Section Bills of local • B • interest reviewed at halfway point February 12, 2009 by Alex Haseltine RICHMOND—A bill to allow local authorities to add a $10 fee to motor vehicle violations, for the purpose of purchasing fuel for law- KILMARNOCK, VIRGINIA enforcement, passed the State Senate last Monday. Sen. Richard H. Stuart of Montross, who introduced the bill, said it is “a creative way to help our police departments,” which he said are in “pretty bad shape” after budget cuts across the Commonwealth. Another bill introduced by Sen. Stuart passed the Senate last week. Bumpy The bill would make the sale on school grounds of over-the-counter medicines containing the drug dextromethorphan a Class 1 misde- meanor. However, not all legislation brought forth by the Northern Neck forecast Senator has been successful. A bill to create a presumption of liability on the part of an for roads employer when an on-the-job by Audrey Thomasson employee is found having suf- LANCASTER—The Com- fered brain damage did not monwealth’s serious fiscal prob- advance. It failed to report out lems continue to trickle down to of the Commerce and Labor the counties with the loss of state Committee. funding to secondary road and Sen. Stuart called the bill’s bridge improvements in Lancaster failure a disappointment, and County. The bad news was deliv- said it was defeated on an eco- ered to the board of supervisors nomic argument. January 29 by Virginia Depart- “I argued that this shouldn’t be an economic argument. It is just the ment of Transportation resident right thing to do for workers,” said Sen. Stuart. administrator Sean Trapani. His bill to remove an existing cap on the use of forest by-products According to the latest figures as a renewable energy source is still in committee. Sen. Stuart said released by VDOT, over the next the bill has become very controversial, prompting lobbyists from the six years Lancaster County will paper industry, which relies on the cap to keep prices down on wood lose $1.3 million in funding for fiber, to “line up out the door to oppose it.” secondary road improvements, Despite the opposition, Sen. Stuart said he remains “cautiously opti- including a slight drop in federal mistic” that the bill, expected to be heard this week in the Commerce funding. The loss will result in just and Labor Committee, would succeed. $1.65 million for road improve- A bill co-sponsored by Sen. Stuart requiring that three seats on the ments over the department’s six- Virginia Marine Resources Commission be filled by active watermen year construction plan. is awaiting a vote in the House Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Lancaster will still receive state Resources committee. It passed the Senate January 29. support for maintenance and for A bill requiring defendants in criminal trials to submit the names primary roads, Trapani reported. and social security numbers of any children to social services is await- However, he noted that those ing a vote in the Criminal Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on funds will see a decrease as well. Courts of Justice. “We have no firm numbers as A bill to require non-English-speaking individuals convicted of a yet,” he said. crime to pay the cost of their court interpreters was passed by indefi- He confirmed that any cuts to nitely January 28. the primary road system will not Two bills introduced by Del. Albert C. Pollard Jr. passed the house affect maintenance of the Robert recently. One bill that allows golf carts to be driven in the Town of O. Norris Jr. Bridge scheduled for Irvington has passed the House and is awaiting a vote in the Senate this year. Transportation Committee. Secondary roads are any A second bill, designating tidal creeks in the Commonwealth as “no routes numbered 600 or higher. discharge zones” passed unopposed through the House Monday. Improvements to the secondary A bill designed to tweak the school funding formula and provide system are determined by county additional state assistance to districts with a high percentage of stu- supervisors. Last year funding dents receiving free or reduced lunches was passed by in the Educa- was used to widen the approach to tion Committee January 28. the bridge on Route 614, Devil’s Bottom Road and for improve- ments on Route 604, Merry Point This gravestone dated 1869 was discovered in Elizabeth Burney’s back yard. Gov. Kaine and legislators Road. Gravestone may have connections announce smoking ban Mayor says to first female missionary to China in most restaurants and bars RICHMOND— Gov. Tim make Virginia’s restaurants safer dog issue Kaine and leaders in the General for patrons and employees,” by Alex Haseltine contacted the Record. Assembly recently announced Gov. Kaine said. “I’m proud lizabeth Burney of 239 Roseneath “It would be nice to get a hold of the an agreement to pass a statewide to have been able to work with is being Avenue in Kilmarnock was con- family and see if maybe they want it,” said smoking ban in Virginia’s bars leaders in both parties to find Efronted with an unsettling discovery Burney. “I would really like to find out more and restaurants. common ground on this reason- addressed two months ago: a tombstone was unearthed about it.” The legislation will ban able and necessary public health in her back yard. Carrol Lee Ashburn, president of the smoking in nearly all restaurants measure.” by Alex Haseltine Burney said her daughter and a friend Kilmarnock Museum, said the marker is across the Commonwealth, “I am pleased to join in were clearing brush when they came across “potentially a very important find.” allowing narrow exceptions for announcing a reasonable com- WHITE STONE—Ginger a large stone object beneath some over- Ashburn said there is a strong possibil- Philbrick addressed the town private clubs and restaurants promise on an issue important to growth and dirt. What the unsuspecting ity that the infant was closely related to with a designated smoking room Virginians,” said House Speaker council last Thursday, asking landscapers discovered turned out to be a Henrietta Hall Shuck, the first female for some sort of “resolution” that is physically separated and William Howell. “The com- marble tombstone nearly 140 years old. The missionary to China, and a native of independently ventilated from promise strikes a fair balance to ongoing confusion regard- marker is inscribed: “Infant daughter of Kilmarnock. ing the town’s animal control non-smoking dining areas. between the rights of smokers Herbert P. and Mary H. Hall. Born Nov. 21, Plans to determine the original location of “The dangers of second-hand who choose to enjoy a legal enforcement. 1869. Died December 11, 1869.” the grave and to establish kinship to Shuck Philbrick reported being smoke are undeniable. That’s product and the rights of other After some unsuccessful attempts to learn are in the works, said Ashburn. If you have why I made a restaurant smok- individuals who want to enjoy a menaced by an untethered dog about the origins of the marker, Burney information, call the museum at 436-9100. at the December council meet- ing ban one of my legislative smoke-free environment when ing. priorities. This legislation will eating at a restaurant. Mayor Lloyd B. Hubbard said that, along with White Stone Police Chief Bill Webb and town attorney Matt Terry, he had spoken with Lancaster Property owner follows state recommendations County administrator Bill Pennel. “Something is being done. for compliance regarding poultry litter stockpile We definitely want to rectify this problem,” said Hubbard. by Reid Pierce Armstrong choke his 10-acre pond and Webb said there are already HEATHSVILLE—A Nor- killed some of the fish he ordinances on the books for thumberland County farmer stocked there. dealing with vicious dogs, it has moved a large mound of Following heavy rains last was only a matter of determin- poultry litter that was caus- year, some black water started ing the proper procedure for ing concern among some who building up behind the berms alerting county authorities. feared it was a possible source immediately surrounding the Vice mayor David Jones of contamination in a tributary pile, Swann said. That water said the town plans to move of the Great Wicomico River. tested high for e coli bacteria, forward with the construction The litter, stockpiled on which didn’t surprise Swann, of a police garage. Upon the farmland owned by Mark he said. return of town manager Garey Swann of Heathsville for nearly In December, DEQ obtained Conrad, who has been away two years, was never properly a 10-day warrant to pump out for a minor medical procedure, covered or bermed, accord- the waste water that was pool- the final contract would be pre- ing to Virginia Department of ing around the berm, Alling pared and a deposit would be Environmental Qulaity (DEQ) said. They did that once. made, according to Jones. pollution response manager Swann voluntarily moved the Mark Alling of the Piedmont pile in January at the request of Regional Office. DEQ and VDACS, Alling said. Town council The DEQ received a citizen Staff recommended how and to discuss traffic complaint about the pile in July where he should move the pile 2008 and referred it to the Vir- and how it should be stored. control devices ginia Department of Agricul- “I have not seen the pile ture and Consumer Services since last week,” Alling said. IRVINGTON—The town (VDACS), who was already Neighbors worried that a large mound of poultry litter in Heathsville could pollute nearby “Last time I saw it, the pile was council will meet Thursday, aware of the situation, Alling Blackwell Creek until it was moved last month.