Christmas Eve notes: Hit man story; officer talks about near miss; 100 year old looks back

A home at the corner of South Kings Highway and Memorial Street features one of the most extensive light displays in the Richmond Highway area.

Belle Haven murder-for-hire plot foiled

A building contractor will spend 10 years in prison for trying to hire someone to kill a Belle Haven-area homeowner, according to a detail-filled story published last week in The Washington Post.

Daniel Jamison was being taken to court for alleged construction fraud by the homeowner. Prosecutors said he began exploring the option of murdering the homeowner, but instead ended up connecting with an undercover officer posing as a hit man. The meetings between the “hit man” and Jamison included a sit down at the Richmond Highway Krispy Kreme and drive through the Belle Haven neighborhood to case the house.

Read the full story on WashingtonPost.com. 

Officer recalls nearly getting hit

A police officer who was nearly run hit by a suspected drunk driver on Sherwood Hall Lane last week told his story to ABC7.

Officer Seth Masterson was in the middle of a traffic stop with two other vehicles when a car slammed into his cruiser’s door and shattered the window. Masterson said the vehicle never slowed down before hitting his car, and that he was close enough to the impact to get hit with glass from the door. 

Read the story and watch the interview here.

100 year old talks Route 1 history

Lee Wilson Palmer, who turns 100 this week, recently sat down the Mount Vernon Gazette and reminisced about his life, much of which was lived in the Route 1 area.

Palmer worked at two of the most famous landmarks of a past era of Richmond Highway: The old Penn-Daw Hotel and the iconic Dixie Pig restaurant. He recalls famous visitors at the Penn-Daw, the 1960s and integration, owning a restaurant in Alexandria, and finally managing the Dixie Pig in his 60s and 70s.

Read more in the Mount Vernon Gazette. 

Chamber honors

The Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce held its annual “Biz Awards” last week, honoring local businesses in Richmond Highway area.

Local businesses and entrepreneurs were selected as “Citizen of the Year,” “Rising Star,” “Non-Profit of the Year” and  three awards for “Business Excellence.” Learn more about the winners in the Mount Vernon Gazette.