A NASA satellite designed to track electrical storm activity may provide the evidence to confirm that a meteorite strike was the cause of the loud BOOM and earthshaking reported in Shenandoah County and points west across the state border into West Virginia, Friday morning, September 17. In a social media post that day accompanying a video recording of the believed meteor flashes from viewer Sandra Dickerson of the Baker-Lost City area of West Virginia, Harrisonburg-based WHSV TV Meteorologist Aubrey Urbanowicz wrote that NASA had confirmed by email that they were “investigating this as a meteor strike, fireball.”

On her Twitter page Sept. 17, WHSV TV-Harrisonburg Meteorologist Aubrey Urbanowicz verifies direction of NASA investigation with post of West Virginia viewer’s video of the accompanying flashes – an initial bright one, with smaller follow up about 7 seconds later. The boom sound was not apparent in this video.

The following day citing Urbanowicz’s work on the story and postings of viewers’ audio and video of the event, Today Headline’s Peter Forister added that NASA’s “GOES-16 Satellite Flash Density product displayed a flash area over Hardy County” West Virginia, consistent with the 10:23 a.m. Friday event timeframe. While there was cloud cover, there were no storms reported in the area at the time, reducing the likelihood of lightning as the explanation for the flash. It was also reported that Hardy County experienced a power outage at the time of the event.

In a social media post to WHSV, a person posting as “Spicy McHaggis” stating they were a pilot in the air at the time of the event wrote: “Yeah it was a meteor. I’m a pilot and we saw from 36,000-feet along the VA/WV border. High in the sky and left a white smoke trail.”

The boom and resultant ground shaking was initially reported as an explosion – logical, maybe somebody’s meth lab blew up – or earthquake. However, area officials could not confirm an explosion in the area and the U.S. Geological Service (USGS) reported no earth-generated seismic activity in the area during the timeframe of the event.

So, as of Monday afternoon an uninvited visitor from space continues to be the leading candidate as the cause for last Friday’s regional earth-shaking event. Information Forister cited from the NASA Meteor Watch website estimated the mass of the object at about 50 pounds impacting the earth at a speed of 45,000 miles per hour, with the energy of one to two tons of TNT. NASA estimated a brightness magnitude of 12, cited as equal to a full moon (due tonight). And so far it appears our theorized space visitor had the cosmic courtesy NOT to land on an occupied patch of our planet.

Thanks, little fellow – hope the animals heard you coming and got out of the way too.

Front page art from NASA’s Meteor Watch page – the National Aeronautics & Space Administration estimated the size of the believed Sept. 17 meteor at 50 pounds impacting the earth somewhere in the West Virginia Eastern Panhandle at 45,000 mph with the force of about 2 tons of TNT.

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According to the August 2021 Home Sales Report released by Virginia REALTORS®, Virginia’s housing market has begun to exhibit the seasonality that characterizes a typical housing market, a pattern that was upended last year during the pandemic.

Home sales were up over last year’s strong August totals, while sales dipped slightly between July and August, which is typical of a late summer market. In total, there were 14,443 home sales in Virginia in August 2021, a 5.1% increase over last year. The dip in sales between July and August was 4.2%.

Virginia’s statewide median home sales price in August was $355,000, a 7.6% increase over the August 2020 median price, a gain of $25,000. In total, there was approximately $6.2 billion in sold volume in Virginia last month, an influx of about $700 million from a year ago, representing a 12.6% gain.

“As housing markets around the state begin to return to somewhat normal seasonal cycles, we should expect activity to cool this fall,” says Virginia REALTORS® Chief Economist Lisa Sturtevant, PhD.

One of the biggest challenges in the market continues to be a lack of available inventory. However, the rate of inventory declines has begun to slow. At the end of August 2021, there were 20,363 active listings statewide, which is 10.6% lower than the supply level at the end of August 2020. This represents the smallest year-over-year supply drop Virginia’s housing market has had in more than two years.

“Inventory has expanded somewhat in recent months, which has offered buyers more options,” says Virginia REALTORS® 2021 President Beth Dalton. “However, supply is still at historically low levels and is far below what is needed.”

The Virginia Home Sales Report is published by Virginia REALTORS®. Click here to view the full August 2021 Home Sales Report. Current and past reports are available to members, media, and real estate-related industries through the organization’s website.

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On Friday, September 17, 2021, four members of the Warren County Department of Fire and Rescue Services graduated the National Honor Guard Academy which was held in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

“Upon completing this program, our staff will be assigned to assemble our Department of Fire and Rescue Services first ever Honor Guard to represent our community and serve our members should situations arise” stated Fire Chief James Bonzano. “This honor guard will provide one of the most visible and positive images for our department. Be it a parade, groundbreaking ceremony, sporting event, retirement or funeral, the presence alone of the honor guard immediately draws attention and raises the formality of the event” continued Chief Bonzano.

Fire Chief James Bonzano and Fire Marshal Gerry Maiatico join the Warren County Fire and Rescue Honor Guard Graduates in Carlisle, Pennsylvania for their Graduation Event. From Right to Left: Fire Chief James G. Bonzano II, Honor Guard Commander/Lieutenant Scott Richardson, Firefighter Brian Foley, Lieutenant Anthony Hitt, Jr., Firefighter Matthew Hunt, Fire Marshal Gerry Maiatico. 

This weeklong academy consisted of a balance of informative classroom presentations and hands-on repetition of practical skills in an intense training format. Based on three key principles: preserve pride, honor and tradition; pay precise attention to detail; and build a network of local and national resources, this academy included training on basic drill and ceremonial movements; church and casket protocol; and flag etiquette.

Lieutenant Scott Richardson, Fire and Rescue Honor Guard Commander stated, “Our honor guard will be built on a foundation of honor, dignity and respect, with the utmost concern for the needs and wishes of the community, department members or affected family members.” “Our Honor Guard members share an overwhelming pride in the County of Warren and the Department of Fire and Rescue Services and will strive to reflect a positive image of both.”

For more information on the Warren County Department of Fire and Rescue Service Honor Guard or to learn how the Honor Guard can participate in your event, contact Commander Scott Richardson at 540-636-3830.

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Below is Warren County Emergency Services Coordinator Rick Farrall’s “brief” update of Monday, September 20, 2021. It includes continued numbers showing the county lagging behind state-wide COVID-19 vaccination rate by nearly 20% – 40.3% compared to the state-wide rate of 58.8%; and ahead in cases-per-100,000 population that allows comparisons between larger and smaller communities – 545 cases-per here compared to state-wide rate of 292.8 (252 more cases per a 100,000 population than the state-wide average).

1. Hazardous Weather (as of 10:11 AM EDT Mon Sept. 20, 2021).

(a) DAY ONE (Today and Tonight).  No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

(b) DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN (Tuesday through Saturday).  Isolated instances of flooding are possible Wednesday night into Thursday.  Isolated severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts are possible Wednesday night into Thursday.

2. COVID-19 Data (Summary).

(a)  As of today (data from 9/12-9/18), the County’s rate of new cases per 100,000 persons is 545.0, and is considered “High” (by comparison, the State rate is 292.8, and is also considered “High”).  Our percentage of PCR tests that are positive is reported at 15.5% (by comparison, the State rate is 11.1%).

(b)  The County’s current hospitalization count is 3.5% and the death count is 1.5% of the case count.

(c)  The County’s (COVID-19) fully vaccinated rate is 40.3%; the State rate is 58.8%.

(d)  Recommend all County/Town citizens, employees, and employers reinforce basic public health preventative measures, as appropriate.

(e)  vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/

3. Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)

(a) The next scheduled LEPC meeting is to be determined; anticipate the meeting on November 18, 2021 (3:00 pm to 4:30 pm).  Invitations and information to follow.

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Patricia Ruth McLamara, 89, of Front Royal, Virginia passed away on Saturday, September 18, 2021, at Warren Memorial Hospital.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Mrs. McLamara was born on September 8, 1932, in Washington, DC to the late Norman and Mabel Weldy Hall. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Patrick McLamara. She retired from Reader’s Digest Magazine as a secretary and was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church, where she played piano for many years. She attended years of college at Gettysburg College and at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She frequently adopted older dogs and spoiled them for the remainder of their lives. She was a dog lover.

Survivors include her son, Norman Lawson of Woodbridge, Virginia; stepson, Rick McLamara of Lahmansville, West Virginia; sister, Kathy Gillette of Front Royal; three grandchildren, Felicia, Christa, Christopher, Johnny Lawson, and Autumn Kline; three great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donation may be made to the Humane Society of Warren County, 1245 Progress Drive, Front Royal, VA 22630.

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On 18 September 2021, the Colonel James Wood II (CJWII) Chapter of the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution participated in a Ceremony to commemorate the signing of the Constitution of the United States. The ceremony was conducted by the Shenandoah Christian Alliance (SCA) at Mt Hebron Cemetery, Winchester, Virginia. The event was a celebration of the signing of the Constitution on 17 September 1787 at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Dale Carpenter as George Washington addressing the audience.

Prior to the Revolutionary War, each State had its own Constitution. After the war ended, the States united together to set up a federal government under the Articles of Confederation. The articles turned out to be a weak system of government and this needed to be changed. A convention was convened in May 1787 with 55 delegates from 12 States participating in the development of a government with three branches, Legislative, Executive, and Judicial complete with a system of checks and balances.

Rhode Island did not send delegates, as they believed there was too much emphasis on a strong federal government. Gouverneur Morris of New York was called upon to chair a committee to prepare a document for the consideration of the convention for ratification by the States. James Madison was the primary author of the document that was accepted by the delegates as the Constitution of the new Republic.

On 17 September, 38 of the attending delegates signed the document, and it was sent to the 13 States for ratification. Nine states were needed to accept it as the law of the land. Delaware was the first state to ratify, and New Hampshire was the ninth on 21 June 1788.

In 1791, 10 amendments, now known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified to provide clarity on State’s rights and individual freedoms. Since then, 17 additional amendments have been ratified as the law of the land.

After a welcome by Dale Carpenter (portraying George Washington), the CJWII Color Guard presented and posted the colors, followed by a presentation of historic flags by the American Heritage Girls. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by a member of Trail Life Boys, followed by a reading of the opening sentences from the Declaration of Independence and then the Preamble to the Constitution.

The event was emceed by Pastor Alan Morrison. Speakers included the Rt Rev Larry Johnson, Mark Quimby, Kelly O’Neal, John Austin, Pastor Roger Orman, Billy Williams, and Tom Reed.

General Washington called for a firing of a musket salute followed by the playing of Taps. Color Guard members included Marc Robinson, Sean Carrigan, Dale Corey, Doug Hall, Barry Schwoerer, and Mike St. Jacques.

Marc Robinson, Doug Hall, Sean Carrigan, Dale Corey, Barry Schwoerer, and Mike St. Jacques.

Historic flag bearers from the American Heritage Girls were Maddie Girard, Charlotte Griffeth, Makinzie Clark, Adelaide Griffeth, and Leiah Clark who marched in procession with the color guard.

The musket squad was comprised of Dale Corey, Sean Carrigan, Barry Schwoerer, Mike St. Jacques, and drummer Doug Hall.

CJWII Musket Squad firing – Dale Corey, Sean Carrigan, Barry Schwoerer, Mike St. Jacques, and Doug Hall.

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