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Alexandria Treatment Court Goes Online During COVID-19 Shutdown

Published March 24, 2020 at 11:30AM | Updated March 24, 2020 at 12:05PM

The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse at 520 King Street in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

As Alexandria grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commonwealth Attorney’s office is figuring out how to keep running the city’s Treatment Court.

The Treatment Court is an alternative to jail for individuals with substance abuse issues, and most participants have been to jail multiple times. There are currently eight participants in the court, which launched in August and usually meets every Thursday in the Alexandria Courthouse. But the building at 520 King Street is largely shut down now due to COVID-19.

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Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published February 20, 2020 at 8:00AM

Half of Popular Duo to Perform at Birchmere — “On the evening of June 24, 1964, Washington was engulfed in Peter and Gordon-mania. Midway through the British duo’s performance at the Alexandria Roller Rink, a desperate Jack Alix, DJ at WEEL radio, halted the music and begged the crowd to please stop pushing. ‘I do remember it was a good gig, where the audience was crazy, with screaming girls throwing themselves at the stage and all that stuff,’ said Peter Asher, calling from his Malibu, Calif., home.” [Washington Post]

Alexandria Man Charged in Arlington Incident — “A 69-year-old Alexandria man is facing a felony charge after police say a minor, two-vehicle crash led to a physical altercation along Lee Highway… [The man] punched a window on the other car several times, then ‘produced a knife and allegedly attempted to strike the victim,’ according to Arlington County Police.” [ARLnow]

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Alexandria Prosecutor Will Continue Prosecuting Marijuana Cases Until Decriminalization

By James Cullum

Published January 22, 2020 at 10:30AM

The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse in Alexandria (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Alexandria Commonwealth’s Attorney believes that the Virginia General Assembly will pass measures to decriminalize marijuana this session, but that doesn’t mean he will stop prosecuting simple possession charges.

In fact, while Bryan Porter introduced a diversion program in the summer that would allow people to be treated more leniently, that’s not stopping him from prosecuting such cases.

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An Old Town Business Is Waiting to Connect Virginians with Medical Marijuana

By Vernon Miles

Published January 17, 2020 at 11:45AM | Updated January 17, 2020 at 3:48PM

As Virginia starts making progress towards the decriminalization of marijuana, one local business is working to make it easier to connect people to medical marijuana licenses.

Veriheal, based in Old Town, educates clients about medical cannabis and connects them to doctors who can get them approved for a medical marijuana license. The company works in 23 states with its structure changing based on state laws. Anthony Dutcher, marketing director for Veriheal, said they’re working to get started in Virginia.

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Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published January 14, 2020 at 8:00AM

APD Launches Safety Campaign for Officers — “Commuters often hear about the importance of safety on the road, but a new police program in Alexandria, Virginia, seeks to help officers keep themselves out of harm’s way on the road. Through its newly-launched, 12-month ‘Safety First — Every Shift, Every Call’ campaign, Alexandria police will provide officers with monthly safety tips throughout 2020 on topics like safe driving tactics, traffic stops and driving while fatigued.” [WTOP]

Drug Take-Back Day Coming Soon — “Alexandria encourages residents to safely dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medications, including those prescribed by veterinarians, during National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. A special collection will take place on January 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., although medications may also be taken year-round to one of the permanent drop box locations.” [City of Alexandria]

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City of Alexandria to Offer Free Narcan Training

By Vernon Miles

Published January 13, 2020 at 9:15AM

Alexandria is offering free Narcan training, which teaches members of the public how to spot and reverse an opioid overdose, starting tomorrow.

Narcan is a prescription medicine that can reverse an opioid overdose through injection or intranasal mist. Last year, Alexandria Police Department Lt. Mike Kochis was credited with saving the life of an unconscious man in Carlyle with a Narcan dose.

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Second Chances Don’t Come Easy at the Alexandria Treatment Court

By James Cullum

Published January 10, 2020 at 3:30PM

The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse in Alexandria (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Richard Thomas has been sober for 50 days, and that’s his longest stretch away from PCP and marijuana since he was 14 years old.

The 42-year-old Alexandria native has been arrested more than 10 times over the course of his life. A 1995 graduate of T.C. Williams High School, Thomas has seen his life repeatedly go down the drain through intense struggles with homelessness, addiction and depression. But the Alexandria Treatment Court has given him a new lease on life.

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Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published December 26, 2019 at 10:30AM

Temporary Parking Change for Rec Center — “Due to the closure of Chinquapin Road, parking for Chinquapin Park Recreation Center and Aquatics Facility and Chinquapin Park is being redirected to the parking garage at T. C. Williams High School (3330 King St.) on Thursday, December 26. Chinquapin Park Recreation Center and Aquatics Facility is open until 9 p.m. on Thursday, December 26 and all programs will take place as scheduled.” [City of Alexandria]

Assault Investigation in Landmark Area — “The Alexandria Police Department is investigating a felonious assault in the unit block of South Reynolds Street. The victim was transported to a local hospital. Expect police activity in the area.” [Twitter]

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Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published December 16, 2019 at 8:00AM

Alexandria Among Most Festive Xmas Cities — Thanks in part of the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade and the annual boat parade, Alexandria has made Wall Street 24/7’s list of the Most Festive Christmas Cities in the U.S. [24/7 Wall Street]

City Warns of PCP Overdoses — “The City of Alexandria has responded to eight overdoses related to suspected phencyclidine (PCP) use in the past two months, one of which was fatal. City officials are concerned about the potency and deadly nature of the PCP being distributed and used in the region.” [City of Alexandria]

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Alexandria Man Sentenced for Steroid Distribution

By ALXnow.com

Published November 18, 2019 at 3:30PM

An Alexandria man accused of manufacturing and distributing anabolic steroids has been sentenced to prison time.

John Russell Kestel, 38, was sentenced to serve five years in federal prison for the illicit steroid business, which was run “in a clandestine laboratory in the basement of his home in Alexandria.”

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Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published November 7, 2019 at 8:00AM

Virginia Tech Holding Community Forums — “Community engagement in Alexandria, Virginia, took on an exciting form last month with the debut of Tech on Tap at Port City Brewing Company’s headquarters. The free event on Oct. 17 was the first in a regular speaker series intended to engage the local community in the types of issues and problems Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus in Potomac Yard will explore.” [Virginia Tech]

City Hosting Opioid Abuse Discussion — “On November 18, the City of Alexandria will host ‘A Community Conversation: Strategic Plan to Eliminate Opioid Misuse and Its Harmful Effects in Alexandria.’ Residents are invited to learn more about the local effects of the national opioid crisis and the City’s strategy to address it. The event will be held from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria of T.C. Williams High School at 3330 King Street.” [City of Alexandria]