Staff/Contributed Reports

All 35 Virginia State Parks will host special programs and events Saturday, June 8, as part of the fifth annual National Get Outdoors Day (GO Day), to encourage healthy, active outdoor fun.
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The week's headlines: Board works on reducing tax rise to 4 cents || Bond revoked, murder suspect re-hospitalized || At Castleton, it’s homes away from home || The Rapp for May 23 || Rappahannock Park, ramped up and ready || Editorial: The sound you hear, the food you eat || Massie’s goal in Madison...
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Our monthly Fourth (Estate) Friday meeting, Coterie and Narmada's weekend offerings, acoustic guitarist Laurence Juber's return to the Theatre, Middle Street Gallery opens its "Beauty Around Us" exhibit and RAAC's opening casting call for all area women for "Love, Loss and What I Wore" in this week's Rapp column.
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“Deak” Deakins of Rock Mills introduces his first grandchildren – Jeremiah of Nelson County and Wren of Woodville – to the simple pleasures, if not comfortable seating, of a good ol’ Ford tractor.
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Angus youth, including Courtney Pooton of Sperryville, gathered at the 2013 National Junior Angus Association Raising the Bar Officers Training earlier this month in Blacksburg.
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A pink lady slipper orchid blooms in the wilds of Rock Mills last weekend.
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About 12 years ago, Michael Maupin lost his right to vote in Virginia because of a felony drug conviction. But Maupin has hope for the future because he just received a letter from Gov. Bob McDonnell restoring his civil rights.
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The Virginia Parole Board last year granted parole in less than 4 percent of the cases it considered. Even old men – prisoners in their 70s and 80s who have served decades behind bars – were routinely denied parole.
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Human trafficking survivors and support groups are speaking out and working with state legislators to combat the problem of human trafficking in Virginia.
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Fauquier County prosecutors want a murder suspect with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head committed to a hospital for 24-hour care. The Fauquier Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office filed an emergency motion to revoke the bond of Judy Kay Deal and to have her committed to Western State Hospital. A circuit judge will consider the...
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Castleton resident Ethan Cody Newcamp was issued a bond by Judge J. Gregory Ashwell in Rappahannock County District Court Tuesday morning (May 14). The 19-year-old Newcamp, who is charged with one count each of grand larceny and entering a house to commit assault and battery, has a trial date June 4.
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Rappahannock's annual Relay for Life this weekend, "Uncle Vanya" takes the stage at the RAAC Theatre, Canadian pianist Audrey Andrist returns to the Theatre at Washington, the Public House is throwing its first summer festival, R.H. Ballard is honored in a reader's poll and Spicy Plum Chutney makes waves in this week's Rapp column.
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At the annual scholarship awards assembly held May 2 at the Rappahannock County High School, 32 RCHS seniors received scholarships worth more than $70,000.
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As part of Eagle Scout Aidan Gould’s skateboard park project at Rappahannock County Park, workers successfully poured a concrete pad last Friday and Monday; meanwhile, equipment arrived on trucks from American Ramp, and installation was to begin this week.
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An annual yard sale for the Soap Box Derby, still known as the greatest amateur racing event in the world, was held this past Saturday to benefit the local entries in the event, including cars sponsored by the Rappahannock Elementary School, Boy Scout Troop 36, Cub Scout Pack 123, the Rappahannock County Sheriff’s Office...
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May Day, the annual celebration of spring, was attended by some 50 alumni and friends of the Scrabble School earlier this month, many bringing their children to experience a fun-packed day much like those celebrated in May from 1921 to 1968, when the school for African-American students was in operation. Kids and adults alike...
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The Rappahannock County Public Schools PTO recently presented a check to the Curriculum Enrichment Program (CEP) to assist the program’s mission of supporting creative and enriching (and often impromptu) learning opportunities for students. Advisory members Rosa Crocker and Jan Makela attended the PTO meeting to update members on recent CEP successes. Flanked by members,...
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Photos from Rappahannock Food Pantry Day in Washington last Saturday.
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May 19 marks the first year anniversary of the passing of my father, Paul R. Farmer. My dad was an amazing man and many people knew him in the close-knit community of Rappahannock County. At his funeral last summer, everyone heard about his lifelong career at the CIA, his work toward saving the environment...
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It is in our darkest time of sorrow that we truly realize how much our family, friends and community mean to us. Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated and will always be remembered. So, it is with sincere gratitude that we say “thank you” to all who have touched our hearts and enriched our lives...
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If you didn’t attend last Thursday evening’s performance of Rappahannock County Elementary School’s band and chorus program, you really missed something truly special. Not only did students in the fifth through seventh grades show excitement in executing their musical selections, all of which gave examples of range, diversity and style of music, they did...
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This week's RAWL dog is a lost senior lab. If you know him, please help return him to his owners.
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This week's headlines: School board eyes 10 buses || Gun report, social media post lock down schools || Prosecutors seek to revoke bond in Deal murder case || The Rapp for May 16 || Town funds cleanup, weighs B&B changes || Editorial: 'It's scary!' || and lots more.
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A few dozen fab photos by Luke Christopher of the hat contest and crowds at last Saturday's Gold Cup races at Great Meadow in Fauquier County.
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Virginia’s suicide rate is the highest it’s been in 13 years, according to the state’s chief medical examiner. Experts say the causes may include the poor economy and lack of mental health services.
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An ominous “MLK Day plot.” A proposed overhaul of the Electoral College system. Voter ID legislation. Those are issues that fueled partisanship at the Virginia Capitol this year and turned the bad blood between Republicans and Democrats into one of the most talked-about topics of the General Assembly’s session.
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No General Assembly session is without its ups and downs, quarrels and disputes. However, the 2013 session may have taken the trophy for the most sparring between Democrats and Republicans – especially when it came to transportation.
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"Caveboy" takes center stage at RAAC's Friday at the Library series, TRG offers an all-day Mother's Day menu, SVFD plans its next July 4 celebration, RDA hosts a studio stroll, pianist Audrey Andrist returns to the Theatre, Narmada hosts a fundraiser and wine-making class and the NPCF gets accredited in this week's Rapp.
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Rappahannock County High School took four varsity track athletes to the annual Dogwood Track Classic at Lannigan Field at the University of Virginia last Saturday (May 4): seniors Trey Swindler and Case Kramer, junior Davis Sheffield and freshman Julia Wood.
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Pictured here are some of the Rappahannock County Elementary School students who’ve completed a six-week photography workshop sponsored by the RAAC Mitchell Fund. Ray Boc, Joyce Harman and Francie Schroeder of Old Rag Photography Gallery conducted the workshop for students selected from art teacher Elizabeth Botha’s classes. The focused group here includes (top row,...
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Photos by Cindy Sumner The Rappahannock Youth Basketball League, with a record 156 kids participating this winter and making boys and girls age-group teams possible for the first time, held its tournament recently; here are photos of the winning and all-tournament teams and the tournament’s most valuable players.
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Trista Grigsby, director of nutrition services at Rappahannock County Public Schools (that’s her in the center of the back row with short dark hair) represented Rappahannock at a reception last month for the recipients of the first USDA Farm to School Planning Grants in Washington, D.C. While there, Grigsby discovered that Rappahannock’s grant, in...
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Rappahannock County Sheriff Connie C. Smith, right, congratulates (from left) deputies Taylor Yowell, Brandon Smoot, Robbie Fincham and Christopher Koglin, the four winners from the RCSO awards ceremony held last month at the courthouse. Yowell won Correctional Officer of the Year, while Smoot won Communications Officer of the Year. Fincham was awarded Overall Deputy...
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Ignorance: noun; the lack of knowledge, education or information I have been the Rappahannock County Public Schools Transportation Supervisor for the past five years and the technician for the previous two years. I am replying to Ron Frazier’s letter last week with regard to the transportation department just in case there are any readers who...
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I admit it: Looking at that jumbo-sized “Big Gulp” cup lying on the shoulder of Tiger Valley Road for countless weeks was driving me nuts, so I decided to do something about it. Several weeks ago, I grabbed several garbage bags and went out to pick up that particular item as well as other...
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On behalf of the Northern Virginia chapter of Trout Unlimited (NVATU), I would like thank Cliff Miller III for generously making his family’s Mount Vernon Farm on the Thornton River available for wounded veterans to fish on April 26. This was the third time in recent years that Project Healing Waters veterans have enjoyed...
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In 1967, historian Lynn White, Jr. ignited a firestorm that burns still today. In a widely discussed article titled, “The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis,” he laid a charge at the doorstep of the Judeo-Christian community: The Bible is responsible for the world’s environmental degradation.
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This week's headlines: School budget approved, minus $145K || Covered: Cats, costs of roads and rescues || Quilter Laing 'sews it up' for the Pantry || The Rapp column for May 9 || Editorial: The new News || and more.
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The Rappahannock County School Board has appointed Donna O. Matthews as the new superintendent for Rappahannock County Public Schools effective July 1.
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Musicals at two Rapp schools this weekend, chamber trios at the Theatre, the Studio School's open house, RAAC's "Uncle Vanya," a new Middle Stree exhibits, the Virginia Chutney Co.'s in the running for an impressive award, recycling with RAWL and more in this week's Rapp.
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