911 system breaks down By Jed Duvall and Nicholas

911

system

breaks

down By Jed Duvall and Nicholas M. Horrock Rappahannock News Writers The 911 emergency telephone system broke down across a wide area of Rappahannock County on Sunday. Callers needing fire trucks and ambulances encountered endless busy signals.

It was not restored to working order until 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, according to Richie Burke, the 911 Coordinator for Rappahannock County. J. B. Carter Jr., chief of the Amissville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company, said a woman in Viewtown tried to summon an ambulance Sunday night when her aging father fell and lost consciousness. After 15 frantic and frustrating minutes listening to the busy signal, she and her husband loaded the victim into their own car and drove to Fauquier County hospital. It was reported later that the family moved the ailing man to medical care in Charlottesville at the University of Virginia. Rescue authorities knew nothing of this case until the woman dropped by the Amissville Fire Hall on Monday evening to tell the story in person, and ask about the telephone problems. In another case handled by the Amissville volunteers, relatives of a woman having difficulty breathing in Castleton spent, they said, 20 minutes listening to the beep of a busy tone, See 911, Page A5 Meetings & Notices • On Monday, March 1, the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors will meet at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the county courthouse on Gay Street in Washington. See agenda on Page A5. • On Thursday, March 4, the Rappahannock County Water and Sewer Authority will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the county courthouse on Gay Street. • Route 618 is closed at the bridge crossing Battle Run. Travelers can detour around this project via routes 729, 615 and 617. Signs will be posted to assist with detour routing: The estimated closure is until May.