I write in reference to last week’s letter from Ben Jones regarding sheriff’s office signs that currently pervade Little Washington reminding us to buckle up or be fined . Apart from being a total eyesore, this well-intentioned effort is meaningless, counter-productive and gives one the impression that the rest...
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This Week’s Paper
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Letters to the Editor
Letter: Signs are littering
Letter: Be a well-informed voter June 11
On June 11, the voters of Rappahannock County, along with the rest of the commonwealth, will have an opportunity to go to the polls and vote in the Democratic primary that will select candidates for lieutenant governor and attorney general (see box). Democratic primary details Polls are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday...
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Letter: Big Belter is watching
Am I the only one bothered by the scattered little signs which read: “Seat Belt Enforcement Area?” It isn’t just that there is far too much of this kind of unsightly litter about already. And it isn’t that a lot of us hate unnecessary warnings from Big Brother. Besides being a waste of taxpayer’s...
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Letter: ‘Vanya’: To laugh or not to laugh?
Recently Rappahannock theatergoers were treated to a classic stage drama by the famous Russian author and playwright Anton Chekhov, performed by some of the county’s best actors. Many might have predicted that ticket sales would be light to moderate given that the play, “Uncle Vanya,” has been reputed to be a “dark comedy” since...
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Letter: Not wholesome but loathsome
Wildlife officials in Virginia will be considering the practice of fox penning, among other issues, at a meeting to take place in Richmond on June 13. Fox penning, called “wholesome family entertainment” by its proponents, entails letting loose hunting dogs on fenced-in, wild foxes, who frequently suffer horrific deaths. Supporters of fox penning contend...
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Letter: The case for cats
Recently, the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors granted zoning approval for the cat rescue group, RappCats, allowing them to open the first county cat shelter. But the board did not recommend funding for it in this year’s budget. Before its final vote on Monday (June 3), we ask the board to reconsider and to...
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Letter: Help us reach our goal post
This is D’Angelo Robinson, although many of you know me as D. I have been in the Rappahannock County area all my life. If you really know me then you know my passion for football. I now have the opportunity to play football in Greenville, S.C. at Greenville Tech. This will be the fourth...
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Letter: Resistance is futile?
Delightful to see the article about this year’s Rappahannock County DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) graduation . But why is DARE still around? Time after time it has been proven that DARE is a feel-good program for adults that doesn’t actually work to, you know, reduce drug use in the...
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Letter: Remembering my dad, Paul Farmer
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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Letter: With sincere thanks
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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Letter: How about performance-based budgeting?
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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Letter: The buses are safe, period.
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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Letter: Litter, disturbing; road, adopted
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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Letter: Thanks for the Thornton River therapy
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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Letter: The ‘foundation’s foundation’
I am a relative newcomer to Rappahannock County who attended the board of supervisors meeting last Monday (April 29). The topic, as I’m sure you know, was the proposed property tax increase to more adequately fund the schools. This was my first board meeting, and as such I chose to listen, not speak. Now,...
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Letter: Thank you for standing up for schools
Thank you, Mr. Blubaugh, for standing up for our schools . I am a student at Rappahannock County Elementary School and do not understand everything that goes on behind the scenes, but I know how much school means to me. I like learning, going to school,...
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Letter: The Artisan Trail: a no-brainer
Creating an Artisan’s Trail of Virginia in Rappahannock County celebrates and introduces our artists, artisans and agri-artisans to tourists, all supported by our bed and breakfasts, restaurants and businesses in the surrounding arms of the Blue Ridge Mountains, year round. I can’t think of a better way to bring us all together than through...
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Letter: Goodbye, dear friend
It was with much sadness that I heard about John Eubank’s death. I worked with John for many years, starting while I was still in high school. He was a good friend, as well as a mentor. He took me under his wing and taught me a skill that enabled me to raise my...
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Letter: The school spending problem, possible solution
I continue to believe we can solve our school spending problem if we approach things objectively and without much of the emotion that tends to accompany the annual budget season. The problem There appears to be no objective link between school staffing levels and enrollment. As our student enrollment has contracted, reductions in school...
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Letter: Maintenance funds: to be spent on maintenance
As I sat at the joint hearing on the school and county budgets Monday night (April 29), I could not help but be impressed by the speakers. I wish to congratulate all that came out to speak! It is not always easy to speak out in a public forum and even more difficult when...
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Letter: Our caring, responsive rescue personnel
Over the last 20 years either my wife or I have been taken to hospitals by our local rescue squads on three occasions. It’s easy to take the services these volunteers provide for granted, but when you need them, they are the most important thing in the world. We’re extraordinarily fortunate to have in...
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Letter: For schools, it’s time to stand
My three children attended Rappahannock County Public Schools. Though I have no children there now, I nevertheless support increasing the school budget, even if it means more taxes for me. We live in a county that prides itself on “taking care of its own.” We get very little federal and state support for our...
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Letter: But how to help RappCats?
We were thrilled to see your front-page coverage of RappCats’ efforts to rent the packing shed space in Flint Hill for a cat shelter the county so badly needs. We have contacted RappCats to pledge ourselves as one of their 12 monthly rent sponsors, but it occurred to us that it would be really...
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Letter: A 211 bike trail: Still a natural!
Last year I suggested in a letter to the Rappahannock News that the counties of Fauquier, Culpeper and Rappahannock could build a bicycle path alongside U.S. 211 from Warrenton to Sperryville. This would be a very low-cost way to attract tourism to the area by allowing folks to travel over a long and challenging...
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Letter: Thank you for spreading the word
Thank you so much for providing the help for Trinity Festival last weekend to get the word out. We were so grateful that we wanted to give something back to the community. The county of Rappahannock supports us in so many ways. Providing creative talents with others is a way for those affiliated with...
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Letter: Step up to support Rapp’s high-quality education
Interim superintendent Kathy Grove and the school board have created a budget fornext year that continues the forward momentum of our school system. My three boys graduated from RCHS in 2001 and 2006, and over these past 25 years, I’ve witnessed the inspiring improvement in our school system. Rigorous core course offerings, stimulating arts...
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Letter: He speaks truth; let it sink in
The latest article written by Ben Jones was fantastic and so true – much better than the letters I have written. I just hope everyone in Rappahannock read his article, thought about it, let it sink in and agreed with his point of view....
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Letter: Digital, $15K; analog, $0
If anyone’s interested, here’s the history of the masonry sign at the high school. In 1996, at one of the basketball games, discussion...
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Letter: From the Waylands, thanks to all
The family of Jimmy Wayland would like to thank our family and friends for the kindness shown to us at the time of his illness and passing. To Pastor Randy Orndorff and Pastor Sara Porter-Keeling, we are most grateful for the beautiful memorial service you conducted in Jimmy’s memory – and to all those,...
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Letter: A 10-percent increase: outrageous
The Rappahannock News article headlined in last week’s edition provided plenty of details regarding next year’s proposed budget. Buried in those details is the fact that the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisor’s draft 2013-2014 budget, if adopted, will levy a whopping 10-percent tax increase on the back of every property owner in our county. At...
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Letter: In defense of Rappahannock agriculture
I offer a “glass half full” point of view in response to the April 4 editorial claiming Rappahannock is less “rural” than “pastoral” because it has fewer farms than in the past. Successful agricultural enterprises are the lynchpin of our community, rural culture and environmental health. Over the past 15 years,...
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Letter: Thanks to all the well-wishers
I would like to express my sincere appreciation and thanks to all my friends, neighbors and students for their prayers, calls, cards, food, thoughtfulness and kindness during my recent illness and recovery. My love to all, Lilo FosterFlint Hill
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Letter: Your kindness will not be forgotten
The family of Daniel M. Norman extends their sincere thanks to everyone for their thoughtfulness and prayers over the last few months before and after his passing on March 19. We especially thank Pastor John Lines, Rev. Jim Lough and Tim Norman for his help in tending to the cows and farm chores. We...
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Letter: Zoning allows it, but does VDOT?
The barrage of letters opposing a Family Dollar Store amazes me. I don’t want it either, but it is not up to us to determine what entity buys a piece of private real estate that is already zoned commercial. Family Dollar doesn’t need any special-use permits, rezoning or special exceptions to put in a...
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Letter: Are we considering everyone’s shopping options?
After reading in last week’s paper that 43 percent of our county’s public school students are of such modest means that they qualify for reduced or free meals , I wonder whether we have thought thoroughly about the impact that the limited availability of shopping options has for those families...
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Letter: Donkey schoen!
Last Wednesday (March 20), Rappahannock County High School’s sophomore class held its second Donkey Basketball fundraiser. Thanks to much support, once again it was a huge success. For selling tickets at Rappahannock County Public Schools we wish to thank Cynthia Volk, Stacy Devine, Tasha White, Donna Oliver, Vickie Miller and Martha Kidwell. Also, another...
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Letter: Preserving our ‘unique appeal’
I have always liked the sensible, heartfelt reasoning of Ben Jones, and perhaps never more so than now . This fishing expedition by a national chain is a call to action for the community. For those of us who found, chose, settled and invested in...
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Letter: She is loud, yes, but not rude
I am writing in response to the letter to the editor by Kim Love and someone else from outside Rappahannock County last week about fan behavior at sports contests . It is obvious to anyone who attends these events that the school board...
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Letter: Representing both sides
Thank you so much for printing, in the March 14 edition, two disparate letters about teachers and the budget for schools. One shows a warm, generous spirit and thoughtful attitude about being part of a community; the other is a display of shortsighted stinginess, an all-too-common whining about taxes. One letter is from a...
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Letter: An ‘absurd idea’ that would ruin Rappahannock
I was absolutely shocked to read in the Rappahannock News that the county would even consider opening a Family Dollar store. Rappahannock has always been special because we don’t have Food Lion, pharmacies, Family Dollar, McDonald’s – I could go on and on. I’m from generations of Rappahannock people: When I lived there, no...
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