Next Orbital Launch Won't Be from Mid-Atlantic Space Port Winter
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Circulation 14,000 Free January 6, 2017 Next Orbital Launch Won’t Be From Mid-Atlantic Space Port By Linda Cicoira ing from Wallops this summer,” said There will be another Orbital ATK Beneski. “And then we’re going to car- launch in the spring, but it won’t be ry out three missions in pretty rapid from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Space- succession — almost once every three port (MARS) at NASA’s Wallops Flight or four months,” Beneski added, ac- Facility, an agency representative con- cording to the report. firmed Wednesday. Orbital successfully launched its up- Instead, the rocket will be sent with graded Antares 230 rocket from Wal- supplies to the International Space lops last October carrying more than Station (ISS) from Cape Canaveral in 5,100 pounds of cargo. Florida. It was the first launch since the fa- “We’re continuously working with mous mishap in 2014 when “15 seconds all our partners on range availability, into flight … an explosion in the Antar- space station traffic and other factors es main engine system occurred causing to maximize utilization, operation of the vehicle to lose thrust and fall back the station in a safe and effective way toward the ground,” a NASA report as we use it as our test bed for prepar- disclosed. “Just prior to impacting the ing for longer duration missions far- ground, range safety personnel issued a ther into the solar system, including destruct command to the flight termi- Photo by Linda Cicoira the Journey to Mars,” said Kirk Shire- nation system to minimize … damage man of the ISS Program at NASA’s from the expected ground impact and Crockett to Head Accomack Supervisors Johnson Space Center in Houston. ensuing explosion of the vehicle.” Accomack supervisors met for their organizational meeting Wednesday where they selected former Sheriff Robert Crockett of District 6 (and Onan- Barry Beneski of Orbital reported- “The schedule provides margin flex- cock) as chairman and Laura Belle Gordy of District 7 (and Onley) as vice ly said the decision to launch the OA-7 ibility for our Antares workforce, who chairwoman for 2017. They will continue to hold county business meetings mission from Cape Canaveral is “pri- worked tirelessly … to prepare and at 5 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month in their chambers in Accomac. marily more of a NASA issue, with in- successfully launch the upgraded rock- Work sessions when needed will be on the first Wednesday at the same time terest in more cargo and better sched- et from Wallops Island on our sixth and place. ule assurance. We’ll be back to launch- contracted commercial resupply ser- (Continued On Page 3) INSIDE Winter Storm Watch Blue crab Community Notes ............... Page 27 Preparations for the storm expected to come in late tonight (Friday) or early Satur- Classified/Legal Ads .............Page 30 day were being made at press time Thursday, according to Chris Isdell of VDOT. Salt bay co. Health Page ..........................Page 26 spreaders and snow plows were being installed on dump trucks. In a conference call Mileposts .............................Page 28 Thursday with the weather center, Isdell learned that Northampton was forecasted to has A new Obituaries ..............................Page 9 get between 4 to 8 inches snow and Accomack 2-5 inches. He noted that the forecast Opinion/Letters ....................Page 31 was subject to change and they were preparing for the worst-case scenario. This morn- owner! Post Times Calendar ...........Page 29 ing (Friday) road pretreatments will be made on Lankford Highway, Stone Road and Property ..................................Page 8 Chincoteague Road. Isdell cautioned motorists to look out for those activities. Puzzles ..................................Page 19 State police said those who must travel should remember to use headlights, Sports ...................................Page 12 slow down, don’t tailgate, buckle up, go prepared and check that vehicles are in See our story on p. 24. Tides ....................................Page 18 good working order for conditions. 2 • EastErn shorE Post • January 6, 2017 BETA CLUB BRIGHT SPOT at ARcaDIA MIDDLE, AS IT STRUGGLes TO Meet BENCHmaRKS By Linda Cicoira “We know we have to have a correc- tra math and an extra English teacher. involved.” Eighth grader Erik Holmer had a lot tive action plan,” the principal said. He reported that 50 students are stay- Tupper reported those in 6th and of good things to say to the Accomack “With your support… we have a good ing late for help with remedial reading. 7th Grades improved by half a grade School Board Tuesday night about Ar- start.” He thanked the panel for an ex- “Kids are staying. The kids are getting (Continued on Page 23) cadia Middle School, where he is the president of the BETA club. When he came to the school from Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Lasted of Petitions Chincoteague, he said adapting was no problem due to the friendliness of the for Elected School Board Delivered to Registrar staff and student body. “A lot of people By Linda Cicoira percentage would be calculated. way of governing our school system.” here already knew me. Random teach- The last of the petitions that call for a An election official said Tuesday about “We’re one of the last places (in Virgin- ers and students said, ‘Hi.’ It really built referendum that would ask voters if they 1,700 signatures have already been veri- ia) that has an appointed school board,” up my confidence. It was very easy.” want Accomack School Board members fied as belonging to registered voters. Connie Burford, another committee lead- Principal Brian Tupper bragged to be elected rather than appointed by a Currently, Circuit Court Judge W. Rev- er. “It’s about the people in Accomack about Holmer mentioning he played selection commission were submitted to ell Lewis appoints members to the selec- … having a say. Maybe what we have electric guitar at the National Be- the voter registrar’s office Wednesday. tion commission who in turn pick school worked, for a while, but it’s not working ta Convention last year. “He is self- A total of 4,676 signatures were col- board members. now … It is a group of people who are ap- taught,” the school administrator said. lected, according to former School Board Many of the petitions were circulated pointed by one person and … there is no He is “an amazing guitarist.” Member Janet Turner, one of the movers near polling places during the November accountability for their actions. We need Unfortunately, not all are excelling and shakers of the group called Accomack General Election. The documents then transparency. We need accountability. at the school. Arcadia Middle has not County School Board Election Committee. had to be notarized. The citizens should have a voice.” met benchmark or criteria for narrow The goal was to get 3,000 signatures Turner said about 40 volunteers Nearly 80 percent of Northampton margin or improvement on Standards to ensure the required 2,500 signatures signed up to circulate the petitions. voters were in favor of a referendum of Learning tests in English for the or 10 percent of registered voters was ob- “This is a public school system and the to elect school board members there in last three years. School and division of- tained. When the process began several citizens who oversee it should be elected 2012. If the petitions are successful, the ficials are required to make a state-ap- months ago, there were about 25,000 reg- by the public,” she said. “Having an elect- topic would go to Accomack voters in No- proved plan to get the scores up. istered voters, the amount by which the ed school board is just a more democratic vember 2017. USDA Eligible Beautiful single story home backing up to the 6th fair- Open a New Door in 2017... way. Large rooms, big deck and back yard! 3BR/2BA! Concrete pad Captains Cove Parking. the Door to your NEW HOME! $159,500 Beautiful Cape Cod CHINCOTEAGUE & CAPTAINS COVE USDA Eligible offers over 2100 sq. ft. living space! 2 Office Locations to Serve You! 3BR/2.5BA 1st floor master CHINCOTEAGUE CAPTAINS COVE suite! Large workshop! 6426 Maddox Blvd. 37054 State Line Rd. (next to PNC Bank) (on the right) $1500 closing help! Captains Cove 757/336-5100 757/824-5195 $198,000 Classic Eastern Shore style home with extra lot! In-town location! 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The passengers. portation (VDOT) “will do a complete side of a tractor-trailer truck as the two Chesterfi eld County couples died The incident occurred at 12:41 evaluation” of the area where two fatal vehicles were traveling in the north- at the scene. p.m., Saturday, Nov. 12. The Hyund- crashes took the lives of six people re- bound lanes of the highway and the Konrad Erbes, 87, the driver of the ai was going east on Capeville Drive cently in Capeville.