2nd Annual Field of Flags

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1994 will hold their second annual Field of Flags ceremony on Saturday, June 16, 2018 at 11:00 AM. The Field of Flags ceremony will take place at Veterans Memorial Park, located at 425 Lt. Billy Webb Avenue, Abingdon, VA. A hot dog picnic will immediately follow the ceremony.

The flags will be setup for viewing on June 13, 2018 and remain until the ceremony on June 16, 2018.

Flags are available for purchase until June 6, 2018.

The post will also be collecting unserviceable flags on June 16, 2018.

For more information, call Stephen at 276-706-1919 or email vfwpost1994@gmail.com.

2018 Special Olympics Torch Run

Each summer, law enforcement officials from across Virginia carry the Flame of Hope on a 1,900 mile journey to the Special Olympics Virginia Summer Games Opening Ceremony in Richmond. This 8-day Torch Run involves more than 2,000 law enforcement officers and personnel representing more than 200 law enforcement agencies across Virginia.

This Saturday, June 2, 2018, the Abingdon Police Department will participate in their leg of the Torch Run starting at 10:00AM at the Charwood Center. Participants will make the 7-mile run with the torch down Main Street to the parking lot across from Johnston Memorial Hospital. Please be cautious through Abingdon on Saturday and be aware of slow moving traffic regarding the Torch Run.

PUBLIC FEEDBACK INVITED ON INTERSTATE 81 CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PLAN

PUBLIC FEEDBACK INVITED ON INTERSTATE 81 CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PLAN Provide input at series of meetings planned along corridor through Fall 2018

RICHMOND, Va. – The Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment, the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation are developing a plan to study the entire length of the Interstate 81 corridor in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As directed in Senate Bill 971 (now 2018 Acts of Assembly Chapter 743), the study team will identify targeted improvements along I-81 and potential revenue sources that could be dedicated to improvements. SB 971 was introduced by Senators Mark Obenshain and Bill Carrico, and supported by Delegate Steve Landes with budget language in the House of Delegates budget bill.  Feedback provided by members of communities, industries and other stakeholders will be considered as team members study the corridor throughout the summer and prepare a draft plan report in the fall. The team and the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) plan to report findings to the General Assembly in December, prior to the opening of Session in January 2019.  The public is invited to attend the first of a series of meetings planned and provide input to the study team as work progresses. The purpose of this first series of meetings is to gather public input on safety and congestion concerns on I-81 in Virginia. The public meetings will be held from 4-7 p.m. on the below-listed dates at the noted locations. Presentations will be held at the beginning of each meeting at 4 p.m. followed by an open house through 7 p.m.

Comments will be accepted at the meeting or by contacting Ben Mannell, study manager, at VA81CorridorPlan@OIPI.Virginia.gov or by mail to 1401 E. Broad St., Richmond, Virginia 23219, or by phone at 804-786-2971. The first comment period will end July 31, 2018. Additional comment opportunities will be available throughout the study.

For more information about the study, or to view meeting materials, visit http://www.VA81Corridor.org. For additional information about the CTB, visit http://www.CTB.Virginia.gov/.  (END)

CLICK IT OR TICKET CAMPAIGN STARTS MAY 21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Click It or Ticket Campaign Starts May 21

 Abingdon, VA— As the unofficial start of summer, the Memorial Day holiday weekend is a busy time for Americans. Each year, the highways fill with families in vehicles, on their way to start their summer vacations. To help keep drivers and passengers stay safe, the Abingdon Police Department is reminding motorists to Click It or Ticket. Aimed at enforcing seat belt use to help keep families safe, the national seat belt campaign will take place May 21 through June 3, concurrent with the busy travel season.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly half (48%) of the passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2016 were unrestrained. At night from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., that number soared to 56 percent of those killed. That’s why one focus of the Click It or Ticket campaign is nighttime enforcement. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night.

If you know a friend or a family member who does not buckle up when they drive, please ask them to consider changing their habits. Help us spread this life-saving message before one more friend or family member is killed because of this senseless inaction. Seat belts save lives, and everyone—front seat and back, child and adult—needs to remember to buckle up—every trip, every time.

For more information on the Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/ciot.

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APD Call Log May 14th-20th, 2018

Parking Information for Plumb Alley Day 5-26-18

Abingdon Police Department

                                               

For Immediate Release

This Saturday, May 26, 2018, is the 36^th Annual Kiwanis Plumb Alley Day event in Abingdon, VA. The Abingdon Police Department wants to remind the community and visitors of parking restrictions. Like most tourist communities, Abingdon has several parking restrictions that you should be aware of, to avoid violating any of the parking provisions and subjecting yourself to an unwanted fine. 

To assist you in planning your visit, the following parking restrictions are provided for your information. 

In the Town of Abingdon, it is unlawful to:

1.      Park Overtime – OVERTIME parking is enforced Monday-Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm.  It is NOT enforced on weekends (Saturday and Sunday). 

2.      Block a driveway.

3.      Park so the parked vehicle partially blocks a driveway.

4.      Block an intersection.

5.      Park so the parked vehicle encroaches an intersection.

6.      Park in a space designated by signage as a “Bus Stop.”

7.      Park so that the left (driver’s) side of a vehicle is against the curbing of the roadway. This is commonly called “Parking Against the Traffic Flow” or “Parking Against the Flow” and is our most common violation.

8.      Park in a loading zone.

9.      Park in a space designated “No Parking.”

10.  Park in any alley.

11.  Park on a sidewalk.

12.  Park so the vehicle occupies a portion of two marked parking spaces.

There are FREE public parking lots located at 208 West Main Street and 425 West Main Street.

The APD warmly welcomes your visit to our community.  Abingdon thrives on tourism, and we hope that your visit will be greeted with smiling faces and a friendly atmosphere. 

APD Call Log May 7-14, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- Felony Elude on 5-17-18

Abingdon Police Department

                                               

For Immediate Release

On Thursday, May 17, 2018, at approximately 1:09AM, Abingdon Police Officer B.T. Graham observed a black Toyota 4-Runner speeding on East Valley Street. As the officer attempted a traffic stop, the vehicle accelerated to a high rate of speed down Church Street. The vehicle failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of Church and Main Street, continuing to Railroad Street, turned right on Green Spring Road, left on A Street, right onto Kings Mountain Drive, and continued to Highland Street. The vehicle came to rest in a residential driveway on Highland Street, where the occupants attempted to flee on foot. Officer Graham was able to detain the passengers, but the driver fled to a nearby residence. Officers discovered tracks in the wet grass that lead to 202 Madison Street, Abingdon.

Gary Brandon Childress, 26, of 202 Madison Street, Abingdon, VA, exited the residence and advised that the black Toyota 4-Runner belonged to him, and he was the driver who attempted to elude police.

Childress was placed under arrest and charged with Felony Elude Police, in violation of § 46.2-817 of the Code of Virginia; and Reckless Driving, in violation of § 46.2-852 of the Code of Virginia. He was transported to the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail and given a secured $1500 bond.

The passengers were released without charges.

*Pictured: Gary Brandon Childress, 26, of 202 Madison Street, Abingdon, VA.

Commonwealth Transportation Board/VDOT Meeting

Follow up information from the Commonwealth Transportation Board/VDOT Meeting held on Monday, May 14, 2018:

Already funded or under construction

Exit 14 – complete in Fall 2018

Park Street – under design, start construction in Spring 2019

Green Springs Road – complete in October 2018

Abingdon Urban Trail – complete in September 2018

VCT @ Watauga Road - underway

Upcoming

East Main Street sidewalks – FY2023

West Main/Jonesboro Road intersection improvements – Design FY2021, Construction FY2023

Additional Maintenance Funds (Cummings Street, Porterfield Hwy, Jonesboro Road) – Fall 2018

West Main/Porterfield Hwy intersection improvements – Design FY2020, Construction FY2022-23

Exit 17 – FY2021

Exit 19 – FY2023

VCT @ Meade Meadows – FY2019/20

Future Applications

East Main Street Widening from Exit 19 to Hillman Highway – Smart Scale

French Moore Blvd. Extension – Smart Scale

Clark Street Sidewalks - HSIP

Urban Trail, Phase 2 – Transportation Alternative (TA)

For questions or more information, please call Matt Bolick, Director of Public Works, at 276-628-3167.

Community Members Encouraged to ‘Go Blue’ for National Police Week

Abingdon Police Department

For Immediate Release

Community Members Encouraged to ‘Go Blue’ for National Police Week

The Abingdon Police Department is encouraging residents, businesses, academic institutions, and places of worship, to show their support for law enforcement by displaying something blue on their property during National Police Memorial Week, May 13^th-19^th, 2018.

In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15th falls, as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.

To show support for police officers nationwide, the APD is asking people to display a blue porch light, blue ribbons, or blue balloons throughout the week.

National Police Week is a great time to remember the sacrifices of officers both locally and nationally. No matter whether the sacrifice is made across the country, or on the streets of our local community, there are men and women who risk their personal safety daily for the protection of the liberties of others. Please join us in recognizing the service of the men and women of law enforcement.

Send us pictures of you or your business/organization “Going Blue” during National Police Week. You can email the pictures to crimereport@abingdonva.us and we will share them on our social media pages.

Thank you for all your support!

APD Call Log May 1st-6th, 2018

APD Call Log April 23rd-30th, 2018

Be Smart. Stay Safe.

Just a friendly reminder...

We welcome warmer temperatures and longer days. Occasionally, a criminal will take advantage of the warm weather by walking through neighborhoods and attempting to gain entry to parked cars. When they find a locked door, they simply move on to the next car; but if they find an open door, they help themselves to the cash and valuables left inside. 

One of the easiest ways to avoid being a victim of a theft like this is to be proactive with your own security measures. Please lock your car doors, even when your car is parked in your own driveway. If you insist upon leaving your car unlocked, at least write down the brand, model, and serial number of the valuables that you leave behind. We cannot enter property as stolen in the national database without these key pieces of information.

We like to think that we live in Mayberry, but true Andy Griffith fans know that Mayberry does not really exist.