Celebrating Earth Day, Pages 15-19
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April 18, 2018 | Serving Haymarket, Gainesville and Western Prince William County | Vol. 17, No. 16 | www.PrinceWilliamTimes.com | 50¢
Supervisors wary of proposed tax increase on data centers By Jonathan Hunley Times Staff Writer
Prince William supervisors are scheduled to approve a county budget and tax rates for the next fiscal year April 24, but it was unclear as of press time how they might act on the most controversial tax proposal of the budget season. That’s a plan by Board of County
Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart to nearly triple the property tax rate on “programmable computer equipment,” a change primarily aimed at data centers. Stewart, R-At Large, has noted that the county’s property tax rate for computer equipment — $1.25 per $100 in assessed value — is just a fraction of the tax rate county residents pay on personal property such
as cars and trucks --$3.70 per $100. So Stewart wants to raise the computer property tax rate to $3.70, too. The county decreased this tax rate more than two decades ago in an effort to draw high-tech firms, and later data centers, to Prince William. But now that that market is established, Stewart wants to bring the rate back up, a change that could generate about $19.2 million in revenue.
At least two of his fellow supervisors, however, don’t agree. Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Marty Nohe, R-Coles, said he won’t vote to raise the tax on technology, and he noted he has been against the idea since Stewart proposed it. Aiming a tax at data centers targets an industry that pays a lot in See DATA CENTERS, Page 4
‘He was truly Semper Fi’ Quantico loses town councilman in motorcycle crash By Jonathan Hunley and Jill Palermo Times Staff Writers
The Town of Quantico has announced “with great sadness” the death of Councilman Jerre S. Thomas, who died Friday as a result of a motorcycle crash the day before on Interstate 95. Thomas, 57, a retired U.S. Marine Corps master sergeant, was heading north on I-95 when he was struck by a Honda Civic at about 8:15 a.m. on the morning of Thursday, April 12. Thomas was ejected from his motorcycle
Tied to success
See COUNCILMAN, Page 7
PARKING IT IN FIRST PLACE At 6-0, the Forest Park baseball team is dominating the Cardinal District. Sports, Page 21. PHOTO BY DOUG STROUD
School Resource Officer Maria Armstrong, right, helps 14-year-old Rene Parada, an eighth-grader, put on a necktie Thursday at a tie drive at Rippon Middle School. Teacher Ryan Pelkey collected donated ties and gave one to every boy at the school. Story on page 6.
Obituaries...........................................10 Puzzle Page........................................20 Real Estate..........................................24 Sports.................................................21
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Gainesville/Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | April 18, 2018
New environmental research, education complex opens at Belmont Bay The new Potomac Science Center, an environmental research and education complex on Belmont Bay in Woodbridge, is officially open, and research is already being done inside the 50,000-square-foot building on the Occoquan River. The waterfront center, George Mason University’s newest facility, is home to the Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center, or PEREC, which will occupy much of the building. There are wet labs for teaching and research, lecture rooms, offices, a spatial-analysis laboratory and a library resource center. And, of course, there is the Occoquan River. Peggy Agouris, the dean of College of Science at George Mason University, spoke at a recent dedication ceremony and said scientists at the center would be working to develop a “greater understanding of the ecological conditions of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.” Scientists working at the center will focus on restoration of the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay, global climate change, suburban sustainability and management of natural ecosystems, according to a university press release. The center will also welcome high school students from across the region who are interested in science, said George Mason University President Ángel Cabrera. He went on to say PEREC scientists would be im-
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Research is already underway at George Mason University’s new Potomac Science Center, an environmental research and education complex on Belmont Bay in Woodbridge.
mersed in their research at the same time involved in the community. “This is not just scientists working in isolation. They are totally connected to the environment around them and to the communities around them. We are going to inspire new generations of scientists. You’re going to see great stuff happen in this incredible facility,” Cabrera said.
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Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart also spoke at the dedication and said the science center couldn’t have happened without collaboration all around. “The science center here truly is a testament to the great cooperation on many levels of government, the state government, the federal government and the local community here in Prince William County, the local board of supervisors,” said Stewart, R-At Large. “This is also a public-private partnership, and an academic partnership, as well, with George Mason University. We want to thank you for bringing this to Prince William County.” Prince William Supervisor Frank Principi said the science center would further science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, programs in Prince William County. “We also see this center as an investment in the STEM education curriculum in the area. The award-winning K through 12 program that are already being offered by George Mason will continue to
spark our children’s interest in science,” said Principi, D-Woodbridge. Jeff Kaczmarek, the director of the Prince William County Department of Economic Development, said the center is a boon to the county. “The Potomac Science Center is a tremendous asset to not only Prince William County, but the entire greater Washington metropolitan region. The center is viewed as a key building block in growing technology business clusters, STEM activities, workforce development and more, and we looking forward to supporting its full potential.” Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax (D) said the center would have a wide-ranging impact. “I am so honored to be here with you today on this very special occasion, this dedication of a wonderful facility that really is going to not only bring us into a much brighter future but leave a lasting legacy here in Prince William County, but really across the commonwealth and I believe, ultimately, throughout the country,” Fairfax said. – From Prince William County
Community Editor Anita Sherman, 540.351.1635 asherman@fauquier.com Staff Writers ISSN 1050-7655, USPS 188280 Amanda Heincer, 540-878-2418 Published every Wednesday by aheincer@fauquier.com Piedmont Media LLC James Ivancic, 540-878-2414 jivancic@fauquier.com How to reach us Leland Schwartz, 540-351-0488 ADDRESS: lschwartz@fauquier.com 39 Culpeper Street Warrenton, Virginia 20186 Jonathan Hunley PHONE: 540-347-4222 jhunley@fauquier.com FAX: 540-349-8676 HOURS: 8 a.m. 5 p.m. weekdays, Sports Editor 24-hour answering service Peter Brewington, 540-351-1169 pbrewington@fauquier.com Publisher Catherine M. Nelson, Sports Staff Writer 540-300-4780 Jeff Malmgren, 540-874-2250 cnelson@fauquier.com jmalmgren@fauquier.com NEWSROOM ADVERTISING Editor in Chief Ad Manager Chris Six, 540-212-6331 Kathy Mills Godfrey 540-351-1162 csix@fauquier.com kgodfrey@fauquier.com News Editor Classified Sales Consulatants Jill Palermo,540-351-0431 Jeanne Cobert, 540-878-2491 jpalermo@fauquier.com jcobert@fauquier.com Associate Editor Evelyn Cobert, 540-878-2492 John Toler, 540-351-0487 jtoler@fauquier.com ecobert@fauquier.com
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Woodbridge brothers killed in boating accident Staff reports The victims of a fatal boating accident on the Potomac River have been identified as two brothers from Woodbridge. The bodies of Fermin Alvarado, 45, and Matias Alvarado-Arrue, 31, both of Woodbridge, were recovered from the Potomac River on Sunday, April 15, after their 15-foot bass boat capsized in 47-degree water about a mile south of Leesylvania State Park. The accident was witnessed about noon by the crew of a tug boat mooring near Cockpit Point. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police Department, one of several agencies that participated in the hours-long search for the men, identified the victims Monday morning. The bodies have been taken to the medical examiner’s office in Baltimore for autopsies, according to the
FILE PHOTO
Water rescue crews from Charles County, Maryland, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police Department, pictured above, joined the search for two Woodbridge boaters who had been missing since 12 noon Sunday, April 15, after their boat capsized on Cockpit Point.
announcement, which was made via Twitter. The tugboat crew called 911 after seeing the 15-foot boat flip about one
Haymarket drug deal leads to double stabbing, arrest A Haymarket man was arrested and being held without bond Friday after a drug deal turned violent outside a home on James Madison Highway. About 12:49 a.m. Friday, April 13, police were called to a home in the 1600 block of James Madison Highway to in- Jeremy Marshall vestigate a stabbing. Compton Police determined two men Prince William firefighters battled a house fire on Rickover Court in Manassas on Thursday, April 12.
Firefighter injured in Manassas house fire A Prince William County firefighter was treated and released after being injured while battling a Thursday afternoon house fire in Manassas, fire officials said. Just before 4 p.m., units were dispatched to the 9000 block of Rickover Court and found the back of a single-family home on fire.
mile south of Leesylvania State Park in Virginia, U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Andy Kendrick said. Search-and-rescue boat crews
got into a fight during a narcotics transaction outside the home. One man was sitting in a parked car while the other was outside the car when the transaction took place, according to a Prince William County police press release. Sometime during the exchange, the man in the car began to drive away. The man outside the car “dove into the vehicle through an open window then stabbed the driver, a 23-year-old male, with a knife,” the press release said. The driver, who was also armed with knife, then stabbed his attacker in the upper body. The parties eventually separated, and the vehicle drove away, the press release said. One man returned to the Haymarket residence,
from Coast Guard Station Washington, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police, Prince William County, Fairfax County and Charles County began searching the 47-degree Potomac waters shortly after receiving the call for help. The crew from Charles County, Maryland, located one man’s body shortly after 4 p.m. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police reported about 7 p.m. that a second body had been recovered by Charles County crews searching the area around the mouth of Mattawoman Creek. The crew aboard the tug, Amberjack, saw the two men enter the water, but could not locate them by the time they got to the area where the boat capsized. The boat has been secured, and officials are investigating its registration. It’s not clear where the men set off from Sunday or whether either owned the boat, Kendrick said.
and his family members contacted police, the press release said. The driver of the vehicle eventually pulled over in Loudoun County and contacted police. Both parties were flown to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. A search warrant was subsequently executed at the Haymarket residence. Drugs and several firearms were recovered. Detectives with the Violent Crimes Bureau obtained an arrest warrant for Jeremy Marshall Compton, 27, of the 1600 block of James Madison Highway. He was being held without bond Friday. Additional charges are pending. The investigation continues.
The flames were quickly brought under control, but the home sustained extensive damage, Prince William Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Matt Smolsky said Friday, and the injured firefighter was transported to a local medical facility. The five occupants of the home were being assisted by the Red Cross. The cause of the blaze was determined to be improperly discarded smoking materials, Smolsky said. A rendering of Prince William County’s new Central District Police Station, which opened this week on Davis Ford Road.
New police station opens on Davis Ford Road Prince William County’s newest police station officially opened to the public at 7 a.m. Wednesday, April 18. The Central District Police Station is at 5036 Davis Ford Road, between Prince William Parkway and Asdee Lane. Police department employees in the patrol operations and criminal investigations departments will begin working out of the police station April
18, the police department said in a news release. Additional staff members will move into the building in the next few weeks. A public open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony is being planned for the summer, the news release said. The new Central District Station will serve Dale City, Lake Ridge and the eastern areas of Manassas in Prince William County, the police department said.
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