Arrest made in Orange Elementary gun case
Arrest made in Orange Elementary gun case
Drakar L. Rawlings, 31, of Orange faces multiple charges related to gun discovered in child's backpack
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Drakar L. Rawlings, 31, of Orange in connection with last week’s horrifying discovery of a loaded revolver in a child’s backpack at Orange Elementary School.
In a Facebook post, the Sheriff’s Office announced that Rawlings was arrested Tuesday, Sept. 24, on the following charges: “one count of VA Code 18.2-56.2 (Allowing access to firearms by children), one count of VA Code 18.2-371.1(B) (Abuse and neglect of children) and two counts of VA Code 18.2-308.2 (Possession or transportation of firearms, firearms ammunition, stun weapons, explosives or concealed weapons by convicted felons).”
Rawlings is being held without bond at Central Virginia Regional Jail in Orange. The Virginia Judiciary website reveals that Rawlings previously has been charged with other crimes. He was convicted and sentenced to prison in 2016 in Rockingham County on charges of attempted robbery, malicious wounding and using a firearm while committing a felony.
According to a June 7, 2016, article in the Harrisonburg Daily News-Record, Rawlings was found guilty of attempting to rob the owner of a Harrisonburg pizza shop and shooting the man in the arm as he drove away.
Rawlings was on probation at the time of his arrest on Tuesday. He is due in court today (September 25) in Rockingham County Circuit Court on multiple charges of violating probation.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook statement recapped the events at Orange Elementary School on Monday, Sept. 16: “The loaded firearm was found in the backpack of a 6-year-old student. The investigation into this event began the second the firearm was found. It is believed that the student never intended to use the firearm, in fact, we believe that the student did not even know the firearm had been stashed in the backpack and was unaware of its existence.”
According to the statement, “Orange County investigators worked closely with Orange County Public Schools, the ATF [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives], Virginia State Police, Probation and Parole, the Department of Forensic Science, the Department of Social Services, the Town of Orange Police Department and the Orange Commonwealth Attorney’s Office.”
Further, the sheriff’s office noted, “This case has been extremely complex and there have been a lot of false assumptions out there. We thank the community for believing in us and trusting that we will be thorough in our efforts to seek justice.”
Planning commission to hold public hearing on limiting subdivision size
The Orange County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3, in the county’s Public Safety Building (next to the Orange County Airport) at 11282 Government Center Drive. The commission will hear comments from the public on a proposal to limit subdivisions of land in the Agricultural (A-1) zoning district to four lots of two or more acres for every 10 years of ownership. Click here for the planning commission’s description of the proposed amendment, which the commissioners will vote on soon, possibly the same night as the public hearing.
Constitution Day at Montpelier raises more than $56,000
James Madison’s Montpelier held its annual Constitution Day celebration on Saturday, Sept. 21. To close out the day, Montpelier Foundation President and CEO Eola Dance Lewis and Montpelier Descendants Committee President George Monroe hosted a screening of a brief promotional film about Montpelier, and Dance announced a new fundraising initiative: the Montpelier Keystone Society, with giving levels of $25,000 and $35,000.
About 250 people attended Constitution Day, according to Montpelier’s Director of Communications Christy Moriarty. The special event’s fundraising efforts totaled more than $56,000 in gifts and pledges supporting the historic estate’s operations and programs.
Dr. Dena Jennings hosts traditional hoedown as part of “The Thang”
Dr. Dena Jennings, physician, artist and musician, hosted “The Thang” last weekend at the Orange County farm she shares with her husband, Donald Jennings. An annual celebration of what Jennings describes as Affrolachian (Black Appalachian) music, “The Thang” draws performers and audience members from Orange County and far beyond. This year’s edition included a Friday night hoedown featuring a folk band, cakewalk and lively square-dancing with Dr. Jennings serving as square dance caller. The headline “Thang” concert took place on Saturday night. The multi-day event also included a Thursday night swing dance in Orange and a Sunday morning gospel sing at the Jennings farm.
Early voting continues
Information on voting early in Orange County
Sample ballot for registered voters living in the Town of Orange
Sample ballot for registered voters living in the Town of Gordonsville
Sample ballot for registered voters living in Orange County (outside the towns of Orange and Gordonsville)
News nuggets
A new book: Prospect Heights Middle School teacher Jennifer Waldron Conley has published her first book, “Bury Me at Pamunkey,” which recounts the history of North Pamunkey Baptist Church in Lahore. Conley writes, “I decided that it was important to document the [250-year] history of the church, a place that has been my home for as long as I can remember.” Congratulations, Jennifer, on your book, and congrats to North Pamunkey on a huge milestone.
A new archaeology museum and research lab: The late Sandra Speiden was a prominent avocational archaeologist and an active member of the Archaeology Society of Virginia/Virginia Archaeological Resource Center, which has its headquarters at Kittiewan, an estate in Charles City County. The organization is converting a barn on the property into a museum and research laboratory to be named the Sandra and William Speiden Archaeological Facility. Bill Speiden and his wife JoAnne of Somerset were on hand for the dedication back in the summer. Congrats!
Coming up
Orangetoberfest 2024, Saturday, Sept. 28
Rapidan Chamber Players (free admission, donations welcome), The Music Room, 135 E. Main St., Orange, 2 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 29
Gordonsville Fried Chicken Festival, Saturday, Oct. 5
Fall Fiber Festival and Montpelier Sheep Dog Trials, Oct.5-6
Rapidan Volunteer Fire Department Chicken BBQ Dinner, 1-5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 13
23rd Community/Regional Health Fair, Shady Grove Baptist Church, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26
Montpelier Hunt Races, Saturday, Nov. 2
Obituaries
Miranda Ayala, 22, Orange; James E. Rose, 66, Orange County.
Reading the truly important information you’re providing in so many stories plus coming events, you’re pretty much full time!