PERFECT: The county has 4 undefeated basketball teams, including Brentsville’s girls. Sports,
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December 12, 2018 | Vol. 17, No. 50 | www.PrinceWilliamTimes.com | 50¢ Covering Prince William County and surrounding communities, including Gainesville, Haymarket, Dumfries, Occoquan, Quantico and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.
County supervisor races drawing a crowd Four more vying for board in 2019 By Jill Palermo
Times Staff Writer
The list of candidates running for Prince William County’s Board of Supervisors in 2019 continues to grow with four more hopefuls joining the race in recent weeks. Don Scoggins, a longtime Republican activist who left the party earli-
er this year because of his frustration with President Donald Trump has announced his bid for board chairman. He will run as an independent. Meanwhile, Doug Taggart is vying for the Republican nomination for the Potomac District seat, which will be open due to the pending retirement of longtime Supervisor Maureen Caddigan, also a Republican. Democrat Andrea Bailey declared her candidacy for the seat last spring. And in the Coles District, one Republican, Patrick Sowers, and a sec-
ond Democrat, Raheel Sheikh, have entered the race to replace Supervisor Marty Nohe, a Republican who will leave his seat after 15 years to run for board chairman. Democrat LaTonsha Pridgen announced her candidacy for the Coles District in October. The additions bring the total number of declared candidates for county supervisor to 17 for the eight available seats. Only two sitting supervisors currently do not have declared challengers: Supervisors Pete Candland, a
From sparkly greens to the first lady’s famous red trees By Robin Earl
Times Staff Writer
When dignitaries and guests have their photos taken with President Donald Trump and the First Lady this holiday season, they’ll have Amy Lienemann of Haymarket and Shelley Campbell of Marshall— and about 228 others — to thank for the striking backdrop. Lienemann, an interior decorator, and Campbell, a florist, were among volunteers who helped decorate the White House in an “American traditions” theme for the holiday season. They worked in teams for three full days — 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. — knee-deep in Christmas ornaments, flowers and bright red beads. Lienemann placed ornaments on the live Christmas trees and the fireplace mantle in the diplomatic reception room and festooned Melania Trump’s internet-famous red Christmas trees with berries. Campbell focused her efforts on the West Wing, the east entrance to the White House, and the Gold Star tree. The red trees lining the grand foyer were constructed of tree-sized styrofoam cones. “The holly berries are actually red styrofoam spheres,” said Lienemann. “Some were
(grouped) on sticks and others were individually placed. After all the berries were on the trees, we went in with red markers and touched up any of them that had any white showing through. It was actually very tedious work.” The result was “several layers of red and deep burgundy berries. I think they turned out beautifully,” she said. “The trees have real dimension, with different sizes of berries.” The owner of Sensibly Savvy Designs, a home-decorating business in Haymarket, Lienemann helps her clients with everything from color consultations to full renovations. She said she works closely with homeowners to make sure they are a part of the design process. “At the end of a job, I get to walk away. My clients have to live with our choices every day. We work to make decisions together,” she said. That team mentality was put to good use as Lienemann worked alongside other volunteers to decorate the White House. “Some were floral designers, some were teachers…. One man had been doing it every year for 39 years. There were volunteers from all over the country. There were two people from South Korea and one lady from France. It was
fun, but exhausting,” she said.
‘Just a mom with a glue gun’
Campbell agreed that meeting and working with the other volunteers was a highlight of the experience. Campbell said she and a girlfriend befriended a young military widow who was also volunteering.
Republican representing the Gainesville District, and Supervisor John Jenkins, a Democrat representing the Neabsco District. In 2015, the last time all eight supervisor seats were on the ballot, four incumbents ran uncontested. Chairman Corey Stewart, a Republican who has held the chairman’s seat since 2006 and is now finishing his third full term, has not yet announced whether he will seek re-election in See SUPERVISORS, page 3
Local designers ready the White House for the holidays
The “Gold Star” tree at the White House. See DECORATIONS, page 4
INSIDE Calendar.............................................14 Classified............................................18 Libraries.............................................15 Lifestyle..............................................13
Obituaries...........................................17 Opinion.................................................9 Puzzle Page........................................10 Real Estate..........................................16 Sports.................................................11
PHOTO BY SHELLEY CAMPBELL
86 WARRENTON, VA
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Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | December 12, 2018
Area police play ‘Santa Cop’ to about 100 local kids Santa Cops stormed through Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park with a mission to make the season brighter for about 100 at-risk kids ages 5 though 10.
COURTESY PHOTO
George Mason University police officer shops with one of the kids
The Fraternal Order of Police, Battlefield Lodge 43, kicked off its 2018 Santa Cops charity event Dec. 1 when officers from several local agencies – including Prince William County police, Prince William Adult Detention Center, the Prince William County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police and George Mason University -- donated their time to take the children shopping “in hopes of making their Christmas special,” the Fraternal Order of Police said in a news release. The annual charity event continued Saturday, Dec. 8, when officers from those departments were joined by those from Manassas City Police, Manassas Park Police and Haymarket police to take more than 50 children shopping at the Super Walmart at Manassas Mall. After the shopping, a convoy of
police cruisers escorted the children to breakfast donated by Outback Steakhouse of Woodbridge on Dec. 1 and by the Park West Lion’s Club on Dec. 8. The participating children are selected by Prince William County, Manassas City and Manassas Park schools. “They come from all walks of life and differing circumstances, but all are faced with financial limitations in their homes,” the Fraternal Order of Police said. “Our mission is to promote a positive law enforcement image with these children. Children need to experience officers as caring people who are willing to provide positive support. In supporting this project, we hope that we can make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable young people.” The effort aims to improve the
connections between adults and young people, which is “the core element of effective crime prevention and deterring negative, delinquent behaviors and encouraging achievement,” police said in the release. “It helps leave a lasting impression of law enforcement with kids who sometimes don’t see police in a positive way,” it continued. All funds for the program are donated local businesses and residents of Prince William County. All donations are tax-deductible through the Battlefield Lodge 43 Charitable Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations can be mailed to: Battlefield Charitable Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 195, Woodbridge, VA 22194 or made in person at either one of the events.
Police: 18-year-old fell from Lake Jackson Drive bridge after hit-and-run An 18-year-old man was running on the side of Lake Jackson Road Friday when he was struck by a car and fell off a bridge, police said. Police are asking for the public’s help in gathering information about the vehicle that struck the man and left the scene. At 5:35 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, officers responded to the area of Lake Jackson Drive and Dumfries Road to investigate a possible missing person, Prince William County police said in a news release. An 18-year-old man had called his parents
“stating he was hurt and could not remember anything,” the man’s parents reported to police. Police located to victim over the side of a bridge embankment on Lake Jackson Drive, “after an extensive search,” the police news release said. Police investigated and determined that the victim was running on the east side of Lake Jackson Drive when he was apparently struck by an unknown vehicle sometime between 4:45 and 5:24 p.m. The victim fell off the bridge and landed on a rocky embankment below, police said.
Police investigate sexual battery at Woodbridge Walmart Prince William County police are investigating after a woman reported that a man inappropriately touched her at the Walmart store in Woodbridge Tuesday. Police were called to the Walmart at 14000 Worth Ave. in Woodbridge just before 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4, to investigate an assault, Prince
Secuirty camera footage of suspect
William County police said in a news release. A 41-year-old woman told police that she was shopping in the store when an unknown man approached her from behind as she was reaching down to look at products on a shelf, police said in the news release. “During the encounter, the suspect inappropriately touched the victim and whispered something indecipherable into her ear,” the police news release said. The suspect eventually left the business and no further contact was made, police said. No injuries were reported. The investigation continues. The suspect is described as black, between 35 and 40 years old, 6 feet tall and 180 pounds, with brown eyes and black, shoulder-length cornrows. He was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, black coat, green camo pants and white shoes.
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The striking vehicle did not remain on the scene. The victim was flown to an area hospital with serious, non-life-threatening injuries. Police say the vehicle involved may have damage to the front right side of the hood, headlight and/or front bumper. Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to contact police at 703-792-7000 or submit a web tip to: www.pwcgov.org/policetip. Reference Case Number: PD180041361
Police investigate ‘concerning graffiti’ at Colgan High School Prince William County police are investigating after graffiti including a swastika symbol and “KKK” was found at Colgan High School. At 9:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4, school staff notified a school resource officer “about some concerning graffiti that was found written on a wall in one of the boys’ restrooms” at Colgan High School, 13833 Dumfries Road, Manassas, Prince William County police said in a news release. A student reported finding “a swastika symbol and ‘KKK’ written on the bathroom wall earlier that morning,” police said in the news release. Police determined that the incident happened sometime between 6:45 and 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 4. The graffiti has now been removed by school staff, police said. Community Editor Anita Sherman, 540-351-1635 asherman@fauquier.com Associate Editor John Toler, 540-351-0487 jtoler@fauquier.com Staff Writers James Ivancic, 540-878-2414 jivancic@fauquier.com Jonathan Hunley, 540-351-0431 jhunley@fauquier.com Karen Chaffraix, kchaffraix@fauquier.com Sports Editor Peter Brewington, 540-351-1169 pbrewington@fauquier.com Sports Staff Writer Jeff Malmgren, 540-874-2250 jmalmgren@fauquier.com GNISITREVDA Ad Manager Kathy Mills Godfrey 540-351-1162 kgodfrey@fauquier.com tnatlusnoC selaS defiissalC Jeanne Cobert, 540-878-2491 jcobert@fauquier.com
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Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | December 12, 2018
Four more vying for board in 2019 SUPERVISORS, from page 1
2019. Stewart ran unsuccessfully for higher office three times since 2013: for lieutenant governor in 2013, governor in 2017 and the U.S. Senate last November. Stewart lost the last contest to incumbent Sen. Tim Kaine (D) by 16 points statewide and by a whopping 31 points in Prince William County. With or without Stewart the 2019 contest is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory.
Scoggins (I) for board chair
Scoggins, 73, had been active in the GOP since he campaigned for President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1950s but said last summer he could no longer tolerate Trump’s false statements. But Scoggins said his views don’t align with those of the Democratic Party either, as he considers himself a fiscal conservative. Scoggins said he’ll bring new ideas to the county board. He’d like the county to be more aggressive in pursuing public-private partnerships to boost economic development. As an example, he said the county should pursue such a partnership to bring a convention center to the Potomac Mills area. He’d also like to see the county
open a stand-alone high school focused on the trades and would encourage the school division to stagger high school students’ schedules so students could attend classes over a longer school day as a means of dealing with overcrowding. “Prince William County is not Fairfax County or Arlington. We must admit that. … We don’t have the tax base those places do,” Scoggins said. “So we can’t do everything they can do, but we can do different things. We can use our ingenuity to set Prince William apart.” Scoggins is a former U.S. Army officer. Professionally, he was a longtime real estate agent as well as a housing specialist with Fairfax County and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Sheikh (D) for Coles supervisor
Sheikh, 44, owns four automobile service centers around the county and has a background in information systems and insurance. He’s running to bring a businessman’s perspective to the county board as well as that of a father of three children, ages 20, 18 and 12. Two graduated from Prince William high schools, and the youngest is a middle-schooler. Sheikh said the county needs to do more to attract businesses and should put more resources into the school division. “The board of supervisors, they real-
She’s not worried about the plumbing , heat or electric…
ly have not been putting enough money toward the school system,” Sheikh said. Sheikh said he’s particularly concerned there aren’t enough school counselors to support students’ mental health needs. In Prince William schools, the ratio of students to school counselors is more than 400 to one. The American School Counselor Association recommends a ratio of no more than 250 students to each counselor. Sheikh immigrated to the U.S. in 1997 when he was 22, after having studied physics, chemistry and math at a university in Pakistan.
Sowers (R) for Coles supervisor
Sowers, 44, is a native of Prince William County who runs his own home-improvement business, Loyalty Exteriors. He’s also a realtor and has served as president of the Winding Creek homeowners association for more than a decade. Additionally, Sowers has served on the Prince William County Community Services Board for three years and now serves on the Virginia Community Services Board, as well. He is married and has an 8-year-old daughter. Sowers said his top concerns are combatting the opioid-addiction crisis, maintaining strong public safety agencies and making “responsible” decisions about residential development. Sowers said both the county and state can do more to make medicine-assisted treatment available for
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people struggling with substance-use disorders. Regarding development, Sowers said he won’t be a “rubber stamp” for new projects but rather will carefully consider each on its merits. He said he’s open to “possibilities for responsible development” changes to the rural crescent, but would only consider policies that are Constitutional, allow property owners to maintain the peaceful enjoyment of their land and are good for existing residents.
Taggart (R) for Potomac District
Taggart is a retired U.S. Coast Guard officer and president of Overlook Systems Technologies, Inc., a Vienna-based engineering firm and federal contractor. Taggart said he’s running to lend his expertise toward improving the county’s roads, schools and economy. “Our local government must be up to the challenge of modernizing our roads and transportation options, improving our schools and facilitating job creation and growth in the private sector so Prince William residents do not have to commute to other counties to work.” Taggart said. Taggart and his family have lived in Prince William County for more than 25 years. He served as treasurer and former president of the Montclair Property Owners Association, representing nearly 15,000 residents. He is also the president of the nonprofit Azalea Charities, Inc.
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