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T he Volume 40, Number 15
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Colonial Beach • Westmoreland
Wednesday, April 13, 2016 50 Cents
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Blunt announces run for CB mayor Linda Farneth
Vice Mayor Eddie Blunt announced his intentions to run for Colonial Beach Mayor in the November elections during his speech to the Colonial Beach Chamber of Commerce during their annual awards ceremony held on April 6. “I'm going to ask for your support as I take a step back from the vice mayor and put my name in the hat to fill Mike Ham's position as mayor on the November Ballot. I ask all
of you for your prayers and support for our council as we continue to navigate through the next few years,” Blunt said. Blunt serves as the current vice mayor; his term on the council does not expire until December 2018. If he won the race for mayor, his vacant seat on council would open after the election, requiring the council to appoint someone to fill his vacant seat. Blunt talked about recent changes to the town. “Our town is going through some very important changes, we had a considerable
influx of new residential homes being built even though we have a significant amount of used inventory on the market. We are preparing to offer millions of dollars of property to the real estate market.” Recently Westmoreland County reassessed property values, and according to Westmoreland Supervisor Larry Roberson, many assessments went down. Roberson has stated the county may adjust tax rates to account for lost real estate revenues. Blunt said, “We don't know what Westmo-
reland has planned to offset the reduction of property values and the real estate tax assessments. And now there is conversation going on about a new casino, which could change the face of the town as we know it.” He warned, “We can't afford to let our past put us in an emotional straitjacket. We have to find ways for growth without losing the charm of the town.” Blunt said the town has an opportunity to capitalize on all that everyone is doing to thrive; from the art galleries, Tiki bars, great restaurants, world class
entertainment, better schools, infrastructure and a place for retired persons as well as new families . Colonial Beach voters will choose 3 members of council and their mayor on the November ballot. “I ask each and every one of you who qualify for positions consider putting your name on the ballot. We need business friendly people who have a strong work ethic and business minds to help navigate See Blunt, page 8
Planning commission passes ES plan with recommendations Linda Farneth
Photo by Linda Farneth
Colonial Beach Mayor Mike Ham objects to Planning Commission proposals on design for the new elementary school, calling the suggestions a “redesign.”
Dillon homicide sentencing set for June 16th
Former deputy killed woman in 2015 Richard Leggitt
After the preparation of a pre-sentence report, a Colonial Beach woman will be sentenced on June 16th in connection with murder of Sharon Dickerson Smith. Smith was killed Jan. 31, 2015. Sierra Seantaine Dillon, 45, is scheduled to appear before Westmoreland County Circuit Judge Herbert Hewitt for sentencing after entering guilty pleas last week to charges of murder, use of a firearm while committing murder and reckless handling of a firearm, all felonies. Dillon, a former Westmoreland County deputy sheriff, was arrested at her home on Hamilton Street in Colonial Beach after officers responded to a 5:30 a.m. 911 call and found Smith, also a resident of Colonial Beach, dead from a gunshot wound to the chest. Dillon was performing CPR on Smith when Colonial Beach police officers arrived. At that time, Dillon claimed the shooting was accidental. She said she had been cleaning her gun she dropped the weapon and it accidentally discharged, hitting Smith who was sitting across the room from her on a couch. Dillon told officers she had been drinking prior to the shooting. However, another couple who were upstairs in the house at the time of the shooting advised officers that Dillon and Smith had been arguing just before they heard the gunshot. And, forensic experts told investigators that the gun, a Springfield Amour .40 caliber pistol, would not have discharged if dropped in the manner Dillon had claimed. Investigators determined that the shot that killed Smith was fired from 24 to 72 inches away. It was also determined that Dillon had a blood alcohol content of .163 when her blood was tested three hours after the shooting. Dillon has been held without bond in the Northern Neck Regional Jail since the shooting and will remain in jail until her sentencing, according to Westmoreland Commonwealth's Attorney Julia Sichol.
Colonial Beach Mayor Mike Ham asked the town Planning Commission not to try to redesign the new elementary school during an April 7 public hearing to approve the conditional use permit to place the new elementary school building at the First Street campus. Commissioners expressed concerns they had for potential problems that may arise from the design of the building. Commissioner comments continued for almost 20 minutes after the public hearing portion opened and closed with no one from the public speaking on the matter. Planning Commission Chairwoman Robin Schick responded to the Mayor's concerns saying, “They are all recommendations, that's what we do here. We are the public identity that represents the town's people. It is not political in nature to recommend to the council what we think is best.” Commissioners Maureen McCabe and Dianna Clopton expressed a concern that the stormwater management plan, which the architects say meets state standards, is not sufficient. McCabe is concerned state standards aren't enough for this area. “I sincerely hope that they will do some extra planning in order to guarantee this will be effective.” Clopton agreed with McCabe. “I understand there is a 1-inch event that is planned for because that is the state averaging, but when you look at the [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration date] county by county, that's not what this will have.” Schick told members they cannot require more than the state mandates, and reminded the members that the conditional use permit calls for the builders to obtain an approved state stormwater permit from the Department
of Environmental Quality before beginning work. Schick had several concerns. “The planning commission's role is to help the town proceed in a fashion that we have a future not only into the next year but to the next 10, 20 or even 50 years from now. My biggest concern is that it is too small.” Schick presented a chart to the commission members outlining the enrollment from 1997 to 2016. According to Schick the school shows a growth rate of 9.7 percent. She recommended the school accommodate for a 10 percent growth rate over the next 30 years. Schick recommended the school widen the rear entrance sidewalk leading to the gymnasium/cafeteria and plan for an additional 20 parking spaces. She also requested a site plan for necessary sports and playground equipment be submitted to the planning commission. The plans for the school call for bus students to be dropped off at the rear entrance and walkers/parent dropoffs will occur at the main school entrance for safety. When Clopton asked if the back entrance could be made grander for the students, the Mayor got up to speak. Clopton asked, “Can we make it as lovely and nice and grand as the front entrance, instead of a second class entrance?” Ham said, “With all due respect, we're here to talk about a conditional use permit for putting a building up. The school is responsible for setting the size, requirements, the design and meeting state standards. We should not have the planning commission redesigning the school.” Ham addressed Schick's concerns of growth by saying the school is currently taking in roughly 70 county See School, page 8
Raggs opens second store in Colonial Beach Fun store now has location near beach Richard Leggitt
Joyce Gunderson, a Colonial Beach businesswoman, has recently opened the latest edition of Raggs, her women's clothing, gifts and furniture store, at 500 Colonial Ave. just blocks from the town's Potomac River beach. "I am living my dream," said the vivacious Gunderson. "I have wanted to be in the clothing business since I was eight years old. I am doing what I want to do." Raggs is a clothing store that Gunderson has operated in several Virginia locations, including King George, for the better part of 30 years. It was located in the Colonial Plaza Shopping Center until recently when it moved to the former location of Wishes and Dreams, which closed last year. "Wishes and Dreams had a great, successful run," Gunderson said. "But I was excited when I learned this location was going to be available. Without a doubt, it is better visibility." The new store brightly painted in beach colors, not only has women's clothing, but jewelry, gifts and furniture. "We will be adding new stuff all the time," said Gunderson. "Hopefully, we can make it fun for customers." Gunderson said she chose the
“We will be adding new stuff all the time. Hopefully, we can make it fun for customers.”
Raggs owner Joyce Gunderson
name Raggs "because that is sort of the slang name for the clothing business." Gunderson, who went to Virginia Tech and majored in fashion mechanizing, travels a great deal representing Balfour jewelry on college campuses in Virginia and Maryland. She is well known in Colonial Beach, where she has lived for more than 20 years, as a tireless civic activist and community volunteer. "I want this store to be a community resource," she said. Debbie Ey, Gunderson's manager at the colorful and eclectic Raggs store, is proud of the various merchandise on sale at Raggs. "We have two lines of jewelry with interchangeable stones," Ey said. "And, we have a lot of beach wear." Ey said Raggs is currently open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. "We will expand those hours in the summer," said Ey, which is good news to all of those area residents who want to share Joyce Gunderson's dream.
Photo by Richard Leggitt
Debbie Ey is a manager at Raggs.
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