Embezzlement trial postponed

WOODSTOCK -- The joint jury trial of two women accused of embezzling funds from the New Market Rescue Squad is now set to take place Nov. 4 in Shenandoah County Circuit Court.

Nancy Trumbo Mitchell, 45, of 213 Pelham Drive, is the former president of the New Market Volunteer Fire Company, and stepdaughter of former Fire Chief Danny McAlexander. With Sheila Hirsh, 38, of Harrisonburg, she is charged with one count of embezzling $990 from the squad.

Hirsh was a squad member and, according to court records, had been asked by Mitchell to take money from the company's bingo safe to bail Mitchell out of jail.

A trial had been set for next week, but has to be continued because a state police witness is out of the country.

Mitchell and McAlexander were among seven fire department volunteers terminated after an accountant's report found numerous indications of fraud during an audit of the company last year.

Daily Staff Report