City looks to take over hotel

WINCHESTER -- The city is moving forward with plans to take over the crumbled Taylor Hotel property after developer Denver Quinnelly failed to provide an acceptable plan for its rehabilitation.

Midday snack

A red-spotted purple butterfly sips nectar from a butterfly bush near Strasburg on Saturday. Andrew Thayer/Daily

Descendant of Russian nobility pairs with SU to create a DVD outlining his ancestry for family

FRONT ROYAL -- Ask Count Basile A. Denissoff what's in a name and he's most likely to answer -- in his thick French accent -- everything.

Aircraft head to the skies after rain dampened event last year

FRONT ROYAL -- Plane engines growled and wings split the sky over the Front Royal-Warren County Airport Saturday.

R-MA holds Patriot Day observance

FRONT ROYAL -- Valerie Pratt was attending elementary school when the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks suddenly struck eight years ago.

Vacant inn sparks debate over dilapidated buildings

FRONT ROYAL -- One of the highest priorities for Town Manager J. Michael Graham is having the vacant Afton Inn at the corner of Royal Avenue and Main Street renovated or demolished.

ATVs and mower destroyed in fire

FRONT ROYAL -- A fire caused about $25,000 worth of damage Friday to a wooden structure attached to a barn, as well as the contents of the building. Warren County Fire and Rescue Lt. Gerry R. Maiatico said dispatch received...

Graceful glider

A blue heron flies over a pond along Patmos Road west of Woodstock recently. Rich Cooley/Daily

Students return to friends, books, dreaded homework

WOODSTOCK -- With one word, summer officially ends -- "homework." Shenandoah County Public Schools became the last Northern Shenandoah Valley school division to open its doors to pupils Tuesday. Attendance numbers will not be available until this morning.

Police seek interdiction against 'drunks'

WINCHESTER -- City authorities want the "town drunks" to dry up. A judge could help prosecutors do just that.

R-MA cadet spends internship at Shenandoah National Park

FRONT ROYAL -- Randolph-Macon Academy cadet Sean Knick found an outdoor training classroom almost in his own backyard while interning at the Shenandoah National Park this summer.

Creek competition

Andrew Kent, 16, left, and Brandon Gilmore, 15, fish along Stony Creek west of Edinburg on a recent summer afternoon. Rich Cooley/Daily

Photo: Slip and glide

Olivia Marshall, 11, of Mt. Jackson, hits a water slide outside her home along Old Valley Pike on a hot summer afternoon. Rich Cooley/Daily...

Officials say Millbank House needs to go

WINCHESTER -- An old home near a wastewater treatment plant in Frederick County needs to go, officials said Monday.

Dance of the butterflies

A pair of tiger swallowtail butterflies sit at the river's edge near Front Royal.

Hay-tossing contest closes out Frederick fair

STEPHENSON -- According to Kenny Gentry, getting a hay bale to go the distance comes down to one thing.

Event lineup at fair expected to spur attendance

FRONT ROYAL -- With a slew of attractions, such as livestock, demolition derbies and a wrestling show on the docket, organizers of the 52nd annual Warren County Fair are confident the event will continue to draw thousands of people despite the recession.

Hard Times: Area businesses have hope in hard times

STRASBURG -- The golden arches at the town's scenic northern gateway are a little harder to spot these days, tucked away in a gas station-convenience store just off the busy interstate.

Children learn stock showing tricks at Frederick fair camp

STEPHENSON -- Learning the ropes of county fairs includes knowing how to tie the right knot.

Frederick contestants lead steer, cattle to judges

STEPHENSON -- If government statistics are accurate, apples remain the king of agriculture in Frederick County.

Relatives of Revolutionary War hero reunite for grave marking ceremony

MIDDLETOWN -- In describing how he's trying to get his 11-year-old son interested in history, Dan Tullos unknowingly depicted the transformation Tom Chrisman went through not too long ago.

Hard Times: Nonprofits struggle with smaller donations in recession

NEW MARKET -- In his 60 years, Jimmie Laughlin has slammed lumber over his left knee to get a date, not flinched when his two broken fingers were put back into place, inexplicably woken from a two-week coma and won $1,000 in a scratch-off lottery game.

Hard times: Tourists find ways to save money, enjoy local attractions

Tim Dore's family always wanted to travel on Skyline Drive. This summer, the Dores, of Butler, N.J., are taking advantage of cheaper gas prices to motor along the 105-mile scenic parkway on their way to Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

Shawnee Kennel Club donates pet oxygen masks to fire and rescue services in Warren County

FRONT ROYAL -- Volunteer emergency services in the town and Warren County just became a little more pet-friendly.

Woodstock eyes 'pooper scooper' ordinance

WOODSTOCK -- Town officials are considering making dog owners responsible for picking up their pooch's poop if it's left on someone else's property.

Cool under pressure: Pampered pups put on a show at Clarke fairgrounds

BERRYVILLE -- Linda Madden says her two Scottish Deerhounds are generally relaxed pets, even when all eyes are centered on them at dog competitions.

Hard Times: Many continue or return to education in downturn

MIDDLETOWN -- Hope Athey arrives early for "College 101," takes a seat at the back of the room and glances over her shoulder as the rest of the group, mostly teenagers and a few parents, shuffles in.

Hard Times: Family struggle

Until recently, the housing industry was very good to Jeff Carter. Carter, of Strasburg, worked for an excavation company that did contracting for major homebuilders. During the boom years, there was work to spare -- 60 hours a week, sometimes seven days a week. But when the region's housing market collapsed starting in 2007, Carter's job went with it.

Police look for missing woman on land, water

BOYCE -- The mother of a woman missing from Clarke County since Tuesday night pleaded Friday for her safe return.

Class of '09 transitioned from old Warren County High

FRONT ROYAL -- Warren County High School Principal Ernestine Jordan refers to the class of 2009 as "the calm after the storm."

Homicide suspect sought

WINCHESTER -- Police were still searching late Thursday night for a man wanted in connection with his brother's slaying. Justin Shane Slater, 24, is wanted for first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a murder. He is considered armed and dangerous.
Video: View video from the crime scene

Squad accused of being unprofessional

STRASBURG -- A pattern of unprofessional and incompetent performance combined with a lack of volunteers to consistently run calls led the push to shut down the Strasburg Volunteer Rescue Squad, according to documents released by the Shenandoah County administration.