Circulation 13,000 Free September 12, 2014 Taking Notes Northampton Schools Superintendent Eddie Lawrence sits in on a music class this week at Occohannock Elementary School. Photo by Linda Cicoira Off-Duty Northampton Deputy Killed in Lankford Highway Crash By Linda Cicoira Shore Regional Jail and lived in Cheriton, died to State Police Public Relations Director Corinne N. An off-duty Northampton sheriff’s deputy died at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital about two Geller. The Kubota farm tractor was rear-ended by last week from injuries suffered when a tractor-trail- days later. Sheriff David Doughty said Thomas a 2005 Peterbilt driven by Rodney Shepard of North er truck hit the farm vehicle he was driving along was with the Sheriff’s Department for about a Carolina. Lankford Highway near Eastville last Thursday, decade. Geller said the cause of the crash remains under Sept. 4. The crash occurred at 4:52 p.m. on Lankford investigation by State Police, led by Trooper L.R. Albert T. Thomas, 50, who worked at Eastern Highway about 100 feet from Route 633, according Sturgis. 2 • EastErn shorE Post • sEPtEmbEr 12, 2014 American students during segregation. Murray said it would be more prudent Northampton Supervisors EMS Director Hollye Carpenter to wait 8 to 10 years to pay down the spoke of the need to provide better hous- debt before taking on any more. He ing for the department’s equipment and proposed that an EMS garage be con- Consider EMS Issues staff, as well as more space for training. structed in Machipongo for $300,000. By Ron West ty has looked into using the cafeteria A second EMS issue addressed by Walker suggested that the fire train- Northampton supervisors received of the former school as a community Carpenter was the number of calls an- ing facility in Melfa adjacent to East- a report Tuesday from DJG Architects kitchen, which along with the other swered by the various EMS companies, ern Shore Community College could giving a number of options for the fu- county uses, could meet the USDA’s re- all of which have county staff working at be used for EMS training. If additional ture uses of the former Northampton quirements for community uses. them. In May, county EMS personnel be- space is needed, a room or two could be Middle School. John Ozmore of DJG offered options gan to operate out of Northampton Vol- added for far less than is proposed for The building houses the Parks and ranging from $3.8 million to $5.6 million. unteer Fire and Rescue, based in Nas- the former middle school, he added. Recreation Department as well as the All involve demolishing parts of the for- sawadox, in a pilot program slated to end Exmore Fire Chief Greg DeYoung county’s Extension Service. The county mer school. Several involve the loss of the in October. The company has requested spoke of the need to restore the alliance has considered relocating the Emer- the auditorium portion, and most involve that the EMS Department continue to between the county’s paid and volun- gency Medical Services (EMS) Depart- building or modifying portions for EMS provide personnel there. Carpenter told teer EMS personnel. One complicating ment to a portion of the building, which vehicles, training rooms and housing for the board she does not support the re- factor is that county policy prohibits would require extensive remodeling. personnel. The EMS Department cur- quest and it would be better to bring the paid EMS employees from volunteering The desire to repurpose the former rently rents a facility near Machipongo. personnel back to a Machipongo site, at a station in the county. According to school comes from a U.S. Department The county has earmarked close to such as at the repurposed middle school. DeYoung, there is no such state policy. of Agriculture (USDA) grant require- $1.2 million for the project. Carpenter noted that the Nassawadox He proposed eliminating the county ment to invest $600,000 into a commu- Supervisor Oliver Bennett, who spent facility lacks some amenities need- regulation, which some see as a barrier nity project rather than having to re- much of his career teaching at that build- ed by the staff and does not have an between paid and volunteer workers. pay the sum. The $600,000 “bill” comes ing, remarked that the options leave electronic stretcher as is found at the The supervisors tabled action on the as a result of the sale of the former little of the building for what could be stations in Exmore, Cape Charles and EMS issues while they look into the Sustainable Technology Industrial considered community uses. He stressed Machipongo. The new type of stretcher options and needs. Park building that was partly funded the need to preserve the history of the is designed to prevent injuries associ- The other major issue of the evening by a USDA grant that must be refund- building, which dates to 1954 when it ated with lifting it into the ambulance, concerned a request by the School Board ed as the building has since been sold. opened as the former Northampton and comes with a pricetag of $13,000. for the county to turn over ownership Over the past few months, the coun- County High School and served African- Speaking for Northampton Fire and of the five lots from the former Selma Rescue, Amy Wilcox said that the station subdivision adjacent to the high school has ordered an electronic stretcher and in Eastville. The county purchased the is making other improvements. She also lots a few years ago, but has not as- noted that volunteers not in the building signed a use to them. Superintendent when a call comes in cannot respond as Eddie Lawrence and teacher Karen Lef- quickly as paid staff who are in a station fel spoke of the need to expand athletic all the time. Some volunteers have com- opportunities at the school. The county plained about being dispatched for a call has allowed the school to use the prop- only to get turned around because the erty for the past few years. Laffel noted county’s ambulance with paid staff is dis- that a grant is available to improve the patched moments later for the same call. field, but the school system cannot ap- Former Supervisors Jeff Walker and ply for it if it does not own the property. Spencer Murray argued that renovat- The supervisors voted 4-1 (Gran- ing the former school would be unwise ville Hogg voting against) to transfer given the county’s large debt service. the properties to the School Board. Now Open!! Now Open!! Now Open!! Now Open!! Munchkins Boutique Located in Food Lion plaza, Exmore, VA Monday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Featuring NEW and gently USED children’s’ clothes, baby gear, maternity clothes, nursing accessories, baby shower gifts, toddler toys, nursery décor and school uniforms. Everything your little one needs (size newborn to 14/16)! September 12, 2014 • eaStern Shore poSt • 3 POCOMOKE POCOMOKE 4 • EastErn shorE Post • sEPtEmbEr 12, 2014 Police and Court Postings By Linda Cicoira Nelson Crippen Nedab Johnson Smith Ridley Accomack Sheriff’s Office into the southbound lanes and struck Six Accomack Jail inmates were an oncoming car. 7:25 p.m. Monday, Sept. 1, Velazquez will be no “vigilantism. It’s not up to charged with malicious wounding by a The crash resulted in the deaths of was assaulted by fellow inmates. the inmates in the jail. In a prefect cor- mob this week in connection with the Arnette N. Chandler, 58, of Roosevelt, His injuries have not been disclosed. rections scenario, to prevent any kind beating of another prisoner accused of N.Y., who was driving the other vehicle, Godwin said he is still in Sentara Nor- of assaults everyone would have their killing three people in a head-on colli- and two passengers, Diann W. Jones, folk General Hospital and under con- own individual cell. We don’t have that sion over Labor Day weekend. 55, of Exmore and A’Jamae Jones, 12, stant surveillance. Last week, Godwin luxury. We‘re rated for 96 (inmates) Police are not saying if the assault of Levittown, Pa. All had connections said some of the injuries may have and most times we are well over.” was related to the crash. to the Eastern Shore. Velazquez lived been from the collision. On Tuesday, Godwin released a Bonifilio Velazquez, 36, of Dream- in the area for 17 years, according to Godwin said when Velazquez gets statement identifying the suspects al- land Court in Accomac was charged court records and was deported from out of the hospital “he will not be put leged to have beaten Velazquez. Addi- with drunk driving and three counts of another unspecified country because back in population. We treated him tional information was obtained from involuntary manslaughter after a col- he was a felon. just like any other inmate” before. But, records filed in Accomack General Dis- lision at the intersection of Lankford Velazquez was taken away from the in the future, “he’ll be in a single cell.” trict Court. Highway and First Street in Keller accident scene and to the Melfa State “This is not a gang-related inci- Charged with “being a person in a around 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. Wit- Police barracks for safety and alcohol dent,” Godwin said. “We check on our mob” who “maliciously stabbed, cut nesses told police his vehicle crossed testing. His blood was later drawn at inmates every 30 minutes.