Circulation 13,000 Free January 16, 2015 Crash Kills Five By Linda Cicoira coming to rest. It has not been disclosed The Ayres/Stratton family of the which vehicle had the green light. Eastern Shore of Virginia was going to Responding troopers found the car a baby shower in Baltimore when their and the overturned tractor-trailer on lives ended. Five members, including two the south side of eastbound Route 50, children and an unborn baby, died in a on both the roadway and the property traffic crash in Maryland last weekend. of a community college. The car was Authorities there say they are westbound on Route 50. The truck had continuing to investigate the incident in been southbound on Route 213. which a car and tractor-trailer collided Also killed were 24-year-old Regina early Saturday morning. At press time M. Ayres (sister of Zarissa Ayres) five days later, it was not disclosed why and her 7-year-old daughter, Jordan the crash occurred or if charges would Ayres; Travis M. Stratton (Regina be brought. Witnesses are being sought Ayres’ boyfriend), 25; and 3-month-old to help with the determination. Jonathan Ayres (son of Regina Ayres Maryland State Police Crash Team and Stratton), all of Onancock. investigators believe evidence indicates Because a tractor-trailer was in- a Suzuki Forenza carrying the family volved in the crash, Maryland State — all of whom were killed — was being Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement driven by Zarissa C. Ayres, 30, formerly Division troopers responded to the of Greenbush, more recently living in scene. They will conduct a detailed Gamboro, N.C., and pregnant. Ayres inspection of the tractor-trailer as part and her unborn child died a short time of the investigation. later at the University of Maryland Anyone who may have witnessed Shore Medical Center. the crash is urged to contact Maryland The driver of the tractor-trailer, Yvenet State Police at the Centreville Bar- Mayette, 28, who had a Fed er alsburg racks, at 410-758-1101, ext. 7. address a couple of years ago but was Leon Ayres, who works for Accomack Killed in Saturday’s crash were (clockwise from top left): Regina Ayres, listed by police as living in Delaware, County, is the father and grandfather Travis Stratton, Zarissa Ayres and her unborn baby, Jordan Ayres and was released from the University of of the victims. Supervisors opened their Jonathan Ayres. Maryland Shock Trauma Center. meeting Monday with a moment of silence “To lose members of that family in such honor of Jordan’s birthday, participants Police say alcohol was not a factor. for Mr. Ayres and the families involved. a tragic way brings grief beyond words. will wear pink flowers, ribbons or articles The truck, registered to Nationwide Accomack Schools made a crisis team Jordan was a marvelous student, loved of clothing to represent her favorite Solutions, LLC of Illinois, was loaded available at Accawmacke Elementary by everyone in her school. Trying to color. Interment will be at Shiloh Baptist with 44,000 pounds of polyfiber May- School (where Jordan attended) and wrap our heads around this is just Church in Boston. ette had picked up in Charlotte, N.C. Nandua High School (from which both impossible. She was simply amazing.” Stratton’s funeral will be held at 1 p.m. The incident occurred at the Ayres women and Stratton graduated) Funeral services for Zarissa, Regina, Sunday, Jan. 18, at Grace In dependent intersection of Route 50 and Route 213 to work with students and staff Jordan, Jonathan and Zoe Ayres are Methodist Church in Wach a preague. in Wye Mills in Queen Anne’s County. members acquainted with the victims. being arranged by Smith & Scott Funeral Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at The truck collided with the car on the “Our school system is a family and Home in Accomac and will be held at 11 Cooper & Humbles in Accomac. passenger side. The tractor-trailer nothing is more important than family,” a.m. Jan. 17 at Nandua High School. Donations can be made at PNC Bank apparently rolled over the car before said Superintendent Dr. Kregg Cuellar. Family hour will begin at 10 a.m. In and online at www.gofundme.com/jzlt28 2 • EastErn shorE Post • January 16, 2015 Board Opens Year With Marathon Session Story and photo by Ron West Lawrence noted that an area on At their first session of 2015 the northeast portion of the school Tuesday, Northampton supervisors cafeteria and kitchen and at least one unanimously selected Rick Hubbard classroom poses such serious issues and Oliver Bennett to serve as that the areas must be closed off. their chairman and vice chairman, School Operations Director Chris respectively, for the coming year. Truckner provided photos (available at While the supervisors agreed to keep www.ncpsk12.com) showing an area of their meeting schedule of the second the wall actually separating from the rest Tuesday and fourth Monday of each of the building. One area has a five­inch month, they found it more difficult to gap extending down several feet from approve the manual that guides those the top of the building. Truckner said proceedings. the damage is far worse than previously Supervisor Granville Hogg ques­ thought, and requires immediate repairs. New Northampton Board Chairman Rick Hubbard (left) and Vice tioned the validity of the manual To address the problem, the board Chairman Oliver Bennett and asked if the county attorney had will meet with its accounting firm reviewed it. In particular, Hogg spoke of to investigate funding options. The the board’s timeline to complete the allow county­paid Emergency Medical the need for a separation of the legislative School Board has estimated the cost of review. It will take the next month Services (EMS) personnel to volunteer (the supervisors) and executive (county replacing the school at $30 million. or two to complete its review of the with other stations. However, they will administrator) arms of leadership. He The board conducted a public hearing ordinance. Then there will be a 21­day not be allowed to serve as officers with objected to the county administrator on the possible sale of surplus property period during which public information a volunteer company. serving as parliamentarian, and to across from the Courthouse Green. The sessions will be conducted at Kiptopeke A public hearing was conducted allowing remote access for supervisors properties were vacated when county and Occohannock elementary schools, regarding the efforts by Kiptopeke who cannot attend meetings. offices located there were relocated. after which county staff will make Villas, LLC to build three rental units The state has decided to allow County Administrator Katie Nunez revisions as needed. The board will at Kiptopeke Drive and Arlington Road government officials to electronically reported that an unsolicited bid has been then conduct a public hearing prior to near the entrance to Kiptopeke State take part in sessions if they can’t be received to purchase the structures. a final vote on the ordinance. Park. The previously tabled request present. Hogg argued that it would Several members of the public, Another issue of contention has had at one point been for a small, 12­ not be possible for other supervisors to including Price Clark, Jeff Walker, been the Public Service Authority’s unit hotel, but had been opposed by a verify if an individual using such remote and Eleanor Gordon supported sale (PSA’s) proposed wastewater pipeline number of area residents as well as by means is actually who he or she says. of the properties. The board agreed to in the vicinity of the Cape Charles some of the supervisors. Another sticking point was a the concept, but tabled the proposal to traffic signal. David Boyd and Michael Speaking for the revised special­use proposed change to limit speakers’ time await additional information on the Steelman pressed to disband the PSA. permit application, Bill Parr fielded addressing the board to three minutes conditions related to the bid. Hogg spoke in opposition to allowing questions by the board regarding plans with no extension for time ceded by The ongoing saga of the proposed it to continue working on the project. to include a mass drainfield across the other speakers. The board compromised Zoning Ordinance revision continued Additionally, he pressed to have the road from the proposed units. Asked by agreeing that a speaker can have up to draw public reaction at the session. PSA turn over all its records to the by Hogg why the plan does not call for to three additional minutes to talk if Martina Coker charged that the board. A vote to do that failed on a 3­2 the drainfield to be placed behind the another member of the public agrees to process used by the board to develop vote, with Supervisors Larry Trala, three units, Parr replied that proposed surrender his or her time. the Zoning Ordinance was flawed and Larry LeMond, and Bennett opposing it. changes to zoning and/or density might In response to a comment made by “done behind closed doors.” She opposes LeMond suggested that the board and allow for additional rental units on the Hogg regarding the powers given to the the concept of “by­right” for many of the PSA should meet and review the PSA’s property and he wouldn’t want the county administrator, Hubbard reminded uses allowed in the proposed ordinance. direction and goals. He also said the space occupied by the drainfield. As the board that the county administrator Donna Bozza, director of Citizens for option of using the Bayview wastewater proposed, the rental homes would be serves at its pleasure and can be released a Better Eastern Shore (CBES), likewise facility should be on the table.