A 21-year-old Loudoun man was charged in connection with a December shooting that took place behind the Food Lion Grocery Store in Ashburn. After investigation, Lawrence Pieruccioni, formerly of Ashburn, was charged with one count of malicious wounding and one count of use of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
In the late evening of Dec. 11 Sheriff's Deputies responded to the 43900 block of the Farmwell Hunt Plaza for a report of a male subject who had been shot in the foot. Upon arrival, deputies discovered the victim, a 19-year-old Herndon man, lying in the doorway of the Food Lion.
The victim stated that he was walking to a nearby restaurant when an unknown male approached him. According to the victim the subject then said something and began to reach toward the area of his waistband. At this time the victim began to run towards the Food Lion when he heard multiple shots. One of the shots struck the victim hitting him once on the inside heel of his foot. He was treated and released at Loudoun Hospital.
Pieruccioni is being held at the Loudoun Adult Detention Center in Leesburg without bond.
<sh>Ashburn Man Arrested in Shooting
<bt>A 20-year-old Ashburn man was arrested Sunday in connection with a shooting last weekend at a residence south of Purcellville.
Through the course of the investigation, the suspect was identified as Lamar Porter.
According to the Sheriff's office, shortly before midnight Saturday a fight erupted between several subjects at a party in the residence and at that time Porter brandished a gun. A 19-year-old Leesburg man attempted to grab the gun from the subject with the assistance of an 18-year-old Leesburg man.
During the struggle with the subject the gun discharged causing a grazing wound to the hand of the 18-year-old. He was taken to the Emergency Room of Loudoun Hospital on Cornwall Street where he was treated and released.
Porter has been charged with malicious wounding, attempted malicious wounding, use of a firearm during the commission of a felony, brandishing a firearm and carrying a concealed weapon. He was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond.
<sh>Sterling Inmate Apparent Suicide
<bt>A 44-year-old Sterling man succumbed to his injuries March 12 at Loudoun Hospital after an apparent suicide Tuesday morning last week at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. The man, found the morning of March 11 hanging from a sheet that was tied to the cell bars, was discovered during a routine block check. Deputies and medical staff on duty immediately applied CPR on the victim until rescue personnel arrived. The victim was transported to Loudoun Hospital where he had been listed in critical condition. The victim was being held in the minimum-security section of the jail. The incident is still under investigation by the Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division.
<sh>Ashburn Man Injured
<bt>A 50-year-old Ashburn man was injured on the morning of March 13 after his vehicle was struck by a 2000 Jeep that had run a red light along Ashburn Farm Parkway. According to the Sheriff's office, shortly after 9 a.m. the driver of the Jeep, 47-year-old Danny Gale of Potomac, Md., was heading east on Ashburn Farm Parkway when he ran the red light and struck the Ashburn man's vehicle, a 1997 Buick, as he was crossing through the intersection from Ashburn Road.
The driver of the Buick, Carl Edwin Krebs Jr., was airlifted to Inova Fairfax Hospital where he is currently listed in stable condition.
Gale did not require medical attention. He was charged with a failure to stop for a red light.
Citizens with any information regarding this accident are asked to contact Deputy Cenate of the Sheriff's Office Traffic Safety Unit at 703-771-5798.
<sh>Two Hurt in Accident
<bt>Two Maryland women were taken to area hospitals from injuries they sustained in a two-vehicle accident on Charles Town Pike (Route 9) near Waterford over the weekend.
Around 3:30 p.m. on the afternoon of March 15, 51-year-old Gabrielle Malone of Annapolis, Md. was traveling southbound on Clarke's Gap Road in her 1998 Honda Accord. After she proceeded through a stop sign, her vehicle was struck by a 1999 GMC Suburban driven by 44-year-old John Arata of Granger, Ind.
Arata's vehicle, which was heading westbound on Route 9, attempted to swerve to miss the Honda but ended up striking the vehicle on the front end. Arata's vehicle eventually came to a stop after running into a fence. Arata received no injuries as a result of the accident.
Malone was airlifted to Inova Fairfax Hospital and has since been released. A passenger in her vehicle, 26-year-old Laura Malone was taken to the Loudoun Hospital Emergency Room on Cornwall Street where she was treated and released.
The accident is currently under investigation and charges are pending. Citizens with any information regarding this accident are asked to contact DFC McClintic of the Sheriff's Office Traffic Safety Unit at 703-771-5798.
<sh>Accident Injures Four
<bt>A 1987 Chevrolet box-style catering truck lost control and struck a guardrail this morning after the vehicle's brakes apparently malfunctioned.
Shortly after 11 a.m. the driver of the vehicle, 23-year-old Judith H. Funes of Sterling was attempting to brake at a stop sign at the intersection of Forest Run Drive and Route 772 (Ryan Road) when the vehicle's brakes appeared to have failed. The vehicle rolled across Ryan Road stopping after it struck a guardrail on the edge of the northbound lanes.
The driver and three passengers in the vehicle, 46-year-old Sual Hernandez, 28-year-old Maria Portillo and 43-year-old Christina Henriquez were injured as a result of the accident.
Hernandez and Funes were transported to Loudoun Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
Portillo and Henriquez were airlifted to area Washington Hospital Center where they are both listed in stable condition.
The northbound lanes of Ryan Road were closed for approximately two hours.
<sh>Trainee Saves Choking Man
<bt>Bus driver trainee Sharon Hunter put the knowledge she’d gained in a CPR class on Feb. 20 to good use a few minutes later by aiding a choking man in the Sterling Safeway. Hunter was in an aisle of the grocery store and saw people crowded around an unconscious man on the floor.
Hunter set down her 2-month-old baby to begin using the life-saving techniques she learned in class. Even though her baby cried, she continued to do rescue breathing for the man until the paramedics arrived 10 minutes later.
The paramedics dislodged a piece of candy in the man’s throat and assisted him with his breathing. The man tried several times to compensate Hunter for saving his life, but she refused.
Hunter recently completed her two-week training course with the Department of Pupil Transportation.
"Students learn what is expected of them and are prepped for the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) test. We use National Safety Council standards," said Claudia Scordellis, area supervisor for the Ashburn Staff Training Center.
<sh>Moseley for Commonwealth's Attorney
<bt>Attorney Jonathon Moseley will seek the Republican nomination for Loudoun County Commonwealth's Attorney.
"I am running to improve management in the Commonwealth's Attorney's office," Moseley said in a statement. "In a growing county, I believe it’s time for executive leadership that will allow Loudoun’s highly-professional, career prosecutors to do their jobs in a non-political, organized and stable environment. Loudoun’s government leaders should fight crime, not each other."
Moseley is currently a litigator with Protas Spivok & Collins of Bethesda, Md., appearing frequently in courts all over Virginia. For several years, he was involved in law, regulatory issues, and policy developments in Loudoun as the in-house Counsel for SWPP/Ticonderoga Farms, a Loudoun County forestry company. He is a life-long Republican activist.
Email Mosley at contact@jonmoseley.com.
<sh>Murphy to Run for Supervisor
<bt>At-Large Planning Commissioner, John P. Murphy, Jr. has filed papers with county election officials to run for the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors representing the Dulles district. The Dulles district includes most Ashburn Farm, Broadlands, South Riding and stretches from Aldie to the Fairfax County line Murphy will seek the Democratic nomination.
Murphy was a representative on the Loudoun County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for ten years, serving as the chairman for nine years.
A Loudoun resident for 25 years, Murphy lives in the Ashburn community of Broadlands. He is the owner of Murphy's Mechanical Services, Inc., an air conditioning and heating company and a Loudoun business for 15 years. He and his wife, Sharon, a Loudoun County Public School employee, have been married for 28 years and have four adult children and six grandchildren.
Murphy said in a written statement, "As the Dulles Supervisor, I plan to address the increasing cost of housing. When Loudoun County is too expensive for the teachers, firefighters and police officers who serve our community, it calls for action."
<sh>Morrissey Plans Fundraiser
<bt>Patti Morrissey will kick off her 2003 campaign for the 32nd District at a fundraising event on Saturday, March 22, from 7-10 p.m., at the Broadlands Community Center. Retired Lt. General Claudia Kennedy will be the featured speaker at this "Women Leaders of Virginia" event. Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple (D-Arlington), Del. Vivian Watts (D-Fairfax), and Del. Viola Baskerville (D-Richmond) will also be in attendance to show support for Morrissey and speak about the need for new representation in the 32nd District.
Morrissey lives in Potomac Falls and is the mother of two young daughters. She is currently the assistant director for strategic studies at the Science Application International Corporation (SAIC).
<sh>Zurn Endorses Gordon
<bt>County Treasurer, Republican H. Roger Zurn Jr., has endorsed the candidacy of Bob Gordon, for the Republican nomination for the chairman of the Board of Supervisors.
“Bob has an impressive resume, with extensive financial and legal skills, and a long history of service to Loudoun County," said Zurn in a written statement. "Bob knows the numbers and the need for long-term fiscal discipline.”
<sh>Bond Ratings Reaffirmed
<bt>Three of the nation's major bond-rating agencies have again reaffirmed Loudoun County's strong bond ratings, said County Administrator Kirby M. Bowers in a written statement.
Moody's Investors Service has affirmed its Aa1 rating, citing "the county's strong, diverse, and growing tax base, high wealth levels, consistently solid financial performance, and moderate but increasing debt levels," and adding that it expected these factors to remain favorable.
In issuing its rating, Moody's stated that it expects that "the current management team's history of prudent fiscal management will ensure maintenance of strong fiscal flexibility," and that it believes that the county's "conservative approach to fiscal management will provide needed financial flexibility in the face of economic uncertainty."
Standard and Poor's affirmed its AA+ rating, citing a diverse local economic base and rapidly growing tax base, high wealth and income levels, and "a moderate and manageable debt burden in spite of a significant capital program focused mainly on schools."
The Standard and Poor's report says that "the county has maintained sound financial operations resulting from strong revenue growth and manageable expenditure increases," adding that the stable outlook reflects the expectation of "continued solid financial management despite the challenges related to rapid growth" and "a continued manageable debt burden."
Fitch IBCA affirmed Loudoun's AA+ rating, citing "the county's demonstrated ability to achieve strong financial performance in a rapid growth environment, the increasing diversity of the economy, the relative affluence of its residents, and moderate debt levels."
While Loudoun's unemployment rate of 3.2 percent is well below state and national averages, the three bond rating agencies express concerns about the financial stress being encountered by three of the county's largest private employers — WorldCom, America Online and United Airlines.
<sh>New Buses Added
<bt>The Virginia Regional Transportation Association, Inc. has taken delivery on four body-on-chassis vehicles for use in Leesburg. The 12-passenger buses were put into service on March 3 to coincide with the county's effort to highlight the transit investment over the last year in Loudoun County. These vehicles were funded under a grant from the Federal Transit Administration that paid 80 percent of the $216,000 total cost ($172,800). The Commonwealth of Virginia provided state funds totaling $34,560 and VRTA provided $8,640 in local funding. The buses were purchased off the state contract from Sonny Merryman, Inc. of Rustburg, Va.
<sh>Construction Plans for Roadways.
<bt>Clark/Shirley plans to begin construction on the Route 28 and Route 625 interchange in spring 2003, as reported by Leonard "Hobie" Mitchel of the Commonwealth Transportation Board at the Feb. 24 Transportation Committee meeting.
Mitchel also reported:
* The Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded a contract for widening improvements on Route 606 from Route 50 to Route 621, with construction scheduled to begin in April 2003.
* The widening of Loudoun County Parkway is proposed for late spring 2003.
<sh>Discover Loudoun Forums
<bt>Sponsored by Leadership Loudoun and the Loudoun County Government, the program provides a mix of insight and access to government operations, non-profit groups and emerging leaders and businesses in the county. Discover Loudoun will hold four forums in May, providing a sampling of life and government in Loudoun:
* May 1, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. History and bus tour of Loudoun County
* May 8, 7-9 p.m. Orientation to county government with County Administrator Kirby Bowers and Legislative Liaison Memory Porter
* May 15, 7-9 p.m. Learn more about the resources of county departments and non-profit groups
* May 22, 7-9 p.m. An opportunity to connect with county groups and organizations
For more information, or to receive a program brochure and registration form, contact Meghan Hall, community relations specialist at mhall@loudoun.gov or phone at 703-771-5839.
<sh>NVCC Awarded Grant
<bt>The continuing education department at the Loudoun Campus of Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) has been awarded a $75,000 grant to host "Working Connections," a national program for information technology faculty teaching in community colleges. The program is jointly sponsored by Microsoft, the American Association of Community Colleges, and the National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies (NWCET). The grant will fund a week-long program designed to provide training for faculty in leading-edge technologies to ensure that community college graduates are well prepared to enter the information technology workforce. The program will be held in May in the Waddell Building on the Loudoun Campus.
<sh>Hazardous Waste Collection
<bt>Loudoun County Office of Solid Waste Management will hold the first of eight scheduled Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events of 2003 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, at Heritage High School, 520 Evergreen Mill Road, southeast of Leesburg.
Residents may bring their household hazardous waste to the collection event for disposal free of charge. Typical household hazardous waste items include oil-based paint and paint thinners, household cleaners, insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, gasoline or other fuels, hobby chemicals (such as special glues or photography chemicals) and swimming pool chemicals.
<sh>Spring Clean Up
<bt>The Keep Loudoun Beautiful (KLB) Spring Clean-up campaign will be held during the month of April to remove litter from roadsides and waterways. More than 600 volunteers helped last year to clean up roadsides throughout Loudoun County. New volunteers are needed to fill-in where others have left off, specifically, for roadside clean-up activities around Leesburg, Lenah, Neersville, Round Hill and South Riding. Contact KLB at 703-771-4231 or at www.keeploudounbeautiful.org
to volunteer.
<sh>Phonebook Recycling
<bt>County residents and businesses are encouraged to recycle their old phonebooks at the following recycling drop-off center locations:
* Arcola Community Center;
* Hillsboro Elementary School;
* Loudoun County Landfill;
* Lovettsville Recycling Center;
* Lucketts Elementary School (Saturdays only, 8 a.m. -noon);
* Mickie Gordon Memorial Park, east of Middleburg;
* Park View High School Recycling Center, Sterling (during March and April);
* Philomont Fire Department; and
* Leesburg Plaza Shopping Center parking lot, across from Kmart (March and April).
For more information about these and other local recycling opportunities, call the Loudoun County Office of Solid Waste Management at 703-777-0187 or visit www.loudoun.gov/oswm.
<sh>County Seeks Local Health Organizations
<bt>Loudoun County Government is seeking local businesses and non-profit organizations that offer health screenings, fitness products, interactive health and fitness activities and educational services to help celebrate Employee Health, Fitness & Benefits Day. The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services, in cooperation with Management Services, will host the 8th annual event for more than 2,000 county government employees on Friday, May 16, from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the government center in Leesburg. Interested vendors should contact Lara Hughes with the Department of Human Resources at 703-771-5386 by March 28.