Category: Caroline County

Caroline man tries, fails to smear Albert Pollard.

From The Free Lance-Star: Pollard should be more experienced than this!:

Pollard should be more experienced than this!

Many of us have noticed that large “Pollard” signs have suddenly appeared around the district.

On closer inspection, it appears that these signs have been recycled from the previous state Senate campaign, with the lower portion cut off.

There is nothing wrong with that. The problem is that in cutting off the bottom, those who posted the signs have also eliminated the mandatory authorization line, which must be part of any political advertising.

In Title 24.2 of the Code of Virginia, Chapter 9.5 includes instructions for including the statement “Paid for by [Name of candidate or campaign committee]” on campaign materials.

Those instructions also state that “any disclosure required by this section shall be displayed in a conspicuous manner.” Under 24.2-955.3 of the code, certain penalties are prescribed for violation of these laws.

These signs have begun to appear throughout the district. Just curious: How can someone with such vast experience in government service have overlooked such a simple requirement?

Jeff Gerau

Caroline

Amazing job there getting it wrong.

From § 24.2-955:

The disclosure requirements of this chapter apply to any sponsor of an advertisement in the print media or on radio or television the cost or value of which constitutes an expenditure or contribution required to be disclosed under Chapter 9.3 (§ 24.2-945 et seq.) except that the disclosure requirements of this chapter do not apply to (i) an individual who makes independent expenditures aggregating less than $1,000 in an election cycle for a candidate or (ii) an individual who incurs expenses only with respect to a referendum.

From § 24.2-955.1:

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

“Advertisement” means any message appearing in the print media, on television, or on radio that constitutes a contribution or expenditure under Chapter 9.3 (§ 24.2-945 et seq.). “Advertisement” shall not include novelty items authorized by a candidate including, but not limited to, pens, pencils, magnets, and buttons to be attached to wearing apparel.

[…]

“Print media” means billboards, cards, newspapers, newspaper inserts, magazines, printed material disseminated through the mail, pamphlets, fliers, bumper stickers, periodicals, website, electronic mail, and outdoor advertising facilities. If a single print media advertisement consists of multiple pages, folds, or faces, the disclosure requirement of this section applies only to one page, fold, or face.

“Radio” means any radio broadcast station that is subject to the provisions of 47 U.S.C. §§ 315 and 317.

[…]

“Television” means any television broadcast station, cable television system, wireless-cable multipoint distribution system, satellite company, or telephone company transmitting video programming that is subject to the provisions of 47 U.S.C. §§ 315 and 317.

Nowhere does it say that campaign signs (with the exception of billboards) have to have disclaimers on them. You can, of course, put disclaimers on them if you want but you don’t have to.

No local candidate had disclaimer information on their campaign signs on the side of the road in the last general election.

When Robert Wittman was running for reelection for his 99th House of Delegates seat his signs did not have disclaimers either.

After the general election, when Wittman was running for the Republican nomination for the special election for Virginia’s 1st Congressional District and after he won the nomination: he reused the same signs — ones that didn’t have disclaimers on them.

If this is the best that Lee Anne Washington supporters can come up with, she’s really in trouble…

More on the telecommuting program

From http://www.visitcaroline.com/telecommuntingad.html :

Wireless telecommunication pilot program begins February 1

The Caroline County Board of Supervisors has teamed with Virginia Broadband on a pilot project to allow residents to telecommute from the Community Services Center located at 17202 Richmond Turnpike (adjacent to Bowling Green Primary School) in Bowling Green.

The details of the new service, initiated by Board Chairman Floyd Thomas, are as follows:

  • Available every Friday beginning February 1 from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. in a reserved room in the Community Services Center
  • Wireless Internet connections will be available
  • Partitions will be used to separate work areas and allow for privacy

The new program will be monitored throughout the month of February to determine the level of public interest. If there is sufficient interest and participation, the program will continue beyond February.

For more information, please contact Information Technology Manager J.P. Montague at jpmontague@co.caroline.va.us 804 212-6011.

January 22, 2008 – Board of Supervisors meeting roundup

CALL TO ORDER

INVOCATION

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA

Added “I) Emergency Procurement – Videotaping” to the consent agenda and “Dominion Power Presentation” as the second item under Presentations/Reports.

OPENING BOARD COMMENTS

Chairman Floyd Thomas announced that the county would start a trial telecommuting program at the Emergency Operations Center tentatively scheduled for every Friday in February. Details are still being worked out. Contact County Administrator Percy Ashcraft for more information.

RECOGNITION OF EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR

Finance Accountant Clerk Blanche Johnson of the Finance Department and Firefighter/Medic Leigh Doucet of Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Management were named Co-Employees of the Year.

PRESENTATIONS/REPORTS

  • Report from FRED Transit Manager

The county requested FRED put in for a grant that would pay for most of a bus route between Ladysmith and the VRE station in Fredericksburg. Locations for pickup in Caroline County are in the Ladysmith area (exact locations to be determined).

  • Dominion Power Presentation

Dominion Power is planning on building two new power turbines and a 450 kilovolt line in Upper Caroline. The Free Lance-Star has more [scroll down] and Dominion Power is holding an open house at Upper Caroline Volunteer Fire Department on January 31.

  • Update on Status of Lewis & Clark Elementary School Construction

The Free Lance-Star: Caroline school opening on hold

  • Presentation of FY 2008 Mid-Year Financial Report

Projected budget surplus if I heard correctly (see how long that lasts). Sales tax revenues are up 6%.

REPORTS FROM SUPERVISORS

  • Education
  • Utilities/Public Works
  • Finance
  • Public Safety
  • Economic Development

Commissioner of Revenue Sharon Carter gave a presentation on the “Composite Index of Local Ability to Pay” which is used by the Commonwealth of Virginia to determine how much money each school district gets from the state. According to the formula used by the state, Caroline County is better able to pay for their schools than Spotsylvania County!

Why?

Because the formula uses the county’s true values of real estate that is assessed even if the property is exempt from real estate taxes!

Say like 22.2% of the county in this one area called “Fort A.P. Hill”!

And as required by the Constitution of Virginia: “All assessments of real estate and tangible personal property shall be at their fair market value” even if the property is exempted from taxation!

And before you ask, I doubt that Fort A.P. Hill brings that much money into the county: the base has a small amount of personnel that are permanently stationed there that would be spending their money in the county, there is a negligible civilian personnel (outside of force protection and fire/rescue) there compared to Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren, for example, that would bring in money either.

Bravo, General Assembly, Bravo.

APPOINTMENTS

  • Fredericksburg Regional Alliance – Board of Supervisors Representative

Sili nominated by Rozell, seconded by Acors: 5-0.

  • Industrial Development Authority (IDA) – Reedy Church District
  • Rappahannock Area Agency on Aging (RAAA) – Citizen Representative
  • Recreation Advisory Committee – Port Royal District
  • Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) – Mattaponi District
  • Green Government Commission

Sili nominated by Acors, seconded by Rozell: 5-0.

  • Committee of Governing Body Members

Popowicz nominated by Acors, seconded by Rozell: 5-0.

Sorry, didn’t catch the names for the other appointments.

CONSENT AGENDA

A) Approval of Minutes

B) Approval of Warrants

C) Proposed Purchases Over $7,500

D) Review of Planning Commission Actions

E) Approval of Change Order #9 for Courthouse Renovation Project

F) Approval of Visitor Center Payment Request #12

G) Approval of Change Orders #17 and #18 for Visitor Center

H) Approval of Supplemental School Appropriations

I) Emergency Procurement – Videotaping

Approved.

7:30 P.M. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Two parents voiced their complaints regarding the plans to move students into Lewis & Clark Elementary School during the middle of the school year.

One citizen expressed concerns regarding his property values and safety concerns of having another power line run through his property with Dominion Power’s plans.

One citizen expressed concern over the (extremely stupid) regulations that the Planning Commission is considering.

Floyd Thomas tentively allowed public comments on the Ladysmith Sub Area Plan (which normally wouldn’t be allowed since it was on the agenda) but rescinded the courtesy after one citizen decided to read verbatim from a letter he had sent to the Board after being told not to do so.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

Proposed Acquisition of Property by Condemnation (Ladysmith Solid Waste Convenience Site)

Moved to closed session at Ashcraft’s request.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Adoption of Ladysmith Sub Area Plan

Continued until the February 26th meeting. Public comments will be allowed at the February 12th meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

Renewal of Medical and Dental Insurance Coverage for the Period of March 1, 2008 to February 28, 2009

Approved. Popowicz proposed, Rozell seconded: 5-0.

Selection of Firm to Provide Executive Search Services

Search services needed due to vacant Finance Director position. Approved.

Proposed Establishment of Lieutenant Classification in the Department of Fire & Rescue

Position needed due to the increased amount of paid personnel (especially since Field Supervisor/Captain Brady Grim is still recovering from injuries sustained in a car accident). Approved.

INFORMATIONAL/CALENDAR ITEMS

  • Board/Staff Liaison Guidelines
  • Update on Radio System Upgrade (Voter Project)

CLOSING BOARD COMMENTS

Reminder about telecommuting program.

CLOSED MEETING

ADJOURNMENT

If I missed anything, leave a comment.

Next meeting: February 12, 2008.

There will be a joint Board of Supervisors/School Board meeting work session February 4th 5th at 6:30 pm at the Community Services Center to discuss education issues.

UPDATED: Charges against Lashawn Monroe certified

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch: Murder charge certified against Caroline man:

Felony charges were certified today to a Caroline County grand jury against Lashawn Monroe in the November slaying of Raquel Hunter.

Hunter’s body was found about 11 p.m. Nov. 10 on the ground outside the Madison Ruritan Club hall in Ladysmith. The hall had been rented for a birthday party for another teen.

Monroe, 22, is charged with murder and illegal use of a firearm.

Next stop: Grand jury.

Not sure if the charges will go to the special grand jury (not sure it has been formed yet) or if they will have to wait until April for the regular grand jury.

UPDATE: Richmond Times-Dispatch: Caroline murder trial advances:

A Ruther Glen man accused of killing a 16-year-old outside a birthday party on the night of November 10 had a murder charge against him certified by a judge to a grand jury today.

Lashawn Montque Monroe, 22, is charged in the death of Raquel (pronounced Rockwell) Tremain Hunter, 16, after a fight at the party at the Madison Ruritan Club in Ladysmith..

Party crashers, including Monroe, were ejected from the party, according to testimony in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court today. A melee ensued and the shooting took place about 11 p.m. in the Ruritan Club parking lot.

Javon Edwards, 18, testified that he saw “a big pile of people on top of each other,” including Hunter. He said he helped separate the fighters and noticed that Hunter “swung at somebody.”

He said he was standing next to Hunter when he heard a gunshot and saw a flash between Hunter and Monroe — and then watched Hunter slump to the ground.

Queried by Caroline County Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael M. Weise and defense attorney John L. Mahoney, Edwards said he could not say who fired the shot.

“The flash came from the front of who?” Weise asked Edwards.

“The defendant,” Edwards said.

Detective Travis Nutter testified when he began interviewing Monroe a few hours later, Monroe denied having a gun. Later, said Nutter, Monroe admitted that he took a handgun to the party and fired it.

Nutter testified that Monroe told him he saw a “friend and someone else in a confrontation” outside the Ruritan building and when he heard a shot, “he pulled his gun out and shot as he was running away.”

A state medical examiner, Shane Chittenden, testified that Hunter’s body bore three bullet wounds.

Mother charged in Bowling Green Primary School gun incident

From The Free Lance-Star: Mother charged in school gun case:

The mother of a 4-year-old Bowling Green Primary School student who authorities said brought a gun to school last week, was charged Saturday.

Caroline County Sheriff Tony Lippa said the woman, who was not named to protect the identity of her child, was charged with recklessly leaving a firearm so as to endanger a child under the age of 14, which is a class 3 misdemeanor.

Lippa said the mother told police she kept the gun loaded and in plain sight for protection for the child and herself.

He said a lesson should be learned from the incident and parents should remember to separate ammo and guns and to get gun locks, which are free at the Sheriff’s Office, for their guns.

He said however, that he understands there’s a tradeoff for those who want their gun for immediate use, such as protection, as in this case.

Lippa said he was not sure whether the woman would face any additional charges, but he said she will go to court on at least the one charge Feb. 26. She was charged in a summons.

The loaded pistol was found in the boy’s possession last Thursday when a fellow student spotted it and told a teacher.

The police were then called, the report taken and the gun confiscated, according to previous police reports.

Lippa said it’s important to remember and be thankful that no one was hurt.

“We avoided a tragedy,” he said.

Another Busy Week: Weekly News Media Briefs – Week Ending January 19, 2008

From the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office: Weekly News Media Briefs – Week Ending January 19, 2008:

On January 14, 2008, Deputy C. M. Polliard responded to a break in at an apartment in Bowling Green. After investigating, Antoine T. Johnson, 18, of no fixed address, was charged with breaking and entering and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He was ordered held under a $2,000 bond and an arraignment date of January 15, 2008 was set.

On January 15, 2008, Deputy C. M. Polliard stopped a vehicle for a traffic infraction. After investigating, Cornelius Jones, 36, of Woodford was charged with felony driving after being declared an habitual offender. Also charged with driving under the influence was William T. Jones, 59, of Woodford. He was released on his own recognizance and a court date for both was set for January 16, 2008.

On January 15, 2008, Deputy K. H. Eichenmiller responded to a Ruther glen address for a report of a larceny. After investigating, a warrant for felony larceny was obtained for Phillip O. Harris, 32, of Ruther Glen. The warrant was served on January 17, 2008. Harris’ court date and bond amount were not available.

On January 17, 2008, Lt. K. L. Chatman was called to a primary school in the county for a weapons violation report. After investigating, a juvenile was found to have brought a weapon to school. The parent of the juvenile was charged with recklessly leaving a firearm so as to endanger a child under the age of 14. The parent was released on a summons and a court date of February 26, 2008 was set.

On January 18, 2008, Deputy M. A. Dip responded to a report of trespassers in Port Royal. After investigating, Tonya T. Deloach, 32 and Warren V. Deloach, 44, both of Port Royal, were each charged with driving under the influence and refusal to submit to a breath test. Both were released on their own recognizance and arraignment for both was scheduled for February 1, 2008.

On January 18, 2008, Deputy M. M. Ellett stopped a vehicle for a traffic infraction. After investigating, Charles L. McGhee, 42, of Hanover was charged with driving while his license is suspended – 3rd or subsequent offense. He was ordered held on a $1,000 bond and an arraignment date of January 27, 2008 was set.

On January 18, 2008, Deputy S. Mullane encountered a vehicle in Carmel Church. After investigating, Amber E. McBrayer, 27, of Ruther Glen was charged with driving while her driver’s license is suspended – 4th offense. She was ordered held on a $1,000 bond. Also charged was Rufus A. Davis, 31, of Carmel Church. Davis had 2 outstanding failure to appear warrants. He was ordered held without bond. A court date of January 23, 2008 was set for both.

On January 18, 2008, Deputy C. M. Polliard stopped a vehicle in Penola for a traffic infraction. After investigating, Murphy C. Fountain, 46, of Ruther Glen was charged with driving under the influence. He was released on a personal recognizance bond and a court date of February 3, 2008 was set.

On January 19, 2008, Deputy C. S. Wooldridge and Sgt. C. A. Rozell responded to a disturbance at a business in Ladysmith. After investigating, Gotardo F. Miguel, 19, of Mineral was charged with being drunk in public and underage possession of alcohol. Also charged with being drunk in public was Rueben Hernandez, 30, of Mineral. Both were released on personal recognizance bonds and arraignment dates of February 29, 2008 were set for both.

On January 19, 2008, Deputy M .M. Ellett stopped a vehicle in Dawn for a traffic infraction. After investigating, Anthony W. Goff, 36, of Leander, TX was charged with driving under the influence. He was ordered held on a $1,000 bond and an arraignment date of February 22, 2008 was set.

On January 19, 2008, Deputy C. A. Heywood stopped a vehicle for a traffic infraction. After investigating, Robert A. Columbus, 33, of Woodford was charged with driving under the influence and refusal to submit to a breath test. He was released on his own recognizance and an arraignment date of February 1, 2008 was set.

WANTED (preferably dead):

Wile E. Coyote

And a serious picture (click for a bigger version):

(Both pictures from Wikipedia.)

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch: OUTDOORS: Expect invasion of coyotes:

Chances are most city goers and suburbanites in Virginia don’t think of coyotes as a native species. Maybe they’re from the American West. Or, if they’re here, they’re probably hiding out in the mountain redoubts of far southwestern Virginia. There’s no way Henrico County or the City of Richmond is coyote country, is there?

In fact, that’s exactly the case. And while it’s true that coyotes aren’t native to this state, their population and range has been steadily increasing for years. So while we may think of the wily coyote as an exotic species, it’s one many Virginians will be getting to know on a much more intimate level in years to come.

Coyotes are one of the only species whose range and numbers have grown along with human expansion and intrusion into formerly wild areas. The key to the spread of the coyote across this state, as in the rest of the south and east, is its flexibility in diet and preferred living quarters.

“They’re adapted to brushy, disturbed habitat, and they’re very adaptable in their diet,” said Mike Fies, furbearer program director with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. “They’re omnivores. They’ll eat just about anything. Everything from dog food in trash to mice, rodents, deer and livestock.“

Don’t forget cats and small dogs as well.

Coyotes, whose dimensions are usually similar to a medium-size dog (30-40 inches long, 40-45 pounds), are considered a nuisance species in Virginia and can be hunted all year. Fies said the most recent statistics – those from July 2005 through June 2006 – show almost 12,000 reported coyote kills by hunters. That’s a significant jump from previous years.

This year, Varina resident Eddie Griggs joined that group while deer hunting at his hunting club in Buckingham County. He said club members killed seven during deer season and saw maybe 10 others they didn’t get a shot at.

“We went from seeing none to seeing a couple maybe three years ago, then a couple more. Then this year it’s just exploded.

“This year, we’ve really noticed that we don’t have the deer population we used to, especially the younger deer. We made it a point to check the yearling deer. It is nowhere near what it has been.”

Griggs hunts all over the state – Buckingham, Fairfax, Prince George, Caroline counties – and he said he’s seen greater numbers and heard people talk about the rise of coyotes everywhere he’s gone.

UPDATED: Gun found at Bowling Green Primary School in Caroline

NBC12 News: Gun found at Bowling Green Primary School in Caroline:

A gun was found at Bowling Green Primary School in Caroline County Thursday.

The Sheriff’s Office is releasing little information at this time, but say they got a call about the weapon from the school and quickly recovered the gun.

They could not say whether it was or loaded or not.

The investigation continues.

UPDATE: From The Free Lance-Star: Boy, 4, brings gun to school in Caroline:

A 4-year-old brought a loaded pistol to Bowling Green Primary School yesterday, but didn’t intend to hurt anyone, according to the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office and school officials.

Lt. Col. Michael Timm of the Sheriff’s Office said no one was hurt and immediate action was taken after the boy was seen in class with the gun.

The weapon was confiscated and the boy’s family was called, he said.

The Sheriff’s Office is investigating but no charges are expected, Timm said.

According to Virginia law, “recklessly” leaving a loaded firearm within reach of anyone under age 14 is a Class 3 misdemeanor.

The student will be suspended, said School Board member Tamara Redding, who said she spoke with Bowling Green Primary Principal Debra Holt.

Another student saw the gun in the boy’s backpack and thought it was a toy but told the teacher anyway, Redding said.

The teacher immediately took the backpack to the office, she said. “My understanding is that [the gun] was never out of the backpack.”

Redding said she thinks students aren’t even allowed to bring toy guns to school.

Holt called the student’s mother and asked her to come to the school before calling police, Redding said.

In a letter sent home to parents, Holt wrote that there was never a threat.

“Upon discovery, the situation was appropriately and immediately resolved,” she wrote. “No one was injured, nor was there ever any threat of injury.”

This new story brings up an even bigger question: who the heck is Lt. Col. Michael Timm?!

There’s a Major Michael Timm of the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office as of September 27, 2007, from The FL-S: CAR WASH CAPER Two NABBED IN STRING OF COIN THEFTS PAIR DIDN’T GET AWAY CLEAN:

The Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office received a tip Tuesday night that two men would soon be pulling one of the burglaries somewhere on Jefferson Davis Highway, said Maj. Michael Timm.

UPDATE #2: The story has since been fixed at The FL-S and now reads “Lt. Col. Michael Hall”. The original story (without corrections) can be viewed here (courtesy of Google Cache).

I’m a descendant of President George Washington — wait, never mind…

The Journal Press: Republican Lee Anne Washington is facing Democrat Albert Pollard for 99th District seat:

Republicans have now assured Democrat Albert Pollard the he will not get a free ride on February 19.

White Stone attorney and Town Council member Lee Anne Washington is now the Republican candidate for the 99th District House of Delegates position that was vacated one month ago, when Delegate Rob Wittman resigned from the elected position in order to begin his duties as a U.S. Congressman. A special election will be held on Tuesday, February 19.

[…]

Questions emerged about the single mother’s family and Washington corrected the record, explaining that she is not a President George Washington descendant but a cousin or niece, many times removed.

I may not have the best of them “book smarts”; but how could anyone be a descendant of President George Washington when he had no biological children?!

What next? Is she going to say she’s a descendant of Robert E. Lee or Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson?

New prediction: Albert Pollard win with 75% of the vote (up from my prediction of 70%).

(H/t: Fred2Blue)

Great — we made the AP…

And that’s never good — because they never write anything good about this area.

From the AP via Richmond Times-Dispatch: Caroline woman’s cats found gutted:

A Caroline County woman became suspicious that someone was targeting her cats after they started showing up dead on the side of the road in front of her house.

A veterinarian’s report and a Caroline animal control investigation shows that Karen Mikkelsen’s suspicions might be right: at least two of the five cats that have died were cut vertically along their abdomens and gutted.

Mikkelsen says her first cat died three years ago, but she didn’t become suspicious until four were found dead since Thanksgiving.

Caroline Animal Control Deputy Assistant Officer J. Heffler says the office began an investigation after they were alerted to the deaths last week.

The perpetrator could be charged with a class 6 felony and face up to five years in prison.

The Free Lance-Star article has more details (the next post down).