Community leaders and local business owners gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Service Title LLC’s new location. The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked a significant milestone for Christy Heflin, Raymond Heflin, and their partner Kellea Shaney.

Nike Foster, Executive Director of the Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce, kicked off the event by expressing enthusiasm for the new venture. Chamber President Byron Biggs and Front Royal Mayor Lori Cockrell shared their support and admiration for the team.

“Thank you, everybody, for being here today. We’re so excited to help cut the ribbon on this new venture,” Foster said. Biggs added, “I’ve known Christy and Ray for a while, and they are wonderful with their clients and the community. We’re glad to have them in our community.”

Mayor Cockrell reminisced about the building’s history and her long-standing relationship with the Heflins. “I’ve known Christy and Raymond for a long time. They are great people and business people who do a lot for our community. Congratulations on this new venture.”

Christy Heflin expressed her gratitude to the crowd, saying, “We’re excited about this new space and look forward to many years to come.”

After the ceremony, publisher Mike McCool spoke with Christy, Raymond, and Kellea about the new Service Title LLC. “We are a full-service settlement agency, providing title insurance and handling all kinds of real estate settlements,” Christy explained. “Kellea works on the title binders and commitments, and Raymond and I work with clients at the settlement table.”

Raymond Heflin highlighted their extensive experience in the industry. “We’re also lenders with Alcova Mortgage and hold real estate licenses with Brenda Morris of Morris & Company Realty. This new venture is a different side of the business for us.”

Kellea Shaney, who has been with Service Title since it opened in 2009, expressed her excitement about the new chapter. “I’m excited to be continuing my job with Raymond and Christy. It’s great to serve people on this side of the business.”

Service Title LLC serves the state of Virginia and is working on obtaining a license for West Virginia. The company aims to provide a seamless and efficient real estate transaction experience for bankers, brokers, agents, or private individuals.

The community’s support for Service Title LLC’s new venture was evident, reflecting the company’s longstanding relationships and reputation for excellence. As the real estate market continues to evolve, Service Title LLC is well-positioned to offer comprehensive real estate services in the valley.

For more information about Service Title LLC, contact Kellea Shaney, Senior Title Insurance Underwriter and Settlement Processor, at kellea@servicetitlellc.com.

With mosquito season in full swing, the buzz isn’t just about the annoyance of itchy bites—there’s a serious side to these pests. Mosquitoes are notorious carriers of dangerous diseases like West Nile virus, malaria, and dengue fever, making effective repellents crucial for comfort and health.

DEET, developed by the U.S. Army in the 1940s and available commercially since the 1950s, remains one of the most effective ingredients in mosquito repellents. Despite early concerns about its safety, public opinion has largely shifted, favoring DEET’s effectiveness over potential risks, especially in areas prone to mosquito-borne illnesses.

How does DEET work? It doesn’t repel mosquitoes in the traditional sense. Instead, it confuses them. DEET interferes with the receptors on mosquitoes’ antennae, effectively dulling their ability to detect and feed on human blood. This makes DEET-based products a top choice for preventing mosquito bites.

The research underscores the superiority of DEET in prolonging the time until the first mosquito bite. A New England Journal of Medicine study found that DEET products were significantly more effective than other repellents. For instance, a product with just 6.65% DEET can protect for about 112.4 minutes, while options with higher concentrations, like OFF! Deep Woods, with 23.8% DEET, offers up to 301 minutes of protection. In contrast, citronella-based products lag behind, providing only 10 to 20 minutes of relief.

However, when it comes to children, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises caution, recommending that repellents for young users contain no more than 10% DEET. The debate continues among experts regarding the safety of DEET products for children, but the consensus is clear on one point: DEET is effective.

For those looking for more information on choosing the right mosquito repellent and understanding the safe use of DEET, resources such as health.harvard.edu provide valuable insights.

Staying informed and prepared is key as we navigate through peak mosquito season. Whether camping, hiking, or just enjoying an evening in your backyard, a good repellent can make all the difference between a pleasant outdoor experience and an uncomfortable, risky one.

The Warren County Board of Supervisors (WCBOS) has strongly supported prioritizing teacher raises in the Warren County Public Schools (WCPS) budget for the 2025 fiscal year. The Board is advocating for a budget that accommodates a 3% raise for teachers, including step increases and hiring an additional agriculture teacher at Skyline High School.

John Stanmeyer, Shenandoah District Supervisor, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “I think we have found some great solutions that allow the School Board to provide their employees what is needed while also addressing the funding challenges we have faced throughout the County.”

Chery Cullers, the Warren County Board of Supervisors Chairperson, echoed this sentiment, expressing optimism about resolving the budget challenges. “I’m excited to see these funding challenges come to a close with priorities on public safety and teacher salaries as we resolve this upcoming budget season,” Cullers remarked.

The WCBOS has requested that the School Board prioritize these labor-related increases over any non-labor expenditures. This collaborative effort between the WCBOS and the WCPS School Board aims to finalize a balanced budget that addresses the needs of teachers and enhances the quality of education in Warren County.

As the budget planning continues, both boards are committed to working together to ensure that the final budget supports the community’s educational priorities and financial well-being.

Stay tuned to the Royal Examiner and the Warren County government website for more updates on the budget discussions and decisions.

Front Royal Police Department arrest report for the past 7 days:

Larry P. Beahm, 63, passed away on Sunday, May 5, 2024, at Blue Ridge Hospice in Winchester, Va.

He was born on July 22, 1960, in Page County and was the son of the late Boyd F Beahm and Lamont P Beahm.

He is survived by a daughter, Krista Beahm of Front Royal, and a granddaughter, Kayle Beahm of Luray; brother, Randal Beahm Sr. of Luray; sister, Robin Eye of Waynesboro.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Kenneth Beahm, and a beloved dog, Shooter.

It was a very concise, if occasionally emotional, meeting of the Front Royal Planning Commission on Wednesday, May 15. The commission faced approval of a two-item Consent Agenda for advertisement for public hearings, and one public hearing on a Special Use Permit (SUP) request for a non-commercial lodging house at 1324 Old Winchester Pike in an R-3, Residential District. The applicant, Janelle Embrey of Abode of Liberation, was the only speaker at that public hearing. As for the emotion, the commission, already one member down, bid farewell to two members, Glenn Wood and Brian Matthiae, who both confirmed to Chairman Connie Marshner that it would be their last meeting. Wood will now focus on his recently achieved position as a town councilman, and our understanding is Matthiae and family are leaving the area.

As Commission Chair Connie Marshner, standing, and Planning Director Lauren Kopishke share some information pre-meeting, Commissioners Glenn Wood, white jacket to Marshner’s left, and Commissioner Brian Matthiae, dark jacket far right, prepare for their last meeting as commission members. Council better pick up the pace with those vacancy interviews, the planning commission won’t have a quorum to convene soon.

As for the one public hearing, after Deputy Zoning Administrator John Ware summarized the proposal for conversion of the former Bed & Breakfast facility to a non-profit lodging house for assistance programs offered to adults with certain disabilities, Embrey explained her plans for the seven bedroom Abode of Liberation facility. Having received her non-profit status, she told the commission she just wanted to make sure she was complying with all related Town Codes for her type of adult assistance facility.

Prior to a vote on the permitting, Commissioner Wood commended Embrey, not only for her planned human services operation, but for initiating the permitting approval process by contacting Town officials to make sure she would be operating by all applicable Town codes. Wood soon seconded Commissioner Michael Williams motion for a recommendation of approval of the Special Use Permitting for the Abode of Liberation adult assistance lodging house to the Town Council. And when the roll-call vote reached him at 3-0 in favor, Wood enthusiastically added an “ABSOLUTELY Yes” final vote.

Deputy Zoning Administrator John Ware at podium, responds to questions. Below, Abode of Liberation principal Jenelle Embrey was commended by the commission for bringing her code compliance questions to the commission prior to beginning operations of her impaired adult assistance non-profit lodging house.

Prior to the Abode of Liberation public hearing the commission approved its Consent Agenda items for Advertisement for coming Public Hearings. The two items were:

• 2400250 – Rappahannock HC, LLC – A Rezoning Application requesting an amendment to the zoning map to reclassify 1321 Happy Creek Road, identified by Tax Map 20A21-2-4 from R-S, Suburban Residential District to R-1, Residential District.
• 2400294 – Mark Poe – A request for a Special Use Permit to allow a short-term rental located at 415 E. Main Street, identified by Tax Map 20A8-8-6. The property is zoned C-2, Downtown Business District and is located in the Historic Overlay District.

Post public hearing, Commissioner Williams opened Board Reports with an apology to the community and his fellow commissioners for what he termed “an inappropriate word” he had been alerted to the fact that he had used at a previous meeting. Williams said he had reviewed the meeting tape and was embarrassed to realize that a reactive comment to information presented to the commission had been picked up by his microphone, though it had not consciously been meant for public consumption. Commission Chair Marshner and Commissioner Wood both commended Williams for his public apology for his wording faux pas.

Commissioner Wood acknowledged his leaving the commission and thanked his fellow commissioners present and past for the opportunity to serve and learn with them. He pointed to a developing trend toward unanimous consensus by the commission on their recommendations to the Town Council as a sign of collective background research of proposals brought to them.

“We appreciate your service. And the commission has greatly benefited by your expertise and your manner of statesmanship. And we do appreciate that and you will be missed,” Chairman Marshner responded to Wood’s farewell remarks.

Town Planning Director Lauren Kopishke wrapped the meeting up with her monthly report for April. She cited 227 walk-ins by citizens in April: “To date this year we’ve had 954 citizens come into our office, not including phone calls that we receive,” Kopishke told the commission, adding, “In the month of April we issued 19 zoning permits, we had six new code enforcement instructions and six re-inspections, and we had nine property maintenance (re-inspections). And then we had six new sign permits and 14 new business licenses.”

Kopishke also gave what she termed a “slight update” on Zoning Ordinances related to a recent joint planning commission-town council meeting that resulted in staff edits to the codes on short-term rentals after discussion with the Town’s consultant, whom she observed she would be meeting with again the following day, May 16. She said Planning Department staff hopes to have a new draft Zoning Ordinance to the commission for review by the end of June.

Its business taken care of and farewells acknowledged, the 7 p.m. meeting adjourned at 7:21 p.m.

Click here to watch the Front Royal Planning Commission Meeting of May 15, 2024.