Arrests Made in Robberies
<bt>A 28-year-old Sterling man and an 18-year-old Columbia, Md. woman were arrested March 10 in connection with two strong-arm robberies that occurred in the Sterling area that morning.
The first call came in around 8:45 a.m. when a man assaulted and attempted to steal the purse of a 42-year-old Sterling woman in front of the Safeway grocery store in Sterling Park. During the struggle, the victim, who was carrying a 10-month-old baby was knocked to the ground. The child received minor injuries in the incident.
The man struck again shortly before 9 a.m. when he assaulted and stole the purse of a 33-year-old Sterling woman in front of the Shoppers Food Warehouse in the Community Plaza. The victim was struck on the back of the head during the incident. She was treated and released at the scene.
A short time later deputies canvassing the area observed a Chevy pick-up, which met the description of the suspect vehicle, traveling southbound on Cascades Boulevard. The vehicle, occupied by two subjects, was pulled over without incident near the intersection of Church Road and North York Road.
Through the course of the investigation the occupants of the vehicle, Amanda Rose Connaghan and Matthew Taylor McBride, were determined by investigators to be involved in the two incidents.
Both subjects have been charged with one count of attempted robbery and one county of robbery. They are currently being held without bond at the Loudoun Adult Detention Center. Further charges are pending in the case.
<sh>Shooting in Purcellville
<bt>An 18-year-old Leesburg Man was injured March 8 after he was shot in the hand during a fight at a residence in Purcellville. Shortly after 11:30 p.m. Loudoun County Sheriff's Deputies were called to the 19000 block of Silcott Lane for a report of gunfire. It was determined during a party at the residence a fight erupted between several subjects and an unidentified male brandished a gun. At this point a 19-year-old man Leesburg man attempted to grab the gun from the subject with the assistance of the 18-year-old victim.
During their attempts to take the weapon away from the subject the gun discharged injuring the Leesburg man.
The victim was taken to the Emergency Room of Loudoun Hospital on Cornwall Street where he was treated and released.
The subject is described as a black male in his late-teens to early-twenties.
Citizens with any information regarding this case are asked to contact Investigator Suess of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division at 703-777-0475.
[L0312-100]
<cl>Lyle Werner
<sh>Lyle Werner announced her candidacy for the Leesburg District seat on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors during First Friday Galley Walk on Feb. 7. Werner serves as an appointee to the Leesburg Planning Commission and the Leesburg Residential Traffic Commission. She is also founder and president of the Leesburg Historic District Residents' Association. She and her family have lived in Leesburg since 1996 and have restored a 19th century home in Leesburg's historic district. Werner will seek the GOP nomination for the Leesburg District on the Loudoun County board in May.
<sh>Historic Preservation Survey
<bt>The Board of Supervisors and the county Planning Department announce the commencement of a historic resources survey. The survey, to be conducted by cultural resource professionals with URS Corporation (URS) of Maryland, is part of an effort to increase public awareness of local history and update the county's inventory of historic resources.
The survey will focus on structures that represent Loudoun County's heritage, are underrepresented in previous surveys or may be affected by future development pressures and transportation improvements.
Over the next five months, URS architectural historians will be selecting and surveying 750 historic structures. In addition, 100 of the 750 properties will be selected for further, more intensive survey. As part of the intensive survey, URS will photograph the selected properties and create floor plan and site plan sketches for them, as well as undertake research to further understand the role of each property in the county's history.
The survey is a key component of the county's Heritage Resources Preservation Plan, which is being developed to address the preservation of historic and archaeological resources as part of the implementation of the Revised General Plan.
More information about the county's Preservation Plan can be found at www.loudoun.gov/compplan/historic.htm.
For more information about the Loudoun County historic resources survey, contact Ray Ocel at 703-777-0246 or e-mail rocel@loudoun.gov.
<sh>House Fire in South Riding
<bt>On Thursday, March 6, at approximately 4 a.m., Loudoun County Fire-Rescue Services received a 911 call reporting a house fire at 43119 John Mosby Highway in the South Riding area of Arcola. Fire and rescue personnel from the South Riding, Arcola, Aldie, Sterling, and Middleburg stations responded to the incident. Upon arrival, firefighters found a two-story single family dwelling with fire showing from the first floor.
Fire and rescue personnel worked to contain the fire and it was brought under control in approximately 30 minutes and the last units cleared the scene at approximately 8 a.m. There were no reported injuries to any Fire and Rescue Personnel.
All 10 occupants in the residence at the time of the fire were able to evacuate without injury. The Loudoun County Office of Emergency Management and the Red Cross responded to the scene to assist the occupants with needed shelter and essentials. The incident is under investigation by the Loudoun County Fire Marshall's Office. Total damage was estimated at $40,000.
<sh>Outstanding Women Nominations
<bt>The Loudoun County Commission on Women is seeking nominations to recognize outstanding women for their efforts to improve the quality of life in Loudoun County. The deadline for nominations this year is Saturday, March 29.
Nominees should be residents of Loudoun County and have demonstrated efforts above and beyond the call of duty in areas such as leadership, business and career development, arts and cultural affairs, education and training, women's health or community service (volunteerism, caregiving). Anyone in the community is eligible. Call 703-777-0204, email lccw@aol.com or visit www.lccw.org, for more information.
<sh>Cover the Uninsured Week
<bt>Monday, March 10 marked the beginning of Cover the Uninsured Week, a week-long national awareness campaign with hopes to sensitize the public to the growing number of Americans who do not have health care coverage. In Virginia, 14.9 percent of the population is uninsured, and in Northern Virginia it's 11 percent. More than 1 million Virginians are without health insurance, an estimated 22 percent of which are children. One-half of Virginia's uninsured have incomes below 200 percent of poverty. The 67 percent who work full-time either are not offered insurance through their jobs or can not afford coverage on their modest salaries.
The Loudoun Community Free Clinic was established to serve medically uninsured Loudoun residents with limited incomes. The clinic is staffed by area physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and other volunteers who give their time freely to bring quality medical services to the community. The Free Clinic is a project of The Catoctin Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit organization which seeks to increase access to health services for the medically under-served in Loudoun County. For more information about the Loudoun Community Free Clinic, contact Lyle Werner, executive director, at 703-779-5412. For general information, visit www.CoverTheUninsuredWeek.org.
<sh>Two Injured in Accident
<bt>A single vehicle accident last Friday night sent two Virginia men to an area hospital. Shortly after 10 p.m., the driver of a 2002 Toyota, 23-year-old Soorana Reyai, of Centerville, lost control of his vehicle as he was traveling northbound on Sully Road (Route 28) near the Dulles Toll Road exit. As the vehicle came upon slower traffic, the driver swerved to the left hitting a concrete divide. The vehicle then went back across Route 28 and eventually left the roadway where it flipped several times. Both the driver and his passenger, 32-year-old Fadel Gibani, of Herndon, were airlifted to INOVA Fairfax Hospital where they were initially listed in stable condition. They have since both been discharged from the hospital. Speed is believed to be a factor in the accident. Charges are pending in the accident.
<sh>Photo Contest
<bt>The Leesburg/Loudoun Arbor Day Committee is sponsoring a Favorite Tree photo contest. A group of judges representing local newspapers will select the top four entrees. Entrees must be unframed, black and white or color and no larger than 8 by 10 inches in size. Applications must be submitted with the tree's location and species, if known. Mail entrees to LS&WCD, 30-H Catoctin Circle, Leesburg, VA 20175. Contact Dana Malone at 703-771-5991 or Pat Mcllvaine at 703-777-2975. Deadline for entries is Friday, March 28.