Circuit Court Judge Appointed For Virginia Eastern Shore

The Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus announced today that it will vote to appoint Accomac attorney W. Revell Lewis, III as thecircuit court judge for the Counties of Accomack and Northampton on Virginia's Eastern Shore. The appointment will be made when the General Assembly reconvenes to continue its special session on redistricting June 9th and 10th. Lewis has been endorsed by the Eastern Shore Bar Association and approved by the House of Delegates.


This position was left vacant when Judge Glen A. Tyler stepped down at the mandatory retirement age of 70 last December. Originally, the seat was subject to a judicial hiring freeze due to budget cuts in Richmond, but Senator Ralph S. Northam (D-Norfolk) worked with others to have the funding restored during the 2011 General Assembly session. As the Eastern Shore is part of the 2nd judicial circuit, The Virginia Beach General Assembly delegation was responsible for picking the new judge, and selected Lewis. Until now however, the position had not been filled.


"I have always contended that the Eastern Shore is a very unique place and needs a resident circuit court judge," said Northam. "I am very pleased that my colleagues in the Senate and House have agreed with me, and that we are going to move quickly to ensure that the courts operate efficiently and effectively."


Had the position remained vacant, a judge from Virginia Beach would have traveled to the Eastern Shore periodically to hear cases.

Source;  shoredailynews.com

Seafood Festival Canceled By Virginia Chamber of Commerce

The Eastern Shore of Virginia Chamber of Commerce announced Friday that it will not be holding the Seaside Festival that was advertised for June 3, 2011.

"It's in the best interest of all of our members to not hold this new event this year," said Jean Hungiville, Interim President. "When George McMath so generously offered his gorgeous property, Edgewater, we were excited to have the opportunity to have a festival on one of the most incredible settings one could possibly hope for; however we also realize the Festival should measure up to the beauty of the site.

She added, "People who are interested in attending a spring seafood festival, are encouraged to attend the Chincoteague Seafood Festival on May 7th. We strongly support the Chincoteague Seafood Festival. We've met with the Chincoteague Chamber and have offered to help with volunteers and the loan of equipment if needed."

The ESVA Chamber will be calling everyone who purchased Seaside Festival tickets to offer them a refund or the first tickets to the 19th annual Harvest Festival at Sunset Beach Resort on October 5th when they become available in the next few weeks.

Source; shoredailynews

Rocket Transport Trial Run To Wallops Begins Tonight

Motorists traveling on the Eastern Shore and tomorrow morning could see something a little out of the ordinary.

A 95-foot-long tractor-trailer will be transporting a full-size mockup of the first stage of Orbital Sciences' Taurus II rocket from the Wilmington, Delaware port to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island. The actual rocket stage for the Taurus II is currently being built in the Ukraine.

The trip will begin in Wilmington at 9 p.m. Wednesday and the rig is expected to cross the Delaware-Maryland border at 9 a.m. Thursday.
The Wednesday evening trip will be trial run of the actual trip which is currently schedule for August 20 of this year.

Sights such as this could become more regular in the future as Governor McDonnell and the Virginia General Assembly have promised to make Wallops Island the east coasts next Cape Canaveral.

www.shoredailynews.com

Kurt Johnson - 2010 Trooper Of the Year

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A national police group is honoring a Virginia State Police trooper who rescued a 3-year-old girl from a burning car.

The American Association of State Troopers has named 44-year-old Trooper Kurt Johnson as its 2010 Trooper of the Year.

Johnson pulled the child out of the burning car after the girl's mother and two siblings were able to escape following a crash in Pastoria on Feb. 6, 2009.

Troopers association President Tommy Moore said Tuesday that Johnson's quick thinking saved a child's life.

Johnson received the award last week during a luncheon in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. In December, he received a Carnegie medal for heroism.

www.wavy.com

ALSO...........

Johnson was also among other outstanding police officers who received the 2010 National Association of Police Organization (NAPO) TOP COPS award presented by President Obama. The ceremony was held in May at the White House Rose Garden.

"VIRGINIA
Virginia State Police
Trooper Kurt Johnson

Case: Trooper Johnson was on routine patrol when he happened upon the crash and saw the overturned vehicle on fire. Johnson crawled in through the passenger window. The interior was completely filled with smoke and flames. Johnson found the little girl wedged under the front dash and pulled her to safety just seconds before the entire car was engulfed in fire. That day, February 6, 2009, turned out to be the child’s third birthday."

www.whitehouse.gov

One Man Wanted In New Jersey Gun Ring Turns Himself In

Follow up on a story from June 2~~~~

One of the Eastern Shore men who have been charged in a gun ring that stretched from the Eastern Shore to New Jersey has turned himself in, according to the Northampton County Sheriffs office. Bobby Lee Henderson, 24 (center) of Townsend, has turned himself in to authorities in Tennessee after being charged in connection with the gun ring. Henderson allegedly sold guns that Trayle Beasley, of Trenton, NJ and formerly of the Eastern Shore, transported or attempted to transport to New Jersey. Beasley is currently being held at the Mercer County, N.J., Jail with bail set at $250,000 cash and was charged with being the kingpin of the gun ring.

Currently, Jonathan Johnson, 28 of Cape Charles and Larry Nottingham, 28 of Eastville are still at large. Johnson is charged with one second-degree count of either transportation or attempted transportation of a firearm into New Jersey for unlawful sale or transfer which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison and a $150,000. Nottingham is charged with fourth-degree unlawful disposition of a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Anyone with information of the whereabouts of Johnson or Nottingham is asked to call the Northampton County Sheriffs Office at (757)678-0458.

www.shoredailynews.com

Support For Wallops From NASA

NASA is increasing its support of the Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore.

The space agency said the support contract with the Virginia Space Flight Authority has a potential value of approximately $43 million through May 2014.

The investment is part of an effort to enhance the Atlantic center to successfully launch small and medium class orbital missions for NASA, as well as other federal organizations and commercial launch providers.

Launches are planned in 2011 and 2012 at Wallops.



www.shoredailynews.com

From the Rural Artist

This weeks message from the "message board" on the long and winding road.

Texas Hold'Em Poker

This looks like fun and for a worthy cause.

Texas Hold'Em Poker is returning to the Parksley Volunteer Fire Company on Friday, January 8th at 7:30 PM.

1st Prize is a $150 Visa Gift Card
2nd Prize is a $100 Visa Gift Card
3rd Prize is a $75 Visa Gift Card
4th through 6th FREE BUY IN

$15 buy in $10 add on $10 rebuys

This is the start of the 2010 Poker Championship Series. Come out and register. The championship will be held in December for eligible players The prize will be a winner take all $1000 Visa Gift Card.

Al players are welcome. This is a great event to learn to play Texas Hold'em Poker.

Call (757) 665-6977 or (757) 710-4655 for more information.

All proceeds benefit the Parksley Volunteer Fire Company.