(From a press release) RICHMOND - Virginia experienced a significant decline in traffic fatalities over the 2008 Labor Day weekend. During the four-day statistical counting period, preliminary numbers indicate that seven people died in seven traffic crashes - Virginia's lowest Labor Day fatality count since 2001, when six individuals were killed in traffic crashes. Last year, a record 22 lives were lost during the Labor Day weekend.

"Though the declines in traffic crash fatalities during the Labor Day weekend and throughout this entire year are encouraging, Virginians must still make driving safety a priority," said Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent. "Seven traffic fatalities are still seven too many, especially for the families, friends and communities now mourning the loss of those individuals."

The statistical counting period began Friday, Aug. 29, 2008, 12:01 a.m. and continued through midnight of Monday, Sept. 1, 2008. Two of the fatalities involved motorcyclists, both of whom were wearing motorcycle helmets. The motorcycle fatalities occurred in the City of Virginia Beach and Bland County.

Of the remaining five fatal traffic crashes, three involved individuals not wearing safety belts. The five remaining crashes occurred in the counties of Arlington, Brunswick, Culpeper, Cumberland and Orange.

Alcohol was factor in at least one of the seven traffic fatalities and undetermined in four others. Six of the seven crashes were caused by the vehicle running off the side of the road. Those killed ranged in age from 17 to 53.

Throughout the Labor Day weekend, Virginia State Police participated in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) and Checkpoint Strikeforce, an enforcement and educational campaign aimed at raising awareness about the deadly dangers of impaired driving. Operation C.A.R.E. is a state-sponsored, national program designed to reduce crashes, fatalities and injuries caused by speeding, impaired driving and failure to use occupant restraints.

During the 2008 Labor Day statistical counting period, Virginia State Police:

• Patrolled 337,154 miles


• Assisted 2,682 motorists


• Stopped 8,474 speeders


• Cited 2,395 reckless drivers


• Arrested 137 impaired drivers


• Cited 895 safety belt violations & 272 child restraint violations


• Responded to 621 total traffic crashes.

The Virginia Department of Transportation has launched a new Web site, www.511virginia.org, which provides continuously updated traffic and travel information.

Services offered there the 511 service include:

• Accident and incident alerts


• Live traffic camera images


• Bridge and tunnel reports


• Road construction info


• Free mobile alerts - e-mails or text messages sent whenever conditions change on the roads you most often travel


• Driving directions


• Gas-saving tips


• Weather conditions

(From a press release) The state is lowering speed limits on portions of Old Valley Pike, Ridgely Road and Rockville Road in Shenandoah County and on Stringtown Road in Clarke County.

The Virginia Department of Transportation says it will lower the speed limit from 55 mph to 50 mph on Old Valley Pike (Route 11), from a half mile south of Hoover Road to .19 mile north of Hoover Road in the Woodstock area.

On Ridgely Road (Route 661) from Route 11 to Franley Lane, the speed limit will change from 55 mph for cars and 45 mph for trucks to 45 mph for both on the entire length of each road.

On Rockville Road (Route 731) from Pinewoods Road to Turkey Knob Road, the speed limit will change from 55 mph for cars and 45 mph for trucks to 35 mph for both for the entire length of the road.

On Stringtown Road (Route 654) from Kimble Road to Summit Point Road, the speed limit will change from 55 mph for cars and 45 mph for trucks to 35 miles per hour both both for the entire length of road.

VDOT says the changes will go into effect when signs are erected sometime in August.

The investigation into an incident that made several employees ill at the Sonic Restaurant on Route 50 in Winchester has been closed by investigators.

A press release from the Frederick County Fire and Rescue Department released today said investigators view the incident as a prank that "was initiated to create a foul odor but was intended harmless in nature."

"However, due to the confined area in which the prank was executed," the release states, "some employees did suffer from some nausea and vomiting as a result. Those employees were transported to Winchester Medical Center where they were treated and released."

Investigators from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, the Frederick County Fire and Rescue Department-Emergency Management Division and the Lord Fairfax Health District met to discuss the incident on Tuesday and they determined then to close the investigation.

The Strasburg Police Department's Public Safety Day on Aug. 5 included a number of demonstrations and allowed the public to view equipment used by the various police agencies. Below are two slideshows shot by Daily staff photographer Rich Cooley:

The following incidents and arrests were reported by the Shenandoah County Sheriff's Office today. To see more, visit the shencosheriff.com Web site

Malicious wounding, abduction: On July 31, deputies arrested Michael Lee Rocha of Woodstock and Jessie Lee Herald of Edinburg on charges of malicious wounding and abduction. John Wesely Schnarrs of Mt. Jackson was arrested on Aug. 2 on a charge of malicious wounding. Court date: 9 a.m. Aug. 22 in Shenandoah County General District Court.

Destruction of property: On July 29, deputies arrested Lantie Lynn Pitsenbarger of Toms Brook on a charge of destruction of property in an incident that occurred on June 22. Court date: 9 a.m. Sept. 19 in Shenandoah County General District Court.

Credit card theft, credit card fraud: On July 30, deputies arrested Elizabeth Robertson of Woodstock on charges of credit card theft and credit card fraud in an incident that occurred on July 3. Court date: 9 a.m. Aug. 22 in Shenandoah County General District Court.

A public safety day will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, at the Strasburg Town Park.

Events are free and will include a bicycle rodeo for children, fire and rescue and SWAT teams, K9 demonstrations, police vehicles, helicopters, a rock wall and a moon bounce.

(From a press release) The FBI is alerting computer-users to be careful with spam e-mails that are spreading the Storm Worm malware. The e-mail mentions F.B.I. vs. Facebook and urges the reader to click a link to read an article. Once the link is clicked, malware is downloaded and the computer becomes infected and part of the Storm Worm botnet. A botnet can facilitate spam e-mail, identity theft, denial of service attacks and spreading malwear.

If you suspect you have received such an email, file a complaint at www.IC3.gov.

(From a press release) A Virginia State Police trooper is recovering from minor injuries sustained in a crash Saturday morning on Interstate 64 in Newport News. Senior Trooper Jesse F. Dennis is the fourth Virginia State Police trooper struck on an interstate in four months.

Dennis was sitting in his marked patrol car filling out a summons when his car was hit on the driver's side by a 2007 Chevrolet Quinox. Driver of the Equinox, Darnell Lamont Hinton, 27, Newport News, told state police that he fell asleep while driving. He was charged with one count of reckless driving. He suffered minor injuries.

Every month since April of this year a Virginia trooper has been struck by a passing vehicle during the course of a traffic stop on an interstate:

• April 30, 2008 - Trooper J.T. Mahalik on Interstate 66, Fairfax Co.


• May 13, 2008 - Master Trooper J.H. Rasnick on Interstate 81, Boutetourt Co.


• June 16, 2008 - Sr. Trooper P.C. Gardner on Interstate 81 in Rockbridge Co.

In all four cases, the trooper was seated inside his patrol vehicle on the shoulder when struck.

To safeguard Virginia's troopers, State Police have spent the past year promoting the Commonwealth's "Slow Down, Move Over" law. Drivers are required to change to another travel lane or to slow down and cautiously pass all emergency personnel stopped on the side of a road.

The following incidents and arrests were reported by the Shenandoah County Sheriff's Office. For more reports, visit the shencosheriff.com Web site.

Rape: On July 21, deputies arrested Wesley Adam Lear of Mt. Jackson on a charge of rape. Court date: 9 a.m. July 24 in Shenandoah County Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court.

Possession of marijuana: On July 21, deputies arrested Alvin L. Lambert of Strasburg on a charge of possession of marijuana. Court date: 11 a.m. July 25 in Shenandoah County General District Court.

Possession of a controlled substance: On July 24, deputies arrested Felicia Michele Merickel of Strasburg on a charge of possession of a schedule I and schedule IV controlled substance. Court date: 9 a.m. Sept. 19 Shenandoah County General District Court.

Assault and battery on a family member: On July 26, deputies arrested Wendy Elaine Mumaw and Keith Mumaw, both Quicksburg, on a charge of assault and battery on a family member. Court date: 9 a.m. Aug. 7 in Shenandoah County Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court. This incident occurred on July 5.

Larceny: On July 22, it was reported that someone took a four-wheeler from a residence on Coal Mine Road, Strasburg.