News Maker Casey Hollins of REC on cutting winter energy costs

Scott Bradley speaks with the Newsmaker Casey Hollins of the Rappahannock Electric Cooperative about how to save money on your electric bill as the temperatures drop.

She provides a few tips like removing window a/c units and checking for gaps in windows.

Casey also shares the resources REC members can contact if they fall behind on payments during this difficult economy.

Click here for Casey’s News Maker.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Rockslide Repair Project on 340 issues update

West Virginia state seal. Used by written permission by Chief Deputy and Chief of Staff of West Virginia Chuck Flannery

The Rockslide Repair Project along U.S. 340 near Harpers Ferry provided an update over the weekend.

The repairs are estimated at 65% completion and currently on schedule to be finished by December 10th, 2023.

Contracting crews have removed loose rocks and boulders from the mountainside above the roadway since September.

The one mile section of 340 has remained closed for motorist’s safety during the duration of the work by the West Virginia Department of Transportation as boulders the size of cars have fallen during the work, sometimes unexpectedly.

Since September, more than 1,500 cubic yards of rock totaling 2,300 tons have been removed.

Until the work is completed, motorists will need to plan to continue to use the 22 mile, 35 minute long detour.

A link to the project’s website which includes picture updates of the repairs is available here.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Click It or Ticket Campaign begins

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and local law enforcement are teaming up for the annual “Click It or Ticket” Campaign November 19-30.

So far this year, fatalities among drivers and passengers who were not wearing a seatbelt are down 12% from last year.

Of the fatalities, 73% were male and 20% in their 20s.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that wearing a seatbelt can reduce the chances of a fatal crash by 55%.

DMV Commissioner Gerald Lackey said, “The good news is that fewer people who weren’t wearing a seatbelt were killed in crashes so far this year, but we can’t become complacent.”

The DMV provided a few refreshers to help make sure you start your holiday journey safely.

Those include making sure any children are buckled securely and in the correct safety seat, making sure the seat belt clicks and is tight across your hips and chest, as well as keeping your seatbelt on the whole trip, every time.

No matter how close you are to home.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Warner and Kaine urge DOE to combat racism on campuses

Virginia Senator’s Mark Warner and Tim Kaine wrote to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to urge the Department to take steps to combat antisemitism and islamophobia on college campuses.

Since the start of the Israel-Hamas crisis, institutions of higher education have seen a rise in antisemitism and islamophobia including hate speech, harassment, and violence which has created an environment of fear and vulnerability for students.

The letter brings attention to a few recent incidents including the hit and run attack on an Arab Muslim student at Stanford University and violent threats posted online against the Jewish community at Cornell University.

The senators call for:

  • expansion of the Antisemitism Awareness Campaign
  • creation of an Islamophobia Awareness Campaign
  • additional outreach efforts to the affected communities
  • providing resources to colleges and universities from the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights

To view the senator’s full release, click here.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

I-81 Auxiliary Lane Project begins near Staunton

crossover boulevard bridge

The Virginia Department of Transportation began the Interstate 81 Auxiliary Lane Project November 20th near Staunton.

Northbound and southbound traffic on I-81 will be lowered to 60 miles per hour between mile marker 220 and 221.5.

The work-zone speed limit will remain in place for the duration of the 18 month auxiliary lane project.

Route 635 (Barterbrook Road) south of exit 221, will close next week and remain closed until completion of construction.

During bridge construction, motorists will need to follow a 13-mile detour.

The full detour route follows:

  • West of the bridge (Staunton side), drivers will go west on Route 635, south on Route 11 (Greenville Avenue/Lee-Jackson Highway), south on Route 262 (Woodrow Wilson Parkway), north on I-81, east on I-64 to exit 91 (Fishersville), south on Route 285/608, and then west on Route 635 to the end of the detour.
  • East of the bridge (Fishersville side), drivers will go east on Route 635, north on Route 608/285, west on I-64, south on I-81 to exit 220 (Staunton), north on Route 262 (Woodrow Wilson Parkway), north on Route 11 (Lee-Jackson Highway/Greenville Avenue), and then east on Route 635 to the end of the detour.

Once completed, an auxiliary lane on 81 will help connect the I-64 junction with exit 220.

The bridge replacement provides additional space for merging and exiting traffic.

Building a new bridge also allows for future widening of I-81 and will reduce the cost and duration of the entire full project.

The contract was originally awarded to Fairfield-Echolls of Fishersville for $7.7 million in October, earlier this year and is scheduled for completion by October of 2025.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.