Accident With Fatality On 17 North and Providence, Gloucester, VA

An accident with a fatality occurred about 8:00 PM on December 15th, 2015 on route 17 north and Providence Road in Gloucester.  As we understand the situation having talked to several witnesses, a vehicle broke down around the Gloucester County garage on 17 and was blocking traffic to some extent.  A young man and woman stopped to help move the broken down vehicle off the highway and over to a safe area.  The vehicle that was broken down as identified by witnesses is a red car that appears to be a Honda Civic.

The vehicle that was broken down is pictured above.  As we understand what happened is that a man who helped move the vehicle to safety started running across the highway again and was struck by an oncoming pickup truck as it was explained to us.  Below is a slideshow of pictures.  This tide up traffic both North bound and South bound for hours making it very difficult for people to get to their destinations.

I was assaulted by two firefighters in front of a witness while getting these photos which is a Virginia violation, Virginia Code 18.2-57(a).  Two men from one of the firefighters crew came up to two of us who were standing off to the side of the road, in no way interfering with the duties of any of the emergency workers.  A first amendment violation, an attempted suppression of news, and a Federal Violation 42 USC 1983, Civil Rights violation against me.  They threatened to take my property, told me that they did not want me to take any pictures and told me that I had to go back home, wherever that was.  I feared violence from these two men.

Above is a picture of the two men in question before they approached me in front of a witness.  The picture is lousy and it is not easy to identify these two men.  I can not identify them and have no idea who they are.

This above picture is a better view of one of the two men who assaulted me just as he and his partner walked over to me.  As you can see from the picture, I was on the side of the road and no where near the accident and in no way could be interfering with them doing their job.  I was the only one told to leave the area.  The witness next to me was not asked to leave and was not harassed or assaulted.

This should not be viewed as a negative against the brave firefighters here in Gloucester County.  We have the utmost respect for the hard work these folks do.  It is a shame that two have stepped outside of the scope of their duties to try and bully and assault me for no apparent reason.

  We have a short video clip showing the accident scene.  We do not have the name of the victim and even if we did, could not publish it until released by the Sheriff's office.

Related articles

• Woman Faces Life In Jail For Helping Ducks
• Judge dismisses appeal of driver who killed Wanstead brothers in crash
• Reward offered in string of Athens commercial burglaries
• Small Towns, Big Social Trust
• Man found shot in the head in Coeur d'Alene parking lot early Sunday
• An Ex-Cop's Guide to Not Getting Arrested

Standards of Conduct, Gloucester County Board of Supervisors

In the Agenda for Dec. 2, 2014 BOS meeting:

 

There is a proposal to add the following to the STANDARDS OF CONDUCT GLOUCESTER COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

 

Citizens appearing before the Board will not be allowed to campaign for public office, promote private business ventures, engage in personal attacks, debate among the audience, use profanity, vulgar or abusive language, or jeer, cheer, or applaud, except during ceremonial matters. The Sergeant-at-Arms may be directed by the Board Chair to remove persons who violate these rules.

 

This suggests the People and Citizens in the meeting audience are not allowed to reasonably demonstrate consent or non-consent?  What is wrong with minor levels of applauding or even booing?  What is right with having law enforcement engaged as the Sergeant-at Arms?  There are way too many “will not be allowed” items contained in the proposed language.  Rules of order can be created without binding, gagging and intimidating the People and the Citizens.  The People’s and Citizens’ voices should not be limited, ignored nor silenced. 

 

Section 6-1 of York County’s Board of Supervisors Rules of Procedure is an example of less dictatorial language and reads as follows:

 

The efficient and dignified conduct of public business is the ultimate concern of the Board.  Accordingly, it is the policy of the Board that its meetings be conducted with the highest degree of order and decorum.  The Board's integrity and dignity will be established and maintained at all times during the conduct of public business, and the Board will permit no behavior which is not in keeping with this policy.  The soliciting of funds, the use of abusive or profane language, personal attacks on Board members, the failure to comply with time limits on speakers, or other forms of offensive conduct will not be tolerated.  The Chairman will maintain proper order at all times during all meetings of the Board and shall effect the removal from any meeting of any person guilty of offensive conduct if the offending party fails or refuses to cease such conduct.

 

In York County’s rule the necessity of good order is effectively communicated and control of order is placed with the Chairperson, not law enforcement.  On the other hand, York County’s rule also speaks of personal attacks on Board members.  Without a clear definition of personal attack; one would think a speaker can only compliment a Board member.  Each Board member is elected by the People and Citizens; therefore the People and Citizens should be allowed to publicly address issues pertaining to Board members as long as it is done in a respectful and orderly manner. 

 

Just my 2 cents,

Kenneth E. Hogge, Sr.

Gloucester Point

Related articles

• Gloucester, VA Civil War History, Discourse To The Troops
• Gloucester, VA Board of Supervisors Meeting, Notes, Report Card For September, 2014
• Gloucester, VA Illegal Park Regulations Violating 2nd Amendment Rights?
• EDA & Woodville School, Gloucester, Virginia
• Gloucester, VA Board of Supervisors &School Board Joint Meeting With Notes, Sept. 2014
• Gloucester, VA Note To The Board of Supervisors, August, 2014

Gloucester, Virginia Board of Supervisors Nov. 2014 Meeting And Report Card

BOS Report Card Nov 2014

In the July meeting I spoke during the citizen comment period and gave the BOS a list of things they need to do to make Gloucester County "The Land of the Life Worth Living."

Until they fix the items  I think they need to be graded on their progress.  So I will grade them on the five items.  Maybe the School Board needs to be graded on the same items; I would but untl they get above a “F” I will not waste my time.  I will keep track so we can present your grade when your next election comes up.

If any of the boad members feels the grades are not fair I will consider their appeal.

Note: This report card changed based on what happened after the meeting  and not to the positive.

1. Integrity at the Board of Supervisors level

Quit voting  or things that benefit you over the county.  Follow the US and VA Constitution, VA code and rule of law.

Overall	D-	D-	C	F
	Aug 14	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan 15	Feb	Mar	Apr
Robert Orth	A	D-	C	F
Christopher Hutson	F	D-	C	F
Ashley Chriscoe	F	D-	C	F
Andrew James, Jr.	F	D-	C	F
Michael Winebarger	F	D-	C	F
John Meyer, Jr.	F	D-	C	F
Phillip Bazzani	F	D-	C	F

Comment:             Aug - Dr. Orth did not vote for Ernest Lane.  Absent that night.

                        Sep - Why do you think more government intrusion into our lives is better?

                        Oct – Not voting to send the rquest to the State Representatives for mandintory sewer hookup was good, however keeping it on the agenda was not good.

                        Nov – Mr. Hutson said it best I paraphrase: actions of overzellous employes do reflect opon the board.

           

2. Hold Department Heads and Supervisors to high standards and get rid of them when they break the rules.  You cannot hold lower level employees to high standards if they are not practiced at the higher levels.

	Aug 14	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan 15	Feb	Mar	Apr
Overall	F	F	D	F

Comment:        

Aug - Nothing has been fixed.

            Sept - Allowed department heads and supervisors to get away with not answering your questions.

            Oct – Based on Mr. Meyer’s action to hold county administratioraccountable the Board was in line to get an A.  However, Mr. Hutson and Chriscoewanted to allow carry over and new funding to proceed without going through correct procedures.  The county employees did a better job presenting their requests and reports to you.

            Nov –I have to wonder about Ms. Garton’s management skills and her ability to pick the correct people for department head positions.

3. Fire employees on the spot if they use vehicles for personal business, except in the case of an emergency and the employee better contact the supervisors before the supervisor contacts them.  No shopping, banking, and fast food restaurants in county vehicles.  If trash is found in the vehicle from these places the employee needs to receive the same punishment.

	Aug 14	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan 15	Feb	Mar	Apr
Overall	F	D+	F-	F

Comment:

Sept –  Apears employees are not going out to eat, however, they are still finding places to go to not work, cruising the beach.  Many different vehicles, departments sruising not including those that were actually there for work.   One month does not show a fix but it is trending in the correct direction.

Oct –  Why does Jeff Stillman still have a job?

Nov – In my openion it apears you have one department that believe it is ok to go after personal vendetas and not provide service to the public.

4.  Quit wasting taxpayers money.  The Board of Supervisions and all county employees need to be good stewards of the resources.

Overall	D-	F	C+	F
	Aug 14	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan 15	Feb	Mar	Apr
Robert Orth

Sincerely:  Wayne Crews

Gloucester, Virginia

Related articles

• Gloucester, VA Board of Supervisors &School Board Joint Meeting With Notes, Sept. 2014
• Gloucester, VA Board of Supervisors Meeting, Notes, Report Card For September, 2014
• Gloucester, VA Board of Supervisors Meeting, October 7th, 2014 YouTube Video With Notes
• Gloucester, VA Board of Supervisors Meeting Video, August, 2014 With Notes
• Gloucester County School Board allows illegal use of government vehicles?
• Gloucester, VA Why Teachers Are Not Getting Raises?