Virginia
‘Shining star': Girls Scouts remember Virginia family killed in Potomac crash
Two of the young victims who died in last month’s midair collision over the Potomac River had ties to a local Girl Scouts troop.
The bond Girl Scouts share is undeniable, so losing one of their own is incredibly hard.
“When your kids are that age, and then they have someone their age die, it’s just, it’s so, it’s so shocking and unbelievable,” Troop 70202 leader Helena Welch said.
Sisters Alydia and Everly Livingston – ages 11 and 14, respectively –and their parents, Donna and Peter, were on the American Airlines flight that crashed Jan. 29. They were returning from a figure skating training camp in Kansas.
The girls were immensely talented, dedicated young skaters who still made time to have fun.
“Donna wanted her daughters to be able to experience everything I think they wanted to experience,” Troop 70202 leader Alexandra Ballin said. “And, even though they had a busy schedule, Donna always said, ‘We’ll make it work. We’ll make it work.’”
Welch and Ballin lead the Girl Scouts troop Alydia was a part of. Their daughters were friends with Alydia, and they were both close with her mother.
When they learned of the Livingston family’s passing, they contacted another troop’s leader, who is a mental health expert.
“She gave us so many tools to use to have our first meeting after what happened,” Welch said. “So, we had the ability to try and discuss it with the girls in a way that they were able to express what each of them felt.”
Alydia was a member of Troop 70202 for six years. Welch and Ballin say she was their most enthusiastic cookie seller.
“She’s like a shining star,” Welch said. “She just had so much energy and so much fun. She would bring that to the troop meetings, and the girls just loved it.”
Members of the troop will attend Sunday’s Legacy on Ice performance. Welch and Ballin hope the event will allow the girls to share their grief with the loved ones of the others who were lost in the tragedy.
“It’s where we can come together and heal, in a sense, of the tragedy that has happened and have something positive come out of it,” Welch said.
Alydia’s Girl Scouts troop is working on an idea for a memorial for the Livingston family.
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HALIFAX COUNTY, Va. (WSET) — Engines roared and tires smoked at Virginia International Raceway on Friday as Hyperfest returned to Halifax County for a three-day festival that draws thousands of automotive fans to Southside Virginia.
The event is known for putting spectators close to the action, from drift cars to racing on the Patriot Course and off-road ride-alongs. Attendee John Campbell described the up-close experience: “You’re going to get rubber all over your face,” he said.
For some, the appeal is the unpredictability. “Chaos, and that’s the most fun thing you’ll ever do,” said attendee Dkoven Hunter.
SEE ALSO: Danville honors six fallen officers at annual Peace Officers Memorial Service
Hyperfest also features novelty events, including Barbie car races scheduled for the evening. Festival founder and director Chris Cobetto said the hands-on nature is what sets it apart: “You can come, and you can do stuff, and you can see stuff, and that’s what the fun part is.”
Organizers expect the weekend to bring more than 24,000 people to Halifax County, including visitors traveling long distances to attend. Bryer Schiesser, attending for the first time, said he chose Hyperfest over a traditional graduation ceremony. “Instead of walking at graduation, I decided to come here,” he said. Schiesser and his friends drove from Pennsylvania for the festival.
Attendee Haley Brennan called the event a standout for car enthusiasts. “It’s awesome, it’s just a great place to come if you love the car community, it’s just the best thing you can do!” she said.
Tickets cost $100 per day or $155 for the whole weekend.
Those honks you heard on I-66? They weren’t from cars.
Police officers in Northern Virginia herded a family of Canada geese off the highway Thursday afternoon, as lanes were shut down to keep everyone safe.
The geese were spotted on I-66 westbound near the exit for Sycamore Street. Metro Transit Police got to them first, and Arlington County officers and Virginia State Police also responded to help, acording to Arlington County Police.
Video shows police vehicles slowly following the geese — two adults with a cluster of fuzzy yellow goslings — as they waddled along the far right shoulder toward milemarker 69.6.
Lane closures were put into effect about 1:30 p.m., and police were able to escort the geese off the highway within about 15 minutes.
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County police quipped on Facebook: “What’s good for the goose…is probably to stay of I-66. 🪿 Virginia State Police , Metro Forward Police Department, Virginia Department of Transportation and ACPD officers worked together to assist a family of geese off a busy highway in a feat so great it gave us goosebumps!”
BRISTOL, Va. (WCYB) — More than 300 pounds of marijuana worth more than $1 million were seized this month in Bristol, according to the Virginia State Police.
Multiple search warrants were executed this month by VSP and the Holston River Regional Drug Task Force in at various areas across the city between May 1 and May 13.
On May 1, a search warrant was executed at a business on Euclid Avenue. Around three pounds of marijuana was seized with a street value of $13,500. The location was within a school zone and a childcare facility.
On May 6, another search warrant was executed at a warehouse in Bristol. Virginia State Police seized 250 pounds of marijuana (street value of $1,135,000), 192 marijuana plants ($576,000), 50 pounds of THC edibles ($22,700). Charges are forthcoming, police said.
Another search warrant was executed on May 13 at a business on West State Street. Around 25 pounds of marijuana was seized with a street value of $112,500. Additional evidence was also seized.
In addition, another search warrant was executed on May 13 at a business on Paulena Drive. About 30 pounds of marijuana was seized with a street value of $135,000. Additional evidence was also seized.
The Office of the Attorney General is reviewing the investigation for any possible applicable civil enforcement actions.
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The Holston River Regional Drug Task Force includes the Town of Abingdon Police Department, Bristol Police Department, the Russell County Sheriff’s Office, and the Town of Lebanon Police Department, as well as Virginia State Police.
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