Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application at Summit Square Retirement Community in Waynesboro 1930 and was the son of the late Albert H. Coy Wimer and Mason Brown; and his great-great grandchildren; Hudson and Emerson Wimer he was employed with the Virginia Department of Highways as a road design engineer and assisted with designing sections of Interstate 81 He considered himself fortunate as he later worked as a construction engineer with Moore Brothers of Verona and assisted with building sections of the road and bridges he helped design He later became President of March Excavation and subdivision development in the Staunton and Augusta County area a past member of the Staunton Augusta Board of Realtors He was also a member of the Staunton Elks Lodge No Bob had a strong sense of loyalty to his family and friends He never met a stranger and accepted all with a non-judgemental curiosity to know about their lives He was inquisitive and loved learning new things He was full of knowledge from his life experiences and was a master at sharing those experiences with others many lives and all were proud to be called his friend A memorial service will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Friday John’s United Methodist Church in Staunton with the Reverend Jonathan Greer officiating Memorial contributions may be made to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (P.O the Valley Mission (1513 West Beverley Street John’s United Methodist Church (1716 N Augusta St Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Davis Reid is following the same path as his dad Both were very good high school baseball pitchers talented enough to play in college if they wanted to pursue that avenue But both were also driven by another passion — music lead singer for the legendary country group The Statler Brothers Lee High School and briefly considered going the route of college athlete What stopped him was a high school graduation speech by his dad who told the students to follow their hearts and do what makes them happy Langdon is one half of the very successful Wilson Fairchild is currently a senior at Staunton's Grace Christian School and to form their eponymous band that just recently released its debut album Jack and David Reid also has a full slate of concerts planned for the summer including Staunton's Happy Birthday America celebration on July 4 Davis is focused on baseball as Grace prepares for the postseason The 6-foot-5 right-hander is 4-1 with two saves allowing just three earned runs over 28 innings on the mound He also has struck out 70 batters and walked just 12 carrying a .389 average with seven extra-base hits "Davis is definitely the leader of our ball team both on and off the field," said Grace coach Michael Mallory The thing I love most about Davis is that he just flat out enjoys the game." More: Staunton City Schools purchases former Eavers property for new operations center even if things don't go Davis's way on the field the senior keeps the great attitude and disposition that any coach wants in a leader "He plays the game like it should be played which means competing with every ounce of God given talent he has while remembering that the goal of any game he plays is to enjoy it and have fun," Mallory said the pop of the ball in the catcher's mitt when the batter misses one of his fastballs "I like controlling the game," he said about pitching Davis didn't play basketball his senior season As the popularity of Jack and Davis Reid has grown the group has been booking more and more gigs He looked at the basketball schedule and his concert schedule and realized there were about 10 dates that overlapped "I didn't want to be selfish and play like four games," he said "That was unfair to the guys who were playing and to the coach .. I felt like they would jell better without me there." He did find time to get in the gym for workouts this winter putting on some extra muscle for baseball season That is one reason he's having such a great senior season why his pitches have more zip on them and his bat has a little more pop this spring "He has the perfect balance of competitiveness and joy for playing the game," Langdon said "Which is refreshing in today’s sports climate.” Langdon and Davis spend a lot of time talking baseball so there's no better teacher as Davis navigates his busy schedule "I don't come home and need to have a baseball in my hand like I need to have a piano or guitar in my hand," he said That's interesting since Davis had been playing baseball since he was 7 but only seriously playing music for the last four years Jack had tried to convince his younger cousin to sing with him for years even offering to pay him if he joined Jack on stage at a school talent show He thought at the time that the music gene just skipped him In 2021 Davis heard the piano intro to Chicago's "Saturday in the Park." He loved it so much that he watched YouTube videos to learn how to play it a group that has booked close to 100 shows this year with more open dates He's missed one baseball game because of music this spring his dad and his baseball coach for helping him strike the right balance between music but they also realize he wants to enjoy his final baseball season "Davis' passion is definitely his music and I know he brings that same work ethic enthusiasm and joy to that part of his life as well," Mallory said "I hope and pray he'll be just as entertaining and successful on stage as he has been on the diamond." More: Area youth take to livestock ring at annual 4-H/FFA Market Animal Show Davis will pursue music once his high school baseball career is done I’ve always supported him in his direction and baseball has brought a lot of good games and memories through the years for him," Langdon said "But I really look forward to seeing his passion for music and how it’s going to flourish in his next chapter.” It's bittersweet for Davis knowing his high school playing days are nearing an end There's also a bit of a relief knowing that "I am excited for that freedom," Davis said "There will be no more stress of trying to make everybody happy or have to manage my schedule — Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Connect with Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and on Instagram @hitepatrick. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com 2025; more at vaprojectpipeline.virginia.gov STAUNTON – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is seeking feedback to support a transportation study assessing potential solutions on the rural segment of Route 522 (North Frederick Pike) from Red Oak Road to Echo Lane west of Route 37 This study will focus on safety and capacity preservation The corridor has several crash hot spots with issues related to high speeds and running off the road VDOT invites residents and travelers to learn more and take an online survey which is available May 5-19 Community input received through this survey will help the study team identify existing issues along the study corridor and develop recommendations for potential improvements that will be evaluated and presented during the next phase of the study which will include another opportunity for public comment The survey, which has a translation tool for other languages, is available at https://publicinput.com/st-25-04. Comments can also be sent to brad.reed@vdot.virginia.gov or to Brad Reed Virginia Department of Transportation Staunton District as well as regional and local funding sources The VDOT Staunton District is on Facebook and X (Twitter). Follow VDOT statewide accounts on Facebook, Flickr, and YouTube The VDOT Web page is located at https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/ The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick Please note that this file is not ADA compliant a provider of vertically integrated contract manufacturing solutions to the MedTech and Pharma markets announced in a press release that the company received the 19th annual Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy Cadence was nominated for this award by Blue Ridge Community College Virginia Foundation for Community College Education created the Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy in 2006 to recognize individuals and businesses for their contributions to the growth and development of Virginia’s community colleges and their foundations This year’s honorees were recognized at the annual Leadership in Philanthropy luncheon ceremony in Richmond on April 15 “We are incredibly thankful to be a recipient of The Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy and for our partnership with Blue Ridge Community College,” said Cadence’s Chief Financial Officer “We are proud to play a role in preparing the next generation of skilled professionals who will drive innovation and success in our community and beyond.” Cadence began collaborating with BRCC and the BRCC Educational Foundation in 1990 many of Cadence’s employees have served on boards in service to the college the company has employed numerous BRCC graduates and the company has made substantial investments in the community college mission “We are honored to partner with Cadence on many initiatives that impact career and technical education Cadence has been a tremendous partner for Blue Ridge Community College Earnings from this endowment allow the Educational Foundation to purchase equipment for BRCC – resulting in our students learning on the most state-of-the-art machines and technology,” said BRCC President The Rotary Club of Waynesboro prersented Wenonah Elementary School with a $15,000 community grant for renovation of their playground and outdoor play areas on May 1 The funds will allow Wenonah Elementary School to expand the amount of playground equipment and better utilize spaces They plan to turn a yard into a place to play soccer and an area with black top into a space for basketball “Not only does this benefit all the students directly but it has a broader impact on the neighborhood,” Lowrie Tucker “Wenonah has become a place families sign up to use on the weekends for social events like neighborhood birthday parties This is making a space the community already values better and puts Wenonah’s facilities more on par with the other schools in town.” Wenonah also offers other opportunities for students and the community A few examples include: extended school year experience for students though their STEAM Camp and summer reading booster; family education and programming in partnership with Augusta Health Project Grows and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank in the Families Food and Fun program; support in holiday assistance programs for Thanksgiving and Christmas “Wenonah Elementary works to provide an experience for our students that not only meets academic goals but also creates opportunities to develop the whole child,” said Wenonah Principal Abby Boxler Arey “Our ultimate goal is to create good humans that are prepared to be contributing members of their community Our efforts are not possible without the support and dedication of our stakeholders We appreciate the Rotary's commitment to expand our campus to continue to serve our students and the greater Waynesboro community.” The community grant to Wenonah Elementary School is part of the Rotary Club of Waynesboro’s centennial year initiative This is in addition to the community grants the club distributed to 20 nonprofits earlier in the year Staunton has been recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its continued commitment to planting and maintaining trees to benefit the community The City of Staunton has been recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its continued commitment to planting This marks Staunton’s 29th year receiving the designation trees are proven to help cool neighborhoods they can also reduce traffic noise and lower energy costs for homeowners “We all have a role to play in shaping our future and tree champions like Staunton are leading the way,” said Michelle Saulnier vice president of programs at the Arbor Day Foundation Staunton City Council presented a proclamation recognizing Arbor Day at its regular meeting on April 24 “Each tree we plant or preserve contributes to a healthier environment and stronger community We’re proud to continue this legacy and shape a greener future for Staunton,” said Matt Sensabaugh horticulturalist for the City of Staunton National nonprofit Petco Love invests in Shenandoah Valley Animal Services CenterShenandoah Valley Animal Services Center is set to receive a $20,000 grant investment from national nonprofit Petco Love in support of their lifesaving work for pets in Staunton Petco Love is a national nonprofit that is leading change for pets by harnessing the power of love to make communities and pet families closer Petco Love has invested nearly $410 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts And Petco Love helps find loving homes for pets in partnership with Petco and more than 4,000 organizations across North America with nearly 7 million pets adopted and counting “Our investment in Shenandoah Valley Animal Services Center is part of more than $12 million in investments recently announced by Petco Love to power local organizations across the country as part of our commitment to create a future in which no pet is unnecessarily euthanized,” said Susanne Kogut “Our local investments are only part of our strategy to empower animal lovers to drive lifesaving change right alongside us a free national lost and found database that uses photo-matching technology to simplify the search for lost pets.” “This investment provides SVASC with extra support that will help us continue our lifesaving work that was established over the previous decade We are thrilled that Petco Love continues to support our shelter and is committed to helping us save pets from the Staunton and Waynesboro communities,” said Jon Hilbert Shenandoah Valley Animal Services Center is an open-admission animal shelter that serves the citizens of Staunton SVASC has reduced the euthanasia rate for shelter pets and over the past several years has maintained a save rate of over 90% the remarkable save rate is related to the support of Petco Love and other local organizations that support SVASC For more information about SVASC, visit svasc.net. Learn more about Petco Love here: petcolove.org More: Fishersville man's trespassing charges won't be prosecuted ARISE grant supports Blue Ridge Rising initiative in 22 Blue Ridge Parkway counties in Virginia and North Carolina The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation has secured a three-year $5.13 million grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to support regional strategies to advance cultural and recreational tourism The grant activities will benefit dozens of Appalachian gateway communities along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina that host millions of visitors each year “By investing in infrastructure improvements Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s ARISE grant stands to have a robust economic impact on Appalachian North Carolina and Southwest Virginia,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin this project exemplifies the importance of a multistate collaborative approach to rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene or any horrific disaster within our region.” The ARC grant and matching funds will help implement strategies outlined in the Blue Ridge Rising Action Plan created with the input of hundreds of community leaders in the counties that neighbor the national park Blue Ridge Rising marks the first time in the national park’s history that these counties are working together to implement travel and outdoor recreation strategies that will have wide-ranging benefits throughout the Parkway corridor The initiative earned the Public Lands Alliance’s 2025 Outstanding Public Engagement Award our local communities need this ARC grant now more than ever,” said Carolyn Ward “We look forward to putting these dollars to work quickly to enhance Parkway-related tourism and local economies.” This grant was made under the Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) which is an ARC initiative that aims to drive large-scale regional transformation through multistate collaborative projects across Appalachia The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation will partner with Friends of Southwest Virginia “This funding represents a significant opportunity to advance regional tourism and economic development,” said Kim Davis executive director of Friends of Southwest Virginia “Through this partnership with the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation we are aligning efforts across state lines to strengthen Appalachian gateway communities and enhance the visitor experience along one of our most valuable natural and cultural assets.” Monique Calello is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas always welcome. Connect with her at mcalello@newsleader.com. Support local journalism and subscribe to us at newsleader.com 2025; more at vaprojectpipeline.virginia.gov in partnership with the City of Harrisonburg is seeking feedback on a transportation study assessing potential solutions on Route 42 (Virginia Avenue) between Gay Street and the Harrisonburg city limit This study will focus on identifying measures to encourage lower speeds The study will evaluate alternatives to preserve throughput on the two-lane segment from Gay Street to Edom Road identified in the Harrisonburg Rockingham Metropolitan Planning Organization 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan as being over capacity in the future The corridor also has barriers to use for people biking and walking to destinations such as nearby activity centers and the transit connections used for travel throughout the city and beyond VDOT invites residents and travelers to learn more and take an online survey which is available May 5-19 The survey, which has a translation tool for other languages, is available at https://publicinput.com/st-25-01. Comments can also be sent to brad.reed@vdot.virginia.gov or to Brad Reed VDOT and Harrisonburg Public Works will host an open house for the study on Tuesday There will be two location/timeframe options to attend where the community may share their experiences thoughts and questions related to traveling the area The open house location/time options include: is seeking feedback to support a transportation study assessing potential solutions on Route 7 (Berryville Pike) from Greenwood Road to the Frederick eastern county limits This study will focus on developing recommendations to address safety needs The corridor has several crash hot spots with issues related to high speeds VDOT invites residents and travelers to learn more and take an online survey which is available May 5-19 The survey, which has a translation tool for other languages, is available at https://publicinput.com/st-25-05. Comments can also be sent to brad.reed@vdot.virginia.gov or to Brad Reed Fox Chase Cancer CenterEmily StorzMedia Relations Manager267-882-0699[email protected]   It is granted by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics — the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals — and its affiliates including the Pennsylvania Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to foster leadership within the profession.“I am privileged to work with a dedicated interprofessional team at Fox Chase Cancer Center to assist patients whose courage and resilience inspire me every day,” Staunton said “This award is not only a reflection of my efforts but also a celebration of the collective efforts of my colleagues and the Fox Chase community.”In her role at Fox Chase Staunton focuses on ethical feeding practices for patients with cancer She founded and is Chair of the Ethical Feeding Task Force which she believes is one of the first of its kind The purpose of the task force is ensuring ethical administration of intravenous She currently manages intravenous nutrition orders for all oncology patients at Fox Chase and educates providers on end-of-life nutrition care and support.Staunton also serves as Lead Clinical Preceptor for Fox Chase and Temple University Hospital - Jeanes Campus This role involves overseeing all dietetic interns as they complete their clinical nutrition rotations.Staunton is a member of Fox Chase’s Nutrition Steering Committee and she currently serves as the Chair-Elect for the International Clinical Ethics Section of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.In recent years she has been awarded funding for research on the use of indirect calorimetry versus weight-based equations to dose parenteral nutrition and has presented on the topics of nutrition support and ethics at several local and national conferences.  which includes the Institute for Cancer Research and the American Oncologic Hospital and is a part of Temple Health is one of the leading comprehensive cancer centers in the United States Founded in 1904 in Philadelphia as one of the nation’s first cancer hospitals Fox Chase was also among the first institutions to be designated a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1974 Fox Chase is also one of just 10 members of the Alliance of Dedicated Cancer Centers Fox Chase researchers have won the highest awards in their fields Fox Chase physicians are also routinely recognized in national rankings and the Center’s nursing program has received the Magnet recognition for excellence six consecutive times Fox Chase conducts a broad array of nationally competitive basic with special programs in cancer prevention It is the policy of Fox Chase Cancer Center that there shall be no exclusion from the delivery of quality medical care on the basis of race For more information, call 888-369-2427 888-369-2427 Temple University   ©2022 Temple University Health System education and research activities carried out by the affiliates of Temple University Health System (TUHS) and by the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University TUHS neither provides nor controls the provision of health care All health care is provided by its member organizations or independent health care providers affiliated with TUHS member organizations Each TUHS member organization is owned and operated pursuant to its governing documents When Jirutsiri Teachavittayapanitkun recently opened her restaurant on Staunton's West End is in the same building as the Citgo station Little Mart and Treetop Juice Bar directly across from Thornrose Cemetery but Kim's just opened to customers in mid April one customer stopped in and excitedly told Teachavittayapanitkun Sitting at a table in the restaurant April 24 with her daughter Teachavittayapanitkun explained that many of the recipes she uses are from her mom and grandmother who taught her how to prepare the food so the methods they used wouldn't be lost to future generations Among the entrees at Kim's are khao man gai Both include boiled chicken with rice and sauce which is grilled marinated chicken with rice and a sauce The chef's specials include khao yum gai sabb The dessert menu includes mango sticky rice toddy palm in syrup and coconut milk ice cream More: Honey Bee's Florist gets council approval to relocate to former Staunton Eye Clinic The drink menu at Kim's has Thai tea and coffee There are also sides and appetizers available Teachavittayapanitkun began working in restaurants in Bangkok at 18 She opened Kim's to provide traditional food that she grew up eating and cooking to the residents of Staunton "She wants to provide the traditional taste to others," her daughter explained saying the recipes are unique for the area Teachavittayapanitkun has traveled throughout Asia and brings a lot of the experience she's gained to her food at Kim's She said some of the food can be pretty spicy "We welcome the community in to try the new experience of food," she said "All of the dishes are cooked with love as I cook it at home." More: Sheriff's Office: Staunton man charged after student comes forward Traffic Signal in Operation 24/7 for Bridge Work STAUNTON – The Virginia Department of Transportation has rescheduled the activation of temporary traffic signals on the Route 42 bridge over Buckingham Branch Railroad located just northwest of Morgan Drive in the Nicelytown area of Alleghany County This is about 1.5 miles north of Interstate 64 exit 29 Crews are performing bridge maintenance and paving with northbound and southbound traffic alternating with the use of the temporary traffic signal on a 24 hour-a-day During this work the bridge will not be open to wide-load tractor trailers The work is expected to last until Labor Day (September 1 For updated traffic alerts and traveler information, dial 511 or visit https://511.vdot.virginia.gov/ The VDOT Customer Service Center can assist with reporting road hazards, asking transportation questions, or getting information related to Virginia’s roads. Call 800-FOR- ROAD (800-367-7623) or use its mobile friendly website at https://my.vdot.virginia.gov Highway Work Zones in the VDOT Staunton District STAUNTON – The following is a list of highway work that may affect traffic in the Staunton transportation district during the coming weeks The Staunton District consists of 11 counties from the Alleghany Highlands to the northern Shenandoah Valley: Alleghany Scheduled work is subject to change due to inclement weather and material supplies Motorists are advised to watch for slow-moving tractors during mowing operations be alert to periodic changes in traffic patterns and lane closures *NEW* or *UPDATE* indicates a change from last week’s report ALLEGHANY COUNTY INTERSTATE 64Mile marker 0 to 41 eastbound – Mobile right shoulder closures for debris cleanup Monday through Friday.*NEW* Mile marker 15 to 0 westbound – Mobile right shoulder closures for debris cleanup Monday through Friday.*NEW* Mile marker 15 to 16 eastbound – Right shoulder closures for sign work Monday through Friday. *NEW* Mile marker 16 to 19 eastbound and westbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for pavement marker installations Sunday through Wednesday nights.Mile marker 25 to 27 eastbound and westbound – Single lane closures 24/7 for maintenance to bridges over Sioux Avenue and Commercial Avenue (Clifton Forge) PRIMARY ROADS*UPDATE* Route 42 (Forty Two Road) – Temporary traffic signal in operation 24/7 near Route 636 (Morgan Drive) intersection for maintenance to bridge over railway Wide-load tractor trailers prohibited.*NEW* Route 60 (Midland Trail/South Monroe Avenue/East Madison Street Covington) – Overnight flagger traffic control between Valley Ridge Road and I-64 interchange for pavement marker installations Sunday through Wednesday nights.*NEW* Route 220 (Hot Springs Road) – Overnight flagger traffic control between Route 640 (Falls Road) and Covington city limits for pavement marker installations Sunday through Wednesday nights.*NEW* Route 311 (Kanawha Trail) – Overnight flagger traffic control between Route 604 (Snake Run Road) and Route 159 (Dunlap Creek Road) for pavement marker installations Sunday through Wednesday nights.Various roads – Flagger traffic control for tree and debris removal weekdays.SECONDARY ROADSVarious roads – Flagger traffic control for ditch work BATH COUNTY PRIMARY ROADS*NEW* Route 39 (Mountain Valley Road) – Overnight mobile lane closures between Route 220 (Sam Snead Highway) and Route 630 (Stage Coach Drive) for pavement marker installations Sunday through Wednesday nights.*NEW* Route 220 (Sam Snead Highway) Shoulder closures near Route 39 (Mountain Valley Road) intersection for sign work Monday through Friday.Various roads – Flagger traffic control for shoulder repairs and pipe cleaning SECONDARY ROADS*NEW* Route 606 (McGraw Gap Road) Shoulder closures just east of Route 220 (Sam Snead Highway) intersection for sign work Monday through Friday.Various roads – Flagger traffic control for brush cutting and pipe cleaning  ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY INTERSTATE 64*NEW* Mile marker 41 to 57 eastbound and westbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for vegetation control Monday through Thursday nights.*NEW* Mile marker 48 to 51 eastbound and westbound – Alternating lane closures for bridge inspection northbound and southbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for vegetation control Monday through Thursday nights.*NEW* Mile marker 188 to 184 southbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for installation of drainage structures northbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for paving operations May 4 – June 12 nights.*NEW* Mile marker 190 to 193 northbound and southbound – Overnight right lane closures and narrowing of Exit 191 ramp to I-64 for bridge inspection PRIMARY ROADSRoute 11 Business (North Main Street Lexington) – Flagger traffic control between Massie Street and Hook Lane for utility work Traffic restrictions are for pedestrian-access improvement project with scheduled completion in August 2025.*NEW* Route 11 (North Lee Highway) – Northbound and southbound alternating lane closures between Route 736 (Lincoln Road) and Route 631 (Furrs Mill Road/Old Buena Vista Road) for road sweeping Wednesday through Friday.*NEW* Route 42 (Virginia Avenue) – Shoulder closures near Goshen northern town limits for sign work Monday through Friday.Various roads – Flagger traffic control for pipe replacement SECONDARY ROADSVarious roads – Flagger traffic control for grading HIGHLAND COUNTY PRIMARY ROADS*NEW* Route 220 (Potomac River Road) – Overnight flagger traffic control between Route 632 (The Pines Road) and West Virginia state line for pavement marker installations Monday through Wednesday nights.*NEW* Route 250 (Highland Turnpike/Mountain Turnpike) – Overnight flagger traffic control between Route 616 (Upper Fork Road) and West Virginia state line for pavement marker installations Monday through Wednesday nights.Various roads – Flagger traffic control for pothole patching SECONDARY ROADSVarious roads – Flagger traffic control for brush cutting adding stone to unpaved roads and ditch work  AUGUSTA COUNTY  INTERSTATE 64*NEW* Mile marker 87 to 100 eastbound and westbound – Overnight single lane closures for vegetation control Sunday to Thursday nights.Mile marker 88 to 99 eastbound and westbound – Right shoulder closures for sign installations Monday to Friday. *UPDATE* Mile marker 95 to 98 eastbound and westbound – Overnight single-lane closures from 8 p.m eastbound – Overnight narrowing of ramps to and from Route 250 for bridge painting northbound and southbound – Overnight single lane closures for vegetation control Monday to Thursday nights.*NEW* Mile marker 215 to 213 southbound – Right shoulder closures for shoulder repairs Monday through Friday.*UPDATE* Mile marker 220 to 222 northbound and southbound – Overnight alternating lane closures Northbound and southbound shoulder closures 24/7 Traffic restrictions are for bridge replacement and roadway construction as part of I-81 southbound auxiliary lane project Work zone speed limit 60 miles an hour. Exit 221 southbound – Left or right lane closed along ramp to I-64 eastbound beginning due to overpass bridge work related to I-81 widening project Ramp lane closures expected to continue through summer 2025.*UPDATE* Mile marker 221 to 227 northbound and southbound – Exit 221 southbound off-ramp limited to a single lane through summer 2025 Exit 225 right shoulder closures along off-ramp Northbound and southbound shoulder closures 24/7 through spring 2026 Traffic restrictions are for I-81 widening project Work zone speed limit 60 miles an hour. Mile marker 226 to 230 northbound and southbound – Overnight single-lane closures from 8 p.m Estimated completion May 31. Mile marker 231 to 233 northbound and southbound – Right lane closures with rest area ramp narrowing for rock and soil testing Sunday through Thursday nights. *UPDATE* Mile marker 234 to 237 northbound and southbound – Overnight left lane closures southbound for installation of concrete barriers Overnight single lane closures northbound for pavement marking work Traffic restrictions are for construction of I-81 truck-climbing lanes. PRIMARY ROADSRoute 42 (Scenic Highway) – Northbound shoulder closures between Route 646 (Fadley Road) and Route 754 (Badger Road) for utility work through May 3.*NEW* Route 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) – Flagger traffic control between Waynesboro eastern city limits and I-64 interchange for paving operations Monday through Friday.Route 250 (Three Notched Mountain Highway) – Eastbound and westbound right shoulder closures near I-64 exit 99 interchange for painting of interstate overpass bridges through May 31. Route 254 (Ivy Street Waynesboro) – Shoulder closures between King Avenue and Waynesboro western city limits for underground utility work through June 30.*NEW* Route 262 (Woodrow Wilson Parkway) – Westbound left shoulder closures between I-81/I-64 interchange and Route 11 (Lee Jackson Highway) for rock and soil testing SECONDARY ROADS*NEW* Route 602 (Summerdean Road) – Closed to through traffic between Route 603 (Cales Springs Road) and Route 677 (Shemariah Road) for bridge rehabilitation from May 5 through June 6 Follow posted detour.Route 607 (Mount Solon Road) – Eastbound shoulder closures between Route 843 (Drainage Divide Lane) and Route 739 (Curry Road) for utility work through May 3. Route 608 (Cold Springs Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 1525 (Ridgeview Drive) and Route 842 (Horseshoe Circle) for utility work through May 22.*NEW* Route 617 (Swisher Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 612 (Laurel Hill Road) and Route 608 (Battlefield Road) for utility work May 5 to May 15. Route 624 (South Delphine Avenue Waynesboro) – Shoulder closures between South Oak Lane and Chinquapin Drive through May 2025 for work related to construction of Waynesboro Southern Corridor. Route 628 (Thorofare Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 612 (Crimora Mine Road) and Route 340 (East Side Highway) for utility work through May 8.Route 635 (Barterbrook Road) – Closed between I-81 frontage roads (FR-217 and FR-218) for bridge replacement as part of I-81 southbound auxiliary lane project Expected completion in July 2025. Route 664 (Lyndhurst Road Waynesboro) – Shoulder closures between Miami Avenue and Purdue Street for work related to construction of Waynesboro Southern Corridor through June 2025. *NEW* Route 675 (Broadhead School Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 604 (Lotts Road) and Route 11 (Lee-Jackson Highway) for bridge inspection Thursday. *NEW* Route 773 (Westview School Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 778 (Knightly Mill Road) and Route 775 (Buttermilk Road) for rock and soil testing Monday through Friday.*NEW* Route 775 (Buttermilk Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 11 (Lee Highway) and Route 773 (Westview School Road) for rock and soil testing Monday through Friday.*UPDATE* Route 5119 (Oak Lane Waynesboro) – Local traffic only between Lyndhurst Road and Delphine Avenue through May 30 for road work related to Waynesboro Southern Corridor project Through traffic will be detoured.Various roads – Mobile traffic control for mowing operations ROCKINGHAM COUNTY  INTERSTATE 81*NEW* Mile marker 237 to 264 northbound and southbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for roadway sweeping Monday through Thursday nights. *UPDATE* Mile marker 237 to 264 through Thursday night.*UPDATE* Mile marker 239 to 242 northbound – Right shoulder closures for shoulder repairs Monday through Friday. Mile marker 237 to 238 Traffic restrictions are for construction of I-81 truck-climbing lanes northbound and southbound – Shoulder closures along ramps to and from Route 257 for construction of additional turn lanes through July 1. Mile marker 242 to 248 northbound and southbound – Occasional overnight ramp and lane closures as needed Traffic restrictions are for Route 33 bridge and interchange projectwith completion expected in fall 2026 PRIMARY ROADSRoute 33 (Rawley Pike) – Flagger traffic control between Laurel Woods Lane and Switzer Lake Road/Skidmore Fork for paving line-painting and guardrail work related to road widening and curve improvements through May 20.Route 33 (East Market Street Harrisonburg) – Eastbound and westbound traffic shifts beginning Wednesday Two lanes in each direction between I-81 interchange and Linda Lane/Burgess Road Traffic restrictions are for Route 33 bridge replacements and interchange improvement with expected completion in September 2026. Route 253 (Port Republic Road) – Flagger and pilot-truck traffic control between Route 276 (Cross Keys Road) and Route 672 (Latimer Road/Pineville Road) for paving operations  Route 253 (Port Republic Road) – Temporary traffic signal between Route 1601 (New Haven Road) and Route 1605 (Water Street) for maintenance to North River bridge  Various roads – Mobile traffic control for mowing operations Flagger traffic control for pipe replacement SECONDARY ROADS*UPDATE* Route 640 (Model Road) – Closed to through traffic between Route 980 (Honeysuckle Road) and Route 639 (Nicholson Road) Traffic restrictions are for bridge replacement. *NEW* Route 644 (Resort Drive) – Closed between Silverstone Lane and Woodstone Drive for paving operations and turn-lane construction Follow posted detour.Route 679 (Pleasant Valley Road) – Flagger and pilot truck traffic control between Route 704 (Cecil Wampler Road) and Harrisonburg city limits for paving operations through May 9. Route 682 (Friedens Church Road) – Eastbound and westbound single lane closures between I-81 interchange and Route 867 (North River Road) for road widening project through July 1.Route 710 (Ridgedale Road) – Flagger and pilot truck traffic control between Route 709 (Autumn Lane) and Harrisonburg city limits for paving operations PAGE COUNTY PRIMARY ROADS*NEW* Route 211 (Lee Highway) – Eastbound right shoulder closures between North Hawksbill Street and Business Route 340 for sign work Monday through Friday.*NEW* Route 211 (Lee Highway) – Eastbound right shoulder closures near Luray eastern town limits for sign work Monday through Friday.*NEW* Route 211 (Lee Highway) – Eastbound right shoulder closures between Route 667 (Dry Run Road) and Jessie Mae Lane for sign work Monday through Friday.Route 211 (Lee Highway) – Eastbound and westbound alternating lane closures at various locations between Route 340 South and Rappahannock County line for paving operations through June 7.*NEW* Route 340 – Flagger traffic control between Route 732 (Kites Corner Road) and Route 685 (Newport Road) for utility work through May 29.Business Route 340 (Main Street Stanley) – Flagger traffic control between Route 340 and Route 622 (Pond Avenue) for paving operations through May 30. Various roads – Mobile traffic control for mowing operations SECONDARY ROADSVarious roads – Flagger traffic control for brush cutting and pipe cleaning Monday through Thursday nights. *UPDATE* Mile marker 264 to 299 through June 6.*NEW* Mile marker 270 to 269 southbound – Continuous single-lane closures 5 p.m Sunday through Tuesday night (May 4-6 and again May 11-13) Lane closures are due to maintenance of bridge over North Fork Shenandoah River northbound and southbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for pavement and guardrail work Traffic restrictions are related to I-81 widening project. *NEW* Mile marker 295 to 299 northbound and southbound – Shoulder closures for utility work Shoulder closures between Route 698 (Daniel Gray Drive) and Route 1304 (Gospel Street) for sign work Monday through Friday.*NEW* Route 11 (Old Valley Pike) Shoulder closures near Route 720 (Wissler Road) intersection for sign work Monday through Friday.*NEW* Route 55 (Front Royal Road Strasburg) – Flagger traffic control between Route 1975 (Park Road) and South Eberly Street for paving operations through Wednesday.*NEW* Route 55/48 (John Marshall Highway/Wardensville Pike) – Flagger traffic control between Frederick County line and I-81 interchange for utility work through Wednesday.*UPDATE* Route 55/48 (John Marshall Highway) – Flagger traffic control between Route 628 (Middle Road) and I-81 interchange for paving operations through Tuesday.Route 211 (West Old Cross Road New Market) – Westbound left lane closures near I-81 interchange for maintenance to I-81 overpass bridge SECONDARY ROADS*NEW* Route 675 (Edinburg Gap Road) Shoulder closures near Route 678 (Fort Valley Road) intersection for sign work Monday through Thursday nights. Mile marker 302 to 300 southbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for pavement and guardrail work Daytime shoulder closures for sign installations Traffic restrictions are related to I-81 widening project.  PRIMARY ROADSRoute 7 (Berryville Pike) – Eastbound right lane closures between Route 656 (Greenwood Road) and Route 659 (Valley Mill Road) for utility work through May 9.Route 17/50 (Millwood Pike) – Eastbound and westbound left lane closures between Route 655 (Sulphur Spring Road) and Route 781 (Custer Avenue/Prince Frederick Drive) for turn lane construction SECONDARY ROADSRoute 649 (Springdale Road) – Closed to through traffic through May 30 between Route 651 (Shady Elm Road) and Route 648 (Passage Road) for replacement of Opequon Creek bridge Follow posted detour.Route 761 (Old Charles Town Road) – Closed to through traffic between Route 666 (Gun Club Road) and Route 661 (Wadesville Road) for replacement of Opequon Creek bridge at Clarke County line CLARKE COUNTY PRIMARY ROADS*UPDATE* Route 7 (Harry Byrd Highway) – Westbound alternating lane closures between Route 612 (Shepherds Mill Road) and Route 608 (Wickliffe Road) for utility work through May 30.*NEW* Route 50/17 (John Mosby Highway) – Eastbound and westbound right lane closures between Route 340 (Lord Fairfax Highway) and Route 622 (Swift Shoals Road) for tree removal operations through Friday.*NEW* Route 50/17 (John Mosby Highway) – Overnight mobile lane closures between Frederick County line and Fauquier County line for pavement marking through Sunday night.*NEW* Route 255 (Bishop Meade Road) – Overnight mobile lane closures between Route 340 (Lord Fairfax Highway) and Route 50/17 (John Mosby Highway) for pavement marking Thursday night.*NEW* Route 340 (Lord Fairfax Highway) – Overnight mobile lane closures operations between Route 277 (Fairfax Pike) and Route 669 (Highland Corners Road) for pavement marking Thursday night.Route 340 (Lord Fairfax Highway) – Flagger traffic control between Route 658 (White Post Road) and Route 616 (South Church Street through Friday.*NEW* Route 522 – Overnight alternating mobile operations between Route 340 (Lord Fairfax Highway) and Route 669 (Highland Corners Road) for pavement marking SECONDARY ROADSRoute 761 (Old Charles Town Road) – Closed to through traffic between Route 666 (Gun Club Road) and Route 661 (Wadesville Road) for replacement of Opequon Creek bridge at Frederick County line WARREN COUNTY  INTERSTATE 66*NEW* Mile marker 0 to 15 eastbound and westbound – Shoulder closures for utility work westbound – Shoulder closures for road work related to I-81 southbound widening Monday through Thursday nights. *NEW* Mile marker 299 to 300 May 5 to June 6. Mile marker 299 to 300  Traffic restrictions are related to I-81 widening project.  PRIMARY ROADS*NEW* Route 55 (John Marshall Highway) – Overnight mobile lane closures between Fauquier County line and Front Royal town limits for pavement marking operations Sunday and Monday nights. *NEW* Route 55 (Strasburg Road) – Overnight mobile lane closures between Shenandoah County line and Front Royal town limits for pavement marking operations through Monday night. *NEW* Route 79 (Apple Mountain Road) – Overnight mobile lane closures between Route 55 (John Marshall Highway) and I-66 interchange for pavement marking operations Sunday and Monday nights. *NEW* Route 340 (Stonewall Jackson Highway) – Overnight mobile lane closures between Page County line and Front Royal town limits for pavement marking operations Monday and Tuesday nights. *NEW* Route 522 (Remount Road) – Overnight mobile lane closures between Rappahannock County line and Front Royal town limits for pavement marking operations Monday and Tuesday nights. *NEW* Route 522/340 (Winchester Road) – Northbound and southbound overnight mobile lane closures between Clarke County line and Front Royal town limits for pavement marking operations SECONDARY ROADSRoute 611 (Long Meadow Road) – Closed to through traffic between Route 842 (Sulphur Spring Road) and Route 637 (North River Road) for replacement of bridge over Molly Booth Run Follow posted detour.Route 658 (Rockland Road) – Closed to through traffic between Route 340/522 (Winchester Road) and Route 705 (Fishnet Boulevard) for construction of bridge over Norfolk Southern Railway Vegetation management may take place district wide on various routes VDOT reminds motorists to use extreme caution when traveling through work zones Staunton City Schools has reached a major milestone in modernizing its physical plant by acquiring the former Guy C according to a press release from the City of Staunton This critical step will consolidate the school division’s transportation and maintenance departments into a single operations facility streamlining school operations and significantly improving working conditions for department staff The school division finalized the purchase of the property May 1 for $1.6 million acquiring 7.5 acres of land and approximately 325,000 square feet of building space While the acquisition is a significant achievement a substantial investment is still needed to modernize the newly purchased operations facility The SCS Capital Improvement Plan includes a $30 million allocation for fiscal year 2029 to fully develop the facility "The acquisition and future development of the new SCS Operations Center represents a significant advancement for Staunton City Schools," said Superintendent Garett Smith "This project will ensure a more efficient and sustainable future for school division operations and position our schools for long-term efficiency and success." More: Staunton Public Library to host groundbreaking ceremony for terrace project SCS entered into an agreement in 2023 with Guy Eavers to lease his former excavating business property with an option to purchase SCS transitioned the maintenance department and bus mechanic to the new site which has already provided a much more suitable workspace for the school division’s skilled trades personnel who do carpentry buses and equipment to maintain school property and grounds The initial relocation has enabled the completion of crucial renovations to Shelburne Middle School allowing for new Career and Technical Education classrooms that prepare students for careers in STEM and technical fields The expansion project at Shelburne could not move forward until maintenance vacated the basement SCS will do what it can to develop the new operations center the addition of a refrigerated space for the nutrition department and a central repository for school mail and package deliveries The school division's tradespeople will do much of the work in-house Once the operations center is fully developed More: Waynesboro man, a former school janitor, spared prison on child pornography charge More: With seven wins in nine matches, Riverheads girls soccer has found keys to success STAUNTON – The Virginia Department of Transportation will install temporary signals on the Route 42 bridge over Buckingham Branch Railroad April 22 the bridge will have a single travel lane During this work the bridge will not be open to wide load tractor trailers The work is expected to last 12 to 15 weeks Between 400 and 500 demonstrators gathered at the Augusta County Courthouse in Staunton but city police who patrol the adjacent streets were caught off guard “We didn’t know a lot about it ahead of time and we didn’t know it was going to get as big as it was going to get,” explains Chief Jim Williams He says only three or four officers were available to police the crowd and having learned about the protest on Facebook But some demonstrators were alarmed when a guy in a white pick-up truck issued several blasts of diesel fumes – a tactic used against political and environmental protesters elsewhere Chris Graham is editor of the Augusta Free Press He had gone to cover the event and recalls the scene He had two people in the vehicle with him who were leaning out of the truck The driver was revving the engine pretty loud... The young man driving the truck barreled past us As soon as they got through the intersection the police cruiser flashed blue lights pulled them over a couple of blocks later.” but he passed through the intersection twice more So did a man who displayed a gun while sitting in his truck “Several people who were at the rally could see that he had a gun in his hand," reporter Chris Graham said and then the light turned green and he drove off.” “It didn’t rise to criminal brandishing a firearm and folks who witnessed it were not interested in pursuing charges," says the chief of police He adds that the department tries to learn from every experience and may close the streets if future protests are planned at that location think that this was going to be the kind of event that was similar to Unite the Right or anything like that or we would have put together a much more comprehensive plan.” He vowed to be better prepared for future protests and said officers are sworn to protect the constitutional right to free speech and assembly “We protected the KKK when they came to town We marched with Black Lives Matter – protecting them Constitution you have a right to say things and you have a right to assemble and you have a right to protest and we believe strongly in letting them do that.” citizens must take some responsibility for their own safety “We can’t guarantee every citizen protection Your welfare is largely depending on you.” He also noted the cost for police protection would likely rise if more demonstrations are planned STAUNTON, VA (Rocktown Now) — Staunton Police responded to a shooting in the 100 block of Gray Avenue Friday night Police say they received the call at approximately 10:21pm.adButlerLazyLoad("2982281637791424768",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034"); One victim was transported to UVA for non-life-threatening injuries Staunton Police say this was an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat to the community the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information should called the Staunton Police Department at 540-332-3842.adButlerLazyLoad("898454184830470258",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034"); Jacquelynn first started as a part time news anchor and reporter for WSVA in 2022 Before the launch of Rocktown Now in April of 2024 she was Assistant Editor and then became Editor-in-Chief in November of 2024 VDOT is seeking feedback on a transportation study assessing potential solutions on Route 42 (Virginia Avenue) between Gay Street and the Harrisonburg city limit the RHSPCA Pets of the Week sponsored by Bob Wade Subaru The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office responded to multiple calls Monday morning about a Staunton individual which led to him being unresponsive in-custody Showers and thunderstorm will be possible again today Be sure you have your GPS enabled and try again STAUNTON – The Virginia Department of Transportation will perform critical bridge deck rehabilitation work on the southbound bridge over the North Fork of the Shenandoah River just south of exit 269 near Shenandoah Caverns This location is north of New Market in Shenandoah County Single lane closures will occur continuously over two sets of approximately 72 hours beginning on Sunday nights and stretching to Tuesday evening This will be around-the-clock with work during nighttime and daytime hours Virginia State Police will be stationed within the work zone and the Town of New Market will provide law enforcement for traffic management Depending on work progress and temperatures the lane closure may extend into Wednesday morning The bridge concrete work must be completed within a specific temperature range to ensure the quality and durability of the repair The extended work hours take advantage of optimal temperatures while maximize repair progress prior to holiday and summer vacation traffic After May 20 work will continue only during the warmer nighttime hours avoiding the need for further daytime lane closures Work is anticipated for the northbound bridge with work hours and traffic restrictions to be announced in the coming weeks The I-81 northbound and southbound bridges over the North Fork of the Shenandoah River have received repeated temporary deck patching The patching cannot sustain permanent levels of interstate traffic and is approaching the end of its service life Funding for permanent deck rehabilitation work became available in spring 2025 Executing this critical bridge deck rehabilitation now will extend the bridge service life avoiding more extensive and disruptive repairs The Staunton District manages approximately 2,400 major structures including bridges and box culverts the Staunton District manages approximately 942.26 lane-miles of I-81 Updates will be posted on the news section of the VDOT website at  https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/ the daughter of Deborah Graham and the late James Allan Graham Christy lived her formative years in Fairfax She furthered her education at JMU and it was during these college days that she met the love of her life and future husband with many fun adventures and mutual love of Disney World Christy worked with the PEG Program at Mary Baldwin University for 25 years She finished her master’s degree in Higher Education through MBU She loved her students and co-workers at MBU and enjoyed watching the students and university grow Christy blessed Mike and the extended family with three wonderful children She was an incredibly loving mother and wife and Mike and her children reflect that love and support she always gave them Deborah Graham of Lake Monticello; two brothers James Graham (Gia) and John Graham (Stephanie); her father-in-law and mother-in-law Donnie and Margaret Baker; her brother-in-law Christy is also survived by her nephews and niece She was preceded in entering eternal life by her father Christy will be remembered for unwavering support and love for her family She put her family first and made sure they always knew that her love will be with them forever A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Monday at Christ United Methodist Church in Staunton with the Reverend Madison Ailinger officiating Interment will follow immediately at Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton donations may be made in her memory to H.O.P.E McSwain Elementary (1101 North Coalter Street Shelburne Middle School (300 Grubert Avenue or to Staunton High School (1200 North Coalter Street STAUNTON — Two former colleagues are set to battle it out to become the next commonwealth's attorney for the City of Staunton With the retirement of Staunton Commonwealth's Attorney Jeff Gaines set to take place at the end of the year two area prosecutors have recently announced they will be running to fill his position Staunton Chief Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Joseph Perry announced last week that he will be vying for the position On Saturday morning in front of the Staunton Courthouse Waynesboro Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney John Baber a former Staunton prosecutor who still lives in the city who worked together for about three years in the Staunton Commonwealth's Attorney's Office "I'm running as an Independent because everybody in Staunton deserves equal justice and they deserve to know that the person elected respects that central part of our criminal justice system," Baber said "There's a reason why Lady Justice wears a blindfold." "I really believe it has to be a non-partisan and non-political office," Perry said strongly believe that the people of this community that they feel like the commonwealth attorney is going to represent them and is going to be neutral and unbiased." is an assistant commonwealth's attorney in Staunton was a high school history teacher in Charlottesville after getting his master's degree at the University of Virginia he attended law school at the University of Baltimore He first worked as a public defender in 2014 then taught law at a Baltimore police academy which he said gave him an appreciation for investment in law enforcement he joined the the Staunton Commonwealth's Attorney's Office he was hired by the Waynesboro Commonwealth's Attorney's Office in 2023 he aims to become Staunton's top prosecutor and this city needs somebody who's willing to make the commitment and do what it takes to do this job who noted his wife would have to resign from the Staunton office for ethical reasons if he's elected did his undergrad work at Wofford College in South Carolina before graduating from William & Mary Law School He was in private practice for a five years and previously worked as a prosecutor in the Virginia counties of Fauquier and Mecklenburg Perry joined the Staunton Commonwealth's Attorney's Office in 2018 where much of his focus has been prosecuting child abuse and sexual assault cases Gaines tabbed him to become his chief deputy City of Staunton seeks housing input, WARM's shelter report, Staunton cultural nonprofit grants: The Digest "I've really come to feel like I'm part of the community here and I want to keep working to keep the community safe," said Perry who has about 15 years of prosecuting experience On his campaign website Baber talks about the importance of the commonwealth attorney's office within the community "The overall duty of the Commonwealth's Attorney is to see that justice is served — and that can take a lot of different forms Justice is a spectrum that spans support and resources for those affected by poverty and drug addiction to serious consequences for those convicted of violent crimes a healthy respect for everyone's Constitutional rights and a commitment to public transparency," he said In an emailed letter to The News Leader announcing his candidacy praised his leadership and said Gaines' efforts have had a lasting impact on the city by helping make it a safer place to raise a family "I have decided to run to succeed Jeff as Staunton’s next Commonwealth’s Attorney I am running because I care about this community — our community — and I want to see it continue to be a safe place to live a capable and professional police department We are fortunate to have that," Perry said in the letter Both Perry and Baber said they are looking forward to knocking on doors during the campaign in an effort to speak with voters More: Hundreds protest at the Hands Off rally at Augusta County Courthouse in Staunton and I like the community interest and interactions People are interested in this stuff and I think they should be." Perry said he's excited to meet the public and have a chance to explain the role of the prosecutor's office along with its importance in the community "Most people haven't had to interact with the Commonwealth Attorney and they don't necessarily know what we do," Perry said Baber is the only candidate to officially register to run for Staunton Commonwealth Attorney according to the Staunton Registrar's Office More: City of Staunton seeks housing input, WARM's shelter report, Staunton cultural nonprofit grants: The Digest courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@newsleader.com You can also follow him on X (formerly Twitter) STAUNTON — Police said one person was shot Friday night the Staunton Police Department received a 911 call concerning a shooting in the 100 block of Gray Avenue on the west end of the city One victim was taken to UVA Health in Charlottesville for injuries that were not considered life-threatening There is no ongoing threat to the community," the release said Anyone with information relating to this case is asked to call the Staunton Police Department at (540) 332-3842 More: Staunton Council approves budget, 91-cent real estate tax rate More: Sheriff: Churchville man jailed after videos showed animals with children eastbound – Mobile right shoulder closures at various locations for brush cutting westbound – Right shoulder closures for sign work westbound – Alternating lane closures for paving operations eastbound – Right lane closed 24/7 for maintenance to bridges over Sioux Avenue and Commercial Avenue (Clifton Forge) Route 42 (Forty Two Road) – Flagger traffic control near Route 636 (Morgan Drive) intersection for maintenance to bridge over railway Various roads – Flagger traffic control for tree and debris removal *NEW* Route 687 (Jackson River Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 220 (Hot Springs Road) and Route 641 (Indian Draft Road) for bridge inspection Various roads – Flagger traffic control for ditch work Various roads – Flagger traffic control for shoulder repairs and pipe cleaning Various roads – Flagger traffic control for brush cutting and pipe cleaning northbound – Right shoulder closures for sign work Route 11 (Lee Highway) – Southbound alternating lane closures between Route 39 (Maury River Road) and Route 1017 (Jackson Heights Drive) for utility work Route 11 (Lee Highway) – Northbound and southbound alternating lane closures between I-64 interchange and Northridge Lane for utility work Route 11 (North Main Street, Lexington) – Flagger traffic control between Hook Lane and Massie Street, generally weekdays during daylight hours. No on-street parking. Traffic restrictions are for pedestrian-access improvement project with scheduled completion in August 2025 Route 11/Route F055 (Lee Highway) – Flagger traffic control between Route 737 (Dog Town Loop) and Botetourt County line for utility work Route 501 (Glasgow Highway) – Flagger traffic control near between Route 130 (Rockbridge Road) and Amherst county line for utility work Various roads – Flagger traffic control for pipe replacement Various roads – Flagger traffic control for grading Various roads – Flagger traffic control for pothole patching Various roads – Flagger traffic control for brush cutting Mile marker 220 to 222, northbound and southbound – Northbound and southbound shoulder closures 24/7. Traffic restrictions are for bridge replacement and roadway construction as part of I-81 southbound auxiliary lane project Exit 221, southbound – Left or right lane closed along ramp to I-64 eastbound beginning due to overpass bridge work related to I-81 widening project Ramp lane closures expected to continue through summer 2025 Mile marker 221 to 227, northbound and southbound – Southbound Exit 221 off-ramp limited to a single lane through summer 2025. Northbound and southbound shoulder closures 24/7 through spring 2026. Traffic restrictions are for I-81 widening project northbound and southbound – Left shoulder closures for rock and soil testing Route 250 (Three Notched Mountain Highway) – Eastbound and westbound right shoulder closures near I-64 exit 99 interchange for painting of interstate overpass bridges *NEW* Route 601 (Estaline Valley Road) – Closed to through traffic April 14 to April 25 between Route 811 (Augusta Springs Road) and Route 684 (Little River Road) for replacement of bridge over Smith Creek tributary Route 608 (Cold Springs Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 1525 (Ridgeview Drive) and Route 842 (Horseshoe Circle) for utility work Route 610 (Howardsville Turnpike) – Flagger traffic control between Route 633 (Patton Farm Road) and Route 660 (Lake Road) for utility work Route 612 (Laurel Hill Road) – Westbound right shoulder closure between Route 1906 (Lodge Lane) and I-81 interchange for rock and soil testing Route 624 (South Delphine Avenue, Waynesboro) – Shoulder closures between South Oak Lane and Chinquapin Drive through May 2025 for work related to construction of Waynesboro Southern Corridor Route 635 (Barterbrook Road) – Closed between I-81 frontage roads (FR-217 and FR-218) for bridge replacement as part of I-81 southbound auxiliary lane project Route 664 (Lyndhurst Road, Waynesboro) – Shoulder closures between Miami Avenue and Purdue Street for work related to construction of Waynesboro Southern Corridor through June 2025 Route 707 (Trimbles Mill Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 705 (North Mountain Road) and Route 713 (Shuey Road) for utility work Route 5119 (Oak Lane, Waynesboro) – Local traffic only between Lyndhurst Road and Delphine Avenue through April 30 for road work related to Waynesboro Southern Corridor project Various roads – Mobile traffic control for mowing operations *UPDATE* Mile marker 237 to 238, northbound and southbound – Overnight alternating lane closures due to pavement marking operations, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday through Friday nights. Work-zone speed limit 60 miles per hour 24/7. Traffic restrictions are for construction of I-81 truck-climbing lanes Mile marker 242 to 248, northbound and southbound – Occasional overnight ramp and lane closures as needed, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.  Shoulder closures in place 24/7. Traffic restrictions are for Route 33 bridge and interchange project with completion expected in fall 2026 Route 33 (Rawley Pike) – Mobile lane closures for pavement marking between Harrisonburg city limits and West Virginia state line Route 33 (Rawley Pike) – Flagger traffic control between Laurel Woods Lane and Switzer Lake Road/Skidmore Fork for paving, line-painting and guardrail work related to road widening and curve improvements *NEW* Route 253 (Port Republic Road) – Flagger and pilot-truck traffic control between Route 276 (Cross Keys Road) and Route 672 (Latimer Road/Pineville Road) for paving operations Route 253 (Port Republic Road) – Temporary traffic signal between Route 1601 (New Haven Road) and Route 1605 (Water Street) for maintenance to North River bridge Various roads – Mobile traffic control for mowing operations *UPDATE* Route 640 (Model Road) – Closed to through traffic between Route 980 (Honeysuckle Road) and Route 639 (Nicholson Road), April 14 – April 30. Follow posted detour. Traffic restrictions are for bridge replacement *NEW* Route 649 (Island Ford Road) – Flagger traffic control near Route 642 (Captain Yancey Road) intersection for inspection of bridge over South Fork Shenandoah River *NEW* Route 668 (East Timber Ridge Road) – Flagger traffic control near Route 667 (Raines Road) intersection for inspection of bridge over North River Route 682 (Friedens Church Road) – Eastbound and westbound single lane closures between I-81 interchange and Route 867 (North River Road) for road widening project *NEW* Route 708 (Lynnwood Road) – Flagger traffic control near Route 788 (Flank Circle) for inspection of bridge over South Fork Shenandoah River Various roads – Flagger traffic control for brush cutting and pipe cleaning northbound and southbound – Overnight right lane closures for inspection of bridge over Route 642 (Swartz Road) *NEW* Route 11 (Lee Highway/North Congress Street New Market) – Overnight alternating lane closures at Route 211 (Old Cross Road) intersection for utility work *NEW* Route 55 (John Marshall Highway/Wardensville Pike) – Flagger traffic control at various locations between Route 628 (Middle Road) to Route 604 (Star Tannery Road) for pavement patching *NEW* Route 211 (Lee Highway) – Alternating lane closures between Route 620 (Smith Creek Road) and Page County line for pipe cleaning and brush cutting northbound – Possible shoulder closures for survey work Route 600 (Wardensville Grade/North Pifer Road) – Flagger traffic control at various locations between Route 600 (Back Mountain Road) and Route 55 (Wardensville Pike) for utility work Route 649 (Springdale Road) – Closed to through traffic through May 30 between Route 651 (Shady Elm Road) and Route 648 (Passage Road) for replacement of Opequon Creek bridge. Follow posted detour Route 761 (Old Charles Town Road) – Closed to through traffic between Route 666 (Gun Club Road) and Route 661 (Wadesville Road) for replacement of Opequon Creek bridge at Clarke County line Route 761 (Old Charles Town Road) – Closed to through traffic between Route 666 (Gun Club Road) and Route 661 (Wadesville Road) for replacement of Opequon Creek bridge at Frederick County line westbound – Shoulder closures for sign installations Route 658 (Rockland Road) – Closed to through traffic between Route 340/522 (Winchester Road) and Route 705 (Fishnet Boulevard) for construction of bridge over Norfolk Southern Railway Air Force National Guard veteran Gene Haymes sat on the steps of the Augusta County Courthouse at the Hands Off rally on Saturday when tens of thousands of people across the country and hundreds in the Shenandoah Valley came out in protest of the Trump administration "I don't even know where to begin," said Haymes Haymes said he lost about 10% of his 401(k) in the last couple days "There's not going to be a vote for democracy but if members of the Republican party in Congress would vote against what Trump wanted then that would solve our problem of democracy." owner of the Once Upon a Time clock shop on Beverley Street in Staunton said the tariffs are going to make prices more expensive for the consumer "We get tools and supplies from Switzerland and some of the suppliers said that it's possible 30% increases and it was already expensive as it was," said Sarnelle said his small business will also be affected by the tariffs "A lot of the hardware that we use is European hardware that I'm sure will have tariffs on it," said Borzelleca but we get a fair amount from Canada and that's going to affect builders everywhere." Staunton proposes $164 million budget, including hike in real estate tax rate: THE AGENDA He said he will be able to continue to make these purchases but that's going to raise the costs considerably which will mean higher job quotes "I think we're outraged enough to do something," said Mary Clare Vogt who stood on the front lawn of the courthouse next to her husband She said she is furious about the tariffs and their retirement savings "tanked this week." Mary Clare thinks the Democrats need to start standing up "I think Tim Kaine having put forth the anti-Canada tariff piece the other day was awesome And if they can work across the aisle and rally some Republicans to support things like that I think we actually have a chance at fighting some of this with Trump." When guest speakers took to the steps of the courthouse a truck drove by smoky fumes from the diesel exhaust filled the air as the speakers tried to speak over the noise Verona man facing murder charge in Fauquier County stabbing death House to represent Virginia's 6th Congressional District against Rep was one of the guest speakers at the rally "Over 950 of these rallies are being held today throughout our nation," said Mitchell It's been 75 days since this administration took office and look at what they have done in a mere 75 days our Veterans Affairs and our veterans administration our Department of Education and the list goes on and on we will stand just like our forefathers and foremothers did to defend this democracy We are going to stand up today and defend it today We are going to stand and defend our democracy for we the people." a new candidate running for the Virginia House of Delegates for the 36th District said that we must remind those in power that "our rights do not belong to them." "Defending our rights is not just an individual effort," said Venable Our fight for justice is a fight that includes everyone and not just some I remember as an elementary school kid here in the Valley when we pledge allegiance to the flag every morning we ended it with liberty and justice for all More: Best of the best: Top educators honored with annual Dawbarn Awards from Virginia Association of Young Democrats spoke about the farmers who may be harmed in the Shenandoah Valley "There were grants that they (farmers) were promised to do repairs get more equipment to run the farms more efficiently and our president who said he would be fantastic for farmers screwed them over," he said which includes members from Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church and Christ Tabernacle Church of God and Christ in Waynesboro said they are concerned about people at the margins who will be losing benefits "I can't believe that you throw out all of DEI," said Charles Wilson from the CCEJ but that you throw it all out and don't give people who have less chance to become their best self to really become their best self There are people who will be denied simply because those things are gone." "I'm just a stray Roman Catholic," said George Rodrigue standing beside his friends in the Christian coalition "I'm from the old-fashioned church where you thought that you're supposed to help the poor I'm not part of this new religious movement said the number one thing is to keep people riled up at the injustices that are occurring from the federal if the Virginia state government loses 10% of Medicaid funding will immediately lose their health coverage Small towns in Virginia don't lack big personalities, said World Atlas an online geography resource for anyone interested in learning more about a destination whether it be to visit plan a vacation or even find your new home World Atlas put together a list of the nine most eccentric towns in Virginia "from a town with an underground lake that creates a perfect mirror illusion to a festival where visitors can duel with wands." "Virginia’s eccentricity shines through in its most unique communities," said World Atlas and "these nine towns each have a character all their own." The commonwealth also has the longest stretch of the Appalachian trail in the country, according to World Atlas, which brings hikers and travelers from all over the world to visit Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia also is the largest seafood producer on the East Coast World Atlas list of the 9 most eccentric towns in VirginiaStauntonEvery year during the last weekend of September, the city of Staunton transforms into the world of Harry Potter at its Queen City Mischief and Magic festival QCMM officially begins when Hogwarts faculty and students arrive at platform 9 3/4 at the train station and ends late Sunday afternoon with the Quidditch Championship Cup The weekend festival is packed with things to do and visitors can use maps and a Sched app to make sure Potterheads don't miss a thing and find out what activities are free or ticket only But that's not the only reason to come to Staunton. The city's rich architectural history with its walking tours downtown, shows at American Shakespeare Center, Frontier Culture Museum's open air living-history experience and home of Woodrow Wilson's Presidential Library & Museum makes it a cultural gem Staunton (pronounced STAN-ton) is located in the Shenandoah Valley at the intersection of Interstate 64 and I-81 PD: Norfolk man caught in Staunton boy's bedroom jailed on sex assault allegations Fort Defiance High, Wilson Middle bands recognized as state programs of honor Known for having the largest caverns on the East Coast Luray is a town in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley with easy access to Shenandoah National Park With its vast underground cave system and rock formations Luray Caverns is a must on your list of places to experience "It gained popularity due to its stalactites which were formed by dripping limestone," said World Atlas which famously creates an optical illusion with the cave’s hanging stalactites." Luray Caverns offer tours along paved walkways through cathedral-sized rooms with ceilings ten stories high Two nearby museums feature recreated 19th-century buildings and vintage cars. To the southeast, Lake Arrowhead has a beach and nature trail The town of Luray is located approximately 90 miles west of Washington D.C Model General Assembly teaches Augusta County, Staunton students valuable lessons in state government Williamsburg was the capital of the Virginia Colony from 1699 to 1780 and played a significant role in the American Revolution. It forms the “Historic Triangle” together with Jamestown and Yorktown Best known for Colonial Williamsburg, a 301-acre living-history museum where actors in period costume depict Colonial life, the past comes to life in Williamsburg and naturally made the World Atlas list visitors can explore 89 historic buildings and witness reenactments that showcase early colonial life from blacksmith shops to busy markets," said the World Atlas website After exploring Williamsburg’s iconic historical park, you can check out the town's amusement parks and go for a ride on a rollercoaster or experience thrills on a high-speed go-kart Williamsburg is 150 miles south of Washington D.C. midway between Richmond and Virginia Beach Augusta County School Board approves calendar for next academic year "The Crystal Springs Recreation Area is a beautiful place for an afternoon outdoors featuring 1,800 acres of land in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains Animals from six of the seven continents reside at the 45-acre Fort Chiswell Animal Park travelers can also go blueberry picking at Henley Mountain Berry Farm "One of the crown jewels in Wytheville is the Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre, a German-themed, state-of-the-art venue, while live music can be found throughout town at the breweries and at a variety of concert series events and festivals," according to Visit Wytheville Wytheville is about halfway between Bristol it is located about halfway between Charleston Charlottesville"Home to the University of Virginia, Charlottesville is a lively college town with an abundance of quirky attractions," said World Atlas The city is well known for being the home of Monticello Travelers can also visit the farmer’s market at IX Art Park, home to The Looking Glass, a permanent immersive art space that features exhibits like a kaleidoscopic cave and an enchanted forest, the website said travelers can enjoy a day of paddling," said World Atlas "The Rivanna River flows through Charlottesville 2-mile kayak route from Darden Towe Park to Riverview Park." The city is located in the center of Virginia by the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the main route west of the Tidewater region Virginia health officials investigating potential measles exposure in Northern Virginia Founded in 1810, Warrenton is the gateway to Virginia’s Piedmont Region which is horse and wine country with the Blue Ridge Mountains as its backdrop "With over 114 wineries in the surrounding area, a wine tour is a must for visitors," said World Atlas, recommending Molon Lave Vineyards as "a charming option to add to your itinerary." Warrenton hosts some of the largest equestrian events in the country, like the Virginia Gold Cup steeplechase races "In August, the town hosts the iconic Warrenton Horse Show which is one of the country’s oldest equestrian exhibitions," said World Atlas See art come alive in Old Town Warrenton's five galleries including the Old Jail Museum built in 1808 At the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains the town of Warrenton is just under 60 miles west of Washington and about a 90-minute drive north from Richmond from I-95 and US-17 making it a great destination for gallery hopping or listening to live music," said World Atlas Since its opening in 1910, the Floyd Country Store has been a beloved landmark with "weekly Friday Night Jamboree with music in the store and streets overflowing with musicians," said Visit Floyd VA in its visitor's guide "Floyd is a vibrant hub for music lovers, with spots like Dogtown Roadhouse, OuterSpace, and more offering live performances in an intimate setting," according to Floyd's visitor's guide The musical heartbeat extends to the annual FloydFest music festival which draws crowds with its diverse lineup of artists and immersive experience in the heart of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains "Just a 20-minute drive from Floyd, visitors can reach the Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve 15 rare plants and nine unique natural communities making it one of the most important natural preserves in the state," World Atlas said The town of Floyd in the Blue Ridge province of Southwest Virginia Tappahannock"Tappahannock is a rural coastal community in Virginia that is famous for its seafood and Rappahannock River oysters," said World Atlas in its nine most eccentric towns in Virginia list offers signature plates like hand-breaded oysters make it a place with plenty of options for a weekend stay or vacation "Retreat here to enjoy what you love most about the outdoors, whether that’s fishing, paddling, hiking or simply savoring a simpler, slower pace," said Visit Tappahannock Travelers can head to Rappahannock River Park a waterfront spot offering benches for sitting by the water and picnicking Visitors can rent a kayak at Duke Street Beach which offers a convenient self-service rental experience Tappahannock is a river town in Essex County 95 miles north of Norfolk and 45 miles northeast of Richmond Chincoteague is the entrance to the Virginia portion of Assateague Island and the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, home of the famous Chincoteague Wild Ponies "Visitors may be surprised to learn that two herds of wild ponies roam near Chincoteague," said World Atlas. "The best way to spot them is on a tour with a local agency, such as Chincoteague Island Adventures where a local captain will guide visitors to areas where the herds are often seen." If you're a seafood lover, plan a trip during Chincoteague's Seafood Festival be sure to pick up a locally-made piece of art or souvenir from Sandy Sky’s Crafts a locally owned shop on Main Street," recommended World Atlas Chincoteague Island is Virginia’s only resort Island, the Chincoteague Vacation Guide Chincoteague is within easy reach from all major cities on the Mid-Atlantic seaboard STAUNTON — The City of Staunton is getting ready to roll out the first new trash cans to residential customers as part of the trash modernization program across the city With $890,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds (ARPA) allocated by Staunton City Council the city is modernizing (and standardizing) the way it picks up trash The first bins are scheduled to be delivered to residents starting Thursday engagement and communications manager at the City of Staunton and is expected to take approximately two weeks The bins will be delivered by the manufacturer the city said it can’t guarantee which date specific addresses will get their bins Residents don’t need to be home when their bin is delivered "There will be an informational flyer with the bins explaining more about the trash modernization program and answer some frequently asked questions along with guidelines," said Knight "We ask that residents start using the bin on their next trash day." This phase one rollout is only for residential customers outside of the Central Business District there is not a timeline for trash modernization rollout to businesses or the Downtown Central Business District," said Knight Upgrading the curbside refuse program will benefit residents the city said in a January press release when they announced the rollout and equipment upgrades will make trash collection safer for crews and align with the city’s organizational value: environmentally conscious More: Who's running (so far) for Augusta County Board of Supervisors, School Board? Each service address will receive a new trash bin to use on their collection day Trash must be bagged and placed inside the bin It will be picked up using mechanical tippers that have been installed on the back of the city’s refuse trucks The majority of residents will receive the default 95-gallon trash bin unless they opted for the smaller 45-gallon bin in earlier surveys If you would like to change bin sizes after rollout What to do with your old trash can?Repurpose your old trash can for recycling storage or tool storage to stay environmentally friendly clearly mark it as trash and the city will collect it for disposal at the landfill Public Works anticipates a brief adjustment period as crews and residents transition to the new system. For more details on the program, including a full FAQ, visit www.staunton.va.us/StauntonTrashTalk Later this spring, residents will also have the option to enroll in a monthly yard waste program to help reduce volume in regular trash cans and keep yard waste out of the landfill, the release said. Interested customers can sign up using an online form or by calling public works These bins will typically be picked up on the first Wednesday of each month More: Elena Broadbent to speak on 'Layers' Friday at CreativeMornings free event heavy trash will be collected twice a year one week in the spring and one week in the fall Bag tags for extra trashFor occasional overflow customers are encouraged to purchase bag tags ($1 per tag) and place them on any extra trash bags that won’t fit in the bin with the lid fully closed Bag tags can be purchased in City Hall or at Public Works Each service address will receive five complimentary bag tags with their new trash can Public Works is asking that residents try using the single bin delivered in March, while taking advantage of the Recycling Center to cut down on their trash volume Customers that find they routinely have too much trash for one 95-gallon bin have the option of adding a second 95-gallon bin to their refuse service for an additional fee of $12 per month Reach out to Public Works to sign up: 540-332-3892 Staunton City residents have free access to the Augusta Regional Landfill. For more information check the website and disposal guide learn more about the new yard waste program that will begin this spring Contact public works: 540-332-3892; city hall: 540-332-3812 (This story has been updated to include the following correction: The yard waste program will only require a one-time refundable deposit of $50 There is no additional fee for this service.) More: Waynesboro PD: 1 dead in crash, 2 children seriously injured STAUNTON - The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing concerning the extension of three ramps (merge lanes) at the Mount Sidney safety rest areas on northbound and southbound Interstate 81 in Augusta County The open house meeting will take place between 4 p.m Citizens can come in anytime during the meeting hours and discuss the project on a one-on-one basis with VDOT officials and designers Written comments can be submitted at the meeting or within 10 days after the meeting date to David Robinson Oral comments can be recorded at the meeting with the assistance of a court reporter This project enhances safety and reduces congestion in the area of the rest areas near I-81 mile marker 232 Three ramps (merge lanes) will be extended to give vehicles enough space to speed up or slow down as needed to successfully merge with traffic These three ramps will be extended by about 1,200 feet: the Route 775 (Buttermilk Road) bridge over I-81 will be replaced The bridge was built in 1966 with three concrete piers that do not allow room for additional I-81 lanes The new bridge will have a single pier in the median Part of Route 775 will be closed so the new bridge can be built in the same location The Mount Sidney Rest Areas project is part of the I-81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP). The $3 billion CIP includes 65 construction projects as well as operational improvements along I-81 in Virginia to enhance safety, reduce congestion, and unlock the region for further economic growth. Find out more at Improve81.org and details about upcoming and current projects Major I-81 CIP projects in the VDOT Staunton District include: For updated traffic alerts and traveler information, dial 511 or visit https://www.511virginia.org STAUNTON — There's more that is unknown than known at this time concerning the closure of part of the Wharf Parking Lot in downtown Staunton City Manager Leslie Beauregard updated Staunton City Council on the area Thursday night at its regular meeting nine months after two devastating floods hit downtown Staunton City Council allocated a portion of their American Rescue Plan Act funds toward flood mitigation efforts in the city A tunnel survey and structural evaluation conducted by Wiley|Wilson explored the conditions where Gum Spring Branch and Lewis Creek run underground Those efforts included a tunnel survey and structural evaluation conducted by Wiley|Wilson and started last week What the engineers saw caused them concern about the structural integrity of the tunnel in several specific areas The east portion of the Wharf Parking Lot has been closed as has the entrance from West Johnson Street A new entrance to the west end of the parking lot was created off of Byers Street that can be accessed from Lewis Street Traffic patterns on West Johnson Street have also been changed Can rabbit rescue be saved? Augusta County Board of Supervisors asks attorney to try to help Bunny Lu Beauregard said the extent or cost of repairs is not known yet The city is also not sure how to fund those repairs "We have already been talking to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management we talked to the planning district commission," Beauregard said "Looking at a combination of local dollars but we're kind of exploring every single option." The timeline on starting emergency repairs and how long those repairs will take is also an unknown as of Thursday night Beauregard said the city is also not sure of the longer term plans for creeks and tunnel systems and strategic flood mitigation Murder suspect pleads not guilty in Waynesboro, losses bid to suppress police statements Beauregard said that downtown parking and traffic flow will stay as is for now until more is known Wiley|Wilson will continue to evaluate areas of concern The engineering firm will also continue its evaluation north up Central Avenue and east to New Street Beauregard said the Staunton Farmers' Market that operates in the west portion of the Wharf Parking Lot is still scheduled to start April 5 if construction occurs and they have to leave that space for some period of time It's also perfectly safe for pedestrian traffic on the eastern side of the Wharf Parking Lot The city manager thanked the staff that worked on this including public works for creating the new entrance "I think it looks like it belonged there forever," she said I think they're going to keep that as an opening and bollard it It's always nice to have that option for special events or the Farmers' Market or whatever." Beauregard did tell council that this provides an opportunity to study parking in downtown Staunton "I have a feeling that we will be updating you and the public often," Beauregard said "Often and frequently and sharing as much detail as we can at any given time." More: VSP: One dead in Augusta County crash More: Staunton School Board, search firm meet to discuss timeline on hiring superintendent along with community members and representatives of Wawa gathered in Staunton Wednesday morning for the groundbreaking ceremony for the city's newest convenience store with two coming to Waynesboro and another planned for Fishersville It's all part of a westward expansion in Virginia for the privately held chain that currently has more than 1,100 stores operating in nine states and Washington Wawa plans to open 30 stores in the next five years and 60 in the next 10 years Currently there are 110 stores in Virginia Wawa is a convenience store and gas station based in Pennsylvania including Wawa brands such as custom prepared hoagies The Staunton location is scheduled to open in the fall "It just really shows that businesses are finding Staunton a great place to invest," said Mayor Michele Edwards When people heard Wawa was coming there was across the board excitement." members of Staunton City Council and the Augusta County Board of Supervisors and invited members of the community were on hand for the event a public relations representative for Wawa the Fishersville location at the intersection of Tinkling Spring Road and Goose Creek Road should open by summer Construction has already begun on that site stores are planned at 105 Hopeman Parkway and 150 P Mucha said both sites are under contract and they are working on all of the proper permits She did not have a timeline on when those may open store officials had a sampling of some of the sandwiches and snacks The store also donated $2,500 to the Verona-based Blue Ridge Area Food Bank which serves 25 counties and eight cities in Central and Western Virginia Sara Mallan with the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank said those being served has increased by 15% in the first part of 2025 "There's no way we're able to serve that many individuals without people like you and Wawa," said Mallan "It is through those partnerships that we're able to lift up our neighbors." More: Vista dome car once owned by country music star now part of Virginia Scenic Railway's fleet More: Mental Health America of Augusta is closing its doors STAUNTON — Virginia State Police said a pedestrian was killed Saturday night in a reported hit-and-run just past the Staunton City limits 250 near Desper Hollow Road at approximately 11 p.m. was later taken into custody with the assistance of the Augusta County Sheriff's Office Francisco is charged with felony hit-and-run and not having a valid operator's license She is being held at Middle River Regional Jail in Verona without bond More: Still a lot of unknowns about the Wharf Parking Lot as Staunton City Council gets update More: Buffalo Gap hangs tough, falls in state championship: Girls basketball The artificial intelligence platform is now part of the drive-thru at Staunton's Bojangles the local restaurant's director of operations It's been at the Harrisonburg location since last July the conversational cloud-based AI platform is designed to augment human interaction with digital restaurant systems The company said it can take guest orders 96% of the time with no human intervention It can also explain menu items and options to guests and can advise guests when the location is out of a menu item The News Leader's Patrick Hite has used the system three times now — yes he likes his Bo Time — and it's gotten the order correct all three times The system even answered a question about what comes with a family meal asking if they want a Bo-berry cobbler with the order The one flaw is that the AI system pronounces the city "STAWN-ton" instead of "STAN-ton," but she's still new in town Attorney suspended by state bar after fudging numbers on Augusta County case STAUNTON — Shentel's Glo Fiber at 32 S. New St. will be closing on Friday, March 21, according to a sign outside the retail storefront and an employee at the store. The retail storefront opened and began offering fiber optic services in 2020 "We're actually one of the only blessed cities basically that has another location in nearby Harrisonburg," said Staunton employee A.J "All of our stores are hours apart from each other they still have the Harrisonburg location." Glo Fiber still has a retail location at 20 S in Harrisonburg where customers who need in-person help Customers can pay their bill online at www.glofiber.com or by calling 1-833 WANT-GLO (926-8456) Twin brother of Augusta County sheriff opts for jury trial on criminal charges The fiber optic company is expanding its network in the Mid-Atlantic region and had to make some decisions on which locations made more sense logistically Will Glo Fiber ever come to downtown businesses?It is very unlikely Glo Fiber will be coming to downtown businesses in Staunton Most of Glo Fiber's locations do not have service in downtown areas They do have businesses outside of the downtown area in Staunton and in Verona but laying fiber in downtown areas tend to be challenging with city permits and too costly especially with brick sidewalks since the fiber optic cable has to be laid underneath the bricks "I do know Lingo is lucky enough to get a good amount of business down here." STAUNTON — "This is a bittersweet announcement," said owner of The Foundry pop ups Jen Mulledy on Instagram two weeks ago "With some beautiful changes coming up soon for our family that will take us away from Staunton The Foundry will be closing its doors at the end of March." The Foundry serves as a retail incubator that offers to help small businesses grow and the entire store is something similar to a general store set-up "This endeavor has been so unbelievably wonderful and we are so very grateful to everyone who has come through our doors," said Mulledy "Thank you to every Founder who spent time here and to friends we would have otherwise never known We will carry you all in our hearts for the rest of our lives." The last day the store is open is March 29 The shop is offering a 30% clearance sale with 10% off for cash purchases Event to help 13 nonprofits hardest hit by SAW United Way closing STAUNTON — Alan Baragoga was a professor for 27 years at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington "Ben Cline is supporting a traitor who is undermining everything that those young men died for," Baragoga said of Cline's endorsement of President Donald Trump "And it's got to stop because they didn't die for nothing." The Staunton man was part of a community gathering Tuesday afternoon in front of Rep It was part of an organized protest that was also scheduled to take place at Cline's offices in Harrisonburg all part of the sixth district that Cline represents in the United States House of Representatives Approximately 125 people stretched along both sidewalks along South Lewis Street in downtown Staunton around 1:30 p.m VSP: Woman who pulled into traffic killed in Rockbridge County crash on U.S. 11 was that Cline won't meet face-to-face with his constituents in a town hall-type meeting where he answers questions of those he represents The News Leader reached out to Cline's office asking the last time he held a true town hall meeting or planned to hold one but there was no response as of Tuesday afternoon a group of citizens gathered in Waynesboro for what Cline called "Mobile Office Hours." Cline wasn't present and was not scheduled to be at the event held at the Waynesboro Public Library Many of the citizens were disgruntled that Cline didn't come in person and became even more upset when his staff began taking small groups of people to another office instead of talking with the entire crowd gathered Cline later posted on Facebook that the way his staff handled the situation was "common practice among all members of Congress and has been a standing practice for my office for years This was not a town hall and was never advertised as one." Staunton investigation concerning dead baby now considered an inactive case He also said the event was "hijacked by partisan activists." were subjected to what amounted to a Democratic campaign rally which interfered with constituents who were there for actual issues which they had hoped would be addressed by my staff — which is the real purpose of these office hours." school funding and national forests at riskSarah Kosmicki a Staunton woman who said she is frustrated that Cline won't talk face-to-face with his constituents was present Tuesday in downtown Staunton to join the protest Trump just signed an executive order for the deforestation of national forests .. And our Staunton City Schools rely on the free lunch programs and right now they are trying to raise the level of eligibility for that program which means a lot of kids in our community could go hungry." As to Kosmicki's concerns, Trump signed an executive order Saturday that, according to USA TODAY "takes steps for quicker federal permitting approvals of forestry projects under the Endangered Species Act so that clearing brush timber removals and other projects aren't delayed by environmental and other regulatory reviews." There is also the possibility that cuts to federal spending could reduce access to free lunch for many students and jeopardize Medicaid More: Queen City Music Studios opens storefront music shop in downtown Staunton said she does not support the President's initiatives and Cline needs to show up and talk with those who have concerns over those initiatives she would tell him to get more engaged by listening to his constituents "He needs to think about representing all of his constituents," Degen said "Not just the ones that he knows and already friendly to the agenda he accepted." More: Staunton School Board to consider adopting bylaws for Special Education Advisory Committee: THE AGENDA STAUNTON — Virginia State Police troopers were able to defuse a situation Sunday afternoon by talking a man off a bridge that crosses Interstate 81 in Staunton Brill made contact with a man reportedly suffering a mental health crisis on the Barterbrook Road Bridge which is under construction and crosses I-81 at mile marker 221 Cash stationed below the bridge to potentially stop traffic multiple other troopers joined Brill and were able to quickly get the man After approximately 40 minutes of discussion the state troopers got the man completely off the bridge He was taken to Augusta Health in Fishersville under an emergency custody order Augusta County Sheriff’s Office deputies as well as the Stuarts Draft Rescue Squad assisted in the effort Correction: "Diffuse" was changed to "defuse" in the opening paragraph More: Staunton makes list of Virginia's most eccentric towns. Here's why More: Middle school football to launch in the fall after Augusta County School Board approves program STAUNTON — A Staunton man caught by police two years ago hiding a large amount of drugs inside a grill was sentenced to a decade in prison last week to charges of distribution of a Schedule I or II drug (third offense) and being a convicted non-violent felon in possession of a firearm members of a local drug task force served a search warrant at Johnson's residence in the 600 block of B Street According to Staunton Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Matthew Falwell authorities found two guns in Johnson's car shortly after he pulled up to his home "He had a gun in his driver's side door pouch and a second gun in the center console," Falwell said The prosecutor said authorities also opened the lid to a grill where they found a garbage bag stuffed inside The bag contained 300 grams of methamphetamine When police put the bag on a coffee table in Johnson's living room he informed them they could stop looking because "that was all he had," according to Falwell A "large amount" of marijuana was reportedly found in the home as well according to an affidavit for the search warrant Johnson's cell phone was seized during the search and authorities said messages on the device indicated he was dealing drugs More: Staunton proposes $164 million budget, including hike in real estate tax rate: THE AGENDA Falwell said Johnson went through four attorneys during the case Johnson was facing a mandatory-minimum of 35 years in prison before a plea deal was reached Court records show a marijuana distribution charge and a second meth distribution charge were not prosecuted along with two additional gun charges and a perjury charge The perjury allegation centered around ownership of a vehicle after Johnson requested a public defender Johnson was represented by Linda Czyzyk of the Staunton Public Defender's Office he was sentenced to 20 years behind bars with 10 years suspended He will be placed on five years of supervised probation upon his release from prison Johnson has previous convictions in 2007 for possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I or II drug and gang participation He also picked up a misdemeanor assault and battery conviction in 2013 More: Suspect in Waynesboro slaying pleads not guilty to first-degree murder, gun charge STAUNTON – As part of ongoing construction on Route 33 (East Market Street) at the Interstate 81 exit 247 interchange in Harrisonburg temporary traffic-pattern changes are planned for Route 33 starting Wednesday Eastbound and westbound traffic will shift onto newly constructed portions of the bridge over I-81 The Route 33 traffic shifts begin the bridge’s final construction phase A temporary traffic signal will be placed on the east side of the I-81 bridge and will manage traffic in both the eastbound and westbound directions and manage traffic headed north on I-81 from Route 33 The existing cloverleaf ramp from eastbound Route 33 to northbound I-81 will be permanently closed when the traffic switch is implemented on April 30 Digital message signs on eastbound and westbound Route 33 will alert motorists to the traffic-pattern changes Additional changes are expected in summer 2025 when part of the new NSRR bridge opens to traffic The Virginia Department of Transportation will provide updates as needed In July 2022 a $43.3 million contract was awarded to Triton Construction Inc The VDOT Staunton District is on Facebook and X (Twitter). Follow VDOT statewide accounts on Facebook, Flickr, and YouTube. The VDOT Web page is located at https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/