Woodbridge girls soccer squad still unbeaten in district play. Sports, Page 13
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May 9, 2018 | Serving Haymarket, Gainesville and Western Prince William County | Vol. 17, No. 19 | www.PrinceWilliamTimes.com | 50¢
Turnout in town elections tops expectations Occoquan reports record 35-percent turnout May 1
By Jonathan Hunley Times Staff Writer
Prince William County’s turnout in the May 1 town elections was higher than expected and reached a record in Occoquan. The river town had the highest turnout of Prince William’s four small municipalities, at 35 percent. Turnout was 34 percent in Quantico; 20 percent in Dumfries; and 15 percent in Haymarket, according to the Prince William County Office of Elections. All were higher than projected.
“I figured 10 percent,” said Matthew Wilson, spokesman for the Prince William County Office of Elections. “Maybe 10 to 20.” It’s hard to say exactly what brought more people to the polls last week, but Wilson said the ballots seemed to have more names on them than in town elections two years ago. And with more names on the ballot, turnout seems to see an uptick. Also, it certainly didn’t hurt that it was sunny May 1, with temperatures in the 70s.
“It was a nice day,” Wilson said. The 35-percent figure, as well as the number of voters, 275, were records for Occoquan, at least in recent history, said Mayor Elizabeth Quist, who didn’t seek re-election. In 2010, for example, 120 voters marked ballots to pick town leaders in Occoquan, which made for a 19 percent turnout. In 2012, there were only 96 voters, Quist said. But those numbers grew to 257 voters and 34-percent turnout by 2016. The difference in that election
and in this year’s elections may have been a special election newsletter the town sent to every post-office box in Occoquan, which doesn’t have doorto-door mail delivery. “We just tried to really get the word out to try and improve voter turnout,” Quist said. Like Wilson, she said having a full ballot probably aided turnout, as well. There was a race for mayor — former mayor Earnie Porta defeated Steven Vonderheide — and eight See ELECTIONS, Page 5
School board backs armed guards for schools
That time a U.S. Senator taught your AP Government class
County to spend $500,000 to hire retired police By Jonathan Hunley Times Staff Writer
PHOTO BY RANDY LITZINGER
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, Sen. Tim Kaine gave Forest Park High School teacher Shannon Geraghty a break Monday, May 7, when he stepped in to teach her Advanced Placement U.S. Government classes. See Kaine, Page 4 INSIDE Business...............................................8 Calendar....................................ONLINE Classifieds...........................................16 News....................................................2
Opinion...............................................10 Obituaries.............................................9 Puzzle Page........................................12 Real Estate..........................................15 Sports.................................................13
A recently funded pilot program to employ retired law-enforcement officers as armed security guards in Prince William schools is getting high marks from county school board members. State law allows school divisions to hire retired police officers to serve as armed guards provided they meet certain criteria, including that they retire within the past 10 years. The Prince William Board of Supervisors wanted to explore the measure in light of incidents of school violence around the nation. They allocated $500,000 for the pilot program in the county budget for the next fiscal year that was approved April 24. The program, as county police Chief Barry Barnard has outlined, would begin with five security officers and a supervisor and then could be expanded later. See SCHOOL SAFETY, Page 4
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Gainesville/Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | May 9, 2018
Forest Park High School students promote their 2017 Suicide Awareness Walk outside their Woodbridge school.
Suicide Awareness Walk May 12 Forest Park High School students are once again aiming to educate and energize the local community to stand against suicide in their upcoming Suicide Awareness Walk. The walk kicks off from Forest Park High School, 15721 Forest Park Drive, at 8:30 a.m. May 12. Participants will walk along Spriggs Road to C.D. Hylton High School and back, a bit more than 6 miles.
This year’s walk features speakers including Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-11th; state Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-29th; and Virginia Secretary of Education Atif Qarni. The Suicide Awareness Walk began in 2015 to raise awareness for various mental-health issues and has occurred annually since then. Every year, almost 45,000 Americans commit suicide, and it’s esti-
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mated more than 1.3 million Americans attempt suicide. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in 15- to 24-year-olds and the 10th leading cause of death overall. With proper treatment and real discussion, this issue is totally preventable. By walking, the community unites and raises awareness about the prevalence of suicide. At the walk, students will be available to talk with participants
about suicide and mental health, and counseling will be available to those who need it. Additionally, water and breakfast bars will be provided free of charge ahead of the walk, and more water will be available along the route. The walk is organized by Forest Park High School’s AP Government Students with additional support from the SCA, JROTC, school administration and sponsors.
Discover Occoquan Day is May 19 The town of Occoquan and the Occoquan Merchants Guild will host Discover Occoquan Day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 19 in downtown historic Occoquan. This new event features free activities including a boat parade, interactive classes and free demonstrations hosted by Occoquan businesses, historic tours, live entertainment, a photo booth, children’s activities and more. The day kicks off with the Blessing of the Fleet Parade along the Occoquan River beginning at 10 a.m. and viewable from the town dock at Mamie Davis Park, 205 Mill St. Throughout the day, businesses will host a variety of free drop-in classes, demonstrations including yoga in the park, painting for adults and kids, pen and ink drawings, massages, candle pouring, fiber art, jewelry making, puzzle making, SCUBA, pet CPR, and more. Visit www. occoquanva.gov/discover-occoquan for a complete schedule of activities. In addition to the free activities, there will be a flash sale from 5-6 p.m. Participating Occoquan businesses will have blue balloons. The day will culminate with a free outdoor concert at River Mill Park, 458 Mill St. from 6-8 p.m., featuring rock and soul music by The Sidleys.
Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on to watch the show. Free on-street and public lot parking is available in-town. In addition, offsite parking with shuttle bus service sponsored by Patriot Scuba is available from the Va.123 commuter lot at the intersection of Old Bridge Road and Gordon Boulevard and drops off at 305 Mill St. The shuttle service, provided by Mayor-elect Earnie Porta’s Occoquan Tourism Company, will collect patrons from the lot on the half hour beginning at 11 a.m. through 5 p.m., with a final pickup in town at 8 p.m. The shuttle is free, but donations to the nonprofit Patriots for Disabled Divers are appreciated.
For more information contact Julie Little, events and community development director, at 703-491-2168 or jlittle@occoquanva.gov.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Gainesville/Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | May 9, 2018
County observes National Police Week
A memorial and tribute service – including a candlelight vigil for fallen law enforcement officers who lived or served in greater Prince William County – was recently held in the Dr. A.J. Ferlazzo Government Building. National Police Week is May 13-19 and National Peace Officers Memorial Day is May 15. Each May, communities nationwide pay tribute to the thousands of law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities. This annual event – which was sponsored by the Prince William County Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association – honored the lives and service of 17 men and women who lived or served in Prince William County and
died in the line of duty. They are: • Justice of the Peace Thomas Simms Meredith, Prince William Circuit Court --July 1922; • Trooper Jackie M. Bussard, Virginia State Police – May 1970; • Officer Paul T. White Jr., Prince William County Police – October 1973; • Investigator Claude Everett Seymour, Virginia State Police – April 1975; • Trooper Johnny R. Bowman, Virginia State Police – August 1984; • Sgt. John D. Conner III, Manassas City Police – July 1988; • Officer Phillip M. Pennington, Prince William County Police – November 1990;
Stafford motorcyclist killed in Nokesville crash
YZF-R6 motorcycle, was traveling south on Nokesville Road, approaching the intersection with Piper Lane, when the crash occurred. The driver of the pickup truck, a 1996 Ford F250, was in the leftturn lane of northbound Nokesville Road, waiting to make a left into the Sowder Village Shopping Center. The F250 proceeded to make the left turn, crossing paths with the motorcycle, the press release said. Sandrus was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the F250, a 16-year-old male resident of Nokesville, remained at the scene and was not injured. The teen was not identified in the press release.
A Stafford man was killed May 2 when his motorcycle collided with a F250 pickup truck in Nokesville, according to Prince William police. Joseph Daniel Sandrus, 34, of Stafford, died at the scene of the crash, which took place at the intersection of Nokesville Road and Piper Lane at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, Prince William Police Sgt. Jonathan Perok said in a May 3 press release. The department’s Crash Investigation Unit responded to the intersection at about 8:34 p.m. The investigation revealed that Sandrus, who was operating a 2002 Yamaha
• Trooper Jose M. Cavazos, Virginia State Police – February 1993; • Special Agent William H. Christian Jr., Federal Bureau of Investigation – May 1995; • Detective John M. Gibson, United States Capitol Police – July 1998; • Officer Marlon E. Morales, Metro Transit Police – June 2001; • 2nd Lt. Francis Joseph Stecco, Fairfax County Police – October 2008; • Special Agent Chad L. Michael, Drug Enforcement Administration – October 2009; • Special Agent Forrest N. Leamon, Drug Enforcement Administration – October 2009; • Officer Paul Michael Dittamo,
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Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police – October 2010; • Officer Chris Yung, Prince William County Police – December 2012; • Officer Ashley M. Guindon, Prince William County Police – February 2016. Police Chief Barry Barnard said the tribute is a way for the community recognize those law-enforcement officers who lived or worked in greater Prince William County and who gave their lives in the line of duty. “It is also a time to recognize those peace officers who continue to courageously and conscientiously maintain a delicate balance between the liberty of the individual and a high degree of social protection,” he said.
The investigation continues.
cording to a police press release. Then, on March 31, officers responded to the 15700 block of Tassleford Lane in Woodbridge to investigate the robbery of a pizza delivery man whose money and cell phone were stolen by a man armed with a gun, police said. On April 27, detectives identified two suspects involved in the robberies. Tyrique Ry’shaun Farmer was arrested at his Woodbridge apartment. A second suspect, Lorenzo Juan Malone Rodriguez, was arrested May 3 by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force. Both men are being held without bond pending June court dates.
Two arrested in connection with Woodbridge robbery, attempted robbery
Police arrested last week two suspects in connection with a robbery and an attempted robbery in the Woodbridge area in November and later in March. On Nov. 22, 2017, officers responded to the 15700 block of Silent Tree Place in Woodbridge just before after a woman told police a man approached the driver’s side door of her vehicle, brandished a firearm and demanded money. The woman said she had no money, ac-
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