The Fourth of July is just around the corner, and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) reminds motorists to prepare for busy travel days on the roads and stay safe as drivers head out for cookouts, fireworks, and summer activities.

To keep traffic moving during this time, VDOT will suspend many highway work zones and lift most lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia from noon on Wednesday, July 3, until noon on Friday, July 5.

While lane closures will be lifted in most locations, motorists may encounter semi-permanent work zones that remain in place during this time. Check VDOT’s Travel Advisories for the latest travel alerts in your area and around the state.

Additionally, VDOT offers several resources to help plan travel ahead of time.

Travel Trends Map Estimates Peak Congestion

VDOT’s online, interactive travel trends map shows peak congestion periods anticipated on Virginia interstates during the Fourth of July holiday period. While it cannot precisely predict when congestion will occur this year, it can help motorists avoid travel when traffic has historically moved slowly.

Based on historical data:

• The days of highest travel on the interstates are likely to be on Wednesday and Sunday, with moderate to heavy congestion likely from noon through 7 p.m. on these days.
• I-95 northbound and southbound is expected to be heavily congested in Fredericksburg and Northern Virginia on Wednesday and Friday through Monday.
• I-77 northbound is likely to be congested between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. during the entire period in the Wytheville area.
• Routes to and from Virginia Beach will likely be congested between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. during the holiday period.

Plan Ahead with VDOT 511: Traffic Information at Your Fingertips

VDOT’s free mobile 511 app offers information about construction, traffic, incidents, congestion, access to traffic cameras, weather, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and more. Use 511’s “speak ahead” option for hands-free and eyes-free audible traffic alerts for incidents and construction along your route. Traffic information is also available at 511Virginia.org or by calling 511 from any phone in Virginia.

Northern Virginia Express Lanes Schedule and Other Information

• Find directional schedules for the reversible I-95 and I-395 Express Lanes and information for the I-495 Express Lanes at expresslanes.com.

Hampton Roads HOV Schedule, Tunnels, and Other Information

• Travel to Virginia Beach — Peninsula traffic to Virginia Beach is encouraged to use the I-664 Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (MMMBT) as an alternative to the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT). If traveling to Virginia Beach, take I-664 south to the MMMBT. Then, take the Portsmouth/Norfolk exit (exit 15A) to I-264 east to Virginia Beach.
• Travel to Outer Banks — Traffic to the North Carolina Outer Banks should use I-664 and the MMMBT as an alternative to the HRBT to save time. From I-664 south, take I-64 west (exit 15, Chesapeake/Virginia Beach) to exit 291B (Chesapeake Expressway (Route 168)/Great Bridge/Nags Head). Continue south on Route 168 to the Outer Banks.

Stay Safe

Here are some additional tips for safely navigating the roadways during the holiday period:

• If you plan to drink, have a designated driver.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, call 911 as soon as it is safe.
• Always wear your seat belt — your best defense against impaired and distracted drivers.
• Put your phone down, and don’t drive distracted.
• Use caution as more pedestrians and cyclists are outdoors enjoying the holiday.
• Obey the “Move Over” law, requiring motorists to move over one lane, if possible, for all vehicles with flashing lights, flares, or warning signs stopped on the side of the road.

For questions or to report hazardous road conditions, contact VDOT’s 24-hour Customer Service Center by visiting my.vdot.virginia.gov or calling 800-FOR-ROAD (367-7623).

Forget dusty trails and lone cowboys. Ranching is soaring into the future with a new sheriff in town: the drone. These high-tech aerial assistants are revolutionizing how ranchers manage their land and livestock. Here’s how:

Livestock Monitoring

Imagine scanning vast pastures in minutes, spotting limping cows or stressed-out sheep. High-resolution cameras on drones let ranchers keep a watchful eye on animal health and well-being. Early detection of health issues means faster care, happier herds, and healthier profits. Drones can quickly survey large areas, identifying problems that might be missed during traditional patrols.

Land Management

Drones aren’t just fancy cameras. They’re data-gathering machines, mapping pastures, pinpointing overgrazing, and spotting soil erosion before it’s too late. This intel helps ranchers optimize grazing patterns, use land sustainably, and boost their bottom line. By providing detailed aerial views, drones offer insights that can lead to more informed decisions about land use and conservation practices.

Herd Management

Locating stray and lost cows quickly is a breeze with drones, saving ranchers hours of searching. Plus, drones can be used to herd cattle, which research shows is more efficient than dogs and puts less stress on the animals. The ability to guide herds remotely helps ranchers manage livestock more effectively and reduces labor costs.

Identifying Threats

Drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras can see predators like wolves or trespassers coming from a mile away. This early warning system lets ranchers better protect their livestock and assets. By detecting threats early, drones help prevent losses and ensure the herd’s safety.

As drone technology evolves, ranchers can expect even more innovations, from fence repair to water monitoring — all done from the comfort of the ground. The future of ranching is undoubtedly high-tech, promising increased efficiency, better animal welfare, and enhanced land stewardship.

While the news lead may be the county supervisors unanimous approval of a coming fiscal year budget, approval of that $97,350,000 budget, including a long discussed flat local funding of $28,650,000 for public schools, was not reached prior to a full late afternoon and early evening schedule.

The Warren County Board of Supervisors began its busy Tuesday, June 25, with the 4:30 p.m. presentation of the first of eventually a total of five, new emergency service ambulances on order — see linked Royal Examiner video and story. The one on display is immediately going into service with Linden, Company 4, the supervisors were told, with the second also in line for operational assignment going to Front Royal Company 3. The third, still awaiting receival, will go to North Warren Company 10. The final two remain on order until available.

Captain Austin Cucciardo chats with board Vice-Chair ‘Jay’ Butler and Chair Cheryl Cullers prior to official start of presentation of tech advancements in newly acquired emergency services ambulances. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini; EMS presentation Video Mark Williams

With that vote on its Fiscal Year-2025 Budget scheduled for later in its regular meeting beginning at 7 p.m. the supervisors may have gotten an example in the Fire & Rescue/Emergency Services new-vehicle presentation of saving money by spending it sooner rather than later on items the County will eventually need.

That presentation led by Captain Austin Cucciardo and Assistant Chief Gerry Maiatico, noted that the five ambulances ordered at a purchase price of ‘just under $300,000″ each are now on the market at a price of “over $400,000” each. Operationally, receipt of this first unit may have been a bit late for one emergency services staffer still utilizing the to-be-replaced equipment, who it was noted recently suffered several smashed fingers in manually attempting to load a patient by stretcher into the old vehicle. Captain Cucciardo demonstrated the mechanically operated stretcher lifting mechanism designed to avoid such transport-loading accidents.

Capt. Cucciardo explains automated stretcher lifts that could have a huge safety factor impact on emergency response operations as illustrated by recent staff injury on call in older ambulance.

From this presentation in the Warren County Government Center parking lot, it was into the  main meeting room for a 5 p.m. work session with a two-item agenda. Those items were a proposed training and shooting range for the Warren County Sheriff’s Office followed by discussion of the proposed fiscal year budget. However, the presentation and subsequent question-and-answer discussion with Sheriff Crystal Cline and Deputy Jay Roy on that first item took up the entire hour prior to the work session adjournment at 6 p.m.

Sheriff Cline introduces WCSO presentation on proposed training/firing range property acquisition proposal. Capt. Jay Roy, below, made that presentation, addressing a number of public safety considerations, existing area noise variables, natural berm backdrop protections in direction of firing, and positive logistical impacts on deputies in training remaining in county for emergency response availability

The board was on a tight schedule set to convene into Closed/Executive Session at 6 p.m. to discuss the various litigations with the town government and others surrounding the FR-WC Economic Development Authority “financial scandal” liabilities.

Then at 7 p.m. it was into the meeting with two scheduled public hearings related to proposed Tipping and Gate fee increases at the County solid waste station. All were approved, from $69 to $79 per ton on Commercial and Industrial waste; and a $40 fee on Municipal/Residential waste was imposed. It was noted during Public Works Director Mike Berry’s presentation that the last tipping fee hikes occurred in 2014. Also recommended for various increases were Gate Fees related to disposal of certain items including tires, paint, yard waste, and dead animals. Berry told the board those rates had not been adjusted since the spring of 2003. Those recommended increases were also approved without dissent.

Under “New Business” Public Works Director Berry updated the board and made recommendations on four projects in the Shenandoah Farms Sanitary District: Old Oak Lane 4, Youngs Drive, Lake Drive, Old Oak Lane 5 and Western Lane, the latter two recommended for cancellation at this time. Again, the public works director’s recommendations were approved without dissent

County Public Works Director Mike Berry had the podium for some time at Tuesday’s meeting, handling staff briefings on both public hearings on proposed fee increases at the County solid waste disposal site, as well as an update and recommendations on a number of Shenandoah Farms Sanitary District projects.

Also under “New Business” an 18-item Consent Agenda for generally “routine” business was tackled, including approval of the FY-2025 budget. Three items were pulled for discussion, including the FY-25 budget. In addition to the budget, pulled were an appointment to fill a vacancy on the County-overseen, still legally known as Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority (FR-WC EDA, EDA, WC EDA) or Industrial Development Authority of the Town of Front Royal and the County of Warren. That unanimously approved appointment was David McDermott for a term from June 25, 2024 thru February 28, 2025. Also approved unanimously was renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the County and the above-referenced EDA for “Fiscal Agency services”.

Also at the meeting, a number of people rose at Public Comments on non-agenda items, to address the Sheriff’s Office training/shooting range proposal. Staff explained that proposal is early in the review period to a first public hearing before the County Planning Commission. Most of the eight speakers were nearby residential property owners, who said that while supporting law enforcement and required training parameters, wanted assurance that viable alternative sites would be considered that might not have the noise and water quality impacts they fear for their homes and community. For those attending the earlier work session, their concerns were not eased by an initially forecast 25 days of full shooting-training annually, particularly after one supervisor worried that the stated use scheduling seemed perhaps too light.

Budget Approporation Resolution for FY 2024-2025

After County Attorney Jason Ham adjusted the wording of the budget approval motion for legal clarity it was approved unanimously as presented on North River’s Richard Jamieson’s motion, seconded by Vice-Chairman Jay Butler.

From right, Chairman Cullers, Vice-Chairman Butler, and Supervisor Stanmeyer pondered what they were told on a number of fronts as the County Board pondered a new fiscal year’s across-the-board costs versus revenues and infrastructure needs.

As noted above, the total General Fund County Budget for FY-25 is $97,350,000, of which $28,650,000 from County General Revenues will go to Warren County Public Schools, as the local funding aspect of the public schools total $81,738,434 budget, including federal and state revenues. Below are the portions of the Resolution of Approval of the County’s FY-2025 Budget applying to Public Schools:

WHEREAS, the School Board budget totals $81,738,434 (the “School Board Budget”). The School Board Budget shall be funded by $28,650,000 from the County’s general revenues, $47,671,267 by such State, Federal, and miscellaneous revenues as shall be received from time to time for operation of the Public Schools, $4,109,667 shall be appropriated to the School Food Services Fund paid by State, Federal and miscellaneous revenues, and $1,307,500 shall be appropriated to Facilities, which is also funded by State, Federal and miscellaneous revenues; and …

WHEREAS, any additional or new funds received for the Public Schools’, where no revenue from the County’s General Fund is required to help fund any program, shall be deemed appropriated ipso facto for expenditure upon receipt of such funds …

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that appropriations to the School Board which total $81,738,434, of which $28,650,000 is from the County’s general revenues, are appropriated by and to the major classifications in accordance with Code of Virginia § § 22.1-94 and 22.1-115, and that such funds must be spent in accordance with such major classifications, unless otherwise authorized by the Board, as set forth herein:

Instruction $57,747,239

Administration, Attendance, and Health $3,502,542

Pupil Transportation $3,591,197

Operation and Maintenance $7,820,145

Facilities $1,307,500

School Food Services and Other Noninstructional Operations

$4,109,667

Debt and Fund Transfers $670,249

Technology $2,989,895

TOTAL SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET $81,738,434

In addition to the County meeting video when available, we will also LINK here to the entire Resolution of Approval of Warren County’s FY-24/25 Budget with departmental and agency detail, including the above public school totals within the context of the presented Resolution, to which the board voted 5-0 in favor of.

New Medic Unit Unveiled: A Boost for Community Safety

Get ready for an exciting evening of baseball! The Front Royal Cardinals are set to face off against the Winchester Royals on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Fans can look forward to a thrilling showdown filled with skillful plays and strategic maneuvers.

The game starts at 7:00 p.m., with a live stream provided by the Royal Examiner starting at 6:45 p.m. This is a fantastic opportunity for fans to stay connected and experience the game live from anywhere.

Don’t miss out on the thrill and excitement. Tune in and support the Cardinals!

Spoil your taste buds and enjoy energy with this easy-to-make, cool, and creamy drink!

Ingredients (Servings: 1)

• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 teaspoons matcha (green tea powder)
• 1 cup cold milk
• 1 mint leaf (optional)

Directions

1. Whip the Cream: In a small bowl, use a whisk or handheld mixer to blend the sugar, cream, and matcha until it becomes a light and silky whipped cream. This should take a few minutes until it forms soft peaks.
2. Prepare the Drink: Pour the cold milk into a glass. Gently spoon the whipped matcha mixture over the milk, creating a beautiful layered effect.
3. Garnish: Garnish with a mint leaf for freshness and extra flair.

Enjoy your refreshing and energizing Dalgona-style iced matcha latte!

Kinesiotherapy is a medical discipline focused on preventing, assessing, and treating movement disorders and body dysfunctions. This constantly evolving profession uses advanced techniques, including massage therapy, to target specific muscles and joints, ultimately improving a person’s mobility and overall quality of life.

Why Use Kinesiotherapy?

Kinesiotherapy primarily focuses on physical rehabilitation to enhance a person’s mobility and muscle function. Whether addressing orthopedic, neurological, respiratory, or cardiovascular issues, kinesiotherapy professionals assess, diagnose, and create personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s needs. The goal is to restore optimal function and alleviate discomfort, enabling patients to lead more active and fulfilling lives.

Who Can Benefit from Kinesiotherapy?

Kinesiotherapy suits people of all ages, including children, adults, and seniors. It can be particularly beneficial for those with limitations due to injury, illness, or musculoskeletal disorders. This inclusive approach allows for the treatment of various conditions, such as:

• Orthopedic Issues: Injuries related to bones, muscles, and joints.
• Neurological Conditions: Disorders affecting the nervous system, such as stroke or multiple sclerosis.
• Respiratory Problems: Conditions that impact breathing and lung function.
• Cardiovascular Diseases: Issues related to heart and blood vessels.

By addressing these conditions, kinesiotherapy can significantly improve a patient’s quality of life, enhancing their ability to perform daily activities easily.

The Kinesiotherapy Treatment Process

Kinesiotherapy treatment begins with an initial assessment to understand the patient’s specific issues and needs. The process often starts with a Swedish massage to relax the muscles and prepare them for further treatment. This massage helps to improve circulation, reduce tension, and alleviate pain.

Following the massage, the therapist will guide the patient through exercises designed to speed up recovery and enhance muscle function. These exercises are carefully selected to target specific areas of concern, ensuring a personalized and effective treatment plan. Combining massage and exercise promotes healing and helps restore normal movement patterns.

How is Kinesiotherapy Different from Kinesiology?

While kinesiotherapy focuses on physical rehabilitation through targeted treatments and exercises, kinesiology takes a broader approach. Kinesiology examines the relationship between movement, posture, nutrition, and other factors to promote well-being. Although distinct, these two disciplines complement each other by addressing different aspects of health and movement.

Why You Should Consider Kinesiotherapy

If you suffer from muscle or joint pain or have mobility limitations due to injury or illness, kinesiotherapy could be the perfect treatment for you. This specialized form of therapy addresses immediate physical issues and helps prevent future problems by promoting better body mechanics and overall health.

Finding a Kinesiotherapist

To experience the benefits of kinesiotherapy, find a professional offering these services near you. With the right treatment plan, you can restore your movement, reduce pain, and improve your quality of life. Take the first step towards better health by consulting a kinesiotherapy professional today.