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OCTOBER 6, 2017 | NORTHERN VIRGINIA MEDIA SERVICES
BIG BLUE IN EXHIBITION
Pole with Confederate flag vandalized A Confederate flag on private property near Interstate 95 in Falmouth is in the news again. The pole flying the flag was vandalized between Spt. 24 and Oct. 1, according to Amanda Vicinanzo, of the Stafford County Sheriff ’s Office. Stafford Deputy George Motley was called to the property and reported that the words “take it down” and “racist” were spray painted on the base of the pole, Vicinanzo said. The rope used to hoist the flag was also damaged. There may have been an attempt to remove the plaque on the pole that reads “Virginia.” The landowner, Hubert Cash, told the deputy that the pole is owned by the Virginia Flaggers group and he had agreed to have the flag and pole on his property. A number of notrespassing signs are near the property line and the pole.
The North Stafford High School Band hosted its 35th annual North Stafford Big Blue Invitational on Sept. 30, with 16 area bands taking the field for a six-hour show. The home band finished the evening’s performance with ‘das Vampyre,’ a production that included ‘Danse Macabre,’ ‘My Immortal’ and ‘Lacrimosa.’ Above, Caitie Wideman performs as the vampire. For more from the competition, please turn to PAGE 10. ALEKS DOLZENKO | INSIDENOVA
Confederate flag protesters undeterred TRACY BELL
tbell@insidenova.com
group of local residents who oppose the Confederate flag that flies above Interstate 95 near Falmouth paid a return visit to the Stafford County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, undeterred by the county attorney’s recent advice that nothing should be done to remove it.
The group has visited the board several times in recent weeks to discuss the 80-foot flagpole that is on private property and is leased to the Virginia Flaggers. Recently, residents taking issue with the flag asked the board to have the flag removed or lowered, or to enact a county stance in the form of website postings or highway bill-
boards noting that the flag is not affiliated with the county and that Stafford welcomes everyone. At the board’s last meeting, County Attorney Charles Schumate advised the board that the county has no legal authority to require removing the flag because it is on private property and the property owner is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects free speech. Stafford resident Patty Joshi said Tuesday that Schumate shouldn’t have compared the issue to burning the flag, which he said he finds offensive and greatly disrespectful. FLAG PROTESTERS
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STAFFORD COUNTY SUN
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