Nonprofit: Brandy Station Battlefield endangered by data center The upcoming data center is proposed to have negative effects. BY
Maria Basileo
A Virginia nonprofit classified a Culpeper battlefield as threatened or endangered by recent developments in allowing a rezoning request for a data center to move forward. In an announcement May 10, Preservation Virginia, a private, nonprofit organization seeking to engage the
CulpeperFest returns on June 10 CulpeperFest returns to Eastern View High School’s Cyclone stadium for its 42nd year. CulpeperFest will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on June 10. “We’ve heard how much businesses, nonprofits, and the commu-
public and sustaining Virginia’s historic places, listed Virginia’s Most Endangered Historic Places for 2022, which included Brandy Station Battlefield. "Local county governments passed separate rezoning actions to allow for construction of mega data center complexes, which would irreparably alter the adjacent historic landscapes associated with these battlefields, local farmland, and the areas’ rural character," the announcement read. "Locating data centers within technology corridors and away from culturally sensitive areas would convey how local governments value and support the preservation of their irreplaceable his-
toric resources." Despite efforts from community members, historical and environmental groups to deter them, the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors voted on April 5 to pave the way for Amazon to construct a data center on Route 3 in Stevensburg. Woodbridge-based development firm Marvell Developments LLC, a subsidiary of Amazon Data Services, submitted a rezoning request for 20420 Germanna Highway - currently the location of Magnolia Equestrian Center LLC - from an A-1 (Agricultural) to LI (Light Industrial) in order to construct two data center buildings,
totaling over 400,000-square-feet on approximately 230 acres. On March 28, representatives from The Germanna Foundation, American Battlefield Trust, Piedmont Environmental Council and Journey Through Hallowed Ground took members of the public as well as some supervisors on an over two hour tour of Salubria and Hansbrough Ridge, which lie in close proximity to the site, in order to outline the potential negative impacts. Other endangered sites includeWilliam Fox Elementary School in Richmond and Preston-Crockett House in Smyth County. maria@culpepertimes.com
nity love the format," said Culpeper Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jeff Say. "It gives them a chance to connect, to learn about our community and to have fun.” Claim your FREE Ticket in advance at www.culpeperfest.com. Tickets will be $5 at the door. There will be one entrance and one exit with a steady flow of traffic around Eastern View High School’s track. For more information go to culpeperfest.com or follow the event at faceook.com/CulpeperChamber.
➤ Lawyers, from Page 4
Public Safety Maggie Leary. Following introductions, students asked questions ranging from how to get out of a traffic ticket to how the attorneys keep their personal opinions out of doing their job. Durrer advised students he wouldn’t tell them how to “get out of” a ticket but rather to follow traffic laws to begin with in order to avoid being ticketed. Davies previously worked as a defense attorney, but after discovering his passion to run for public office, decided to shy away from defending those charged with violent crimes. He served for eight years in the state legislature. Durrer explained from his perspective, he is charged with applying laws passed by the legislature to cases whether they coincide with his personal beliefs or not. maria@culpepertimes.com
your questions about your legal rights and responsibilities.” The 31-page publication is presented by the Virginia State Bar’s Conference of Local and Specialty Bar Associations. The panel included: Amanda Rieman of AC Rieman Law, which primarily handles uncontested divorces, premarital agreements and other matters, Sam Walker of Clark & Walker PLLC, which primarily handles real estate matters, wills and probate matters and other civil law matters, John “Butch” Davies of Davies, Barrell, Will, Lewellyn & Edwards, PLC, who primarily handles zoning and land use law, business law and other matters, Culpeper County Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney SPONSORED BY Russ Rabb and former prosecutor turned Virginia Deputy Secretary of ➤ Free, from Page 3
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May 26, 2022
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began to do her own research and advocacy in the human trafficking prevention and awareness space. “Stephanie has done a really good job of pulling people like our agency in, pulling law enforcement in (to) really have conversations that (comes) full circle,” said Executive Director of SAFE Cindy Hedges. “She’s not just trying to be one combating it on her own because it does take a village.” While trying to speak generally about the issue as to not better inform abusers how to continue their exploits, Hedges said it is difficult to recognize human trafficking because it regularly is intertwined with other forms of abuse. As Hedges explained, while victims typically hail from vulnerable populations such as children in foster care, the homeless population or those with disabilities, anyone can be coerced into trafficking. While detailing telltale signs may be difficult, Hedges gave examples such as children having a new phone parents are not paying for or having unexplained cash reserves.
Both technology and money are used to manipulate victims into and continuing in the trafficking scheme. Exploiters, she continued, are typically known to the victim, be they family members or otherwise. In some instances, exploiters meet victims online in other countries and bring them to their location under false pretenses. Minter said the ministry is working on implementing technology that would scan the internet for posting offering sexual exploits with local phone numbers listed as a contact. The technology would rip the phone number, handing it over to the ministry to reach out with resources to a potential victim on the other end of the phone. Minter concluded with the help of law enforcement the puzzle pieces that make an environment an ideal circumstances for trafficking are present in Culpeper thus the chances of it occurring currently is likely. “We as a community can work together in order to prevent it from becoming a major issue for our community,” Minter said. maria@culpepertimes.com
Culpeper Times • May 12-25, 2022
