Warren County Supervisor Dan Murray speaks at the 2nd Amendment Rally at the Gazebo in Front Royal. Photo and video by Mike McCool, Royal Examiner.

On a cold, dark and damp Monday night, more than 200 citizens gathered at the Gazebo in downtown Front Royal for a rally on 2nd Amendment rights. Ross McVey, Republican Chairman Steve Kurtz, Vice Chair Amber Morris, Warren County Supervisor Dan Murray, Virginia Delegate Michael Webert, representative from Congressman Ben Cline, Tyler Adams and Commonwealth Attorney elect John Bell all spoke at the rally. Comments were read from Town Councilmen Gary Gillespie and Jake Meza, and Delegate Todd Gilbert all in support of our 2nd Amendment rights. The Royal Examiner was there to capture the event.

In the wake of around one thousand people showing up for the Shenandoah County Board Public Hearing on a Resolution of Support for a municipal declaration as a 2^nd Amendment Sanctuary Community, the Warren County Board of Supervisors’ Public Hearing has been moved to a Special Meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Warren County High School’s auditorium. The board’s regular meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning at the Warren County Government Center.

See related story:

As 2nd Amendment ‘Sanctuary’ drive comes to Warren County, State Democrats have an opportunity to show they do listen – but will they?

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Santa Claus at the 2019 Christmas Parade. Photo and video by Mark Williams, Royal Examiner.

Ronald “Hoss” Feldhauser stopped by our studios to update us on “Operation Santa Claus” on a few other holiday events happening at the Front Royal Volunteer Fire Department.

The Volunteer Stations of Warren County Fire and Rescue will be conducting their annual “Operation Santa” Events by carrying Santa throughout their communities on the firetruck.

While every attempt is made to reach as many people possible in their community; unfortunately some homes will be unable to be reached. Below is information on each respective areas “Operation Santa” event,

During this event, please refrain from calling 911 or the Emergency Communications Centers non-emergency telephone number for information.

A few tips to ensure you see Santa on the fire truck:

– Listen for the sirens and be prepared. (crack a window or door to ensure you hear them coming)
– Have the children dressed and ready to “spring into action” for when Santa gets close.
– For the best possible viewing, take the children to the end of the driveway but stay clear of the roadway.
– Do not attempt to climb aboard the fire truck.
– Do not chase the fire truck.

Town of Front Royal Area
Will begin at 5:30pm on December 24th with 3 fire trucks carrying Santa through most of the Town of Front Royal Streets. For more information please contact the station at 540.636.3830.

Rivermont Area
Operation Santa Claus will be December 24th beginning at dark. We will give Santa a ride throughout our community. Please be watching for him. For more information please contact the station at 540.636.9704.

Bentonville and Browntown Areas
Unknown at this time

Linden Areas (3 dates)
December 22nd beginning at 6:00pm High Knob:
High Knob Rd., Left onto Massanutten Mountain Dr., Right onto Club House Rd., Salt Lick Rd., Right onto Deer Trail Rd., Left onto Alpine Dr., Right onto Shenandoah Valley Dr., Right onto Short Piece Lane, Right onto Skyline View Dr., Left onto Club House Rd. to 55.

December 23rd beginning at 6:00pm Blue Mountain/Skyline Estates:
Santa will be coming by the bus stop on High Top Rd. at 6:00pm. He will be there for about 15 minutes then he will head over to make a left onto Tomahawk Way, Right onto Old Linden, Left onto Tulip Poplar Drive, Right onto Old Linden, Left onto Hickory Nut Rd., Right onto May Apple Way, Left onto Tomahawk Way. We will now head over to Skyline Estates… Right onto Bifrost Way, Left onto Luchase Rd., Left onto Ulysses Way, Right onto Sunset Ln., Right onto Inca Rd., Left onto Shady Ln., Right onto Jericho Rd., Left onto Wilderness Rd., Left onto Khyber Pass Rd., Left onto Oregon Hollow back to the Fire Department.

December 24th beginning at 6:00pm Apple Mountain Lake and Apple Mountain West:
Starting at the Apple Mountain Bus Stop we will head up McIntosh, Left onto Granny Smith, Right onto Northern Spy, Right onto Wealthy Rd., Left onto Granny Smith, Left onto Delicious Rd., Right onto Granny Smith, Left onto Wealthy Rd., Right onto Jonathan Rd., Right onto McIntosh, Left onto Apple Orchard, Left onto Granny Smith, Left onto Rome Beauty, King David, Make a U-Turn at Star Ct., Left onto Grimes Golden, Left onto Black Twig, Left onto Oregon Hollow Rd., to Apple Mountain West: Right onto Appleseed Rd., Left onto Core Dr., Appleseed Rd to Applewood Dr., U-turn., head over to Gap Rd., to finish our night and let Santa finish up his deliveries. For more information please contact the station at 540.636.3473.

Shenandoah Shores Area
Will begin at dark on December 24th and travels the roads in the Shenandoah Shores Community, proceed out Shenandoah Shores Road to Loop Road and then proceed Happy Creek to the area of Larkin Ridge Road. For more information please contact the station at 540.635.7897.

Shenandoah Farms Area
Beginning at 6:00pm on December 24th at the intersection of Lions Lane and Howellsvile Road , from here we will proceed to the intersection of Manor Road , continue on Manor Road and turn right on Ridge Wood Lane , right on Valley Farms Road , left on Old Oak Lane. We will keep left and continue on Venus Branch Road , right on Drummer Hill Road , left on Mountain Lake Drive , right on Blue Mountain Road (back gate) , left on Farm View Road , right on Young’s Drive , right on Fellows Drive , left on Howellsville road , finish at Warren County Station 6. For more information, please contact the station at 540.837.1290.

Fortsmouth – Waterlick and Buckton Areas
Fortsmouth Station #8 will start at 6:30pm on December 24th and visit all the subdivisions and main roads in the Waterlick and Buckton areas. For more information please contact the station at 540.636.6983.

Chester Gap Areas
Will begin at 6:00pm on December 24th in the Chester Gap Community and proceed to Lake Front Royal and Point of Woods Subdivisions and then proceed to the area of Harmony Hollow. For more information please contact the station at 540.635.5482.

North Warren-Reliance and Rockland Areas
Will begin at 5pm on December 24th at the Riverton Commons and Crooked Run Shopping Centers and then will proceed to the residential areas. For more information please contact the station at 540.635.6759.

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Members of Congress are back in Washington after a Thanksgiving spent in our districts with family and friends. Last week, Americans came together to cherish their blessings – they put aside their differences and joined hands in giving thanks. It is my hope that this tradition can transcend that single day in November and reverberate year-round.

Impeachment:
Speaker Pelosi has said that impeachment must be, “compelling, overwhelming, and bipartisan.” Unfortunately, none of what has been presented so far has been any of these things. Instead, we have a desire to move this process along at unprecedented speed. This week’s Judiciary hearing began with Chairman Nadler denying Republican motions to call Chairman Schiff as a witness to testify in front of the committee regarding his report. The American people and the attorneys who sit on the Committee were then given a lecture on the Constitution by four law professors. But as I’ve heard during my travels across our part of Virginia, citizens care about moving this nation forward and want Congress to focus on passing the USMCA trade agreement, lowering prescription drug prices, and fixing our crumbling infrastructure. I wrote a column this week about the ongoing impeachment process in greater detail, here.

Working For Virginia’s Sixth District:
Since taking office in January, I have worked to be an effective voice for the Sixth District and for the people who call it home. Although the division runs especially deep on Capitol Hill this year, I have sought to reach across the aisle to get things done for my constituents and the country. I have worked to bring a spirit of bipartisanship and friendship to the House of Representatives. Together, we have passed bills benefiting everyone from veterans to small business owners to inventors and artists. In order to do our jobs in serving the American people, we must put aside partisan politics and work with one another. Only then can we move this nation forward and help ensure the success of every American citizen. To read more about my first year in office, click here.

Robocalls:
When traveling throughout the Sixth District, constituents often tell me stories of the irritating robocalls that constantly plague their telephones. On Wednesday, Congress took a step toward stopping these daily annoyances and passed S. 151, the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act with overwhelming support. The measure will allow the imposition of civil penalties for violating the prohibition on robocalls, which involve the use of automated dialing equipment or an artificial or prerecorded voice. The bill also will give the FCC the authority to seek and enforce financial penalties against those making calls with misleading caller identification information, a practice known as “spoofing.” The TRACED Act, which I proudly cosponsored in the House, represents a compromise between the House and Senate versions of the bill, and its passage is proof that even a divided Congress can get things done when we abandon partisan politics and work for the Americans we represent.

Pearl Harbor:
Seventy-eight years ago, on December 7th at 7:48am Hawaii time, residents were awoken to find a changed world and an America at war. In two waves from six aircraft carriers, the Naval base at Pearl Harbor was attacked, resulting in 2,403 Americans killed, 1,178 others wounded, and four battleships sunk with another four damaged. As that day’s events grow more distant, we must never forget the sacrifices paid by those who gave their last full measure and always remember those who fought and perished in the coming battles in the Pacific and Atlantic fronts.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Congressman. If my office can ever be of assistance, please contact my Washington office at (202) 225-5431.

For the latest updates from Washington, please follow my social media accounts: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Kiwanis Club of Front Royal hosted their Annual Pancake Day on Saturday, December 7, 2019, at Warren County High School. Kiwanis would like to thank everyone who came out to support the annual pancake day fundraiser! Successful events like these cannot be held without the support of our wonderful community. Enjoy some pictures from the event:

Kiwanis 63rd Annual Pancake Day. Photos / Roger Bianchini

Thanks to Kiwanis 63rd Annual Pancake Day’s GOLD SPONSORS who helped make this year’s event possible:

• Royal Auto Works
• Sona Bank
• Exit Premier Realty
• Stained Glass by Shenandoah
• Family Pharmacy Services
• Lester’s & Mowery’s
• Pharmacy
• Maddox Funeral Home
• Quality Title
• Auto Care Clinic
• Ramsey True Value
• Front Royal Dental Care
• Rick’s Auto Care & Tire
• Warren Memorial Hospital
• Apple Valley Dental Group

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RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam announced his proposed budget will include approximately $22 million to combat maternal and infant mortality and reduce the racial disparity in Virginia’s maternal mortality rate. Proposed funding will dramatically expand Medicaid coverage for new moms, increase home visiting, and explore Medicaid reimbursement for Doula support services.

“It is unacceptable that black women in Virginia continue to die from pregnancy-related causes at more than twice the rate of white women,” said Governor Northam. “As a Commonwealth, we can and must do better. These historic investments will make a real difference for families across Virginia, and will ensure all moms and children have access to the high-quality, culturally-competent care they deserve.”

In June, Governor Northam announced a goal to eliminate the racial disparity in Virginia’s maternal mortality rate by 2025. As part of this directive, Secretary of Health and Human Resources Daniel Carey convened a diverse group of stakeholders and embarked on a 10-stop listening tour across all regions of the Commonwealth. Today’s budget proposals reflect months of input from mothers, medical professionals, doctors, and community advocates consulted as a result of this process.

“As a mother who has experienced the tragedy of losing a newborn child, I’m proud and grateful for the Governor’s leadership on this issue,” said Dr. Aaliyah Samuel, a mom who shared her testimony during the listening tour. “Ten years ago, I made a career change because I believe that policy is what changes people’s lives. Today, Governor Northam made it clear he not only listened to my voice and the voices of other mothers, advocates, and community members across the Commonwealth—he heard us loud and clear. Make no mistake, this funding won’t just change lives, it will save lives.”

Data from the Virginia Maternal Mortality Review Team show the majority of pregnancy-associated deaths occur more than 43 days after pregnancy. However, the current FAMIS MOMs program only provides Medicaid coverage for women during pregnancy and 60-days postpartum. The Governor’s budget includes nearly $4 million over the biennium to extend this coverage up to one year post-pregnancy and include medically necessary treatment for addiction and substance use disorder.

“This significant investment is a critical step towards eliminating the racial disparity in Virginia’s maternal mortality rate,” said Senator Louise Lucas. “I look forward to working with the Governor as he continues to champion these measures during the upcoming General Assembly session.”

The Governor’s proposed budget also includes $4 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding to increase access to affordable, reliable contraception through the Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) program. Increasing access to LARCs allows families to better plan and space pregnancies and has been shown to decrease rates of preterm and low birthweight births.

“It is great to see serious steps being taken to address the crisis of maternal and infant mortality,” said Delegate Lashrecse Aird. “These proposed investments will increase access to high-quality, patient-centered care for women and families across the Commonwealth.”

Additionally, the Governor’s budget makes significant investments in community-driven and wrap-around treatment models. The budget includes $12.8 million to make home visiting services—shown to be incredibly effective at helping new mothers navigate the complex health care system—eligible for Medicaid reimbursement. The budget also includes language to study the development of a Medicaid reimbursement model for community-based doula services, which have proven effective at reducing maternal mortality, particularly among women of color.

“These crucial measures will help address the racial disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes in Virginia,” said Delegate Marcia Price. “I look forward to witnessing bipartisan support in helping to save lives.”

Watch the video of the announcement here. Governor Northam will address the Joint Money Committees on December 17 to share the full details of his budget plan.

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The Riverton Church Symphonic Winds presented their annual Christmas Concert on December 8, 2019. The Royal Examiner’s camera was their to capture the event. The Riverton Church will hold two special Christmas Eve services: at 4pm a family service, and at 7pm a candlelight service.

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