Are you wasting your money on vitamin supplements? Plus, healthy and delicious St. Patrick’s Day dishes q Pages 22-23 February 28, 2018
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Vol. 201, No. 9
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‘Hear us, we don’t feel safe’ School board approves campus security specialists; discusses student walkouts and advocacy By Hannah Dellinger Times sTaff wriTer
The Fauquier County School Board voted this week to approve funding for new security and safety specialists at all three of the division’s high schools. Fauquier County Public Schools is already in the process of screening candidates for the three new unsworn security positions, Superintendent David Jeck said at the board’s Feb. 26 meeting. Every member of the board except Don Mason (Lee District) voted to allocate existing funding to hire the new security staff.
See SAFE, page 4
COURTESY PHOTO Liberty High School principal Sam Cox called a student walkout at the Bealeton school last week “meaningful and organized.” School officials say students are anxious, with some refusing to participate in fire drills for fear of being shot.
‘Not losing hope’ on new library
County officials signal willingness not to put project on back burner By Leland Schwartz Times sTaff wriTer
and Jonathan Hunley ConTribuTing wriTer
There’s new hope for a new Warrenton library, according to the Fauquier County supervisor who represents the town. Design work on the planned $15 million structure was slated to start in fiscal 2019, which begins July 1. But the project seemingly was put on the back burner by the county government. More than $9 million had been budgeted to be spent on the library in fiscal 2019, but new capital
plans released by County Administrator Paul McCulla recently have that work being put off for at least five years. That has flustered library enthusiasts, some of whom came to a recent Fauquier Board of Supervisors meeting wearing badges that said, “Love (heart) My Library.” But Supervisor Chris Granger (R-Center) told the Warrenton Town Council recently that “the subject of the library is not dead” and that there might be some positive developments by the time the county budget process is over by the end of March. “There are a number of things going on in
Highland girls win a conference basketball title for first time in nine years. Sports, page 25 INSIDE Calendar ............................................33 Classified ...........................................35 Communities .....................................31 Education ..........................................16
the background, so I’m not losing hope on this,” Granger said in his monthly update to the council. “We may be able to pick something up and proceed with the project on Waterloo Street that the library board has endorsed, and we’re hoping we can move forward.” Adding to the positive outlook on what looked like a project completely on hold, Councilwoman At-Large Sunny Reynolds told her colleagues she asked the Fauquier Chamber of Commerce if it would send a resolution in favor of a new library to the supervisors.
See LIBRARY, page 10
Polster seeks re-election to Warrenton Town Council. Page 15 High School Scene.............................13 Farming ...............................................6 Libraries ............................................17 Opinion................................................8 Obituaries ..........................................19
Public Safety ........................................3 Puzzles ..............................................24 Real Estate.........................................30 Religion .............................................18 Sports ................................................25
A hero’s recognition, long overdue. Page 14
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NEWS/PUBLIC SAFETY
Fauquier Times | www.fauquier.com | February 28, 2018
‘American Pickers’ returning to Virginia this spring Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz and their team are returning to Virginia this spring to film episodes of “American Pickers.” The documentary series explores antique “picking” on the History Channel. The hit show follows Wolfe and Fritz as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques. As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, the two are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten relics. Along the way, the Pickers want to meet characters with remarkable and exceptional items. The pair hopes to give historically significant objects a new lease on life, while learning a thing or two about America’s past
along the way. The two have seen a lot of rusty gold over the years and are always looking to discover something they’ve never seen before. If you or someone you know has a large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that the Pickers can spend the better part of the day looking through, send your name, phone number, location and description of the collection with photos to: americanpickers@cineflix.com or call 855-OLD-RUST. “American Pickers” is produced by Cineflix Productions for History. New episodes air Mondays at 9 p.m. EST on History.
Staff Writers Hannah Dellinger, 540-878-2419 hdellinger@fauquier.com ISSN 1050-7655, USPS 188280 Published every Wednesday by Piedmont Media LLC How to reach us ADDRESS: 39 Culpeper Street Warrenton, Virginia 20186 PHONE: 540-347-4222 FAX: 540-349-8676 HOURS: 8 a.m. 5 p.m. weekdays, 24-hour answering service NEWSROOM Executive Editor Kari Pugh, 540-351-0484 kpugh@fauquier.com
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Wakefield School’s Founding Members of the Society for Leadership and Engagement Supporting Wakefield’s mission of “seeking the challenge, making a difference, and leading an extraordinary life,” the Society for Leadership and Engagement recognizes the development of key leadership attributes of our Upper School students through participation in a variety of activities throughout the school year.
Bronze Level
Molly Cesanek (10th)
Silver Level
Philippa Hechl (12th) Christopher Wagner (12th) Willem Bonin (11th) Rachel Bryant (11th) Joey Chung (11th) Noah Hale (11th) Sara Rheintgen (11th)
Gold Level Caroline Bogan (12th) Sadie Bushara (12th) Eloise Colon (12th) Nik Giyanani (12th) Sophia Olmstead (12th) LeeAnn Perritt (12th) Matthew Reid (12th)
Congratulations to our Bronze, Silver, and Gold Level members! To learn more, go to www.wakefieldschool.org
Allie Adrian (10th) Ben Anderson (10th) Lauren Bacchus (10th) William Brosnan (10th) Trinity Fleishman (10th) Anna Garst (10th)
Grace Seaborn (12th) Kayla Swede (12th) Catherine Zontine (12th) Audrey Brown (11th) Luke Finkbeiner (11th) Spencer Harman (11th)
Inara Junkala (10th) Sarah Lang (10th) Charlie McKee (10th) Hannah Massey (10th) Chelsea Mulkerin (10th) Brennan Renz (10th)
Kevin Dwelly (10th) Brianna Handford (10th) Gabby Handford (10th) Madison Miller (10th) Michael Neff (10th) Max Schaefer (10th) Laurie Swede (10th) Skyler Tolzien (10th) Michael Wei (10th)
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FAUQUIER FOCUS Looking through local lenses It was all those sparkly glasses and frames, clean lines, large windows and modern appeal that caught this young woman’s eyes when she would pass MyEyeDr in the Warrenton Village Center traveling from home to work in her previous position. “I was working for an eye doctor in Culpeper and would always drive by and see inside through the windows and thought…that’s where I want to be, it’s such a beautiful office,” says 27-year-old Corah Purcell who has been working as an eye consultant there for about a year and a half. A Fauquier County native, Corah and her husband purchased a home in Linden and lived there for five years, but now are in the process of selling that home and having a house built just outside of town. “We wanted to move back to our hometown,” says Corah who loves the school system in Fauquier and feels safe here. And she and her hubby wanted to be home. Corah’s is a love story to be sure. She married her middle school sweetheart, Josh, in 2013. She met Josh when they both attended Warrenton Middle School. A 2009 graduate of Fauquier High School, Corah enjoys her job at MyEyeDr., especially dealing with customers. “We have a great selection of frames and it feels great helping people see and
feel better with new glasses,” she said. With two young children, Kaleigh and Christopher, Corah and Josh felt it was important for them to make a return to Warrenton so that they could be closer to the children’s grandparents. With her husband’s parents living in Warrenton, Corah is keen on being close to family and friends. She’s into scrapbooking and taking on “DIY” projects like making bath bombs and slime. Corah moves comfortably around the office sporting a friendly smile, sharing information about the latest frames and lenses and assisting the optometrist Columbia Herzlinger if called upon. “She’s great to work with,” says Corah, “we’re fortunate to have her here.” Corah represents her employer well. Her enthusiasm shines through her broad smile and happy disposition. It’s clear that she loves her work, her family and her community and she’s thrilled to be back in Warrenton again. MyEyeDr is at 251 W. Lee Highway. Reach them at 540-428-3937. — Compiled by Anita Sherman
Two alleged heroin dealers arrested in Warrenton Two alleged Warrenton heroin dealers were arrested after law-enforcement officials searched their home last week. The Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office and the Warrenton Police Department executed a search warrant at a home on Gold Cup Drive around 7 a.m. on Feb. 20. The search came after a month-long heroin distribution investigation. Rachel Lynn Griffith, 25, of Warrenton, was arrested and charged with
three counts of distribution of heroin and one count of possession of a schedule II substance. Huixian Nadir Solis, 30, of Warrenton, was arrested and charged with two counts of distribution of heroin. Solis is currently incarcerated on unrelated charges, according to police. Griffith was held in the Fauquier County Adult Detention Center on a $25,000 secured bond. Solis was also given a $25,000 secured bond.
Sheriff’s office investigates fuel-pump tampering in Marshall The Fauquier Sheriff’s Office is investigating after two men who were seen tampering with a fuel pump early Feb. 22 at Owen’s Exxon in Marshall. Video surveillance showed a red Chevrolet pickup with no front license plate pull up to the station at 8437 West Main St. Two men got out and surveilled the parking lot and surrounding buildings before tampering with the fuel pump. There were no skimming devices found on the pump and surveillance footage does not indicate that any de-
Correction
vices were removed, county sheriff’s Sgt. James Hartman said. “Surrounding fueling stations have been checked for skimming devices and urged to report any suspicious activity or devices,” he said. Skimming devices installed on fuel pumps have been an ongoing problem throughout the region for some time. Anyone who can identify these suspects, or provide any additional information about this incident, is asked to contact Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office at 540-347-3300.
A story in last week’s paper about Warrenton’s Rotary Club clock, (“It’s about time, or not”), incorrectly identified Rotary Club President Sam Parker. We apologize for the error.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Fauquier Times | www.fauquier.com | February 28, 2018
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Fatal Goldvein crash under investigation
Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office deputies are investigating the cause of a fatal single-car crash Monday morning in Goldvein. Deputies responded to Blackwell’s Mill Road near Thompson’s Mill Road around 5 a.m. on Feb. 26 for reports of a car flipped over on its roof off the road. Law-enforcement officials found a 2002 Ford Mustang that had traveled south on Blackwell’s Mills Road, exited the left side of the roadway in a
curve and struck several trees before overturning. Two passengers were found at the scene and treated for minor injuries, said Fauquier Sheriff’s Office Sgt. James Hartman. The driver, a 19-year-old Stafford man, was found with the car and pronounced dead at the scene, Hartman said. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. This is the second fatal crash the sheriff’s office
has investigated in a week. Around 3:15 p.m. on Feb. 20, deputies responded to a single-car crash in the 9800 block of James Madison Highway near Opal. A 2010 Chevrolet Malibu, traveling south, exited the right side of the roadway and struck a fence. This investigation determined the driver, a 56-year-old Rixeyville man suffered a medical emergency prior to the crash, Hartman said.
Jury convicts Vint Hill man of inadequate care; German shepherd recovering By Hannah Dellinger Times sTaff WriTer
A jury last week convicted a Vint Hill man of not providing adequate care to a dog who was at least 20 pounds underweight, lost 80 percent of his fur and had raw skin. Prosecutors say when Ruger, a black and tan German shepherd, was seized from William McMullen, his skin was thickening and almost bloody along the spine. A vet testified in Fauquier County Circuit Court on Feb. 21 the dog could hardly go 10 minutes without scratching his skin and he was afraid of being touched. Since being seized and treated at the Fauquier SPCA, officials say Ruger has made “amazing strides,” is responding to treatment for mange and is now at a healthy weight. The Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office first received complaints about Ruger’s condition on Sept. 3. McMullen told Fauquier Sheriff’s Office Sgt. K.J. Schlichting he would take the dog to
the Animal Care Center in Warrenton. Ruger was underweight and was diagnosed with fleas, a seborrheic odor, an ear infection and other conditions at that visit, according to an affidavit attached to a search warrant filed in circuit court. Ruger was taken to the vet again on Sept. 14 and was diagnosed with chronic allergies, hair loss, “grossly thickened skin” and the tick-borne disease Ehrlichia, court records say. Dr. Thomas Roehr recommended flea treatment, antibiotics, supplements and more testing, the affidavit says, but McMullen declined those suggestions. When Ruger came back on Oct. 10, court filings say his hair loss had worsened and his skin was chewed raw and he had lost eight pounds since his last visit. McMullen still declined further testing at that point, prosecutors say. Ruger was seized on Oct. 20. McMullen was convicted of inadequate animal care by owner, a misdemeanor, by a judge on Oct. 31 in Fauquier County General District Court. The court also ordered that McMullen
will not get custody of the dog back. McMullen appealed the lower court’s decision to circuit court and a jury upheld his conviction last week. Ruger will remain in the care of the SPCA until he his adopted into a new home. After the circuit court conviction, McMullen was ordered to pay $250 to the SPCA for Ruger’s care while the case was being adjudicated plus court fees. The court did not bar McMullen from owning animals again. Benjamin Schaefer, a defense attorney representing McMullen, argued the case was not “clear cut.” “This case is about what our obligation as pet owners is,” said Schaefer during his closing arguments. “Do I have to do everything my vet says? And I’m held criminally responsible if I don’t? That’s a scary thought, folks.” Schaefer said Roehr wasn’t able to make a diagnosis and didn’t give McMullen concrete solutions to alleviate Ruger’s symptoms. The attor-
ney argued McMullen did take steps to help Ruger, including changing his food, getting different tick shampoo and getting a flea collar. “He had disagreement with his vet,” said Schaefer. “He was planning on getting second opinion.” Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Douglas Rogers said the evidence does not support that claim. Rogers said veterinary records show Ruger’s skin problem goes back to August 2016 and the disease was progressive. The attorney said Roehr made specific treatment recommendations, offered food trials, supplements and further testing, all of which were denied by McMullen. Rogers said Schlichting told McMullen on two occasions he could get treatment at the SPCA for little or no cost, but he also declined that. The prosecutor pointed out McMullen only went to the vet after the sergeant pleaded with him to do so. “It’s the responsibility of the pet owner to provide a standard of care that prevents suffering,” Rogers said.
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