Back In The Race
Greetings From The Booth!
So, let’s see a show of hands. How many of you re-seeded your NCAA brackets after arguably the craziest opening 2 rounds ever? There’s no shame in that–we did a Sweet Sixteen “re-do” in our friendly competition at work. Who saw not one, but two number-one seeds biting the dust. And there’s numver-4 seed Virginia, who fell to 13-seed Furman. Furman?!? It wasn’t quite UMBC, but still a one-and-done of major upset proportion. I still contend that the upsets happen early, but the cream always rises to the top, which is why I have Alabama playing Houston in the Championship Game.
If you listen to my morning radio show, you know that over the course of the last year, I’ve lost 48 pounds (thank you Brain & Body Health Center!). You also know that I recently ran a 5k race for the first time since 2018. Saturday’s Edward Jones Race For Education was the culmination of an almost year-long journey back to something I thought I would no longer be able to do.
That journey started right after the 2022 Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival. After looking at a pic of me and my buddies making merry at the “Bloom,” I realized that I was going in the wrong direction. At 210 pounds, I almost didn’t recognize myself in the photo. Sure, I had lost a few pounds on my own, but pictures don’t lie, and this pic was like a slap in the face.
Enter Dr. Evan Riggleman and his wonderful team at B&B. To make a long story short, they got me into some good habits and “reset” my metabolism in a healthy way. As for running, I started with some walks through the hills of my mountain neighborhood, gradually working in some short runs. By July, I was on my way to Deep Creek Lake minus 30 pounds, and ready for the challenging trails of DCL State Park. By late Fall, I was up to 20 miles per week and 48 pounds lighter. It was then that I targeted the Eddie Jones as my “comeback race.”
I navigated through the perils of the Holidays, managing to keep the weight off, and staying true to my running routine. At this point, Brain and Body started doing some amazing therapies on my arthritic knees, and shortly after the new year, the good doctor allowed me to play with some of his new toys which helped fight the nasty free radicals in my cells. I was 63 going on 36!
Fast forward to race day. After a morning soak, I made my way to Warren County Middle School and the Edward Jones 5k. The butterflies were as big as 747s, not knowing how I was going to perform after 5 years of being away from running. The bar was low–finish, and enjoy the run. Period.
But, a funny thing happened. I got off to a nice early pace, running comfortably, even passing some runners in the first mile. The second mile, mostly downhill, was a bit faster, and as I started up the gradual slope of the final mile, I was faster still. I paced myself behind a very nice lady who, with about a half mile to go, encouraged me to pass her and finish strong, which I was able to do with a nice kick to the line. How did I do? How about a top 20 finish overall, and winner of my age group with a time of 26:43. I had exceeded all expectations.
The journey continues in May with the Apple Blossom 10k…stay tuned.
RW
Gov. Youngkin promotes former Shenandoah Co. Educator
Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the appointment of former Shenandoah County Division Superintendent Jeremy Raley as the new Chief of Staff of the Virginia Department of Education.
The Governor also appointed Tennessee Chief Academic Officer Lisa Coons as the 27 Superintendent of Public Instruction in Virginia.
Coons’ appointment takes effect Monday April 17 replacing former Superintendent Jillian Balow who resigned in early March.
Coons has demonstrated success in addressing learning loss and implemented evidence based literacy policy and practices previously.
She is also known for building strong partnerships with teachers, communities, schools, division leaders and parents.
Raley became Goochland County Superintendent of schools in 2016.
Raley began his career in education 26 years ago in Shenandoah Count as a Physical Education teacher.
As his career advanced Raley would move on to become a Principal and then Division Superintendent in Shenandoah County.
Raley holds a doctorate in education from Shenandoah University.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Hampshire County Authorities warn of cop impersonator
The Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) issued a warning of a person trying to impersonate a Police Officer.
This warning follows a report of a female driver being suspicious of an attempt to pull her over by a Utility Terrain Vehicle using flashing red and blue lights in the Voit Road old Martinsburg Grade Road area in Slainsville.
The woman reported that the male driver wearing a hoodie style shirt made more than one attempt to conduct a traffic stop in the evening of Mar. 20.
The woman, who sensed something was out of the ordinary continued to a safe place and called 911.
Officers responded and canvased the area in question but were unable to locate the individual.
Authorities are advising caution if traveling alone and report any suspicious activity to 911 immediately.
If you are suspicious always try to reach a safe location for instance the Police or Sheriff’s Office if possible before pulling over.
Anyone with any information in any incident like this should contact the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office.
If you have security cameras in that area please review footage from Mar. 20 and turn any leads over to Authorities.
You can leave an anonymous tip here or call 304-822-3894.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Sports: Thursday, March 23, 2023
The Madness Resumes Today, NIT Down To It’s Final Four, Caps-Hawks Tonight
FCSO advises that drunk driving can occur anytime
The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) advises that they need to dispel the myth that impaired driving is only a Friday or Saturday night occurrence.
Tuesday morning Mar. 21 Frederick County Authorities responded to two separate incidents of impaired driving.
Both of these incidents were the result of alcohol use and included a single vehicle accident and arrest of two impaired drivers between the hours of 8 and 10 a.m.
Both drivers involved in the incidents were below the legal drinking age and were found to be at double the legal limit.
At the same time these drivers chose to drive impaired, school buses were loading and some of the heaviest traffic was traveling through the county.
Authorities are asking citizens who witness driving behavior that leads you to believe a driver may be driving impaired to report it as soon and safely as you can by calling 911.
This can only help to keep these drivers out of harm’s way of themselves and others.
If you find yourself impaired whether that be by alcohol, narcotics or even medications make the right decision to find an alternate to driving and help keep the roads safe 24/7/365.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Sen. Warner sponsors legislation to address bank failure
Following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank U.S. Senator Mark Warner announced that he has co-sponsored legislation to ensure executives of failed banks be held accountable for mismanagement.
Warner a member of the Senate Banking Committee, and the FDIC will act to ensure workers and small businesses will not have to pay the price for banking mismanagement.
In the Silicon Valley banking incident the bank’s CEO Greg Becker sold a reported $3.6 million in Bank stock.
Becker potentially profited off the impending demise of the bank he managed.
At the same time bank employees received bonuses just hours before the government stepped in to close the operation.
The bill that Warner is co-sponsoring will allow the Treasury Department to claw back bonuses and stock profits.
This will ensure that they are held financially responsible and their actions will not burden the consumer or taxpayer.
The Deposit Act will recoup bonuses and profits from stock sales within 60 days of a bank failure.
The bill will impose a 90 percent tax on bonuses of bank executives who make an annual income over $250,000 during the year the bank goes under FDIC acquisition.
This bill will require bank executives forfeit 100 percent of profits they make from recent bank stock trades.
Finally, the bill will direct recouped funds to the FDIC insurance fund so that it can return funds to depositors, workers and small businesses impacted by the failure.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
News Makers Delores and Lizi on the Mar. 23 Rail Trail meeting
The Front Royal Shenandoah Rail Trail meeting at 7 p.m. in Front Royal Mar. 23 has been moved to the Front Royal Fire Hall on Commerce Avenue.
The move is to accommodate the expected overflow crowd that have attended previous meetings.
We spoke with Rail Trail Front Royal Warren County Liaisons Delores Oates and Lizi Lewis about the meeting and trail in our latest news maker.
News makers are sponsored by Warren County Together We are Community.
Delores tells us what the projected numbers are to help boost the economy for the communities the trail runs through.
Lizi tells us some of the things that we can expect at the Thurs. Mar. 23 meeting.
Both ladies tell us who will be represented at the meeting at the Front Royal Fire Hall as well.
Click here for the ladies’ news maker.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.