Opinion
Festivals
News
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See more coverage and photos of fall festivals
Police and fire department news from around the region
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T he
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King George
Volume 40, Number 41
Wednesday, October 12, 2016 50 Cents
helping you relate to your community
Local folks brave rain, wind for fall festivals Weather puts a chill on Colonial Beach’s 3rd Bikefest
Fifty-eighth King George Fall Festival goes on despite weather Richard Leggitt
Richard Leggitt Wet, windy and chilly weather put a damper on the Third Annual Colonial Beach Bikefest last weekend. Organizers of the four-day event courageously attempted to recover Sunday when skies cleared and the sun came out, but unfortunately many bikers, visitors and vendors had departed by that time. Randy Goodyear, a vendor from Newport News, huddled under his tented booth Saturday afternoon, his merchandise covered to protect it from the rain. "This is getting old," Goodyear said. "This is the second time in three years we have had rain during this event." The culprit this year was Hurricane Matthew, which sent bands of rain and wind to Virginia from its landfall in the Carolinas. During the Saturday performance of popular band Foghat, on the large stage set up near the Riverboat Restaurant and off track See Bikefest, page 2
thew made for difficult conditions for the event's parade, drenching participants and spectators. But the damp, cold conditions may have actually helped drive attendance at the fall festival's indoor activities at King George High School. Crowds were large and joyful as they visited the food and craft vendors at the high
King George held its 58th annual Fall Festival last weekend, and like much of Virginia had to battle the weather. The wet and windy storm kicked up by Hurricane Mat-
See Festival, page 2
Photo by Richard Leggitt
The Colonial Beach Boardwalk was virtually abandoned Saturday afternoon as Bikefest vendors battled wind and rain generated by Hurricane Matthew. Sunday saw better weather and the return of some of the Bikefest crowds.
Photo by Bonnie Gouvisis
Fall Festival Pageant winners Azaria Wallace (Baby Division), Kennedy Byrd (Pre-Teen Division) and Natalee Crevelina (Young Miss Division) had smiles despite the rain during the parade.
Spotsylvania shooting fracas Plan to turn trash into tip fee treasure ends in arrest of KG resident
Local man held for shooting police dog, at officers Richard Leggitt
A King George man is being held without bond today in the Rappahannock Regional Jail after allegedly shooting at two Spotsylvania sheriff 's deputies and wounding a police dog last week. The suspect, Joseph E. Conway, 34, was arrested at an an airport motel in Richmond two days after the shootings. Conway is charged with two counts of attempted capital murder and possessing a firearm as a felon. Spotsylvania Sheriff 's Capt. Jeff Pearce said more charges are pending.
The shootings occurred Oct. 4 near a Sheetz on Lafayette Boulevard in Spotsylvania after officers stopped a car for a minor traffic infraction. The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody after it was learned he was wanted by Fredericksburg authorities. While the driver was being arrested, a passenger in the vehicle whom officers identified as Conway, got into an argument with officers at the scene and then began fleeing. A police dog named Dux, a 2-year-old German shepherd, began pursuit of the suspect but was allegedly shot by the fleeing fugitive. Officers allege that Conway also opened fire on them. None of the officers were shot, but they returned fire and chased the suspect. According
to officers, the suspect escaped. When he was arrested two days later after a massive manhunt, Conway reportedly had a leg wound as a result of his exchange of fire with the Spotsylvania officers. The wounded police dog, Dux, was rushed by officers to an emergency animal clinic where he received surgery. The dog is expected to make a full recovery and was being hailed as a hero by Spotsylvania officers who were on the scene of the shooting. "Dux should be commended for his heroic actions during his attempt to capture a fleeing suspect," said Spotsylvania Maj. Troy Skebo. "The outpouring of community support for Dux and for our officers has been overwhelming and is very much appreciated."
Dahlgren, Shiloh set to get new fire stations Supervisors OK funding Phyllis Cook King George is slated to get two new fire stations in the next few years, with the King George Board of Supervisors approving $547,340 for a professional services agreement with LeMay Erickson Wilcox Architects PC on Sept. 20. The agreement is to provide prede-
sign, programming and conceptual design phases of the project which includes two fire houses. County administrator Travis Quesenberry was asked when he expected the design to be completed and construction to begin. “I do not have a timeline for construction,” Quesenberry said. “We have not executed the agreement yet. They are reviewing our standard professional services agreement. We will only be issuing a notice to proceed
for the programming and conceptual design phases. The timeline will be set out in the final agreement based on an agreed-upon date for the notice to proceed.” The scope of work will not include the bid phase or construction phases, with the fees for those services to be negotiated prior to bidding the projects. That’s because the site selection and acquisition for both fire stations have not been formally finalized.
One fire house, new Company 2, will be sited in Dahlgren and is planned to replace existing Company 2 on Dahlgren Road. The board has met in closed session several times in the last year to discuss acquisition of property, but no announcement has been made. Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, public bodies are allowed to close meetings to discuss property acquisiSee Fire, page 2
Supervisors, staff update residents Dahlgren town hall meeting covers Parks & Rec, new fire stations, mixed use plans Phyllis Cook
Photo by Phyllis Cook
King George Parks & Rec chief Tim Smith asked residents for input on what programs they would like.
King George Supervisors John Jenkins and Chairwoman Ruby Brabo held a Dahlgren town hall meeting on Oct. 3, drawing about 25 people. “So much is happening since the first of the year,” Brabo said. She recapped some actions by the board, including a new website to be developed, changes expected to allow beekeeping in residential areas and planners to work up
architectural standards for commercial properties. The county is also looking into creating mixed use areas within the courthouse district, with both commercial and residential uses. “And the Economic Development Authority is working on a complete streets project to revitalize the courthouse area of the county.” She also cited plans for new water lines and sewer extensions. “The county is cash funding the water/sewer line extension to the Routes 3/301 intersection and will be decommissioning of the Purkins Corner wastewater treatment plant and rerouting it to Hopyard,” Brabo said. See Update, page 2
to get hearing Nov. 9
File photo by Phyllis Cook
The King George landfill could go 100 feet higher if a proposed amendment gets approved.
King George close to landfill amendment to allow it to go 100 feet higher Phyllis Cook King George County Landfill Manager David R. Howard announced the county could have approval for a major landfill permit amendment by Thanksgiving. The amendment would allow increasing the height of the landfill by 100 feet, estimated to bring in over $100 million in additional host tipping fees during an extended 15 years of trash disposal. That would be expected to start in about 15 years from now, with higher tipping fees to the county. But sooner than that, within six months of regulatory approval by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Waste Management would begin paying the county an additional $3 million, in increments of $500,000 annually over the next six years. “I have great news regarding the
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vertical expansion. As of tomorrow, we will be in The Journal with our public notice that starts our 30 day public notice process,” Howard said. He is also Senior District Manager for Waste Management Inc. “After that, the Department of Environmental Quality has 14 days to respond to residents’ issues or anything that comes up at that public hearing itself. We’re getting very close to buttoning up this project. And it will be really, really close, but we may have the permit before Thanksgiving.” The announcement was made at the Oct. 4 meeting of the King George County Board of Supervisors. A public hearing on the matter will take place 7 p.m. Nov. 9 at the King George High School auditorium, located on the north side of Route 3 (Kings Highway) east of Dahlgren Road (Route 206), 10100 Foxes Way. See Landfill, page 2