Local News
WATTS Announces Updated Temporary Transitional Shelter Programs
Eighty-five percent of guests who come through WATTS Homeless Shelter grew up locally in Winchester, Frederick, and Clarke Counties. They are your friends, family, former classmates, and neighbors. Established in 2009, the nonprofit organization (which stands for Winchester Area Temporary Transitional Shelter) is best known for the overnight shelter it offers for homeless individuals from November to March. WATTS’ original mission statement was simply: “Providing safe, warm, temporary, overnight shelter to homeless individuals in the winter in host locations throughout Winchester, Frederick County, and Clarke County.” During the past few years, that mission has grown and evolved.
Cooling Center 2023 photo/graphic – The WATTS Cooling Center, open every day through September 1, 2023, is operated out of Market Street UMC in Winchester and is accessible by the door pictured. Courtesy Cindee Steele.
“In 2020 WATTS opened the Warming Center; in 2021, we opened the Cooling Center and concurrently started the Transition out of Homelessness program and services. These new programs have kept our guests safer and improved their chances to receive assistance and escape homelessness by attaining self-sufficiency. In October 2022, we changed our mission statement because it did not correctly reflect current WATTS programs,” said Robyn Miller, Executive Director of WATTS.
WATTS has now added the daytime Cooling Center in the summer and the daytime Warming Center in the winter to their regular offerings throughout the year. Both programs provide individuals experiencing homelessness a safe place to reside during the day and furnish guests an opportunity to receive services from the Transition out of Homelessness Program, far exceeding the previous service of just the overnight shelter.
This summer, the Cooling Center will operate from July 10 through September 1 and is open during the afternoon every day. Operating out of Market Street UMC (131 S. Cameron Street, Winchester) and accessed from the Cork Street side, the Cooling Center gives homeless individuals a safe, air-conditioned place to rest for a few minutes or a few hours to help cool off from the heat. WATTS can offer snacks and refreshing drinks daily, thanks to donations provided by the community and volunteers providing lunch offerings on various days.
The Warming Center is open morning and afternoon during the coldest months (November through March). Also operating out of Market Street UMC, the Warming Center gives homeless individuals a safe, warm place to relax for a time to warm up from the cold. WATTS offers snacks and warm drinks daily and, on occasion, has breakfast and lunch offerings, all provided by generous donors and volunteers.
“This past winter, the WATTS Warming Center registered an additional 109 people who received services through the daytime shelter but chose not to enter our rotational overnight shelter. WATTS’ goal is to reach anyone experiencing homelessness who requires help during the day or night, and our Warming Center is helping us achieve that goal. We modified our name from Thermal to Transitional to reflect the changes that have already occurred and the transformation we plan to make in the near term,” Miller said.
WATTS’ overnight shelter continues to be in operation, running from November through March each year, 7 pm-7 am, and can accommodate 35 guests per night. Guests receive the hospitality of various churches and other community organizations who “host,” providing their buildings for shelter via a weekly rotating schedule and ensuring guests have a hot dinner as well as breakfast the next morning. Over 2,000 volunteers make the 21-week program a success each year.
The new Transition out of Homelessness program employs four year-round Transition Support Staff (TSS) who have unique training in the areas of substance abuse, physical disabilities, social services, and public health. The TSS help guests overcome the barriers and challenges that keep them in a cycle of homelessness. TSS assists guests with obtaining birth certificates and identification, job applications, forms for Centralized Housing Intake and apartments, applying for Medicaid, Medicare, and SNAP benefits, information and placement in drug and alcohol detox/rehabilitation programs, patient advocacy, and more.
WATTS TSS provides one-on-one interviews at the point of intake to assess the guest’s needs and options, then plan a gradual path to improvement. The goal of the transition program is to work intimately with those challenged by what may be the most difficult burden of their lives.
From left, Robyn Miller, Executive Director, Paige Rodgers, and BJ Dove (both Transitional Support Staff), with WATTS guest. WATTS’s new Transition out of Homelessness program has already assisted many guests with overcoming barriers and achieving self-sufficiency in stable housing. Courtesy Robyn Miller.
WATTS recognizes that some needs must be met first before others can even be addressed. During the initial intake, WATTS’ data shows that physical, emotional, and intellectual needs as well as medical concerns, mental illness, or substance abuse, affect approximately 75% of the shelter guests. Failure to address these needs makes success in attaining independent living almost impossible. Scheduled weekly meetings between the guest and TSS are established to check in and assess medical needs, transportation, counseling, and personal concerns such as clothing and food.
The Transition out of Homelessness program includes:
- The initial intake is wherever homeless guests make themselves available, meeting where they are and working toward establishing trusting relationships
- Thorough guest assessment
- Weekly documented face-to-face meetings to review progress
- Advocacy and referrals to required services
- Individual files are maintained with frequent and consistent notes on guest progress, and agencies referred
- Formally trained staff receive ongoing, documented instruction on current issues relevant to the local homeless population.
Many homeless individuals choose not to receive any assistance and reflecting the great number of ‘hidden’ homeless in our community – those living in tents, cars, motels, storage units, or couch-surfing. The expanded offerings of the Cooling and Warming Centers allow for more opportunities to connect guests with WATTS’ Transition Support Staff, who can help work toward resolutions. Most importantly, the Centers meet immediate needs by offering a place to warm up/cool off, get snacks, drinks, and often lunch, use a restroom, and are a safe place to just sit without the worry of being cited for trespassing. Feeling safe is paramount to a homeless individual who may just desire a place to lay their head and not have to live in fear. These are often the first steps to getting someone the help they need.
Every single service WATTS provides is in some way supported by the community of Winchester, Frederick County, and surrounding areas. WATTS has a network of local volunteers to assist in supporting the overnight shelters. It is the churches and civic organizations that provide the bulk of the resources; love, care, snacks, drinks, lunches, hot dinners, coats, sweaters, underwear, socks, boots, jeans, and other clothing for men and women, wash clothes, towels, and toiletries. God bless our wonderful community!
Winchester Royals and WATTS team up at Bridgeforth Stadium to support local homeless programs. Courtesy Cindee Steele.
Since 2020, WATTS has expanded the services offered, and its mission continues to mature. Expanded services require more funding; donations from generous individuals, churches, community organizations, businesses, and foundations, in combination with successful fundraising efforts, are the lifeblood that allows WATTS to continue its mission and maintain service offerings, and they are so grateful for your support.
For more information about WATTS or to donate or volunteer, please visit their website at watts-homelessshelter.org or contact Executive Director Robyn Miller through email or phone (execdirector@watts-homelessshelter.org or 540-514-7218.)
This article was written with the collaboration of Executive Director Robyn Miller and the WATTS Board of Directors.
Local News
POLICE: 7 Day FRPD Arrest Report 4/28/2024
Front Royal Police Department’s arrest report for the past 7 days:
Local News
VDOT: Warren County Traffic Alert for May 6 – 10, 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
*NEW* Mile marker 0 to 15, eastbound and westbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for pavement marking installations, 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Monday and Tuesday nights.
*NEW* Mile marker 0 to 2, eastbound – Right shoulder closures for utility work, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through May 31.
*NEW* Mile marker 8 to 7, westbound – Right shoulder closures for sign work, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Mile marker 9 to 7, westbound – Overnight right lane closures at Shenandoah River bridge for utility work, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Thursday night.
INTERSTATE 81
*UPDATE* Mile marker 299 to 300, northbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for overhead sign repairs, 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Monday night.
Mile marker 299 to 300, northbound – Right shoulder closures for utility work, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through May 31.
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, with estimated completion in late 2024.
PRIMARY ROADS
*NEW* Route 55 (John Marshall Highway) – Flagger traffic control between Front Royal town limits and Route 647 (Dismal Hollow Road) for guardrail upgrades, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday (May 2) and Tuesday (May 7).
*NEW* Route 340 (Stonewall Jackson Highway) – Flagger traffic control between Route 674 (Limeton Church Road) and Route 607 (Rocky Lane) for pipe replacement, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 7 – May 14.
SECONDARY ROADS
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 at www.511Virginia.org.
Local News
VSP Investigating I-81 Dump Truck/Sheriff’s Vehicle Accident
The Virginia State Police are investigating a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 81 in Shenandoah County. The crash occurred Friday, May 3, at 5:46 a.m. at the Route 646 overpass at the 292-mile maker of I-81.
A 2005 Kenworth dump truck was traveling north on I-81 when the driver accidentally engaged the dump bed, which raised it and caused it to collide with the bridge overpass. The collision caused the dump bed to detach from the truck, slide backward, and land on a northbound 2022 Ford Explorer, which was driven by a Frederick County Sheriff’s deputy.
The dump truck driver, Gaylon R. Miller, 71, of Toms Brook, Va., was not injured in the crash. He was wearing his seatbelt.
The sheriff’s deputy suffered minor injuries and was transported to Winchester Medical Center for treatment.
Miller was charged with reckless driving.
These photos indicate what a close call this deputy appears to have had. – Photos by Virginia State Police who authorize their publication.
(From a Release by the Virginia State Police)
Local News
WCSB Approves New LFK Principal; Accepts Scholarships for Baseball, Softball Seniors
The Warren County School Board unanimously approved the appointment of a new principal who will take over at Leslie Fox Keyser (LFK) Elementary School starting this summer and accepted baseball and softball scholarships being offered by the Front Royal Cardinals for four seniors attending Warren County Public Schools (WCPS).
Board chair Kristen Pence, vice chair Antoinette Funk, and board members Andrea Lo, Thomas McFadden, Jr., and Melanie Salins, during their regular meeting on Wednesday, May 1, voted 5-0 to have Jennifer Cameron appointed as the LFK principal effective July 1.
School Division Superintendent Christopher Ballenger (right), on May 1, introduced School Board members to Jennifer Cameron (left), the new 2024-2025 principal at Leslie Fox Keyser Elementary School.
“Ms. Cameron is an experienced educator and leader in Warren County,” said WCPS Superintendent Christopher Ballenger in recommending her appointment to the School Board.
Previously, Cameron has taught as a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher and has experience as a literacy coach who supported grade-level teachers in her school building, Ballenger said, adding that as an administrator, Cameron has served as the dean of students and as an assistant principal.
“During her years of service, Ms. Cameron was selected as the Rotary Teacher of the Year in 2008 and was the [WCPS] Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2015-2016,” he added.
As a leader, Ballenger also said that Cameron has been integral in transforming E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School and has served as the chair for the division’s Attendance Committee for the past two years.
“Ms. Cameron is a great fit for LFK, and I know that her skill set will continue to move LFK forward,” said the superintendent.
Following the board’s vote, Cameron told board members she was honored to accept the LFK principal position and said she’s excited to rejoin the Lil’ Cat family.
“Thank you for entrusting me with this opportunity to nurture young minds and to foster the continued excellence of LFK,” she said. “I look forward to working with you to continue the path to excellence at Warren County Public Schools. I’m truly humbled at this huge responsibility that you have entrusted to me, and I look forward to the coming school year and this new adventure that awaits me.”
In other action items, the School Board unanimously accepted four scholarships with gratitude from the Front Royal Cardinals and approved the donation of auditorium seating from E. Wilson Morrison (EWM) Elementary School.
Donna Settle, president of Front Royal Cardinals Baseball, a nonprofit organization that is part of the Valley Baseball League, said that as part of the group’s fundraising activities, the board will sponsor Little League for both girls and boys and will give back to the WCPS baseball and softball programs.
“This year, our board has voted to bring scholarships back to Warren County,” Settle told the board. “I know we’re a little late in the season, but we have enough money set aside for the scholarships for the 2024 student-athletes.”
There are four new $500 scholarship opportunities beginning with the Class of 2024 that are available for a Skyline baseball and softball senior who plans to continue their education and for a Warren County baseball and softball senior who plans to continue their education.
The School Board also voted 5-0 to permit two auditorium seats to be donated to Robert MacDougall, founding principal of Transform Development, a commercial landlord and developer based in the Shenandoah Valley.
Seating in the EWM auditorium, which is being renovated to provide an indoor facility for students and staff, has been removed and is set to go to auction. MacDougall offered a facility to store the auditorium seating until they could be auctioned.
With the School Board’s blessing, WCPS will now donate two seats to MacDougall, who will display them in the theater once its renovation is completed.
Regarding a request to have the Warren County Board of Supervisors (BOS) appropriate the fiscal year 2022 School Operating Fund Surplus, the School Board voted unanimously to table the item to a work session and FY2025 budget resolution.
Ballenger explained that the total fiscal year 2021-2022 school operating surplus is $973,098, and said it was being requested that the Warren County Board of Supervisors (BOS) appropriate $300,000 of the surplus to the School Transportation Fund that is held by the County and the remaining $673,098 to the School Capital Improvement Fund that is also held by the County.
The $300,000 designated for the Transportation Fund was originally included in the FY2025 Proposed School Operating Budget to purchase replacement buses and vehicle(s) but has since been removed contingent upon the funding appropriated to the Transportation Fund, he said.
Of the $673,098 requested for the County’s School Capital Improvement Fund, $40,000 was originally included in the FY2025 Proposed School Operating Budget to cover the repair/replacement of the chiller at Hilda J Barbour Elementary School and to upgrade the HVAC management systems at several schools. The remaining balance ($633,098) being requested for the Capital Improvement Fund would be requested at a future date for other capital priorities, such as the replacement of the tennis courts at the high schools.
As the budget process continues unfolding for both WCPS and the BOS, the School Board members agreed to work more on the item before taking action.
During the School Board’s community participation portion of its meeting, Leslie Mathews (above), a parent with two children attending Skyline Middle School, said that some of the School Board members are using the concerns expressed through emails by parents as “a crutch” for their own political motives. She called it a disgrace.
“I and we parents are only given three minutes a month [during School Board meetings] to get up here and express our concerns to you, or we’re told we can email you,” said Mathews. “But I no longer trust that method of emailing.”
Mathews, who last fall unsuccessfully challenged School Board incumbent Pence for the South River School Board seat, said “it’s such a disgrace for you as a public servant to go and encourage others to FOIA the concerns of parents who are not like-minded as yourself.
“So, therefore, our concerns are going public,” said Mathews, who didn’t name names. “If we want more positive in Warren County Public Schools, then we need to start at our leadership.”
Chamber News
Front Royal Welcomes CBM Team of Supreme Lending with Enthusiasm and Optimism
Front Royal, Virginia, celebrated a significant business merger that marks a promising future for local economic development. The CBM Team, a longstanding local business entity, has officially joined forces with Supreme Lending, expanding its reach and capacity to serve the community more effectively.
Nike Foster, Executive Director of the Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce, and Mayor Lori Cockrell welcomed the CBM Team to our community. The event underscored a vibrant community spirit and the potential for economic growth. Byron Biggs, Chairman of the Chamber, highlighted the merger as a symbol of positive evolution in the local business landscape. It is now poised to extend its influence beyond Virginia.
Mayor Cockrell shared personal anecdotes, reflecting on the profound local ties and the exceptional character of the individuals involved, particularly noting the entrepreneurial spirit of Cory Michael, a former student of hers and now a regional manager for Team CBM. Her words painted a picture of a community that values deep personal connections and collective growth.
The merger promises substantial benefits to Front Royal, bringing enhanced services and opportunities for home ownership that were previously out of reach for many residents. This union is a merger of two companies and a fusion of cultures and aspirations, aiming to enrich the local community while maintaining the cherished CBM brand identity.
Attendees left the event with a sense of excitement and anticipation for the future, confident in the continued prosperity and communal strength of Front Royal.
Local News
Congratulations to Warren County High School Seniors – Class of 2024
Royal Examiner presents the Warren County High School Class of 2024. Congratulations to these wonderful seniors on their hard work and deserved accomplishments! We wish you the best in your next big endeavors. Photos courtesy of Victor O’Neill Studios and Tolliver Studios, LLC.
If your Warren County senior is not listed, please send in their Name and Senior Picture to news@royalexaminer.com.
McKenna Adkins
Peyton Ahmed
Isaac Amor
Kristina Andrews
Seana Andrews
Diego Aponte
Dillon Arndt
Sydney Arndt
Dalton Ayers
Ebony Bailey
Marshall Barton
Shelby Bell
Kaydria Bennett
William Bergmann
Roberto Berrios
Hannah Bonner
Beatrix Boudreau
Arianna Bourgoin
Logan Bradshaw
Jeremiah Bright
Darnel Caison
Levi Campbell
Autumn Carofano
Joshua Carroll
Bradley Chaffin
Angel Chan
Jaclyn Clark
Jessie Clegg
Madison Clowser
Trenton Coffelt
Katherine Ramirez Colato
Nikolai Compton
David Miramontes Correa
Isaiah Cossio
Cash Cox
Joseph Cross
Alannah Deavers
Landon Deese
Connor Deisch
Palmer Dellinger
Marcellis Diamond
Raymond Dingess
Eliza Dorsey
Christopher Doyle
Lillian Doyle
Aiden Dunnet
April Lopez Escobar
Catherine Farley
Benjamin Farris
Caroline Feldhauser
Gabriel Ferris
Alaysia Flora
Jasmin Portillo Flores
Christopher Flynn
Silas Foster
Calyssa Foxley
Elijah Frame
Isabella Freiland
Madison Funes
Aiden Gates
Austin Grady
Matthew Grant
Elizabeth Greenwell
Kayla Haase
Sarah Hardin
Alexandria Harris
Delaney Haw
Brayden Heflin
Andrea Hernandez
Sophia Hill
Keandre Hogue
Anastacia Hrbek
Collin Huston
Emily Jackson
Kaleb Jackson
Jadyn Jeffries
Colby Jenkins
Kevin Todd Jenkins Jr.
Rebecca Jett
Lillian Johns
Anna Johnson
Skylar Keller
Olivia Kelly
Avayda Kemp
Alice Kent
Sofia Kozhenevsky
Camren Kyle
Riana LaFrenierre
Olivia Lambert
Vincent Lamendola Jr.
Joselyn Leyva-Gamez
Sophia Logan
Emma Lord
Phillip Maddox III
Blaine Mansour
Mackenzie Mardeusz
Jacob Martin
Blake McCarty
Sophia McCurry
Cameron McGee
Shawn McGinness
Luke McIntire
Titus Messineo
Jossue Gonzalez Miramontes
William Moreno
Christian Morey
Keyshawn Morgan
Spencer Nelson
Charlize Noel
Christian O’Donnell
Emily Oldland
Joseph Ortman
Veronica Pak
Jonathan Panciera
Italia Panzica
Brook Patton
Dragan Pead
Malachi Pinner
Steven Pugh
Blake Ramsey
Eric Rapp
Alaura Repass-Nardone
Brandon Reynolds
Lucas Riley
Xander Ring
Tyler Roan
Kierstin Robertson
Nicholas Robison
Samuel Rock
Caitlyn Rotenberry
Morgan Sajeski
Laney Schenher
Joshua Schneider
Kira Shaver
Bradan Shifflett
Molly Sims
Tristen Sine
Simon Skube
Destiny Smith
Marcus Smith
Brendan Snapp
Jacqueline St. Clair
Brady Strickler
Devin Swearingen
Morgan Sweeney
Robert Swisher
Kaley Tanner
Kaitlin Taylor
Madelyn Tennant
Zia Texier
Johnny Thomas
Aiden Thompson
Joseph Thompson
Eva Thornberg
Owen Thorpe
Jose Ulloa
Malcolm Vinson-Proctor
Alijah Waters
Dagan Wayland
Payton Weaver
Sharlit White
Aliyah Whitman
Taylor Wickham
Marcus Williams
John Williams III
Dejaun Winston
Hunter Winters
Grant Wolf
Militza Woloszyn
Sydney Woodward
Suleman Zewar
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