Distributed Free Each Friday Since 2009 October 20, 2017 www.pcpatriot.com Locally Owned And Operated ELECTION PREVIEW INSIDE Candidates sharply differ on gun issues RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The two major party to be able to carry a concealed candidates in Virginia's race for governor sharply handgun without a permit. disagree when it comes to guns. Earlier this year, Democratic Republican Ed Gillespie has an A rating from the Gov. Terry McAuliffe vetoed National Rifle Association. He pledged to "oppose legislation allowing that — any and all attempts to weaken the Second against the wishes of the GOP- Amendment." controlled General assembly. Democrat Ralph Northam said he favors stricter Democrats in the legislature controls on gun ownership. He's backed by former have pushed unsuccessfully for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's group Gillespie universal background checks, as well as by former Democratic Rep. Gabrielle including mandatory checks at Giffords, who was grievously wounded in a 2011 gun shows. shooting. Governors also can take uni- The positions play against type. Northam grew lateral action on guns, like up hunting on Virginia's Eastern Shore and owns McAuliffe did in banning guns two shotguns. from certain state-owned office Gillespie wrote in his 2006 book that he doesn't buildings by executive order. own a gun and recently declined to answer whether Guns on campuses are also a that was still the case. regular and poignant point of discussion due to the 2007 THE ISSUE: mass shooting at Virginia Tech. Northam Debates about guns take up a significant amount Liberty University President WEEKEND WEATHER of time each legislative session and groups on both Jerry Falwell Jr. has in recent SATURDAY SUNDAY sides inject serious amounts of cash into the politi- years urged students at his cal process. The NRA has already spent more than Lynchburg-based school to Sunny, with a high near 74. Mostly sunny, with a high near $750,000 supporting Republicans this election carry concealed handguns. Calm wind becoming south 72. year, while former New York City Mayor Michael And currently, the gun-relat- around 5 mph in the afternoon. Bloomberg's group, Everytown for Gun Safety, has ed discussion has revolved Sunday Night - Mostly cloudy, pledged to spend at least $1 million helping around "bump stocks," used Saturday Night - Partly with a low around 53. Democrats. recently by a gunman in Las cloudy, with a low around 45. A number of gun-related issues are decided at the Vegas to increase the rate of fire of semi-automatic state level, including whether to allow people who Hyra have obtained a protective order against an abuser See GUNS, page A7 Murder conviction nets man 23 years to serve From Pulaski County court ordered that he shotgun used Fleenor Commonwealth's Commonwealth’s Attorney’s in the murder be destroyed. James Attorney for Pulaski County. Office had been scheduled for a 3 day During the hearing, Fleenor was Daniel Ray James, 53, was jury trial next week in Pulaski requested to recite the found guilty of 2nd Degree County Circuit Court. Naomi Commonwealth's evidence: Murder, Arson and Using a Huntington represented the defen- On July 20, 2016, a fire was dis- Firearm in the Commission of a dant. covered at a house located in Felony. He entered pleas pursuant "I would like to thank the Pulaski County off Route 100. By to the Supreme Court case of Pulaski County Sheriff's Office the time fire fighters arrived the North Carolina v. Alford. He was for conducting a very thorough house was completely engulfed in sentenced to 40 years with 20 sus- investigation that led to these con- flames and was ultimately burned pended on the Murder charge, 10 victions. Over the last several to the ground. Members of the years concurrent on the Arson months we have met with the fam- Pulaski County Sheriff's Office charge and 3 years to serve con- ily of the victim and they were discovered a body that was burned secutively on the firearm charge supportive of this agreement that beyond recognition. The remains for a total of 43 years with 20 sus- will result in effectively a life sen- pended and 23 years to serve. The tence for Mr. James," said Mike See MURDER, page A7 Page A2 - The Patriot - Friday, October 20, 2017 Gillespie trying to find way in age of Trump RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Ed support in an increasingly liberal and other pocketbook issues. country and made several lucra- hasn't let professional success Gillespie has been in plenty of state, but also trying to navigate The approach may work: most tive trips through Washington's change him. tight spots during his three the fallout from an unpredictable polls show Gillespie in a tight revolving doors. "Ed is a genuinely positive decades in and around politics. president who is unpopular over- race with Democrat Ralph Highlights from Gillespie's person and that's just a huge AWashington insider well all in Virginia but still has strong Northam, but Gillespie's lengthy resume include helping advantage," said former House accustomed to the public eye, support from voters crucial to a approach has been criticized by Republicans craft the Contract Speaker Newt Gingrich. he's helped sell a military surge Gillespie victory. Adding pres- Democrats and even some with America in the 1990s, being On the campaign trail, in Iraq to a war-weary public, sure, Virginia is one of only two Republicans as insincere. chairman of the Republican Gillespie largely maintains a stood up for a doomed U.S. gubernatorial elections this year "I feel sorry for him, being in National Committee and serving sunny disposition and has Supreme Court nominee his own and as a swing-state, and could the position he's in," said Sam as a White House adviser to skipped Trump-like rallies in political party didn't like, and serve as an early referendum on Wright, a retired state worker President George W. Bush. favor of more subdued events, lobbied for corporate clients the president. from Goochland, after listening Gillespie helped usher Bush's with lengthy policy discussions with serious popularity issues, to Gillespie at a candidate Supreme Court picks through the and G-rated language. like Wall Street banks and Big Trump's near-polar opposite in forum. nomination process -- including "I'll be danged if my genera- Tobacco. style and temperament, Gillespie Pity is not an emotion usually the failed bid of Harriet Miers -- tion says, 'Hey sorry, it's the end Now he's facing a challenge of has responded by running a dis- associated with Gillespie, a New and played a key public relations of the line,'" Gillespie said at a a much different kind: running cordant campaign. He has simul- Jersey native who grew up help- role in Bush's efforts to increase recent campaign stop in Norfolk for governor of Virginia as the taneously tried to excite Trump ing in his parents' grocery store troop levels in Iraq. when talking about his promises establishment Republican nomi- supporters with sharp-elbowed and graduated from Catholic Gillespie then oversaw a mas- to enact pro-growth economic nee in the age of President ads on immigration and University in Washington before sively successful effort to help policies. It was about as animat- Donald Trump. Confederate statues, while also working as a congressional aide. Republicans win control of ed as he gets on the stump. Gillespie is not only trying to appealing to the more moderate He rapidly rose to become one of statehouses in 2010, and helped But the Gillespie on TV, social overcome a fractured base of electorate with a focus on taxes the top GOP operatives in the advise Mitt Romney's 2012 pres- media and on mailers is much idential bid. more aggressive, promising Along the way, he became a tough justice on unlawful immi- multimillionaire as a lobbyist grants who commit crimes in and consultant. Gillespie started similar tones to how Trump suc- a lobbying firm with a prominent cessfully campaigned. One Democrat, quickly became a top Gillespie mailer blasts Northam player in the influence game and for supporting driver's licenses made millions selling his stake and in-state tuition for "illegals" in the company. He took a break — a pejorative term that's a from his work as a consultant to marked departure from blue-chip clients to run for Gillespie's longtime advocacy Senate in 2014, a mostly under- that the GOP be more welcom- the-radar contest against heavy ing to minorities and avoid the favorite Sen. Mark Warner that "political siren's song" of anti- Gillespie almost won. immigrant rhetoric. Longtime friends and col- When asked about the mailer, leagues praise Gillespie as a deft Gillespie spokesman Dave communicator with a deep understanding of policy who See GILLESPIE, page A4 The Patriot - Friday, October 20, 2017 - Page A3 Holston River Quarry opens new scale house and entrance The well attended celebration and ribbon cutting, for Holston River Quarry was held on Friday, October 13th to showcase the beautiful and inviting newly designed and landscaped new entrance and scale house, located at 5169 State Park Road Dublin VA. The new entrance will pro- vide trucks with a quicker access to I-81 and make the Quarry more visible to potential cus- tomers. Holston River Quarry is a company founded on the basic values of safety, environmental stewardship, and the belief in the core worth of their people. During the ribbon cutting held by Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, M.J. O'Brien spoke about their employee's dedication and loyalty that has helped them build and grow the business, like employee Dean Dalton, who has worked for the company for 57 years.