FCFR respond to house fire in Stephens City
Frederick County Fire and Rescue responded to a call at 741 Grim Road near Stephens City at 10:14 AM on Friday for a fire in a single family home.
An aggressive interior fire was seen with flames emerging through the roof of the house upon arrival.
Two occupants were there at the time of the incident but no injuries were reported.
The bulk of the blaze was extinguished in 17 minutes and fully out by 12:46 pm.
The area was not serviced by hydrants which required a water shuttle from several miles away which delayed their efforts to control the flames.
Damages are estimated at $150,000 and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Fire and Rescue Companies responded from around Frederick County as well as Winchester and Clarke County.
Martinsburg traffic stop leads to drugs and gun arrest
Martinsburg Police Department’s PFC Condo initiated a traffic stop at 9:25 pm on March 23rd of a Dodge Charger operating without lights.
The officer smelled marijuana and saw a handgun on the floor.
After a search of the vehicle, officers seized a Glock handgun, $579.00, and what is believed to be 123 Fentanyl pills, 89 Percocet, 7.6 grams of crack cocaine, oxycodone, and marijuana.
The driver, Ein Chase Kidrick, was charged with five counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, felony conspiracy, prohibited person in possession of a firearm, and his third offense of driving on a suspended license.
13 acres affected by SNP wildfire
Over 13 acres of Shenandoah National Park faced the effects of a wildfire that started around 2 pm on Thursday and lasted till 11 pm that evening.
National Park Service firefighters and a crew from the United States Forest Service got the blaze under control in the Big Meadows area.
Several trails in the region and Rapidan Road remain closed while crews continue to clear remnants of the wildfire.
A power line in the impacted area left Big Meadows Wayside, Campground and Picnic Grounds and Lewis Mountain temporarily without power.
Those areas, which opened for the season yesterday, have reopened with power restored.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Front Royal waterline repairs temporarily stop service
The Town of Front Royal’s Water and Sewer Department has scheduled water line repair for Monday, March 27th from 8 am- 2 pm on Richmond Road.
This will leave the surrounding areas of Jamestown, Richmond, and Gloucester Roads as well as Oakmont Drive and John Marshall Highway without water for a few hours while repairs are being made.
Once water has been restored, residents should run their faucets to clear discoloration and air from the lines.
Please be aware of crews working during this time and use caution while traveling in this area.
If you have any questions, please contact Public Works at 540-635-7819, Monday through Friday, 7 am- 3:30 pm.
Furever Friday: Meet Luke
Welcome back to Furever Friday! Each week, we spotlight an adoptable Pet from the Humane Society of Warren County.
This week we’re featuring Luke an approximately 5 year old bulldog mix. Luke is a fun loving goofball who loves to play. Luke loves to go on long walks and gives big hugs. He also has a cute underbite.
If you would like to give Luke a forever home please fill out an application at humanesocietywarrencounty.com. Once you apply and are approved, a staff member will contact you with the next steps.
You can also check out the Humane Society of Warren County’s adoptable pets on petfinder.com.
Furever Friday is proudly sponsored by Shear Elegance Pet Boutique. Shear Elegance Pet Boutique has been giving pets the love, care and respect they deserve since 2011. Visit them today off John Marshall Highway and on Facebook.
The Humane Society of Warren County offers their Pick of the Litter Thrift Store at 450 S. Commerce Ave. Front Royal.
A great way to support the Humane Society of Warren County by way of both purchase and donations.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
BRWC works to prevent the needless loss of life
The Blue Ridge Wildlife Center (BRWC) is working to prevent the needless loss of life through education.
A well intentioned homeowner found a young Red Fox Kit who they believed needed assistance and took it to work with them.
The person found the Kit at their home but needing to report to work took the animal with them where co-workers and others handled it.
A Frederick County Animal Control Officer was called to take the animal.
It was apparent to the Officer that there was a potential rabies exposure and as is the law reported it to the Health Department.
To protect those who handled the animal the Health Department had no choice but to euthanasia the animal.
Examinations for rabies has to be done by looking at the animal’s brain stem which means the animal has to be euthanized.
Where the results of the rabies test are not yet available the action had to be taken for protection of those involved.
The BRWC would like to remind the public that it is always recommended that you call a professional wildlife handler first and not to even touch a wild animal even if you might think it needs assistance.
Call your local animal control office which is a division of your local Law Enforcement Office to ensure the animal is cared for properly and prevent this heartbreaking loss of life.
For a look at this beautiful young animal click here but be aware in this writer’s opinion it is hard to look at knowing what happened to this little one.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
News Maker Todd Jones on spring activities
Spring has sprung and Easter is on the way and Warren County is ready with activities.
We spoke with Warren County’s Director of Technology Todd Jones about some of the activities in our latest news maker.
News makers are sponsored by Warren County Together We are Community.
First Todd tells us of some of the Easter egg hunts and festivities that are scheduled.
He also tells of the some recent government activities in Warren County.
Todd also tells us of some recognition given to some of our most vitally important employees that we don’t even realize are there until we need them.
Click here for Todd’s news maker.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
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.
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.