Mark your calendars! Warren County High School’s graduation ceremony on May 17, 2024, will be broadcast live, allowing family and friends to partake in this milestone event from anywhere. The Royal Examiner is excited to provide live coverage of the ceremony, ensuring that no one misses out on celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2024.

The broadcast starts at 6:55 p.m.

Make sure to share this page link with your family and friends so they can tune in and join the celebration. Whether near or far, everyone can witness the proud moment when Warren County High School’s seniors turn their tassels and step into their bright futures.

Congratulations to all the graduates and their families!

Mark your calendars! Skyline High School’s graduation ceremony on May 16, 2024, will be broadcast live, allowing family and friends to partake in this milestone event from anywhere. The Royal Examiner is excited to provide live coverage of the ceremony, ensuring that no one misses out on celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2024.

The broadcast starts at 6:55 p.m.

Make sure to share this page link with your family and friends so they can tune in and join the celebration. Whether near or far, everyone can witness the proud moment when Skyline High School’s seniors turn their tassels and step into their bright futures.

Congratulations to all the graduates and their families!

Ralph Edward Cable, 96, of Front Royal, Virginia, passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Warren Memorial Hospital.

Ralph Edward Cable

A memorial service will occur at 4 p.m. on June 1, 2024, at Calvary Episcopal Church, 132 N Royal Ave, Front Royal, Virginia 22630, with the Reverend Valerie Hayes officiating. Following the service, the family will have a private inurnment in the Calvary Memorial Garden, then meet for a Celebration Dinner.

Ralph was born to the late Frederick and Ethel Cable on April 13, 1927, in Derby, Connecticut. His daughter, Linda Daley, and his eight siblings also preceded him.

Surviving Ralph are his loving wife, Sally B. Cable; his daughters, Alice Weinreb of Canal Fulton, OH, Carol Cable of Front Royal, and Janice Derico of Ducktown, TN; his five grandsons; and his three great-grandchildren.

Ralph was a proud member of the United States Navy and served on the U.S.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II. He was also a member of Calvary Episcopal Church, the American Legion Giles B. Cook Post 53, and a vestry member.

Ralph was very involved with his church, the Senior Center, and C-CAP; he often made pasta sauce, soup, and chili for the church and community meals. His friends often said his chili was the hottest and would have trouble eating it.

For 20 years, Ralph ran a dairy farm in Lafayette Township in Chippewa Lake, Ohio, until 1978. While there, he was very involved with St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Medina County, Ohio.

Ralph’s main career was as a food inspector; he learned how while working with Smucker’s in Ohio in 1968. He then got his certification and worked as a food inspector for the USDA for 25 years until he retired. Following his “retirement,” he would occasionally assist as a food inspector.

Ralph also started playing harmonica when he was 64 years old. He played harmonica for 30 years with the Rusty Strings Band but would also play for anyone at any time. When someone had a birthday, Ralph would immediately whip out his harmonica and play for them.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to C-CAP at 400 Kendrick Ln, Front Royal, VA 22630, and to the Warren County Senior Center at  1217 Commonwealth Ave, Front Royal, VA 22630

Shortly after noon, Wednesday, May 15, Ressie Jeffries Elementary School held its annual Senior Walk. Expected were graduates from both Skyline and Warren County High Schools, along with some from surrounding counties, including Sherando. We got word from staff at Ressie that, “The entire school Pre-K to 5th grades have been feverishly working to decorate the school as one final hoorah before these seniors walk across the stage to receive their diplomas.”

Seniors pose outside and inside as they prepare for the Senior Walk through Ressie Jeffries hallways and into the gym. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

At the conclusion of the parade in the gymnasium area, some seniors were anticipated to participate in a final relay race to mark an official “Goodbye” to their childhood memories. Also invited to participate this year were former staff that taught, possibly some of the participating seniors, at Ressie.

The Ressie Jaguar mascot preps the Class of 2024 sign bearers, left Hudson Simmons, right Eli Wood. And here they come down the hall with this year’s seniors robed and being cheered on by future seniors lining the hallway.

Following the event we got this update from Ressie staffer Jamie Marion: “This was by far the BIGGEST Senior Walk we’ve had that included at least 50 graduates, along with the most parents we’ve ever had. Additionally, we had past staff members on video chat attending virtually. The positive comments, tears of joy, happiness, sadness, the reminiscing and all the cheering was phenomenal,” Marion observed, adding, “All-in-all it was a WONDERFUL day to be a Jaguar.”

Once a Ressie Jaguar, always a Ressie Jaguar – Where’d they go, some were wondering. And it was into the gym for some final post walk activities, planned and unplanned.

The Senior Class of 2024 readies for a rumored relay race, and below the Jaguar seems to have picked its relay team from three high schools judging from the caps and gowns.

After signing a new state spending plan on Monday, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin must appoint a director for the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by July 1 or risk losing money for the office, whose title he renamed by replacing “equity” with “opportunity,” a move which Democrats criticized as contrary to state code.

Youngkin considers budget proposal to redirect diversity office funds

“If the governor is not going to follow the laws, then there are consequences for it,” said Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax. “Sometimes following a law you don’t agree with is uncomfortable, but when you raise your right hand and swear to God that you are going to follow the laws of the of the Constitution of the Commonwealth, it was my understanding he took that stuff pretty seriously, but that doesn’t always seem to be the case if he doesn’t agree with the law.”

Martin Brown currently serves as the cabinet’s chief officer.

Christian Martinez, a spokesperson for the governor, when asked if the governor would return the word “equity” back into the office title, did not directly answer the question. Martinez instead said the administration has been in compliance with the law and will continue to do so.

Budget provision spells out DEI director requirement

Surovell proposed budget language in an effort to have the word “equity” put back in the office title.

According to the budget, “if the governor has not appointed a director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by July 1, 2024” following Virginia Code 2.2-435.12, the director for the Department of Planning and Budget “shall transfer the appropriation to the Virginia Cannabis Equity Business Loan Fund.” The fund provides no- and low-interest loans to qualified, licensed cannabis business owners to help promote business ownership and economic growth in communities that were disproportionately impacted by cannabis when it was fully prohibited in the state.

The state budget also includes $3.6 million in funding for the DEI office over the next two years, a $1 million increase compared to the governor’s initial budget he unveiled in December.

Last April, the state’s DEI office was thrust into the national spotlight after Brown, the director, remarked that “DEI is dead” at the Virginia Military Institute.

“Let’s take a moment right now to kill that cow. DEI is dead,” Brown said. “We’re not going to bring that cow up anymore. It’s dead. It was mandated by the General Assembly, but this governor has a different philosophy of civil discourse, civility … living the golden rule, right?”

Last year, Democrats asked Attorney General Jason Miyares whether the governor was following the law when he changed the name of the position.

Surovell wrote that the DEI title mandated by the state didn’t appear on the official state website and “uses an incorrect name and refers to Mr. Brown as the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Chief Diversity, Opportunity, and Inclusion Officer.”

Miyares responded that if the governor makes sure the state’s laws relating to the DEI office are “‘faithfully executed,’ he may include within his cabinet a Chief Diversity, Opportunity and Inclusion Officer who is charged with performing duties supplemental to those of the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.”

The attorney general also pointed out in his response that “equity” is not defined in the statute.

“With no statutory or judicially imposed definition, the governor, in fulfilling his duty to ‘faithfully execute’ the statute, is afforded some degree of discretion in affording its terms a workable meaning,” Miyares wrote.

by Nathaniel Cline, Virginia Mercury

Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com. Follow Virginia Mercury on Facebook and Twitter.

The Phoenix Project celebrated its 10th anniversary in a significant community event, marking a decade of vital contributions to combat domestic and sexual violence in Front Royal and Warren County. The celebration was graced by Niki Foster, the executive director of the Front Royal Warren County Chamber of Commerce, Bryon Biggs, Chamber President, and Front Royal Town Councilman Glenn Wood, who all congratulated and supported the organization.

The Phoenix Project, known for its dedicated service in providing hope and help to those affected by domestic and sexual violence, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the milestone. This event highlighted the organization’s decade-long service and highlighted the ongoing challenges in addressing these critical community issues.

Speakers, including Councilman Wood and Bryon Biggs, reflected on the organization’s impact and the persistent need for such services during the event. Biggs remarked on the unfortunate reality that the problem of violence has not diminished as hoped, underscoring the importance of the Phoenix Project’s work in the community.

Tammy Sharp, the outgoing Executive Director, and Avery Harper, the incoming Executive Director, shared their experiences and the organization’s achievements over the past ten years. Under their leadership, the Phoenix Project has responded to over 10,000 calls, provided over 3,000 nights of shelter, and reached more than 13,000 people through community education and outreach.

The celebration also included the announcement of significant donations from local organizations, with the Moose Lodge contributing $25,000 and the Massanutten Association of Realtors donating $500. These contributions will support the ongoing efforts to aid survivors and combat domestic and sexual violence in the community.

As the Phoenix Project looks to the future, its leaders and community supporters remain committed to deepening their impact and providing essential services to those in need. With strong community backing and a dedicated team at the helm, the Phoenix Project is poised to face the next decade’s challenges with renewed vigor and commitment.

For more information about the Phoenix Project and how to support its mission, please visit their website or contact their office directly.