Staff/Contributed Reports

Fifty-nine percent of 116 respondents in our online poll think Virginia should end its ban on Sunday hunting.
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About wild (and natural) things in your backyard; the Inn crowd (and the in-the-area crowd); more gold for Gray Ghost; baroque but happy at the Theatre.
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A Fauquier County grand jury on Monday indicted Judy Kay Deal, 57, of Amissville, on one count of first degree murder and one count of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
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There’s a major political event approaching this fall, and though I have no doubt it will be overshadowed by the elections, I hope you’ll carve out some time for it anyway.
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Another Fourth (Estate) Friday meeting with our staff; two Friday films; oysters, Little Washington wine, art and a fundraiser Saturday; Israel at Trinity; uranium at the Theatre.
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By Toni Browning In the 15 years I have been an advocate/case manager for aging services, I have seen thousands of older adults. Some have done fine on their own, some have needed a little help and many were in predicaments that were desperate and sad. The common belief that once a person turns 60 there are...
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The beagle featured here a couple of weeks ago, Tiny Tim, may have been tiny and sweet, but I am cutest of all! They call me Baby – need I say more? I’m six months old, weigh less than 20 pounds and love to be picked up and snuggled. I snuggle a lot here...
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Bluegrass legend Ronnie Poe of Amissville died last week playing banjo. Poe, 79, collapsed Thursday night after a few songs into a jam session at his backyard garage, surrounded by musicians like Richard Ashby and Richard Brady, who had known him and played beside him for decades.
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Going wild in your backyard, and the Benevolent Fund's Plan B fundraiser.
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Data released this week shows that three properties in Rappahannock County totaling more than 650 acres were protected by conservation easements in 2011.
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Panther wrestlers recently took their talents on the road for one Bull Run District meet and one tough tournament. Last Wednesday (Jan. 11), the team hosted district opponents George Mason and Madison. On Friday and Saturday (Jan. 13-14), Rappahannock wrestlers traveled to  Eastern View High School for a large, two-day tournament. In Bull Run...
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In Rappahannock County General District Court Tuesday (Jan. 17), Patricia Lynn Sullivan of Sperryville was issued a $1,000 recognizance to keep the peace – or peace bond – to guarantee compliance with the court’s order that the former Flavor magazine investor would have no contact with the Sperryville-based magazine’s publisher, Melissa Harris. If Sullivan...
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Last week’s article on the bald eagle killed by lead poisoning in Fauquier County – as well as news of a second eagle in Manassas that died of the same cause – is a sharp reminder of the need to get the lead out of hunting ammunition. Lead left in the gut piles of...
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My dad, John William “Billy” Jenkins, passed away after spending more than six years as a resident at Jackson House Assisted Living in Boston, Va. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Charity and Violet Sillero and their kind, compassionate staff. You do not know how wonderful it is to have peace of mind and know that...
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During my wife’s struggle with cancer, which extended through the holiday season, my family was bestowed with an explosive outpouring of generosity and compassion. Such was this outpouring that my cynical view of people’s care for their fellow person has been forever altered.  On behalf of a humbled and grateful Bane family, I am...
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Rappahannock County Sheriff’s Deputy James “Ronnie” Dodson, left, holds the certificate he received Dec. 8 upon graduation from the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy; and Deputy Lee Settle, who grew up in the county and was most recently employed by the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office, rejoined the Rappahannock department earlier this month.
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Kevin Adams, co-owner of the Gay Street Inn, caught a full moon settling over Massies Mountain just west of Little Washington at 7:30 Tuesday morning, the ground still white from an unexpected storm that began Monday afternoon (when the photo below of the county courthouse was taken), and which produced more than two inches...
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Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.; shopping with a neighbor; the 4-H report; and a John Eaton performances to begin the season Jan. 22 at the Theatre.
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Wakefield announces athletes of the month Wakefield Country Day School’s December athletes of the month included two female co-winners and a seventh-grade basketball leader. Junior Makenzie Magaro of Amissville is a returning player on girls varsity basketball who led her team in scoring in the opening win over Fresta Valley with nine points. She has scored in every...
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Regarding your Jan. 12 article reprinted from the Fauquier Times-Democrat: I find it to be a long stretch to blame hunters for the problem. The article, in quoting the Wildlife Center senior executives, makes it sound as if hunters are such a sorry lot that large amounts of...
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This story doesn't have a happy ending.

On Dec. 29, a Virginia conservation officer from the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries rescued a bald eagle and brought it to the Wildlife Center in Waynesboro.
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A classical education at Wakefield Country Day School (WCDS) means that students from the beginning are taught to be critical thinkers, to gain a deeper understanding of what they study. These years of study – learning to think, read, write and speak effectively – culminate in an important graduation requirement: all students research, publish,...
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To all the precious folks of Rappahannock County: Now that the holidays have passed and things have settled down, I would like to sincerely thank the many people throughout the county who took their time, money, energy and love to go shopping for a senior from the Senior Angel Tree. With the wonderful assistance of the...
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Thank you to all who came out to donate blood Jan. 4 at the Red Cross Bloodmobile at the Washington fire hall. We had 35 people attempt to make a donation, which resulted in 32 useful pints of blood. We appreciate all who took the time at the beginning of the new year to give the gift of life. You may be gratified...
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In her Washington column last week, Jan Clatterbuck wrote something that really struck me and I want to say “thanks.” She wrote: “If you are asking yourself how do you get your resolutions to work this year, the most important thing is you must believe that you can do it.” I have slowly added...
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A hawk made his entry high above the pond, gliding effortlessly above the oaks, above the poplars, circling – circling, always circling high above envious of fellow earthlings looking for a morsel or two on the first of February 2006, the morning after the President made his State of the Union speech – about...
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Photographer Gary Anthes took some pictures at the Rappahannock Historical Society’s second annual “Last Night Rappahannock” New Year’s Eve celebration along Gay Street in Little Washington, and we’re just the guys to put them into a slideshow and post them online.
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Claudia Ross at Rose Hill Farm, on U.S. 211 not far from the town of Washington, took this telephoto shot on Wednesday (Jan. 4) of a bald eagle checking out the meadow nearby. Ross said the bird was “easily three feet tall” and, when she tried to get closer, “he vanished in such a...
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Virginia's First Lady awards the Castleton Festival one of her "Opportunity Seal of Approval" awards; RAAC's Friday night movies resume Jan. 6 with "Midnight in Paris"; the Visitors Center prepares for winter hibernation.
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I have been visiting relatives in the Sperryville area for holidays for the past five years. I am told of how Massies Corner, where you get from Lee Highway to Front Royal, has had a high number of car accidents. I think I know why. It is because the view, when you arrive at...
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I have been a resident of Rappahannock County for eight years now and I love being here; I love waking up in the morning to take my dogs for a walk, smelling the fresh air, hearing the geese fly overhead and seeing the many wild animals that grace this beautiful countryside. I have a...
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Shelley is a playful and lovable two-year-old female who enjoys going outside but is also happy as an inside cat. Shelley will tolerate other felines but clearly wants to be the star of a household; she would likely do better as an only cat. She plays with everything and runs around the house like crazy. Her adoptive...
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At the 4-H Community Club’s first-ever Jingle Bell 5K Run/Walk in the town of Washington earlier this month, early leaders among the field of nearly 140 included (from left) August Lutkehus (No. 737), Donnie Sobanko (No. 741), Julia Wood (the race’s overall female winner) and Danny Collins (No. 728, the overall  male winner). Also...
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That spirit grabbed the illustrious Lunch Bunch as they last week honored Gene Farmelo (seated, center) who is going through difficult times, with a gathering at Thornton River Grille in Sperryville. Seated (from left) are Hans Gerhard, Carl Coon, Bob Weinberg, Farmelo, Peter Kramer, Ben Jones, Butch Zindel and Hank Gorfein.  Standing (from left)...
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Panther wrestlers hosted their first Bull Run District home meet of the season Dec. 14 and posted team losses of 42-28 against Randolph-Macon and 50-18 against Clarke County. On Saturday, Dec. 17, they made the long trek to Washington and Lee and brought back bragging rights from the tournament by posting a team win against...
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It's "Shop With a Deputy" time again; a presentation on the health benefits of moving at Belle Meade; more help for the Food Pantry; an artists' gift show at River District Arts.
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For this year’s fall recital, nine school-age musicians shared the limelight with three adults, all participants in the Rappahannock Music Lesson Program. After performing for an enthusiastic crowd of parents and friends, five violin students posed with instructor Olivia Devening (at left, back row), including (in front) Skotty Scoville and Olivia Devening, and (back...
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Flint Hill resident Bob Clements poses with his horse, Wrocky, after the two won the Reserve Championship ribbon in Training Level at the Virginia Dressage Association’s annual championship and schooling show at Morven Park in Leesburg last month. Clements has been riding dressage for almost seven years, for the past two under the instruction...
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From left, participants in last week’s Culpeper Soil & Water Conservation District (CSWCD) all-day workshop on restoring and protecting streambeds, wetlands and habitat included Rappahannockians Beverly Hunter, Jonathan Marquisee, David Massie, Don Loock and Donna Marquisee and CSWCD staffers Richard Jacobs and Evan Blumenthal. Attendees learned about private conservation-incentive programs (besides those long offered...
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A brief update on AT&T's cell tower construction plans.
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