Terry Cosgrove
The rain blew through and a large crowd showed up at Montross’ August First Friday last week. Visitors and residents sat on hay bales to enjoy music, art and wine on a pleasant summer evening.
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See Crepe, page 2