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This Virginia mom ‘had to do something’ after her teen son’s sudden death: ‘There are no do-overs’

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This Virginia mom ‘had to do something’ after her teen son’s sudden death: ‘There are no do-overs’


NEW KENT COUNTY, Va. — A Virginia mother who lost her 16-year-old son in a car crash six years ago is using her tragedy to advocate for safer roads during what experts say is one of the most dangerous driving periods of the year.

Tammy Gweedo McGee will never forget the phone call she received when her son, Connor, was killed by an unlicensed underage driver leaving a homecoming dance.

“I don’t want another mother to be me,” McGee said. “It’s heartbreaking every day to relive the death of your son.”

According to the National Road Safety Foundation, the end of the year leading up to New Year’s is one of the most dangerous times on roadways and highways, with a spike in crashes. While crash statistics are on the rise in Virginia, McGee has made it her mission to fight for change in honor of her son to make roadways safer.

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“For me, it was lay down and die or stand up and fight. For me, I only had two choices: I had to do something,” McGee said.

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Joseph Conner Williams Guido

I’ve been following McGee’s story for years, but she recently showed me her safe haven — a corner tucked away in her home filled with pictures of Connor, his soccer jerseys and high school memories. Memories McGee says will forever live on.

“He was just so full of life,” McGee said.

A life taken too soon led McGee to start the Gweedo Memorial Foundation, where she travels to speak to teens and adults about staying safe behind the wheel. She’s successfully lobbied for legislative changes in this year’s General Assembly session, inspired by Connor. She says she plans to advocate for more changes so this doesn’t happen to someone else’s child.

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“One of the most important things to realize is there are no do-overs in driving,” McGee said. “You don’t get to say, ‘Sorry, I killed your son.’ You don’t get to say, ‘I was just picking up the phone to check my texts, I didn’t mean to.’”

It’s a reminder this holiday season to have fun, but most importantly, be responsible.

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‘I didn’t know I could go that fast’: Virginia pizza maker breaks record – WTOP News

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‘I didn’t know I could go that fast’: Virginia pizza maker breaks record – WTOP News


“I didn’t know I could go that fast,” Richard Delcid, the general manager of a Domino’s Pizza in Manassas, told WTOP.

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‘I didn’t know I could go that fast’: Virginia pizza maker breaks record

A general manager of a Domino’s Pizza in Manassas, Virginia, won the chain’s “World’s Fastest Pizza Maker” competition this month.

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Richard Delcid prepared a pepperoni pizza, mushroom pizza and cheese pizza for the oven in 31.22 seconds.

“I didn’t know I could go that fast,” Delcid told WTOP.

“Eight seconds better than the previous record,” Robert Donner, one of the owners of the Domino’s on Centreville Road, said.

The competitors at the May 13 Las Vegas event came from Domino’s locations around the world, and Donner said the competition is about more than speed.

“They’re judged by weight, they’re judged by portion, and they’re judged on whether they’re sellable to a customer,” Donner said.

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When Delcid first started working for Domino’s in 2012, he was a teenager. He was much slower then, he joked.

As with anything, practice makes perfect.

“We record ourselves during practices,” Delcid said. “We dissect videos, we look at body movement, hand movement, everything.”

Delcid was not alone in Vegas. Donner, who is part owner of more than 30 Domino’s Pizza locations in Virginia and Maryland, brought dozens of employees to the event.

Coming in second at the competition was another member of Donner’s team.

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Joe Burr, who is known as “Domino Joe,” is the local director of training, and calls himself the Dan Marino of the Domino’s World’s Fastest Pizza Maker competition.

“I’ve won third place a couple times, I’ve won second place like three or four times,” Burr said. “So I’m like always a bridesmaid, but never a bride.”

Don’t let Burr’s jokes fool you — he has known Delcid for a long time and is very proud of him.

“I like to say it’s not the sculptor, it’s the clay. Richard is the best clay,” Burr said.

Along with a championship belt and a trophy, Delcid’s record‑breaking performance earned him $5,000 from Domino’s Pizza corporate, and his local bosses kicked in another $5,000.

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Netflix casting Central Virginia singles for “Love on the Spectrum” after Danville man joins show

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Netflix casting Central Virginia singles for “Love on the Spectrum” after Danville man joins show


Netflix is searching for singles in Central Virginia to appear on its documentary-style dating series “Love on the Spectrum,” after a Danville man was cast for an upcoming season and producers are now looking to find his match.

The series follows adults on the autism spectrum as they navigate dating.

Monica Karavanic, executive director of The Arc of Southside in Danville, said the person cast has ties to her organization.

SEE ALSO: City leaders tour $100M Lynchburg CSO tunnel aimed at improving Lynchburg waterways

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“This show has been loved by millions internationally and so for it to come to Danville is pretty awesome and we’re just really excited and hoping to make it work,” Karavanic said.

Casting is focused on singles ages 25 to 40, of any gender, who live near Danville or Lynchburg and would be interested in going on a date with a man on the spectrum. Producers say the time commitment could be as little as half a day.

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For more information on how to apply, you’re asked to email: production@northernpictures.com.au

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Dry and seasonal weather expected in Virginia through the weekend

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Dry and seasonal weather expected in Virginia through the weekend


RICHMOND, Va. — Friday will be sunny and seasonably warm, with highs in the upper 70s and low 80s.

The pattern of cool nights and mild afternoons will continue through the weekend and through much of next week as upper-level flow continues to bring reinforcing mild and dry air out of eastern Canada.

Rain chances will be very limited over the next week, with only a slim chance with a frontal passage on Monday.

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