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Warrenton’s vision for new restaurants, new image. Page 3
April 18, 2018
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Warrenton man to serve 6 years for neighbor’s shooting death Night of drinking led to 2017 fight that killed Larry Walker By Amanda Heincer Times Staff Writer
CELEBRATING EARTH DAY: Pages 25-29
Steve Walker compares the days following his older brother’s shooting death to trying to solve a puzzle. Steve Walker was home in Richmond when his mother
called him on Feb. 19, 2017, to tell him his brother, Larry Alan Walker, had been shot. The shooting happened at a home on Turkey Run Road that a family friend, Richard Turner MacDonald, rented from Walker’s parents.
See DEATH, page 4
After winning canvass, Schumacher pledges to heal GOP divide By James Ivancic Times Staff Writer
TIMES STAFF PHOTO/JAMES IVANCIC Greg Schumacher talks to a voter outside Fauquier High School during the Fauquier County Republican Committee canvass for a new chairman. Schumacher beat Harry Burroughs in the contest.
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INSIDE Calendar.............................................40 Classified............................................42 Communities......................................38 Education.............................................9
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Farming..............................................12 Libraries.............................................14 Opinion...............................................10 Obituaries...........................................16 Public Safety.......................................13
See DIVIDE, page 4
Puzzles...............................................30 Real Estate..........................................37 Religion..............................................17 Sports.................................................31
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HIP, HIP, HOORAY FOR HIGHLAND: Freshman Jackson Gimbel and the Hawks have moved to No. 1 in the VISAA Division II baseball poll. Page 31
Greg Schumacher said he knows some healing has to happen within the Fauquier County Republican Committee, and he is ready to start that process when he takes over as its chairman. “I know it’s not going to happen overnight,” Schumacher said after winning a party canvass Saturday, April 14. Schumacher won his first twoyear term at the head of the local GOP organization in an election that also saw his supporters win 20 of 21 at-large committee seats. Schumacher won the race at the top of the ballot, beating opponent Harry Burroughs with 863 to 726 votes cast at Fauquier High School in Warrenton.
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NEWS
Fauquier Times | www.fauquier.com | April 18, 2018
Gregarious gift for gorillas
When it comes to the study of gorillas, Dian Fossey is a name that comes to mind. An American primatologist and conservationist, she is best known for her decades-long study of mountain gorillas in the forests of Rwanda. She died in 1985 but her legacy lives on in such vehicles as the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, which celebrated a 50-year anniversary in 2017. It was very warm Saturday afternoon at the WARF in Warrenton as hundreds of children with their parents and friends poured onto the fields for soccer games, roller hockey or to enjoy the playground area. It was also an opportune time for folks to get introduced to the work of Dian Fossey and the fascinating life of gorillas. His cheeks blushed from the day’s sun, 7-year-old Reeves Blackmon, along with his
FAUQUIER FOCUS parents, Phillip and Laurel, and brothers, Thomas, 4, and Lincoln, 2, were manning a table selling cool, refreshing cups of lemonade. Oh, correction, LemonAPE. In the fall of last year, Reeves, a homeschooled student, became interested in Classified Sales Consultants Jeanne Cobert, 540-878-2491 jcobert@fauquier.com Evelyn Cobert, 540-878-2492 ecobert@fauquier.com
ISSN 1050-7655, USPS 188280 Published every Wednesday by Piedmont Media LLC How to reach us
Community Editor Anita Sherman, 540.351.1635 asherman@fauquier.com Associate Editor John Toler, 540-351-0487 jtoler@fauquier.com
ADDRESS: 39 Culpeper Street Warrenton, Virginia 20186 Staff Writers PHONE: 540-347-4222 James Ivancic, 540-878-2414 FAX: 540-349-8676 HOURS: 8 a.m. 5 p.m. weekdays, jivancic@fauquier.com 24-hour answering service Jonathan Hunley, jhunley@fauquier.com Publisher Catherine M. Nelson, Leland Schwartz, 540-351-0488 540-347-4222 lschwartz@fauquier.com cnelson@fauquier.com NEWSROOM Editor in Chief Christopher Six, 540-212-6331 csix@fauquier.com News Editor Jill Palermo, 540-351-0431 jpalermo@fauquier.com Web/Copy Editor Amanda Heincer, 540-878-2418 aheincer@fauquier.com
Sports Editor Peter Brewington, 540-351-1169 pbrewington@fauquier.com Sports Staff Writer Jeff Malmgren, 540-874-2250 jmalmgren@fauquier.com ADVERTISING Ad Manager Kathy Mills Godfrey 540-351-1162 kgodfrey@fauquier.com
Chairman Emeritus George R. Thompson To place Classified and Employment ads: Call 540-351-1664 or fax 540-349-8676, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday — Friday or email fauquierclassifieds@fauquier.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Call 540-347-4222 Help with your subscription? Call 540-878-2413 or email CirculationFT@fauquier.com Missed your paper? Call 540-347-4222, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays Subscription: $69.68 per year within the United States. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Fauquier Times, 39 Culpeper St., Warrenton, VA 20186. Periodicals postage paid at Warrenton, Va. and at additional mailing offices
gorillas. “I read about them, that they are endangered and I wanted to do something,” said Reeves with a broad smile adding, “And my mom said ‘yes.’” His idea became a reality when the family helped him set up a stand. Chillier then, he sold his first cup of hot KoKo (cocoa). Koko is a gorilla famous because of her ability to use sign language. She also had a baby. Winter turned to warmer weather and now Reeves is back with lemonade. Asked if Reeves has seen a gorilla, he acknowledged that he has and was quite impressed. “When I was 6, I saw one at a zoo in Knoxville,” said Reeves, who was delighted when the gorilla’s baby approached him. “But the mother grabbed her back,” smiled Reeves who donned a gorilla suit last Halloween. “It drew attention so people would ask about it and then I could tell them what I was doing and perhaps they would donate,” said Reeves who thinks that gorillas are very cool beasts but also has learned that they are threatened from poachers, disease and the loss of their natural habitat. The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund supports ongoing work to help gorillas in the wild, and Reeves’s mission is to help contribute to their efforts. His table has books about gorillas and when you buy a cup it may have a label with a gorilla fact and where you can learn more about the Fossey fund. In the short time this young entrepreneur has been in business, he has raised $1,782. Setting up a GoFundMe account was fortuitous as the organization gave him $1,000 for being a “young hero.” The remainder he has raised through his sales of lemonade and hot Koko. Deftly taking in donations, usually $1, Reeves was busy pouring lemonade to thirsty passersby who inevitably asked about his project. “I really like math,” he said, “and drawing…and adventuring.” Reeves said he enjoys playing outdoors, climbing trees and visiting a nearby creek with his friends. The family moved to a small farm in
Reeves Blackmon Jeffersonton from Arlington about three years ago to give their three sons more space to roam. “I was a teacher and administrator for many years and am now an educational consultant working with schools on curriculum and social justice education through LCB Consulting. I am also a doctoral candidate at the University of Maryland in teacher education and professional development,” said Reeves’ mother, Laurel. Phillip, Reeves’ father, is a commercial real-estate attorney working in Washington, D.C. “He’s always been compassionate and an activist,” said Reeves’ proud mother who was more than happy to accommodate his vision. “We are thankful to join the warm, vibrant Fauquier community and establish a home for our boys.” If you find yourself at the WARF during the warm months ahead, look for the LemonAPE stand. We understand that T-shirts emblazoned with a cool gorilla may be a coming attraction. To help Reeves and his gorilla fund, go to www.gofundme.com/TheLemonAPEStand — Compiled by Anita L. Sherman
Tuition includes daily field trips, snacks and drinks, pay for 5 weeks up front and get the 6th week free. Open 6:00am to 6:30 pm.
Real Heroes Unveiled
Honoring Our Dedicated Public Servants Seating Limited - RSVP Now! $45/person Help us provide a fitting tribute to those men and women of the Fauquier area Police, Sheriff and Fire and Rescue who have gone over and above the call of duty to keep our community safe.
Date April 26, 2018 Time 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Location Fauquier Springs Country Club
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NEWS
Fauquier Times | www.fauquier.com | April 18, 2018
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Strategy to boost Warrenton envisions new restaurants, new image, space audit
Plan aims to reverse town’s rep as ‘that place with horses where they won’t let you build anything’ By Leland Schwartz Times Staff Writer
Warrenton has a new, 24-month economic development plan to enhance its image so it can attract new visitors, shoppers and businesses. Central to the plan will be a digital marketing and branding effort to promote the town in a way that reverses, as the plan says, Warrenton’s image as “that place with horses where they won’t let you build anything.” One key message will be how safe Warrenton is as a place to live, and the marketing campaign will focus on reaching people who might move here. A primary effort outlined in the 2020 Economic Development Strategic Plan will be to take the friction out of starting a business by simplifying the application process, regulations and permitting procedures. In that vein, the plan calls for giving business applicants a single point of contact on the town staff to help navigate the process. Written by town Economic Development Director Tom Wisemiller, with input from a wide array of town staff and business leaders, the plan was presented to the Warrenton Town Council this month for its review. Over the next two months, the council will prioritize its short-term goals, so its ideas can be activated over the next two years to boost the town’s economy. Among the ways to do that, Wisemiller writes, is to build the town’s food and beverage industry first by recruiting a “destination restaurant, run by an experienced and well-backed group, and headlined by a rising star chef,” which will “serve as a regional draw for foodie tourists.” In addition, and primarily for the meals tax revenues, Wisemiller urges attracting “a popular fast-casual, or drive-thru fast food, restaurant” for the Lee Highway/Broadview Avenue/ West Shirley Avenue corridor. The plan mentioned restaurants like Panda Express, Jimmy Johns and Zoe’s Kitchen. One point raised in the plan Economic is that some business owners Development complain the town focuses too Director much on growth in Old Town. Tom Wisemiller “Approximately 90 percent of commercial sales in Warrenton happen on the primary commercial corridor” along Broadview, the plan says. However, it explains, “Old Town is the tourism destination.” Asked if bringing new restaurants into the town would compete with existing establishments, Wisemiller said more restaurants would actually help by making Warrenton more of a food desti-
TIMES STAFF PHOTO/LELAND SCHWARTZ People stroll by an empty storefront in Old Town Warrenton. The town’s new economic development plan calls for taking an audit of all empty retail and office spaces and to recruit new businesses and tenants. nation. The meals tax already brings in about 17 percent of the town’s gross revenues or 38 percent of all local tax revenues. Also in the food arena, Wisemiller urges building on Warrenton’s food and beverage “artisans” by drawing entrepreneurs like brewers, cheese makers, bakers, vintners and coffee roasters with the ability to sell their products outside the local area. Another critical goal, he says, is to audit all available and empty buildings in Warrenton to ensure the town understands what kinds of new businesses would work best in each. Then, as part of the new marketing plan, efforts would be made to find a match for each space. Filling them will be a challenge as Warrenton and Fauquier County are “still battling a reputation, built up in past decades, for being anti-growth and anti-development,” Wisemiller wrote. Warrenton “has high name recognition in the urban core of DC/Baltimore/NOVA: a lot of people in the extended region have heard of Warrenton and know roughly where it is located,” he points out. “However, relatively few people … have a clear conception of what Warrenton is — its iden-
tity — other than ‘that place with horses where they won’t let you build anything,’” he wrote. To revamp that image, the town will engage a digital marketing company to focus on all “the things that are great about Warrenton: historic character, charming neighborhoods, tight-knit community, accessibility, and authenticity,” the report said. The plan also calls for recruiting investors to build one or more three-story buildings in Old Town or other Warrenton development areas to provide space for retail on the ground floors and residential units on top. To also raise the town’s tax base, the plan calls for a new industrial park fit for Virginia Economic Development Partnership projects or defense-industry companies. The plan says Warrenton needs to create a web portal, so the town’s businesses have a way to communicate with each other — a place to share expertise, ideas and concerns. Another tool the plan says would help is an online Warrenton/Fauquier community calendar. The last time an economic development plan was written for the town was more than 15 years ago in 2001. The plan attempts to reconcile the tension between the “community’s desire for good, sustainable growth that brings jobs and shopping without a lot of residential growth” and “the realities of the metropolitan marketplace,” the plan says. “If the goal of this plan were simply to spur growth in Warrenton, that would be easy!” Wisemiller wrote. All Warrenton would have to do is “allow for residential development, especially single-family home that cost less than $400,000 to purchase and multifamily units that rent for less than $1,800 per month.” But that’s not feasible, he says, because Warrenton “does not have the available sites or utility/ infrastructure capacity to support rapid growth.” “More importantly, Warrenton’s citizens do not want sprawl, heavy traffic and other byproducts of haphazard growth that will detract from all the things that are great about Warrenton: historic character, charming neighborhoods, tight-knit community, accessibility, and authenticity,” Wisemiller wrote. On the other hand, attracting visitors is paramount because “some of these visitors will naturally fall in love with Warrenton/Fauquier County, just like we did, and will want to move here.” “We must proactively market Warrenton to a specific audience that is more likely to embrace Warrenton’s core values and attributes … people who, if they do move here, have the means and the passion to invest in everything that’s great about Warrenton, instead of trying to remake it in another image,” the plan said. Reach Leland Schwartz at lschwartz@fauquier.com
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