SCOUT LEADER DROWNS
Scout troop leader in Va. drowns on camping trip
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (AP) – Funeral services are scheduled Wednesday in Portsmouth for an assistant leader of a Boy Scouts of America troop who drowned during a camping trip.
Family members tell media outlets that 70-year-old Bob Bracy apparently slipped while walking on a sandbar and went under water. Rescuers found his body about two hours later.
The accident occurred Saturday afternoon at Buggs Island Lake in Mecklenburg County.
Bracy was an assistant leader of Cradock Troop 223 and a retired Virginia Port Authority police officer.
His daughter-in-law, Teena Anderson, says Bracy had been a scout leader since he was 21.
The funeral is set for 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Cradock Baptist Church.
DUMP TRUCK FATAL
Dump truck rolls over, kills Va. woman
BOONES MILL, Va. (AP) – Virginia State Police are investigating the death of a Boones Mill woman who was struck and killed by a dump truck.
State police tell media outlets that 74-year-old Charlotte Clemons Pate was standing behind a 1970 GMC dump truck when it rolled backward and ran over her. Pate was pronounced dead at the scene.
State police haven’t determined whether the vehicle was in gear.
The accident occurred around 2 p.m. Sunday at a residence in Boones Mill.
METRO-NEW CARS
Metro to stretch fleet for Silver Line’s opening
WASHINGTON (AP) – Metro faces competing demands as it replaces its oldest rail cars while expanding its fleet to cover demands of the new Silver Line when it opens.
The Washington Examiner reports the transit agency plans to tackle both challenges at once.
Metro is paying $886 million for Kawasaki Rail Car Inc. to build 428 new cars. That includes 128 for the Silver Line and 300 to replace old 1000-series rail cars. But they have been delayed following the Japanese earthquake. Only a few will arrive by the Silver Line’s opening in late 2013 or early 2014.
Metro says it will rely on its existing fleet to open the Silver Line.
But there are fewer cars in the mix as Metro retires some 1000-series cars that have been deemed less safe.
BRIDGE JUMP
Man jumps off Va. bridge to avoid being hit by car
PRINCE GEORGE, Va. (AP) – A man is recovering from injuries suffered when he jumped off a bridge in Prince George County to avoid being hit by a car.
The incident occurred early Sunday morning on the Frederick Gray Bridge on Interstate 295.
Emergency officials tell media outlets that the unidentified man was working on his disabled car when several other vehicles collided near him. He jumped 75 to 100 feet into a ravine to avoid being struck.
A second person was injured in the wreck. Both victims were taken to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Virginia State Police are investigating.
DIGITAL DRIVE-IN
Lexington drive-in theater going digital
LEXINGTON, Va. (AP) – A 1950s-style drive-in theater in Lexington is turning to 21st century technology so it can remain relevant in today’s digital world.
Hull’s Drive-In Theatre is replacing its 35-millimeter film projector with a digital projection system. The first digital movies will be played Friday.
Hull’s executive director Maggi George tells The Roanoke Times that the digital conversion is necessary because Hollywood plans to stop production of 35-millimeter film. She says the conversion will cost nearly $100,000.
Community support and fundraising by the volunteer organization Hull’s Angels provided much of the money.
Projectionist Jeremy Reter says he hopes the old film projector will be put on display somewhere in Lexington.
GREENBRIER-WINTERGREEN
Members OK Wintergreen resort sale to Jim Justice
WINTERGREEN, Va. (AP) – Wintergreen Partners Inc. members have approved the $16.5 million sale of the Virginia resort to Jim Justice.
The Daily Progress reports that members voted 1,219 to 21 on Sunday to approve Justice’s acquisition of Wintergreen Resort.
Justice also owns The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia.
Justice will pay $2.5 million in member consideration and $14 million at closing.
Wintergreen attorney Dion Hayes says the deal will be good both for Wintergreen and Central Virginia’s economy.
Wintergreen encountered financial problems earlier this year because of a mild winter, the loss of its $3 million line of credit with Bank of America and a now-settled tax-credit dispute with the state.
TEACHER ACQUITTED-SETTLEMENT
Fairfax to pay falsely accused teacher $73,000
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) – The Fairfax County school board has agreed to pay nearly $73,000 to a popular gym teacher who was falsely accused and acquitted of molesting a 12-year-old girl.
The school board agreed in a closed session Thursday to cover Sean Lanigan’s legal fees that were not already paid by his union’s insurance policy. Lanigan had sued the school board for reimbursement of his legal fees, and a trial date was approaching.
The 45-year-old teacher spent about $125,000 defending himself against two felony sex abuse charges in 2010.
Under state law, state or county employees cleared of criminal charges can seek to recover legal fees. Lanigan first sought about $108,000 in 2010, but the board offered him $60,000 after eight months. Lanigan sued for the full amount.
CARMAX-ANNUAL MEETING
CarMax to hold annual shareholder meeting in Va
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Used car dealership chain CarMax is set to hold its annual shareholder meeting in Virginia.
The Richmond-based company’s gathering is scheduled for Monday afternoon in suburban Richmond.
CarMax runs more than 110 stores in 56 markets that mainly sell used cars and trucks.
The company has seen its performance improve as a result of sales increases, cost-cutting efforts and gains from its financing division. But low consumer confidence, tighter lending standards and high unemployment have hindered the industry’s recovery.
Last week, the company said its fiscal first-quarter net income rose 25% as revenue at stores open at least a year rose 6%. In the last fiscal year, CarMax saw its net income rise 10% and its revenue grow 11%.
ONLINE GED TESTING
2 Va counties to offer online GED testing
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Two Virginia school divisions will be the first in the state to offer online general educational development testing.
The Virginia Department of Education says Chesterfield and Augusta counties will offer the computer-based testing for adult learners seeking the high school credential beginning this week.
The test developed by the American Council on Education allows adults who have not graduated from high school to demonstrate knowledge typically associated with completion of a high school program of study. The five content areas are: reading, writing, social studies, science and mathematics.
Officials say that while paper tests will continue to be offered, the online tests are being piloted at these two locations in anticipation of 2014 when the computer-based format will be the only option for testing.
COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG-ARCHITECTURE GIFT
Va historic area gets $2M architecture gift
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) – The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation says it has received a $2 million gift to support its historic architecture preservation efforts.
The historic area received the gift from The Grainger Foundation. The Illinois-based foundation was established in 1949 and has been 1 of Colonial Williamsburg’s most generous benefactors.
Officials say the gift will provide initial endowment funding for Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Architectural Resources Department. The funds will pay for staffing, projects, equipment and training.
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation CEO Colin G. Campbell says the gift provides critical funding as it seeks to meet its obligation to preserve the restored colonial capital for generations to come.
The foundation operates and maintains the preserved 18th century site as an educational and tourist venue.
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