DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
Vol. 30, No. 21 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | September 25, 2013
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Man humble about burning car rescue By Jodi Deal jdeal@mechlocal.com On a routine afternoon drive home from a roofing job in Charlottesville, Varina resident Dave Ludwig did something that has his friends, family and co-workers insisting he’s a hero. Ludwig, who is heavily involved in Boy Scout leadership in the Mechanicsville area, said he is dubious about the use of that word. As he sees it, it was instinct LUDWIG — not heroism — that led him to pull a young woman from a car accident just moments before Dave Ludwig, a leader in the Mechanicsville Boy Scout program, has been nominated for the Lifesaving/Meritorious Action award.
her car erupted in flames. It was about 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9, and Ludwig was driving home from a roofing job in
PRSRT. STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Photo courtesy of Dave Ludwig
Dave Ludwig took this photo of the car accident he came upon on Aug. 9. He pulled a young woman from the car just seconds before it went up in flames.
Charlottesville with two of his co-workers from Whitley Roofing and Sheet Metal when the car in front of them started to drift toward the left side of the road, correct course, then drift again. “Finally, it just started fishtailing in the grass near the Manakin overpass,� Ludwig said. “It came back on the road, spun around and slammed into the guardrail, front first.� Ludwig slammed his brakes and stopped about 10 feet from the wrecked car, noticing in his rearview mirror that a tractor-trailer behind see RESCUE, pg. 8
Cadets to bike 102 miles to support injured military Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com Ryan Long of Mechanicsville will be biking 102 miles on Saturday, Oct. 5, to raise $20,000 for the Semper Fi Fund. A cadet at the Virginia Military Institute he and three fellow cadets are supporting the fund, which supports injured military from all branches of the Armed Forces and their families. Donations may be made through a secure website. The link is http://www.razoo.com/ story/102mi-Cycling-EventFor-Semper-Fi-Fund. Within the link, Ryan’s mother Denise said that beneath the photo of the four VMI cadets there is a photo of the founder of the Semper Fi Fund, which is actually a video explaining its mission. She asked that the commu-
Photo submitted by Denise Long
Cadet Ryan Long of Mechanicsville, left, will join with fellow Virginia Military Institute cadets Travis Via, Schafer Wymond and Nick Mathis in biking 102 miles to raise money for the Semper Fi Fund.
nity “Please consider donating any amount, large or small. It is all appreciated.� Those who would prefer not to donate online may mail donations – with checks made
payable to Semper Fi Fund – to Cadet Ryan Long, Virginia Military Institute, VMI Box #80809, Lexington VA 2445003034. The memo line is 120 mi cycling event, Ryan Long.
ShortTerm. HighYield.
Member FDIC
Call 1-800-443-5524 for the branch nearest you EssexBank.com
*Annual Percentage Yield, accurate as of September 16, 2013. Virginia and Maryland depositors only. Minimum deposit required to open: $500.00. Penalty for early withdrawal.