Drive safe – or else – this holiday weekend
Notwithstanding statewide progress in the fight against drunk driving over the past decade, drunk driving is still killing six people a year in Augusta County, according to Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles data of alcohol-related traffic deaths averaged over the last five years. Augusta County averaged the 11th most drunk-driving fatalities in Virginia during the 2006 to 2010 period.
The Commonwealth averaged 243 drunk driving deaths a year – approximately two DUI deaths every three days – over the five-year period. Across Virginia, 37 percent of all traffic fatalities are alcohol-related, according to Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles data.
The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office is participating in the Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign, which is stopping drunk driving through a combination of public education and stepped-up law-enforcement efforts. So if your Thanksgiving plans include alcohol with your turkey and football, the road is absolutely the last place to end the day.
“Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family and friends and reflect on the year’s good fortune. But killing or hurting yourself or someone else by driving under the influence is nothing to be thankful for,” said Kurt Erickson, president of the Washington Regional Alcohol Program, the project director of the region’s Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign.”Our message to drivers is simple this holiday weekend: Drive sober or get pulled over.”
This year marks the 10th year of the Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign and the campaign is paying life-saving dividends: Since 2001, Virginia has seen a 23-percent decrease in alcohol-related traffic fatalities and a 32-percent decrease in alcohol-related traffic injuries.
Throughout November and December 2011, the Augusta County officers are focused on keeping roads free from drunk drivers. Augusta County law-enforcement efforts include sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols and increased enforcement around the holidays.
Across Virginia in 2010, 32,760 drunk-driving arrests weremade, which resulted in 29,063 convictions – an average of one DUI conviction every 18 minutes.
Checkpoint Strikeforce is a research-based, zero-tolerance campaign in the Mid-Atlantic states designed to both identify and apprehend drunk drivers through sobriety checkpoints and other enhanced law-enforcement efforts and to educate the public about the dangers and consequences of drunk driving. Nearly 43,000 ads will run on a total of 84 broadcast stations, cable systems and radio stations in Virginia this year with additional ads being broadcast separately in Northern Virginia.
County, ACSA to provide water kiosk for Riverheads
For some citizens of Augusta County who are not able to get potable water because public water or private wells are not available at their location, another option is now available.
Thanks to a cooperative project between the Augusta County Board of Supervisors and the Augusta County Service Authority, a new water kiosk is now located at the Riverheads Fire and Rescue Station, just off of U.S. Route 11 north of the Greenville interchange with I-81. Riverheads Board of Supervisors member Nancy Sorrells led the effort to make this project a reality.
The water kiosk concept is not a new one. Many communities across the U.S. and countries across the globe use water kiosks to provide safe, clean water for their citizens. The Augusta County station provides ACSA treated water at a cost of 1¢ per gallon.
The kiosk uses a pre-paid card that allows the user to dispense water in quantities from ten gallons up to thousands of gallons. Two dispensing connections are provided at the kiosk: a 2-inch cam-lock connector to allow for the quick filling of trucks and larger tanks on vehicles, and a 5/8-inch garden hose connector for smaller containers.
To purchase water from the kiosk, a user must come to the Service Authority Customer Service Counter at the Verona Government Center, purchase a kiosk card for $10, and load it with a pre-paid balance up to $750. The self-service card can immediately be used at the kiosk to dispense water. The card can be re-used by simply returning to the ACSA Customer Service Counter and purchasing additional pre-paid gallons and adding them to their card.
For more detailed information visit the ACSA website at
www.acsawater.com/waterkiosk or contact the ACSA Customer Service Department at 540-245-5681 with any questions.
I-64 paving will close two Augusta County ramps
Paving work will cause the closure of two interstate ramps in Augusta County this week.
The ramp from northbound Interstate 81 at exit 221 to eastbound Interstate 64 at exit 87 will be closed on Thursday, July 21 at 7 p.m. until Friday, July 22 at 7 a.m. The I-64 eastbound exit ramp onto Route 608 at exit 91 will be closed on Friday, July 22 at 7 p.m. until Saturday, July 23 at 9 a.m.
Paving operations will also take place on I-64 eastbound from exit 87 to exit 96 in the Lyndhurst area Monday thru Saturday. This work will begin on the night of Monday, July 18 and last until the morning of Friday, July 22 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily and then on Friday night from 7 p.m. until 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 23.
Motorists should be alert for single lane closures. All work is weather permitting. Motorists should expect travel delays in this area.
Road work affecting traffic on U.S. 250 in western part of county
Pipe replacement work on Route 250 (Hanky Mountain Highway) in Augusta County will create single-lane traffic on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This location is at 0.30 miles east of Route 716 (Braley Pond Road) and 3.50 miles west of Route 728 (Stover Shop Road).
Signs will be posted and flaggers will be controlling traffic. All work is weather permitting.
Cline kicks off re-election bid with manufacturing tour
Del. Ben Cline (R-24) today officially kicked off his campaign for re-election to the House of Delegates this November with a focus on creating jobs and accelerating Virginia’s economic recovery. Del. Cline was joined by Congressman Bob Goodlatte as he toured three local manufacturers in the 24th House District.
“It has been an honor for me to represent the citizens of the 24th House District in the General Assembly,” said Cline. “I am proud of the successes that we have been able to achieve, including the passage of tax relief for families and businesses across Virginia and the establishment of community college branch campuses in Amherst and Buena Vista. But there is more to do, especially when Virginia families are hurting due to the economic downturn. Providing additional workforce training and economic incentives that help businesses like S&S Machines in Amherst, Advanced Drainage Systems in Buena Vista, and McKee Foods in Stuarts Draft create jobs will lead to a brighter future for families across our part of Virginia.”
Cline’s legislative accomplishments during his nine years in office focus mainly on improving the economy in three areas: Infrastructure, Instruction, and Incentives. Locally, Cline’s major infrastructure focus has been on securing funding to open and operate the aforementioned CVCC Amherst and DSLCC Rockbridge branches, fighting against the closure of the Central Virginia Training Center (Amherst County’s largest employer), and passing several bills that encourage safety, reduce congestion, and promote intermodal rail to improve the long-term viability of Interstate-81.
Cline’s focus on workforce instruction and job training resulted in the creation of the Community College Transfer Grant scholarship that enables students to transfer from community college to four-year state schools more easily (HB2168 – 2007). Cline also sponsored legislation in 2006 to save students and their families money by creating a school supply sales tax holiday (HB1125 – 2006), as well as legislation to provide instate tuition benefits to children of military personnel stationed in Virginia (HB 1135 – 2006). Cline has also focused as a member of the House Finance Committee on providing tax and regulatory incentives for employers and working families to locate and create jobs in Virginia.
“It has been an honor to represent the hardworking citizens of Amherst, Augusta and Rockbridge in Richmond, and I look forward to a positive campaign and asking for their votes this fall,” Cline said. “In addition, I look forward to getting to know folks across Bath County as I introduce myself to the newest parts of the 24th House district.”
The 24th House District includes the Cities of Lexington and Buena Vista, Bath and Rockbridge Counties, and parts of Amherst and Augusta Counties. Delegate Cline was elected in 2002 and re-elected to his fifth term in 2009. Cline is Chairman of the Joint Health Care Commission and a member of the House Commerce Committee, Public Safety Committee, Finance Committee, and Courts of Justice Committee. He lives with his wife, Elizabeth, near Lexington and is an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Rockingham County.
Candidates forum set for June 15
The first in an advertised series of town-hall meetings featuring four candidates for seats on the Augusta County Board of Supervisors is set for Wednesday, June 15, at the Augusta County Government Center in Verona.
Incumbent Pastures District Supervisor Tracy Pyles will be joined by Beverley Manor candidate David Karaffa, North River candidate Marshall Pattie and Wayne candidate Kurt Michael at the 7 p.m. forum.
The public is invited to attend and ask questions.
Update on I-81 Augusta project
As part of the Interstate 81 In-Place Pavement Recycling Project, there will be frequent southbound single lane traffic from June 3-9.
It is possible that crews may complete their work prior to June 9 if project and weather conditions remain favorable. The I-81 In-Place Pavement Recycling Project is located in the I-81 southbound lanes, south of Staunton near exit 217 at Route 654 in the Mint Spring area and exit 213 at Route 11 in the Greenville area.
There will be single lane closures 24 hours a day from June 3 at 9 p.m. to June 9 at 7 a.m. I-81 southbound between exit 217 and exit 213 will have single-lane traffic 24-hours a day. The left lane will be closed.
Drivers of tractor trailer trucks should follow posted signs. Trucks will stay on I-81 in the left lane driving past the exit 217 ramp and then will shift to the right lane. Passenger vehicles should use the right lane and are requested to use the primary detour: Traffic will leave I-81 southbound at exit 217 onto Route 654 (White Hill Road) westbound to Route 11 (Lee Jackson Highway). Motorists will turn left onto Route 11 southbound and re-enter I-81 at exit 213.
Route 800 (Folly Mills Station Road/Springfield Lane), which is just off of Route 654 and Route 11 will be closed at its connections with Route 654. Only the Route 11 intersections will be open for Route 800 traffic during the 24 hour-a-day I-81 lane closure period.
If all construction goes well and as planned this week should end the 24-hour lane closures.
For a complete closure listing please visit VirginiaI-81Pave.org for project information.
All work is weather permitting. If crews complete their work early, lanes may reopen sooner than stated.
On the streets and online: The New Dominion Magazine
The February issue of The New Dominion Magazine is on the streets at locations in Waynesboro, Staunton and Harrisonburg – and is also posted online at
TheNewDominion.com.
This month’s features:
Women at work: Two women share their experiences climbing the corporate ladder
Profiles of new Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce president Linda Hershey and new Mathers Team president Teresa Gauldin.
Lens crafters: Local club learning art of making movies the hands-on way
Inside the 2011 Waynesboro Short Film Competition – with a local filmmaking club that will be entering a film in the competition.
Arizona aftermath: Shootings force rethinking on interactions between politicians, citizens
The New Dominion talks with local elected leaders and security experts to make sense of what can be done to keep people safe when dealing with local government.
Market niche: Music teacher meets need with strings business
The strings teachers at Eastern Mennonite University had a problem. One of the teachers figured out a way to solve the problem – and started a business in the process.
Dynamic duo: Comic-book fans put up a shingle in Staunton
When they first broached the topic a year and a half ago, it wasn’t anything even remotely serious. A comic-book shop? Sure. Every little boy who gets hooked on his first Superman or Mad dreams of opening a comic-book shop.
Keeping it real: Charlottesville acting, modeling school pushes self-esteem
The curriculum at Cville Performing Arts includes a range of acting and modeling classes for children, teens and adults.
Local JMU students recognized
Below are lists of students from Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro who graduated, made president’s list or dean’s list during the fall 2010 semester at James Madison University.
To qualify for the president’s list, a student must carry a semester course load of 12 graded credit hours or more and earn a GPA of 3.900 or above.
To qualify for the dean’s list, a student must carry a semester course load of 12 graded credit hours or more and earn a GPA of 3.500 to 3.899.
Fall 2010 Graduates
Jason Hottel, Churchville, Summa Cum Laude; Nathaniel Symons, Crimora, ; Lauren Yuhasz, Crozet, Magna Cum Laude; Chase Chandler, Grottoes, ; Lauren Long, Grottoes, ; Yekaterina Bondaruk, Mount Solon, ; Daniel Copeland, Staunton, ; Benjamin Hastert, Staunton, ; Brittany Lovell, Staunton, ; Daniel Mowry, Staunton, Cum Laude; Kayla Reynolds, Stuarts Draft, Cum Laude; Brian Schmitt, Stuarts Draft, ; John Selden, Stuarts Draft, ; Kenton Burford, Waynesboro, ; Shelly Carter, Waynesboro, ; Matthew Dameron, Waynesboro, ; Shannon Elliott, Waynesboro, ; Kristin Hashagen, Waynesboro, ; Kimberly Humphries, Waynesboro, Magna Cum Laude; Logan Quesenbery, Waynesboro, ; Rebecca Wise, Waynesboro, ; Brady Bullock, Weyers Cave, ; Emily Correa, Weyers Cave, ; Ann Wilson, Weyers Cave.
Fall 2010 President’s List
Bethany Mann, Churchville; Krista Gieseke-Smith, Lyndhurst; Zachary Kiracofe, Mount Solon; Nathaniel Burkholder, Staunton; Mariagrazia Fiorello, Staunton; Mary Holroyd, Staunton; Rebecca Donald, Stuarts Draft; Michael Noto, Stuarts Draft; Lindsey Ott, Stuarts Draft; Erin Lamneck, Swoope; Johnathan Lee, Swoope; Lauren DeMoss, Waynesboro; Mary Hall, Waynesboro; Ross Hawkins, Waynesboro; Stephanie Klann, Waynesboro; Nicole Zelena, Waynesboro; Katherine Anderson, Weyers Cave; Kimberly Keister, Weyers Cave.
Fall 2010 Dean’s List
Curtis Smith, Churchville; Anna Armstrong, Crozet; Nicholas Corbell, Crozet; Betsy LaRue, Crozet; Christopher Leibl, Crozet; Mary Rossberg, Crozet; Lauren Yuhasz, Crozet; Benjamin Boward, Fishersville; Cody Felici, Fishersville; Sean Fry, Fishersville; Francesca Teixeira, Lyndhurst; Ashley Strojny, Raphine; Carrie Anson, Staunton; Nicholas Harris, Staunton; Kyle Head, Staunton; William Hughes, Staunton; Brittany Lovell, Staunton; Aimee Mahler, Staunton; Daniel Mowry, Staunton; Latany Bell, Stuarts Draft; Kelly Conner, Stuarts Draft; Maria Cosby, Stuarts Draft; Lauren Dedrick, Stuarts Draft; Karen Heenan, Stuarts Draft; Kayla Reynolds, Stuarts Draft; Saman Nasser, Verona; Anjerika Wilmer, Verona; Hannah Caldwell, Waynesboro; Sarah Coleman, Waynesboro; Troy Cox, Waynesboro; Tiffany Crosby, Waynesboro; Shannon Elliott, Waynesboro; Bradley Jayne, Waynesboro; Andrew Key, Waynesboro; Jeremy Lundstrom, Waynesboro; Emily Correa, Weyers Cave; Cody Shifflett, Weyers Cave.
United Way issues call for citizen-review volunteers
The United Way of Greater Augusta is looking for people interested in volunteering to review funding applications.
Funds from United Way are used to build community capacity in supporting individuals and families with immediate needs and establishing a foundation for long-term change. Through these funds, United Way will invest in projects and programs that address the priority areas of education, income and health.
Citizen Investment Review Team members review funding applications received and participate in agency site visits. Citizen Investment Review Team members make funding recommendations to the United Way Board of Directors on the organizations they review and visit.
This is a great way to be part the community solutions. If you are interested, you can apply through the Greater Augusta Volunteer Center. Each application will be reviewed for suitability and potential conflict of interest.
For additional information on other ways to volunteer for the United Way of Greater Augusta or get involved within the community, contact the United Way at 540.885.1229 or 540.943.1215 or visit the United Way online at www.unitedwaygaorg.
Edited by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at freepress2@ntelos.net.
Bridge closures in Augusta, Rockingham due to road work
The bridge over Little Dry River on Route 631 (Dull Hunt Road) in Rockingham County is closed to traffic. This closure began Dec. 13 for bridge superstructure replacement. A bridge superstructure includes a bridge deck, handrails, curbs, floor system and other structural members or bridge parts that rest on a bridge’s piers or bearings.
This closure will be in effect 24-hours a day and will last until March 13, 2011.
The Little Dry River Bridge is located .5-mile west of the Route 631intersection with Route 818 (Little Dry River Road). This area is located in northwest Rockingham County approximately four miles west of Fulks Run.
Motorist on Route 631 (Dull Hunt Road) will be routed around the existing bridge structure onto a temporary roadway which has been constructed across Little Dry River. Traffic is being controlled with a “stop and proceed when way is clear” sign. Flagger traffic control will be in place at each end of the temporary roadway during working hours.
The bridge over Back Creek on Route 664 (Mount Torrey Road) in Augusta County is limited to one single 10-foot lane beginning on Dec. 15 due to bridge work. This bridge work will replace the bridge superstructure.
This lane closure will be in effect 24-hours a day and will last until April 15, 2011.
Route 644 is located between Route 610 and Route 814 (Love Road) in Augusta County. The bridge location is 3.0 mile south of Route 610. This area is approximately five miles north of the Augusta and Nelson County line.
Traffic is being controlled with temporary traffic signals at this location. Flagger traffic control will be used as needed in the work zone during construction activities.
Edited by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at freepress2@ntelos.net.
Chris Graham: A new order in the offing in Augusta?
Posted by afp on July 5, 2011 · Leave a Comment
At last count, four of the seven-member board have announced that they won’t be running for re-election, with Board Chair Jeremy Shifflett and Pastures Supervisor Tracy Pyles confirmed to be in the running and South River Supervisor David Beyeler either expected to announce his intention to run for another term (according to some) or join the parade of retirees (according to others).
The balance of power could be shifting in the direction of Pyles, a Democrat who has forged an interesting coalition with former Augusta County Republican Chairman Kurt Michael, former Augusta County Democratic Chairman Marshall Pattie and local Tea Party veteran David Karaffa.
Karaffa is the only member of the group who will face an incumbent, Shifflett, a Republican who narrowly won election in 2007 (by 16 votes over Democrat Lee Godfrey) in the Beverley Manor District. Pattie and Michael are both running for seats being vacated by incumbents (Pattie in North River, Michael in Wayne), and Pyles, while he has am opponent, has not seriously been challenged in his four election victories, which date back to 1995.
Pyles was the voice in the wilderness leading the charge against the controversial property reassessments in 2009 that the majority of the Board of Supervisors decided to handle by an equally controversial measure that gutted the county property-tax rate. Shifflett joined the Pyles crusade late in the game, maybe too late to sidestep criticism that he did so for political reasons. How he fares against a challenge from the right in the form of Karaffa will be one of the key storylines in the upcoming election cycle in Augusta County.
Number one on that list will be how the disparate coalition that Pyles has forged will be able to work as a team. The grouping has a better-than-even chance of forming a working majority on the Board of Supervisors come January. United as they are right now on fiscal issues, could there be room for their opponents to play a divide-and-conquer game by going all social issues on them?
Not if the quartet follows this piece of advice: Local elections, and local government, aren’t about abortion and gay marriage. To borrow from the campaign mantra that carried Bill Clinton through contentious elections in the 1990s, it’s the economy, stupid. Economic growth and balanced budgets – that’s what the voters want.
Filed under Blogs · Tagged with augusta county, augusta county board of supervisors, david karaffa, kurt michael, marshall pattie, tracy pyles