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.
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.
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 Maker Kristen Laise on the new Belle Grove season
Belle Grove Plantation in Middletown opened for the season Mar. 18.
Thanks to volunteers and contributors there are new amenities at the Plantation.
We talk with Belle Grove Executive Director Kristen Laise about the new season in our latest news maker.
News makers are sponsored by Warren County Together We are Community.
Kristen tells us of a new trail that opened this season that takes visitors through some Civil War protection walls.
She also tells us of the some of the best views in the valley at Belle Grove Plantation.
Kristen also has information on the upcoming annual Park Day Apr. 15 and a great way to help the plantation.
Click here for Kristen’s news maker.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
FCSO arrest a Maryland man after a high speed chase
The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) reports the arrest of a Baltimore Maryland man after a high speed chase.
Michael Patrick Stewart was reported to be assaulting his child’s mother at the Sheetz store on North Frederick Pike and fled.
A Deputy spotted Stewart on Fox Drive and attempted to pull him over only to have him refuse to stop and accelerate towards the Winchester City limits.
Stewart u-turned and started back north toward Route 37 driving erratically through several yards in an attempt to evade.
More Deputies began to converge on Stewart who continued to drive erratically and at times in the wrong direction.
Stewart eventually exited at the Winchester Medical Center exit and collided with another vehicle which stopped the pursuit.
The suspect exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot when a good Samaritan with Deputies stopped him.
After being taken into custody Stewart initially gave false information it was discovered that he was driving suspended and on probation in Maryland.
Stewart was at the time of this report at Winchester Medical Center recovering from injuries sustained in the crash.
The citizen in the accident refused medical attention after being checked by Emergency Medical Personnel.
The mother who reported the assault appears unwilling to divulge additional information.
Stewart currently faces several charges including eluding, felony hit and run, providing false information and more.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Gov. Youngkin reports a general fund surplus for 2023
Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the general fund revenue collections for February 2023 were 1.2 percent higher in the first eight months of Fiscal Year 2023.
Unadjusted general fund revenues are ahead of forecast by over $111 million year to date.
If current trends continue the state is expecting a multi billion dollar surplus.
The Governor stated that Virginians continue to be overtaxed despite the state having abundant resources to lower costs and cut taxes.
At the same time the surplus enables Virginia to strengthen communities in various ways across Virginia.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.