Input Session
<bt>The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors will hold a public input session on the county's plans for a new government center at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 27. The public is encouraged to offer comments on the project. The county received 13 proposals for a new government center and the Board of Supervisors has narrowed its selection to the following firms: Comstock Partners, LC: Loudoun Station, located in Ashburn; KSI and Boston Properties: Village at Leesburg, within the Town of Leesburg at the intersection of Route. 7 and River Creek Parkway and the future Crosstrail Boulevard; Loudoun Civic and Transit Center LLC: Moorefield Station, south of the Greenway at the interchange of Loudoun County Parkway and Ryan Road.; Oaklawn Government Center LLC: (Keane Enterprises Inc. and Trammel Crow Company): Oaklawn, within the Town of Leesburg at the Battlefield Parkway interchange of the Dulles Greenway; One Loudoun: (A joint venture of Miller & Smith, the Meridian Group, and Capmark Finance: In Ashburn at the corner of Route 7 and Loudoun County Parkway.
The public input session will be held in the board room of the Loudoun County Government Center, 1 Harrison St., S.E., Leesburg. Speakers may begin signing up at 6:30 p.m. the evening of the session. Public comment will follow a brief presentation.
<sh>Suspect Arrested
<bt>A Leesburg man wanted in connection with a double-stabbing at a Broadlands restaurant turned himself over to authorities Saturday, Nov. 17.
According to the Sheriff's Office, Sean P. Shanahan, 19, is charged with two counts of aggravated malicious wounding. The suspect allegedly attempted to purchase alcohol at the Mezza Grill in the Broadlands Shopping Center. Since the suspect is underage he was denied service. After a verbal altercation, the suspect was escorted out of the restaurant. In the parking lot of the Broadlands Shopping Center, the suspect pulled a knife and stabbed an employee of the restaurant in the parking lot, according to the Sheriff's Office. A second employee attempted to stop the suspect and he was stabbed multiple times.
Both victims were airlifted to Inova Fairfax Hospital. One of the victims has been released. A second victim remains hospitalized in stable condition.
Shanahan is being held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.
<sh>Seeking Information
<bt>A 13-year-old middle-school student was robbed as she walked to school shortly before 8 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 13.
The female victim was listening to her MP3 player when she was approached by two men in the area of Filmore Avenue and Beech Road of Sterling. One the male suspects told the victim to give him her stuff. The suspects left with the MP3 player and a small amount cash.
The suspects, who had their faces covered, were both described as Hispanic males. One of the suspects was described as being 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds. He was wearing a black-hooded sweatshirt and khaki pants. The second suspect was described as being 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall and 150 pounds. He was wearing a black, long-sleeve T-shirt and dark jeans.
Anyone who has information regarding this case is asked to contact Investigator J. Halley of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 703-777-0475. If the caller wishes to remain anonymous, contact Loudoun Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919. If the information leads to an arrest and indictment the caller could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.
<sh>Holiday Schedule
<bt>The holiday schedule for the Loudoun County Solid Waste Management Facility is as follows:
* Closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 22.
* Open on Friday, Nov. 23, at 8 a.m. for normal business hours.
* Closed Monday, Dec. 24 and Tuesday, Dec. 25.
* Open on Wednesday, Dec. 26, at 8 a.m. for normal business hours.
* Closed Tuesday, Jan. 1.
* Open on Wednesday, Jan. 2, at 8 a.m. for normal business hours.
Live holiday trees will be accepted for recycling at several locations in the county. More information about this special recycling program, including the dates and locations, will be posted on the county Web site at www.loudoun.gov/recycle.
<sh>Ban Lifted
<bt>The statewide ban on open burning that was issued Oct. 19 was lifted by Gov. Tim Kaine Nov. 15. In response to this, the Loudoun County Fire Marshal, in consultation with the local office of the Virginia Department of Forestry, has lifted the local ban on open burning.
The lifting of the local ban means that, where allowed, open burning of leaves, brush and similar yard debris, as well as bonfires and campfires, may be performed, provided that the burning takes place no closed than 50 feet from a structure. Persons are required to notify the Loudoun County Emergency Communications Center, at 703-777-0637, prior to and after conducting the burning, and they must ensure that means to control the fire are immediately available at all times.
<sh>Rail Money
<bt>Congress has approved another $35 million to help bring Metrorail out the Dulles corridor to the airport and beyond, and also has set aside money to study the possibility of establishing a Bus Rapid Transit system in the I-66 corridor outside the Beltway, according to Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10).
The Senate is expected to pass the fiscal year 2008 Transportation Appropriations Conference Report. Conference reports cannot be amended.
Wolf said this latest installment of funding for Dulles rail brings the total federal share to date to nearly $250 million.
Wolf said the conference report provides $1 million for the I-66 study, which would complement the study approved earlier this year by the Commonwealth Transportation Board for a multimodel study on I-66 inside the Beltway.
<sh>Bus Rides to D.C.
<bt>On Friday, Nov. 23, the Loudoun County Transit bus will arrive in Washington, D.C., at about 10 a.m. with busses returning throughout the afternoon, beginning at about 3:30 p.m.
The Thanksgiving Friday Special will depart the Leesburg Park and Ride lot, 110 Catoctin Circle, S.E., at 8:45 a.m. and the Dulles North Transit Center, Route 606 and Route 634, at 9:05 a.m. Both lots offer plenty of free parking. Cash fare for the service is $7 one way or use your SmarTrip card and pay $6 one way. Children under the age of 12 ride free.
Loudoun County Transit operates commuter bus service Monday through Friday from nine different park and ride lots in the county to West Falls Church Metro, Rosslyn, the Pentagon and numerous locations in Washington, D.C.
The schedule is posted on the Loudoun County government Web site at www.loudoun.gov/bus.
<sh>Budget Award
<bt>Loudoun County has received a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for the Fiscal Year 2008 budget.
In addition to the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, a Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation has been presented to Budget Officer Ari J. Sky, the person designated as being primarily responsible for the county receiving the award.
More information about the Loudoun County budget is available on the county government Web site at www.loudoun.gov/budget.