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Warrenton Sears begins closing sale this week. Page 10
April 25, 2018
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Vol. 201, No. 17
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Fauquier overdose deaths drop to 13 in 2017 Opioids still ‘driving force’ behind drug fatalities in Virginia
By Amanda Heincer Times Staff Writer
Fatal drug overdoses remain the leading cause of unnatural death in Virginia and claimed at least 13 lives in Fauquier County in 2017, according a Virginia Department of Health report released this week. Though 2017 numbers are not yet final, a state health department report released April 20 shows that 1,534 Virginians died of drug overdoses in
2017, up from 1,428 people in 2016. At the time of the report, about 40 cases from 2017 remained open, awaiting additional reports to determine cause and manner of death. According to the preliminary numbers, Fauquier County had 13 overdose deaths in 2017, down from 25 in 2016. Prince William County had 59 overdose deaths in 2017, compared to 58 in 2016. Manassas had 14 overdose deaths in 2017, up from seven in 2016; while Manassas Park had four
Times Staff Writer
TIMES STAFF PHOTO/CHRISTOPHER SIX Both Grace Rigby, left, and Carter Nevill, right, are on the ballot in the Warrenton mayoral race. The two answered questions and discussed town issues in a forum for town council candidates Wednesday, April 18, at Taylor Middle School.
Pages 19-20
INSIDE Calendar.............................................30 Classified............................................33 Communities......................................29 Faith...................................................15
Farming..............................................14 Opinion.................................................8 Obituaries...........................................16 Public Safety.........................................3
See OVERDOSE, page 6 By James Ivancic
Candidates talk Old Town economy, parking at forum
GIRLS LACROSSE: Kettle Run begins region play with dominant win. Page 21
overdose deaths in 2017, up from one in 2016. The Virginia Department of Health reports that fatal drug overdose has been the leading method of unnatural death in Virginia since 2015 and the leading method of accidental death since 2014. Opioids continued to represent the largest percentage of fatal overdoses in Virginia in 2017. Opioids accounted for 1,227 fatal overdoses in Virginia in 2017, up from 1,138 deaths in 2016.
Parking, revitalizing Old Town, the need for safety improvements on Broadview Avenue and the Walker Drive development were among the hot-button issues Warrenton Town Council candidates discussed April 18 during a two-hour forum at Taylor Middle School. Candidates for mayor Macdonald claims he is and two at-large coundropping out of Warrenton cil seats are on the ballot Town Council race. Page 4 May 1. In the Warrenton mayoral race, voters must decide between Grace Rigby, 19, and Carter Nevill, 47, both of whom are vying to succeed Mayor Powell Duggan, who isn’t running for re-election. Four candidates were initially vying for two at-large council seats, including incumbent Town Council members Sean Polster, 47, Vice Mayor Sunny Reynolds, 74, and challengers Renard Carlos, 29, and Keith Macdonald, 56. Macdonald has since claimed he is dropping out of the race.
See FORUM, page 5
Candidates seek new businesses, activities in Remington. Page 12
Puzzles...............................................27 Real Estate..........................................28 Sports.................................................21
RE-ELECT
SEAN POLSTER The Quality of Life Paid for and Authorized by Friends of Sean Polster
Three incumbents, one challenger vie for three seats in The Plains. Page 13
Council Member
VOTE MAY 1ST W W W.SEANPOLSTERVA .COM @SEANFORWARRENTON
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NEWS
Fauquier Times | www.fauquier.com | April 25, 2018
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: 41 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 Managing 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.
Special Olympics
Photos By Doug Stroud
Fauquier County’s Special Olympics were held Saturday, April 21, at Fauquier High School. Top left: Reagan Robertson, 16, a sophomore at Liberty High School, reacts to the cheering crowds. She is joined by Fauquier County Deputy Joey Pezzuto.Top right: Matthew Hodul, 10, who is homeschooled, winds up for his attempt in the softball event while a judge/volunteer looks on. Bottom right: Cheyenne Robinson, 18, of Liberty High School, competes in the 25-meter race with support from her aunt, Kristy WheelerScott, during the Special Olympics competition at Fauquier High School.
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PUBLIC SAFETY
Fauquier Times | www.fauquier.com | April 25, 2018
WARF employee charged with embezzlement
A part-time Warrenton Aquatics Recreation Facility employee was charged with embezzlement Monday for allegedly stealing about $200 from the front desk of the recreation facility. The amount involved, according to Town Manager Brannon Godfrey, was just over $200, the threshold for a felony. Michael Bruck was charged with one count of embezzlement by the Warrenton Police Department and released on his own recognizance. Bruck had worked at the WARF since it opened but is no longer an employee, Godfrey said. Godfrey said the alleged theft was caught on videotape. WARF customers are allowed to pay for day passes and other fees in cash. “With a recent upgrade to our video-recording system, we were able to review and verify that this activity occurred over a period of time,” Godfrey said. “Accounting controls have been in place at the WARF since the facility opened, and the facility has been part of the town’s annual audit since 2007,” Godfrey said. “As a result of this incident, we are putting additional cash-control measures at the front desk to prevent a recurrence,” he said. “These involve receipt-control measures as well as direct observation measures. Our goal is to prevent any recurrence and to safeguard town assets.”
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School PTO president charged with embezzlement, forging
Grace Miller Elementary School’s Parent Teacher Organization president was arrested last week and charged with embezzlement and forgery in connection with transfers made between her personal bank account and that of the organization. The Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint in early April regarding suspicious activity involving the bank account belonging to the Grace Miller Elementary School PTO. The complaint, received from another PTO officer, alleged the PTO president had forged checks and made transfers involving the PTO account, according to a press release issued by the sheriff’s office Friday. The investigation determined the forgery and uttering and embezzlement occurred between October 2017 and April 2018. On April 16, Detective Candyce Shaw obtained warrants charging Kiley Morgan Gonzalez, 29, of Bealeton, with embezzlement, forgery and uttering, the press release said. Gonzalez turned herself in on April 17. Gonzalez was taken before a magistrate and released on her own recognizance. Gonzalez is charged with five counts of forgery and uttering and 10 counts of embezzlement, the press release said.
Teen charged with reckless driving in collision with Brookside sign
Speed was a factor in a April 18
Fire destroys home on Cedar Run Drive
Two adults and their dog were displaced last week when fire destroyed a home on Cedar Run Drive in Warrenton, according to the Warrenton Fire and Rescue Department. Firefighters received the call for help about 6:51 p.m. on Friday, April 20. Units from Warrenton, New Baltimore, Catlett and Prince William County arrived to find the two-story, wood-frame home with fire showing from rear deck, backside and roof of the structure, Warrenton Fire Chief Jason T. Golden said in a press release. All occupants were immediately located outside the home and had suffered no injuries. The victims were not identified. “Crews worked quickly to knock the bulk of the fire down within 15 to 20 minutes,” Golden said. The fire was contained to the outside of the rear and the roof/attic space, but water damage was evident throughout the home. The structure is no longer inhabitable, the press release said. Firefighters were on scene for about three hours and 35 minutes to completely put down the fire and complete the salvage and overhaul, Golden said. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office. Firefighters found nothing suspicious while they were on the scene, Golden said.
crash that resulted in damage to the Brookside sign at Rogues Road and Eddington Drive, according to the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office. Sgt. James Hartman, the sheriff’s office spokesman, said the sign was damaged in a one-car crash involving a 16-year-old boy driving a Dodge Challenger. The teen was attempting to make a left turn onto Eddington Drive from
Rogues Road when he lost control of his vehicle and struck the brick sign, Hartman said. The crash occurred at 10:21 a.m. on April 17, Hartman said. The teen, whose name was not released because he is a minor, was charged with reckless driving, Hartman said. There was no information available on the cost of the damage to the sign.
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