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These four men have been charged after a home invasion on Saturday night in James City County. Clockwise, from left: Christopher Allen Williams, Devonte J. Hayes, 21-year-old Marklin Antonio Mitchell, 21-year-old D’Andre Andrews Hardy. (Photos courtesy James City County Police Department)

The four men accused of a violent home invasion in the Lafayette Village apartments off Longhill Road in James City County on Saturday night have differing accounts of what happened.

A set of criminal complaints filed against the men in Williamsburg-James City County District Court reveals that investigators talking to the suspects after their arrests were unable to get any of the men to say who shot a man in the apartment. The victim, who was shot in the back of the head, was taken to MCV Hospital in Richmond and is expected to survive.

According to the complaints, the shooting victim said he heard someone kicking in the door of the apartment and then saw four men wearing bandannas come into the residence. He said they started “beating” on everyone and demanding everyone’s money and phones. Maj. Stephen Rubino of the James City County Police Department said five people ranging from ages 16 to 22 and two young children were in the apartment when the incident occurred.

Another person in the apartment said he saw four to six men break into the apartment and that he hid in a closet. He said he heard them breaking stuff and asking for money. He said it then got quiet and that he went out to find the shooting victim.

A third person in the residence said five men wearing blue bandannas broke into the residence and that he was thrown to the ground, kicked in the ribs and punched in the head. He said a man then put a shotgun to his head and took his phone, wallet and ID.

A fourth person in the residence said he saw two men come into the apartment and that he was hit with a chair and knocked to the ground. A table was then thrown on top of him. He said he heard the intruders saying “give me the money” several times.

A fifth person in the apartment said she was watching TV when she heard two kicks on the door. She then saw four or five men enter the house. One of them put a pillow over her face and told her not to look in their direction. He said she felt a gun at her head as the men demanded money. She said the demands continued and that she then heard a gunshot. She heard what sounded like fighting before someone yelled “okay, okay let’s go.”

Another witness in the apartment complex reported seeing a gold Ford Taurus in the parking lot and that several armed men were standing by it putting on masks. That witness was able to provide a license plate number to police.

Officers from the James City County Police Department found the vehicle in the parking lot of the 7-Eleven on Pocahontas Trail about an hour after the incident occurred. Police initiated a traffic stop and found 21-year-old Devonte J. Hayes of Williamsburg and 21-year-old Marklin Antonio Mitchell of White Plains, N.Y., in the vehicle.

Police then determined that Hayes and Mitchell were at a residence on Algonquin Trail before leaving for 7-Eleven. Police went to that residence and found 21-year-old D’Andre Hardy of Williamsburg — he owns the gold Ford Taurus — and 21-year-old Christopher Allen Williams of Williamsburg. Those two men, who were found outside of the home, were then arrested.

During their interrogations, the men told different stories, according to the complaints.

Hardy said he was “chilling” at his house with “Mark, Devonte and Chris.” He said he was dropped off along with Williams at The Happy Shopper and that Hayes and Mitchell left with the Ford Taurus. He denied being in the area of Lafayette Village.

Hayes said he was hanging out with Hardy, Mitchell and Williams and that the four drove around and went to the Grove section of James City County. He also denied being in the area of Lafayette Village.

Williams said he was hanging out with Hardy, Hayes and “some other guy whose name he did not know” at Hardy’s home, according to the complaint. He said they then went out in the car and ended up at Lafayette Village. He said he got out with Hardy to use the bathroom and that both got back in the car. He said one of the men had a shotgun with him but that he could not say who. He denied being inside the apartment during the incident.

Mitchell said he was hanging out with the other three at Hardy’s house. He said they did go to Lafayette Village and that he was standing at the door when the others went inside. He described the interior of the apartment to police but stayed at the door. Mitchell said he went to buy marijuana and it all “turned real bad.” He then said he heard a gunshot and everyone took off running.

Rubino said Wednesday the men are alleged to have stolen some money, jewelry, cell phones and possibly other property. Police continue to try to piece together exactly what was taken from the apartment. He said investigators are also trying to determine if another victim was in the apartment who ran out before police arrived.

At least some of the alleged home invaders knew some of the people in the residence. When asked if anyone besides the four men were involved in the alleged home invasion, Rubino said the case remains under investigation.

The four men will appear in Williamsburg-James City County District Court at 2 p.m. Feb. 20.

Related Coverage:

• JCC Man Shot in Saturday Home Invasion Off Longhill Road

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Another set of unlocked vehicles were pawed through by a thief or thieves Tuesday night, marking the fourth such incident in the area of Toano and Upper York County in the last two weeks.

Maj. Stephen Rubino of the James City County Police Department said the latest incident occurred in the White Hall subdivision off Richmond Road and the Townes at White Hall townhouses off Rochambeau Drive.

On the 3300 block of Hickory Neck Boulevard — the primary thoroughfare through White Hall — three unlocked vehicles were entered, with a Nikon camera stolen from one of them. Also on that street, a James City County Police Department officer found a vehicle with its door ajar and a light on, but nothing was taken from it.

In the Townes at White Hall, two speaker boxes with black carpet and black and orange speakers were taken from an unlocked vehicle. Loose change was taken from two other vehicles along with a flashlight with some small tools attached to it.

This latest round of thefts from vehicles comes a few days after several incidents on the 9000 block of Richmond Road that occurred Saturday night. On the night of Dec. 30 or the morning of Dec. 31, several vehicles were rifled through on Barnes Road near the New Kent County line. In all three of these cases, all the vehicles that were searched were unlocked.

In Upper York County on the night of Dec. 29 or the morning of Dec. 30, someone stole items from some vehicles at the Banbury Cross subdivision off Newman Road. In that case, a Ford Expedition was stolen from a residence and later found crashed in a ditch in Hampton.

Rubino said police are investigating the possibility that the cases are connected. Nobody has yet been arrested or charged.

As with many larcenies from vehicles, these cases involved unlocked doors. Rubino said it’s important to keep doors locked on all vehicles and to store valuables elsewhere. Anyone with information on any of these crimes or any other crime is asked to call Crime Line at 888-LOCK-U-UP (888-562-5887).

The James City County Police Department created this video last year with helpful tips for citizens to avoid having items stolen from their vehicles:

Related Coverage:

• JCC Police: Thieves Steal More Items from Vehicles in Toano Area
• York Woman’s Stolen Vehicle Found in Hampton After Apparent Joyride

WYDaily.com is your source for free news and information in Williamsburg, James City & York Counties.

The James City County Planning Commission Policy Committee has scheduled a meeting to take up discussion of backyard chicken keeping in residential areas.

The Policy Committee is scheduled to meet at 3 p.m. Jan. 16 to discuss possible changes to the county’s zoning amendment that regulates where chickens can be kept.

The committee meeting will be open to the public and will be held in Building D at 101 Mounts Bay Road.

The committee’s agenda will be posted online the week before the meeting. For more information, call the Planning Division at 757-253-6685 or email planning@jamescitycountyva.gov.

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James City County’s search for a new county administrator first requires a search for a firm that can find quality candidates.

On Tuesday, the county issued a request for consultant applicants to aid in the search and interview process for county administrator hopefuls.

Former County Administrator Robert Middaugh was hired in 2010 by a unanimous Board of Supervisors decision. He was one of 70 applicants for the position. In November 2013, the board voted 3-2 along party lines to fire Middaugh.

According to the county’s request, it is seeking a “professional executive search firm” to “design a diverse, national recruiting effort and conduct full background, effectiveness and performance assessments of qualified candidates.” For the search that resulted in Middaugh’s hiring, the county used Springsted Inc.

The firm selected will be responsible for providing seven services to the county: needs assessment, identify potential candidates, conduct candidate screening, candidate interviews, reference checks and verification of credentials, offer coordination and acceptance and an additional search.

First, the firm will assist the county in creating a list of requirements for the county administrator applicants. The firm will then work with the Board of Supervisors, Acting County Administrator Doug Powell — who stepped into the role Jan. 2 — and other county staff to create a job description and description of the county, which will then be disbursed with the intent of soliciting a “diverse applicant pool.”

“This is intended to be a national level search, seeking out applicants who have a proven track record in management and leadership,” the county’s request reads.

Once an applicant pool exists, the firm will be responsible for narrowing the list to at least 10 candidates who are “as diverse as possible.” The firm will then interview the candidates and weed out any who are not a fit for the job.

Finalists from the first interview stage will then move on to an interview with the county.

After interviewing with the county, any finalists will have their references and backgrounds checked before an offer is made to a final candidate. Once a candidate is hired, the search firm will remain on retainer with the county to conduct another search of the applicant hired leaves the county within a year of employment.

The additional search, if needed, would be conducted at no cost to the county.

Firms interested in conducting the search for the next James City County Administrator have until 2 p.m. Jan. 30 to apply for the job. The Board of Supervisors will likely discuss the proposals in February.

The board will meet for a regular meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, where it will discuss the search process for the county administrator near the end of the meeting; the full meeting agenda is available online.

The board meets in Building F at 101 Mounts Bay Road. Meetings are broadcast live online and on JCC TV channel 48. Meetings are rebroadcast at 8 a.m., 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursdays on Community Channel 46.

Related Content:

• Breaking: JCC Supervisors Fire County Administrator
• Supervisors Appoint Doug Powell to Fill Interim JCC Administrator Position

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Monty Mason

For Williamsburg’s Monty Mason, education is the path to a propserous commonwealth.

Mason, who is now in Richmond for his first days as a member of Virginia’s House of Delegates, has already filed legislation, including a delay on the state’s new A to F grading scheme for public schools and more.

Mason represents Williamsburg, parts of James City and York counties and part of Newport News as the representative of the 93rd District. He joins Del. Brenda Pogge (R-96) and Sens. John Miller (D-1) and Tommy Norment (R-3) as the Historic Triangle’s delegation in Richmond.

He heads to Richmond after working as the chairman of the Economic Development Authority for the City of Williamsburg. The College of William and Mary graduate lives in Williamsburg with his wife and two children and is involved in several area organizations, including the Greater Williamsburg Chamber and Tourism Alliance Board, the Historic Triangle Collaborative Economic Diversity Task Force and more.

He replaces Mike Watson, a Republican who served a single term in the House before being defeated by Mason in November’s election. Much as it was during his campaign, education has already emerged as a key cog in Mason’s ambitions as a delegate.

On the campaign trail, Mason was critical of the state’s A to F grading system that was signed into law in 2013. He has already introduced legislation that would delay its implementation from Oct. 1 of this year to Oct. 1, 2017. The state’s Board of Education would be tasked with using that time to craft a more nuanced approach to grading schools.

“We’re all for accountability, particularly the superintendents who are accountable 10 ways to Sunday, but they want logical metrics associated with it,” Mason said in an interview with WYDaily. “We need to work to help schools with high poverty levels, not just grade them D’s and F’s.”

Mason wants to see state officials work more closely with superintendents, principals and teachers to develop a better plan for grading schools.

Mason also wants to see pre-kindergarten education for more Virginia students. The father of two young girls said that upward of 20 percent of one of his daughter’s classes in elementary school enrolled with no pre-k.

“What we really need to focus on in early childhood education is making sure those without the means have access to early learning,” Mason said.

A bill has not yet been introduced by Mason to boost pre-K funding, but that may be because he is waiting for the right opportunity.

“As a freshman, rather than lobbing in a bunch of bills from the outset, I’ve chosen to contact folks,” Mason said, citing Del. Rob Krupicka (D-45) who has introduced numerous education bills in recent sessions.

Mason believes that workforce development begins with early childhood development. He is optimistic new funding may be available in this session, as Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe has voiced his support for early childhood education as has Blueprint Virginia, a document from the Virginia Chamber of Commerce that seeks to distill the needs of businesses in the state by looking years into the future at potential needs.

Monty Mason at a debate at the College of William and Mary in October. (Gregory Connolly/WYDaily)

“At this moment in time, we have a new administration and the business community running in parallel paths together toward an end that’s focused on education,” Mason said. “We’re all for jobs, but I’ve said from the start that you look at jobs and economic opportunity through the prism of education.”

Mason has introduced a handful of other bills, however.

One piece of legislation would see the penalties increase for criminals who commit fraud via computer against seniors. Mason is in tune with trends in fraud — he has spent his career working for Visa in fraud prevention and risk reduction.

“In concert with my career in fraud and risk at Visa and on the campaign trail, I heard a lot of seniors talk to me about ‘oh, I have a virus on my computer, and I clicked on a link and sent $125’,” he said.

In his initial set of bills, Mason has also waded into mental health with a bill that seeks to provide successive two-hour extensions of emergency custody orders for up to 48 hours. Mental health should prove to be a major issue in this session of the General Assembly in the wake of the attack on Sen. Creigh Deeds (D-25), whose son attacked him after being discharged by a regional mental health agency despite an emergency custody order.

Mason said Community Service Boards — which act as a sort of catch-all for people who need specialized services like mental health treatment — are “grossly underfunded.”

Extra funding for mental health services in Virginia could be coming soon. In his final budget proposal released last month, Gov. Bob McDonnell announced $38 million in new funding for mental health services in the state. That funding replaces much of what has been lost in the years since the Virginia Tech shooting rampage that saw mental health funding jump.

“We’re working our way back from substantial reductions,” Mason said of mental health funding. “You have to really dig into the meat of the numbers of these budgets, because the numbers sound so gargantuan.”

Mason will work directly with mental health issues in the House of Delegates as he has been named by Speaker of the House Bill Howell (R-25) to serve on the Courts of Justice Committee. That committee oversees mental health and other issues, such as civil and criminal law.

Mason’s other committee assignment is on Counties, Cities and Towns. That committee deals with issues concerning local governments.

Other legislation introduced for the 2014 session by Mason includes a bid to allow people to vote absentee in person without excuse and a bill to tweak tax credits associated with the Neighborhood Assistance Act Tax Credit program.

That program allows individuals or businesses to receive tax credits for eligible contributions made to neighborhood organizations that provide instruction or assistance to low-income people or students with disabilities. His bill seeks to lower the value of the tax credits from 65 percent to 50 percent of the value of the donations while increasing from 40 to 50 percent the required number of low-income people in the programs that wish to receive the tax credits.

Mason’s district includes all of the City of Williamsburg, as well as the Kingsmill and Grove sections of James City County. It also stretches into parts of York County, including the Grafton area. In Newport News, he represents Lee Hall. By population, Mason represents 21,943 Newport News voters, 14,310 James City County voters, 9,225 Williamsburg voters and 6,072 York County voters, according to the nonprofit Virginia Public Access Project.

WYDaily tried to reach out to the Historic Triangle’s other delegate, Brenda Pogge, but she did not respond to requests for an interview.

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Margaret “Maggie” Sarah Kloske (Photo courtesy James City County Police Department)

Her husband of less than one month was cheating on her while she worked hard to support him more than 250 miles away at Fort Bragg, so she wanted him to know how much pain she was feeling.

That, according to defense attorney Rich Rizk, is what lead 24-year-old Margaret “Maggie” Sarah Kloske to drive to James City County in September with the goal of killing herself in front of him and his girlfriend. By doing so, she would show him “the pain she was feeling,” Rizk said in a hearing Friday in Williamsburg-James City County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

Kloske, who has been incarcerated at Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail since the Sept. 17 incident at her husband’s apartment in Stratford Hall Apartments off Richmond Road, was charged with several felonies. At Wednesday’s preliminary hearing, Williamsburg-James City County Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Gaten moved to drop all but one of the charges. Her case was then certified by Substitute Judge Sharon Will to a grand jury, where they will consider the remaining felony she faces: discharging a firearm in an occupied dwelling.

She is accused of breaking into the apartment through a bedroom window while armed with a .45 caliber revolver. She entered the apartment through the bedroom of a roommate of her husband. That roommate — dressed in his underwear — fled the apartment and called police, according to a news release from the James City County Police Department.

She went to her husband’s bedroom door, which was locked, and then allegedly began yelling and banging on the door. She then allegedly fired a single bullet through the door. That bullet did not strike anybody in the apartment.

The husband then opened the door and, during a struggle, knocked the gun out of her hand. Kloske then allegedly began punching her husband’s girlfriend in the head repeatedly. The girlfriend — who did not need medical attention — then ran out of the apartment.

Police then arrived on scene and arrested Kloske. Her husband, 23-year-old College of William and Mary student Alfredo Alfredo Alvarado Jr. was also arrested as police had two outstanding warrants on him for credit card theft and petit larceny. Police believe he stole the credit card and some cash from a vehicle in New Town on Aug. 22, according to the news release. Officers had gathered evidence against him prior to the Sept. 17 incident but had not yet served the warrants.

During the preliminary hearing Friday, Rizk’s request for a bond hearing was granted. Kloske had not yet had a bond hearing despite her four months behind bars.

Rizk described the events leading up to the incident, saying Kloske learned of the affair a few days before the incident after Alvarado left his cell phone in her vehicle and she discovered some text messages. He said she went back to Fort Bragg and resumed her duties for a few days but grew distraught.

“Military life can be very challenging,” Rizk said, saying the revelation of the affair combined with her status as breadwinner in a stressful job compounded into a desire to demonstrate her emotions to him via suicide at his apartment.

He described the discharge of the firearm through the door as “accidental.”

Rizk said Kloske’s four months in custody matched the sentencing guidelines for the lone felony she now faces. He said she has grown “tremendously” during her time in jail, pointing to the addition of Alvarado to a no-visit list as evidence that she was distancing herself from the trauma.

Gaten said Kloske’s drive up here evidenced pre-meditation and that emotions got the best of her to the point that a firearm was involved. He said she got the pistol — which is not military issue — from her stepfather, later using it to endanger the people in the apartment.

Will said she shared Gaten’s concerns. She said there is a lot of time to turn around between Fort Bragg and James City County.

She then issued a $10,000 bond with several conditions, including no alcohol, no visits to James City County, no contact with her husband, GPS monitoring and more. Kloske will live with family in Hopewell, returning to the area only for  court hearings.

Kloske’s case will now go before the next grand jury in Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court. The grand jury will decide if there is enough evidence for the matter to proceed to trial.

Related Coverage:

• Fort Bragg Soldier Arrested for Attacking Husband, His Girlfriend in JCC

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Jessica Ann Ray (Photo courtesy James City County Police Department)

The James City County Police Department has arrested 26-year-old Jessica Ann Ray of Newport News in connection to an incident on Wednesday at Monticello Marketplace in which she is accused of placing an infant beneath a van and then running into T.J. Maxx yelling the store would explode.

Maj. Stephen Rubino of the James City County Police Department said she has been charged with one count of making a bomb threat and three counts of felony child neglect. She is being held at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail without bond.

A witness called police Wednesday, saying he saw a woman — described as acting strangely — place an infant against the tire of a delivery van in the parking lot of Monticello Marketplace. The man confronted Ray and picked up the child from beneath the tire. She began screaming “he will kill us, you must put him back.”

Ray is then alleged to have tried to take the infant back from him, but he resisted. He then took the infant to his car.

Ray then allegedly ran into T.J. Maxx screaming the store would blow up in 29 seconds. She ran to the back of the store and climbed on shelves before running back outside, where she ran into police officers who were responding to the child neglect call. When she got back outside, she began disrobing.

Police then restrained Ray. Rubino said an officer received a minor injury on his leg when it was hit against the door jam of a vehicle. Ray was taken into custody and hospitalized for medical and psychological examination.

Police have not yet determined whether drugs or alcohol contributed to the incident.

Before the incident occurred, Rubino said the woman had been acting strangely in the Burger King in Monticello Marketplace, where she had been babysitting a 5-year-old and a 6-year-old along with the infant before abandoning the two older children and leaving the restaurant with the infant. The mother of the three children was at a nearby hair salon. The three children were not hurt and went home with their mother.

Because the woman warned of a bomb, emergency responders evacuated the T.J. Maxx. The Newport News Fire Department Bomb Squad and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force assisted in a two-hour search of the store for possible explosives, but none were found.

Related Coverage:

• Woman Allegedly Puts Infant Underneath Van, Makes Bomb Threats in T.J. Maxx

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Interstate 64 could be widened for a few thousand extra feet if HRTPO gets its way. (Courtesy Jimi Miller)

Interstate 64 could be widened for a few thousand more feet if the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization gets its way.

The group, which manages planning for transportation projects in the area, is set to consider a proposal that would extend the amount of the road approved for widening from about 1,000 feet west of Fort Eustis Boulevard (exit 250) to less than a mile east of Lee Hall (exit 247). Funding is already in place to widen the road from Jefferson Boulevard (exit 255) to near Fort Eustis Boulevard.

The move to widen the road to near Lee Hall was put before HRTPO by the Virginia Department of Transportation at a Jan. 8 meeting of HRTPO’s Transportation Technical Advisory Committee. The extra length would push the project from $100 million to $144 million, with $4 million coming from the Hampton Roads Transportation Fund and $40 million from the state and the Federal Highway Administration. The extra work would need approval from the Commonwealth Transportation Board, which controls the money used for major highway projects.

The proposal will be considered at HRTPO’s Jan. 16 meeting.

Widening I-64 has been gaining momentum in the last year. Following the passage of a landmark transportation bill in 2013 and the decision by HRTPO to have widening I-64 on the Peninsula as its No. 1 priority, the effort to begin the project has been moving at a “breakneck speed,” according to VDOT Hampton Roads Administrator Jim Utterback.

The widening entails adding an extra lane to each direction of travel in the road’s median. The road currently bottlenecks at Jefferson Avenue, where it drops from four lanes to two.

VDOT officials are now examining the stretch of road set to be widened, looking for right-of-way and stormwater issues that could affect the work. The hope is to land the notice to proceed with construction by summer or fall.

The widening will not address the Fort Eustis Boulevard interchange. VDOT estimates that construction of a new interchange would cost $150 million.

To get a detailed idea of what it takes to widen I-64, check out this article.

Related Coverage:

• Proposed I-64 Widening Project Reaches Next Milestone
• VDOT: I-64 Widening Pre-Construction Work Moving at ‘Breakneck Speed’
• With HRTPO Vote, Interstate 64 Widening Could Stretch to Lightfoot
• VDOT: I-64 Widening Will Go From Jefferson Ave. To At Least Ft. Eustis Blvd.
• VDOT Crews Surveying on I-64 to Prepare for Widening Project
• Public-Private Partnership Could Speed Up I-64 Improvements
• I-64 Widening from Williamsburg to Newport News Gains Momentum
• Transportation Bill Signing Likely Clears Way for I-64 Widening
• I-64 Widening Potentially on the Horizon
• Local Officials Push I-64 Widening in Transportation Bill Discussions
• New Lanes on I64? Maybe, as VDOT Hosts First Meeting on Options

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Lumber Liquidators headquarters is in Toano.

Toano-based Lumber Liquidators has announced intentions to expand, a move that would create about 250 new jobs in Virginia in the next three years.

The decision will expand its corporate and manufacturing operations, including the finishing capacity for its flagship Bellawood hardwood floors and other products at its facility in Toano. Lumber Liquidators has a 300,000-plus square foot warehouse in Toano in addition to its corporate headquarters.

According to a news release from the office of Gov. Bob McDonnell, the company was considering focusing its resources in other locations before deciding to maintain and expand its presence in Virginia.

“James City County has been a wonderful home for Lumber Liquidators since we moved here in 2004,” Lumber Liquidators President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Lynch said in the news release. “We are pleased to be expanding and creating additional jobs in our local community. Installing a hardwood floor is an investment by homeowners — it lasts for years and grows in character as an element of a home’s beauty. By supporting our local community, we believe our investment will have a similar and lasting impact and provide the foundation for our long-term growth.”

Two members of the James City County Board of Supervisors spoke out in favor of the expansion.

“James City County is delighted to have the opportunity to work with Lumber Liquidators as part of the company’s continued growth and expansion,” said Mary Jones, the chairwoman of the James City County Board of Supervisors, in a news release from the county. “The County has been fortunate to have them as part of our local business community for nearly a decade and we look forward to their continued success.”

Stonehouse representative Jim Kennedy — whose district contains the Lumber Liquidators headquarters and warehouse — also praised the move.

“James City County places a high value on the success of our existing businesses and we look forward to Lumber Liquidators continued growth in James City County,” Kennedy said in the release. “The increase in investment and local employment opportunities will have a positive effect on all aspects of our community.”

In addition to expanding the Bellawood finishing, the company will consolidate its East Coast distribution operations in Henrico County, allowing for the retention of 500 jobs.

“Lumber Liquidators is a shining example of why the Commonwealth consistently ranks as the best state for business in the U.S.,” McDonnell said in the release. “Since relocating its headquarters to Virginia in 1999, the company has become one of the fastest growing companies in America, and today’s announcement ensures that the Commonwealth will remain home. Lumber Liquidators is a great testament to how all of Virginia’s assets, from our natural resources used to manufacture their products to our ports that ship them around the continent and globe, create a formula for success and continued growth.”

Lumber Liquidators has more than 315 locations in North America, with locations in 46 states. The company started in Massachusetts in 1993. It then moved to Colonial Heights in 1999 before moving to Toano in 2004.

The news of the expansion comes after the company was slapped with a pair of class-action lawsuits, one from shareholders and the other from customers of the company.

The lawsuits seek damages from the company, claiming the company sold wood with elevated levels of formaldehyde and that the company imported wood from protected forests in Siberia, a violation of both Russian and U.S. law. Those suits, both filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, have not yet gone to trial.

In September, federal agents searched the company’s headquarters and a storefront in Henrico County. Documents from the federal agents found in the parking lot of a Henrico County Target where they staged for the searches say the goal was to find evidence of importation of wood from the forests in Siberia.

Related Coverage:

• Customers File Class-Action Lawsuit Against Lumber Liquidators
• Class Action Lawsuit Against Lumber Liquidators Seeks Damages for Shareholders
• Expert: Illegal Loggers Target Siberian Tiger Habitat for Proximity to Manufacturers
• Federal Agents Search Lumber Liquidators Headquarters in Toano

WYDaily.com is your source for free news and information in Williamsburg, James City & York Counties.

Many traffic lights in James City County are without power, including this one at the intersection of Rochambeau Drive and Croaker Road. (Nicole Trifone/WYDaily)

10 p.m. Update: The Dominion Virginia Power interactive outage map estimates about 760 customers in James City County remain without power. The number of affected customers in York County continues to hover around 425.

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8 p.m. Update: The power outage in James City County is now affecting about 1,944 Dominion Virginia Power customers. About 425 customers are still affected in York County.

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6 p.m. Update: The number of Dominion Virginia Power customers without power in James City County has reduced to about 3,000.

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The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch in the Hampton Roads area that will remain in effect until about 8 p.m.

City of Williamsburg, and James City and York counties are all under the watch, which means a tornado is possible in the area.

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management offers a few tips if a tornado hits the area:

• Storm cellars and basements are the best areas for protection. If you do not have an underground area available to you, find a windowless interior room.
• Do not seek a vehicle for shelter. Buildings with a strong foundation offer better protection.

A severe thunderstorm swept through the area Saturday afternoon, causing outages for thousands of Dominion Virginia Power customers in the area.

In James City County, nearly 5,000 are currently without power, according to Dominion’s interactive outage map. The largest number of customers in the dark are in the Lightfoot and Norge areas of the county.

In York County, about 424 customers — most of whom live near the James City County or Williamsburg border — are without power. No city customers have yet reported outages, as of 4:15 p.m. Saturday.

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The May 2014 deadline for selling Carter’s Grove could be extended a month if a bankruptcy court allows the historic property’s trustee to lengthen the contract with the real estate agent.

A Jan. 23 hearing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s Eastern District will review a request to extend McLean Faulconer Inc.’s contract as the real estate agent for the property. Carter’s Grove court-appointed trustee Stanley Samorajczyk submitted the request, asking the contract be extended to June 30.

Carter’s Grove has been on the market since May 2013. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and Samorajczyk came to a settlement agreement, which the court approved in September 2012 to give Samorajczyk the ability to restore and market the property. The agreement put a May 2014 deadline on the property’s sale by requiring CWF’s claim on the property be paid in full prior to May 1. If the claim is not paid, Samorajczyk has until May 31 this year to sell the property at auction.

In late October 2012, the bankruptcy court issued an order authorizing Samorajczyk to hire McLean Faulconer, with Stephen McLean serving as the listing agent. The property was listed for sale in May 2013 for $14.95 million. Under the order, the real estate firm could be employed until Dec. 31, 2013, but another order from the court could extend that time frame.

On Dec. 18, Samorajczyk filed an application asking the court to extend the real estate contract.

“The efforts of Mr. McLean in marketing the Property thus far have been satisfactory to the Trustee and the Trustee believes that Mr. McLean’s efforts have been successful in generating substantial interest in the Property,” Samorajczyk’s application reads. “Mr. McLean reports that although no offers have been received to date, there has been a greater number of responses to the marketing efforts for Carter’s Grove than Mr. McLean has received for similar historic properties.”

A day after Samorajczyk filed his application, Colonial Williamsburg filed a statement requesting the court uphold its order that the property be sold by the end of May. CWF has been footing the bill for repairs and upkeep after dot-com millionaire Halsey Minor defaulted on paying for the Carter’s Grove property.

“This deadline is more than three years after the petition date and more than two years after the Trustee was appointed,” Colonial Williamsburg’s statement reads. “This unusually extended period of time was intended to address the need to repair the Mansion before commencing the marketing process and to have a reasonable period of time to market the Property. CWF relied on this period when it entered into the Settlement Agreement and when it advanced more than $1.7 million to the Trustee.”

Colonial Williamsburg does not want the selling deadline to be extended “because every day of delay in selling the Property generates additional maintenance costs, insurance premiums, property taxes, interest accruals, salary expense and professional fees.” Colonial Williamsburg continued to say no cash would be available to pay additional costs after May 31.

Colonial Williamsburg’s statement continues to say Samorajczyk had 20 months to repair and market the property; the property has been actively marketed since May 2013.

“Because the Trustee has not received a single offer for the Property over the past eight months …, CWF respectfully submits that the Trustee should reduce the listing price in the extension agreement with the broker,” Colonial Williamsburg’s statement reads.

Related Coverage

• Halsey Minor Files For Chapter 7 Protection
• Halsey Minor Breaks Silence in Carter’s Grove Case
• Motion Filed to Have Carter’s Grove Owner Apprehended
• Judge Gives Nod to Carter’s Grove Settlement Agreement
• CW and Trustee Reach Tentative Agreement in Carter’s Grove Case
• CW Threatens to Pursue Foreclosure in Carter’s Grove
• Carter’s Grove Judge to Tour Mansion
• Trustee to Examine Financial Records at Carter’s Grove
• Carter’s Grove Needs Loan from CW for Repairs
• Bankruptcy Judge Appoints Trustee in Carter’s Grove Case
• Possible Settlement in Carter’s Grove Case; Some Hurdles to Cross First
• CW, Easement Holder Both Object to Carter’s Grove Bankruptcy Plan
• Carter’s Grove Could be Heading for Sale Again
• New Allegations in Carter’s Grove Case
• Carter’s Grove Case to Move to Newport News
• Minor Files Claim Against CW, Alleges Hidden Damage to Property, Buried Hazardous Debris
• Minor Submits Carter’s Grove Reorganization Plan
• Settlement Offer Expected in Carter’s Grove Bankruptcy Case
• Attorneys Make Argument to Keep Carter’s Grove Case in California
• CW Makes Bid to Bring Carter’s Grove Case to VA
• No Auction for Carter’s Grove
• Carter’s Grove Owner in Default; CW to Sell Property at Auction

WYDaily.com is your source for free news and information in Williamsburg, James City & York Counties.

Police in James City County are busy trying to track down a thief or group of thieves who have been stealing items from unlocked vehicles around Tabb. Elsewhere, the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office is seeking two men believed to have stolen liquor from an ABC Store.

James City County

Man Reports Robbery on Richmond Road

A 51-year-old man returning home after getting out of his car was robbed at gunpoint Jan. 5, according to police.

Maj. Stephen Rubino of the James City County Police Department said the man reported to police that two black men approached him  on the 6100 block of Richmond Road and ordered him to give them money at about 11:40 p.m. Jan. 5. One of the men had a gun.

The man gave them an undisclosed amount of money, and then the suspects fled on foot. They are described as 5’7” to 5’8” and 175 pounds. Both were wearing black clothing.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Line at 888-LOCK-U-UP (888-562-5887).

York County

York Deputies Search for Men Who Stole from ABC Store

Deputies believe these two men stole liquor from an ABC Store. (Photo courtesy York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office)

Deputies are searching for two men believed to have stolen liquor from the ABC Store on the 200 block of Village Avenue in Tabb.

YPSO Lt. Dennis Ivey said the two men stole the liquor at about 8:18 p.m. Jan. 2. The first man stole a 1.75-litre bottle of Ciroc Cocnut Rum that sells for $71.95. He is described as a black male between the ages of 19 and 21, between 5’10” and 5’11” and 160 and 170 pounds. He has slight facial hair beneath his lower lip and was wearing a camouflage hat, a blue and purple jacket with “Denkew” embroidered on the chest, beige pants and tennis shoes.

The other man is described as a black male between the ages of 19 and 21, between 5’10” and 5’11” and 160 and 170 pounds. He wore a blue hoodie, light blue jeans and tan boots. He concealed a 750ML bottle of New Amsterdam Berry Vodka in his pants.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Line at 888-LOCK-U-UP (888-562-5887).

YPSO Breaks Down 2013 Crime Statistics

The York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday its statistics for 2013.

• Reports Written: 4329
• Follow Up Reports Written: 7433
• Arrest Reports Written: 1712
• Field Contacts: 1022
• Criminal Warrants Served: 2963
• Traffic/Parking Tickets Issued: 2520

Deputies also released the following statistics on types of crimes:

• 593 crimes against persons (abduction, assault and battery, aggravated assault, child abuse, child neglect, robbery)
• 1,896 property crimes (arson, burglary, credit card theft, damage property, larceny from vehicle, motor vehicle theft, other larcenies, shoplifting, tampering with auto)
• 448 white collar crimes (embezzlement, computer trespassing, counterfeiting, forgery, uttering, fraud, identity theft)
• 96 sex offenses (rape, sexual assault, child pornography)
• 101 runaways/missing people
• Two homicides
• 59 other death investigations
• 229 narcotics offenses
• 905 other arrests

In Case You Missed It:

• A Fort Bragg soldier accused of driving to James City County with the intent of killing herself in front of her husband and his girlfriend appeared in court this week, where her case was sent to a grand jury.
• The case against a woman accused of murdering her boyfriend’s wife in a murder-for-hire scheme will also advance to a grand jury.
• Police investigated a string of items stolen from cars in Toano’s White Hall and Townes at White Hall subdivisions.
• Officers also investigated a string of similar thefts on Richmond Road in Toano.
• Four men accused of a violent home invasion last weekend offered conflicting stories to police.
• Police responded to Monticello Marketplace for a woman who allegedly put an infant beneath a van’s tire and then threatened to blow up a T.J. Maxx in James City County. Jessica Ann Ray was arrested Friday and charged with one count of making a bomb threat and three counts of child neglect.
• A James City County woman was arrested after she allegedly stabbed a man with a pair of scissors at a motel on Richmond Road.
• A man believed to have robbed a 7-Eleven in Norge last weekend may have also robbed a convenience store in Henrico County.

WYDaily.com is your source for free news and information in Williamsburg, James City & York Counties.

Many traffic lights in James City County are without power, including this one at the intersection of Rochambeau Drive and Croaker Road. (Nicole Trifone/WYDaily)

A fast-moving storm Saturday knocked out power for thousands of residents in the Historic Triangle, with hundreds still in the dark in the early morning hours Sunday.

James City County took the hardest hit, as Dominion Virginia Power reported nearly 5,000 customers in the county lost power when the storm hit around 3:30 p.m. Saturday. As of 2 a.m., about 340 customers still had no power, according to Dominion’s interactive outage map. By 7:45 a.m., that number had dropped to just 13.

James City County also suffered the most damage in the Historic Triangle. The Elmwood and Woodland Farms subdivisions off Croaker Road had significant damage following the storm, said Bob Ryalls, James City County Fire Department battalion chief.

Ryalls said the Virginia State Police reported a possible tornado touched down in Toano, near Interstate 64 East’s exit 231. WAVY News 10 reported winds in Toano at one point reached 82 mph, which could account for the tornado-like damage from the storm.

Sgt. Michelle Anaya, a state police spokesperson, said a tornado cannot be confirmed because no one witnessed it.

“ We did have debris in the road way, and a large tree [at exit 231] that VDOT cleared,” Anaya wrote in an email. “The rest of the debris was minor and no damage or accidents resulted of this.”

NWS will be sending a team to the Croaker area to analyze the ground for signs of a tornado, Ryalls said.

York County had about 425 customers without power after the storm hit. Around 2 a.m., about 260 customers were still in the dark. That number had dropped to six by 7:45 a.m.

No City of Williamsburg customers lost power immediately after the storm, according to Dominion. Around midnight, the map showed about 113 customers had an outage but all had power restored by 2 a.m.

Around 3:30 p.m. Saturday, the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for James City County and a tornado watch for much of Hampton Roads, including the Historic Triangle.

Do you have photos of storm damage and debris? Send them to nicole@wydaily.com.

WYDaily.com is your source for free news and information in Williamsburg, James City & York Counties.

Mike Watson

During his two years in the House of Delegates and on the campaign trail in 2013, the message from District 93’s Mike Watson centered on one word: jobs.

Though the Republican delegate did not win re-election last November, that focus is as strong as ever.

“Jobs are everything,” Watson said in an interview with WYDaily. “I didn’t go [to Richmond] for any other reason. A lot of things happen after jobs — economic growth means more money to go into other programs.”

He plans to remain engaged with his former colleagues in Richmond — some of whom are carrying his bills in the new session — to continue to help businesses in Virginia grow and prosper, thereby creating more jobs.

Del. Christopher Head (R-17) is carrying a bill of Watson’s in this session that seeks to allow Virginia companies to view their commercial credit reports at no cost. That bill would provide companies a path for disputing inaccurate statements in the report, as well as get a notice of a perceived inaccuracy from a company included in its report if the company and the credit reporting agency are unable to come to an agreement on the removal of that inaccuracy.

Del. Rick Morris (R-64) is carrying a bill of Watson’s that looks to allow university students charged with some kind of misconduct to have a lawyer represent them during any university-level hearings.

“Some things can cause a student to be expelled, perhaps even criminal charges to be filed,” Watson said. “You’ve got a hearing and they can’t have an active attorney advising them or speaking or asking questions, and it’s all being recorded and is admissible in court. For the rights of the student, you should have the opportunity to have an attorney present if you want.”

Beyond his bills that are being carried by other House members, Watson will remain engaged in several other places.

He announced this week he will host a radio segment on WMBG AM 740 called “Light and Liberty — A Legislative Update,” where he will spend 10 minutes discussing General Assembly proceedings and legislation that could affect Williamsburg, Newport News and James City, York, New Kent, Charles City and Gloucester counties. That program, now underway, airs each Friday at 4 p.m. throughout the eight-week General Assembly session.

That program will help him to assuage what he said was one of the things he learned while in office — that what goes into a bill and transpires in Richmond does not always make it into the message that gets back to constituents.

Mike Watson at a debate against Monty Mason. (Gregory Connolly/WYDaily)

Watson will continue to work with the Business Development Caucus, a group in the General Assembly of which he was a founding member. He, along with Head, and Dels. David Ramadan (R-87) and Michael Webert (R-18), were all freshman delegates in 2011 who owned businesses.

“We were just talking, sharing stories, all about the challenges we’ve had,” Watson said. That translated to the four looking to sit down together and write bills. Head then suggested bringing more people in, which they did. The group ended up with 27 legislators who now regularly travel around the state and meet with companies to learn about the issues their facing and potential remedies that can be crafted in the legislature.

One of those meetings took place in James City County, when four BDC members traveled to Busch Gardens to meet with several local businesses in August. At that meeting, the owner of a company that has employees who analyze soil prior to the installation of sewage equipment said employees of the Virginia Department of Health regularly compete with his employees while regulating them.

At that meeting, Watson said he would speak with the department about rectifying the issue. Now, a bill he helped draft with other BDC members is being carried in this session by Webert that would require several governmental agencies to create a work group with people from the private sector to identify governmental services that are operating in “inappropriate direct competition” with the private sector.

Though Watson lost his seat in the General Assembly, he will continue to be involved in the BDC as a “chairman emeritus.” He wants to use that position to continue to work on workforce development, which he believes is fundamentally important to creating jobs. He plans on helping to promote Blueprint Virginia, a lengthy plan from the Virginia Chamber of Commerce that seeks to better position the state to attract the jobs of the future.

Looking back, the former delegate is happy with what he accomplished in office. During his time in office, Watson got several bills he introduced signed into law.

One bill requires criminal history background checks for people who work in secure detention facilities for juveniles. Another allows wine from an out-of-state winery that is owned by a Virginia restaurant owner to be sold at the owner’s restaurant.

Watson also got a workforce development bill of his signed into law that creates a grant program for companies that donate new machinery and equipment to Virginia community colleges and vocational schools.

“Students come in and get training for a real job that exists with the equipment they’ll be using in the field, the company makes a contribution and gets a tax grant back, plus they get trained employees,” Watson said. “That’s a win for everybody.”

He was a co-patron of the sweeping transportation bill that passed in 2013, opening up new revenue streams and promising forward movement on large-scale transportation projects. That bill, the first significant reform in 27 years, has already been instrumental in clearing the way for a widening of Interstate 64 on the Peninsula from Jefferson Avenue to beyond Fort Eustis Boulevard.

Constituents mentioned the need to address I-64 and transportation issues to Watson second only to their desire to see unemployment tackled, he said.

So he began to keep a notebook in his vehicle where he logged bridges, overpasses, mile marker measurements and other topographical information that would dictate where new lanes should be installed. He said the $4 billion to $7 billion floated by the Virginia Department of Transportation to widen I-64 from Newport News to I-295 was not feasible all at once, so segmenting the work was the best alternative. By using the notebook, he was able to get a better idea of what segmenting would entail.

After showing his work to Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton, he said he received a call from Gov. Bob McDonnell saying the segmenting idea would be in his forthcoming transportation plan labeled as a priority.

He then went down the road again, this time to Newport News where he joined McDonnell in announcing the transportation plan.

“That was the approach I took: Let’s start with what we can afford,” Watson said.

Now that Watson is out of office, he said he plans on using his freed time for his family and to focus on his business, Control Automation Technologies Corporation. His company just won a contract from NASCAR to calibrate digital pressure gauges used in the races.

When asked if he would consider running again in two years, he said he will “certainly stay engaged.”

“Would I? Yes. Will I? Maybe. Probably, I guess I would say right now, but things change,” Watson said. “What I’m looking for is the best method to get some of these things done. If it’s outside elected office, then that’s the way I’ll go. If it’s with elected office, that’s how I’ll go.”

WYDaily.com is your source for free news and information in Williamsburg, James City & York Counties.

James City County’s Board of Supervisors will soon vote on whether to align the terms for all five members, putting the full board up for election in the same year.

The board has switched the county’s policy between staggered and uniform terms over the past several years, with each vote being prompted by the party in power — Republicans advocating for uniform terms and Democrats pushing for staggered. After Republicans earned a 4-1 majority in November’s election, Republican Michael Hipple (Powhatan) asked the board to reconsider uniform terms during his first meeting as a supervisor Nov. 12.

The supervisors will resume its discussion Tuesday on uniform election terms, as well as consider a proposed radio tower on county land and a land sale in the Wellington subdivision. All of those topics had been deferred from the board’s last meeting of the year in December.

If the board votes in favor of uniform terms, the terms would align for all five supervisors in the 2019 election. Under the current structure, asupervisors election occurs every two years — the Jamestown and Powhatan supervisors are elected in the same year, and the Roberts, Berkeley and Stonehouse supervisors are elected two years later.

Keith White, a county resident, criticized the board at its last meeting for continually changing the policy because of partisan politics. He asked the board instead to allow the citizens decide by putting the issue up for a referendum vote.

The board will also consider issuing a special use permit for a proposed radio tower to Davis Media LLC, the parent company of local radio stations The Tide and BACHfm, as well as several other radio stations and online newspapers, including WYDaily. The tower would be a 104-foot monopole microwave tower on county land at 5249 Olde Towne Road. As part of the request for the tower, a lease agreement is also going before the board that would have Davis Media paying $250 per month to rent the tower.

At its December meeting, the board opted to defer the issue at its last meeting, citing unanswered questions and citizen concerns. Some citizens have expressed concern over the relationship between the county and a media outlet.

Additionally, the board will also reconsider selling a piece of land at 225 Meadowcrest Trail to Ryan Homes for $600,000. As a separate issue from the sale, the board will vote on rezoning the property and issuing a special use permit so the land can be developed into housing as part of the Wellington neighborhood.

Two family subdivisions, four grant awards and housekeeping changes to the county’s personnel policies and procedures manual are also on the agenda.

The board will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Building F at 101 Mounts Bay Road. The full meeting agenda is available online. Meetings are broadcast live online and on JCC TV channel 48 and are rebroadcast at 8 a.m., 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursdays on Community Channel 46.

WYDaily.com is your source for free news and information in Williamsburg, James City & York Counties.

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Many trees came down in the Elmwood subdivision in James City County. (Gregory Connolly/WYDaily)

On Saturday afternoon, Woodland Farms resident Suzanne Olsen was in her house folding sheets when she began to hear a loud roar.

“I could see debris going out from my neighbor’s house, she had all the pine trees that came down every which way,” Olsen said. “They said it wasn’t a tornado, but it was close to it.”

Olsen’s neighborhood and nearby Elmwood subdivision sustained the brunt of the damage from a band of fast-moving, violent storms that blew through the Historic Triangle on Saturday afternoon. Wind gusts of up to 82 mph were recorded in Toano, near Croaker, while gusts of 50 mph were recorded at Jamestown Island.

Bridget De Rosa, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wakefield, said no tornado touched down in the Historic Triangle. The band of storms caused two tornadoes in Isle of Wight County and one in Hampton.

Olsen said that for a short time Saturday afternoon, it sounded as if a tornado was blowing through her subdivision. Her two 1,400-pound horses outside were moved 5 or 10 feet by the winds, which battered the gates to her fences open and closed as it kicked up bark and other debris.

“It was like a train wreck,” Olsen said of the commotion from the storm. But just as quickly as it struck her part of the county, it continued its journey east.

“We heard the roar roar roar, and then it just blew and then it was gone just like that,” she said.

The storms prompted widespread power outages in the Historic Triangle, with nearly 5,000 customers in James City County without power after it left the area. York County had about 425 customers without power after the storm hit, while no customers in the City of Williamsburg lost power immediately after the storm.

Woodland Farms in James City County was particularly hard hit by Saturday’s storm. (Gregory Connolly/WYDaily)

By 7:45 a.m. Sunday, power was restored to almost everybody in the area. As of Monday, power has been restored throughout Hampton Roads.

De Rosa said this type of storm is not uncommon. She said a warm air mass from the south — which led to the warm weather Saturday — provided the ingredients for severe weather because of a nearby cold front.

James City-Bruton Volunteer Fire Department Spokesperson Billy Apperson said his department responded to calls throughout the area on Saturday afternoon. Both Apperson and James City County Fire Department Battalion Chief Bob Ryalls said nobody was injured because of the storm.

Apperson said power poles were broken by falling trees in the area around Woodland Farms and Elmwood. Several roads in those neighborhoods were also blocked by downed trees, though no houses sustained any significant structural damage.

He said a barn off Forge Road in Toano lost its metal roof, with debris scattering for half a mile across an adjacent field. Apperson’s department operated from a command post set up in the parking lot of York River Baptist Church off Croaker Road, near where it crosses Interstate 64.

Ryalls said his department responded to some reported downed trees and power lines. Units responded to several calls, including on Jolly Pond Road, Rochambeau Drive, Canal Street and Woodlands Road. He said storms like Saturday’s tend to produce many alarm calls, as the intense winds can set off sensitive equipment.

Assistant Chief Paul Long of the York County Division of Fire and Life Safety said units from his department responded to some downed trees and power lines in the county but that there were no injuries and no reported trees on structures.

“We were extremely fortunate,” Long said. “We did have a dangerous weather system that went through and extremely high wind gusts, but we were very fortunate that we didn’t have the type of reported damage that our neighbors encountered.”

Williamsburg Fire Department Spokesperson Eric Stone said his department did not receive any calls for service due to the storm. He said units did respond to an arcing wire at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday but that it’s unclear if that was related to the storm.

WYDaily.com is your source for free news and information in Williamsburg, James City & York Counties.

The American Red Cross’ Colonial Virginia Chapter has moved to The Shops at Strawberry Cove.

The Eastern Virginia Region relocated the chapter in an effort to provide better service, according to a news release. The chapter, now located at 3715 Strawberry Plains Road, was formerly located in the Williamsburg Office Park on Jamestown Road.

The Colonial Virginia Chapter is celebrating its volunteers and supporters through several events, which will culminate with a grand opening celebration for the new location. The chapter will host a bloodmobile from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. Jan. 24.

The public is welcome to attend the grand opening, which will take place from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Jan. 25. A ribbon cutting will take place at 11 a.m., and tours, CPR demonstrations and children’s activities will be offered.

“We want the people in our community to see that the Red Cross is active and welcome them to visit our new offices to learn more,” said Polly Foote, chairwoman of the Colonial Virginia Board.

The American Red Cross responds to disasters across the U.S. every nine minutes. In the Williamsburg Area, the Red Cross helped more than 30 families last year by providing lodging, food and clothing. Also, the Red Cross has trained more than 3,000 people in lifesaving skills, including CPR, using an automated external defibrillator and babysitting.

For more information about the Red Cross, including information about volunteering or donating, visit the Red Cross’ website or call the Colonial Virginia Chapter at 757-253-0228, ext. 3081.

WYDaily.com is your source for free news and information in Williamsburg, James City & York Counties.

Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe addressed a crowd of business leaders and elected officials in November at the rollout of Blueprint Virginia in Williamsburg. (Gregory Connolly/WYDaily)

Gov. Terry McAuliffe has been the ranking state official for less than a week, though he has already issued several executive orders on topics that included workplace discrimination and executive gifts.

His first executive order — signed Saturday, immediately following his inauguration — prohibits discrimination in Virginia state government on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, political affiliation or against otherwise qualified people with disabilities.

“My administration is committed to keeping Virginia open and welcoming to all who call our Commonwealth home,” McAuliffe (D) said in a news release issued after the order was signed. “Executive Order Number 1 sets the tone for an administration that will not accept discrimination in any form, and one that will work tirelessly to ensure all Virginians have equal opportunity in the workplace, no matter their backgrounds, race, religion, or whom they love.”

The order brings back protection for sexual orientation and gender identity that existed during Tim Kaine’s years as governor. When Bob McDonnell was elected to office, he issued an executive order authorizing protections for several categories, though sexual orientation and gender identity were not included. He later issued another executive order that said “employment discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated by this Administration.”

McAuliffe’s second executive order, also signed Saturday, establishes a $100 cap on gifts given to him, his family, members of the Executive Branch and their families. The order also establishes an Executive Branch Ethics Commission to oversee the execution of his new order.

“Virginians have placed great trust in their elected officials and expect transparency and decision-making that avoids improper conflicts,” McAuliffe said in a statement. “This Executive Order will assure citizens of the Commonwealth that members of my Administration will be held to the highest of ethical standards. Additionally, I look forward to working with members of the General Assembly to enact the strongest possible ethics rules for all Virginia elected officials.”

The order comes in the wake of a scandal involving McDonnell and his wife, who are alleged to have improperly accepted gifts. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, federal authorities are investigating whether McDonnell agreed to take official action to aid nutritional supplement company Star Scientific while accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars of gifts and money from its CEO.

In his first days in office, McAuliffe has also announced expansions of a few businesses, though none are in the Historic Triangle. Carnival Cruise Lines will begin operating out of Norfolk in 2015. The company ceased operations there in 2012. Cybersecurity company Telos Corporation is also boosting its operations in Virginia, adding 160 new jobs in Loudoun County.

McAuliffe’s other two executive orders deal with continuity of government. Those orders allow his chief of staff to direct the administration of the state government’s planning and budget process and to direct the administration of the state government’s personnel system in the event the governor is incapacitated or cannot be reached. The orders do not grant full powers to the chief of staff, with exceptions including final determination on employee compensation plans and submission of the budget and accompanying documents to the General Assembly.

The current chief of staff has a connection to the Historic Triangle. Paul Reagan graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1982. He joins McAuliffe after having served as chief of staff for U.S. Senator Jim Webb (D-Va.) and Rep. James Moran (D-8).

McAuliffe has three other William and Mary graduates in his cabinet.

Ric Brown from the class of 1968 is the secretary of finance. Brown has served as secretary of finance since August 2008, when he was appointed by Kaine. McDonnell reappointed him in 2010. He has also served as the director of the Department of Planning and Budget beneath Kaine and Gov. Mark Warner.

Molly Ward from the class of 1987 is McAuliffe’s secretary of natural resources. Ward, the former mayor of Hampton, resigned in early October to take a position as deputy director for the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs in Washington, D.C.

Karen Jackson from the class of 1991 is the secretary of technology. She previously served as the deputy secretary of technology beneath Kaine and McDonnell.

WYDaily.com is your source for free news and information in Williamsburg, James City & York Counties.

Last week’s storm produced lots of woody debris. (Gregory Connolly/WYDaily)

James City County residents affected by last weekend’s storm can get rid of any woody debris for free.

The Jolly Pond Convenience Center will accept all woody debris for free between Saturday and Jan. 26. Proof of residency is required.

The fees are not waived for contractors. They should use the Transfer Station from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Regular tipping fees apply. Fees are also not waived for construction debris, for which convenience center coupons are still required. Coupons are available by clicking here or at the Treasurer’s Office, Freedom Park Office or the James City County Recreation Center.

Coupons are sold in books of five for $20.

The Jolly Pond Convenience Center is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WYDaily.com is your source for free news and information in Williamsburg, James City & York Counties.

The Williamsburg-James City County Courthouse

A former assisted living center worker accused of fraudulently using checking account of a resident suffering from dementia is heading to a grand jury.

Substitute Judge Robert Pustilnik certified charges against Newport News resident Patricia Sutton, who allegedly engaged in several fraudulent transactions with the account from July to September while employed at Morningside Assisted Living of Williamsburg as a housekeeper. Because the charges were certified, Sutton’s case will go to Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court where a grand jury will determine if the case should go to trial there.

James City County Police Department officer Donald Borst said he began investigating the case after receiving information about possible fraudulent activity with the account. By the time the investigation began, the victim in the alleged case had died.

Borst testified he looked through the bank records associated with the account in question and found numerous suspicious charges. Sutton then appeared at the James City County Law Enforcement Center to answer questions.

He said Sutton told her she came to know the victim by cleaning her room. She said she ran errands and paid bills for the victim. Borst then outlined a series of charges, ranging from $6 at a gas station to a pair of $800 rent payments Sutton is alleged to have made with the account.

In all, Borst outlined more than $2,000 in fraudulent charges, including the rent, gas, trips to Food Lion, a car payment, power bills and more. One of the rent payments came after the victim died.

He said the family came forward with some suspicious items prompting the investigation. Fernando Groene, Sutton’s attorney, questioned Borst about whether he had ever seen the alleged victim alive — he had not. Borst said Sutton told him she had permission to use the checking account to pay her bills. Some of the alleged fraudulent charges were made with a debit card, which was not recovered.

Pustilnik said the matter is “certainly a jury question as to exactly what happened.”

Sutton was arrested Oct. 2, according to court records. She is facing four felony charges of financially exploiting a mentally incapacitated person and one felony charge of credit card theft.

A Circuit Court date has yet to be set.