Proposal for summer parks program nixed

Local day-care providers said sessions were unfair competition for businesses By Kim Walter -- kwalter@nvdaily.com FRONT ROYAL -- The Warren County Board of Supervisors asked the Parks and Recreation Department on Tuesday to abandon its proposal for a summer in...

Official pushes for lower tax rate

FRONT ROYAL -- Councilman N. Shae Parker is hoping to reduce the town's personal property tax rate once Warren County officially agrees to pay the town's share of funding for Samuels Public Library.

Board to support legislation banning smoking in parks

FRONT ROYAL -- The Warren County Board of Supervisors approved a request Tuesday by the county attorney's office to adopt a resolution supporting legislation aimed at snuffing out smoking in public parks.

Candidate hits walking trail

FRONT ROYAL -- Kevin Chisholm is walking and riding his way through Virginia in the hopes that all the traveling will eventually take him to the U.S. Senate.

Neighbors rush to the rescue in fire

FRONT ROYAL -- Bruce Smoot's Super Bowl party turned into a life-saving rescue drama after he left the game behind to carry two neighbors to safety from their flaming duplex Sunday night.

Police up patrols in wake of burglaries

FRONT ROYAL -- Police are stepping up patrols in residential areas of the town as they try to solve a wave of burglaries and walk-in thefts that began in mid-December.

Options for hours explored

FRONT ROYAL -- Town officials are still looking for ways to extend hours for the town's utility office.

Driver injured in single-car crash

FRONT ROYAL -- A single-vehicle crash near the Warren County line Sunday afternoon left the driver injured and the road closed for about an hour, according to authorities.

SCC: Turn on the juice

FRONT ROYAL -- Local officials believe hiring for more than 1,000 jobs will begin within a few weeks following state approval Thursday of a gas-fired power plant to be constructed by Dominion Virginia Power.

Local United Way meets fundraising goal

FRONT ROYAL -- The United Way of Front Royal/Warren County has hit its annual fundraising goal for the second year in a row.

Warren County attorney assistants' salaries debated

FRONT ROYAL -- A Warren County Board of Supervisors budget work session Tuesday exposed a rift between Commonwealth's Attorney Brian Madden and County Attorney Blair Mitchell over their assistants' salaries.

Town gets top ranking for power rates

FRONT ROYAL -- Front Royal has the lowest rates of any municipal electric power provider in Virginia and the second-lowest among all providers in the state.

Facility tracks progress of four maned wolf pups

FRONT ROYAL -- Four maned wolf pups born about a month ago at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute are "doing well," according to officials at the center.

Well, septic ordinance reviewed

FRONT ROYAL -- While Wednesday night's work session didn't bring about a final recommendation, members of the Warren County Planning Commission reviewed a revised ordinance concerning the required distance between well and septic systems

Man arrested in utility wire theft

FRONT ROYAL -- A tip about someone cutting wire from utility poles and placing it in his backpack on West 11th Street led to the arrest of a 20-year old man Jan. 26.

Garbage truck, bicyclist collide

FRONT ROYAL -- Police are investigating a traffic crash Monday morning in which a town garbage truck and bicyclist collided.

Man treated after stabbing

FRONT ROYAL -- A stabbing incident early Saturday sent a 37-year-old man to Warren Memorial Hospital for treatment, police investigators said.

Warren County Jail surveillance system upgrade could be costly

FRONT ROYAL -- An aging video surveillance system in the courthouse and jail could cost Warren County almost $240,000 to upgrade in the near future.

To protect and serve

FRONT ROYAL -- Even though the Public Safety Building project is behind schedule, Sheriff Daniel McEathron is staying positive and focusing on the end result.

County names first fire marshal

FRONT ROYAL -- Lt. Gerry Maiatico has been appointed fire marshal for Warren County, according to a news release from the Fire and Rescue Department. Fire Chief Richard E. Mabie appointed Maiatico to the new position on Jan. 9,...

Streets to close for tree work

FRONT ROYAL -- Sections of Main Street will be closed Monday for tree maintenance projects, according to a news release from the town Department of Public Works.

One charged in single-car crash

FRONT ROYAL -- A man was charged with driving under the influence after a single vehicle crash on Happy Creek Road near Loop Road around 7 p.m. on Saturday, according to police.

Shenandoah National Park visitation down

FRONT ROYAL -- Visitation in Shenandoah National Park was down in 2011 compared to the previous year, largely because of the snowy weather in October.

Traffic problems plague local elementary school

FRONT ROYAL -- Kevin Glascock stood in the middle of Stonewall Drive at Leslie Fox Keyser Elementary School Monday with a two-way radio directing cars backed partway down Stonewall Drive toward Easterly Street.

Rezoning may allow planned neighborhood

FRONT ROYAL -- A rezoning for a large planned neighborhood in the Leach Run area inched closer to completion Monday when the Town Council informally agreed to tentatively schedule a public hearing for the project.

Warren plans watch program for new mall

The Warren County Sheriff's Office will implement a business watch program in and around the Riverton Commons shopping center.

Three of a kind

FRONT ROYAL -- Don't have a cow, man. Have a heifer instead. In fact, have three heifers.

Troubles mount for Agency on Aging

FRONT ROYAL -- A new financial storm is heading toward the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging and is likely to force cuts in personnel, programs or both, the board of directors learned Friday.

Report: BB&T building needs at least $420,000 in repairs

FRONT ROYAL -- ECS Mid-Atlantic, the engineering firm that conducted an inspection of the former BB&T building on Main Street, has estimated total repair costs at more than $420,000.

Group protests multicounty jail

TOMS BROOK -- A group of Shenandoah County residents gathered outside the Toms Brook Fire Hall about an hour prior to Thursday's community meeting in a protest against the new regional jail.

Schools to revisit food reward ban

FRONT ROYAL -- The Warren County School Board decided Thursday to have Superintendent Pamela M. McInnis review the execution of a rule intended to discourage unhealthy eating after recent criticism from a parent.

Jail authority interviews site representatives

FRONT ROYAL -- The RSW Regional Jail Authority's board approved a motion Thursday to begin negotiations associated with hiring an owner's construction representative.

Elderly victim of trailer fire receives fuel oil assistance

FRONT ROYAL -- The thermostat in Michael Bennett's trailer is set at 65 degrees, and that's the way he likes it now that he knows he has plenty of fuel for his furnace. "I set the thermostat at 65 to conserve fuel for as long as possible. I sure am happy," Bennett said.

Agency on Aging representatives defend request

FRONT ROYAL -- Two representatives of the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging came to Tuesday night's outside agency budget work session with the county Board of Supervisors, bringing with them justification for their $70,000 request.

Man convicted in stabbing case

FRONT ROYAL -- A charge of attempted second-degree murder against a 21-year old man was dismissed Tuesday after he entered an Alford plea of guilty to two other felonies in the stabbing of another man.

Man surrenders after incident

FRONT ROYAL -- Police responded to a report of domestic dispute Wednesday evening that escalated into a man barricading himself inside a home.

Injured student making progress

FRONT ROYAL -- A 16-year-old student at Skyline High School, who was severely injured in a vehicle crash Jan. 11, is out of a coma and showing other signs of progress, his mother said Wednesday.

Area Agency on Aging fires back

FRONT ROYAL -- The Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging has answered an amended complaint filed against it by the agency's former executive director by denying that it owes her any money in accrued annual leave or sick leave as a result of her dismissal in early September.

Dare to Dream grant applications accepted

FRONT ROYAL -- The Front Royal Women's Resource Center is accepting applications until Wednesday for its annual Dare to Dream grants program.

Area Agency on Aging to ask for additional funds

FRONT ROYAL -- Most outside agencies seeking funds from Warren County in the fiscal 2013 budget haven't changed their requests from last year, but three are looking for a significant increase.