Vol. 8, No. 29 Alexandria’s only independent hometown newspaper JULY 19, 2012 Former sheriff dies in S.C. Husband of slain ‘Queen of Del Ray’ faded from local life BY DERRICK PERKINS Former Sheriff Jim Dunning, a man celebrated for his work in Alexandria and marred by the cir- cumstances surrounding the un- solved murder of his wife, died in his South Carolina home last week at 63 years old. A relative summoned emer- gency responders to the 20-year sheriff’s Hilton Head Island home about 6:30 a.m., July 12, and authori- PHOTO/DERRICK PERKINS ties pro- Ahmari White, a rising freshman at T.C. Williams High School, works on a Pulsar XP Wednesday morning. She’s one of several local nounced teens learning how to build a plane at Reagan National Airport this summer. him dead at the scene. Though of- ficials are waiting on Learning to fly a cause, his death does Airplane buffs take T.C. Williams. “I sing, so cavernous hanger hidden not with science, technology, not appear summer camp to new I planned on singing as a far from travelers hustling in engineering and math. Jim Dunning suspicious, heights career. I wanted to do that and out of the airport earlier “That’s the enjoyment said Sgt. my entire life. I don’t know this summer, the Pulsar was I get out of this,” he said. Robin McIntosh of Beaufort Coun- how, but now I’m thinking in its full glory. Then they “Taking someone who ty Sheriff’s Office. BY DERRICK PERKINS about aviation.” dismantled it. Now they’re wouldn’t normally know It’s a far cry from the roughly Not far away from White putting it back together, anything about aviation and Ahmari White dreamed eight-and-a-half year investigation rests a stripped down Pul- one piece at a time, with the getting them to consider a of a life in show business into the death of the former law- sar XP, engineless, wingless hopes of flying in it by Au- career in aviation.” up until her second day man’s wife. The couple’s son found and a jumble of wires pour- gust 10. Unlike White, Johnson pulling apart an airplane at Nancy Dunning, known as the ing from an exposed cock- From the side, Brian knew he wanted to spend Reagan National Airport. “Queen of Del Ray,” dead in their pit. The custom plane boasts Johnson smiles at White’s his life in and around air- Now she’s thinking about home December 5, 2003, after she speeds in excess of 160 mph enthusiasm. The man be- planes early on. Once old runway lights instead of the missed an appointment. in the air, a cruising altitude hind the summer camp — enough to drive, a younger spotlight. Alexandria police iden- of 15,000 feet and a range of run through his nonprofit Johnson snuck off “I planned on [a career tified a single person of interest in roughly 500 nautical miles. Discover Aviation Now — to the local airport in] entertainment,” said the the case: a man wearing When White and her wanted to create a program every time a bit of 14-year-old freshman at SEE DUNNING | 27 classmates arrived in the combining his love of flying SEE FLY | 8 IRON MAN CAL RIPKEN JR. VISITS ACES GAME - PAGE 19 | AIDS QUILT COMING TO ALEXANDRIA - PAGE 9 2 | JULY 19, 2012 ALEXANDRIA TIMES FOR INFORMATION ON THESE OR ANY PROPERTY FOR SALE, PLEASE CALL THE OUTSTANDING AGENTS AT PRUDENTIAL PEDFED REALTY. 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In a time without refrigera- a chance to win 2 round-trip water taxi tickets from the tion or air-conditioning, a good Alexandria Waterfront to National Harbor. ice well went a long way in To enter, email [email protected] with your answer the hospitality business. John or write to 110 S. Pitt St., Alexandria, VA 22314. One winner will Wise, the tavern’s first owner, be chosen at random from the winning entries submitted be- likely dug out the cavernous fore noon on Tuesday. A different photo and hint will be featured icebox around 1793. each week between now and the end of summer, so keep your Though the well put the tavern on the map for travel- eyes open as you see the signs around Alexandria! ers during Gadsby’s heyday, knowledge of the structure WHERE AM I? #6 faded with time. Archaeolo- gists only rediscovered the well after it partially col- lapsed under the weight of a passing truck in the 1950s. The well was later re- paired, but more restoration work was needed. Nearly a year-and-a-half ago museum volunteers hauled a cart load- ed with about 300 pounds of ice from the waterfront to the well, at the corner of North Ravenna, Ostia, Tunis and Rome, Royal and Cameron streets, to FILE PHOTO There are lots of spots mosaics call home. kick off a fundraising guess- The Gadsby’s Tavern ice well at the corner of North Royal and Cameron This city isn’t one that comes to mind streets is undergoing a historically sensitive renovation after fundrais- ing game: predict the date of ers garnered $274,000 for the project. As a place to view glass chip designs. the ice’s eventual demise.