Shenandoah launches first Air Traffic control program in VA

 Shenandoah University students can now work towards an Undergraduate Certificate in Air Traffic Control ahead of the program’s full launch this spring.

SU is the first school in Virginia and 13th in the Country to offer the program which bypasses the FAA academy in Oklahoma City.

To become an Enhanced Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative program, SU invested in an immersive state of the art air navigation simulator with AI enabled speech recognition and response, electronic flight strip board, digital recording capabilities, and a dedicated instructor station for creating, evaluating, and monitoring scenarios.

The new certificate program is completed through five courses over two years and students will have the credentials needed to start a career as an air traffic controller.

SU Director of Aviation Studies Tony LaRosa said, “The air traffic controller shortage is real and it’s serious. I’m proud that Shenandoah is stepping up to prepare students to meet the challenge.”

For more information, click here.

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LRCC welcomes second class of Future Educators

Logo used by permission from Laurel Ridge Community College

Laurel Ridge Community College’s second cohort of students in the Future Educators Academy began their studies this semester.

The program allows high school juniors to enroll and spend their mornings at Laurel Ridge and the rest of the day at their high school.

Students can then earn their associates degree in Education at the same time they graduate high school and will have guaranteed admission to education programs at Mary Baldwin, Old Dominion, Shenandoah, Lynchburg, and Mary Washington with more agreements in the works.

Students may also transfer to other four schools in the state with their associates degree.

The program is free for students and was created to help address widespread teacher shortages across the region.

Sherando High School senior Maddox Hayes joined the program last year with the goal of teaching middle or high school students and said, “Since middle school, I’ve found I really like to help people, and this is just an opportunity for me to help people as my full-time job and do it all the time. My favorite part about FEA is probably how it’s accelerated and I’m going to be two years ahead.”

Learn more about the program here.

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

Winchester Royals claim 14th VBL title in extra innings

The Winchester Royals defeated the Charlottesville Tom Sox 5-4 last night to secure their first Valley Baseball League championship since 2004.

The game spanned nearly five hours and concluded in the bottom of the 16th inning when Shenandoah University’s JP Williams hit a 3 run walk-off home run.

Winchester led the majority of the game and took a 2-0 lead into the 9th inning before Charlottesville began to rally, scoring 2 runs with 2 outs on the board.

The game then remained scoreless until the 16th when Charlottesville took a 4-2 lead due to a fielding error.

Williams’ home run for the Royals was their first base hit since the 5th inning and Winchester was out hit throughout the ball game, 16-3.

Royals pitchers Blaine Griffin, Tyler Oaks, and Jackson Walsh pitched out of jams effectively all night and stranded 14 Charlottesville baserunners.

Lucas Marrero was credited with the win.

The Royals were led by Manager Brian Burke and it is his first VBL Championship as the head ball coach.

Winchester’s 14th Lineweaver Cup places them a top the all time VBL standings and breaks the tie with Harrisonburg at 13.

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

SCPS announces Melissa Foltz as Interim Superintendent

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Last week, the Shenandoah County School Board announced the appointment of Melissa Foltz as the Interim Superintendent, effective August 1st.

Foltz has served SCPS for the past 35 years as an elementary teacher, reading specialist, assistant principal and principal.

She has held the role of principal at Sandy Hook and W.W. Robinson Elementary Schools and since 2017 at Strasburg High School.

Foltz holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and an endorsement in Administration and Supervision PreK-12 from James Madison University and at Shenandoah University she earned a masters of Education in Reading and completed the Reading Recovery Certified Teacher Training.

In the announcement, School Board Chairman Larry Vance said, “A number of names were suggested, but Ms. Foltz brought the best range of experience and knowledge of the Shenandoah County School System.”

“I am truly honored to serve as Interim Superintendent of Shenandoah County Public Schools,” said Foltz. “I look forward to working alongside our
exceptional leadership team, whose dedication and expertise will help ensure a smooth”
transition.

Previous Shenandoah County Superintendent Dr. Melody Sheppard submitted her letter of resignation earlier this summer and was announced as the new Superintendent of Amherst County Public Schools on June 17th.

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

News Maker: Sam Iden, Winchester EDA, on Business Resource Fair

News Maker Sam Iden, Winchester EDA, discusses the upcoming Business Resource Fair on July 29th, 2026 at the HIVE on campus of Shenandoah University.

Whether you are launching a new business, growing an existing company, exploring entrepreneurship, or looking for workforce and career-connected opportunities, this event will provide direct access to resource partners, business support organizations, funding information, networking opportunities, and expert guidance.

Attendees will have the opportunity to:
• Connect with local and regional business resource organizations
• Learn about funding, startup, and growth opportunities
• Explore workforce and career development resources
• Network with entrepreneurs, professionals, and community leaders
• Discover tools and strategies to support business success

To listen to Sam’s News Maker, click here.

For tickets, click here.

News makers are sponsored by Warren County.

Experience Warren County Where History, Nature, and Family Come Together.

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

News Maker: Sam Iden, Winchester EDA, on Business Resource Fair

News Maker Sam Iden, Winchester EDA, discusses the upcoming Business Resource Fair on July 29th, 2026 at the HIVE on campus of Shenandoah University.

Whether you are launching a new business, growing an existing company, exploring entrepreneurship, or looking for workforce and career-connected opportunities, this event will provide direct access to resource partners, business support organizations, funding information, networking opportunities, and expert guidance.

Attendees will have the opportunity to:
• Connect with local and regional business resource organizations
• Learn about funding, startup, and growth opportunities
• Explore workforce and career development resources
• Network with entrepreneurs, professionals, and community leaders
• Discover tools and strategies to support business success

For tickets, click here.

News makers are sponsored by Warren County.

Experience Warren County Where History, Nature, and Family Come Together.

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

SSMT granted marketing funds to attract overnight guests

shenandoah university admission tests

The Virginia Tourism Corporation recently granted Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre a grant of $10,000 through the Marketing Leverage Program.

Shenandoah plans to use the funds to attract patrons to Winchester as overnight guests which will increase economic activity in the community.

SU is partnering with local businesses like the George Washington Hotel, Cafe Del Sol, Friends of Old Town and others to build marketing campaigns that bring visitors to the theatre and surrounding areas.

SSMT is also working with tourism affiliates to pilot a new visitor cooperative program where patrons can present their ticket stub from the theatre to receive discounts or other incentives from partnering businesses, and the theatre hopes to begin that program in 2027.

Jeremy Blaustein, producing artistic director of SSMT, said, “We aim to do double duty: create unforgettable multigenerational experiences and also boost our local economy by attracting visitors who support area shops, restaurants and hotels. A thriving arts scene is not just a cultural treasure – it’s a hallmark of a healthy, vibrant.”

To view the full announcement, click here.

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

Graduation season begins in the Shenandoah Valley

Graduation season begins around the region this weekend with Shenandoah University’s commencement ceremony taking place Saturday morning at 10 am at the James R. Wilkins Center.

The ceremony will honor over 1,400 graduates and the University is anticipating roughly 5,000 attendees so expect heavy traffic near campus entrances and Millwood Avenue Saturday morning.

SU’s Commencement events begin on Thursday, May 7th with the Graduate Walk Through and Grad Bash and will conclude with Saturday’s Ceremony.

Laurel Ridge Community College and Christendom College will host their commencement ceremonies next weekend.

Other Spring ceremonies include:

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

Sports Dogs Podcast: Duke meets The Royal Family? Commanders Draft, Skyline Signing Day

In this edition, The Dogs:

  • discuss the King and Queen coming to Front Royal and how The Duke plans to join in on the festivities
  • review and grade the recent Commanders’ NFL Draft picks
  • The Duke also chats with several Skyline HS athletes who are looking ahead to the next level including Day’Shawn Haley and Barrett Stephens.

Click HERE for the latest episode of the Sports Dogs Podcast on TheRiver953.com, Spotify, iTunes, or Amazon Music.

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Apple Blossom announces exceptional athletes and Hall of Fame inductees

The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival announced the local honorees for this year’s Sports Breakfast including exceptional athletes from each school and two Hall of Fame selections.

In the announcement from Festival President Jeremy Luttrell, Pepper Martin Jr and Jimmy Dix were selected as this year’s Hall of Fame inductees.

Martin served as head baseball and wrestling coach for three decades at Sherando High School before retiring in 2023.

During his coaching career in baseball, he compiled a record of 407-241 and led his teams to 10 district championships, 4 state playoff berths and a State Championship in 2013.

In wrestling, he led his team to a record of 478-123 and earned nine district championships.

He also coached four individual state champions and 55 state place winners.

Jimmy Dix was a 1959 Handley Grad who spent over six decades giving back to the school and supporting their athletic programs.

Dix began volunteering in 1964 and joined the chain crew in 1967, a role he kept until 2020, and helped the basketball team as clock operator, a role he continues today.

During his time on the Judges Athletics Association Board, he was instrumental in establishing the Hunter-Maddex Hall of Fame and later the Edwin Barksdale Wing to honor former Douglas School Athletes.

Dix also volunteered his time with youth baseball and softball programs and served on the Winchester Parks and Recreation Board.

The local athletes that will be honored during the breakfast include:

  • James Wood- Aiden Bell
  • Handley- Christian Dinges
  • Shenandoah University- Emily Williams
  • Millbrook- Emma Martin
  • Sherando- Gabriella Koch
  • Clarke County- Gracie Brown
  • Warren County- Gavin Hetrick
  • Skyline- Josiah Sykes
  • Mountain View Christian Academy- Zoe Harbin

For more information on the:

  • Hall of Fame selections, click here
  • Student Athlete honorees, click here

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