Top of Virginia Regional Chamber’s 11th Annual HobNob in the Valley
On Friday, September 10, 2010, the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber will celebrate the 11th annual HobNob in the Valley. The event brings together the general public, area business people, elected officials and candidates listed on the November ballot in a casual, multi-partisan gathering that celebrates the American electoral process. This event gives everyone the opportunity to mix politics and pleasure allowing the exchange of information on issues and legislation while facilitating the building of relationships with political officials and guests. There are also two opportunities for participants to express their ...

Fugitive from Justice Arrest During Traffic Stop in Martinsburg
On September 2, 2010 at approximately 10:30 pm Officer E.L. Chrisman of The Martinsburg City Police Department conducted a traffic stop in the 900 block of Winchester Avenue for defective equipment. Officer Chrisman was assisted by Patrolman First Class B.L. Rouse. Officer Chrisman made contact with the vehicle operator, who originally gave a false name and date of birth. After a brief investigation officers identified the driver as Julia Lynn Waddell (35) of 345 Kerns Street Inwood, WV 25428. A license and warrant check revealed the Waddell had a suspended operator’s ...

Frederick County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Strong Armed Robbery
The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a strong armed robbery on and malicious wounding at 213 Sir John’s Road on August 29, 2010. The victim reported he was robbed at gunpoint by a white male wearing a mask and dark colored clothing, armed with a dark colored revolver, a white male wearing blue clothing and a white female last seen wearing blue jeans with holes, a white top, black leather boots to her knees, dark brown hair and gaps in her teeth. The victim sustained injuries to his person ...

I-81 Blasting in Rockbridge Set for Sept 7 & 9
Blasting will occur in Rockbridge County on Interstate 81 on Sept. 7 and Sept. 9 at 1 pm.   The blasting locations will be on I-81 between mile markers 197 to 199.  Signs are posted in this area. Both northbound and southbound lanes will have a rolling mobile lane closure. The blasting is part of the I-81 truck climbing lane project in Rockbridge County. The work zone is along the northbound lanes from mile marker 195.6 to 202.5, which is just north of Lexington.  Blasting days ...

Martinsburg Police Make Intent to Distribute Arrest
On Monday, August 30, 2010, after midnight, Ptlm. B. Rouse of the Martinsburg Police Department was on patrol in the area of the Martinsburg Mall and observed a suspicious vehicle with occupants, parked in the parking lot. Upon approach of the vehicle, Ptlm. Rouse could detect the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. A short time later after making contact with vehicle, the occupants were removed and searched. During the search of one occupant, identified as Edward Miles, a bag was located in his pants that contained approximately 20 smaller ...

Route 9 Between Charles Town and Martinsburg Opens
West Virginia Secretary of Transportation Paul Mattox and Highways officials announce that beginning August 31, two new sections of Route 9 in Berkeley and Jefferson counties will open to traffic. The nearly $25 million first section is 2.05 miles from Opequon Creek to Short Road (Berkeley County Route 9/19) while the 2.65 mile second section from Short Road to Leetown Road (Jefferson County Route 1) contract was around $27 million. Orders Construction Company, Inc. and Central Contracting Inc., both of St. Albans performed the work. “The opening of this 4.65 mile ...

ATV Accident Claims Life of Charles Town Man
A Charles Town man died Wednesday in an ATV accident that occurred on Vinton Lane, near Augustine Ave. At approximately 2:00 AM, 40 year-old Jeffrey Strickler drove his Honda ATV into a metal fence. Strickler was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death was listed as head trauma. The victim was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Martinsburg High School Boosts Attendance with Online Contact Center
Relatrix, an Online Contact Center solutions for the K-12 education market, today released an attendance case study piloted at Martinsburg High School, in Martinsburg, West Virginia. The study demonstrated how two of Relatrix’s modules – EZCommunicator and EZDialer, contributed to the school setting a record breaking daily and annual attendance rate. “Using EZCommunicator and EZDialer to email, text and call home and cell phone numbers, increased our parents’ awareness of student absenteeism,” said Regina Phillips, Martinsburg High School principal. Beginning in ...

Martinsburg Police Make Grand Larceny, Conspiracy, D.O.P. Arrests
Martinsburg Police Make Grand Larceny, Conspiracy, D.O.P. ArrestsAugust 19, 2010 by admin Edit Leave a CommentOn August 14, 2010, Ptlwn. M. J. Somers and Sgt. Witt of the Martinsburg City Police Department responded to Klee Drive in the area of Apple Harvest Drive for a report of a larceny from a vehicle and destruction of property that was in progress. Once at the scene it was determined that nine 9 batteries and other items had been stolen from various construction vehicles and several windows had also been broken on the ...

Overturned Tractor Trailer Closes Northbound I-81
STAUNTON – (7:45 a.m.) Both northbound lanes of Interstate 81 at mile marker 274 are closed due to an overturned tractor trailer in Shenandoah County. This location is between mile marker 273 at Route 703 (Mount Jackson/Bayse) and mile marker 277 at Route 614 (Bowmans Crossing). No backups are being reported at this time. Traffic is being detoured onto exit 273 while crews work to bring the tractor trailer upright. No estimate for reopening the lanes has been provided by the Virginia Department of Transportation Staunton Traffic ...

Winchester Salsa Fest Tickets on Sale
If you’d like to purchase tickets for the Winchester Parks & Recreation’s first annual Salsa Fest, don’t wait and don’t worry about the weather! The Salsa Fest, scheduled to be held on the roof of Court Square Autopark Saturday, August 28 (5-10 pm) will be moved down one floor for cover if it rains. Get your tickets early to make sure you can get in. Space is limited due to occupancy requirements and those who purchase tickets in advance will be not have to wait in line at the gate. Local celebrities ...

Winchester Appoints New Fire and Rescue Chief
City Manager Jim O’Connor is pleased to announce the appointment of J. Scott Cullers as the City of Winchester’s Fire and Rescue Chief. Mr. Cullers most recently retired from Loudoun County Fire & Rescue Department in 2008 after six years, achieving the rank of Deputy Chief. Prior to joining Loudoun County, Cullers spent twenty-seven years with Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department, retiring with the rank of Captain II in 2002. Mr. Cullers succeeds Chief Frank Wright, who retired May 28, 2010 with over thirty-five years of ...

Bizarre Crime at Martinsburg Walmart Blamed on Gambling
On Friday July 16 2010 police responded to the Walmart on Foxcroft Ave in Martinsburg, WV on a reported robbery that had occurred in the parking lot. Officers arrived  minutes after the incident had allegedly occurred and proceeded to search the area and obtain surveillance video from the store. The alleged robbery victim, identified as Mr. William Arthur Leland, told the responding officers that he had been sitting in his vehicle in the Walmart parking lot when a white male brandished a revolver in his ...

Suspect in White Post Murder Case Arrested in Mexico
On July 10, 2010 at approximately 9:30 pm Jose Cuevas-Gonzalez was arrested in Hostotipaquillo, a town in Jalisco in Mexico. When confronted by federal police, Cuevas-Gonzalez attempted to flee but was taken into custody by agents of the Policia Federal Ministerial (PFM), which is the former AFI agency. Specifically, he was arrested by the extradition group that handles all arrests involving provisional arrest warrants. Clarke County authorities provided information that led to obtaining the provisional warrant some months ago. The Clarke County Sheriff’s Office currently has an outstanding warrant ...

Public Review of Drawings of the Proposed Discovery Museum
On Monday, June 7, 2010 at 6:00 p.m., the Winchester Parks and Recreation Advisory Board invites the public to review a model, drawings and a presentation by Reader-Swartz Architects of the proposed Discovery Museum in Jim Barnett Park. The meeting will be held in the Social Hall of the Active Living Center in Jim Barnett Park. The following format will be followed: 6:00 PM Social Hall will be open for viewing the Discovery Museum plan and associated materials 6:30 -7:30 PM Presentation by Chuck Swartz from Reader-Swartz Architects At the conclusion of the ...

Woman Robs Winchester Bank for Boyfriend
On May 11, 2010 Frederick County Deputies received information from several concerned citizens who provided information concerning the Bank of Clarke County robbery. With the information provided to investigators, they were able to develop a suspect in the case and obtain a DMV photo of the suspect. Loudon County Sheriff’s Office provided fingerprint analysis of forensic evidence obtained at the bank. With the information developed, Frederick County authorities notified the Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office that the suspect could be enroute to their County. The suspect appeared at the Shenandoah County Court ...

Martinsburg Arrests in Concert Scam
Mr. Sherman L. Loy and Mr. Dean R. Desana were arrested by Martinsburg Policae and have been charged with a felony charge of obtaining money by False Pretenses. The defendants each cooperated by turning themselves in, at separate times, to the Martinsburg Police Department. Both subjects were processed and brought to the Berkeley County Magistrate courthouse, where they were arraigned by Magistrate J. Overington. Both subjects were released on bond, each posted by a bonding agency. These arrests ...

Winchester Drive-In Theatre Reopens Under New Management
As summer blockbuster season begins in earnest this weekend with the release of Ironman 2, a 54 year old tradition in the Northern Shenandoah Valley prepares to fire up the projectors. The Family Drive-In Theatre will open for the 2010 season this Friday night. The theatre has been in continuous operation since 1956 by the Dalke family of Woodstock Va. This year however, it will be under new management. In February current owner Tim Dalke was ready to make a change so he called Jim Kopp, an old friend ...

Fireworks Accident Injures Two At Apple Blossom in Winchester
Friday night at Handley High School faulty fireworks launched sideways hitting a crowd of people. A child was treated at the scene with minor injuries ans a woman was taken to the hospital with burns on her arm. Several other people claim they were hit by debris. It happened a second time during the finale of the show and fire officials were forced to end the display early. The incident is under investigation. See video of fireworks accident via Winchester Daily-Monitor.

Write To Win A Flight With Thinderbirds At The Martinsburg Air Show
This September one lucky individual will get the ride of a lifetime at the “Thunder Over the Blue Ridge” open house and air show hosted by the 167th Airlift Wing in Martinsburg WV. The two day event will feature the precision flying and acrobatics of the Air Force Thunderbirds and United States Army Parachute Team Golden Knights. These prestigious military aerial acts are expected to draw more than 80,000 visitors to the Martinsburg area this Labor Day weekend.A feature of the event will be the “Hometown Heroes” orientation flight hosted ...

Feature Fireworks Return To Apple Blossom
This year the Apple Blossom Festival returns in all its glory, which will once again include a feature fireworks display launched from the lawn of John Handley High School. The fireworks display was conspicuously absent from last year’s festival due to construction associated with the extensive restoration of the high school. Construction was scheduled to be completed in time for Apple Blossom this year, but Mother Nature had other ideas...

Virginia Governor’s Daughter Will Be Queen Shenandoah At Apple Blossom
Blossom Festival President, Elaine Aikens today announced that Queen Shenandoah LXXXIII Designate is Rachel Lynn McDonnell, daughter of Virginia Governer, Bob McDonnell. Rachel is a student at James Madison University where she is a Communications Studies major with a minor in Sociology. She is also a varsity cheerleader at JMU and will graduate the weekend after the Festival this spring. Read full story via Queen Shenandoah At Apple Blossom – Clarke Daily News