Last 50 Rappahannock News articles (rappnews.com) — 50 found

Rappahannock JV volleyball scores big win as Panthers compete across fall sports

There were games aplenty but wins were in short supply for Rapp Athletics last week, although coach Heather Waddell’s JV volleyball team scored a big one at home last Tuesday.

Volleyball

Facing the “other” Rappahannock, which had defeated the Panthers in a close match the week before, Rapp charged out to a dominating 25-10 first-set win. The second was far closer, with the teams staying within two points of one another for much of the game. Tied at 24, Rapp snagged the final two points for the set and match win, improving to 3-1.

Mariah Phillips led her team in serves and kills, going 15-for-15 from the line with three aces, including the second-set winner, and racking up five kills and one hit from the front row. Alayna Frelk was also perfect serving, going 12-for-12 with three aces.

Dorothy Reder notched four kills and one hit, with Ella Morey adding three kills, Adele Genho two and Alayna Frelk one.

Coach Courtney Atkins’ varsity squad was not as fortunate, falling to the Raiders in three straight sets. The first two were classic nail-biters, with Rapp falling behind early and clawing back before falling just short, losing by three and then two points. The third was all Raiders as they cruised to a 25-14 win.

Jayden Whitt led her varsity teammates from the service line, going 12-for-13 with one ace. Jaeda Switzer led the Panthers with five kills, joined by Yurelli Canseco, Brooklyn Smith and Ava Stoner with one apiece.

Voters weigh 1% sales tax hike for school repairs

What to know about the sales tax question on your ballot

Rappahannock County voters will decide this November whether to raise the local sales tax by 1 percentage point to fund $4.8 million in overdue school building repairs over the next five years, including HVAC systems, aging boilers and other infrastructure needs.

School officials are hosting “Community Listening Sessions” across the county to discuss the proposed tax and hear feedback, with two last week in Castleton and Washington. School Board Chair Wes Mills said at one of the recent sessions that the real choice is who pays for the repairs — all consumers in the county, or property owners through real estate taxes.

A small crowd gathered at the Washington Fire Hall for the second Community Listening Session Sept. 3.Ireland Hayes | Foothills Forum

“Why would I vote for a tax increase? Because if we don’t take this path, we have legitimate facility issues, and the money is going to have to come from the real estate taxes in the county,” Mills said. “We’ve got to fix the schools up, or we’ll have to shut them down.”

What am I voting on?

The referendum would raise the county’s sales tax from 5.3% to 6.3%. The extra 1% would be dedicated solely to school facility projects.

A new state law passed in July allowed counties to put this issue on the ballot. Rappahannock and about 40 other Virginia localities chose to do so for the 2026 election cycle.

Northern Virginia teachers work to convey 9/11’s gravity to a generation who wasn't yet alive

On Sept. 11, 2001, Jessica Murphy, now a criminal justice, psychology and sociology teacher at Kettle Run High School in Fauquier County, was a recruit with the Arlington County Police Department. Having started with the department just a few months earlier, the then-22-year-old Murphy was early in a law enforcement career that would continue until January 2008.

On that Tuesday morning in September, Murphy and her Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy class – session 105, to be specific – were lining up to get ready for defensive tactics training.

Then, Murphy recounted, an instructor came in with a boombox, “which we all kind of thought was laughable.”

“We were joking around about whether or not we were going to do aerobics for the day instead of going for our regular three to four mile run,” Murphy said in an interview with InsideNoVa.

But the jokes quickly subsided. Instead of having the recruits stand in formation, the instructors made them sit down and delivered news that seemed beyond belief.

“They told us that one of the towers had been hit,” Murphy said. “And it didn't make sense.”

Huddled around the boombox, Murphy and her class soon heard the news of the second tower being hit, and then the towers falling. Then, they learned the Pentagon had been hit – and that all of them, even without completing their training, were being activated.

“We were told immediately to respond to our departments, that we were all being activated,” Murphy said. “And at this point, we had maybe a month and a half of training, so, really, this is the first thing that I ever did that was truly law enforcement-based.”

Rappahannock teacher retention rebounds to 88%

The Rappahannock County Public School District is holding onto its staff, with 88% of teachers and school employees choosing to stay in the district this year after a drop in retention last year.

Karen Ellis, executive director of academic services and human resources, said in a presentation at Tuesday night’s School Board meeting that she was “very pleased to announce” the high retention rate, compared to last year. Still, she said, the district is committed to improving that number, with an end goal of at least 90% retention.

“People are going to retire, people are going to move, but when they leave because of something they’re unhappy about, we can identify that sooner and help try to support and remedy that sooner versus finding that out on a survey once they leave,” she said. “I think we can get to that goal.”

To do that, Ellis told the board, she has deployed a “stay-put survey,” an anonymous survey sent to teachers and staff about what they enjoy about Rappahannock schools and why they stay. She said out of 52 respondents, most said they enjoy the “family-like culture” and the students they work with.

Last year, about half of the high school’s teaching staff left the district — more than double the previous year’s turnover rate — following what several staff described as a shift away from the school’s close-knit culture under new leadership. Ellis said during her presentation Tuesday that the rate was comparable to the state average.

This year, 143 of 163 staff were retained — about 88% overall— with 88% of elementary school staff staying and 80% of high school staff.

Ellis said the top answer that current staff gave for what would keep them in Rappahannock was more support from leadership, followed by more competitive pay.

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam pushes back against Verizon copper landline phaseout at Warrenton town hall

Facing a statewide move from Verizon to phase out copper wire landlines, concerned citizens showed up to a Wednesday town hall meeting hosted by U.S. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va.-10th, to voice their disapproval.

According to a spokesperson for Verizon, written notice of the change was sent out to all customers in recent months. An application for discontinuation was filed with the Federal Communications Commission on Aug. 11, spokesperson said the actual phasing out will likely take time.

But Subramanyam and other local leaders – including Virginia Del. Michael Webert and multiple county leaders from Fauquier and Rappahannock – who took the microphone at Warrenton’s Laurel Ridge Community College Wednesday expressed a greater sense of urgency. Nearly every speaker implored community members to make their voices heard to Verizon and the FCC through comments at the microphone or online comment submissions, for which laptops were provided outside the auditorium.

“In this case, I believe that your voice actually matters,” Subramanyam told the crowd. “And tonight, I want to make sure that some of your stories are heard.”

At the heart of many comments, both from elected leaders and the local community, was a fear of losing their landlines that already deal with poor, or nonexistent, cell service. Several speakers questioned whether they would be able to reach loved ones or call emergency services.

One of those comments came from Fauquier County Supervisor Regan Washer of the Marshall District. In his time at the microphone, he said the change could possibly have “disastrous” ramifications if service is cut off.

Slow to Upload: Rappahannock broadband project falls far behind

Just 8 Rapp homes connected after 4 years

Will it meet Dec. 31 deadline?

Four years and $45.5 million into a nearly $100 million state grant to bring high-speed fiber internet to eight rural Virginia counties — just eight of the 1,435 homes targeted in Rappahannock have working service.

Rappahannock is hardly alone.

Across the Northern Shenandoah Valley consortium, only 603 of the 32,238 targeted households have working fiber, according to Tom Innes, All Points Broadband’s senior vice president for business development.

That comes to just under 2% of households the project is meant to reach.

With a little over three and a half months to finish what has taken years to build, All Points would have to make roughly 6,700 locations serviceable each month across eight counties to meet a Dec. 31 deadline set by the state.

September 11: Coming to grips with the day that changed our lives forever

It’s been eight days since the world as we know it changed forever. Here in the shadow of the nation’s capital, fear and pain mix with grief and disbelief. We are shattered, but determined to increase security for the nation and ourselves.

We seek peace of mind, reaching out to those we love, to our neighbors and to our business associates. We are looking for ties that bind, and we try not to fear the things that divide us — different heritages, different faiths, different ethnicities.

Commercial jets commandeered by terrorists have shaken our humanity and breached our sense of safety.

Some seek revenge, all seek justice. Across Rappahannock County, we hear concern. We hear grief. We hear resolve, and we hear support for President Bush and other leaders.

President Bush has promised a war on terrorism. That will be his to plan and his to wage and ours to support. He has also promised justice. That, too, will be his to render and ours to support.

From last Thursday evening to Sunday local churches were open and many attended, many asked why and sought direction. The following prayer is one of remembrance.

In the rising of the sun and in its going down, we remember them.

In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter, we remember them.

In the opening buds and in the rebirth of spring, we remember them.

Rep. Subramanyam announces national data center plan

Substantial reform may be on the horizon for Ashburn’s “Data Center Alley,” Prince William County and accompanying jurisdictions regarding the future of data centers.

U.S. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-10th, who represents Rappahannock County, unveiled his “National Data Center Plan” Tuesday, consisting of four bills he and colleagues have introduced in the House of Representatives.

Standing at a lectern before Discovery Elementary School during a news conference in Ashburn Tuesday evening, Subramanyam was flanked by several state lawmakers and community leaders.

“I keep getting told that we’re going to lose the race, the AI race, if we don’t double or triple the number of data centers,” the congressman said in prepared remarks. “Well, I’ll tell you that the residents here see power lines go through the communities and see utility bills doubling. And they don’t care about China, they don’t care about any race. They just care about making sure they can pay the bills.”

State Sens. Russet Perry and Kannan Srinivasan were also on hand, alongside fellow Democrats including Del. J.J. Singh (Loudoun County) and Little River District Supervisor Laura A. TeKrony from Loudoun County.

The Prince William cohort on hand included Elena Schlossberg, executive director of the Coalition to Protect Prince William County, and speaker Elspeth McCormick, a resident of the data center-laden Amberleigh Station community in Bristow.

Contrary to some of her neighbors, McCormick and her family have elected to stay in the current home for the time being. She said they are “still hoping that our home is our greatest investment.”

Flags mark 25 years since Sept. 11, Stone Hill Spectacle takes a pause, Ephemeral Arts Program unveils new work

Flags mark 25 years since Sept. 11

Nearly 3,000 American flags are lining the field at the Rappahannock County Visitors Center this month to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The display includes 2,977 flags, one for each person killed in the attacks.

The flags will remain in place throughout September, and a Virginia LOVE display (part of the Virginia is for Lovers state tourism campaign) will be added later in the month to coincide with the Rappahannock County Farm Tour and John Jackson Piedmont Blues Festival weekend.

County officials are inviting residents and visitors to stop by the display to reflect on those who died on Sept. 11 and the sense of national unity that followed the attacks.

Magical Stone Hill Spectacle takes a pause

A mobile dragon breathes fire at the 2025 Stonehill Spectacle.Ireland Hayes

After 15 years, the popular Stone Hill Spectacle in Flint Hill — an annual night of magic, fire, music and costumes on the last Saturday before Halloween — will "pause" this year, according to its founder John Henry.

Rappahannock School Board invites community input on school priorities

Three more sessions of a Community Listening Tour — sponsored by the Rappahannock County Public Schools — are scheduled for next week so residents can weigh in on what school priorities should be in the next five years.

The gatherings also will give school officials an opportunity to explain how a proposed 20-year, 1% local sales tax on the Nov. 3 ballot would work and which school capital projects it could fund.

Piedmont bluesman Jeffrey Scott performs at library

Presented in partnership with Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Rappahannock County Public Library on Saturday, Sept. 19 will welcome Jeffrey Scott — bluesman, mortician, hog farmer, cattleman, long-haul trucker, family man and nephew of John Jackson — for an afternoon of live music and storytelling that celebrates the unique history and distinct sound of the Piedmont blues.

Come hear the music Scott’s “Uncle Johnny,” taught him and told him to keep alive at 12:30 p.m., the weekend before the John Jackson Piedmont Blues Festival.

Meetings and notices for Sept. 10 to Sept. 17

Rappahannock County Recreational Facilities Authority meets Thursday, Sept. 10, at 5:30 p.m. at the county park, 7 Park Lane, Washington.

Rappahannock County Water and Sewer Authority meets Thursday, Sept. 10, at 5:30 p.m. at the Sperryville Rescue Squad, 12 Main St., Sperryville.

Washington Town Council meets Monday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 485 Gay St., Washington.

Washington Architectural Review Board will not meet in September, having received no applications.

Warrenton rezones old town hall for boutique hotel

Developer Kevin Ash’s plan to open a boutique hotel, restaurant and social club in Warrenton cleared another hurdle Tuesday, bringing the project closer to its eventual opening.

Less than a month after voting to rezone 10 Hotel St. from public to commercial use, the Warrenton Town Council took the same step on Sept. 8 with the former town hall at 18 Court St. The measure passed 6-1, with Ward 5 Council Member Eric Gagnon casting the lone vote of dissent.

Just prior to the vote, Mayor Carter Nevill called the move more of a technical one than a major change.

“This is just making sure that the zoning is tied into the use that is predicted and projected for the property so that it will be in compliance,” Nevill said.

Gold Top County Ramblers caps Sperryville concert season

The Sperryville Summer Concert Series wraps up its season with Rappahannock's own Gold Top County Ramblers live on the River District stage Thursday Sept. 17, from 6-8 p.m. at 7 River Lane, Sperryville.

The free concert series, now in its sixth season, is presented by the Sperryville Community Alliance and Rappahannock Association for Arts and Community every third Thursday May-September.

Video: Rappahannock County School Board meeting, Sept. 8, 2026

Watch Tuesdays School Board meeting, for agenda items visit the school BoardDocs site: https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/rcpsva/Board.nsf/Public

Rappahannock Board of Supervisors honors Cheri Woodard

The Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors last Wednesday approved a resolution of appreciation for former long-time member of the Rappahannock County Water and Sewer Authority Cheri Woodard.

Fauquier data center application pulled in favor of residential development

Convergent VA, LLC has withdrawn its application to rezone nearly 140 acres of land south of Remington for the planned Convergent Technology Park data center and will instead pursue residential development.

Convergent VA manager Jeffrey Price informed the county of the withdrawal and pivot in late August in an email to Adam Shellenberger, Fauquier County’s assistant director of community development.

“​​Please be advised that we are withdrawing the above-stated rezoning application,” Price wrote, “and pursuing the by-right residential development of the property pursuant to its underlying residentially-zoned use.”

Price did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment for this story.

Fauquier County Supervisor Ike Broaddus, of the Scott District, said "it was no surprise" the company pulled its data center plan.

"They’ve known for more than a year that they had no chance of approval for a data center, and they made it clear they intended to move forward with the already approved housing development," Broaddus wrote in an email to FauquierNow. "This withdrawal was just a formality."

Amtrak to suspend Virginia-to-D.C. service for critical track upgrades Oct. 16–26

Rail passengers traveling through Virginia’s Northeast Corridor — including trains stopping in Culpeper — should expect cancellations and route changes and may need to rely on bus connections beginning Oct. 16 due to major track upgrades.

The upgrades are part of Amtrak’s “Pause for Progress,” a critical infrastructure upgrade to replace aging track components at the A-interlocking control point in Washington D.C., temporarily suspending service from Oct. 16 to Oct. 26.

Amtrak said the A-Interlocking in the First Street Tunnel is responsible for routing Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express services between Virginia stations and Washington D.C.

Amtrak said the existing switches and crossovers are “beyond their service life,” which requires a 10 mph speed restriction that affects operations.

“Customers traveling to or from Washington, D.C. from the south should expect significant service reductions and train cancellations,” Amtrak said in a statement.

Due to the suspension, trains traveling through Virginia will effectively end at Alexandria, with only a limited number continuing north. Most trips to Richmond, Charlottesville, Lynchburg and Hampton Roads will be served by express buses.

Once travelers are north of Washington, the Northeast Corridor trains continue normally on the Washington–New York–Boston segment.

Letter: Leave the books in place

Letters to the Editor reflect the opinion of the writer(s), not the Rapp News. Comment below or by writing a letter to the editor: editor@rappnews.com.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a library is “a place in which literary, musical, artistic, or reference materials (such as books, manuscripts, recordings, or films) are kept for use but not for sale.”

The advocates for moving the books to Rush River Commons say it is because they need more “children's learning space,” “teen and young adult gathering space” and “a multipurpose room for adult lifelong learning,” etc. While we are at it, kitchenettes and other amenities are added to enhance the utility of these new gathering spaces.

Commentary: If Virginia needs foster families, why are we waiting?

The Rappahannock News edited comments for length and clarity. Commentaries reflect the opinion of the writer(s), not the Rapp News. Comment below or by writing a letter to the editor: editor@rappnews.com.

After reading a Richmond Times Dispatch story last week, “Struggling to Meet Needs,” I felt compelled to share my experience with Virginia’s foster care and adoption system.

We continually hear that there is a tremendous need for foster and adoptive families. We hear about children who need safe, stable and loving homes. The public is encouraged to step forward, complete the training, open their homes and become part of the solution.

I answered that call.

I completed the required process through Extra Special Parents, including training, paperwork, background checks, a home study and licensing. I did this because I genuinely want to provide a child with stability, security and the opportunity to become part of a loving family.

I am fully licensed. My home is ready. Yet I am still waiting.

That makes me ask a difficult but important question: If the need for foster and adoptive homes is so great, why are qualified, licensed and willing families still waiting without receiving opportunities to help?

I understand that foster care is not about finding a child for a family. It must always be about finding the right family for each child. Every child has different needs and circumstances, and safety and well-being must always come first.

Letter: Dolly Parton’s gift of reading lives on

Letters to the Editor reflect the opinion of the writer(s), not the Rapp News. Comment below or by writing a letter to the editor: editor@rappnews.com.

Like many of you, I was saddened to hear of Dolly Parton’s passing last week. My earliest memory of her was sitting on the living room floor watching her sing on the Porter Wagoner TV show. Later she had her own songs, her own voice, that we heard on the radio in the kitchen window. They were beautiful songs of country life, love and loss.

How amazing to read about all the wonderful stories recently written about how she used her gifts to help others by donating to medical research, community service and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Reading for us as children was always important. My mother read to us at night from the “Little Golden Books.” She took us to Samuels Public Library in Front Royal when we went to town to shop because we lived in Huntly. Luckily, I was an early reader and always loved to read, as did my husband. We passed along this love of reading to our children and have spent hours of quiet time reading together as a family.

Letter: Climate crisis demands action

Letters to the Editor reflect the opinion of the writer(s), not the Rapp News. Comment below or by writing a letter to the editor: editor@rappnews.com.

Floods, fires, drought, extreme heat — every day, everywhere, we see the results of the disastrous heating up of our world.

Climate change has become a climate catastrophe, and across the world, people are suffering and dying.

And yet, in this country we continue producing and burning oil and gas, a major cause of the climate crisis. Even though they’re fully aware of the damage they are doing, the big oil companies have spent millions to mislead and confuse the public.

They’ve spent much more to buy off our politicians.

We are seeing the most blatant example in the current administration, in which oil company contributions have resulted in more public lands being opened for drilling, and in the concerted effort to kill off any and all renewables.

At the same time, while cheap renewable energy is being thwarted by this government, the rest of the world is surging ahead. In Australia, they are producing so much solar power in parts of the country that in the afternoons, electricity is free.

Letter: Nature’s ever-changing delights abound

Letters to the Editor reflect the opinion of the writer(s), not the Rapp News. Comment below or by writing a letter to the editor: editor@rappnews.com.

Although weeds are proliferating again this year, my butterfly bush — identified on its tag as “dwarf” when I bought it several years ago — has wildly exceeded any expectations, even managing to thwart our ice storm’s efforts to extinguish it.

Yellow swallowtail butterflies have been fluttering around Sheila Gresinger's backyard.Sheila Gresinger

Gorgeous yellow swallowtail butterflies have been fluttering all around its blossoms recently, though I’ve only managed to capture a few in this recent picture.

Here in Rappahannock, we can enjoy nature’s exuberance in its abundant wildlife.

Years ago, we had a huge birdfeeder in our yard — a magnificent mulberry tree. Our porch provided a real vantage point to watch all of the birds who fed daily on its juicy berries. Each bird had a definite personality of its own, from loud and quarrelsome bluejays to polite and quiet downy woodpeckers who busily tended to getting all the insects on the tree trunks.

Subramanyam joins Rappahannock opposition to Verizon copper landline phaseout

With a Thursday deadline looming for public comments on Verizon’s proposed phaseout of copper landlines, the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors and the county’s congressman are urging federal regulators to stop the plan, warning that it could leave some residents without a reliable way to call 911.

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam has submitted an objection to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and is encouraging residents to comment before the Sept. 10 deadline. He also plans to hold a town hall Wednesday in Warrenton to draw attention to the short comment period and hear residents’ concerns.

“For many, this is a matter of basic safety,” Subramanyam said in a statement. “Without copper lines, constituents will lose home phone access entirely in places where people need to drive to a ridgeline to make a cell phone call.”

Subramanyam said Verizon’s Aug. 7 letter notifying customers that it could end copper home phone service on or after Oct. 23, subject to approval, did not make clear that customers could weigh in on the proposal.

Under the FCC’s streamlined review process, Verizon’s application is scheduled to be automatically granted Sept. 26 unless regulators intervene.

“It is unacceptable to obscure this transition by not letting my constituents know about this very short comment period,” he said in the statement. “I have submitted my objection, and I encourage everyone to submit their comments before the deadline.”

Subramanyam’s town hall will begin at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, with doors opening at 6 p.m., at Hazel Hall at Laurel Ridge Community College, 6480 College St. in Warrenton, one day before the comment period ends.

Rappahannock adds its objections

The congressman’s push comes as Rappahannock County officials mount their own opposition to Verizon’s proposal.

At Wednesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, supervisors voted unanimously to send a letter to the FCC objecting to Verizon’s application and a separate rebuttal letter to Gov. Abigail Spanberger after Verizon contacted the governor about its transition away from copper service.

Does Rappahannock County need data center rules? Depends on whom you ask

Some 200 Rappahannock residents have signed a petition asking the county to block data centers. The county government says its zoning laws already prohibit the controversial structures by simply not mentioning them.

Who’s right?

David Konick, a local attorney who circulated the data center petition, claims Rappahannock County may be forced to accept a data center if it were ever sued.

“If the unexpected happens, we’ll be covered,” said Konick, a former Rappahannock zoning administrator, arguing for a data center ordinance. “If we don’t, we’re going to have our pants down around our ankles.”

Konick wrote a memo laying out his arguments, which he sent to Art Goff, the county’s legal adviser and top prosecutor. Goff said during the supervisors’ July meeting he “respectfully disagrees” with Konick.

The Rappahannock News did a deep dive into both sides and asked outside land use and zoning experts to review Konick’s memo. It found there are merits to both sides, depending on whom you talk to.

Goff said he’d issue his own memo to the county with his legal opinion, but declined to say when it would be done.

The case for an ordinance

Rappahannock County zoning laws bar anything other than uses “provided for,” meaning if it is not mentioned in the ordinances, it cannot be built. Data centers are not mentioned in the county Zoning Ordinance, but Konick argues the county stands on shaky legal ground anyway.

His argument, spelled out in his memorandum, is three-pronged: Virginia officially endorsed data centers in 2015, overriding county objections; county zoning laws can be read as “unreasonably restrictive” and data centers as they’re known today didn’t exist when the county adopted its zoning laws.

IN PHOTOS: Culpeper Rodeo goes out with a splash

Thousands turned out at the Culpeper Agricultural Enterprise Saturday for the fifth annual Culpeper Rodeo, watching bull riders cling on for dear life until a torrential rainstorm cut the main event short.

Courthouse Row for Aug. 3 to Aug. 9

There were no home and land transfers recorded at the Rappahannock County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office last week.

Permits

Kurt M. Campbell, Washington, electric service, $10,748

Mark M. Katz, Sperryville, chimney, $8,000

Alison P. Kelly, Castleton, foundation repairs, $15,552

Carl Timothy Barnhart, trustee, Flint Hill, generator, $7,500

Joseph Angelo Galeone, trustee, Castleton, generator, 10,000

UPDATED: Gunman dead, woman critically injured in attempted murder-suicide at Culpeper salon

A shooting at a Culpeper hair salon Saturday left a Culpeper man dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and a woman hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, police said.

The gunman was identified as Santiago Villamizar-Castro, 51, of Culpeper. In a news release, Culpeper police said Villamizar-Castro and the woman had a prior domestic relationship, and he went to the Roxana Hair Salon at 305 N. Main St. specifically to target her.

Culpeper dispatchers began receiving 911 calls about the shooting at 11:41 a.m., secured the building, attempted to contact anyone inside, and evacuated people from nearby areas, the release said. Witnesses on the scene confirmed that the shooter and an injured victim were still inside the business.

Inside, police found the man and woman with gunshot wounds. The woman was taken to a nearby trauma center with multiple gunshot wounds and life threatening injuries, the release said. Villamizar-Castro was pronounced dead at the scene.

“After attempting to murder the victim and prior to the arrival of law enforcement, Villamizar-Castro died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” the release said. “The involved firearm was recovered from the scene.”

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim for her full recovery from this violent act," Culpeper Police Chief Chris Settle said in a statement. "We know this was a terrifying event for our community, and that it’ll have a lasting impact. Domestic violence has no place in our community. If you or someone you know is being abused, stalked, or harassed by a domestic partner please reach out for help and services. No one deserves to live in fear."

Wild ginseng harvest season opens across Virginia

Virginia’s wild ginseng harvest season is underway, giving permitted diggers a four-month window to search the state’s forests for a native plant whose roots brought in about $700,000 last year.

The season opened Sept. 1 and runs through Dec. 31. About 1,080 pounds of wild ginseng roots were harvested in Virginia in 2025, according to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). It takes roughly 250 to 300 roots to make a pound.

American ginseng is a slow-growing, shade-loving perennial found primarily in western and southwestern Virginia. Its root is prized as a medicinal herb and is exported to markets including Asia and Europe.

But harvesting comes with restrictions. American ginseng is considered a threatened species in Virginia and is protected by international treaty, according to VDACS.

Clark Hollow Ramblings: Good news and bad news

I may have to find another hobby. Gardening isn’t working out like it used to. But first, the good news. We have been enjoying tomatoes, potatoes, green beans, lima beans and corn. And those last two made some awfully good succotash. The sweet potatoes are growing like gangbusters and have the most beautiful, morning glory-like blooms. We have had a couple and they were very good.

I keep my planting seeds in Ziploc bags inside a little cardboard box to keep out as much moisture as possible. This year I have been consciously cutting back on the amount of stuff I plant. And near the end of the spring planting, I found I had a little extra room. And there, in the bottom of my planting box, was a taped-up seed packet that only said “giant pumpkin” on it. I had no idea how old it was, but I knew it was more than 10 years old. It had three pretty good-sized seeds in it and they looked healthy.

So, what’s a gardener to do? I found a little space and I planted all three seeds. I did not hold out a lot of hope, but, hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Here is what happened. Each one of those seeds put out a healthy-looking vine. I was happy about that. But I should have thought this venture through a bit more carefully. In the weeks that followed, those three pumpkin plants just about took over the garden.

The first thing they did was get into my peas and pea wire and seemed to grow five or six inches every day. They took over my cucumbers, my bell pepper and the space where I had harvested my onions. I should have found my corn knife and started whacking, but I was just amazed at how they were growing. I now have four pumpkins and two of them I don’t think I will be able to lift. I am trying to figure out a way to get them on a scale, but I haven’t figured that out yet. They are huge. I am sure the largest one is well over 50 pounds. I will try to think of some way to let you know how big they are.

Rappahannock library lines up fall fun for all 

From story time and scavenger hunts to tai chi, teen crafts and live blues, the Rappahannock County Public Library is filling its fall calendar with ways for all ages to learn, create and connect.

The youngest visitors can start with Preschool Story Time at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays. Elementary-aged readers can join the Kids’ Book Club at 4 p.m. on the fourth Friday of each month, with titles such as “Dragons and Marshmallows” on the reading list. Homeschool Hour also returns at 2 p.m. on the third Friday of each month, offering K-12 students and their families a dedicated place to connect.

And there’s a little adventure waiting among the shelves. The children’s department will feature a new scavenger hunt each month, with themes ranging from Back-to-School and Fall to Dinovember. Kids who complete the hunt can earn a prize.

On Wednesday, Sept. 30, Rappahannock’s own Backpack Puppets will bring the “Fabulous Five Senses Dinosaur Show” to the library at 10:30 a.m.

Teens will have their own opportunities to shape what happens at the library through monthly Teen Advisory Board meetings at 4:30 p.m. on the first Friday of each month. The group will help plan winter events while enjoying crafts such as pumpkin prep and 3D paper stars. A special Teen Diamond Dots Macabre session is set for Sept. 21 at 6 p.m.

Adults can ease into fall with the return of tai chi, led by Sifu R.W. Godlewski at 11 a.m. on the first and third Thursdays of each month. Art and sewing programs will continue as well, with registration required.

A world without Ben ‘Cooter’ Jones — feisty prophet of Southern culture 

Fans bid farewell at Cooter’s Place in Luray

A Dukes of Hazzard revival swept Luray on Saturday, with thousands of cars streaming in for an amplified and tearful farewell to Rappahannock resident Ben “Cooter” Jones, who died Aug. 9 at his Harris Hollow home at 84.

Many General Lee vehicles lined up along with a long line of people waiting to get a signature from Catherine “Daisy Duke” Bach.Luke Christopher | Foothills Forum

Two of the cars were flame orange Dodge Chargers featured in the Dukes of Hazzard episodes CBS aired from 1979 through 1985, and for years afterward as syndicated reruns. Another 20 or so Dodges, modeled on the originals, lined the asphalt in front of Cooter’s Place, each roof emblazoned with the name General Lee and a Confederate flag.

Click here to see the photo gallery from Ben "Cooter" Jones' Celebration of Life.

Spanberger taps Daniel Young to lead government watchdog office

Gov. Abigail Spanberger has appointed Daniel Young, a former federal prosecutor whose cases included an $80 million defense procurement fraud scheme, as Virginia’s next state inspector general.

Young’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. The state inspector general serves a four-year term and oversees an office responsible for investigating alleged fraud, waste and abuse in Virginia government, conducting performance audits and reviewing state facilities and operations.

Most recently, Young served as an assistant general counsel at the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, which Congress created after the collapse of Enron to protect investors and oversee audits of public companies.

His career also includes work at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and more than five years as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, according to the governor’s office.

In announcing the appointment Friday, Spanberger highlighted Young’s experience prosecuting fraud and overseeing accountability.

“Mr. Young has a demonstrated record of prosecuting fraud, protecting taxpayers, and holding government accountable,” Spanberger said in a statement.

She also thanked former State Inspector General Mike Westfall, who was first appointed in 2018 by then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe, for his years of service and the office’s managers for sustaining the agency’s work during the search for a new permanent leader.

“The commonwealth must always work with a focus on serving the public and protecting taxpayer dollars,” Spanberger said.

UPDATE: 21-year-old convicted felon charged with murder in Manassas First Friday shooting

A 21-year-old convicted felon has been arrested in the Friday night shooting in Old Town Manassas that left a 16-year-old bystander dead.

Tasheem Douglas, 21, a Prince William County resident who lived outside the city, has been charged with second-degree murder, possession of a firearm in commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Douglas is in police custody at Fairfax hospital.

Douglas, one of two shooters, was initially taken to the hospital Friday night as a victim in the shooting, police said.

The 16-year-old female victim was caught in an exchange of gunfire at the city’s First Friday event last night, essentially a block party with live music, food vendors and other entertainment in Old Town. She was an innocent bystander, Chief of Police Doug Keen said at a Saturday afternoon press conference.

No motives for the shooting have been released. The police chief said he’s confident a motive will be established soon.

Keen further said he expects the second shooter will be in custody within the next 24 hours.

Chief of Police Douglas Keen speaks during a press briefing on Sept. 5, 2026, following the Sept. 4 shooting at First Friday in Manassas.Facebook | Manassas City Police Department

Keen said he was “a little worked up” over the fact Douglas was out in public with a firearm as a convicted felon.

Amissville welcomes new LeFay Enchanted Garden

A new LeFay Enchanted Garden was dedicated Saturday at Ingleside Manor Farm in Amissville, marking the third garden established through a grassroots environmental initiative that combines folklore and whimsy with native plant restoration and biodiversity.

The LeFay Enchanted Garden Initiative was founded by Sally-Anne Andrew, known as Faerie Queene Morganna LeFay of LeFay Cottage at Little Washington. The project encourages communities to create native gardens as sanctuaries for plants, pollinators and wildlife while promoting environmental stewardship.

“May this garden forever bloom as a beacon of our mission: Healing the land, preserving the future,” Andrew said during Saturday’s dedication.

The Amissville garden, filled with milkweed, coneflowers and black-eyed Susans, is stewarded by Brandy Clarke, known within the LeFay Enchanted Circle as Faerie Lilliath.

For Clarke, an Amissville resident, watching the sanctuary take root at Ingleside Manor Farm has been nothing short of magical.

How Dolly Parton sent books to a quarter of Rappahannock’s children

Imagination Library reaches “wonderful gift to help children to start to read.”

The first book Dolly Parton sent Etta Cheatwood, 5, was well loved. So loved, in fact, it fell apart, said her mom, Sperryville resident Addie Cheatwood.

But it was just one of dozens of books the country star, who died of cancer last week at 80, sent the Cheatwoods through Rappahannock’s local Imagination Library, an early literacy program that has sent books to children around the world each month, free of charge, for 31 years. The Cheatwood household has a communal bookshelf where the Imagination Library books live.

Rappahannock County children up to age 5 may receive Imagination Library books through the county library, where a party for participants is held twice annually. The program has a high take rate in the county: 128 participants, as of Tuesday, in a county whose under-5 population totals 222, according to Census data. Another 145 youngsters have graduated from the program since the first books were sent to Rappahannock in February 2022, according to library director Amanda Weakley.

Books are age-appropriate and offered in English and Spanish. Families may register online.

“Every time we got a book, it was just like the whole house got so excited because it was just such a fun thing to do, and we would sit down and read it all together,” said Addie Cheatwood. She just signed up her youngest daughter, 2-year-old Beverley.

Rappahannock’s Imagination Library program is a partnership between the library and the Headwaters Foundation, a local education nonprofit. Headwaters, with support from the Phillip and Penny Kardis Family Fund, funds the program.

Rappahannock Board of Supervisors move forward with two-story courthouse plan

After years of revisions, debate and disagreement over the future of Rappahannock County’s courthouse, the Board of Supervisors on Wednesday committed to a preliminary design for a new one.

The supervisors voted unanimously to move forward with a two-story courthouse concept estimated at about $17.5 million in construction costs, directing architectural firm Glavé & Holmes to begin the schematic design phase.

The decision marks a major step for a project that has gone through multiple design concepts as supervisors sought to balance the needs of court officials, public input and the long-term cost to taxpayers.

The two-level concept chosen by the Board of Supervisors on Wednesday.Glavé & Holmes

“I feel like we've applied many filters along the way, and here's where we've ended up,” said Hampton Supervisor Keir Whitson, who made the motion.

The supervisors chose the two-story plan despite a July 27 recommendation from the Courthouse Planning Oversight Committee for a more expensive, three-level concept that would provide additional room for future expansion.

Public blasts Culpeper animal shelter oversight at board meeting

A string of former employees, volunteers and rescue partners pressed the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 2 to launch an independent review of Culpeper County Animal Services, alleging problems with management, animal care, recordkeeping and retaliation against critics.

During a citizens’ forum that nearly exceeded the board’s usual 30-minute limit, speakers questioned the qualifications and decision-making of Animal Services Director Kyle Roberson, raised concerns about shelter conditions, policies and urged supervisors to increase transparency and formal oversight.

Roberson was appointed director of Culpeper County Animal Services in April 2026. According to a county news release announcing his appointment, he brought nearly a decade of experience in animal care, shelter operations and public service in Virginia localities to the position.

Kyle Roberson was appointed director of Culpeper County Animal Services in April 2026.Courtesy photo

Before joining Culpeper County, Roberson served as an animal care supervisor for Prince William County Government beginning in May 2024. In that position, he oversaw animal care staff, managed shelter operations, coordinated transfers with partner organizations and rescue groups, and worked to ensure compliance with state regulatory requirements.

Gov. Spanberger says calls to ban Flock license reader cameras ‘overly simplistic’

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger said calls to ban automatic license plate reading cameras, such as Flock devices, are “overly simplistic,” instead vowing to work with lawmakers on a solution to protect privacy while also maintaining the ability for law enforcement to investigate crimes.

At an unrelated event in Northern Virginia on Wednesday afternoon, Spanberger said she’ll collaborate with members of the General Assembly to address concerns.

Earlier this week, Republican state Sen. Glen Sturtevant said he intends to introduce legislation banning Flock cameras during the upcoming General Assembly session.

A Flock Safety camera located in Huntly.Luke Christopher/Foothills Forum

Flock cameras in Rappahannock

Panther Dispatch: Rappahannock golf earns district win as fall sports season heats up

While the wins were fewer than the losses, the excitement was off the charts for Rapp Athletics last week, with some hard-fought games and notable individual achievements being the result.

Golf

Coach Kevin Alther’s varsity golf team takes the lead on the strength of its victory over Madison last week, avenging an early-season loss to the Mountaineers and clawing its way to fourth place in the eight-team Bull Run District.

Reed Morey was high scorer for his team and the match overall, shooting a 40. Brother Carter Morey was right behind him with a 42, followed by Colt Barron with a 48 and Garrett Moore with a 49, producing a one-stroke match victory.

Two days later, Rapp finished in the middle of a three-way match, falling to district leader Clarke County but coming in just ahead of James Wood High School. Carter Morey shot a 43, the second-best score overall, followed by Reed Morey with a 44, Garrett Moore with a 46 and Parker Sherry with a 53.

The golf team hits the links again Thursday, Sept. 3, at Bryce Resort and plays Sept. 10 at Blue Ridge Shadows.

Cross country

Rapp’s varsity and Junior Panther cross country runners competed Saturday at the Augusta Invitational at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Fishersville. Competing against 23 other schools, most far larger than Rapp, Coach Wes Mason’s varsity boys’ team finished a respectable 15th overall.

More than 175 runners competed last week in the Augusta Invitational at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Fishersville. Coach Wes Mason’s varsity boys’ team finished 15th overall.Megan Christian

Drew Robinson finished first for Rapp, followed by Aidan Robinson and William Frelk, all in the top 100 out of more than 175 runners. Rapp doesn’t have enough female runners to qualify for team scoring, but Maria Felk and Addie Hubble finished in the top half of the 116-runner field.

Commentary: Memories of Rappahannock’s country stores 

The Rappahannock News edited comments for length and clarity. Commentaries reflect the opinion of the writer(s), not the Rapp News. Comment below or by writing a letter to the editor: editor@rappnews.com.

Your wonderful article (Aug. 13) on the Laurel Mills Store brings back many memories of growing up in Rappahannock in the 1950s and 60s, when country stores were a major presence in the county, when Sperryville had three grocery stores and all the other towns and villages had theirs too. Country stores also dotted Route 211 and the roads farther back from the main routes.

I grew up in Gid Brown Hollow with two country stores within walking distance of my home — Kindalls, owned by the John W. Kindall family near the intersection of Gid Brown Hollow Road and Keyser Run Road, and the Smedley Store run by Russell and Belle Pullen down the road from Promise Land Baptist Church and across the road from Greenwood, the Brooke Miller estate.

It was a kid’s delight with the nickel Cokes and candy bars and ice cream in Dixie cups. It was more than just a store. It was a gathering place for the friendly Hollow people, who would sit by the stove in the back of the store and exchange stories, discuss the weather, the crop prospects and so on.

Orie Burke would tell about his coon hunting adventures. D.J. "Jack" Miller, son of Brooke Miller, who lived across the road at Greenwood then, always had interesting stories to tell about hunting and dealing with unruly livestock. Once, while sitting on his front porch, he reached back into what used to be his sister's room, retrieved a gun and shot a rabid fox that had wandered into the yard.

Incidentally that sister, Bertie Lib Moffett, was my second grade teacher at Sperryville Elementary School and lived across the street at the Lee Highway Hotel which was really more like a boarding house or apartment building rather than a hotel that catered to transients. Rappahannock was not considered a tourist destination then.

Virginia House speaker details ‘concerns’ about NextEra-Dominion merger in letter to state regulators

In an official filing in the State Corporation Commission’s review of the proposed $67 billion NextEra-Dominion Energy merger, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, on Wednesday aired his concerns and advice about the deal in a letter to SCC Chair Kelsey Bagot.

“If this merger is not built around affordability for Virginians then it should not go through. That is my starting point, and it should frame every question this Commission asks over the coming months,” Scott wrote in the Sept. 2 missive. The House leader has received nearly $4 million in campaign donations from Dominion over the years.

Scott included a list of eight key points of consideration that he said commissioners should keep top of mind, including ensuring that the combined company adheres to Virginia Clean Economy Act environmental and clean energy standards, and that Virginians don’t “see a single dollar of rate increase as a result of this merger.”

Data centers should “cover the full cost of the generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure required to serve them,” Scott wrote. He also emphasized that Virginia jobs must be protected, and suggested the planned energy titan host its co-headquarters in Richmond.

“Virginia has the chance to get this right and to show the rest of the country how it is done. But that outcome depends on this Commission demanding more than assurances,” Scott wrote. “It depends on enforceable conditions, on real accountability, and on affordability being the organizing principle of the entire review.”

Days before Scott’s letter to Bagot, a former NextEra attorney who has declined to recuse herself from reviewing the merger case, 14 state lawmakers signed onto a letter to Gov. Abigail Spanberger, urging her to call a special session to facilitate an extension of the SCC’s review period for the merger.

Consumer sentiment tumbles as Virginians feel pressure from inflation, new poll finds

Virginia consumer sentiment fell sharply in August, wiping out modest gains from earlier in the year as renewed inflation and a lackluster labor market weighed on household finances, according to a new Roanoke College poll released Thursday.

The Virginia Index of Consumer Sentiment fell to 59.6, down 7.8 points from February and 4.9 points from a year ago. The overall index and its two components — current conditions and consumer expectations — are now below their five-year average of 68.1.

“Virginia households are feeling the economy’s ups and downs much more in their day-to-day finances than in their outlook for the future,” said Alice Kassens, professor of economics and dean of Roanoke College’s School of Business, Economics, and Analytics.

“The drop in how households view current conditions reflects the toll that renewed inflation and a cooling labor market has taken on household budgets. Wage growth, which had been outpacing inflation for much of the past year, is nearly even, leaving consumers with little real income cushion.”

Virginians were particularly downbeat about their current circumstances. The Index of Current Conditions dropped 11 points to 53.7, the lowest level since the inflation spike of 2022 and 12 points below where it stood a year ago.

Expectations for the future held up somewhat better. The Index of Consumer Expectations fell 5.8 points to 63.5, essentially matching the lowest level in the survey’s 15-year history, last reached in March 2022. However, unlike the current conditions measure, the expectations index is largely unchanged from a year ago.

VDOT suspends work zones, lifts lane closures for Labor Day weekend

As the final summer getaway begins, the Virginia Department of Transportation will be suspending many highway work zones and lifting most lane closures on interstates and other major roads from noon Friday, Sept. 4, until noon Tuesday, Sept. 8.

While lane closures will be lifted in most locations for the Labor Day holiday, motorists may encounter semi-permanent work zones that remain in place during this time. Check VDOT’s travel advisories for the latest.

Find directional schedules for the reversible I-95 and I-395 Express Lanes, and information for the I-495 Express Lanes at expresslanes.com. No schedule changes had been announced as of Wednesday.

All Points Broadband hosts Amissville event, plans next stop in Sperryville

All Points Broadband held its second Rappahannock County event in as many months Friday without a hitch. The event saw All Points salesmen hold court with residents who’d long been promised broadband service or were considering signing up.

Unlike its July event, when the company appeared in Woodville to the surprise of everyone involved, All Points gave a month of notice to the August event’s host, Amissville-area Magnolia Vineyards, according to co-owner Tina Marchione. All Points covered a glass of wine for attendees who desired one, and about 20 drink tickets were collected by the time the crowd died down two hours in.

Jackson Supervisor Donna Comer speaks with Laurie Smith, president of the Rappahannock County Chamber of Commerce and Mark Reinhardt, a member of the Rappahannock County Broadband Authority.Ireland Hayes | Foothills Forum

“It’s good to be eyeball to eyeball with them,” said Jackson Supervisor Donna Comer, sipping a glass of dry rosé.

All Points salesman Joe Richards declined to say how many residents signed up for the long-delayed fiber service on Friday, though at least four were noted on a sheet kept by Richards’ sales counterpart. Everyone who signed up received a $25 Amazon gift card.

Two new venues added to Farm Tour, Gray Ghost Vineyards takes top honors, Chester Gap fire department holds open house

County farms welcome visitors to annual tour

The 17th annual Rappahannock County Farm Tour is a free, two-day, self-guided tour offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the county's working farms on Saturday, Sept. 26 and Sunday, Sept. 27 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. each day.

The tour includes hayrides, farm animals, wineries, native plants and various demonstrations. Have fun while learning about agricultural practices.

Hill House Native Plants in Woodville and Hoof 'n' Feather Farm Store in Amissville are new venues on the annual Rappahannock County Farm Tour on Sept. 26 and 27. Discover wholesome foods and handcrafted goods at the farm store on Huffmans' Cattle & Hay Farm and select native plants for your garden at the nursery on Eldon Farms.Courtesy photo

Two new venues on this year's tour include Hill House Native Plants, 125 Clove Hill Lane, Woodville and Hoof ‘n’ Feather Farm Store on Huffmans Cattle & Hay farm, 129 Hinsons Ford Road, Amissville.

Hill House Native Plants in Woodville and Hoof 'n' Feather Farm Store in Amissville are new venues on the annual Rappahannock County Farm Tour on Sept. 26 and 27. Discover wholesome foods and handcrafted goods at the farm store on Huffmans' Cattle & Hay Farm and select native plants for your garden at the nursery on Eldon Farms.Courtesy photo

Free guidebooks are available at the Rappahannock County Visitors Center, 3 Library Road, Washington. For more information visit rappfarmtour.org.

Gray Ghost Vineyards takes top honors in California

Gray Ghost Vineyards’ 2025 Riesling was named Best of Class at the 2026 International Women’s Wine Competition in Santa Rosa, California.

The Amissville winery’s Riesling earned a score of 98 and a Double Gold medal, making it the competition’s top-rated Riesling among entries from the United States and abroad. Double Gold honors require every judge on the panel to rate the wine at gold-medal quality.

Video: Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors meeting, Sept. 2, 2026

Full video coverage of the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors' September meeting, held at the county courthouse in Washington. For agenda items, visit the county's BoardDocs site:

Rappahannock library official who took yard signs resigns

Editor's note: This story has been updated with comments from Library Board President Victoria Fortuna.

The Rappahannock County Public Library trustee who admitted to removing two yard signs opposing the library’s potential move resigned Monday in an email to county supervisors and the library Board of Trustees.

Piedmont Supervisor Gary Settle made Maureen Harris’ resignation public Wednesday during a crowded Board of Supervisors meeting, which included nearly an hour of public comments demanding she be reprimanded.

“She’s a smart lady, but she messed up, and it’s time to draw the line,” said Hampton resident Ken Norman.

Piedmont Supervisor Gary Settle addresses Maureen Harris' resignation from the Library Board of Trustees during the Board of Supervisors meeting on Wednesday.Luke Christopher

Harris, in her email to county officials, said her continued service “might jeopardize the important work of the Library Board.”

“As a result of my actions as reported in the August 27 issue of the Rappahannock News, I have become a lightning rod for criticism from some members of the community who oppose the potential move of the library to Rush River Commons,” wrote Harris, 83. “It appears that this controversy about my actions is not subsiding and may compromise the work of the Library Board of Trustees to expand and enhance the ability of the library to better serve the citizens of Rappahannock County.”

Labor Day holiday closings in Rappahannock County, plus upcoming meetings and notices 

The following are closed Monday, Sept. 7 in observance of Labor Day, reopening on Tuesday, Sept. 8:

• Rappahannock County government offices

• Rappahannock County Public Schools

• Atlantic Union Bank

• Oak View National Bank

• Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

• Encompass Community Supports transportation services

Teenage gunman dead after opening fire inside Shenandoah Valley elementary school

Waynesboro City Police Department Chief David Shaw identified Anthony I. Ignatiadis-Isabelle, 19, of Waynesboro, as the gunman in a shooting at Westwood Hills Elementary School in the Virginia’s western region on Wednesday morning.

Ignatiadis-Isabelle forced entry into the elementary school around 9:12 a.m., Shaw told reporters in an evening press conference the same day. A school staff member was shot while no students were injured. Police found Ignatiadis-Isabelle dead in the school’s library after apparently shooting himself.

School leaders had placed the facility on lockdown and reunited students with their parents in a nearby church after it was lifted around noon. Shaw said approximately three minutes passed between the department receiving a call about the shooter and law enforcement officers locating the suspect.

A school staff member suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound, was transported for emergency treatment and released. The Waynesboro Police Department and other teams including the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident that unfolded three weeks into the school year.

“Today is the day every school system hopes they never have to deal with,” said Waynesboro Public Schools Superintendent Jeffrey Cassell. He said that the school’s staff “immediately” notified law enforcement, touting the effectiveness of the district’s safety and security protocols and procedures.