Grant Writing Workshop
<bt>In an effort to help area nonprofit organizations learn about the federal grant process, U.S. Congressman Frank Wolf (R-10) will host a conference on applying for federal grants in Loudoun County.
The conference is free and open to any nonprofit organization in the 10th District. Representatives from the departments of Education, Justice and Health and Human Services have been invited to speak about grant writing and strategies for successful applications. The Grants.gov Web site also will be discussed.
The conference is from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 7, at the Loudoun County Public School Administration Building, 21000 Education Court, Ashburn. Attendance is limited to the first 400 people to register.
Groups interested in attending can contact any of Wolf's offices or register online at www.house.gov/wolf. Click on "Grants Conference."
To contact Wolf's offices by phone, call Washington, 202-225-5136; Herndon, 703-709-5800 or Winchester, 540-667-0990.
<sh>Change in Fees
<bt>The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has approved a new fee structure for the Youth After School (YAS) program, operated by the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services. Effective March 1, for the remainder of the 2005-2006 school year, the program fee will change from $180 a month to $20 a year as part of the county's continuing effort to create more affordable and accessible after-school programming for middle-school students.
The YAS program is in its eighth year of providing supervised after-school activities in 11 middle schools across Loudoun County. Students attend the program daily, participating in study time, socialization, games and activities, and seasonal intramurals in a caring and supportive environment.
To give a new face to a changing program, YAS staff held a contest for middle-school students to design a new logo for the program. Entries were judged by PRCS staff and the new logo was unveiled at a program-wide function Feb. 8. Jason Langdon, a seventh-grader at Belmont Ridge Middle School, was the contest winner. His logo, a tree in full bloom, included the slogan "Roots to Success."
Registration is ongoing for YAS, but space is limited. Call 703-737-8042 to register. For program details or more information on the new fee structure, call 703-737-8804.
<sh>Potential Scam
<bt>A recent attempted tax scam has prompted the Sheriff's Office to issue a second alert to Loudoun residents regarding the dangers of providing personal information over the telephone.
On Monday, Feb. 13, a Sterling woman received a phone call from an unknown person who claimed to be a representative from the federal government. The caller claimed that because the woman had been such a good taxpayer she was going to be given several thousand dollars. The representative then asked for her bank account number. The woman contacted the Sheriff's Office Tuesday after she saw a report in a local newspaper regarding a similar incident that occurred in Ashburn.
Last month a 66-year-old woman received a call from an unknown female who claimed she worked with the Loudoun County government. The caller said since the Ashburn resident had been such a good taxpayer in the past she was due a large sum of money. According to the victim the caller came across as very excited and was very convincing. The woman realized the call was a potential scam when the caller asked for her bank account information to deposit the money.
In light of these incidents the Loudoun Sheriff's Office would like to remind residents to never give your credit card, checking account or Social Security number to unknown callers. They are also asking any resident who believes they have been a victim of this scam or if they have received a similar phone call to contact the Sheriff's Office at 703-777-1021.
<sh>Teens Found
<bt>Three teens missing since earlier this month have all been located safe and sound, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Shante Renee Trammel, 17, Ashley Meshawn McBride, 15, and Catrina Marie Jones, 16, had all been reported missing by the Sheriff's Office Feb. 10. Both Shante and Catrina left Park View High School on their own accord in the morning hours of Feb. 8. Ashley left her residence on Morning Crescent Terrace in Sterling on the morning of Feb. 3.
Shante and Catrina returned last week. Ashley was located Monday evening.
<sh>Resnick Appointed
<bt>U.S. Senate candidate Harris Miller announced Andrew Resnick his campaign manager Monday, Feb. 20.
Resnick was the campaign manager to two newly-elected Loudoun County officials, state Sen. Mark Herring (D-33) and Del. David Poisson (D-32). Resnick led Herring to win in a special election last month, and led Poisson to victory over eight-year incumbent, Republican Dick Black.
Now, he will help Miller in the race for a seat in the U.S. Senate.
ÒAndy Resnick has what it takes to win Virginia,Ó Miller said in a press release on Monday.
<sh>Fatal Crash
<bt>A Fairfax man died Sunday morning from injuries he sustained in a single-vehicle crash on Route 50 west of Pleasant Valley Road.
As of Sunday afternoon, evidence suggests that David Andrew Stevens 24, of Fairfax City, was eastbound on Route 50 in a 2004 Lexus SUV when he ran off the right side of the road and into a ditch. The vehicle continued when it struck the culvert for the entrance to the Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church. The vehicle overturned and Stevens was
thrown from the SUV into a grassy area, according to the Sheriff's Office. The vehicle continued and came to a rest on its roof on the grassy area near the shoulder.
Deputies responded to the area shortly after 4 a.m. where Stevens was airlifted to Washington Hospital Center for life-threatening injuries. He would later die as a result of those injuries at the hospital.
The vehicle's airbags were deployed and examination of the SUV suggests that Stevens was not wearing his seat belt.
Anyone who may have information about the crash or the whereabouts of the victim prior to 4 a.m. is asked to contact DS J. McClintic of the Sheriff's Office Crash Investigation Team at 703-777-5798.