A little off the top

Butch Weatherholtz trims this 30-foot high screen of white pines in his yard on Main Street in Mount Jackson recently. His grandson, Brandon Haberstroh, 22, of New Market, works with him. Rich Cooley/Daily

Motel drug raid seized more than $8,000 cash.

Law enforcement officers who entered two motel rooms occupied by accused drug users and sellers on May 31 found more than $8,000 cash and several bags containing a suspicious white powder, according to a search warrant filed in Warren County Circuit Court.

Sherwood, May lose; Gilbert remains

Political newcomers defeated two of the region's veteran Republican Party delegates in primaries Tuesday, according to unofficial results.

Man banned from school grounds allowed to vote

Christopher Gerrit Johnson found his plans to vote in Tuesday's primary temporarily stymied at the Strasburg Police Department before authorities agreed he had a right to cast his ballot and allowed him to do so.

Police seize items in investigation

Woodstock police have seized more than 15 items from an apartment in Woodstock during their investigation into the death of an 18-month old boy last week, according to search warrant documents filed in Shenandoah County Circuit Court.

Farmers' market owner sues Mount Jackson, town manager

Gerald Forsburg, owner of the Mt. Jackson Farmers' Market, filed a suit yesterday against the town of Mt. Jackson and its manager, Charles Moore.

Community baby showers call for donations

Valley Health is currently holding several community baby showers to benefit local agencies and new families in need.

Winchester's Bethania Kids helps children in India

India has more than 1.2 billion people and 30 million of them are orphans.

MMA partners with Heroic Imagination Project

Massanutten Military Academy is partnering with the Heroic Imagination Project to become the first boarding school in the world to embrace the program's curriculum and incorporate it into campus culture.

Practice makes perfect

Tim Wellman of Strasburg practices his net casting in the muddy waters of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River at Strasburg Town Park on Tuesday afternoon. Monday's rain caused the flooding of several area low water bridges. Rich Cooley/Daily

Front Royal leaders aid library with funding boost

Samuels Public Library can open on Sundays thanks to Front Royal Town Council.

Middletown leaders fill council vacancy

MIDDLETOWN -- Middletown Town Council picked a new member Monday to fill a vacancy until an election in November.

Crime rates hold firm

Crime in Front Royal was largely unchanged or declined slightly among the many offenses counted in the Virginia State Police's annual crime analysis report for jurisdictions throughout the state.

Winchester man sentenced to eight years in manslaughter case

A Frederick County judge upheld an April jury recommendation Friday in sentencing Bradley Scott Gregory to eight years in prison in the shooting death of Michael Scott Shirley.

Picnic between raindrops

Deborah Lopez of Mount Jackson enjoys a picnic lunch in W.O. Riley Park in Woodstock with Maddy Shaffer, 4, left, Lopez's daughter Ashton King, 8, and stepson Michael Lopez, 6, between rain showers Monday afternoon. Rich Cooley/Daily

Correction

A caption for a photo that ran in Monday's paper misspelled the name of Sherando High School graduating senior Nathan Selove.

Correction

A story about e-publishing that ran in Monday's paper should have said valley author Becky Mushko self-published her book "Patches on the Same Quilt" in 2001 and published her middle grade paranormal novel "Stuck" through Cedar Creek Publishing in 2011. She e-published both books this year.

Front Royal man jailed for contempt of court

Warren County deputies pepper sprayed a Front Royal man outside the courthouse Wednesday after he was found in contempt of court and defied an order to report to the jail, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

Front Royal tree work hits next phase

Front Royal plans to move ahead next week on its project to replace trees downtown.

Class of 2013: Skyline High School

Dylan Grubb, Skyline High School's senior class president, sits next to Amanda Bates, student council president during the school's commencement exercises Saturday morning. More than 60 percent of the graduating class will plan to go on to a two-year or four-year college. Kim Walter/Daily

Class of 2013: Sherando High School

Sherando High School valedictorian Aarti Purohit addresses the Class of 2013 Saturday outside the school in Stephens City while salutatorian Christina Lee waits to speak. Josette Keelor/Daily

Class of 2013: Stonewall Jackson High School

Stonewall Jackson High School graduate Leslie Barb, 18, of Mount Jackson, blows a kiss to a family member during commencement exercises Saturday night inside the school's gymnasium. There were 127 graduates who received diplomas during the event. Rich Cooley/Daily

Class of 2013: Strasburg High School

Strasburg HIgh School graduate Todd Dean, 18, looks into the stands after receiving his diploma during commencement exercises Saturday morning inside the school's gymnasium. There were 155 graduates who received diplomas during the event. Rich Cooley/Daily

Public meetings: June 10-14

The following public meetings are scheduled this week:

Class of 2013: Central High School

Wyatt Hitt, 18, of Edinburg, sports LED lights on his cap during commencement exercises Friday night at Central High School in Woodstock. There were 189 graduates who received diplomas. Rich Cooley/Daily