LIBERTY BOYS BASKETBALL: Carter Shepard and the Eagles are previewed on Page 13
December 5, 2018
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For U.S. 29, a flatter future lies ahead VDOT, advisory group reach consensus on problem intersection By James Ivancic Times Staff Writer
If all goes according to plan, those problematic hills on U.S. 29 near Vint Hill Road could be a thing of the past as early as next summer. Blocked sightlines along that stretch of the busy roadway have led to accidents. Taking out the hills or “humps” was a solution that gained traction
during meetings the Virginia Department of Transportation has been having with the U.S. 29 New Baltimore Advisory Panel, a group representing residents, businesses and others to explore options for fixing the road. A timetable for work to start emerged during the Nov. 29 meeting of the group in Warrenton. A section of northbound U.S. 29
outside Warrenton could be closed to traffic for three weeks next summer so that two hills approaching the intersection with Vint Hill Road can be reduced. The contractor to be hired would receive financial incentives to speed the work along and cut the time northbound U.S. 29 would be blocked to traffic, explained Garrett Moore,
VDOT’s chief engineer who has been moderating the panel’s meetings. Southbound traffic on U.S. 29 will be unaffected. Fauquier County Supervisor Holder Trumbo (Scott) noted the short-term pain ahead for businesses affected by the three-week traffic diversion. See U.S. 29, Page 4
Main Street eyed for new state-owned liquor store By James Ivancic and Jill Palermo
Times Staff Writers
PHOTO BY COY FERRELL
Morgan Schaeffer, 9, a student at Brumfield Elementary School, talks to Santa Claus at GumDrop Square in the John Barton Payne Building after the Warrenton Christmas Parade Friday, Nov. 30. INSIDE Business.............................................11 Classified............................................35 Communities......................................28 Faith...................................................31
Health and Wellness............................19 Libraries.............................................25 Lifestyle..............................................21 Opinion.................................................8
Warrenton Mayor Carter Nevill sees a bright side in Virginia ABC’s interest in opening a new liquor store in Old Town Warrenton. If the state authority is eyeing Main Street, it must believe Old Town Warrenton has the vitality to support it, Nevill said Thursday. “I think it means that Main Street is worth investing in,” Nevill said. The new liquor store also represent an “anchor” establishment that would generate foot traffic for existing retail outlets and induce new ones to open, the mayor said. Nevill owns Carter & Spence, Ltd., a jewelry and gift store, at 41 Main St. See ABC, Page 4
Obituaries...........................................32 Puzzles...............................................10 Real Estate..........................................27 Sports.................................................13
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NEWS
Holiday lights contest underway CroppMetcalfe has launched a holiday “Christmas Lights Competition” for residents of Fauquier County, which will run through Dec. 19. Judging will take place Dec. 20. “We know Fauquier County is full of Christmas spirit, and we want to see it,” says a news release from the heating and air-conditioning company. The grand-prize winner will re-
ceive a $200 VISA gift card and a free CroppMetcalfe Electrical Preferred Service policy. All entrants will receive a holiday ornament. Entries can be made by filling out an online form at https://www.croppmetcalfe.com/lights/. All submissions must be entered by Dec. 19. No late entries will be accepted. Call 540-347-3024 or e-mail etessel@croppmetcalfe.com with any questions.
Sheriff Mosier to hold Remington town hall Dec. 6
Location changed for children’s winter coat drive
Remington area residents and business owners are invited to participate in a town hall session on Thursday, Dec. 6, with Fauquier County Sheriff Bob Mosier. Mosier will provide updates on investigations, offer crime prevention tips, address traffic Sheriff Bob Mosier safety issues and respond to questions, according to a Fauquier Sheriff’s Office news release. The town hall will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Remington Volunteer Fire Department, 200 E. Marshall St., Remington.
The effort to collect new or gently-used jackets and coats has changed its drop-off location due to the unexpected temporary closing of The Plains market and gas station due to repairs. A Little Heart Charity will now be collecting coats at the following four sites: the Marshall Rescue Squad, 8472 W. Main St., Marshall; two Starbucks stores: 127 W. Lee Highway and 6435 Lee Highway, both in Warrenton; and the New Baltimore Fire and Rescue Department, 6550 Riley Road, also in Warrenton. All collected items will be delivered to Fauquier-area schools. School principals and counselors will distribute the items to those who are most in need. For more information, email info@alittleheartcharity.org.
Holidays Are For Gathering With Friends And Family.
Holidays Are For Gathering With Friends And Family.
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An honorary officer Ethan Dixon, 9, sworn in as honorary Haymarket Police officer By Robin Earl Staff Writer
Anyone planning to attend a quiet Haymarket Town Council meeting Monday night was met with flashing lights, a blocked-off street lined with police and fire department vehicles and a raucous crowd gathered outside Town Hall. Hundreds of residents showed up — at the Facebook request of Haymarket Police Chief Kevin Lands — to show support for Ethan Dixon, a 9-year-old boy battling leukemia. Ethan was understandably overwhelmed by the cheering crowd, the lights and cameras. “When I went to get Ethan to bring him out, he said, no, he wasn’t coming. I finally convinced him to come out by telling him that his grandma was watching on TV,” Lands said. The event was streaming on Facebook Live. Ethan, who has always wanted to be a police officer, was officially sworn in as an honorary member of the Haymarket Police Department. Lands said he came to know Ethan through his grandmother, Anna Thompson. “About two or three months ago, she reached out to me. She said that she wanted to make Ethan a police officer’s uniform. He was so small, she couldn’t find one anywhere. She wanted to know if it was OK to replicate our patches and emblems. I sent
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. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 24-hour answering service Publisher Catherine M. Nelson, 540-347-4222 cnelson@fauquier.com NEWSROOM Managing Editor Jill Palermo, 540-351-0431 jpalermo@fauquier.com Web/Copy Editor Amanda Heincer, 540-878-2418 aheincer@fauquier.com
Ethan Dixon with his family and Haymarket officers. her some of our patches and a hat.” Chief Lands was overwhelmed by the community’s response. His Facebook video asking for people to show up for Ethan garnered nearly 171,000 views, more than 400 comments and almost 2,000 shares. “I posted the video hoping 20 or 30 people would show up. By Monday, I thought that if even half the people show up, I’m in trouble,” Lands said. “We had a stage already set up from a Christmas event on Saturday, so we moved it outside.” Lands estimates that between 500 to 800 people were there to wish Ethan well. The crowd included representation from 13 or 14 police departments and numerous fire and rescue squads.
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, 540-351-0431 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 540351-1664 or fax 540-3498676, 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, 41 Culpeper St., Warrenton, VA 20186. Periodicals postage paid at Warrenton, Va. and at additional mailing offices
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Fauquier Times | www.fauquier.com | December 5, 2018
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Warrenton council interviews for interim town manager By James Ivancic Times Staff Writer
The Warrenton Town Council will discuss whether it wants to hire one of two applicants for interim town manager during a work session Thursday with the goal of making an offer to one at its regular meeting, Tuesday, Dec. 11. Former Warrenton Interim Town Manager Cole Hendrix and former Manassas City Manager Larry Hughes remain under consideration for the job after John McCarthy dropped out. McCarthy is senior adviser and director of strategic partnerships for the Piedmont Environmental Council and a former Rappahannock
Cole Hendrix
Larry Hughes
County administrator. In a Nov. 27 email to Warrenton Mayor Carter Nevill and Stephanie Miller, director of finance and human resources, McCarthy said he thought Hendrix and Hughes “can commit their obvious skills and better adjust their schedules to council’s
Fauquier County Supervisor Holder Trumbo, Clayton Lescalleet, Scott District representative on the Fauquier County Parks and Recreation Board, and David Graham, Marshall District representative on parks the board, cut the ribbon on the new rink Saturday, Dec. 1.
needs than can I.” “I am relieved that there are two such qualified candidates,” he added. Hendrix and Hughes both had long careers as full-time public administrators and now fill interim roles when they come available. Hughes most recently was interim town manager in Lovettsville and before that was the interim general manager of the Fauquier Water and Sanitation Authority. Hendrix served as interim town manager in Warrenton for several months in 2015 before former Town Manager Brannon Godfrey was hired. The town council released Godfrey from his contract in late October. Nevill and the town council interviewed Hendrix and Hughes Thursday, Nov. 29, during an open session at the Warren Green Building in Warrenton. Hughes was there in person, while Hendrix was interviewed by phone. Each answered the same list of questions posed by temporary Town Manager Edward “Bo” Tucker and then answered questions posed by individual council members. Councilman Kevin Carter (Ward 5) was absent, but all other council members were present. Hughes and Hendrix explained their management styles and how they would interact with staff, council and the public. Their answers differed regarding the hiring of a new police chief. An interim chief has led the department since former Police
Chief Lou Battle retired last spring. Hughes said he thought the interim town manager could begin the recruiting process for a new police chief but that the interviewing and hiring should be left to the permanent town manager. Hendrix said: “It may be six or seven months before a full-time manager is hired. I would think you’d want to hire a chief of police” before then. “You could hire a search firm, I would do the interviewing and would keep council advised. I would keep the commonwealth’s attorney apprised. I would involve the council so that it knows. It can be done if council wants to do it without delay.” The town manager can hire department heads without the town council’s approval. Commonwealth’s Attorney James Fisher had criticized the search process Godfrey led for a new town police chief. Fisher said in a letter to Nevill that he was asked for his input too late in the process. Council’s work session is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6 at town hall, 18 Court St. Council will also hear a presentation of a financial audit of town government, receive a presentation from AT&T about the FirstNet network for use by first responders and discuss proposed new regulations for signs and food trucks. Reach James Ivancic at jivancic@fauquier.com
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The rink has special equipment to help young children learn to skate. TIMES STAFF PHOTOS/JAMES IVANCIC
Skating rink opens in Marshall By James Ivancic Times Staff Writer
The new all-weather ice skating rink at Northern Fauquier Community Park near Marshall is officially open for business. Cutting the ribbon to open the new rink on Dec. 1 were Fauquier County Supervisor Holder Trumbo (Scott); Clayton Lescalleet, Scott District representative on the Fauquier County Parks and Recreation Board; and David Graham, Marshall District representative on the parks board. Afterward, the first skaters tried
the 28-by-56 foot surface. “I think it’s really nice. It’s manageable for kids,” said Brian Brown of Marshall who tried out the rink with three of his children, ages 7, 6 and 4. All are new to skating. The artificial surface isn’t as slick as natural ice. The PATH Foundation provided a grant for its purchase. The rink will be open on Saturdays and Sundays and school holidays from Dec. 1 through March 1. Skaters can bring their own skates or get them at the rink. The rink fee is $5 for 30 minutes, including skate rental.
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