<b>Park Police Investigate Parkway Homicide</b>
Detectives with the U.S. Park Police are investigating a homicide discovered Friday, June 4, in the portion of the George WAshington Parkway in Arlington.
At 5:45 a.m., Park Police officers responded to a 911 call of a dead body located in the parking lot area of the first overlook, on the northbound lanes of the Parkway. nitial investigation revealed that the victim, Roslyn Whitehead, appeared to have suffered from blunt force trauma to her upper body.
Whitehead, 47, a New York native, was homeless but had been living on the street in Arlington and around the region. Park Police detectives have contacted area homeless agencies, in an attempt to trace Whitehead’s final days. A social worker for A-SPAN said that organization did not recognize the woman, but detectives are now distributing fliers to homeless men and women in the area, in hopes of learning more about Whitehead and her habits.
Still, officers have not narrowed their focus, said Park Police Lt. Peter Markland. “We’re still wide open to any and all possibilities. We’re ooking at it from number of angles.”
This case is being investigated as a homicide. The United States Park Police Criminal Investigations Branch is asking anyone who may have any information related to this case to please call their tip line at 202-610-8737.
<b>New Street Names for Crystal City</b>
On Monday, June 6, employees at 18 Crystal City office buildings had to report to work at new addresses. However, their offices hadn’t moved.
Instead, the buildings were given new street addresses as part of a three-part transportation program in the area, designed to make Crystal City navigation easier. In addition to the new addresses, new two-way streets will be activated on June 26, and workers will put new street signs around the Crystal City area over the course of the next month.
Staff from building owners Charles E. Smith worked with county staff to clarify building addresses. Previously, buildings were identified by complexes, including Crystal Park, Crystal Plaza, Crystal Mall and Crystal Gateway. Now, buildings will now be identified with street numbers.
Many of these office buildings formerly had a Jefferson Davis Highway addresses; a situation that dates back over 30 years when Jefferson Davis Highway was the main thoroughfare in Crystal City.
The following buildings will be re-addressed:
<b>*Crystal Plaza 1:</b> 2001 Jefferson Davis Highway becomes 2001 S. Clark Street
<b>*Crystal Plaza 2:</b> 2011 S. Clark Place becomes 220 20th Street
<b>*Crystal Plaza 3:</b> 2021 S. Clark Street becomes 2100 Crystal Drive
<b>*Crystal Plaza 4:</b> 2201 S. Clark Place becomes 2200 Crystal Drive
<b>*Crystal Plaza 5:</b> 2211 S. Clark Place becomes 223 23rd Street
<b>*Crystal Plaza 6:</b> 2221 S. Clark Street becomes 2221 S. Clark Street
<b>*Crystal Mall 1:</b> 1911 Jefferson Davis Highway becomes 1800 S. Bell Street
<b>*Crystal Mall 2:</b> 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway becomes 1801 S. Bell Street
<b>*Crystal Mall 3:</b> 1931 Jefferson Davis Highway becomes 1851 S. Bell Street
<b>*Crystal Mall 4:</b> 1941 Jefferson Davis Highway becomes 1901 S. Bell Street
<b>*Crystal Square 2:</b> 1725 Jefferson Davis Highway becomes 1550 Crystal Drive
<b>*Crystal Square 3:</b> 1750 Jefferson Davis Highway becomes 1750 Crystal Drive
<b>*Crystal Square 4:</b> 1745 Jefferson Davis Highway becomes 241 18th Street
<b>*Crystal Square 5:</b> 1755 Jefferson Davis Highway becomes 251 18th Street
<b>*Crystal Gateway 1:</b> 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway becomes 1235 Clark Street
<b>*Crystal Gateway 2:</b> 1225 Jefferson Davis Highway becomes 1225 Clark Street
<b>*Crystal Gateway 3:</b> 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway becomes 1215 Clark Street
<b>*Crystal Gateway 4:</b> 1213 Jefferson Davis Highway becomes 200 12th Street
<b>*Crystal Gateway North:</b> 1111 Jefferson Davis Highway becomes 201 12th Street
<b>New Department Gets Familiar Name</b>
The name is a familiar one – Department of Environmental Services (DES) – but on July 1, Environmental Services will become a new department, including the current departments of Public Works and Environmental Services, and the Office of Support Services.
After a yearlong realignment of these three functions, the Environmental Services name was chosen to reflect the important role these programs play in preserving, enhancing and protecting Arlington’s environment.
The restructuring of DES is designed to enhance the coordination of services and policy development across the department’s four divisions: Utilities and Environmental Policy, Transportation, Engineering and Capital Projects, and General Services.
Each functional division is focused on a key policy area:
<b>*Division of Transportation:</b> Bringing the County’s experts on transportation and transit together will enhance coordination and ensure a robust infrastructure moving forward. This division includes Transportation Planning, and Transportation Engineering and Operations.
<b>*Utilities and Environmental Policy Division:</b> Long responsible for keeping Four Mile Run – and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay – clean, this division will also oversee all county environmental activities, solid waste management, and complementary programs at Water/Sewer/Streets, bringing all of the County's water and environmental programs together. The division also includes the Water Pollution Control Plant, Utility Billing, Solid Waste and Environmental Planning.
<b>*Engineering and Capital Projects Division:</b> The County is consolidating all capital projects and engineering activities into one department, including Facilities Planning, Engineering and Real Estate. The goal is to reduce the time between project approval and project completion in order to save money and fulfill community expectations. Sound environmental design will also be incorporated in projects.
<b>*General Services Division:</b> General Services will focus on managing and maintaining the County’s extensive community assets, ensuring prudent reinvestment and effective energy management. This division includes Facilities Maintenance, Custodial