No charges in fatal bus accident on JMU campus

Chris Graham

The Virginia State Police are investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred on November 15, 2011, on the campus of James Madison University.  The crash occurred at 9:52 pm at the intersection of Carrier Drive and Bluestone Drive.  The crash involved a transportation bus owned by the City of Harrisonburg and a pedestrian which…

Arrest made in Augusta County church arson

Chris Graham

Special agents with the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Appomattox Field Office arrested a Crimora man on Tuesday in connection with a fire at the Hildebrand Mennonite Church in Augusta County. Paul L. Cupp, 36, of Crimora was arrested without incident at his residence on Meadow Rue Lane following the execution of a…

Goshen woman dies in single-vehicle crash

Chris Graham

Virginia State Police investigated a fatal single-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon (Aug. 25, 2011) in Augusta County that claimed a woman’s life. At approximately 12:16 p.m., Trooper D.C. Brydge was notified of the crash that occurred in the 200 block of Route 42 (Little Calf Pasture Highway) about 3/10 of a mile south of Route 688…

Local students, teacher recognized for youth traffic-safety efforts

Chris Graham

Members of the Stuarts Draft High School SADD Club (Students Against Destructive Decisions) and their sponsor, Martha Mikell, were honored with several traffic safety awards at the 2011 Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety Awards Program on July 28 in Bridgewater. The YOVASO Awards Banquet, held at Bridgewater College, recognized organizations, individuals, and…

Authorities seize 5K marijuana plants in Nelson

Chris Graham

Virginia State Police with the assistance of Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control agents seized approximately 5,400 marijuana plants with a street value of $16 million in Nelson County today. The day began with the discovery of a significant crop of marijuana in the Schuyler area of the county. Investigators confiscated 5,204 marijuana plants from…

McDonnell pushes immigration enforcement

Chris Graham

On May 12, 2011, after months of delay and inaction by U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security, Gov. Bob McDonnell wrote Secretary Janet Napolitano requesting immediate approval of the Commonwealth’s application for the Virginia Department of State Police to be granted limited immigration enforcement authority under a 287(g) agreement,…

One dead, one critically injured in early-morning crash in Augusta County

Chris Graham

A Craigsville teen is dead after a motor-vehicle accident on Route 42 in Augusta County. Virginia State Police were called to the scene of the single-vehicle crash shortly after 8 a.m. Friday. A 2006 Ford mustang was northbound on Route 42 when it encountered a white, older-model passenger vehicle. According to the driver of the…

Motorists can expect delays on I-81 in Greenville area

Chris Graham

Beginning March 25 motorists will encounter a paving work zone on Interstate 81 southbound between mile marker 217.66 and mile marker 214. This location is south of Staunton near exit 217 at Route 654 in the Mint Spring area and exit 213 at Route 11 in the Greenville area. Virginia Department of Transportation Staunton District…

Lottery to assist in Amber Alerts

Chris Graham

The Virginia Lottery and Virginia State Police announced a new partnership today aimed at increasing the chances of Virginia law enforcement locating a missing and endangered child during a Virginia Amber Alert. The new concept is a result of a suggestion submitted by a citizen to Gov. Bob McDonnell by e-mail. “When the Virginia State…

Reynolds mystery marks 15th year

Chris Graham

The case of the disappearance and death Alicia Showalter Reynolds marked a sad milestone on Wednesday – the 15-year anniversary of the day that Reynolds was last seen alive. It was March 2, 1996, when Reynolds was abducted in Culpeper County on Route 29 while traveling from Baltimore to Charlottesville. Since then the Virginia State…