Tammy Lynn Atkins, the Washington woman hired to care for an ailing former mayor of Washington in 2011, pleaded guilty to six felony counts of embezzlement Thursday morning (June 6) in Rappahannock County Circuit Court.
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Rappahannock Forecast
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 Thunderstorm 81°/59° |  Rain Showers 77°/55° | Partly Cloudy 81°/59° |
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This Week’s Paper
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THE NEWS FEED
Online-only, staff and community-generated posts of local, regional and state interest.
Caretaker pleads guilty to embezzlement
SNP hosts special programs
Shenandoah National Park and the SNP Association are host two special programs June 8 and 15 featuring renowned authors who will inspire enthusiasm and care for nature and the outdoors.
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Home schooling on the rise in Virginia
The number of home-schoolers in Virginia has increased by more than 50 percent over the past decade, to more than 32,000 children. If they were a school district, it would be the ninth-largest in the state – with almost as many students as the Norfolk Public Schools.
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A most moving video on . . . cicadas
Return of the Cicadas from motionkicker on Vimeo.
Indiana-based filmmaker Samuel Orr has been working an a one-hour documentary on cicadas since 2007, shooting more than 600 hours of footage of the creatures that are now filling trees (and ears) throughout most of Rappahannock County. This astonishingly beautiful seven-minute short, meant to highlight Orr’s Kickstarter fundraising effort for the film, may actually bring tears to your eyes. Definitely watch it full-screen if you can.
Virginia State Parks support Get Outdoors Day June 8
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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Lady Panthers best Madison, 1-0, in soccer quarterfinal
Rappahannock County High School's varsity girls soccer team came away with a 1-0 win at Madison County in the quarterfinals of the Bull Run District tournament — the first time in more than a decade that the Lady Panthers bested the arch-rival Mountaineers in a district tournament.
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Ex-felon’s voting rights, and hopes, restored
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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For Virginia inmates, little hope of parole
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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Groups, legislators tackle human trafficking
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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RAWL Dogs: Senior lab found
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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Gallery: The hats have it at Gold Cup
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 highest in 13 years
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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Legislative issues fueled partisan ill will
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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Transportation creates rift among lawmakers
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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A good Rappahannock read
Check out restaurant reviewer (and longtime Rappahannock weekender) Walter Nicholls' amiable and informed hike though Sperryville's hotspots in the May-June Bethesda magazine.
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Up in the Hollow: A response to Mr. Miller’s cutting remarks
To say that “every budget can be cut” misses a grand point. The question is not whether or not a budget “can” be cut, but whether or not a budget “should” be cut. And Rappahannock County's proposed 2013-14 school budget should not be touched any further.
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Colin Harris is Democrats’ 18th district candidate
The Democratic committees of Culpeper, Fauquier, Rappahannock and Warren counties canceled their caucus scheduled for this week after just one candidate, Colin Harris, met Saturday’s 5 p.m. filing deadline. Harris will face incumbent first-term Republican Michael Webert in the Nov. 5 general election.
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Law against texting will save lives, group says
A new state law to stiffen penalties for Virginians caught texting while driving will save countless lives, the head of a nonprofit driving safety organization says.
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Take back unwanted prescription drugs April 27 statewide
From 10 to 2 this Saturday (April 27), the Virginia State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) offers the public its sixth opportunity in three years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
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RCHS JV softball notches two wins
The RCHS JV softball team finally broke into the win column last night by sweeping a doubleheader from visiting Manassas Park. A report from Patrick Alther.
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Poor pay more to fund roads, report says
Virginia’s multibillion-dollar transportation funding package will put a heavier burden on lower-income households than on more affluent families, according to a Richmond-based think tank.
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RAWL rabies clinic is Saturday
RAWL's next low-cost animal vaccination clinic is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday, April 20, in Amissville.
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Democrats slam Republicans over corporate ties
The spotlight continues to stay on Gov. Bob McDonnell and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli over their dealings with Star Scientific Inc., which has been accused of trying to curry favor with state officials.
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Debating the math on education funding
During the General Assembly’s 2013 session, state legislators debated how much to spend on public education. But has education funding been going up or down? It depends on whom you ask.
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Board OKs strict rules for abortion clinics
The Virginia Board of Health voted Friday to require abortion clinics to meet hospital building-code standards – rules that abortion rights activists said would force many of the state’s 20 clinics to close.
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Nuclear authority generates controversy
Virginia is creating a new agency to support development of nuclear power – a move that has upset environmentalists and open-government advocates, because the entity won’t have to comply with the state’s Freedom of Information Act and other laws.
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Pawnshops to require more ID from sellers
To curb the sale of stolen property, pawnshops soon will keep a photo of people who sell the stores items. And pawnbrokers will be prohibited from receiving or re-selling goods if the original serial number has been altered or changed in some way.
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School and sports news for April 4
Rappahannock’s Junior Panther (JP) girls soccer kicked off its season with two March games and a balanced record – one win, one loss.
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Assembly approves anti-abortion amendment
The General Assembly on Wednesday narrowly approved an amendment by Gov. Bob McDonnell that will prohibit certain health insurance companies in Virginia from providing coverage for women seeking an abortion.
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State budget increases funding for education
During the final hours of Wednesday’s reconvened session, the General Assembly approved a state budget that boosts funding for Virginia’s public schools next year.
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Sen. Blevins announces retirement
Sen. Harry Blevins, R-Chesapeake, announced his retirement Wednesday from the state Senate after serving 14 years in the Virginia General Assembly.
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New law declares parental rights ‘fundamental’
Starting July 1, parents in Virginia will have “a fundamental right to make decisions concerning the upbringing, education, and care” of their children.
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VaHomeschoolers celebrates 20th anniversary
Interested and anxious parents and rambunctious and excited students packed the Cultural Arts Center last weekend to share a common interest: home schooling. The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers celebrated its 20th anniversary while providing introductory information for interested attendees and a new perspective for home-schooling parents and students.
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Governor signs law designating Shakespeare Festival
All’s well that ends well, Shakespeare’s own words, as the Virginia Shakespeare Festival at the College of William and Mary will become the official Shakespeare Festival of Virginia starting July 1.
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Poem: Snow dance
Writing poems as it’s snowing outside writing as it slowly subsides — words — continuing — It’s like dancing — prancing by yourself — coming off your shelf A little odd — don’t you think? P.S. Time to blink — – Hazel River Bard
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Photos: Spring is here! (Or maybe not.)
Another March snowstorm interrupted, or at least covered up, the greening of the countryside Sunday night and Monday. People took photos. Here are some of them.
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‘Siri, how will the texting law work?’
Virginia drivers should get used to hitting “send” on their phones before they get behind the wheel. Beginning July 1, a new state law cracks down on texting while driving. Gov. Bob McDonnell approved the law Monday but recommended the proposed fines be reduced.
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Update: More spring snow
The early-spring snowstorm passing through central Virginia and the Piedmont has left 4 to 6 inches of wet snow so far. In Rappahannock County at 1 p.m. Monday, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative was reporting about 460 customers without power. Most roads in the county were reported clear.
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Photos: Name that season
They say we might be having a seasonably warm weekend, but by Sunday night we might be in for more snow or cold rain. "In like a lion, out like a lamb," as they say of March. We're ready for the lamb, and the sooner the better.
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Governor signs law targeting synthetic drugs
Gov. Bob McDonnell has signed into law legislation to expand the list of prohibited chemicals used in making synthetic marijuana and other designer drugs. McDonnell announced Wednesday that he had signed House Bill 1941, which included an emergency clause making it effective immediately.
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