Local News
Goodlatte speaks at Rotary luncheon, calls for better enforcement of existing gun laws
Above, Virginia Sixth District U.S. House Congressman Robert Goodlatte was the featured speaker at the Front Royal Rotary luncheon on Friday, March 2. However, Denise Eastham, pictured below, was the meeting’s emotional focal point announcing some endowments left by her late husband Jim. Photos/Roger Bianchini
WARREN COUNTY – In what some constituents might consider a rare sighting in the northwestern outreaches of Virginia’s Sixth U.S. Congressional House District, Congressman Goodlatte addressed the weekly luncheon of the Front Royal Rotary Club on Friday, March 2.
Goodlatte was the featured speaker, though for many the emotional high point of the noon gathering at the Blue Ridge Shadows Holiday Inn was the appearance of Denise Eastham, widow of long time Rotary member, former Front Royal mayor and local banker Jim Eastham, who passed last November after a courageous bout against pancreatic cancer.
Mrs. Eastham announced some endowments to local agencies and Rotary left by her husband; and received a little help from her friends in tracking down a certain local tree cutter, whom she insists is going to get paid by her husband for including their property in some tree work, whether he wants to or not.
But back on the political side, Goodlatte opened by acknowledging his post-2017 Election Day decision not to seek re-election in the 2018 Congressional mid-terms. That November 2017 state election saw Democrats erase all but one of the Republican’s 16-seat majority in the State House of Representatives. Citing his future political retirement, Goodlatte said he would miss his constituents, though he admitted some remained “grouchy about me”.
Goodlatte then traced some recent actions and issues on the federal scene. One presidential initiative Goodlatte reserved judgment on was President Trump’s plan announced in recent days to impose hefty tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. The Sixth District delegate noted the plan was “making Wall Street nervous” as the specter of a trade war with China and Europe looms.
Otherwise the House Judiciary Committee chairman generally towed the Trump Administration and Republican partisan line on things like tax reform and lowering corporate tax rates; what he termed “mandatory spending programs” like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid – they will not be eliminated, but reformed he said; infrastructure spending – singling out nearby Interstate 81 as a target for major improvements; immigration reform, including a long-term fix for DACA addressing the situation of people brought to the U.S. illegally as children, many of whom remember no other home and have become productive members of American society; and finally the issue at the forefront of many people’s minds after another mass school shooting – legislative action on gun control.
In fact, the first three questions asked by Rotary members during a brief question-and-answer session following the delegate’s remarks were about access to semi-automatic weapons and school safety. Goodlatte responded that he does not support a blanket ban on assault rifles of the kind used in the Parkland, Florida high school shooting that left 17 students and teachers dead. Rather, the delegate said he thought Congress should focus on keeping such weapons out of the hands of people “who should not have them.”
Instead of an emphasis on new laws limiting public access to semi-automatic weapons like those used in Parkland, Florida and last year in the Las Vegas concert shooting that was the worst mass murder in U.S. history; Goodlatte said he believed a “lack of enforcement of current laws” was the primary problem on the gun control front. He called for increased prosecution of people who provided false information on gun purchase forms. However, Goodlatte did indicate support for banning so-called bump stocks that essentially turn semi-automatic rifles into the machine guns they were designed to be used as in war zones.
Asked what measures he would “support on Capitol Hill to protect students in school now” Goodlatte pointed to increased training to assure that existing response protocols during attacks were followed and met.
The Congressman also dismissed the idea of raising the age at which semi-automatic assault weapons could be purchased from 18 to 21. He noted states generally controlled age restrictions and observed that people are allowed to enlist in the U.S. military at 18.
Congressman Goodlatte treads carefully on the volatile gun control issue, calling for better enforcement of existing laws and improved training of first responders.
Tax reform and loopholes
During a brief interview with the media following the meeting, Goodlatte said he believed the boon to U.S. business from the Republican-Trump tax reform bill would eliminate the $1.5 trillion revenue deficit created by the bill’s largely corporate and top income bracket tax cuts. Of the previous 35% U.S. corporate tax rate – a rate he called the highest in the developed world, reduced to about 21% by the Republican plan – Goodlatte admitted that some major U.S. corporations did not pay that rate when it was in place, at least on paper.
“There are many, many, many companies that pay the full 35%. But there are some big ones, like GE (General Electric), that some years don’t pay any corporate tax. So, that’s also part of the tax reform – they will be paying more under this system. Not as much more as I think they should have been,” Goodlatte said, stating he would have liked to have seen more in the way of closed loopholes in the tax reform plan, but believes overall the plan “will be better for the economy.”
He added that he still believed spending cuts, including for programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid that he mentioned earlier, must be addressed or “shame on us.”
Trump tariff threat
Of the Trump tariff plan, Goodlatte elaborated, “I’m still looking at them – it’s a decision that the president gets to make. Congress can respond and we’re looking at whether we should respond. I am very concerned about these huge trade deficits that we run year after year after year. It hurts the U.S. economy greatly when other countries send their products here and they set up barriers of various kinds to keep our products out of their countries. And this is one response that the president has identified that he is taking. But, as I mentioned in my remarks, it has some repercussions for doing so. So, I think we need to look at this.”
And the elephant on the Hill
He also said that as Judiciary Committee chair he and his committee were keeping up with Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
“We have followed the matter very, very closely. But we have said we are not going to try to duplicate, replicate the investigation,” the congressman began, then pivoting toward other investigations and investigative agencies. “We have been very concerned about FBI actions taken in their investigation of wrongdoing of former Secretary Clinton and her affiliates. And we’ve been very concerned about potential misuse of authority by the FBI in their seeking to do the investigation here in regard to the so-called Russia influence matter.
“However, we have always said that Mr. Mueller should continue his investigation and that I support that investigation. When he files a report we will certainly look very carefully at what he has to say. But I also will say that there has been nothing that he has shown us so far that would indicate collusion by the Trump campaign with whatever involvement Russia had with attempts to influence our election, which I do think took place.”
Just as images of Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, George Papadopoulos and happy-hour FBI employee “secret societies” began dancing in this reporter’s head, Goodlatte Chief of Staff Pete Larkin interrupted to say it was time for the congressman to “get going” – which is obviously why he is chief of staff, and a timely one at that. However, he did leave me a staff press contact point by which to submit any follow-up questions.
Perhaps surprisingly, Congressman Goodlatte said he supported the special prosecutor’s investigation and believes there were Russian attempts to meddle in our electoral processes. However, he added he has yet to see any incriminating evidence of Russian collusion here.
Local News
Reaching Out Now: Honoring Legacies and Building Futures at Annual Gala
Amid projects that are still coming to fruition, Reaching Out Now (RON), a non-profit organization revitalizing the Raymond E. Santmyers Student Union and Activity Center for its upcoming opening, brought together many of the key players in the RON story on Wednesday, June 19, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the George Washington Grand Hotel in Winchester.
Samantha and Joe Barber open the Out of the Shadows leadership gala event of June 19 with warm words of welcome to those in attendance. Photos courtesy of Ian Rushing, Toy Box Studios
What was special about the event was not necessarily the elegant purple flowers that adorned every table or the soft glow of artificial lights in a room whose window shades were lowered but the overwhelming sense that every single person in that room, without exception, was being watched. That is the gift that RON president Samantha Barber gives everyone she meets, and the leadership gala was an extraordinary outpouring of that gift. You are seen. You are appreciated. That is what everyone who received an award that night was verbally recognized or had the honor of attending doubtlessly felt.
RON, an organization whose history goes back to 2008, has been established in Warren County and at the developing youth center in Front Royal as a team of talented and exceptionally motivated people with a vision for reaching young people in this community. Their vision has, in part, been achieved already through programs like Safe at Home, which have featured baseball and softball games with an overarching theme of mental health awareness, as well as the YES Leadership Program, which focuses on expediting the journey of our youth into bright and productive futures. They have worked closely with the school system, even hosting “family night out” dinners in school buildings, and at the onset of the pandemic, they delivered seventy-five thousand meals to people in need. Their roots in this community go deep.
Shelly Cook (above) received the 2024 Female Entrepreneur Award; Mike McCool, President of National Media Services, Inc. and Publisher of the Royal Examiner (below), received the Male Entrepreneur Award.
Somebody who is watching from a different place was honored on Wednesday evening. Harlee Hire, daughter of Toby Hire, who stood with Samantha Barber at the podium, was lost to suicide in 2022. Her passing occurred at a time when Safe At Home was getting off the ground, and it made sense to both Barber and Hire to name a scholarship in her honor in the aftermath of Harlee’s departure. The scholarship comes from the proceeds of Safe At Home events. Within the past few months, both Barber and Hire sat down with the Royal Examiner and shared the joy and pain surrounding Harlee’s story. Very much an extrovert, Harlee was a bright soul who practiced radical encouragement; everyone she knew felt loved and appreciated. But she struggled in the darkness of depression, which was in part informed by the death in a boating accident of her friend Nate Jenkins, who is also an inspiration to the RON family. Through tears at the gala event, Barber and Hire paid tribute to the phenomenon, which was Harlee. They underscored their desire to create a safe place in the youth center dedicated to reaching young people who are likely battling feelings they cannot overcome.
Christa Shiflett, Executive Director of Warren Coalition, received the Service Above Self Award.
Donna Rae Hinze (left) received the Lillian Sloan Legacy Award. Donna is a retired teacher. The award was presented by Lillian Sloan (right).
Some of the blazing comets of success that pay tribute to the Santmyer’s legacy are public servants like councilmen Glenn Wood and Bruce Rappaport and Warren County Sheriff Crystal Cline. To talk to any of them is to hear a passionate tale of how the youth center was available to them at pivotal times in their lives and gave them a much-needed sense of guidance and direction. They felt seen. They felt appreciated. And if RON is successful, that legacy will no longer merely be a memory. As RON continues to blossom and flourish, more and more people will come into that inner circle, discovering that they are not alone, seen, and appreciated.
Local News
State Arboretum of Virginia Unveils New Visitor Information Center
The State Arboretum of Virginia, located at Blandy Experimental Farm in Boyce, is set to enhance visitor experiences by opening its newly redesigned and interactive Visitor Information Center. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., under the iconic arches of the Quarters Building. This event marks a significant milestone for the Arboretum, thanks to the generous funding provided by local philanthropist Mary Shockey.
A striking 3D replication of a ginkgo tree in full golden glory will greet visitors to the new Information Center. This eye-catching centerpiece is designed to intrigue visitors with interactive questions and answers hidden under movable discs, offering a taste of the natural wonders awaiting exploration outside. The center features a massive watercolor-inspired map to help visitors orient themselves and plan their visit around the 712-acre property.
The Information Center is packed with engaging displays and activities:
- Interactive Displays: Learn about the history of Blandy and current programs.
- Leaf and Animal Rubbing Activities: Fun and educational for kids.
- Rotating Exhibits: Highlighting natural artifacts like conifer cones and snake skins.
- Large TV Monitor: Showcasing captivating images of the Arboretum’s collections and activities.
The transformation of the Information Center was executed by Iconograph, a Charlottesville-based design studio. The space, formerly the volunteer-run gift shop “Our Shop,” had been closed since before 2020. Ariel Firebaugh, Director of Scientific Engagement, expressed gratitude for the Shockeys’ generosity, which made the redesign possible. “Thanks to a generous grant from local community philanthropists, Mary and J. Donald Shockey, we were able to reimagine the Information Center to offer an exciting welcome area for new and seasoned visitors while also getting them acclimated to everything there is to do at the Arboretum,” said Firebaugh.
Community members, local dignitaries, and media representatives are invited to celebrate this new addition to the Arboretum. The ribbon-cutting event will highlight the Arboretum’s commitment to enhancing visitor experiences and fostering a deeper appreciation for nature.
The Information Center will be open during business hours most days, providing visitors with resources and insights to enrich their exploration of the Arboretum’s vast and varied landscape. From educational activities to scenic walks, there is something for everyone at Blandy.
Event Details
- Who: State Arboretum of Virginia/Blandy Experimental Farm
- What: Opening of the New Visitor Information Center
- Where: 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Boyce, VA 22630 (Meet at the Quarters Building, under the arches)
- When: Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at 1:00 p.m.
- Why: To officially open the new Visitor Information Center with funder Mary Shockey
Be among the first to experience the new Visitor Information Center at the State Arboretum of Virginia.
Chamber News
Reitano Vineyards: A Blossoming Legacy in Warren County
In the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a historic farm has been reborn as Reitano Vineyards, a testament to vision, hard work, and community spirit. On June 29, 2024, Niki Foster, Executive Director of the Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce, Chamber Board President Bryon Biggs, Warren County Board of Supervisors Chair Cheryl Cullers, and Front Royal Mayor Lori Cockrell, along with many guests, welcomed Shelly Cook, the vineyard’s owner, in a ribbon-cutting ceremony that marked a new chapter for the community.
Reitano Vineyards stands on a 150-year-old family farm that Shelly Cook transformed into a picturesque vineyard. Nestled among the rolling hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the vineyard offers breathtaking views and a sense of tranquility. Shelly’s dedication to preserving her family’s heritage while introducing new opportunities to the community is evident in every aspect of the vineyard.
Central to Reitano Vineyards is The Old Spring House Wedding and Event Center, designed in the style of classic Virginia barns. This event center boasts indoor and outdoor spaces, ideal for weddings, receptions, corporate events, and private gatherings. The facility has various amenities, including private dining options, wine tastings, bridal suites, and professional event coordination, ensuring a memorable experience for all guests.
The Villa at Reitano complements the event center, a luxurious 3,800-square-foot home designed to enhance the wedding experience. The Villa offers a unique space for wedding parties, providing comfort, privacy, and elegance as they prepare for the celebration. Each season brings a new charm to Reitano Vineyards, making it a desirable destination year-round.
Shelly Cook’s vision extends beyond the vineyard. Plans are underway for a new 11,000-square-foot facility to house a private dining room, a full-service bar, a winery, and a brewery. This addition aims to provide a comprehensive experience for visitors, offering everything from intimate dining to large-scale events.
Local leaders praised Shelly’s contributions to the community during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Cheryl Cullers, Chair of the Warren County Board of Supervisors, highlighted Shelly’s impact on revitalizing the area. “Shelly, I am amazed at what you’ve done. You’ve taken on projects that have brought pride back to Warren County,” Cullers remarked. Mayor Lori Cockrell echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the beauty and significance of the vineyard.
Bryon Biggs, Chamber Board President, reflected on the transformation he witnessed. “I’ve been coming out this way for over 20 years, and I was amazed when Loving Arms opened. But this is visionary,” Biggs stated, drawing a parallel between the vineyard and the vineyards of Italy.
Shelly Cook’s connection to the land is deeply personal. The vineyard honors her great-great-grandfather from Reitano, Sicily, whose name was shortened to Rice upon arrival at Ellis Island. “It was my way of saying they took it from us at Ellis Island, but I’m giving it back to Grandpa,” Shelly explained, highlighting the importance of family heritage in her work.
Reitano Vineyards is not just a family business but a community asset. Shelly emphasized the importance of employing local contractors and residents, providing jobs, and boosting the local economy. “We’ve kept locals employed since we started Junewood. Reitano doesn’t just serve as a family business; it’s a community business,” she noted.
Reitano Vineyards embodies tradition and innovation, offering a beautiful venue for weddings, events, and wine enthusiasts. With further expansions on the horizon, Shelly Cook’s vision continues to grow, bringing new opportunities and pride to Warren County. Visitors are invited to experience the charm and elegance of Reitano Vineyards, creating unforgettable memories in the scenic Shenandoah Valley.
Chamber News
Adventure Awaits: Front Royal River Adventures Open for Canoeing, Kayaking, and More
The Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated the grand opening of Front Royal River Adventures, a new business offering thrilling river experiences to locals and tourists alike. The event was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Nike Foster and Front Royal Mayor Lori Cockrell, who expressed their excitement and support for this new venture.
Mayor Cockrell shared her enthusiasm during the ceremony, highlighting the importance of utilizing the area’s natural assets. “It’s a beautiful day to be down here at the river,” she said. I’m so excited to be here with Jeff to officially open Front Royal River Adventures. The mayor reflected on the value of having a river outfitter adventure in the town. “I met Jeff a while back when he brought this idea to us at Front Royal Town Council. I’m super excited that it’s here and ready to open. You know our area has such natural assets, and you’re capitalizing on that. I’m delighted you’re here, excited you’re investing in us, and we will have lots of fun out here.”
Jeff Kelble, the owner of Front Royal River Adventures, also addressed the attendees, expressing his pride and gratitude. “I guess I’d like to say that I’m both proud and honored to open Front Royal River Adventures here right in Front Royal on the South Fork of the Shenandoah,” Kelble stated. “I’d like to thank my family for their patience over the last six months while Whit Overstreet and I, my general manager and future business owner, have worked to take advantage of this great campus that we have here. It’s a park-like setting. We’re directly on the South Fork of the Shenandoah in the town of Front Royal near I-66. It just couldn’t be a better location for us.”
Kelble also emphasized the support he received from the town’s officials and the community. “The town of Front Royal, from staff through the planning commission to the town council, has been incredibly supportive from the beginning. We’ve had no friction. We’ve had a warm welcome from Warren Park, our community, and we want to be a part of this small community and the greater community here and invite our guests, friends, and family to come and play.”
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, our reporter, Mark Williams, spoke with Jeff Kelble for an in-depth look at what Front Royal River Adventures has to offer.
“So Jeff, on behalf of the Royal Examiner, I’d like to congratulate you on the opening of Front Royal River Adventures. And I see behind you, you’ve got canoes and floats and everything. Could you tell us about what we can expect?” asked Williams.
Kelble responded enthusiastically, “So, yeah, we just had our ribbon cutting with the mayor, all the representatives, friends, and family. And we’re celebrating a grand opening weekend. We have been quietly open for a while, working out the kinks. But what we’ve done here is we acquired the VFW property in 2021. The VFW had its headquarters here for several generations but lost its meeting location and couldn’t rebuild. For more than 15 years, it has been on my mind as a great location for a river adventure business or an outfitter, if you will.”
He continued, “We’ve got 12 acres of open field and about a quarter mile of riverfront on the South Fork Shenandoah. Our goal as a business is to be part of the Front Royal community and the greater Shenandoah Valley community, offering family adventure on the river, which includes canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, and family rafting. The rafting isn’t on a whitewater stretch but on a gentle flow. We also offer inner tubing, which is probably our number one bestseller in the summer.”
Kelble highlighted the variety of activities and amenities available. “We’re prepared for small groups, individuals, friends, and family, and even larger groups if people want to bring a group of friends or do an event here. We have access to the South Fork right here, which means we can offer two types of river activities. We can take people upriver in the traditional outfitting model, where they float down to our location, and then they’re free to go home or stay and enjoy the campus. We’ll have horseshoe, Frisbee, and field games, and they can picnic and enjoy our pavilion, which can accommodate several hundred people on picnic tables.”
The site also offers camping opportunities. “We have a bathhouse with bathrooms for men and women, and we’ve set up campsites along the river where guests can camp overnight. They can stay from one to 14 days and enjoy river activities here.”
Kelble mentioned additional options, including park-and-paddle or paddle-by-the-hour. “Guests can come to our park-like setting, rent boats, and paddle around. The river slows down to almost a stop where we’re located on the Shenandoah and wanders gently through the reservoir, making it great for people to launch here and paddle at their own pace.”
Finally, Kelble emphasized their readiness for events and the potential for future developments. “We’ve had quite a few people already rent the pavilion for family reunions, wedding receptions, and corporate events. Our location on the northernmost portion of Front Royal offers more than 10 acres of agriculturally zoned property and access to riverfront property recently donated to Warren County, which could be developed into a park.”
Kelble provided contact information for those interested in experiencing these river adventures: “You can call us at 540-622-4220 or visit our website at www.frontroyalriveradventures.com to make reservations. We also welcome walk-ins.”
The addition of Front Royal River Adventures is a significant milestone for the town, promising to boost local tourism and provide new opportunities for outdoor fun. As the community continues to grow and develop, this new venture stands as a testament to the collaborative spirit and forward-thinking approach of Front Royal’s residents and leaders.
Local News
VDOT: Warren County Traffic Alert for July 1 – 5, 2024
The following is a list of highway work that may affect traffic in Warren County during the coming weeks. Scheduled work is subject to change due to inclement weather and material supplies. Motorists are advised to watch for slow-moving tractors during mowing operations. When traveling through a work zone, be alert to periodic changes in traffic patterns and lane closures.
*NEW* or *UPDATE* indicates a new or revised entry since last week’s report.
INTERSTATE 66
Mile marker 7 to 10, eastbound – Right shoulder closures for utility work, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through July 31.
INTERSTATE 81
Mile marker 299 to 300, northbound and southbound – Overnight lane closures and traffic-lane shifts as needed, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. through December 2024. Shoulder closures 24/7. Work zone speed limit 55 miles an hour. Work is related to southbound acceleration ramp extension and bridge widening.
PRIMARY ROADS
*NEW* Route 340/522 (Winchester Road) – Southbound overnight right lane closures between Crooked Run Boulevard and westbound I-66 on-ramp for rock and soil testing, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. nights Sunday through Tuesday (June 30 – July 2).
SECONDARY ROADS
*NEW* Route 606 (Shenandoah Shores Road) – Flagger traffic control for the section over I-66 for utility work, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Wednesday.
Route 638 (Howellsville Road) – Stop and proceed with traffic control 24/7 just south of Route 685 (Patty Tract Lane) intersection for the replacement of the bridge over Venus Branch—estimated completion: August 8.
Route 658 (Rockland Road) – Closed to through traffic between Route 340/522 (Winchester Road) and Route 705 (Fishnet Boulevard) for the construction of a bridge over Norfolk Southern Railway. Estimated completion December 2025.
Vegetation management may take place district-wide on various routes. Motorists are reminded to use extreme caution when traveling through work zones.
Traffic alerts and traveler information can be obtained by dialing 511 or www.511Virginia.org.
Crime/Court
Traffic Stop Leads to Narcotics and Firearms Arrest
Early on June 9, 2024, at about 2:06 a.m., a routine traffic stop in Warren County arrested 29-year-old Xavier Davonne Roy of Front Royal. The stop was conducted by Lieutenant S.M. Collins of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office on Virginia Avenue.
Lieutenant Collins noticed something suspicious during the traffic stop and called for backup. K9 Master Deputy Gregory and his canine partner, K9 Roman, were dispatched to the scene. K9 Roman quickly detected something inside the vehicle, leading officers to thoroughly search.
The search revealed a small bag containing a white rock-like substance, a zippered pouch with a more significant amount of a white powdery substance, and a single blue pill. These items are suspected to be illegal narcotics and have been sent to a lab for detailed analysis.
In addition to the suspected drugs, officers found a Ruger handgun loaded with a magazine and a set of digital scales with white powder residue. This combination of items suggested not only drug possession but also intent to distribute.
XAVIER ROY
As a result of the findings, Xavier Davonne Roy was arrested on several serious charges. These include:
- Felony possession of a controlled substance, schedule I or II, with intent to distribute (18.2-248)
- Felony possession of a controlled substance, schedule I or II, while in possession of a firearm (18.2-308.4)
- Felony possession of a controlled substance, schedule I or II (18.2-250)
- Misdemeanor possession of controlled paraphernalia (54.1-3466)
These charges reflect the gravity of the situation and the ongoing efforts of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office to combat drug-related activities in the community.
The use of K9 units like Roman is crucial in such investigations. Dogs trained to detect narcotics often find substances that human officers might overlook. This case highlights the importance of these specialized units in ensuring community safety.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to identify the substances found and gather more evidence. The results from the lab tests will play a critical role in the prosecution of the case.
This arrest underscores the commitment of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office to maintaining law and order. By taking dangerous substances and firearms off the streets, they aim to create a safer environment for all residents.
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