🌱 Burned Loudoun Inmate Transferred + Leesburg Speed Limit Reduced

Hello all. I'm back with your fresh edition of the Leesburg Patch newsletter. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in town today.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Cooler with periods of rain. High: 44 Low: 40.
• Saturday: Mostly cloudy and windy. High: 53 Low: 33.

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Here are the top three stories today in Leesburg:

1. Richard Piland, an inmate who filed a $7 million lawsuit against the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office over an alleged hot shower incident, has been transferred to Western Virginia Regional Jail in Salem, according to family and county officials. Piland was moved at the request of his attorney, despite his family requesting he be moved to a mental health facility instead. In the lawsuit, Piland claimed he suffered first and second-degree burns and blisters to his arm after a deputy placed him under an extremely hot shower due to a failure in the mechanical system regulating the water temperature. (WUSA9.com)
2. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is partnering with MADD to raise funds for local anti-drunk driving efforts through a shoe drive. Residents can bring their old shoes to their local police station, and GotSneakers will donate $1 to MADD for every pair collected. Shoes in good condition will be distributed to impoverished nations, while worn-down shoes will be repurposed as surfaces for playgrounds, tracks, and more. The funds raised will support MADD's victim advocacy program, court monitoring system, parent workshops, and sobriety checkpoints with the sheriff's office. Shoes can be dropped off through Mar. 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. (Leesburg Patch)
3. The Leesburg Town Council has voted to reduce the speed limit in the downtown area from 25 to 20 mph, in response to complaints about speeding from residents. The new 20 mph zone will include Market and Loudoun Streets, and traffic calming measures will be introduced along roads leading into the zone. The decision was made after an engineering study found that there were 57 vehicular collisions and 3 pedestrian collisions between 2018 and 2021, and despite concerns from one council member that the reduced speed limit may have unintended consequences. (Loudoun Times-Mirror)

Today and tomorrow in Leesburg:

Friday, March 3

• Pre-K Skill Builders, At Rust Library (10:00 AM)

Saturday, March 4

• Build Your Own Terrarium, At Hal & Berni Hanson Regional Park in Aldie (3:00 PM)
• Love This Local Business: Kochany Wellness, At October One Vineyard Wine Tasting Shop (4:00 PM)
• Alfred Yun - Jazz Piano Celebrating Thelonious Monk (Free), At Franklin Park Performing & Visual Arts Center in Purcellville (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Have you heard? The Davis Mansion is reopened for tours! Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommended. (Morven Park via Facebook)
• The Loudoun Sheriff’s Office is reminding the public to lock vehicle doors, remove all items of value — including keys and key fobs, and never leave your vehicle running unattended. (Loudoun Sheriff via Instagram)
• The Rust Library has an exciting lineup for Kid Book Clubs this month! Click the link to view the lineup and stop by the Children's desk to reserve a copy while supplies last. (Rust Library via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Masons joining forces with INOVA Blood Donor Services to help our community (March 3)
• Master Singers of VA Presents Sing Her Song (March 4)
• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Fresh Perks Every Week (March 7)
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Other featured classifieds:

• AP Tests & Reviews | SAT | ACT | SOL Tests & Reviews (Details)
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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. See you all soon for another update!

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.