Claytor Lake Beach Festival Preview Inside! Distributed Free Each Friday Since 2009 June 2, 2017 www.pcpatriot.com Locally Owned And Operated FLEA MARKET WEEKEND www.pulaskicountyfleamarket.com Two Big Days In Dublin The popular Pulaski County Flea Market invades the New River Valley Fairgrounds this weekend in Dublin. Sponsored by the Dublin Lions Club, this is the 43rd year of the flea market, which is held twice each year. Admission is only $1, with children 6 and under admitted free. Parking is free too! Money raised by the Lions Club at the flea market helps fund a variety of people-serving projects conducted by the Dublin Lions Club. Crafts, antiques, food and much, much more await! Fleenor: Shooting by deputy WEEKEND WEATHER SATURDAY SUNDAY ‘appropriate, legally justified’ Staff Report ing the incident, follows: A slight chance of showers. Showers and thunderstorms Pulaski County Commonwealth's Attorney Mike Mostly sunny, with a high near likely, mainly after 2pm. Partly Fleenor on Tuesday issued an opinion stating the Dear Special Agent Burnett: 80. Calm wind becoming north- sunny, with a high near 80. shooting by a Pulaski County Deputy in a May 14 This letter shall constitute the Commonwealth's west around 6 mph in the morn- Chance of precipitation is 60%. incident in the Town of Pulaski was "appropriate and opinion letter for the officer involved shooting that ing. Chance of precipitation is legally justified based on the facts and circumstances led to the death of James Alvis Burton, Sr. Thank you 20%. of the incident." very much for your thorough investigation and The incident resulted in the death of James Alvis detailed report. I have come to the conclusion and it Burton Sr. is my opinion that the shooting by the Pulaski County Fleenor's opinion was included in a letter to Deputy was appropriate and legally justified based on Virginia State Police Senior Special Agent B.E. the facts and circumstances of this incident. Burnett in the Wytheville office of the State Police A summary of the facts are as follows: James and who was in charge of the investigation. Fleenor's letter, which reports the events surround- See OPINION, page 2 New Middle School? RRMM Architects’ rendering of the front entrance of a proposed Pulaski County Middle School. This is one of several views of the new school presented at a programming meeting last week. See more on RRMM’s designs and details on an important upcoming meeting on the middle school issue on page 11 . Page 2 - The Patriot - Friday, June 2, 2017 Music on the New to feature Pulaski Police issue public safety group, ‘Them Dirty Roses’ notice on illegal tattooing in town Radford will kick off the summer on Friday, June 2nd with south- ern roots rock and roll music by 'Them Dirty Roses'. The concert From Pulaski Police Department or other medical facility and be tested for this dis- will be held on the grounds of Glencoe Museum, 600 Unruh Drive, ease. Anyone with information on suspected unli- Radford. The Pulaski Police Department wants to warn censed tattoo artists should contact their local Everyone is encouraged to bring chairs, or dance the night away, residents of the Town of Pulaski and Pulaski Police Department or Sheriffs Office. and enjoy an evening of live music under the stars! County about illegal tattooing that is causing a pub- According to the band's website, 'the band was taught how to lic health concern. The Department was notified by VA Code 18.2-371.3 bend a string and break a heart by Skynard and Hank. They've officials from the Virginia Department of Health Tattooing and body piercing is illegal without made their way from Gadsden, AL to Nashville, TN and they're from the New River Health District about suspect- compliance with the Center for Diease Control and chasing the quintessential rock and roll American Dream'. ed illegal and unlicensed tattooing that has been Prevention's guidelines for "Universal Blood and Food and beverages will be available. and is occurring in Pulaski that has infected victims Body Fluid Precautions" and providing the client The concert is from 6PM-10PM. Admission is $5/person and with acute Hepatitis C. If, you have received a tat- with certain disclosures. It is also illegal to tattoo or children 12 and under are free. too from an unlicensed tattoo artist, especially from body pierce for hire or consideration on a person someone in the Meadowview apartments area, you less than 18 years of age without a parent or should contact the Virginia Department of Health guardian being present. Opinion Continued from page 1 Sandy Burton lived at 122 Fourth Officer 1 then went back to the pulled the trigger. Again the shot- Street S.E., Pulaski, VA. On May residence to arrest Burton. SWAT gun did not fire. Burton then 14, 2017 authorities received a teams from the Pulaski PD and the attempted to slide the pump and 911 call from a neighbor who Pulaski County Sheriff's Office for a third time pointed at the offi- reported that Sandy Burton had arrived and set up around the cers and fired the shotgun in their been assaulted by James Burton house. Pulaski direction. Fortunately no officers and that the neighbor herself had Police Officer 2 approached the were struck. seen James holding a firearm as door and attempted to contact Deputy 1 had witnessed two Sandy ran out of the house. Sandy Burton. The Officer heard glass failed attempts to shoot at his fel- told the neighbor that James was break and then saw Burton throw low officers. Immediately after intoxicated and had choked her. a rifle out the window. He then the third attempt, in which Burton Sandy also told the neighbor that saw Burton take another gun and did discharge the shotgun at the there were other guns in the house put it to his own head and say "I officers, Deputy 1 fired a single and that James had previously bar- want you to watch this," as he shot from his rifle at Burton. He ricaded himself in the home. attempted to reach the trigger with saw Burton move back into the Based on this information and his foot. The officer heard a shot house and slam the door. It was Mr. Burton's prior criminal histo- go off in the house, but then saw later determined that Burton died ry, Pulaski Police Officer 1 Burton come to the window and as a result of the gunshot from obtained a felony warrant for yell for the officer to shoot him. Deputy 1. The events as described domestic assault and a protective Burton then said that he was were personally observed by order were from the Magistrate. "going to leave in a body bag." approximately 7 independent wit- Numerous attempts were made to nesses and at least 10 law enforce- contact Burton in an effort to have ment officers at the scene. Not a him come out of the house and single witness disputed the facts as surrender. Burton only responded described. with threats and profanities. In conclusion, Deputy 1's action Sheriff's Deputy 1 had set up in shooting Burton, were appro- behind a tree near the house. priate and legally justified in his Deputy 1 could see Burton lean defense of himself and other fel- out the window and yell at other low officers. officers. Burton let a pit bull out Very truly yours, of the home. Burton then came Mike Fleenor, Jr. out onto the porch holding a black pump shotgun. Burton raised the cc: James A. Davis, Sheriff shotgun, pointed at the officers Gary Roche, Chief PPD and attempted to fire the shotgun, but it did not fire. Burton then returned to the home and could be heard maneuvering the pump action on the shotgun. He returned to the porch again, aimed at the officers a second time and 808-3949 The Patriot - Friday, June 2, 2017 - Page 3 Levys Perform Again At Dollywood Jeff and Addie Levy perform inside Dollywood during this week’s BBQ and Bluegrass event at the pop- ular Tennessee theme park. This is the third year the dad and daughter duo have played the BBQ and Bluegrass event. The music-filled festival continues through June 4. It attracts some of the biggest names in all of Bluegrass music, including Dailey and Vincent, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage and The Gibson Brothers. Town, county gain $300,000 EPA brownfields grant Wednesday, the U.S. $590,000; Norfolk - $300,000, brownfields sites that are cleaned Environmental Protection and Roanoke - $200,000. up increased between 5 and 15.2 Agency selected 172 communi- percent and can increase proper- ties across the country including Studies have shown that resi- ty values within a one-mile communities in Virginia that will dential property values near radius of that site. receive funding for brownfields site revitalization to help local governments redevelop vacant and unused properties, trans- forming communities and local economies. "EPA is committed to working with communities to redevelop Brownfields sites which have plagued their neighborhoods. EPA's Assessment and Cleanup grants target communities that are economically disadvantaged and include places where envi- ronmental cleanup and new jobs are most needed," said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. "These grants leverage consider- able infrastructure and other investments, improving local economies and creating an envi- ronment where jobs can grow. I am very pleased the President's budget recognizes the impor- tance of these grants by provid- ing continued funding for this important program." Town of Pulaski and Pulaski County were awarded $300,000 to conduct environmental site assessments, prepare cleanup plans and support community outreach.