Fort Defiance wins state Envirothon

AFP

Fort Defiance High School defeated 14 teams from throughout the Commonwealth to win Virginia’s Envirothon, a natural resources competition for high school students. Having earlier won the regional title, Fort Defiance, coached by Brent Hull and Eric Stogdale, advanced to the 2011 state competition held May 22-23 at Camp Hanover in Mechanicsville, Virginia. As the…

Dukes win CAA Tournament, clinch NCAA berth

AFP

James Madison plated six runs in the second inning and senior Alex Valadja (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Catholic) limited Old Dominion to four hits over six innings to record a 10-1 win and capture the 2011 Colonial Athletic Association baseball championship on Saturday afternoon at Brooks Field. JMU (40-17), ranked 30th nationally by Collegiate Baseball newspaper, improved…

JMU cruises past Georgia State in CAA Tourney opener

AFP

Junior left-hander Sean Tierney (Midlothian, Va./Clover Hill) tossed a five-hit shutout to lift James Madison past Georgia State 4-0 in the first game of the 2011 Colonial Athletic Association Baseball Championship on Thursday afternoon at Brooks Field. JMU, ranked 30th nationally by Collegiate Baseball newspaper, extended its winning streak to seven games and won its…

Local projects recognized by Valley Conservation Council

Chris Graham

The Valley Conservation Council announced the winners of its 2011 Better Models for Development Awards at a ceremony held on May 25 at Court Square Theater in Downtown Harrisonburg. This year’s 12 winners demonstrate a variety of approaches to building and development that enhance the character of Shenandoah Valley communities while minimizing impacts on resources….

Nan Russell: Natural inspiration

AFP

The hints commenced with the changing landscape, traversed by dramatic colors and intriguing rock formulations. I should have expected it. Although the travel guide provided a glimpse of what was coming, I was still not prepared for the majestic beauty and expansive, as-far-as-you-could-see, dramatic terrain of Bryce Canyon National Park. Hoodoos Cast Their Spell, the…

Tax policy study: Flip it to fix it

AFP

A new study has found that inverting state tax structures—whereby the highest income earners would be taxed at the current percentage of income for the lowest income earners, and vice versa—would collectively raise $6.9 billion more in revenue, a 21.4 percent increase over Virginia’s current tax structure. “Flipping” the tax structure would eliminate future budget…

Lowery tabbed CAA Player of the Year

AFP

James Madison junior catcher Jake Lowery (Midlothian, Va./Cosby) was selected as the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year to headline six Dukes earning All-CAA honors as announced Wednesday evening at the league’s annual awards banquet on the eve of the 2011 CAA Baseball Championship.

Suzi Foltz: Oh, Bloody High School

AFP

“Can you tell me your full name and your birthdate?” “Name; Suzanne Patterson Foltz. Birthday; June 4, 1999…oh my god, no. Not ’99, ’93. I was born June 4, 1993. Sorry.” “Okay…” Why would I say ’99? That would make me only eleven years old. Eleven year olds can’t donate blood. I hope I don’t…