Phone Records Sought in Cop Killing Case
Fairfax County investigators are seeking the cell phone records of Michael Kennedy, the 18-year-old gunman who killed two police officers in Chantilly on May 8. Kennedy was also killed in the assault on the Sully District Police Station.
According to a search warrant filed by Det. Robert Bond, investigators are obtaining voice mail messages and text messages from Kennedy's Cingular Wireless phone. Police believe Kennedy discussed attacking police officers during cell phone conversations and text messages with unnamed "associates."
The conversations took place prior to May 8 and during the day of the shooting, according to the search warrant, which was filed Friday.
Lt. Richard Perez, a police spokesman, declined to name the target of the investigation and declined to comment on the search warrant.
School Board Approves $2.1 Billion Budget
The Fairfax County School Board approved a $2.1 spending plan for the 2006-2007 school year Thursday, increasing teacher pay, adding full-day kindergarten at six more elementary schools and increasing funding to meet requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind law.
Three-quarters of the school system's funding comes from Fairfax County taxpayers. Last month, the Board of Supervisors allocated roughly $1.6 billion for schools, an increase of 6.56 percent over the previous year. The approved budget was $14 million smaller than school officials requested in January.
"Even though we didn't get as much money as we'd have liked, [Superintendent] Jack [Dale] was able to squeeze and meet the school system's needs," said School Board Budget Chair Jane Strauss (Dranesville).
The budget shortfall resulted in smaller pay increases for starting teacher salaries and teachers with master's degrees. The new starting salary for Fairfax County teachers is $42,000.
Under the new budget, full-day kindergarten will be added at the following elementary schools: Freedom Hill in Vienna, Shrevewood in Falls Church, Fairhill in Fairfax, West Fairfax, Powell in Centreville and Greenbriar East in Fairfax.
Police Shooting Investigation Wraps Up
The internal investigation into the shooting death of an unarmed Fair Oaks man by a Fairfax County police officer has concluded. However, few details about the investigation's conclusions have been made public.
Top police department commanders are reviewing the investigation's findings and will make a decision about the fate of Deval Bullock, the officer who accidentally killed Salvatore Culosi, 37.
Bullock mistakenly fired on Culosi on Tuesday, Jan. 24 outside Culosi's town house. Culosi, an optometrist, had been under investigation for illegal sports gambling.
The internal investigation could result in Bullock's dismissal, though he has already been cleared of criminal charges by Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Robert Horan. However, FBI investigators have opened an initial inquiry into the shooting.
'Celebrate Fairfax' Next Weekend
Celebrate Fairfax!, Fairfax County's annual music and arts festival, will be held at the Fairfax County Government Center on Friday, June 9 through Sunday, June 11.
The festival features rock bands, fireworks, carnival rides, children's programming and more than 400 exhibitors, vendors and crafts sellers.
Headlining this year's county fair are rock bands Collective Soul, Sister Hazel, Sugar Ray and .38 Special. Also performing on five stages will be local acts Welbilt, JunkFood, Cartoon Johnny and many more.
Tickets to Celebrate Fairfax are available for purchase at Northern Virginia Multiplex Cinemas, Fairfax County Federal Credit Union branches and the Wegmans grocery store in Fairfax. Tickets will also be sold at the gate. For adults (age 11 and up), tickets cost $10. Tickets are $5 for children between the ages of three and 10, while children who are two-years-old and younger get in for free.
The Fairfax County Government Center is located at 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax.
125 Acres For County Parks
In an effort to increase the number and size of Fairfax County's parks, the Board of Supervisors transferred 30 parcels of land — totaling 125 acres — to the county's Park Authority.
Approximately 116 acres of the transfer are additions to existing parks, while the remaining acreage will create two new parks.
One of the new parks will be a 2.04 acre park located on Railroad Street in Vienna.
The other new park will be a 7 acre park on the historic Mount Gilead property in Centreville. The Mount Gilead home, on Braddock Road, was built in the 1780s and was the headquarters of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston, commander of 40,000 Confederate troops during the Civil War.
In all, the 125 additional acres brings the county's total park holdings to 23,675 acres, or roughly 9.4 percent of the county's total land.
For a full list of the 116 acres of park additions, go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.
Alcohol, Drug, Smoking Lessons for All
Realizing that its alcohol, tobacco and illegal drug education curriculum was not in compliance with Virginia guidelines, the Fairfax County school system will require all students to receive the substance abuse lessons.
Currently, alcohol, tobacco and drug education is taught during Family Life Education — colloquially known as "sex ed" — and students are permitted to opt out. Each year, approximately 2 percent of students opt out.
Under the new plan, to go into effect this fall, the alcohol, drug and tobacco lessons will be taught during heath class, which all students must take.
"We believe all students should be taught about the dangers of alcohol, drugs and tobacco," said Ann Monday, assistant superintendent for instruction.
Some substance abuse education would still be taught in Family Life Education, Monday said, including a lesson on alcohol and date rape.
Meetings Focus on Ending Homelessness
A series of community meetings throughout Fairfax County will focus on finding strategies to eliminate homelessness in the county. More than 2,000 people are homeless in Fairfax County, including 700 children.
The meetings are all begin at 6:30 p.m. and will include a light dinner.
* Tuesday, May 30 at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 7836 Fordson Rd., Alexandria. RSVP to 703-704-6700.
* Wednesday, June 7 at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11900 Lawyers Rd., Reston. RSVP to 703-787-4962.
* Monday, June 12 at First Christian Church of Falls Church, 6165 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church. RSVP to 703-533-5701.
* Wednesday, June 14 at Pender United Methodist Church, 12401 Alderwoods Dr., Fairfax. RSVP to 703-324-5285.
For more information, go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/homeless.
Sheriff Warns of Unauthorized Fundraising
Fairfax County Sheriff Stan Barry warned citizens that an organization representing itself as affiliated with the county's Sheriff's Department is not authorized to solicit donations door-to-door in the department's name.
The National Organization of Deputy Sheriffs, Inc., had made a $2,100 donation the Fairfax County Sheriff's Department's "Project: Lifesaver" program, which helps monitor senior citizens with Alzheimer's and other citizens with disabilities.
However, the donation was returned after Barry learned the organization had gone door-to-door in the county, seeking donations for the program. The Fairfax County Sheriff's Department does not engage in door-to-door fundraising.
Fairfax County Calendar
Planning Commission Meeting. Thursday, June 1 at 8:15 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax.
Board of Supervisors Meeting. Monday, June 5 at 9:30 a.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax.
School Board Meeting. Thursday, June 8 at 7 p.m. at Luther Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Rd., Falls Church.
Board of Supervisors Meeting with School Board. Monday, June 12 at 3:30 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax.