Murder Trial Suspended
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Circulation 13,000 Free March 18, 2016 Murder Trial More Areas Want Paid Responders Suspended By Linda Cicoira Isolated areas in Accomack County can make rescue By Linda Cicoira operations difficult. But in an age of fewer volunteers, Just before the start of the second day of the Ron- one answer seems to prevail — more paid workers. nie Washington murder trial in Accomack Circuit There’s a proposal that will help alleviate the prob- Court Wednesday, prosecutor Matthew Brenner be- lem in lower Accomack County with a countywide came ill and the case was continued until the two 3-cent per $100 valuation hike on the real-estate tax sides could come up with a date to proceed. rate. That would pay for six new fire medics to run the The delay came in the middle of testimony from Painter service and three more to fill in when others Derimon (Mac) Hargis of Mappsville, who said he take sick time and vacations throughout the county. saw defendant Robert James (R.J.) Northan Jr., 30, Representatives from Saxis and Greenbackville vol- of Daugherty Road in unteer companies told the supervisors Wednesday that Onley shoot Washing- help is needed in northern Accomack too. They suggest- ton along Bear Town ed a 5-cent tax rate hike to take care of both areas. Sup- Road where the victim’s porting petitions signed by 250 people were presented. body was found. He said Jimmy Dennis of Saxis complained that he lost a the two men had gotten house and contents worth $300,000 to a fire for lack out of the car to urinate, of responders. “We have one of the nicest fire compa- leaving Hargis, who was nies. The boys are good boys, but they work every day. driving, in the vehicle. If they had been on the job there, they could have got- “I seen the first one,” ten it out … two people were on the scene, that was it.” Hargis said of shots. “I Chuck Bradford of New Church mentioned the was scared to death for money volunteer companies make off ambulance bill- my life. … I didn’t know ing even when the responders are from the county’s he (Northan) had the Department of Public Safety (ADPS). He said a por- gun on him that night … tion of that could be used to pay for more fire medics. he always toted a pistol. C. Ray Pruitt, ADPS director, had a plan to put Washington Every time I seen him. an additional ambulance at Oak Hall Rescue, which But I didn’t know he had it that night. … It was some serves Saxis and Greenbackville. He admitted that at kind of Glock. I don’t know what caliber it was.” Har- times there hasn’t been paid staff there. The Sprint gis held his hands about 18 inches apart and said, “I program which brings a response person closer to the saw fire about this long coming out of it.” areas went unstaffed 16 percent of the time in 2015. Photo by Linda Cicoira “The front door (of the car) was still open (from Pruitt presented a drive-time analysis for last year. Murder suspect Robert Jams Northan Jr. is es- where Washington had gotten out); the back door He said 989 calls were answered within 8.5 minutes, corted from court to jail by Deputies was closed,” where Northan had been sitting. There 1,906 took between 8.6 and 11 minutes, 2,192 were be- were “no lights on inside the car,” Hargis explained. Northan got back in the car and directed Hargis to tween 11.1 and 16 minutes, 159 calls were answered be- “I seen him drop back and tried to come forward,” drive away,” the witness testified. tween 16.1 and 21 minutes and 166 took more than 21 Hargis said of Washington. “I just ducked and tried Hargis said they went back to get Christina Huff- minutes to answer. The county’s standard is 20 minutes. to take cover.” The witness said he heard four or five man at the Mappsville trailer park, where the three Pruitt said of those over 21 minutes, 96 were to more shots. “I’m not entirely sure.” After the shots men had been earlier. Hargis also lived at the park. Greenbackville EMS District, 46 were to Chincoteague stopped, there was a 20- to 30-second delay before (Continued on Page 9) Bay Trails End and 24 were to Saxis District. 2 • EastErn shorE Post • March 18, 2016 Crockett Wants More Money for County Employees By Linda Cicoira mental assessment regarding those Accomack Supervisor Robert Crock- refuge changes; ett said Wednesday he thinks the coun- •reported they are still awaiting ty should give more money to county answers from the county school divi- employees in FY2016-17. sion regarding $6 million in funds ear- Crockett suggested the board con- marked for capital projects; Need Health Care In sider giving the workers a 3 percent •accepted a bid for $85,000 to reno- raise rather than the proposed 2 per- vate the former bank building in Park- cent. He said an additional $70,000 sley purchased for the Department of North Accomack County? will come from the state. Those funds Public Safety. and the $270,000 already set aside •appointed Blake Johnson of the Is- Look what’s available at Rural Health’s would allow the board to provide the land House Restaurant to the Eastern same hike to county employees that Shore Tourism Commission, Kenneth Chincoteague and Atlantic Centers! state workers will get. Crockett said he J. Savage of Chincoteague to the East- would motion for the move at the ap- ern Shore Resource Conservation and Family practitioner Colette Lo, M.D., has propriate time. A budget hearing was Development Council, and Supervisor joined physician assistant Chad to take place the following day (after Paul Muhly as a liaison to the county the Post’s presstime). treasurer’s office to help with the col- Muntzinger and family nurse practitioner In other business, Shirley Watkin- lection of delinquent taxes; son of Chincoteague Road remind- •reappointed Tammy Pruitt of Lindsey Plato-Johnson at the ed the supervisors how precious the Onancock to the Eastern Shore Area Chincoteague Island Community Health 110-year-old Assawoman United Meth- on Aging Community Action Agency; odist Church is to local folks. The •agreed to adopt a resolution sup- Center. Dr. Lo will see adults and children structure is in the NASA rocket Haz- porting a jetty project for Tangier; and is welcoming new patients. ard Zone. She fears the stained glass •extended waiving of landfill tip- windows could get break in a blast. ping fees for brush until April 2 to al- Watkinson quoted Chairman Ron low cleanup from Winter Storm Jonas. Pediatrician Sue Murray, M.D., is now at Atlantic Wolff as saying, “NASA doesn’t ask •received a report from County At- Community Health Center and is accepting anything from the county. It’s asking a torney Cela Burge regarding a bill that lot from the individual people who live is awaiting the governor’s signature patients up to age 21. Pediatric nurse in the area.” She included property re- and would make the intentional release practitioner Kathy Hall and Dr. strictions and property values, higher of hunting dogs without a landowner’s insurance rates and “certainly quality consent a Class 3 misdemeanor. Murray are available at Atlantic for your of life” in that equation. “Somebody is •agreed to a consent order with the paying… so I urge you to put people state Department of Environmental child’s needs. who will speak up for the individuals Quality (DEQ) that includes a penal- … not just the big entities.” ty of $19,000 for causing erosion which Need a dentist? Our Atlantic center is accepting new The board later appointed Super- allowed soil to enter a stream without patients on a limited basis. Children, pregnant woman, visor Grayson Chesser; Garnett Kel- a permit on property the Wallops Re- lam, who lives close to the launch site; search Park leases from NASA. The diabetics, and those referred by a Rural Health and Tommy Clark of Chincoteague to county expects to recover the funds the new Accomack Wallops Working from a contractor who “cut trees and physician are now being accepted. Group. NASA, the Navy, U.S. Fish and grubbed the roots in an area near an Call For An Appointment! Wildlife Service (F&W) and the county intermittent stream. … The contractor Planning Commission also will appoint has repaired the area according to a re- Atlantic Community members to the nine-member panel. mediation plan approved by DEQ .” Health Center 824-5676 The supervisors also: •agreed to apply for a $10 million Correction Chincoteague Island Transportation Investment Generat- Steven Atkins, who is running for Community Health Center 336-3682 ing Economic Recovery (TIGER) trans- mayor of Parksley, is an ex-councilman. portation grant for F&W to move the Laura Atkins is an incumbent coun- www.esrh.org beach, parking and trails on Chincote- cilwoman seeking re-election. ague National Wildlife Refuge, and ap- A story in last week’s Post incorrect- Find us on pointed Supervisor Billy Joe Tarr to ly described the two candidates. www.facebook.com/esrhs Facebook represent the county in an environ- The Post regrets the errors. March 18, 2016 • EastErn shorE Post • 3 SPRING INTO HUGE SAVINGS! 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