SPORTS: Kettle Run and Fauquier compete for state berths in golf this week. Page 13
September 26, 2018
Our 201st year
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Vol. 201, No. 39
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www.Fauquier.com
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Special section Pages 19-26
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A hurricane travel ‘tail’ goes viral Local man rescues N.C. woman and her farm animals from Home Depot parking lot By Vicky Moon
Contributing Writer
Was it coincidence, fate or sheer luck when Melanie Torris and her horse, Sunny, met up last week with Fauquier farmer Dennis Pearson in the parking lot of the Home Depot in Warrenton? Torris, who lives in Beaufort, North Carolina, had barely escaped the wrath of Hurricane Florence. Just before the storm hit, she hurriedly loaded up her quarter horse, a dozen chickens and three cats in her 25-foot stock trailer and hooked it to her truck. As the storm was still gathering offshore, Melanie’s mother, Darlyne Torris, who lives in the Marsh Run subdivision in Bealeton, called Melanie to warn her of the impending danger. Darlyne also traveled to North Carolina to help her daughter board up.
See TAIL, page 4
PHOTO BY LEONARD SHAPIRO Melanie Torris with her horse, Sunny, and Dennis Pearson, owner of Soldiers’ Hill Farm in Warrenton.
A gift of LOVE arrives by rail New sign depicts a fanciful locomotive By Anita L. Sherman Community Editor
It was hot and muggy late afternoon, but the weather didn’t deter more than 100 from gathering at The Depot Park near the Warrenton Branch Greenway for the unveiling of Old Town Warrenton’s first LOVE sign. Warrenton has now officially joined Virginia’s “love trail” with Dorothy Smith’s whimsical and colorful welded-steel sculpture. Staying with a locomotive theme that not only honors the history of this location but suggests forward movement, Smith’s design incorporates the L-O-V-E letters and has them astride a rail car base. While the lavender wheels wouldn’t pass with the Norfolk Southern, they make for a fun feature of this art installation. Look closely and you’ll see the cow catcher on the front and the blue INSIDE Business...............................................9 Classified............................................42 Communities......................................34 Faith...................................................38
letter “L” serves as the smoke stack with plumes of twisting colored steel rising into the air. Smith’s color palate is pastel, incorporating fanciful hues of blue, pink, lavender and green. Smith, a local artist, was thrilled to be asked to design the sculpture, which has been in the works for a little over a year. It wasn’t without its challenges, as Smith said in her remarks, but ultimately, it is a piece close to her heart. “What does it mean to plunk a large sculpture that announces love in the middle of your town?” she asked in a philosophical manner, adding, “Does it mean we carry that into our community in acts of kindness and care?” Smith sees her sculpture as much more than pieces of painted steel announcing love is in the air. She hopes that when folks see it, they will be reminded to extend themselves in different ways, to perhaps bring the town closer together and to move forward from the past with a new identity, a fresh outlook. “Let’s harness art in public spacLibraries.............................................37 Lifestyle..............................................27 Looking Back......................................17 Opinion.................................................6
PHOTO BY COY FERRELL Warrenton’s LOVE sculpture was unveiled last Thursday, Sept. 20. Aboard the playful piece are designer Dorothy Jackson Smith, left, Sunny Reynolds, chair of the Experience Old Town Warrenton design committee, center, and real estate entrepreneur and benefactor Matt Iten. es and make our community great,” said Warrenton Mayor Carter Nevill, who expressed his desire that Smith’s sculpture be the first of many pieces of public art in the community. Nev-
ill said the town council looks to the establishment of an arts commission to encourage more artistic endeavors.
See LOVE, page 5
Obituaries...........................................39 Puzzles.................................................8 Real Estate..........................................33 Sports.................................................11
2 NEWS
Fauquier Times | www.fauquier.com | September 26, 2018
Riggleman opposes Medicaid expansion, open to arming teachers By James Ivancic
citing a problem with alcoholism. House members serve two-year terms. Denver Riggleman thinks the Riggleman said he doesn’t think Virginia General Assembly made a government-run system is the ana bad move by expanding Medic- swer when it comes to health care. aid earlier this year and he’s wary He points to the problems the Veterof “Medicare-for-all,” an idea sup- ans Administration has in caring for ported by Leslie Cockburn, his its population. Democratic opponent for the 5th “The thing that scares me the District seat in the House of Repre- most, when talking about Medicare sentatives. for all, is a big government Riggleman, the GOP takeover of any type of nominee in the upcoming health care,” he said. Nov. 6 contest, acknowl“We’re always going to edges the need to provide need a social net, but if the a safety net for those fiVA can’t take care of 7 milnancially unable to afford lion Americans, how in the health care coverage but heck can we take care of said it will take a bipartisan 300 million Americans in a effort to come together on Medicare-for-all program?” Denver such a strategy. he asks. “I think it is cruel Riggleman Riggleman, 48, was and unusual punishment to asked about health care, imthink the government can migration, guns and other hot-but- take care of every single person.” ton issues during a 75-minute inter“For me to say I have all the anview in the Warrenton office of the swers for health care would be idiFauquier Times Monday, Sept. 17. otic,” he added. “Ninety percent of It was only in June that Riggle- the congressional legislation has no man, a Manassas native, Air Force experience in the health field. Are veteran and owner of a distillery they going to make the rules? No, outside Charlottesville, became the lobbyists will make the rules.” Republican candidate for the disRiggleman says a blend of solutrict that covers nearly all of Fau- tions could work, including exquier County. panding health-savings accounts, He was tapped after incumbent insurance competition across state Rep. Tom Garrett, also a Republi- borders and reinsurance among incan, dropped his re-election bid, surance companies to spread risk. Times Staff Writer
On guns, arming teachers
On guns, Riggleman said he does not favor additional gun-regulations, won’t rule out arming willing teachers and believes schools should consider instructing students on gun safety. In general, Riggleman calls himself “a pretty strong Second Amendment supporter.” “The stigma on guns is getting a little ridiculous. Why not introduce gun-safety in schools and teach how destructive they can be?” he suggested. Riggleman said he supports allowing willing teachers to be trained and have a weapon in the
ISSN 1050-7655, USPS 188280 Published every Wednesday by Piedmont Media LLC How to reach us ADDRESS: 41 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 Publisher Catherine M. Nelson, 540-347-4222 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
classroom, though he said school resources officers should be the first line of defense in local schools. They are sworn law-enforcement officers. The opioid addiction problem needs a multifaceted approach targeting prevention, rehabilitation and law enforcement, he said, along with better regulation of prescriptions. Better interdiction of drugs coming into the country illegally is also needed, Riggleman said.
On immigration, spending
Riggleman said he believes there’s need for a top-to-bottom audit of government spending.
Community Editor Anita Sherman, 540.351.1635 asherman@fauquier.com Associate Editor John Toler, 540-351-0487 jtoler@fauquier.com Staff Writers Karen Chaffraix kchaffraix@fauquier.com James Ivancic, 540-878-2414 jivancic@fauquier.com Jonathan Hunley, jhunley@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 Classified Sales Consultant Jeanne Cobert, 540-878-2491 jcobert@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 41 Culpeper St., Warrenton, VA 20186. Periodicals postage paid at Warrenton, Va. and at additional mailing offices
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NEWS 3
Fauquier Times | www.fauquier.com | September 26, 2018
GOP candidate talks health care, guns, immigration, and why he’s running “There’s no reason why we can’t take a year or two and reset the government,” Riggleman said. Hiring should be capped during that time, he added. “If we could fix our immigration problem, it would solve our economic problems. We can’t find people to work,” the candidate said. He said there is a need for border security, though it doesn’t have to be the wall that President Donald Trump (R) wants. “The first thing I’d look at is why is it $26 billion?” he said of the projected cost of extending the security wall on the Mexican border. “There are certain areas where we have full coverage without a border wall.” Riggleman said he’s not a “big fan” of so-called “chain migration,” the term critics use for current U.S. immigration policy that gives preference to family members of legal residents. “Do we set policy based on who’s related to who[m]?” Riggleman questioned. Streamlining of immigration rules could help employers, particularly farmers, who hire immigrant labor, he said. In particular, he cited the proposed H2C visa program, an idea of retiring Rep. Bob Goodlatte, a Republican who represents Virginia’s 6th District. The program would allow immigrants to stay in
the United States year-round on at least a 36-month, renewable visa, with some “touchback” provisions that would require them to leave the country for a period during that time. “If we had strong border security and suppose we went with H2C. It’s cheap but it’s capped. With E-Verify, strong border security and a streamlined H2C, any honest employer wouldn’t have a problem with E-Verify,” Riggleman said. Regarding economic policy, the candidate said he’s seen an increase in sales since the federal excise tax was reduced, allowing him to hire two or three more people. He said he’s been able to leverage the gains into a loan that financed a business expansion. He said the tariff fight Trump is waging hasn’t hurt all sectors of the American economy. “What I’m hearing from some is if we can get fair trade we can take some short-term pain,” Riggleman said. “But if it can’t get fixed soon, it will begin to hurt.”
On why he’s running
Riggleman said government regulation and a feeling that lobbyists and monied interests have the ear of those in power drove him to seek office. Riggleman was a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor in 2017 before dropping out
of the race early. He’s never held an elected office, nor has Cockburn, who was a journalist. She lives in Rappahannock County. Riggleman co-owns Silverback Distillery in Afton in Nelson County with his wife, Christine. Their two older daughters work in the family business as well. The youngest daughter attends James Madison University. Born and raised in Manassas, Riggleman is the oldest of eight children and was the first to attend college. He enlisted in the Air Force and worked on jets until his superiors “thought I was smart enough to go to college,” he said. He earned associate degrees in avionics and political science and later received a bachelor’s degree in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia and a master’s certificate in program management from Villanova University. His later served in the Air Force was as a commissioned officer. Riggleman ran his own government-contracting company from 2007 to 2012 before he sold it and partnered with his wife to realize her dream of opening a distillery. He said entering politics wasn’t a consideration then, but exposure to government regulations and a feeling that vested interests have an advantage changed his mind. “I was not involved in politics, but I found I was fighting govern-
ment regulations and what I thought was improper lobbying,” Riggleman said. The candidate said he believes small-business owners are at a disadvantage when it comes to dealing with government regulators. “It’s like the government likes to pick winners and losers,” he said. “You’re always kissing the ring of someone. I started to hear that I was collateral damage. It’s really not a game when it’s people’s lives.” Riggleman said “local, state and federal governments don’t know what the other is doing.” He said he decided the only way to change the status quo was to run for office. “I wondered if someone with my life experiences could make a difference. I always thought I’d run at the local or state level,” he said. The Cook Political Report, Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball and Rasmussen Reports say the 5th District contest “leans” Republican while Real Clear Politics says the race is a tossup. The 5th District includes most of Fauquier County, except for the precincts of Catlett, Lois, Morrisville and Bealeton. The district stretches from Fauquier to the North Carolina border, encompassing all or parts of 20 counties, as well as the cities of Charlottesville and Danville. Reach James Ivancic at jivancic@fauquier.com
Special Cow Sale
Fauquier Livestock Exchange, Inc. 7404 John Marshall Hwy, Marshall, VA
Office: 540-364-1566 or Toll Free 877-416-5653
Tuesday, OCTOBER 2, 2018 at 6:00 pm Expecting 200+ Quality Cows Including
Sobo Food Truck and Old Bust Head Brewery will be at the Farmers Market Special Guest : Plank Stompers bluegrass band It’s Rappahannock Farm Tour Weekend – Visit The Inn’s Garden of Eatin’
COMPLETE HERD DISPERSAL OF 87 COWS & 50 CALVES FROM 1 FARM AND
105 COWS FROM 2 OTHER FARMS Cows will be pre-checked on Monday before the sale. For more information please contact:
Wesley Ware, Manager............................................304.270.0276 Lindsay Eastham, Field Rep.....................................540.270.7048 Randall Updike, Field Rep.......................................540.522.6885 Upcoming State Graded Feeder Cattle Sales: Culpeper Ag Ent.–October 5 at 10:30am Fauquier Livestock in Marshall – September 28 at 10:30am September 29th, 10am-2pm
www.facebook.com/FauquierLivestock/ or just search: Fauquier Livestock Exchange