TIGERS REMAIN UNBEATEN: The Brentsville girls soccer team takes a 16-0 mark into the Class 3 state quarterfinals. Sports, Page 13
June 6, 2018 | Serving Haymarket, Gainesville and Western Prince William County | Vol. 17, No. 23 | www.PrinceWilliamTimes.com | 50¢
In final stretch, Stewart sticks to his script Perennial candidate pledges to ‘build a wall,’ blames shootings on godless schools
By Jonathan Hunley Times Staff Writer
As most people set out for Memorial Day destinations last weekend, Corey Stewart put on alligator-skin boots and returned to the campaign trail, marking the second inaugural summer holiday in a row he’s spent stumping for higher office. Stewart, 49, is the at-large chair-
man of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors. But since beginning his third term in 2016, Stewart has twice sought higher office. Corey After losing the GOP Stewart primary for governor to Ed Gillespie in June 2017, Stewart is back on the ballot this month,
seeking his party’s nomination for U.S. Senate. This time, Stewart faces Del. Nick Freitas, of Culpeper, and E.W. Jackson, a pastor and 2013 Republican nominee for lieutenant governor from Virginia Beach, in a June 12 primary to square off against incumbent U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, in November. See STEWART, Page 4
CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION
VOTE! Primary election: June 12
• GOP primary for U.S. Senate: Stewart faces Del. Nick Freitas, Page 6 • Three square off for the Democratic nod in the 1st District, Page 6 • Shak Hill challenges Comstock in the 10th District, Page 9
Dam project closes popular Lake Montclair for the summer By Aileen M. Streng Contributing Writer
PHOTO BY DELIA ENGSTROM
Where’s the beach? Dolphin Beach, the most popular of Lake Montclair’s three beaches, is rendered unrecognizable by the ongoing construction project to reinforce the man-made lake’s spillway. The changes are mandated by new state dam regulations.
INSIDE Calendar....................................ONLINE Classifieds...........................................17 Lifestyle..............................................15
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For the first time in more than 40 years, there is no swimming, boating or fishing this summer on Lake Montclair. The popular lake at the center of the Montclair community has been partially drained for a state-mandated construction project to deepen and widen the spillway adjacent to the dam that created the 108-acre, man-made lake. The $1.2 million project, paid for by the Montclair Property Owners Association, is expected to take until August or September to complete. Then, the weather – rainfall—will dictate how quickly the lake refills. Residents hope that will happen by next summer, but no one knows for sure. See LAKE, Page 5
News....................................................3 Puzzle Page........................................12 Real Estate..........................................16 Sports.................................................13
When Summer Sizzles...
YOU CAN CHILL OUT WHEN APPLETON CAMPBELL SERVICES YOUR A/C! 5/23/18 2:20 PM
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Gainesville/Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | June 6, 2018
New grads take the walk of honor Before Prince William County’s graduating seniors walked across the stage this week to receive their diplomas, many took a walk of a different kind. Many soon-to-be graduates took “Walks of Honor,” in which they returned to their Prince William County elementary schools, walking down the halls in their caps and gowns to the cheers of elementary school students who lined and decorated hallways to greet them. School officials shared photos of Forest Park High School graduates visiting Ashland Elementary School; Battlefield High School graduates visiting Gravely, Tyler, Mountain View and Alvey elementary schools; Woodbridge High School graduates visiting Old Bridge Elementary School; Hylton High School graduates visiting McAuliffe Elementary School; Patriot High School students visiting T. Clay Wood Elementary School; Battlefield and Patriot students visiting Buckland Mills Elementary School; and Stonewall Jackson High School students visiting Ellis Elementary School. “Now an annual tradition at many schools, these ‘Walks of Honor’ celebrate our graduates, and inspire our younger students on their own journeys to graduation day,” Prince William County school officials said on in a post on the school division’s website.
Forest Park High School graduates walk down the halls of Ashland Elementary.
Forest Park High School graduates pose for a photo during their “Walk of Honor” visit to Ashland Elementary.
Battlefield High School graduates, led by SeaDog and Bobcat mascots, walk the halls of Gravely Elementary, the elementary school they once attended.
Buyers: What should you look for in a REALTOR®?
Introducing Your New Neighbors: Karl and Melissa. Let them tell you.
Graduating seniors exchange high fives with students at Gravely Elementary School as they walk the halls of their former school. Community Editor Anita Sherman, 540.351.1635 asherman@fauquier.com
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Staff Writers ISSN 1050-7655, USPS 188280 Amanda Heincer, 540-878-2418 Published every Wednesday by aheincer@fauquier.com Piedmont Media LLC James Ivancic, 540-878-2414 jivancic@fauquier.com How to reach us Leland Schwartz, 540-351-0488 ADDRESS: lschwartz@fauquier.com 41 Culpeper Street Warrenton, Virginia 20186 Jonathan Hunley PHONE: 540-347-4222 jhunley@fauquier.com FAX: 540-349-8676 HOURS: 8 a.m. 5 p.m. weekdays, Sports Editor 24-hour answering service Peter Brewington, 540-351-1169 pbrewington@fauquier.com Publisher Catherine M. Nelson, Sports Staff Writer 540-300-4780 Jeff Malmgren, 540-874-2250 cnelson@fauquier.com jmalmgren@fauquier.com NEWSROOM ADVERTISING Editor in Chief Ad Manager Chris Six, 540-212-6331 Kathy Mills Godfrey 540-351-1162 csix@fauquier.com kgodfrey@fauquier.com Managing Editor Classified Sales Consulatants Jill Palermo,540-351-0431 Jeanne Cobert, 540-878-2491 jpalermo@fauquier.com jcobert@fauquier.com Associate Editor Evelyn Cobert, 540-878-2492 John Toler, 540-351-0487 jtoler@fauquier.com ecobert@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. Periodicals postage paid at Warrenton, Va. and at additional mailing offices
Gainesville/Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | June 6, 2018
‘We got it done’
NEWS
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After years of debate, Va. lawmakers expand Medicaid By Jill Palermo
Times Staff Writer
After the vote, there were cheers, applause and lots of hugs. Members of the Virginia House of Delegates took a moment to celebrate their vote May 30 after passing a budget that includes a provision to expand Medicaid for the first time after nearly five years of debate. The move is expected to bring $2 billion in additional federal money to the state’s coffers annually while providing health insurance to an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 residents making less than $16,643 a year. The vote in upper chamber – 23 to 17 -- was mostly along party lines except for four GOP senators who voted with the Senate’s 19 Democrats to expand Medicaid to those making up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Republican senators who voted to expand Medicaid included Sen. Jill Vogel, a Republican whose 27th District includes all of Fauquier County, as well as Sens. Frank Wagner, R-7th; Emmet Hanger, R-24th; and Ben Chafin, R-38th. Wagner is from Virginia Beach area, while Hanger’s district includes the Shenandoah Valley, and Chafin’s is in the southwest corner of the state. Republicans who voted against the move talked about their concern that the federal government wouldn’t keep its promise to cover 90 percent of the costs of new enrollees, or that the state might have to rescind the program if it received less federal money than expected. But supporters countered that Virginia isn’t afraid to take federal money for other initiatives and reminded their fellow lawmakers that Medicaid has been existence for 50 years. The vote was 67-to-31 in the House of Delegates. Twenty GOP delegates joined 47 Democrats to vote in favor of a budget that included Medicaid expansion. Del. Luke Torian, D-52nd, was not there for the vote. All three Republican state lawmakers whose districts include parts of Prince William County voted against the budget. They included Del. Tim Hugo, R-40th, and state Sens. Dick Black, R-13th; and Richard Stuart, R-28th. 'We got it done' Del. Danica Roem, D-13th, is among five newly elected state delegates from Prince William County who campaigned on passing MedDel. Danica Roem icaid expansion last year. She described the scene in the House chambers as celebratory and said delegates exchanged hugs after the meeting adjourned. The delegates and senators were
called back to Richmond for a special session this week after failing to pass a budget in March. Roem called the vote “historic” and said it is expected to impact an estimated 3,700 people in her district, including 1,300 residents of Manassas Park and 2,400 in Prince William County. “Here we are. We got it done,” Roem said in an interview after the vote. “My job now is to make sure we enroll as many of our eligible constituents as possible.” Medicaid is expected to be available to those meeting the new requirements by Jan. 1, 2019. Virginia’s current Medicaid program is among the leanest in the nation. Income limits are now $9,000 a year for an individual. No able-bodied, childless adults qualified, no matter how little they make. Roem said she was pleased with the other benefits of the budget bill as well. Accepting federal Medicaid dollars will free up state money that had been subsidizing indigent health care, some of which will be redirected to schools, mental health services and Medicaid “waivers” for people with intellectual and developmental delays. The budget also includes pay increases for state workers, law-enforcement officers and teachers. Roem said she is especially pleased by a provision that mandates state employees’ health insurance cover treatments for autistic children up to age 18. Roem said such a benefit should be required of all private insurers in Virginia but called the state employees’ provision “a start.” “Is it ideal? Of course not,” Roem said. “We want to cover a lot more people than that.” Roem said she hoped to return next year with a more comprehensive bill. Insurance companies in Virginia are now required to pay for treatments for autistic children only up to age 10, Roem said. Budget boosts school funding, helps dredge Neabsco Creek Other Prince William County delegates found more reasons to tout the vote. Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy, D-2nd, issued a statement saying she is “ecstatic” the budDel. Jennifer Foy get bill passed, noting it will benefit “women, veterans, the disabled and the elderly.” “It will help us tackle the opioid crisis in Virginia where people are dying from overdoses at a rate higher than car accidents,” Foy added. “We will be able to afford to treat our mentally-ill citizens who are in desperate need for medications. And, of course, expansion will help underemployed adults the most - men and women working 40 and more hours a week who still
can’t afford coverage.” State Sens. Scott Surovell, D-36th, and Jeremy McPike, D-29th, noted several ways the state budget benefits Prince Sen. Jeremy McPike William County. The budget includes a 3-percent raise for teachers and millions more in state funding for the county school division. It also funds a vacant circuit court judgeship in Prince William County in July 1, 2019 and commits $1,300,000 toward dredging Neabsco Creek. “This is a good budget with real investment for Prince William and Stafford counties,” Surovell said in a statement. “Thousands of Prince William and Stafford residents will receive health care, Prince William County Public Schools will receive $1,057 per student over the next two years. Stafford County Public Schools will see $613 per student, and we will save four dozen marina and boat repair jobs, 1,000 boat slips, and keep Neabsco Creek open.” The vote is a big win for Gov. Ralph Northam (D) who worked with former Gov. Terry McAuliffe
for five years to pass Medicaid expansion to no avail. “This budget is the culmination of five years of effort to bring our taxpayer dollars home from Washington and expand Medicaid,” Northam said in a statement. “As a doctor, I’m so proud of the significant step we’ve taken together to help Virginians get quality, affordable care." The budget also: • Reinvests over $191 million in general fund savings for behavioral health and developmental services; • Provides $57.8 million for 1,645 new “Medicaid waivers” for citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities; • Fully funds K-12 re-benchmarking, provides a 3-percent pay raise for teachers and increases funding for early childhood education; • Includes a 2-percent across-theboard pay raise and a 2-percent merit-pay increase for state employees; • Raises the minimum salary for sheriff’s deputies, correctional officers in Department of Corrections & Department of Juvenile Justice to $32,500, and gives targeted pay raises for Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services direct care staff. Reach Jill Palermo at jpalermo@ fauquier.com