Local News
Tenney kennel permit revocation appeal to be heard in January
After denying a County demurrer motion to dismiss Wendy Tenney’s petition to have the Warren County Board of Supervisors’ April 17 revocation of her commercial breeding kennel permit overturned, Circuit Court Judge Clifford L. “Clay” Athey Jr. set a hearing date of January 3, 2019 for further arguments on the petition.
At the August 23 hearing on the County’s demurrer filing seeking dismissal, Athey told attorneys that he felt a decision on Tenney’s petition to overturn the board of supervisors ruling needed to be made with a broader presentation of evidence.
The supervisors’ revocation came by a 4-1 vote, with only Tenney’s South River District Supervisor Linda Glavis dissenting. That vote came after the supervisors heard evidence for and against continuation of the kennel permit at Tenney’s Gethsemane Mountain Ranch property where 16 dogs died in a March 6, 2017 kennel fire.
Tenney and her new attorney Michael Sharpe are contending that the board of supervisors did not have the authority to revoke her conditional use permit (CUP); that by county code it should have been the county zoning administrator that made the decision, with any appeals being before the county’s appointed board of zoning appeal (BZA).
On August 23 County Attorney Dan Whitten argued that the county’s elected board does have the authority to revoke a CUP through state codes in situations where non-compliance with conditions of the permit can be shown.
The county planning staff presented a list of permit violations in support of a recommendation of revocation following a County investigation into the fatal canine fire. It was also noted at the planning commission hearing that Tenney had been arrears in paying both taxes and fees associated with the kennel operation.
County Planning Director Taryn Logan, left, has denied Tenney contentions she was singled out for any undue scrutiny of her kennel operation. Royal Examiner File Photos
The post-fire county planning staff review found multiple violations of Tenney’s original conditional use permit and a history of cancelling inspections and delays or failures to reschedule. Cited in that 2017 staff report were:
• Tenney’s ignoring a warning from Animal Control about the use of space heaters in dog kennels after Tenney’s presenting one showing frayed wiring from dog chewing;
• No electrical permit for the kennel building;
• accumulated trash and feces in the kennel, the former cited in rapid spread of the March 6 fire;
• septic drainage toward neighboring properties and a consequent strong odor coming from the kennel property;
• a failure to license kennel dogs over a two-year period 2015-16;
• exceeding the maximum number of 11 permitted dogs by housing as many as “approximately 19” adult dogs;
• inoperable barking suppression collars;
• and repeated cancellations of scheduled county staff or animal warden visits without effort to reschedule.
However, Tenney’s appeal filing contests those violations and calls the board decision to terminate her kennel permit “arbitrary and capricious”.
During his argument for a summary dismissal of Tenney’s permit revocation petition of the court Whitten countered that there was no evidence in Tenney’s filing to uphold that contention of an arbitrary and capricious board decision.
Tenney had public hearings in front of both the county planning commission and board of supervisors on the revocation suggestion of the county planning staff. On March 14 a divided planning commission forwarded a 3-2 recommendation of continuation of Tenney’s kennel permit to the board of supervisors. However, queried after that vote several commissioners questioned whether Tenney would be able to meet deadlines or conditions added to her permit in the wake of the kennel fire.
Through four months leading to the March planning commission and April supervisors’ votes, neither Tenney nor her then attorney Jay Neal expressed any concern they were on an invalid legal path toward a ruling on the permit.
Shifting blame
As Royal Examiner reported after the second 30-day delay on a planning commission vote requested by the applicant in February, communications from Tenney to county officials in the wake of the fatal fire were contentious at best. In a series of letters Tenney aggressively shifted blame for the fire on county officials and codes.
Wendy Tenney makes her case at a county planning commission hearing on whether or not to extend her commercial breeding kennel permit.
“And again, for the record, the night of the fire I was in complete compliance according to Warren County Code. And, my dogs were up as it was after 10 p.m., according to code; and they had heat, according to code. They couldn’t escape and it Killed Them. They died adhering to Warren County Code,” Tenney wrote County Planning Director Taryn Logan on October 20.
The County fire investigation indicated the cause of the fire to be a space heater run from an electrical box investigators were told was wired without a county inspection or permit. Tenney had been warned against using space heaters in the kennel by Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Officer Laura Gomez after Tenney noted wiring on one used in the kennel about three months before the fire showed signs of being chewed on by the kennel dogs.
And on January 3, 2019 the issues of responsibility and jurisdiction will be argued in Warren County Circuit Court.
Local News
POLICE: 7 Day FRPD Arrest Report 4/28/2024
Front Royal Police Department’s arrest report for the past 7 days:
Local News
VDOT: Warren County Traffic Alert for May 6 – 10, 2024
The following is a list of highway work that may affect traffic in Warren County during the coming weeks. Scheduled work is subject to change due to inclement weather and material supplies. Motorists are advised to watch for slow-moving tractors during mowing operations. When traveling through a work zone, be alert to periodic changes in traffic patterns and lane closures.
*NEW* or *UPDATE* indicates a new or revised entry since last week’s report.
INTERSTATE 66
*NEW* Mile marker 0 to 15, eastbound and westbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for pavement marking installations, 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Monday and Tuesday nights.
*NEW* Mile marker 0 to 2, eastbound – Right shoulder closures for utility work, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through May 31.
*NEW* Mile marker 8 to 7, westbound – Right shoulder closures for sign work, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Mile marker 9 to 7, westbound – Overnight right lane closures at Shenandoah River bridge for utility work, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Thursday night.
INTERSTATE 81
*UPDATE* Mile marker 299 to 300, northbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for overhead sign repairs, 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Monday night.
Mile marker 299 to 300, northbound – Right shoulder closures for utility work, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through May 31.
Mile marker 299 to 300, northbound and southbound –Overnight lane closures and traffic-lane shifts as needed, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. through December 2024. Shoulder closures 24/7. Work zone speed limit: 55 miles an hour. Work is related to southbound acceleration ramp extension and bridge widening, with estimated completion in late 2024.
PRIMARY ROADS
*NEW* Route 55 (John Marshall Highway) – Flagger traffic control between Front Royal town limits and Route 647 (Dismal Hollow Road) for guardrail upgrades, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday (May 2) and Tuesday (May 7).
*NEW* Route 340 (Stonewall Jackson Highway) – Flagger traffic control between Route 674 (Limeton Church Road) and Route 607 (Rocky Lane) for pipe replacement, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 7 – May 14.
SECONDARY ROADS
Route 658 (Rockland Road) – Closed to through traffic between Route 340/522 (Winchester Road) and Route 705 (Fishnet Boulevard) for the construction of a bridge over Norfolk Southern Railway. Estimated completion December 2025.
Vegetation management may take place district-wide on various routes. Motorists are reminded to use extreme caution when traveling through work zones.
Traffic alerts and traveler information can be obtained by dialing 511 or at www.511Virginia.org.
Local News
VSP Investigating I-81 Dump Truck/Sheriff’s Vehicle Accident
The Virginia State Police are investigating a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 81 in Shenandoah County. The crash occurred Friday, May 3, at 5:46 a.m. at the Route 646 overpass at the 292-mile maker of I-81.
A 2005 Kenworth dump truck was traveling north on I-81 when the driver accidentally engaged the dump bed, which raised it and caused it to collide with the bridge overpass. The collision caused the dump bed to detach from the truck, slide backward, and land on a northbound 2022 Ford Explorer, which was driven by a Frederick County Sheriff’s deputy.
The dump truck driver, Gaylon R. Miller, 71, of Toms Brook, Va., was not injured in the crash. He was wearing his seatbelt.
The sheriff’s deputy suffered minor injuries and was transported to Winchester Medical Center for treatment.
Miller was charged with reckless driving.
These photos indicate what a close call this deputy appears to have had. – Photos by Virginia State Police who authorize their publication.
(From a Release by the Virginia State Police)
Local News
WCSB Approves New LFK Principal; Accepts Scholarships for Baseball, Softball Seniors
The Warren County School Board unanimously approved the appointment of a new principal who will take over at Leslie Fox Keyser (LFK) Elementary School starting this summer and accepted baseball and softball scholarships being offered by the Front Royal Cardinals for four seniors attending Warren County Public Schools (WCPS).
Board chair Kristen Pence, vice chair Antoinette Funk, and board members Andrea Lo, Thomas McFadden, Jr., and Melanie Salins, during their regular meeting on Wednesday, May 1, voted 5-0 to have Jennifer Cameron appointed as the LFK principal effective July 1.
School Division Superintendent Christopher Ballenger (right), on May 1, introduced School Board members to Jennifer Cameron (left), the new 2024-2025 principal at Leslie Fox Keyser Elementary School.
“Ms. Cameron is an experienced educator and leader in Warren County,” said WCPS Superintendent Christopher Ballenger in recommending her appointment to the School Board.
Previously, Cameron has taught as a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher and has experience as a literacy coach who supported grade-level teachers in her school building, Ballenger said, adding that as an administrator, Cameron has served as the dean of students and as an assistant principal.
“During her years of service, Ms. Cameron was selected as the Rotary Teacher of the Year in 2008 and was the [WCPS] Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2015-2016,” he added.
As a leader, Ballenger also said that Cameron has been integral in transforming E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School and has served as the chair for the division’s Attendance Committee for the past two years.
“Ms. Cameron is a great fit for LFK, and I know that her skill set will continue to move LFK forward,” said the superintendent.
Following the board’s vote, Cameron told board members she was honored to accept the LFK principal position and said she’s excited to rejoin the Lil’ Cat family.
“Thank you for entrusting me with this opportunity to nurture young minds and to foster the continued excellence of LFK,” she said. “I look forward to working with you to continue the path to excellence at Warren County Public Schools. I’m truly humbled at this huge responsibility that you have entrusted to me, and I look forward to the coming school year and this new adventure that awaits me.”
In other action items, the School Board unanimously accepted four scholarships with gratitude from the Front Royal Cardinals and approved the donation of auditorium seating from E. Wilson Morrison (EWM) Elementary School.
Donna Settle, president of Front Royal Cardinals Baseball, a nonprofit organization that is part of the Valley Baseball League, said that as part of the group’s fundraising activities, the board will sponsor Little League for both girls and boys and will give back to the WCPS baseball and softball programs.
“This year, our board has voted to bring scholarships back to Warren County,” Settle told the board. “I know we’re a little late in the season, but we have enough money set aside for the scholarships for the 2024 student-athletes.”
There are four new $500 scholarship opportunities beginning with the Class of 2024 that are available for a Skyline baseball and softball senior who plans to continue their education and for a Warren County baseball and softball senior who plans to continue their education.
The School Board also voted 5-0 to permit two auditorium seats to be donated to Robert MacDougall, founding principal of Transform Development, a commercial landlord and developer based in the Shenandoah Valley.
Seating in the EWM auditorium, which is being renovated to provide an indoor facility for students and staff, has been removed and is set to go to auction. MacDougall offered a facility to store the auditorium seating until they could be auctioned.
With the School Board’s blessing, WCPS will now donate two seats to MacDougall, who will display them in the theater once its renovation is completed.
Regarding a request to have the Warren County Board of Supervisors (BOS) appropriate the fiscal year 2022 School Operating Fund Surplus, the School Board voted unanimously to table the item to a work session and FY2025 budget resolution.
Ballenger explained that the total fiscal year 2021-2022 school operating surplus is $973,098, and said it was being requested that the Warren County Board of Supervisors (BOS) appropriate $300,000 of the surplus to the School Transportation Fund that is held by the County and the remaining $673,098 to the School Capital Improvement Fund that is also held by the County.
The $300,000 designated for the Transportation Fund was originally included in the FY2025 Proposed School Operating Budget to purchase replacement buses and vehicle(s) but has since been removed contingent upon the funding appropriated to the Transportation Fund, he said.
Of the $673,098 requested for the County’s School Capital Improvement Fund, $40,000 was originally included in the FY2025 Proposed School Operating Budget to cover the repair/replacement of the chiller at Hilda J Barbour Elementary School and to upgrade the HVAC management systems at several schools. The remaining balance ($633,098) being requested for the Capital Improvement Fund would be requested at a future date for other capital priorities, such as the replacement of the tennis courts at the high schools.
As the budget process continues unfolding for both WCPS and the BOS, the School Board members agreed to work more on the item before taking action.
During the School Board’s community participation portion of its meeting, Leslie Mathews (above), a parent with two children attending Skyline Middle School, said that some of the School Board members are using the concerns expressed through emails by parents as “a crutch” for their own political motives. She called it a disgrace.
“I and we parents are only given three minutes a month [during School Board meetings] to get up here and express our concerns to you, or we’re told we can email you,” said Mathews. “But I no longer trust that method of emailing.”
Mathews, who last fall unsuccessfully challenged School Board incumbent Pence for the South River School Board seat, said “it’s such a disgrace for you as a public servant to go and encourage others to FOIA the concerns of parents who are not like-minded as yourself.
“So, therefore, our concerns are going public,” said Mathews, who didn’t name names. “If we want more positive in Warren County Public Schools, then we need to start at our leadership.”
Chamber News
Front Royal Welcomes CBM Team of Supreme Lending with Enthusiasm and Optimism
Front Royal, Virginia, celebrated a significant business merger that marks a promising future for local economic development. The CBM Team, a longstanding local business entity, has officially joined forces with Supreme Lending, expanding its reach and capacity to serve the community more effectively.
Nike Foster, Executive Director of the Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce, and Mayor Lori Cockrell welcomed the CBM Team to our community. The event underscored a vibrant community spirit and the potential for economic growth. Byron Biggs, Chairman of the Chamber, highlighted the merger as a symbol of positive evolution in the local business landscape. It is now poised to extend its influence beyond Virginia.
Mayor Cockrell shared personal anecdotes, reflecting on the profound local ties and the exceptional character of the individuals involved, particularly noting the entrepreneurial spirit of Cory Michael, a former student of hers and now a regional manager for Team CBM. Her words painted a picture of a community that values deep personal connections and collective growth.
The merger promises substantial benefits to Front Royal, bringing enhanced services and opportunities for home ownership that were previously out of reach for many residents. This union is a merger of two companies and a fusion of cultures and aspirations, aiming to enrich the local community while maintaining the cherished CBM brand identity.
Attendees left the event with a sense of excitement and anticipation for the future, confident in the continued prosperity and communal strength of Front Royal.
Local News
Congratulations to Warren County High School Seniors – Class of 2024
Royal Examiner presents the Warren County High School Class of 2024. Congratulations to these wonderful seniors on their hard work and deserved accomplishments! We wish you the best in your next big endeavors. Photos courtesy of Victor O’Neill Studios and Tolliver Studios, LLC.
If your Warren County senior is not listed, please send in their Name and Senior Picture to news@royalexaminer.com.
McKenna Adkins
Peyton Ahmed
Isaac Amor
Kristina Andrews
Seana Andrews
Diego Aponte
Dillon Arndt
Sydney Arndt
Dalton Ayers
Ebony Bailey
Marshall Barton
Shelby Bell
Kaydria Bennett
William Bergmann
Roberto Berrios
Hannah Bonner
Beatrix Boudreau
Arianna Bourgoin
Logan Bradshaw
Jeremiah Bright
Darnel Caison
Levi Campbell
Autumn Carofano
Joshua Carroll
Bradley Chaffin
Angel Chan
Jaclyn Clark
Jessie Clegg
Madison Clowser
Trenton Coffelt
Katherine Ramirez Colato
Nikolai Compton
David Miramontes Correa
Isaiah Cossio
Cash Cox
Joseph Cross
Alannah Deavers
Landon Deese
Connor Deisch
Palmer Dellinger
Marcellis Diamond
Raymond Dingess
Eliza Dorsey
Christopher Doyle
Lillian Doyle
Aiden Dunnet
April Lopez Escobar
Catherine Farley
Benjamin Farris
Caroline Feldhauser
Gabriel Ferris
Alaysia Flora
Jasmin Portillo Flores
Christopher Flynn
Silas Foster
Calyssa Foxley
Elijah Frame
Isabella Freiland
Madison Funes
Aiden Gates
Austin Grady
Matthew Grant
Elizabeth Greenwell
Kayla Haase
Sarah Hardin
Alexandria Harris
Delaney Haw
Brayden Heflin
Andrea Hernandez
Sophia Hill
Keandre Hogue
Anastacia Hrbek
Collin Huston
Emily Jackson
Kaleb Jackson
Jadyn Jeffries
Colby Jenkins
Kevin Todd Jenkins Jr.
Rebecca Jett
Lillian Johns
Anna Johnson
Skylar Keller
Olivia Kelly
Avayda Kemp
Alice Kent
Sofia Kozhenevsky
Camren Kyle
Riana LaFrenierre
Olivia Lambert
Vincent Lamendola Jr.
Joselyn Leyva-Gamez
Sophia Logan
Emma Lord
Phillip Maddox III
Blaine Mansour
Mackenzie Mardeusz
Jacob Martin
Blake McCarty
Sophia McCurry
Cameron McGee
Shawn McGinness
Luke McIntire
Titus Messineo
Jossue Gonzalez Miramontes
William Moreno
Christian Morey
Keyshawn Morgan
Spencer Nelson
Charlize Noel
Christian O’Donnell
Emily Oldland
Joseph Ortman
Veronica Pak
Jonathan Panciera
Italia Panzica
Brook Patton
Dragan Pead
Malachi Pinner
Steven Pugh
Blake Ramsey
Eric Rapp
Alaura Repass-Nardone
Brandon Reynolds
Lucas Riley
Xander Ring
Tyler Roan
Kierstin Robertson
Nicholas Robison
Samuel Rock
Caitlyn Rotenberry
Morgan Sajeski
Laney Schenher
Joshua Schneider
Kira Shaver
Bradan Shifflett
Molly Sims
Tristen Sine
Simon Skube
Destiny Smith
Marcus Smith
Brendan Snapp
Jacqueline St. Clair
Brady Strickler
Devin Swearingen
Morgan Sweeney
Robert Swisher
Kaley Tanner
Kaitlin Taylor
Madelyn Tennant
Zia Texier
Johnny Thomas
Aiden Thompson
Joseph Thompson
Eva Thornberg
Owen Thorpe
Jose Ulloa
Malcolm Vinson-Proctor
Alijah Waters
Dagan Wayland
Payton Weaver
Sharlit White
Aliyah Whitman
Taylor Wickham
Marcus Williams
John Williams III
Dejaun Winston
Hunter Winters
Grant Wolf
Militza Woloszyn
Sydney Woodward
Suleman Zewar
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