Chris Richards of the U.S. celebrates after the team's win over Bosnia on Wednesday in Santa Clara, Calif., qualifying the U.S. for the round of 16 stage of the World Cup.
Chris Richards of the U.S. celebrates after the team's win over Bosnia on Wednesday in Santa Clara, Calif., qualifying the U.S. for the round of 16 stage of the World Cup.
A Boones Mill man pleaded no contest Wednesday in Franklin County court to impersonating a police officer in order to confront Rocky Mount's mayor.
Patterson
Judge A.J. Dudley sentenced Dustin Patterson to 12 months of jail time with 10 months suspended. He also ordered Patterson to continue mental health treatment for the issues that led to the incident.
Perdue
The charge stems from an incident that took place between Patterson and staff at the Raine and Perdue law firm in Rocky Mount on April 30. Patterson entered the office asking to speak with lawyer and town Mayor Holland Perdue demanding reimbursement for fees.
Hunter Naff, representing the commonwealth, said Patterson entered the office pretending to be law enforcement, which included having a holstered sidearm visible and "twirling handcuffs." While Patterson did not reach Perdue, he did make statements to staff member Andrew King.
"It's absolutely reprehensible," Naff said. "He's lucky nothing else ended up happening. You can't imagine what Mr. King was going through on that day because he had no idea who this gentleman is. He shows up with a firearm on his side and demanding payment, not knowing what his next action is going to be."
Attorney Cody Webb, representing Patterson, did not deny any of the charges as they were discussed on Wednesday. He said Patterson has delt with mental health issues and was in contact with his doctor the day before the incident due to "worsening symptoms."
Webb added that Patterson has been working to get his mental health under control. He is getting treatment several times a month while also taking medication.
Patterson has spent approximately 30 days in jail following the incidents. Webb said more jail time would not help his recovery.
"Mr. Patterson is working to improve his mental health. I don't think incarceration will help to improve that," Webb said.
Dudley's 12 month sentence with 10 months suspended was conditional of Patterson being on good behavior and continuing treatment over the next 24 months. He will also have to meet with the local probation office where he could face regular drug screenings.
Patterson was ordered to have no contact with King or Perdue or visit the law firm in Rocky Mount. He also cannot possess a firearm during that probation.
Jason Dunovant (540) 981-3324
With Smith Mountain Lake currently more than five feet below normal, local businesses have spent much of the summer reassuring visitors there is still plenty of fun to be had at the popular vacation destination.
So far, concerns haven't resulted in a significant drop in revenue for many of the lake's businesses. Chris Levey, vice president of operations at Mitchell's Point Marina, said business at the busy marina has remained strong even as they have fielded calls from customers concerned about the lake level.
Boat rentals continue to be booked up throughout the summer, Levey said. The only change now is informing customers of areas away from the lake's main channels that are now too shallow to navigate by boat.
"We are adapting. We are dealing with it," Levey said.
Brandon Crawley, general manager at Bridgewater Marina, said sales and boat rentals at the popular lake stop have also remained high. As with Mitchell's Point Marina, they have fielded calls from concerned customers in recent weeks.
The biggest concern for the two marinas is their fuel sales. The fuel pumps are located on fixed docks at the marinas, with boats pulling up to floating docks. When the lake is at normal levels, the staff step from the fixed dock to the floating dock with little effort to provide gas at the full service pumps.
Bridgewater Marina staff Zachary Bowen (left) and Ryan Farr pump gas for a boat on Tuesday. Due to Smith Mountain Lake being five feet below normal, they have to use ladders to reach the gas pumps.
With the lake more than five feet down, staff at the marinas are having to climb up and down steps to get from the pumps to the boats to disperse gas. Some of the younger staff leaping down to the fixed docks.
"They see it as a cool challenge," Crawley said.
Will Childress with Lake Retreat Properties, who oversees the rental of more than 75 vacation homes at the lake, said the low lake level hasn't had much of an impact on business. What has had an impact is the unfavorable media coverage of the drought.
"The bad press has been hurting us more than the lake level has," Childress said.
Rentals have been down 10% so far this year, Childress said. Some of that could be due to a rainy Memorial Day weekend that kept away some visitors, he added.
Andy Bruns, executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, said businesses around the lake remain packed even with some concern due to news reports. He added that, while lake levels are currently down, the vast majority of the lake is still navigable with several feet of water.
"It is still the deepest, cleanest lake within 200 miles," Bruns said.
Even at its current level of more than five feet down, Smith Mountain Lake's average depth is well over 50 feet along the main channels made up of the Roanoke and Blackwater rivers. The biggest impact can be seen off the main channels where the lake level is traditionally more shallow.
Water levels at Smith Mountain Lake are seen uncharacteristically low in May. The low water creates possible hazards for boaters who are not paying attention — even those familiar with the lake.
Bruns said many residents living along the shoreline have been hit the worst. Those residents are unable to get their boats out due to shallow water, which is already having a noticeable impact.
Fewer lake residents able to take their boats out this year has led to significantly less traffic on the water. With fewer boats on the water, Bruns said there will be fewer visitors to some marinas that rely on boat traffic.
"It is going to impact business, I don't think there is any question of that," Bruns said.
Levey said fuel sales at Mitchell's Point Marina are down slightly this summer. That could be attributed to lake residents unable to get their boats in the water.
The Smith Mountain Lake Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society announced Tuesday they will be canceling their annual Antique and Classic Charity Boat Show this September due to low water levels.
"At this point in time, we are not confident that the many problems associated with continued low water levels at Smith Mountain Lake will allow us to deliver a high quality show this year," said John Seal, publicity chairman for the society in an email. "To go further with this year's show risks financial impacts that could jeopardize our abilities to continue our annual show in future years while donating all profits to local charities."
The low water levels at Smith Mountain Lake have left some docks without enough water to get their boats out.
Smith Mountain Lake Pirate Days, one of the the lake's most popular annual events — comparable to the Fourth of July — will change venues this year due to low lake levels. Traditionally held at Goodhue Boat Company Blackwater, the main location for the event will be held off-water at Wind Vineyards on July 18.
P.J. Nagel, organizer for Pirate Days, said the low lake level along with other concerns with the venue location led to the decision to move this year. While not on the water, he said visitors to Wind Vineyards can still enjoy the same festivities of past years.
Appalachian Power has said it will take significant rainfall before there is any significant change to the lake level. The company oversees the Smith Mountain Project, which includes Smith Mountain Lake and Leesville Lake, separated by Smith Mountain Dam.
APCo has a minimum outflow from Leesville Lake into the Roanoke River required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission based on the company's water management plan. That outflow has been reduced twice this year as the company has hit "triggers" due to drought conditions.
The first trigger was hit April 27 to reduce outflow from Leesville Dam into the Roanoke River. The second trigger was hit May 11 to further reduce the water released.
According to Bruns, Appalachian Power needs to further reduce its outflow from Leesville Dam into the Roanoke River. He argued the potential economic impact of the low water level at Smith Mountain Lake far outweighs any impacts downstream.
Bruns pointed to the current inflow into Smith Mountain Lake and outflow from Leesville Lake listed on the Appalachian Power website. He noted that the listed inflow has remained far less than the outflow, which he stated is only further contributing to the low lake level.
APCo stated in an email to The Roanoke Times that water releases from the Smith Mountain Project are mandated by their water management plan, which is part of their license from FERC.
"The WMP uses predictive modeling instead of reactive modeling during low inflow events, such as the drought we are experiencing, to maintain the downstream ecology. The WMP includes a multi-level trigger system which provides criteria for reduction of outflows from the Smith Mountain Project during periods of drought conditions. The triggers are based on inflow, current outflow, overall water availability and many other contributing factors," Appalachian Power said in the email.
Bruns said changes need to be made with the water management plan to assure something like what is currently occurring at Smith Mountain Lake never happens again. He added that the economic impact could be far greater if the lake level falls any more.
"We are basically at the floor now," Bruns said. "If it gets below that then all bets are off. We are in trouble."
Jason Dunovant (540) 981-3324
Tyler Routon, senior officer with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, urges people heading out on Smith Mountain Lake to be extra c…
Smith Mountain Lake State Park as seen from above.
Smith Mountain Lake State Park is turning 43 years old, and it will hold a bird-themed event next weekend to celebrate.
Happy Bird-day Nature Expo festivities will spotlight the birdlife at the state park. Take guided bird walks throughout the park, see bird-netting demonstrations, or climb aboard the park's pontoon boat for a bird-watching cruise.
The celebration continues at the park's Discovery Center, where a bird-themed nature expo offers hands-on activities for all ages, including:
The event is Saturday, July 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Visitors are encouraged to arrive early to claim a free Smith Mountain Lake State Park birthday sticker, which is available while supplies last.
The event is sponsored by the Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists and the Friends of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.
This event is free to attend, although regular parking fees apply. To learn more, call 540-297-6066 or go to https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/smith-mountain-lake.
On the first day of Virginia’s new ban on the sale and purchase of “assault weapons” on Wednesday, customers were still showing up at New American Arms, a gun shop in Henrico County, hoping they weren’t too late. They were.
After helping several hundred customers complete firearm purchases on Monday and Tuesday before the law took effect at midnight, general manager Tony Martin spent the first day of the ban turning away buyers whose transfers on certain guns falling under the ban hadn't been finalized in time.
Hours after the law took effect, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia seeking to block the ban, arguing it violates the Second Amendment by prohibiting the sale and purchase of firearms that are commonly owned by law-abiding Americans, including AR-15-style rifles.
The complaint argues the law conflicts with recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions recognizing constitutional protections for firearms that are in common use for lawful purposes. Although the Justice Department acknowledged the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals previously upheld Maryland's assault weapons ban, it argued that decision was wrongly decided and should ultimately be overturned.
Virginia Attorney General spokeswoman Rae Pickett said the state will defend the law.
"This commonsense law keeps Virginians safe, protects law enforcement, and safeguards communities across the Commonwealth," Pickett said. "We will vigorously defend it against the Trump DOJ's misuse of the Civil Rights Division."
The federal lawsuit landed amid continued confusion over the effect of multiple state court challenges already pending against the law.
Four lawsuits challenging the ban have been filed in Virginia circuit courts. Judges in Lancaster and Washington counties issued preliminary injunctions blocking enforcement by certain defendants, while a judge in Spotsylvania County denied a similar request. A fourth case in Fauquier County remains on hold while the Virginia Supreme Court considers whether the lawsuits should be consolidated before a three-judge panel.
Seeking to clarify the situation on Wednesday, the attorney general's office released guidance stating that the injunctions do not invalidate the law itself but instead prohibit only the defendants named in those lawsuits from enforcing it.
According to the guidance, Virginia State Police will not enforce the law anywhere in the commonwealth because the agency is a named defendant in the cases. The office said the law otherwise remains in effect, meaning local prosecutors and law enforcement agencies that are not parties to the lawsuits are not barred by the injunctions from enforcing it.
That interpretation differs sharply from the position taken by Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County, the attorney representing plaintiffs in the Washington County case.
Stanley said he believes the injunction effectively halted enforcement statewide because the case challenges the constitutionality of the law itself, and the judge's opinion repeatedly references protecting citizens across the commonwealth.
"I believe it applies to every citizen, every commonwealth's attorney and every law enforcement agency," Stanley said in an interview.
Caught between those competing interpretations, Martin said his shop decided to comply with the law rather than risk violating it.
“We don’t want to go to jail,” Martin said. “We heard the food is really bad there.”
The law prohibits the manufacture, sale, purchase, importation and transfer of firearms defined under Virginia law as assault firearms, while allowing people who already legally own those firearms to keep them.
House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, said the Justice Department's lawsuit reinforces Republicans' longstanding argument that the ban is unconstitutional.
"The Commonwealth is now spending its own resources defending an unconstitutional gun ban against the United States itself," Kilgore said. "That is where the Richmond Democrats' agenda has led — into court, on the wrong side of the Constitution. House Republicans said this law could not stand. A Virginia court has already blocked it, and now the Justice Department agrees. It should be repealed."
Anna Bryson (804) 649-6922
Restaurants facing lower customer traffic; Crescent Simple Syrups; Fireworks guide
