Demond A. Lightfoot, a 21-year-old Front Royal resident. Photo/Front Royal Police Department

On December 13, 2018, Front Royal Police Department received a report that an adult male was attempting to solicit underage females into meeting with him and engaging in inappropriate activities. The communication was made through Snapchat, a phone application. On 12/18/2018, a joint operation was conducted by the Front Royal Police and Warren County Sheriff’s office detectives at a local motel, where the suspect believed he was meeting with a 13-year old female to engage in illicit sexual activities. The male suspect was arrested upon his arrival at the motel room where both agreed to meet.

Demond A. Lightfoot, a 21-year-old Front Royal resident, was charged with § 18.2-374.3 – Use of Communications Systems to Facilitate Certain Offenses Involving Children. Court date for this offense is set for 01/10/2019 at 9:00am in Warren County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. Lightfoot was additionally charged with violation of his probation and is being held at the RSW Regional Jail without bond. Anyone with any further information in reference to this matter is asked to contact Detective Z.M. King at (540) 636-2208 or zking@frontroyalva.com.

We would like to take this opportunity to urge parents of underage juveniles to please monitor the usage of their children’s social media accounts. It is often a tool or resource criminals use to solicit or groom your children into illegal activity.

The American Legion Community Band presented its annual Christmas Concert on Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at 7:30 pm in the R-MA Boggs Chapel in Front Royal.  It was a free concert although a love offering was collected totaling $785 for the local C-CAP charity. There was music to please everyone, including traditional carols, a beautiful chorale and light-hearted selections delighting kids and grown-ups alike. The Royal Examiner’s camera was there to capture the event.  Now take time, watch and welcome Christmas with the celebration of music presented by the American Legion Band.

The American Legion Community Band performs at a variety of concerts and community festivals throughout the year. All performances are free and open to the public. Their repertoire is both versatile and traditional with works ranging from classical to popular, marches and operatic overtures to modern works for band. The band is sponsored by the Giles B. Cook Post #53 of the American Legion.

We spoke with the Conductors Ed Richards, Ron Dye and Kristen Fristoe after the concert.

Also there was a special guest in the audience. All he said was his name was “Nick”.

FAIRFAX, Va. – Rolling double-lane closures will take place on eastbound I-66 between Route 28 (Sully Road) and I-495 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., and westbound on I-66 between I-495 and Route 28 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Wednesday, December 19. Crews will be refreshing pavement markings as part of the I-66 Outside the Beltway Project.

Drivers are advised to use caution and expect potential delays.

The Front Royal Police Department will be participating in Virginia’s 17th annual Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign and enforcement will be from December 18th – January 3, 2019. This campaign is geared toward spreading awareness and to combat the rise in drunk driving deaths this holiday season. The 2018 campaign, which Governor Northam helped launch in August, combines high-visibility enforcement with researched based advertising to remind likely offenders to get a safe ride home.

Partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement mobilization, the Front Royal Police Department will be conducting checkpoints and extra officers will be conducting saturation patrols during this holiday season.

“This time of year brings loved ones from all over the Commonwealth together to celebrate the holiday season,” said Chief Kahle Magalis “With the increased traffic, extra law enforcement officers will be working to apprehend impaired drivers and ensure our citizens get home safely to their families.”

A late-night Sunday fire destroyed the home and vehicles at 81 Trent Trail Court in High Knob, county officials say. / Warren County Fire & Rescue photos.

WARREN COUNTY  – A late-night Sunday evening fire destroyed a Warren County home in the High Know Mountain neighborhood, according to a media release from Warren County Fire Marshal Gerry Maiatico.

The release states that around 11 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16, fire and rescue units were dispatched to 81 Trent Trail Court for a reported residential structure fire. The 911 caller reported that visible flames could be seen on the exterior of the home and that the blaze had spread to two parked vehicles and the siding of the home.

Two vehicles were also destroyed in the fire, according to Fire Marshal Gerry Maiatico.

The first unit arriving on the scene around 11:10 p.m. reported two passenger vehicles and a single-story, single family home involved in fire. Additionally, the fire was threatening additional structures and wildland areas surrounding them because the house was situated below the grade of the adjoining access road, as well as being perched along a steep ravine.

Maiatico said firefighters took a defensive approach and attempted to protect exposures until the arrival of additional resources.

During the incident, according to the release, firefighters encountered extreme hazardous conditions, including: below freezing temperatures, prevailing winds, icy roads, limited water supply, and difficult access. Firefighters remained on the scene throughout the night and morning to ensure full extinguishment of the fire and to ensure there was no threat to adjoining properties.

Though the fire totaled the home, no one was hurt in the incident, officials say.

The cause of the fire was investigated by the Warren County Fire Marshal’s Office. Maiatico said that though Investigators have worked meticulously alongside the homeowner’s insurance company to determine the cause of the blaze, no conclusion has been reached.

The home, two vehicles, and an outbuilding were deemed a total loss. There were no reported injuries.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Fire Investigator Raymond Cross at 540-636-3830 or email rcross@warrencountyfire.com.