Author: Timothy Watson

Even more fraud from Homer Johnson

From Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary [emphasis mine]:

Main Entry: fraud
Function: noun

1 a: deceit, trickery; specifically : intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right b: an act of deceiving or misrepresenting : trick

2 a: a person who is not what he or she pretends to be : impostor; also : one who defrauds : cheat b: one that is not what it seems or is represented to be

Necessary reading before hand: Homer’s ad on B5 of the October 31, 2007, of The Caroline Progress. It’s ironically placed below a story about a haunted house and the ad is pretty damn scary.

Your claim regarding conservators of the peace is an outright lie, from § 19.2-13:

Upon the application of any sheriff or chief of police of any county, city, town or any corporation authorized to do business in the Commonwealth or the owner, proprietor or authorized custodian of any place within the Commonwealth and the showing of a necessity for the security of property or the peace, a circuit court judge of any county or city, in his discretion, may appoint one or more special conservators of the peace who shall serve as such for such length of time as the court may designate, but not exceeding four years under any one appointment.

The sheriff doesn’t have to do anything with the application you fraud! If you support security companies, Homer, why is it that Wackenhut Corporation, a private security company, has donated $1,400 to Sheriff Lippa’s campaign? I don’t see any donations from security companies or security personnel in your campaign documents!

And you say “I stand by what I have said”. You mean the following lies?:

Year: Claimed: As Reported to the FBI:
1992 65% 65%
1993 73% 72%
1994 75% 75%
1995 86% 86%
1996 83% 84%
1997 88% 87%
1998 91% 91%
1999 90% 72%
2000 93% 69%
2001 91% 61%
2002 94% 55%
2003 90% 59%

Why the decrease starting in 1999? Well, starting in 1999, the Commonwealth of Virginia required agencies to submit data in incident base format (with details about every crime) instead of monthly tally sheets as had been done before. As for his claimed 91% solve rate in 1998 and before, it’s completely bogus. For five years, he claimed he solved 100% of the rapes that were reported to the sheriff’s office. The national solve rate for rape is only 41.3%. He claims he solved 91.46% of the larcenies that occurred in 1998. How did he accomplish this when the national solve rate for larcenies is only 18.0%? Are we to believe that Homer Johnson is, in fact, the dark knight, the caped crusader, Batman?

If Homer was the master of criminal investigation, why isn’t he the police chief for the Richmond Police Department or the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, instead of working at the local Q-Mart?

More crap from his ad:

About the addendum cards, they were used for information only. Addendum cards contain information from citizens who called in to report something out of the ordinary to the Sheriff’s Office. For example, a citizen would call the Sheriff’s Office to say that someone had drove off the road and ran into their fence, or that someone had thrown trash in the woods on their property. Addendum cards had nothing to do with any on-going active cases.

So, misdemeanor or felony destruction of property doesn’t get investigated by your sheriff’s office? Trepassing and littering doesn’t either? I’m still waiting on you to find out who smashed up my family’s mailbox and the mailboxes of pretty much everyone on my road. No deputy responded, explain that, would you? Did those dozen mailboxes end up on addendum cards too?

And Homer, where do you get the nerve to refer to Sheriff Lippa as “Mr. Lippa”? Just because he beat you with 66% of the vote when you were a twelve year incumbent?

And you have the gall to refer yourself as “Sheriff Homer G. Johnson, ret.”? Is it considered retirement when you only receive 33% of the vote as a twelve year incumbent? I think that’s called being the laughing stock of the county!

And you claim that “[Sheriff] Mr. Lippa is slamming some of the finest record keepers of the Caroline Sheriff’s Department had”. First, it’s a sheriff’s office, something you should know since you were sheriff for twelve years (yes, I know, you spent most of the time at the New Yorker). Second, Lippa isn’t slamming the record keepers, he’s slamming you and your policies. I’ve heard from several of your own personnel that they were not supposed to take reports on stolen items that were covered by insurance. Explain that, would you? How about your claim in a telephone call that you prioritized cases so they would be cleared by the time crime reports were due instead of the actual importance of the case?

You claim to have hired the first African-American deputy? Funny, the information I’ve seen says that he was hired by Ottie J. Moore.

As for your “open door” policy, is that the same open door policy that you used to flee from questions at the Caroline County Constitutional Officers Candidates’ Forum? “I have to go to the bathroom”. He goes in and comes out after five seconds (did you wash your hands?) and then runs through the nearest open door to get away from questions! And he has to get his wife to talk to the people! I heard you did the same thing at the Lake Caroline forum too!

Another claim:

Continuing the battle against drugs, utilizing all available sources and seeking grants

Really? Then why have drug distribution arrests more than doubled since Lippa became sheriff? Why was it that Caroline County from 1996-1998 was ranked 128th out of 132 jurisdictions for arrests for the sale of narcotics?

Another claim:

Being more than just a “traffic division”

Really? Then why did your platform summary in 2003 include the following: “to expand traffic control programs”? I didn’t know you could expand traffic control beyond having a deputy at every cut-through on Route 301 like you used to have Homer. I can get a deputy when I need one now Homer unlike when my neighbor died and his widow and another neighbor were told all your deputies were on I-95!

Is there anything you won’t lie about? The convicted drug user support and the convicted felon support maybe?

Bill Pickett NOT for gas tax increase

From an email exchange [emphasis mine]:

Please understand that I am not for any new taxes! I was asked the question at a meet what avenues would I look at if the county needed more revenue.

For example, if there was an emergency need for additional revenue.

[…]

Our county needs to be run as a business. I come from a business/production (productive) back ground. I believe in running a lean organization. We must have a strong administration.

I care about our county.

William O. “Bill” Pickett

Mattaponi Board of Supervisors

  • HONESTY
  • INTEGRITY
  • HARD WORKING
  • ACCOUNTABLE

IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE

  • To make absolutely certain that the tax dollars that go to our school system are spent wisely. Last year I had the opportunity to visit the “building class” several times at Caroline High School. A class of about 30 had little to no materials. We also need a tolerance level established and enforced. We cannot expect our children to be taught properly without giving our teachers the proper tools.
  • Review budgets in detail to avoid unnecessary spending. I do not believe we are getting a “bang for our buck”. The right Priorities must be established and followed.
  • Review future planned projects and developments carefully so they will thrive and not become a burden to residents or create traffic congestion at the present or in the future. Spend a little time at the Carmel Church intersection and you will see what I mean. Now it is going to cost several million in state tax dollars to clean up this mess and Ladysmith is headed in the same direction! It is inevitable that this county will continue to grow as we provide necessary utilities but schools and community need to come first. We must properly plan at the front end now.
  • Provide assistance to our law enforcement agency, to keep our neighborhoods free of crime and corruption. Provide our fire and rescue stations with additional man power to cover the growth rate.
  • Use available resources to keep Caroline clean. Tax dollars are collected for keeping our county clean, but it seems they are not being utilized. I personally like my neighbor hood clean.
  • We must have a strong County Administration to make sure all county funded departments are performing. These folks work for you and I. A properly managed county will thrive, but most of all Caroline will be a place we are proud to call home.
  • Please vote for me this coming November, One person can make a difference!

Update on Shelia Boone

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch: Woman pleads guilty to fraud [emphasis mine throughout]:

Shelia Mae Boone pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of federal bank fraud for writing one $1,000 check to herself on the account of the lawyer for whom she worked.

That lawyer is Harvey Latney Jr., who works part time as the commonwealth’s attorney in Caroline County in addition to his private law practice. Boone was his only employee.

U.S. District Court documents on Boone describe a period of at least two years when she was forging checks on bank accounts set up by Latney for money he was holding for clients and estates he was handling.

The single-check bank fraud charge replaces the three original counts against the 49-year-old Caroline resident — one of identity theft and two of bank fraud for allegedly forging two checks, one for $86,786.54 and the other for $185,000.

A statement filed with her guilty plea yesterday states that she stole a total of $92,930.42, including the $1,000. That leaves at least $178,000 not accounted for by Boone’s plea agreement or statement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Gill declined to comment on the case.

So, where’s the money?

Boone’s lawyer, Arnold Henderson, said he agreed with federal prosecutors that the single bank-fraud count “was the appropriate charge to bring” against his client.

“I don’t know what’s truly missing from Mr. Latney’s accounts,” Henderson said. “My investigation does not reveal that Ms. Boone had any involvement above [the $92,930.82].”

Well, that answered my question…

George Chabalewski, counsel for the Virginia State Bar, confirmed last month that the bar has opened an investigation of Latney because of the missing money. Chabalewski would not say who initiated the bar complaint or provide other details.

Craig S. Cooley, the lawyer representing Latney in the State Bar complaint, said no suggestion of impropriety or dishonesty by Latney has emerged in that investigation or information developed in the Richmond Circuit Court case against Boone. The Richmond charges were dropped in favor of the federal case.

Good one, Harvey. Get the guy that beat you in a murder case to represent you before the bar. How’s that reimbursement fund going Craig?

Cooley said Boone stole from Latney and from some of his clients.

“Her responsibility is substantially more than $93,000,” Cooley said.

And John Ames acted in self-defense when he confronted someone with two firearms and shot the person four times, right?

Boone’s statement says she wrote a number of checks on Latney’s bank accounts without his authorization or knowledge. She deposited some of the checks and cashed others, all for her personal use.

The two checks she was initially charged with forging were deposited into her account. Both were drawn on an account holding funds from the estate of Florence C. Williams, who died in 2002. Latney was the executor of the estate.

Members of the Williams family had been complaining at least since last year about how long Latney was taking to settle the estate. One of the city’s commissioners of accounts started looking into the complaints and eventually discovered money was missing.

Authorities have said they believe Boone kept Latney in the dark by erasing voicemail messages left for him by the commissioner of accounts, by accepting summonses to court on Latney’s behalf and not telling him about them and by writing letters forged with his signature in response to questions about the Williams estate.

Bank fraud carries a maximum possible sentence of 30 years, but Boone’s penalty is likely to be less when she is sentenced Feb. 8 by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.

A convicted drug user supports Harvey Latney (and Homer Johnson, Maxie Rozell, and Calvin Taylor)

No big surprise there, right?

Pamela Joan Mastropaolo (also a shoplifter extraordinaire), pled guilty to a felony charge of obtaining drugs by fraud (§ 18.2-258.1) in Henrico County Circuit Court. It was latter reduced to a misdemeanor charge of obtaining drugs by fraud.

She was still on probation from her previous shoplifting escapades however no show cause was issued in Williamsburg/James City County Circuit Court for violation of probation. I’m sure that had nothing to do with the fact that the Commonwealth’s Attorney in Williams/James City County is a Democrat and Pamela Mastropaolo and her husband Michael happen to be big Democratic contributors, right?

She’s also working as Latney’s campaign manager. She’s also going around claiming to be a reporter at the Richmond Times-Dispatch. According to a phone call to the Richmond Times-Dispatch’s office, she no longer works there. So, who am I to trust? The person that has pled guilty to two felonies already, or the person I talked to at the Richmond Times-Dispatch?

Also, according to Latney’s most recent campaign finance report the address given for Pamela Mastropaolo is:

1417 Brook Road
Richmond, VA 23220

That just happens to be the address for Harvey Latney’s office.

So Harvey, why do you have someone that has twice pled guilty to felonies in your office and helping on your campaign?

So Homer, are you going to stop having a convicted drug user and shoplifter hand out signs for you? Oh wait, you’re already the convicted felon choice for sheriff…

So Maxie, are you going to return that campaign contribution?

So Calvin, ditto on the campaign contribution?

Pamela Mastropaolo helping to hand out signs for Homer Johnson, Harvey Latney, and Calvin Taylor at the Frog Level Harvest Festival.

Pamela Mastropaolo (center, in the tent on the right) chatting with Maxie Rozell (right, in the tent on the right) at the Frog Level Harvest Festival.

pdficon_small

PDF of Pamela Mastropaolo’s sentencing order [social security number and date of birth redacted].

pdficon_small PDF of Harvey Latney’s most recent campaign contributions.

Shelia Boone to plead guilty

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch: Ex-secretary to plead guilty to embezzlement:

Shelia Mae Boone, accused of embezzling thousands from a dead woman’s estate through the lawyer she worked for, is scheduled to plead guilty today in federal court.

The lawyer she worked for, Harvey Latney Jr., works part time as the commonwealth’s attorney of Caroline County.

Boone, a Caroline resident, had been scheduled for trial next week. She was indicted in August by a federal grand jury on two counts of bank fraud and one of aggravated identity theft.

She is scheduled to plead guilty under the terms of an agreement with federal prosecutors.

The indictment alleges that she deposited two forged checks into a Wachovia Bank account, one written for $86,786.54 in September 2002 and one for $185,000 in January 2005.

Both checks were drawn on an account holding money from the estate of Florence C. Williams, who died in 2002.

Latney was the executor of the estate. Boone was the only employee in Latney’s law practice in Richmond.

Boone is charged with bank fraud for the two alleged forged checks and with identity theft for allegedly using Williams’ name on them.

Authorities said Latney was “totally taken aback” when authorities discovered the missing money. That was after authorities started to investigate complaints from the Williams family about how long it was taking to settle the $420,000 estate.

Authorities have said they believe Boone kept Latney from seeing letters about the Williams estate and replied to some of them herself, forging Latney’s signature. They think she erased some voice-mail telephone messages and accepted court summonses for Latney without telling him.

UPDATE: From the Richmond Times-Dispatch: Lawyer’s aide pleads guilty to fraud:

Shelia Mae Boone pleaded guilty this afternoon to one count of bank fraud for embezzling money from an escrow account kept by Harvey Latney Jr., the lawyer she worked for.

Latney, besides having a private law practice, works part-time as commonwealth’s attorney for Caroline County.

Boone, 49, of Caroline, was charged in U.S. District Court with two counts of bank fraud and with one of agravated identity theft.

Under her agreement with the U.S. attorney, Boone pleaded to the single count and stipulated that the loss from her fraudulent actions is $92,930.42.

Boone, who was the only employee in Latney’s law practice, admitted writing checks drawn on Latney’s bank accounts maintained for clients. The activity started in 2004 and lasted at least until November 2006.

The maximum possible prison term for bank fraud is 30 years. Boone’s penalty will likely be much less at her sentencing, scheduled for Feb. 8.

Nice to see the mental health system has improved in Virginia…

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch: Slaying suspect was off his meds:

The man police say stabbed a 70-year-old woman to death in Richmond on Saturday morning suffered from a schizophrenic condition and had not been taking his court-ordered medication, according to a law-enforcement source.

The source also said suspect Johnny F. Hughes, 52, was charged with attempted murder in the mid-1990s but was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Court records indicate that Hughes was convicted in June of carrying a concealed weapon. He was sentenced to seven months in jail, with six months suspended.

The court ordered Hughes to take anti-psychotic medicine, the source said, and he was to be monitored by the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority. Attempts to reach the authority yesterday were unsuccessful.

Less than five months after his conviction, Hughes encountered Susanne L. Thompson on Saturday shortly before 9 a.m. as she walked her dog on West Broad Street near the Department of Motor Vehicles’ main offices. Moments later, she was dead, stabbed multiple times with a large pocketknife.

Caroline Board of Supervisors Candidate Profiles (with commentary from me)

From The Free Lance–Star: Three seek Bowling Green seat in Caroline:

After serving on the Caroline County Board of Supervisors since 1988, Robert Farmer of the Bowling Green District is calling it quits for this year’s election.

Farmer’s absence from the ballot ushers in three new contenders for the Bowling Green seat–two independents and one Republican.

The other four incumbents are seeking re-election, with three facing challengers.

In the Madison District, John Green takes on incumbent Wayne Acors, who has been on the board since 1988. Floyd Thomas is being challenged by independent Bill Pickett in the Mattaponi District and Port Royal District incumbent Calvin Taylor faces Bobby Popowicz.

Reedy Church incumbent Maxie Rozell is unopposed.

Yes, I know, it’s unfortunate, isn’t it?

Bowling Green district

There’s a three-way competition for Farmer’s seat between Independents Damon Gray, George Spaulding and Republican Jeff Sili.

Sili, who served eight years on the School Board, noted education, economic development and water quality as the most important campaign issues.

At a recent candidates forum, Sili noted that in his job as a systems engineer, he develops technologies for five years down the road. He wants the same planning for the county.

“We need to look forward, we need to be visionary, we also have to make sure we have a plan that is feasible when we get there,” Sili said.

Spaulding, who has been on the School Board for 13 years, said his list is topped by growth, education and citizen services, specifically for the Sheriff’s Office and fire and rescue.

As a retired teacher and coach, Spaulding says he could devote more time to being a supervisor.

“I don’t have a full-time job, this would be my full-time job,” he said at a recent forum. “Some questions you can’t answer unless you are on the job.”

Gray did not respond to The Free Lance-Star’s request for personal and campaign information, but was present at the forum.

A 40-year resident of the county, Gray said he believes the county should offer incentives to businesses to relocate to the district. He also said he supports more funding for small parks in the county.

Madison district

Wayne Acors, who has held the district seat for close to two decades, lists managed and planned growth, education and transportation as leading issues.

When asked at a recent forum about boosting the county’s water supply, he cited current plans to withdraw water from the Rappahannock River and the recent purchase of a well in Ladysmith.

“Planned growth”? Is spending over $40,000,000 to transport water from the Rappahannock River to Ladysmith “planned growth”?

You guys in Ladysmith have fun drinking water that would have been cheaper to go to Food Lion, buy some bottle water, and pour down a pipe. Also have fun drinking wastewater (from Fredericksburg) that hasn’t been treated properly and water that has high levels of PCBs (thanks, in part, to the old Sylvia Plant).

Acors, also, was it your brilliant idea to use an emergency resource to send out a Department of Economic Development press release?

John Green, a lifelong county resident, called the county’s water and infrastructure plans “flawed” and “ill prepared.”

“We’re under mandatory water restrictions,” Green said. “There’s a water shortage all across the state. We’ve got to aggressively pursue obtaining water.”

Green listed public safety, education and development as his top priorities.

The two had opposing views on the BPOL tax and school topics as well.

Acors said he would not vote to eliminate the BPOL tax; Green said phasing it out would make the county more business-friendly.

When asked what the most important issues were for Caroline schools, Green said cooperation between supervisors and the School Board.

Acors said he supports the School Board, but has to consider other county services in budgeting, too.

“I’d like to give the School Board all the money in the world that they ask for, but I’m a realist,” he said.

You support the School Board when it helps your district. When is Bowling Green going to get a new school?

Mattaponi district

Bill Pickett favors working closely with the School Board to improve facilities, running the county in a professional manner and addressing police, fire and rescue needs as a result of growth.

Floyd Thomas, who has held the seat since 1992, supports increased funding to schools, providing more job opportunities for residents and maintaining the quality of life by managing growth but keeping a rural feel.

The two were asked at a recent candidate forum about measures they would propose to make supervisors more available to residents. Both favored dedicated e-mail and phone calls as ways for constituents to contact them.

On a related question about bringing all county technology up to date, both had similar ideas.

Thomas suggested putting new computers in places such as grocery stores so residents could have more access. Pickett said more computers and computer programs would improve communication throughout the county.

Stop wasting money and you might be able to do that.

port royal district

Taylor, like Thomas, has also served on the board since 1992.

He faces opposition from Popowicz, who believes forming a five-year budget plan for schools, altering the county’s comprehensive water plan and keeping the tax burden off of citizens are all top priorities.

Taylor listed effective citizen communication, quality education for students, and balancing development to maintain a rural county while attracting business as his election issues.

“Quality education”? The county fails to make adequately yearly progress in 66% of the schools, SAT scores are down 6.12% and the lowest in the region!

At a candidate forum earlier this month the two were asked how using historical assets in the district for tourism could bring in income for the county.

Popowicz said he’s in favor of signing the county onto free statewide programs in order to promote tourism. Taylor said income from county tourism could be used to benefit students, parents and other citizens in the district.

Wait a second, isn’t the money from the hotel tax going to help pay for the visitors center? From one of Percy Ashcraft’s letters to the editor at The Caroline Progress: “Operation of the visitor center will be paid for exclusively from the Tourism Fund. This fund generates approximately $150,000 per year from transient occupancy tax (“hotel/motel tax”) revenues charged to visitors who stay overnight in the county’s motels.” You’re really on top of things there Calvin…

When asked what they’d do to attract and retain small upscale businesses, grocery stores, shops and restaurants, they took a different approach.

“As far as the county as a whole, I think we need to do everything we can in our comprehensive plan to provide ares where stores coming in can be profitable,” Taylor said. “We need to look at utilities in various areas and areas that are conducive to the kind of industry we want.”

You mean like banning the outdoor displays of businesses?

Popowicz said he supported an “aggressive” economic development plan, including phasing out the BPOL tax.

“We have the means, we just have to put through the effort,” he said. “I think we need to look at our industrial parks because they are key to this economy.”

A breakdown of the parade of champions (the incumbents) and the challengers:

BOWLING GREEN DISTRICT

NAME: Damon L. Gray

ADDRESS: File Road

POLITICAL PARTY: Independent

AGE: 55

OCCUPATION: Building contractor, Progressive Homes

NOTE: Gray did not respond to a questionnaire about his campaign.

NAME: Jeff Sili

ADDRESS: Bowling Green

POLITICAL PARTY: Republican

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Served on Caroline County School Board from 1992 to 1999. Chair of Caroline Republican Committee. Ran for supervisor in 2003.

AGE: 48

FAMILY: Married

OCCUPATION: Senior systems engineer

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, Norfolk State, 1987

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Bowling Green Baptist Church: member, serves on drama and technology teams and numerous others; former president, Caroline Chamber of Commerce; Caroline Ruritans; appointment to General Assembly’s JCOTS Technology Committee.

THREE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THIS RACE: Education, economic development and water quality.

NAME: George Spaulding

ADDRESS: Bowling Green

POLITICAL PARTY: Independent

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Bowling Green Town Council, eight years; Caroline County School Board, 13 years

AGE: 69

FAMILY: Married, two daughters

OCCUPATION: Retired educator (33 years as teacher, coach and administrator)

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s, University of Charleston, 1958; master’s, William & Mary, 1966

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Calvary Baptist Church, chairman of Deacons for 35 years, adult Sunday school teacher, Bible school teacher; member, Physician’s Advisory Committee, Virginia Primary Care Associates.

HONORS, AWARDS WON: Coach of the Year, Fredericksburg Area; State All Star Coach, 1975; Sports Hall of Fame, Williamson High School, Williamson, W.Va., 2003; “Key to the County” from Caroline County Board of Supervisors, 2007.

THREE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THIS RACE: Growth, Education, Citizen’s Services (Sheriff’s Office, Fire and Rescue).

MADISON DISTRICT NAME: Wayne A. Acors

ADDRESS: Ladysmith

POLITICAL PARTY: Independent

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Has served on Board of Supervisors for 20 years.

AGE: 60

FAMILY: Wife, Julia; two children

OCCUPATION: Traffic manager

EDUCATION: Attended University of Richmond

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Ladysmith Baptist Church and the Madison Ruritan Club

THREE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THIS RACE: Managed & planned growth, education and transportation.

NAME: John C. Green

ADDRESS: Golansville

POLITICAL PARTY: Independent

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Ran for board seat four years ago

AGE: 46

FAMILY: Divorced

OCCUPATION: 25 years as a firefighter and paramedic with Chesterfield County Fire and EMS, the last 18 years as a flight paramedic on Med-Flight I

EDUCATION: Graduated from Caroline High School, 1979; pursuing a degree in emergency medical services at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Member of Ladysmith Rescue Squad since 1979, held numerous offices including seven years as captain, earned Life Membership in 1999; member, Ladysmith Volunteer Fire Company, 1978 to 1988; represented Caroline on the Rappahannock EMS Council Board of Directors in the mid-1990s. Member of Carmel Baptist Church.

HONORS, AWARDS WON: Ladysmith Rescue Squad, Squad-person of the Year 1991 and 1996, H&H Award for Meritorious Service 1994; Greater Richmond Retail Merchants Association 2003 Bronze Star Valor Award recipient; numerous unit citations and life save awards with Med-Flight I and Chesterfield Fire and EMS.

THREE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THIS RACE: Public safety (fire protection and EMS); education (comprehensive plan for improvements, facilities and staff); and development (proper infrastructure for growth).

MATTAPONI DISTRICT NAME: Bill Pickett

ADDRESS: Cool Water Drive

POLITICAL PARTY: Independent

AGE: 52

FAMILY: Wife, Frances; two sons

OCCUPATION: Director of operations, Hoover Treated Wood Products, Milford

EDUCATION: Malcolm Community College, Warren, Michigan; Certified Building and Planning, Commonwealth of Virginia; Class A Building License, Commonwealth of Virginia

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Briefly got involved with the Caroline High School building class last year and saw the need for materials to teach the course; plans to help again this year.

THREE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THIS RACE: Work with School Board to improve quality of education. Run the county in a professional manner (budget and planning, develop a strong county administration). Address growth’s impact on police, fire and rescue.

NAME: Floyd Thomas

ADDRESS: Bowling Green

POLITICAL PARTY: Democrat

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Chairman, Citizen Solid Waste Task Force, 1991; member, Board of Supervisors, 1992 to present.

AGE: 51

FAMILY: Wife, Linda; one daughter

OCCUPATION: Sales representative, Oracle Corporation

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s, Howard University School of Architecture and Planning, 1979; Project Management Certificate, The College of William and Mary, 1987.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Trustee, St. Stephens Baptist Church; member, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity

HONORS, AWARDS WON: National Competitive Scholarship, Howard University; Omega Man of the Year Award, 1992; Intergraph sales awards 1996, 1997; Caroline school recognition for Germanna scholarship program, 2007.

THREE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THIS RACE: Increase funding for education; provide more job opportunities for county residents; maintain the quality of life (manage growth and maintain a low tax rate; do not implement a gas tax).

PORT ROYAL DISTRICT NAME: Bobby Popowicz

ADDRESS: Guinea Station Road

POLITICAL PARTY: Republican

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Ran for supervisor in 2003.

AGE: 39

FAMILY: Single

OCCUPATION: Loan officer, Flagstar bank

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, Bridgewater College, 1993

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Port Royal Ruritans; Property Associations of Virginia (POAVA); International Executives Guild.

HONORS, AWARDS WON: Letter of Commendation from governor of Virginia in December 1996 for disaster relief evaluation effort

THREE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THIS RACE: Develop a five-year school budget plan to fund repairs and improvements; planning (comprehensive water plan and aggressive economic development); keep tax burden off citizens (cap assessment increases, phase out BPOL tax).

NAME: Calvin Taylor

ADDRESS: Stonewall Jackson Road

POLITICAL PARTY: Democrat

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Member of the Board of Supervisors, 1992 to present; former president of Caroline County Social Services Board; former president of Caroline County Education Association; member and education committee chairman, Virginia Association of Counties

AGE: 56

FAMILY: Wife, Wanda; two sons

OCCUPATION: Educational consultant; retired from Caroline County schools after 33 years as a teacher and later assistant principal at middle school

Wait a second, educational consultant? Didn’t you say the following a couple months ago: “Also, I’m now retired and I really have the time that’s necessary to be an elected official.”?

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, Virginia Union University; master’s degree, Virginia Commonwealth University

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site), Fredericksburg

THREE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THIS RACE: Effective citizen communication to provide an appropriate quality of life, quality education; a balance between planned development and maintaining rural character; attracting business and industry while maintaining a low tax rate.

Operation Crack (Out) of Dawn

From the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office: Operation Crack of Dawn [emphasis mine]:

The Caroline County Sheriff’s Office concluded the largest undercover drug operation in the history of the department with a series of arrests that took place last night.

Operation Crack of Dawn began in February of 2005 when Caroline Narcotics Investigators initiated an investigation into a large scale organized drug ring being operated out of the Dawn area of Caroline County. As the investigation progressed and identified drug suppliers outside of Caroline County the Caroline Sheriff’s Office joined forces with the Virginia State Police, the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration to complete the investigation.

Investigators from the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office and the Virginia State Police set out yesterday evening to conclude this operation by arresting six remaining suspects on Caroline County Circuit Court indictments for drug distribution related charges. As a result they arrested Kevin Smith of Spotsylvania, Terry Goodall of Ashland, Shawn Braxton of Richmond and De’Lonte Morris, Travis Tillman of Caroline County. While attempting to arrest one of these suspects Investigators went to a known drug distribution area of the county and a foot chase with three individuals followed. Investigators caught all three of the suspects that ran and seized drugs from all three of them resulting in additional charges. From this one foot chase Investigators seized $3,000.00 worth of suspected crack cocaine, $500.00 worth of suspected marijuana and $1,000.00 in cash.

This operation began in February of 2005 when Caroline Narcotics Investigators initiated an investigation into a large scale organized drug ring being operated out of the Dawn area of Caroline County. As the investigation progressed and identified drug suppliers outside of Caroline County the Caroline Sheriff’s Office joined forces with the Virginia State Police, the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration to complete the investigation. During this operation Investigators seized more than six kilograms of cocaine with a street value of over a half of a million dollars which was transported or intended to be transported to Caroline County. Investigators also seized more than 20 vehicles which were purchased with illegally obtained monies including boats, motorcycles, SUV’s, and luxury vehicles along with $50,000.00 in cash.

Over the course of this operation Investigators indicted a total of 62 suspects, 47 of which were residents of Caroline County and 15 suspects from other areas such as the City of Richmond, Hampton, VA, King William, VA, Mecklenburg, VA, Hanover, VA, Woodbridge, VA, New York City and Atlanta GA. This operation also led to the arrest of a wanted fugitive from Caroline County that has been wanted for drug distribution related charges since 1999. Caroline Narcotics Investigators estimate that by breaking this ring of sixty two suspected cocaine dealers they have prevented the shipment of three million dollars worth of cocaine per year into Caroline County.

Most of the suspects in this case have been tried and convicted by either the United States Attorney’s Office or the Caroline County Commonwealth’s Attorney. Thus far, prosecutors have maintained a 100% conviction rate with sentencing ranging from suspended jail time with drug diversion programs to life imprisonment.

Sheriff Tony Lippa stated, “This operation was a great success and dealt a major blow to illegal drug dealers in and around Caroline County. I would like to thank all of the law enforcement agencies and Officers involved in this operation for their hard work and dedication. Furthermore, I want to thank the citizens of Caroline County that played a vital role in this operation by furnishing information, by expressing their concerns and supporting this Sheriff’s Office.”

From CBS 6 in Richmond, Virginia: Just On 6: Caroline Deputies Clean Up The County:

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UPDATE: From NBC12 in Richmond, Virginia: Caroline County indicts more than 60 on drug charges:

Caroline County officials have indicted more than 60 people in an undercover drug operation spanning more than two years.

The sheriff’s office is calling this Operation Crack of Dawn. Deputies have broken up an organized drug ring in the Dawn community, which they believe was bringing in more than $3 million worth of cocaine to the county each year.

The Caroline County Sheriff’s Office has wrapped up its largest undercover drug operation in the history of the department. For the past few years, deputies have been working to crack open an organized drug ring in the Dawn community, made possible by its proximity to major roadways.

Now, 62 suspected cocaine dealers from New York to Atlanta — the majority from Caroline County — are facing charges and tens of thousands of dollars worth of evidence has been seized.

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UPDATE #2: From NBC12 in Richmond, Virginia: Caroline County indicts more than 60 on drug charges (6 o’clock story):

The largest undercover drug operation in the history of Caroline County has broken up a multimillion-dollar cocaine ring. Officials say it’s a win in a significant battle in their war on drugs.

Caroline County Sheriff Tony Lippa says they have been working on this for more than two years now in conjunction with other local agencies and at the state and federal level.

Sixty-two people have been indicted and tens of thousands of dollars worth of evidence has been seized.

Multiple cars are now evidence in a multimillion-dollar drug ring that was being run out of the Dawn community of Caroline County. Officials are calling the drug bust Operation Crack of Dawn.

They’ve indicted 62 people as suspected cocaine dealers, 47 of whom are from Caroline, and they’ve taken away anything they think could have been helping move the drugs.

Sheriff Lippa says the war on drugs is an ongoing battle in Caroline County, specifically because their close proximity to major roadways creates a problem with drug trafficking.

Police believe this drug bust alone will stop more than $3 million worth of cocaine from making its way into the community each year — something he hopes is a step in the right direction, especially for Dawn.

You can call in anonymous tips to the sheriff’s office. The tip line is 633-1133.

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Your county tax dollars at work…, Part 4

Paying for help wanted ads for a private company? And using the Roam Secure Network to send out a press release (scroll down) by the Director of the Department of Economic Development, Gary Wilson, as an “emergency alert” for the same company?

On October 10, 2007, the Director of the Department of Economic Department, Gary Wilson, and the County Administrator, Percy Ashcraft, send out a press release as an “emergency alert” to the email accounts of subscribers of Caroline County’s Roam Secure Network. A separate “emergency alert” was sent to subscribers’ cell phones telling them to check their email for the press release.

The press release included comments from Maxie Rozell, Floyd Thomas, and Wayne Acors regarding the announcement that VSE, Inc. was adding a 100 new jobs to their organization. Apparently, the county doesn’t have anything better to do with our tax dollars than use an emergency resource to send a press release for candidates less than a mouth before an election.

In the October 24, 2007, editions of The Caroline Progress (p. B3) and The Free Lance-Star (p. E12) there was ads for the same company, VSE Inc., with the statement that “Caroline County Board of Supervisors announces that […]” and that the “The Jobs Hotline is a free service to Caroline Businesses.” The ad in The Caroline Progress was a half-page ad. When’s the last time the Sheriff’s Office or the Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Management had a half-page ad paid for them?

Free service to businesses? What about the taxpayers in the county? Ads for The Caroline Progress and The Free Lance-Star can cost in excess of $1,000.00. Can a private business not pay for their own damn ads instead of the taxpayers paying for propaganda for the members of the Board of Supervisors?

So, tell me, Maxie (since I know you come to this blog), how much money are you and your buddies on the Board of Supervisors, along with Percy Ashcraft, and Gary Wilson, wasting? And Maxie, why wouldn’t you answer my comment on your own blog (which you have since blocked access to)?

Also, Maxie, who at the Department of Economic Department has nothing better to do than edit Wikipedia pages?

Funeral Held for Deputy Killed in Crash

From MyFox Washington DC: Funeral Held for Deputy Killed in Crash:

Friends, family, and fellow officers said a final goodbye Thursday to a Stafford Sheriff’s Deputy killed in the line of duty. Jason Mooney was killed when he lost control of his cruiser while responding to an accident. Fox 5’s Sherri Ly reports.

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From Fredericksburg.com: Video: Stafford Deputy Jason Mooney laid to rest:

Friends, family and representatives from more than 20 law enforcement and fire and rescue agencies gather to remember Stafford Deputy Jason Mooney.

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Some photographs here and here.