Circulation 13,000 Free July 17, 2015 Accomack Leery Northampton of Bird Protection Embraces Bird Measure Protection Measure Story and photo by Linda Cicoira By Ron West The local regime is suspicious of oth- Retired Nature Conservancy scien- er government. Accomack supervisors tist Barry Truitt addressed Northamp- wanted more information about what ton supervisors Tuesday, seeking their could take place if they voiced approv- endorsement of a move to declare the al. So they didn’t. state-owned seaside marshes between The board wondered Wednesday if the barrier islands and the mainland regulations, restrictions or some oth- as part of the Western Hemisphere er unforeseen happening would occur Shorebird Reserve Network. if they endorsed a shorebird applica- Truitt cited the value of the marsh- tion on state marshes that reportedly es, as well as the barrier islands, as would make the area more impressive valuable habitat and resting places for to scientists and tourists. shorebirds as they migrate along the “We’re trying to include these East Coast. marshes … trying to get this in place Supervisor Oliver Bennett said that by early September,” said conservation he wants additional information, while scientist Barry Truitt, recently retired Supervisor Granville Hogg suggested from the Nature Conservancy’s Virgin- the need to have the Virginia Marine ia Coast Reserve. Resources Commission involved in the He wanted the supervisors to en- dialogue. dorse an application to include the bar- While both voiced concern about rier marshes of both Eastern Shore how the designation might affect the counties in the Western Hemisphere use of the waterways and marshes by Shorebird Reserve Network. hunters and fishermen, as well as com- Truitt noted that Northampton Coun- mercial watermen, Truitt emphasized ty endorsed the measure earlier this that the designation would in no way week, with only Supervisor Granville restrict use. “It is a status and not a Hogg voting no. Hogg was in the audi- legal designation that restricts their ence at the Accomack session and later usage,” he said. Property owners with voiced opposition outside the meeting. privately owned marshes would con- Truitt reported that 150 to 200 bi- tinue to be able to use their property ologists are coming to the Shore in as they wish, but would be urged to use September. “We do ask that landown- them in such a way as to enhance the ers consider shorebirds. … If we are in- habitat for migrating birds. cluded … we would be able to claim we On a vote of 4-1 (Hogg dissent- are one of the most important areas for ing), the board agreed to support the shorebirds in the Western Hemisphere designation. … it carries more credit,” he said. The supervisors also approved a re- Truitt assured the supervisors that A measure proposed to both counties is aimed at protecting shorebirds (Continued on Page 13) such as these, feeding at Assateague. (Continued on Page 11) 2 • EastErn shorE Post • July 17, 2015 Accomack Joins Other Counties, Adopts Baltimore Lockbox System By Linda Cicoira easier … we got excellent pricing.” going to get more phone calls.” Traveling to Baltimore just got faster than a Bundick also said her workers would actually be “Refer them to me,” said Bundick. trip to the county seat, at least as far as money is able to get their work done and she’ll have time to Only Supervisor Donald Hart opposed the move. concerned. look into ridding her database of incorrect addresses. He said he owns property in Northampton and hates In an 8-1 vote, Accomack supervisors agreed Finance Director Mike Mason said he is hopeful sending his money out of the area. “I’m old-fashioned Wednesday to spend up to $60,000 to have a bank in that the cost would not go over $30,000. that way.” But he admitted his checks there usually that Maryland city sift through taxes for real estate A recent Division of Motor Vehicle (DMV) stop are cashed in two days with the new process. and personal property and deposit the money in the forced delinquent property owners to pay up or have local county coffers. their vehicle registration withheld. Bundick said the The checks were said to be piling up in the Ac- tool allowed her office to collect about $500,000 in Charge Against Ambulance comack treasurer’s office because the workload is three months. But people waited in lines that were Driver Dismissed so enormous. With this measure, called a lockbox longer than when the county had a computer crash system, the money will be available to the county several years ago. “About every third person came in By Linda Cicoira sooner. for it,” she said. A charge of failure to obey the traffic signal was A lockbox is a post-office box that is accessible She assured the supervisors that her office would dismissed Wednesday in Accomack General District by a bank. County taxpayers send their payments still be accepting mail in Accomac. “We will never Court against an Exmore man who was driving the to the box so the bank can collect and process these turn money away,” Bundick said. ambulance that collided with a Star Transit bus in payments directly and then deposit the funds to the Board Chairwoman Reneta Major was con- June. county’s account. cerned for some of the poorer debtors. Bundick The ambulance was southbound on Lankford Officials said at least $9 million would need to be said six-month payment plans are offered. How- Highway at about 3:45 p.m. with lights and siren ac- involved to use the plan. With interest rates negli- ever, those need to be arranged before there is tivated when it went through a red light at the inter- gible were the money saved elsewhere, the concept a problem. She “can’t release the stop until pay- section of Route 180 in Keller. was doable. ment is made in full.” The delinquencies are al- The charge was dropped against Peter Surran “We’ve been to Baltimore to see how the lockbox ready overdue a year or more when the DMV who was driving the Bloxom Volunteer Fire Compa- works,” said Treasurer Dana Bundick. “Northamp- stops are enforced. ny’s 2013 Chevy ambulance. The man who was being ton uses it. A lot of localities use it, probably more Supervisor Laura Belle Gordy was concerned rushed to the hospital, Douglas R. McCready, 60, of than not. … It will make things come in much, much about the cost. “I know when this hits the paper, I’m Parksley, died at the scene. Morrison Dental Group wishes you a great summer! While the kids are out of school, don’t forget to come in for your hygiene care appointment. Now accepting New Patients! Stop by and say hi during Pony Penning! 4009 Main Street, Chincoteague 757-336-1260 www.MorrisonDentalGroup.com July 17, 2015 • EastErn shorE Post • 3 public schools there, of which 15.3 per­ 12.5 percent are extremely poor. cent are considered extremely poor. King George County has a population OW OOR RE UR HILDREN Orange County is close to Accomack of 24,293, with 4,765 attending public ByH Linda CicoiraP A OShenandoah C County has 42,684 res?­ in population with 34,689. Of those, schools; 9.7 percent live in poverty. Those cohort counties that are al­ idents of which 6,775 attend public more students — 5,666 — attend pub­ Botetourt County has 33,002 resi­ ways being compared to Accomack school. The poverty population of the lic school, but fewer — 14.3 percent — dents; 5,441 are public­school stu­ don’t touch the rate of poverty that school division is 16.3 percent. live in poverty. dents; 8.4 percent live in poverty. students who attend public schools on Warren County is adjacent to Isle of Wight also has a population Powhatan County has 28,259 resi­ the Eastern Shore endure. Shenandoah and has a population of close to Accomack at 35,656. The pub­ dent, with 4,442 going to public school. According to www.edbuild.org, North­ 38,699. There are 6,651 students in lic school population is 5,806, of which The poverty rate has hit 7.7 percent. ampton shows a population of 12,125; 32.5 percent of its 544 public­school students live in poverty. Homicide Was Caused by Multiple Gunshots Numbers are comparable for Ac­ By Linda Cicoira The victim was found near the intersection of Bear Town comack, where the population is Multiple gunshot wounds caused the death of a Nelso­ and Metompkin roads. Details regarding the case are being 33,148. The public school system has nia man whose body was found tossed on the roadside near guarded closely by police as they continue to investigate. 4,951 students. Of those, 28.4 percent Mappsville last week. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call are considered extremely poor. Donna Price of the Norfolk Medical Examiner’s Office the sheriff’s office at 787­1131 or 824­5666. Tips also may There is a steep drop between the disclosed the cause of death Monday for 47­year­old Ronnie be submitted on the sheriff’s website, www.accomackcoun­ Shore counties and the next poorest. Lenwood Washington. tysheriffsoffice.org Poverty rates of Caroline, Shenandoah, Warren, Orange, Isle of Wight, King George, Botetourt and Powhatan coun­ $6.3 Million Upgrade of Horntown Road Slated ties follow, in that order, from about 19 The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) this The improvements on this major rural collector road in­ percent to 7.7 percent.