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…

Scott German: Cavaliers head to Big 10 country

Scott German

The Virginia Cavalier football team appears to be on a roll. Recruiting is solid, the return of a true home field advantage with a rowdy Scott Stadium crowd, an impressive opening game win over in-state foe William & Mary. Now things begin to get interesting. A two-game road trip that starts Saturday night in Bloomington…

Virginia producers expect improved yields in 2011

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced today that Virginia’s winter wheat yield is forecast at 72 bushels per acre compared with 51 bushels per acre a year earlier. Production is expected to total 18.7 million bushels which is up 129 percent from the previous year. Harvested acreage is up 100,000 acres from…

Staunton hosts sustainable Main Street training

Chris Graham

On July 20-21, Staunton hosted a statewide training presented by the Virginia Main Street program at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel and Conference Center. The VMS program, managed by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development since 1985, works to revitalize Virginia’s historic downtowns by providing training and technical support. Participating communities improve and beautify…

MeadWestvaco to invest $285 million in Covington plant

MeadWestvaco Corporation will invest $285 million to construct a new, state-of-the-art biomass boiler and upgrade associated power infrastructure at its facility in Covington. The project allows the plant to become self-sufficient in energy production and significantly reduces ongoing operating and maintenance costs. The new boiler and related systems will replace two older and less cost-efficient…

McDonnell signs school-safety legislation

Contributors

Gov. Bob McDonnell signed into law today seven pieces of legislation passed during the 2011 General Assembly session that offer additional protections to students in Virginia’s public and private schools. The new legislation focuses on reducing risks for Virginia students by making it illegal for sex offenders to operate or ride on school buses, increases…

Virginia trade boosts in 2010

Despite a worldwide recession and a statewide drought that impacted several key commodities, Virginia exports in 2010 totaled $2.24 billion. That is only slightly behind the record $2.3 billion for agricultural exports in 2009. Additionally, 2011 is already shaping up to be another very good year. Year-to-date numbers are up 2 percent over 2010 figures…

Virginia: Corn, cotton, soybean yields down in 2010

Contributors

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced today that many of Virginia’s major crops produced lower yields in 2010. Corn, soybeans, peanuts, cotton and hay yields were significantly lower than 2009. Corn for grain yields averaged 67 bushels per acre, down 64 bushels from the previous year’s yield. Production is estimated at 20.8…

Policymakers can aid smoking cessation

Chris Graham

States, including Virginia, can help millions of Americans quit smoking if policymakers take action to close a coverage gap left by the newly enacted U.S. health care law, a new American Lung Association report finds. In its new report, “Helping Smokers Quit: State Cessation Coverage 2010,” the American Lung Association applauds important advances in the…