DSbbSZS``aU]DWUadV The lower Northern Neck’s most complete news source since 1916 75¢ Volume 96 No. 48 Thursday, September 12, 2013 www.rrecord.com Feasting at the Bay Seafood Festival Hundreds of hungry guests assembled at Belle Isle State Park last Friday to sample all kinds of in the local area during the past year. In the left photo, Rene Washington and Caitlin Gillie seafood and other fare during the Kilmarnock-Irvington-White Stone (KIWS) Rotary Club’s hand out steamed shrimp at the booth manned by Davenport and Company in White Stone. 23rd Bay Seafood Festival. Assisted by many local businesses and organizations as vendors, it’s At right, a small portion of the crowd eats, enjoys the festive atmosphere, and waits for the the club’s largest fundraiser of the year and enabled some $16,000 in charitable contributions raffle drawings and evening music by the band Casper. Photos by Fred Gaskins Schools awarded state grants for security equipment Governor Bob McDonnell awarded $6 million in The School Security Equipment Grant program and security of our students, teachers, principals chologist. School Security Equipment Grants September 3 to was proposed by the governor in February and and other public school employees,” Governor Secretary of Education Laura W. Fornash, Secre- improve safety and security for students and teach- established by the General Assembly through the McDonnell said. “These grants, and the other tary of Public Safety Marla Graff Decker and Sec- ers in 459 Virginia schools and regional education passage of the 2013 Appropriation Act and House important steps we’ve taken this year to improve retary of Health and Human Resources Bill Hazel programs. Bill 2343, sponsored by Del. Beverly J. Sherwood school security, will make a real difference as we co-chaired the task force. Grants locally were awarded to school systems (R-Winchester). strive to make sure Virginia’s schools remain places “There was immediate consensus around the in Northumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland, The legislation directed the Virginia Public where children can learn in safety.” idea of asking our school divisions to assess their Middlesex, Essex, Gloucester and King George School Authority to issue bonds to fund up to $6 Additional state funding for school security was needs and providing additional state support for the counties. million in competitive grants statewide for the one of a series of recommendations made by the purchase and installation of security systems and The grants will pay for security equipment, purchase and installation of school security equip- governor’s Taskforce on School and Campus Safety. equipment,” Fornash said. including video monitoring systems, metal detec- ment. School divisions and regional educational The governor created the blue-ribbon panel in the Decker noted the work of Margaret Ransone tors, electronic-access controls, visitor-identifica- programs were invited in June to apply for grants aftermath of the December 14, 2012, mass shoot- (R-99th) on the taskforce and her support of all the tion systems, and communications systems provid- of up to $100,000. ing at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Ct., recommendations that passed the General Assem- ing direct links between schools and law enforce- “I can think of no more important legislative that claimed the lives of 20 students, the school’s ment agencies. accomplishment than this investment in the safety principal, two teachers, two aides and a school psy- GRANTS, continued on page A2 Superintendent’s White Stone contract will urged to tackle not be renewed maintenance by Audrey Thomasson by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi KILMARNOCK—Members of the Lancaster school board WHITE STONE—White Stone is announced on Monday they would a town that offers a myriad of ser- not renew the contract of superin- vices and products, but Carol Johnson tendent Dr. Daniel Lukich when it thinks it’s an eyesore. expires on June 30, 2014. Johnson showed the town council “The Lancaster County School pictures she’d taken throughout town Board will not extend the superin- of the bump-outs “with all the grass” tendent’s contract,” said board chair- in them. “I feel like they are an eye- man Alex Fleet. “This is a personnel sore and we don’t maintain anything,” matter not to be discussed.” she said at last Thursday’s council The announcement came just prior meeting. to the close of the meeting. Lukich “Anything anyone can want you picked up his papers, shook Fleet’s can walk around the block [in White hand and left the building. Stone] and get,” Johnson said, running After the meeting, Fleet would not through a long list of services and provide any specifics as to when the products offered by businesses. She decision was made, if there was a said one can get a massage, buy used discussion or when a vote was taken. clothing, lumber, gas, home decor According to the Code of Virginia, items, antiques, even get a vacuum any action or vote by the board must fixed, but the town doesn’t maintain be taken in open session. its sidewalks or flower beds by weed- Fleet refused to comment beyond, ing them. “It’s a personnel issue.” Dotti Vallone of the DAR hangs a poster for Constitution Week at Noblett, Inc. in Kilmarnock. Photo by Renss Greene “Other towns don’t look like this,” The board held a closed session said Johnson, comparing White Stone at the beginning of the meeting on to Kilmarnock. “personnel and student” matters, but Councilman Joe Sliakis begged no vote was taken on the contract DAR plans local Constitution Week events to differ, saying he had entertained issue when the board reconvened in KILMARNOCK—The Daughters of the American Revo- bells at 4 p.m. next Tuesday, September 17, to celebrate the an out-of-state guest recently who open session. Other board members lution is gearing up for Constitution Week in the Northern signing of the Constitution, and Dr. Cheryl Davis of the DAR walked around White Stone and told said they could not comment. Neck and all across the country. will visit Lancaster 4th and 5th graders in colonial costume to him what a beautiful little town it is. Fleet’s announcement came after The local Cobbs Hall Chapter of the DAR is getting ready talk about the Constitution. “It really all boils down to a money a contentious meeting in which to celebrate and educate, said DAR member Dotti Vallone. Constitution Week is September 17-23. According to a thing,” said councilman David Jones. Lukich simultaneously praised the She said the local chapter will be working with churches, DAR press release, Constitution Week was first adopted in Jones said he believes Kilmarnock Rappahannock Record’s back-to- schools, media, libraries, and businesses to spread the news of 1956 with a law passed by Congress and signed by Presi- has a full time maintenance depart- Constitution Week and information about the Constitution. dent Dwight Eisenhower, following a petition by the DAR CONTRACT, continued on page A4 Northumberland and Lancaster churches will ring their in 1955. WEEDS, continued on page A4 Business ...............B7--8 Churches ..............B4-6 Directory ................D5 Obituaries ................B5 Police ........................ A3 Sports ...........C1-6, D7 Calendar ...................B2 Classified ............. D1-6 Notices ....................D4 Opinion ................A5-6 Schools ....................D8 Upcoming ....................B1-3 6 56525 10491 6 September 12, 2013 Rappahannock Record A2 InsideNews Kilmarnock, VA Kilmarnock planners SbbSZS``aU] endorse WUadV rezoning USPS (455-600) D27 N. Main St., P.O. Box 400 by Renss Greene Kilmarnock, VA 22482-0400 804-435-1701 KILMARNOCK—The Kil- Fax: 804-435-2632 marnock Planning Commission www.RRecord.com met Monday to thank a former commissioner, appoint its ofi- Mr. & Mrs. Frederick A. Gaskins, General Managers cers, hold a public hearing, and Robert D. Mason Jr., Editor to hear updates on continued revisions to the town’s compre- J.E. Currell, Publisher, 1927-1993 hensive plan. Published weekly except Christmas week Commission chairman Curtis at Kilmarnock, Lancaster Co., VA. Smith presented a letter thanking Periodicals Postage Paid at Kilmarnock, VA Steve Bonner for his “outstand- 22482 and additional mailing offices. ing service and contributions to Postmaster: Send address changes to the Rappahannock Record, P.O. Box 400, the Town of Kilmarnock” over Kilmarnock, VA 22482-0400 the 24 years he was a commis- Subscriptions (payable in advance): $27 per sioner. The planners unanimously year in the Northern Neck and Middlesex County; $37 per year elsewhere. recommended the Kilmarnock Single copy: $.75. Town Council adopt the letter. The commission reappointed Member: Virginia Press Association and National Newspaper Association Smith to be its chair and selected Worth the wait, and all that jazz commissioner Lindsy Gardner as vice-chair and commissioner Printed on recycled paper. Concertgoers wave American flags as the Air Force Rhythm in Blue jazz ensemble performed Saturday on the Irvington Commons. The traditional concert was rained out in July but the 400-500 spectators assembled last week seemed to feel the Ann Towner as secretary. All items submitted for publication are return was worth the wait. The jazz ensemble is a part of the larger Air Force Heritage of America Band. It also held a public hearing subject to inclusion in digital or other on an application to rezone prop- electronic formats for use in other Rappahannock Record products. erty between Irvington Road and Black Stump Road on James B. How to reach us: Grants awarded to boost school security Jones Memorial Highway to C2, To reach members of the staff, dial the main phone number, 435-1701, and limited commercial. Town plan- then the employee’s extension when continued from page A2 ner Marshall Sebra described C2 prompted, or use the e-mail address.