Woman Pleads Guilty to Falsely Claiming Beach Rape
State Police prepared this composite drawing based on the alleged victim’s description. She later admitted that she made it up.
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
July 19, 2012
A 20-year-old Exmore woman who told Cape Charles police March 23 that she had been raped on the Town beach was sentenced today to one year in jail for filing a false police report. However, 11 months of the sentence were suspended, so she is only required to serve 30 days.
Suzanna Bowen pled guilty today in Northampton General District Court to a misdemeanor charge of filing a false police report. She is also required to perform 200 hours community service and provide restitution for the expenses of the police investigation.
Cape Charles Police Chief Charles “Sambo” Brown told the Wave that Town police spent at least 100 man-hours investigating the false charge. The Northampton Sheriff’s Office also investigated, as did State Police, who prepared a composite drawing of the alleged assailant.
Bowen had claimed that she was raped by a stranger during daylight hours — about 6:30 p.m. March 23 — on the north end of the Cape Charles beach.
Former Cape Charles police officer Charles Graham testified for the Town at the hearing today.
Chief Brown told the Wave that Cape Charles police interviewed Bowen for nearly three months. “The last interview was more of an interrogation,” he said.
By late May, police had determined that the rape allegation was a hoax. Bowen was arrested June 11.
UPDATE: Council to Vote on Buying Bank for $200,000
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
July 19, 2012
Cape Charles Town Council will meet in open session Thursday at 5 p.m. to vote on buying the Bank of America building on Mason Avenue for approximately $200,000.
According to a Town staff recommendation prepared by Assistant Town Manager Bob Panek, the Town needs the bank property for five reasons:
1. Expansion of the Cape Charles Memorial Library;
2. Relocation of the broadband computer lab to a more publicly accessible space;
3. Indoor cultural and educational programs for children and adults;
4. Relocation of records storage from leased space;
5. Public parking for the business district.
Panek said the Town could use funds obtained from a 2010 bond issuance that were intended to finance two new wells, which are still being engineered. This would allow the Town to spend the money without increasing the budget. “This would temporarily displace the project to connect the two new wells,” Panek said.
If Town Council approves the purchase tomorrow (as it is expected to do), a contract could be signed by the mayor without any public input.
The Town would be required to pay a non-refundable $20,000 deposit within 48 hours of signing the contract.
The agenda for Thursday’s special meeting does not provide for remarks from the public.
Low-Income Residents in Bayview Face $100 Water Bills
Alice Coles, head of Bayview Citizens for Social Justice, is relieved that Northampton County is taking over the water and sewer system — but worried that residents won’t be able to pay.
By KAREN JOLLY DAVIS
Cape Charles Wave
July 19. 2012
After 10 years of negotiations, recriminations and deterioration, Northampton County finally owns the Bayview water and sewer systems. That means 71 low-income households will be charged about $104 per month for service — a price many likely can’t afford.
“We will shut down service if we are not paid,” said Northampton County Administrator Katie Nuñez. “It’s not pleasant and we don’t want to do it. But for the past six years the county has been paying for that system.”
Nuñez said that between 2009 and 2011, Northampton taxpayers subsidized the Bayview operation to the tune of $117,350. Bayview Citizens for Social Justice (BCSJ) will be forgiven $35,000 in delinquent real estate taxes in exchange for ownership or easements on five key parcels.
Alice Coles, executive director of BCSJ, is both relieved and disturbed by the transaction.
“The county was supposed to take over the system 30 days after it was built, by signed agreement,” said Coles. “But we ended up being responsible for it. We had no one trained to run the equipment. The systems began to fail.”
Since 1998, BCSJ has received $11 million in grants and loans to replace the shacks and outhouses that once characterized the neighborhood. They bought 160 acres near Cheriton, and built roads, houses, a laundromat, offices, and a community center.
In 2002, BCSJ got $1.7 million in state and federal money to build some roads and a sewer system for 94 units. Operating costs were supposed to come from monthly payments by the users.
For those units that received Section 8 assistance, utilities were included in the rent. But for the 23 households not government controlled, the situation was quite different.
“They made efforts to pay,” said Coles. “But most were delinquent.” [Read more…]
WAVY-TV News Report on Old School Controversy
Old school building sold for $10: wavy.com
To watch the WAVY news report, click “Read more” to enter full story; then click the PLAY button.
CAPE CHARLES WAVE
July 18, 2012
The WAVY Channel 10 news crew ventured across the bridge today to film a story about the controversy surrounding the Town of Cape Charles decision to sell the old school, basketball court, and parking lot adjoining Central Park to a private developer for $10.
The developer intends to convert the school into a 17-unit apartment building.
WAVY-10 interviewed Town Manager Heather Arcos as well as the president of Old School Cape Charles LLC, Wayne Creed. Old School Cape Charles is a legal entity formed by residents intent on saving the school for public use as a community center.
Cape Charles Mayor Dora Sullivan declined to be interviewed on camera.
The story aired during the 6 p.m. news on Wednesday on both WAVY-10 and FOX-43.
To watch the WAVY news report, click “Read more” to enter full story; then click the PLAY button.
Historic Review Board Rejects Apartments in Old School
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
July 18, 2012
The Historic District Review Board yesterday recommended unanimously against permitting a 17-unit apartment building next to Central Park.
“Converting the old school to apartments is not an appropriate use of the building,” the Board ruled.
Chairman Russ Dunton reminded the Board that Town Council is not required to adhere to the Historic District Review Board’s decision. But, Dunton stressed, the Board should nevertheless tell Town Council exactly what they think on the subject.
“Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent on the park,” Dunton noted. “If apartments are put there, the basketball court goes away and the parking for the playground goes away.”
Board member Dianne Davis asked what would happen to the basketball court, to which Town Manager Heather Arcos stated, “It could be relocated.”
However, the contract signed with the developer does not include relocating the basketball court.
Assistant Town Manager Bob Panek said that because no site plans have yet been drawn for the school, there is nothing for the Historic District Review Board to consider in regard to changes to the building. The only issue under consideration by the Board yesterday was the conditional use of the building as an apartment house.
The Board will also be asked to review plans for restoration of the building, assuming plans are eventually drawn. Such plans will also require approval by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, if the building is to qualify for federal and state historic tax credits.
Council Holding Secret Meeting to Buy Bank(?) Building
Bank of America building is for sale cheap — will the Town buy it?
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
July 18, 2012
Town Council has announced another “executive” session for tomorrow – meaning that the public is not invited.
According to records posted by the Town Clerk, this makes a dozen closed meetings so far this year.
By comparison, Town Council held 11 executive sessions during the whole of last year, and only 6 executive sessions in 2010.
The State of Virginia has strict rules about public bodies holding closed meetings. Under law, these closed meetings cannot be “secret” – the public must be informed when the meeting will take place and what specific subject will be discussed. “A general reference to . . . the subject matter of the closed meeting shall not be sufficient to satisfy the requirements for holding a closed meeting,” according to the Code.
In the case of Cape Charles, the closed meeting will take place at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 19, and the subject will be “Real Estate Acquisition Opportunity.”
This makes the third closed meeting this month with that subject – the earlier meetings being July 12 and July 3.
But Town Council has been meeting behind closed doors about a “real estate acquisition opportunity” since at least May 17 – and for the past two months, rumors have been circulating that the Town plans to buy the former Bank of America building.
The bank building, on the corner or Mason Avenue and Pine Street, has been vacant since March. According to a For Sale sign on the bank, bids were due June 8.
Four bids are believed to have been received, all under $100,000.
Group Sues Town to Stop Sale of Old School
School and parking lot front to newly refurbished Central Park.
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
July 17, 2012
The residents group known as Old School Cape Charles has filed a lawsuit and requested an injunction to prevent the Town from selling the old Central Park school, adjoining basketball court, and parking lot to a private developer.
Cape Charles Town Council voted unanimously June 14 to sell the school to Echelon Resources, Inc., a Richmond developer, for $10. The developer plans to use historic tax credits to assist in converting the school into a 17-unit apartment building.
Although Mayor Dora Sullivan signed a contract June 28 to convey the property to Echelon, the sale has not been finalized.
The lawsuit contends that “Town Council has never provided any coherent explanation as to why competing proposals or bids were never solicited or requested.”
It further states that the terms of the proposal made to Town Council by Old School Cape Charles “were superior to the private development proposal . . . but the proposal was rejected, without any coherent or logical basis or explanation.”
Town Council held secret negotiations with Echelon dating back to last summer. The public first learned of the plans on February 9, which quickly led to the creation of Old School Cape Charles, LLC.
On March 19, Old School Cape Charles made their first offer to Town Council to purchase the school and turn it into a community center. Mayor Sullivan informed the group by letter April 4 that their proposal had been rejected.
Old School Cape Charles then offered June 12 to lease the property for $100 per year. When that offer was not accepted, on June 26 the group offered to buy the property outright for $10,000.
Wayne Creed, president of Old School Cape Charles, said yesterday that going to court was “the last thing we really wanted to do — we would much rather be using our resources to perform much-needed repairs on the old school.”
WEDNESDAY 7/18: Pantomime, Magic Tricks, Balloon Wizardry at the Library
Wednesday, July 18, at 10:30 a.m.: Chris Yerlig will be at the Cape Charles Memorial Library to perform a unique blend of pantomime comedy, movement illusions, sleight of hand magic tricks and balloon wizardry that will leave everyone smiling. A highly amusing and imaginative performance, full of surprises! Learn more at mimealot.com/performances/
