Remembering Barbara Dutton
<bt>ÒA Celebration of LifeÓ for Barbara Dutton will be held in the Loudoun Room of Algonkian Regional Park, 47001 Fairway Drive in Sterling, Sunday, Sept. 5, at 3 p.m.
The community and friends are invited to attend and share stories of Dutton's accomplishments and eccentricities, including moments of laughter and surprise, with DuttonÕs family members from across the country. DuttonÕs family is inviting everyone to share some memories of how she touched their lives.
A buffet diner will be served at 5 p.m. Please RSVP to Robin Geiger at 703-771-5511 by Aug. 31. If unable to attend, a comment or story about Dutton to be shared at the celebration can be e-mailed to rgeiger@loudoun.gov.
Dutton, who died in April at the age of 86, was a founding member of Leadership Loudoun. The organization, founded in 1992, trains current and emerging leaders by improving their knowledge of the community and increasing their leadership effectiveness. Associates develop and refine their leadership skills through an intense, nine-month educational experience.
<sh>Firefighter Found Guilty
<bt>An Ashburn volunteer firefighter under investigation for indecent liberties with a juvenile was found guilty Thursday of obstruction of justice. Michael Dennis Morisi, 44, of Sterling, was charged in June for sending what was deemed to be an intimidating e-mail to the victim in the case.
The victim, who is now a 19-year-old, told authorities in February that she and Morisi had inappropriate contact while she was a volunteer at the Ashburn Fire Station. The victim was 17 years old at the time of the incidents, which are alleged to have occurred between July and December of 2002.
Morisi was sentenced to six months in jail, with all time suspended, and must pay a $500 fine.
The investigation into the inappropriate contact continues and further charges are possible.
<sh>Accident Injures Ashburn Man
<bt>A motorcycle accident Thursday night in Sterling has left one Loudoun man in fair condition at an area hospital.
According to Accident Reconstruction Investigators for the county Sheriff's Office, around 5:40 p.m., Louis N. Neal, 53, of Dumfries, was driving a 1999 Chevy Malibu eastbound on Moran Road when he pulled out to make a left turn onto Randolph Drive. Neal pulled out from behind backed up westbound traffic in the westbound left lane on Moran Road and was waved through by the driver of another vehicle.
Dean A. Taylor, 37, of Ashburn, was heading westbound on his 2003 Harley Davidson in the right lane, which was clear, on Moran Road, when Neal pulled out into his path of travel.
Witnesses to the incident stated that Taylor was thrown from the motorcycle, flipped in the air and landed on the pavement. Taylor was wearing a lawful Department of Transportation-approved motorcycle helmet.
Taylor who was conscious at the scene, was airlifted to Inova Fairfax Hospital. Neal was uninjured in the crash.
Speed is not believed to be a factor in the crash and property damages in the crash are field estimated to be around $9,000. Neal was charged with failing to yield the right of way on a left turn.
Anyone who may have witnessed this incident, but has not come forward yet, is asked to contact Detective J. M. McClintic of the Traffic Safety Unit Crash Team at 703-771-5798.
<sh>Accident Kills Sterling Man
<bt>A single-vehicle accident Friday night has taken the life of a Sterling man and Loudoun County investigators believe speed and alcohol may have been factors in the crash.
Shortly before 8 p.m., Elmer H. Mejia, 19, was traveling northbound on Sterling Boulevard near West Ivy Road when he apparently lost control of his 1994 Honda Civic two-door and struck a tree.
Mejia, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the vehicle. Mejia was airlifted to Inova Fairfax Hospital where he later died from his injuries.
Witnesses indicated that the vehicle appeared to be traveling faster than the posted speed limit and that there were no other vehicles in close proximity to Mejia's vehicle when the crash occurred.
Anyone who may have witnessed this incident and has not come forward yet is asked to contact Detective J. M. McClintic with the Traffic Safety Unit at 703-771-5798.
<sh>Information Needed on Attack
<bt>Loudoun County Animal Care and Control is looking for any information from the public regarding a dog attack that occurred in Ashburn Sunday, Aug. 15.
According to reports, a woman was attacked by a large bulldog mix while walking in the Ashburn Village neighborhood at approximately 10:30 p.m. She was knocked to the ground by the dog and sustained severe lacerations to her head. Before she was able to get his contact information, the victim requested the owner to removed his dog from the area. The woman was transported to the emergency room, where she received stitches and staples to close the wounds.
The dog is described as a large brown and black bulldog mix with a white face. The man walking the dog is described as a Caucasian male, approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall with dark brown hair. The dog and man have previously been known to walk in the Hillary Way/Rainsboro Drive area of Ashburn Village.
Anyone with information on the dog or the owner is requested to call Officer Longerbeam at the Loudoun County Department of Animal Care and Control at 703-777-0406 ext. 1895.
<sh>Sign to be Rededicated
<bt>The Loudoun County Civil War Roundtable will conduct a rededication and unveiling for a revised Virginia Civil War Trails marker on Edwards Ferry Road, Leesburg, at 1 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 29.
The marker is located at the entrance to the Edwards Landing subdivision on Edwards Ferry Road just past the Battlefield Shopping Center and the new Costco east of the U.S. 15 Bypass.
The Loudoun County Civil War Roundtable has been working with Virginia Civil War Trails to correct the marker that previously presented incorrect information about a small skirmish that took place near there on the morning of Oct. 21, 1861.
The errors first were noticed by Roundtable members and Ball's Bluff battlefield volunteer guides. The new sign will be installed shortly before the rededication ceremony.
The skirmish pitted portions of the 3rd New York cavalry and the 18th Mississippi infantry and resulted from a Union attempt to distract Confederate attention away from a small raiding party that had crossed upriver at Ball's Bluff that same morning.
<sh>Dulles Runway Reopens
<bt>Runway 12-30, the east-west runway at Washington Dulles International Airport, has been reopened by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, after being closed down since April 19. In 1992, a 500-foot concrete extension was added to the end of the runway, and in 1998, the runway shoulders were reconstructed and widened and were not in need of major reconstruction. However, the remainder of the 10,000-foot-long and 150-foot wide runway, which was built in 1962, needed to be reconstructed due to extensive use. In order to complete the reconstruction, the runway had to be demolished and removed in preparation of the rebuilding. In addition to the demolition, reconstruction of the sub base and pouring of new concrete, nearly 400 runway lights and associated conduit and electrical wiring had to be put in place. Lane Construction Corporation of Meriden, Conn., completed the construction contract at a cost of approximately $21 million. The Federal Aviation Administration approved the use of $14.4 million in Airport Improvement Funds toward this important project.
<sh>Household Haz Mat Disposal
<bt>The Loudoun County Office of Solid Waste Management is sponsoring a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Event Saturday, Sept. 11, at Northern Virginia Community College, 1000 Harry Flood Byrd Highway in Sterling, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., for Loudoun County residents only. Typical HHW items are oil-based paints/stains/varnishes, paint thinners, old fuels including gas/oil mixes, kerosene and diesel fuel; and cleaners such as oven cleaners, drain cleaners, bathroom cleaners and all purpose cleaners. Other HHW items are scouring powders, mothballs, mildew removers, metal polishes, rust removers, wood preservatives, furniture polishes and waxes, and pool chemicals.
Used motor oil, used antifreeze, automobile batteries and propane gas cylinders can be recycled year-round at the Loudoun County Solid Waste Management Facility, also known as the landfill, at 20939 Evergreen Mills Road. These items will not be accepted at this HHW collection event. For more information, visit the Loudoun County Government Web site at www.loudoun.gov/oswm/hhw.htm or call the Office of Solid Waste Management at 703-777-0187.
<sh>Nonprofits Funding Meeting
<bt>Loudoun County is conducting pre-application meetings for nonprofit community groups and organizations interested in applying for funding from the Restricted Transient Occupancy Tax (RTOT) revenues for fiscal year 2006: July 1, 2005-June 30, 2006.
Nonprofit groups that conduct activities, programs or special one-time events that positively impact tourism and travel in Loudoun County are eligible to apply for RTOT funding. State legislation requires that RTOT revenues be designated and spent for promoting tourism, travel or business that generates tourism or travel in the county.
All nonprofit organizations interested in applying for such funds should attend one of two upcoming pre-application meetings behind held by the Board of Supervisors and the Loudoun Convention and Visitors Association. The meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m., Aug. 25, and 6 p.m., Sept. 8. Both meetings will be held in the board room of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison St., S.E. in Leesburg.
Information regarding the FY 2006 RTOT grant funding application process, recent tourism activity within the county and a synopsis of projects awarded funding from prior years will be presented at each meeting. The same information will be presented at each meeting.
Application forms will be distributed at each meeting and will be available after Sept. 8, from the Loudoun County Budget Office and on the county Web site, www.loudoun.gov. Completed applications and proof of the group's tax-exempt status must be submitted to the Budget Office by Oct. 1.
For more information, contact the Loudoun County Budget Office at 703-777-0563.