ABCDE LOUDOUN EXTRA sunday, april 12, 2015 LC Regional team to battle heroin use Elected officials, law enforcement agencies react to growing threat BY PHOTOS BY LISA BOLTON/THE WASHINGTON POST Strutting their stuff in Sterling Faced with steadily rising rates of heroin use across Northern Virginia, local officials and law enforcement authorities recently announced the formation of a regional heroin operations team that aims to halt the dangerous trend. The regional initiative was announced April 3 in Loudoun County, where elected leaders — including Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.) and state Sen. Jennifer T. Ramadan, Loudoun board step up efforts on Dulles Greenway tolls BY In addition to the fashion parade, the Spring Fling included an Easter bonnet contest and lunch. Above, Susie McCarron, a fashion show participant, is escorted to the runway by Pete McCallum, a center member and retired firefighter. At left, Bala Suri of Ashburn applies finishing touches to her makeup before the fashion show. 2 Counterfeit bills reported at area stores; commuters can register for Bike to Work Day. HEROIN CONTINUED ON 2 A vow to keep fighting ‘highway robbery’ The Senior Center at Cascades in Sterling had its 10th annual Spring Fling on Friday. Ten models, all center members or volunteers, chose two outfits each from the Dress Barn at Dulles Eastern Plaza. Above, Amy Xu donned a gussied-up cowgirl hat. News in brief C AITLIN G IBSON Wexton (D-Loudoun) — joined law enforcement authorities, representatives of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI, and other local officials to address the mounting threat posed by heroin. This year, county law enforcement agencies released data that showed a dramatic increase in heroin-related overdoses and deaths in Loudoun. In 2012, the sheriff’s office documented eight suspected heroin overdose cases — a number that jumped to 31 cases last year. Of those 31 cases, 11 resulted in death, officials said, marking a 450 percent increase compared with 2012, when two heroin-related deaths were recorded in Loudoun. 2 Sports announcements A Sterling recreation center will host a health and fitness expo. 3 C AITLIN G IBSON In the wake of several failed attempts to halt the rising cost of tolls on the Dulles Greenway, Virginia Del. David I. Ramadan (R-Loudoun) and the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors are redoubling their efforts to seek Loudoun calendar Upcoming events include a tour of historic homes and gardens in and around Leesburg. 4 relief for motorists who use the privately owned road. Last month, Ramadan and the board filed new legal briefs with the Virginia State Corporation Commission, in support of a pending appeal that aims to lower tolls and implement a distance-based pricing structure on the 14-mile roadway, which runs between Washington Dulles International Airport and Leesburg. The briefs urge the SCC to reconsider its hearing examiner’s GREENWAY CONTINUED ON 5 Fauquier calendar A commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the disbandment of Mosby’s Rangers.
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