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T he
Colonial Beach • Westmoreland
Volume 40, Number 37
Wednesday, September 14, 2016 50 Cents
helping you relate to your community
Electoral board fires Hicks in surprise move Registrar had been in position for nearly 28 years Richard Leggitt The Westmoreland County Electoral Board Thursday abruptly fired longtime Westmoreland County Registrar Kris Hicks just seven weeks before one of the most contentious presidential election's in the nation's history. The action raised questions and concerns among county officials and citizens, but an official statement by the board provided few answers. The board requested that sheriff 's deputies observe Hicks as she packed up her office. "Kris Hicks has served the county admirably," the board said in a statement. "We wish her the best in her future endeavors." For her part, Hicks said she was conferring with an attorney about her removal, but refused to provide any further comment. Hicks has been the county's registrar and director of elections for
almost 28 years and the firing came just two years before she would have qualified for full retirement benefits. "It is very concerning," said a top county official, who asked not to be identified. The board named Anita Davis, who has previously served as an assistant registrar in Westmoreland County, to the registrar's post. "I am looking forward to accepting this opportunity," said Davis. "Westmoreland County has an experienced and dedicated elections community, and I have confidence that working together we will have a successful November election." The Code of Virginia gives electoral board the authority to remove the registrar from office by a recorded majority vote if the registrar fails to discharge their duties according to law. The board said since it's action was a personnel matter, it would not disclose the reasons for Hick's removal. Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act allows public officials to withhold information from the public about personnel matters at their disSee Hicks, page2
Photo by Richard LEggitt
Longtime Westmoreland Voter Registrar Kris Hicks was abruptly fired last week by the county’s electoral board less than two months before the presidential election. Hicks packed up her office under the supervision of sheriff’s deputies.
C. Beach town official was on scene at 9/11 Blunt details ‘chaos’ of tragic day when terrorists struck at Pentagon Richard Leggitt
Photo courtesy of Arlington Fire Department
Eddie Blunt, with bullhorn, was one of the heroic first responders on the scene 15 years ago on 9/11 when terrorists crashed a jetliner into the Pentagon. Blunt is now a Colonial Beach councilman and businessman.
Colonial Beach businessman and town council member Eddie Blunt was one of the heroic first responders on 9/11 when terrorists piloted a hijacked airliner into the side of the Pentagon touching off an explosion that collapsed the building's floors, killing 189 persons including 64 on the plane. Sunday was the 15th anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil. "When I arrived, there was a lot of black smoke. The impact area was right near the Pentagon's heliport and 55-gallons of jet fuel were exploding into the air. People were abandoning their cars on Route 110 next to the Pentagon. There was chaos everywhere," said Blunt, who 15 years ago was serving as a captain with the Arlington Fire Department. "We set up an emergency medical services treatment and triage area and worked to help the injured. People were running from the Pentagon with their clothes on fire,
other people were knocking them down and rolling them on the ground trying to put out the flames," Blunt recalled. "I immediately called for five helicopters, 20 ambulances and two buses to help evacuate the injured. We knew we were being attacked," Blunt said. "For a time we could see planes circling and you didn't know whether or not it was over." Blunt's actions to help those who were injured and to organize the rescue operation at the Pentagon came at a time when his wife, Kay, was due into National Airport on a flight from Chicago. "At the time we didn't know where the flight that hit the Pentagon was from," Blunt said. "Cell phones were down and it was 24 hours before I learned that her flight was held in Chicago and she was safe." Arlington Fire Chief JIm Bonzano recalled in an interview after 9/11 that Blunt told him, "Jimmy, Kay is flying back from Chicago. He didn't know if she was on that flight. Nobody knew where that plane was from. I said ‘Eddie we need to get you out and he said 'No, I need to be here.'" Blunt called a neighbor to look after his two sons, and stayed on the job. "On Sept. 12, I was assigned to lead a See Blunt, page 2
Film on desegregation set to 3 killed in 3 crashes in premiere Sept. 26 at UMW-D King George in 1 week Students helped to chronicle struggle in King George County Phyllis Cook There were plenty of heroes in the fight to desegregate area schools. Some of them will be lauded in a film premiere later this month. The King George School Board and Ralph Bunche Alumni Association invite the public to the premiere screening of a historical film, “The Road to School Desegregation in King George County,” 5:30 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Dahlgren campus of the University of Mary Washington. The 28-minute video is the result of a collaboration between the Ralph Bunche Alumni group and King George County Public Schools. Claudette Jordon, President of the Ralph Bunche Alumni
Association, said the film project began as a “brainstorm” with Superintendent Dr. Rob Benson in the months following the April 2015 unveiling of an eight-panel historical display telling the story leading up to construction of Ralph Bunche High School in 1949. “As it was virtually impossible for the Alumni Association to travel and show the exhibition panels in all of the schools, Dr. Benson came up with the brilliant idea to make a video to emphasize the historical significance of Ralph Bunche High School as depicted on the panels,” Jordon said. The panels are nearly 7 ½ feet high and 32 inches wide. Each contains a wealth of rich narrative, historic photographs and documentary information telling the Ralph Bunche story. They were created during a semester as a culminating senior project by Dr. Cristina Turdean’s Museum Design & See Film, page 2
Unrelated wrecks claim lives of men, 22, 67, 56 years old Richard Leggitt A King George man was killed last week when his pickup left the road and struck a utility pole. Virginia State Police identified the victim as Alexander Rawlins, 22. Rawlins was driving a 1999 Chevrolet pickup that was traveling south on Round Hill Road on Sept. 6 when the vehicle left the pavement and struck the utility pole. Officers
said speed was a factor in the crash. State Police officers are continuing to investigate the crash. Rawlins, who is the son of Steve and Leslie Rawlins of King George, was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. A memorial service was held Friday in King George. In addition to his parents, he is survived by two brothers, Matthew and Connor Rawlins. The Rawlins family has set up a scholarship fund to honor his memory. Contributions may be made to the Alex Rawlins Memorial Fund c/o Navy Federal Credit Union 3445 Fall Hill Ave Fredericksburg VA 22401.
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A King George man was killed Saturday in the second fatal crash in a week on Round Hill Road. The victim was identified as 67-year-old Glen Davis, who was driving a 1998 Nissan Maxima at the time of the accident. Virginia State Police said Davis’ vehicle was traveling east on Round Hill Road when it ran off the road to the left, then after overcorrecting struck a road sign on the right See Crashes, page 2