The Latest

Friday, Aug. 28
– State News: Civil liberties group says Residency Task Force proposal contains some advances, but also significant setbacks for registration by students and others
– Local News: Seniors advised to get flu shots

Thursday, Aug. 27
– Local News: Progress Augusta meeting set for next week

Wednesday, Aug. 26
– State News: Special lottery deer hunts to be held in Virginia state parks

Tuesday, Aug. 25
– State News: Museum of Natural History releases 20th installment of the Jeffersoniana scientific publication series
– Local News: Horse show hosted by Glenmore Hunt Club
– Local News: Sierra Club sets September meeting

Monday, Aug. 24
– Local News: Augusta County Board of Supervisors staff briefing agenda
– Local News: Waynesboro City Council meeting agenda
– Local News: VDOT road-work schedule

Friday, Aug. 28
State News: Civil liberties group says Residency Task Force proposal contains some advances, but also significant setbacks for registration by students and others

The ACLU of Virginia is asking the State Board of Elections to reject parts of proposed guidelines intended to clarify residency requirements for voter registration, particularly as they apply to college students. The SBE meets today and plans to vote tomorrow on new guidelines proposed by its Residency Task Force.

The issue of student registration has been contentious in recent years, leading to hundreds of students being denied the right to register to vote, several ACLU lawsuits, and finally a new state law requiring the SBE to issue residency guidelines.

“The ACLU of Virginia is pleased with many of the recommendations made by the Residency Task Force,” said ACLU of Virginia Executive Director Kent Willis, “but we are concerned that significant barriers to registration still exist.

“In particular,” added Willis, “we want the State Board of Elections to reject the proposal that applicants must intend to remain at their current address for an unlimited period of time in order to register to vote. This provision could prove to be a stiff barrier to voter registration not just for students but for almost anyone in our increasingly mobile society.”

State law requires that a person establish a “domicile” in order to register to vote. An early draft of the Task Force’s recommendation, supported by the ACLU, defined domicile as the place a person intends to make his or her home “for the time at least.” That was changed, however, to where a person intends to remain “foran unlimited period of time.”

The ACLU of Virginia cites two important advances made under the Task Force’s proposed guidelines. First, registrars must accept dormitory addresses from students. Second, registrars may not reject an application because the student will be graduating and plans to move away from the area at that time. Many students have been unable to register because registrars refused to accept dorm addresses or claimed that students could not establish domiciles because they planned to move after graduation.

ACLU of Virginia Legal Director Rebecca Glenberg served on the Residency Task Force. Links to documents and information can be found below.

For information on the Residency Task Force, visit: http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Misc/Residency_Task_Force.html.

For Glenberg’s comments on the Task Force’s recommendations, sent yesterday to the SBE, visit: http://www.acluva.org/newsreleases2009/SBEResidencyTaskForceLetter.pdf.

For the ACLU’s summary of the Task Force recommendations, visit: http://www.acluva.org/newsreleases2009/SBEResidencyTaskForceComments.pdf.

     

Local News: Seniors advised to get flu shots

This flu season, America’s senior citizens will be surrounded by people sneezing, coughing and spreading germs. It happens at the mall, the grocery store, or the family dinner, and those germs could potentially be fatal. That’s why Senior Helpers, one of the leading providers of in-home care for seniors, is advising families to get their elderly loved ones a flu vaccine before the flu season arrives in full force.

“Senior citizens have the highest risk of potentially fatal complications from the flu and almost two-thirds of seniors who get the flu end up in the hospital,” advises Mike Zirkle with Senior Helpers of Central and Western Virginia. “That’s why making sure an elderly loved one gets a flu shot is the best gift because it’s one of the most effective ways to protect a loved one.”

Seniors are more likely to get the flu because the body’s immune system weakens as it gets older. But the Centers for Disease Control advise flu shots not only guard against the flu but also offer protection from flu-related complications such as pneumonia. The CDC considers flu season to run from October through April with its peak in February. And while flu shots are available well into flu season, it’s best to get vaccinated earlier rather than later so the body can build up immunity to the virus.

Consider:
• The CDC reports about 32,000 seniors aged 65 and older died from the flu and flu-related illnesses last year.
• The CDC reports about 180,000 seniors were hospitalized from the flu last year.
• The CDC advises flu shots reduce hospitalizations by 70 percent, deaths by 85 percent, and the chance of catching the flu by 80 percent.
• The CDC advises people age 50 or older, and with certain chronic medical conditions, to get a flu shot.

“This is something family members shouldn’t wait on,” says Mike Zirkle “A flu shot helps provide peace of mind, especially with the current increased risk of Swine Flu in our area. Senior Helpers follows the CDC’s guidelines and requires our caregivers to receive flu shots.”

For more information about Senior Helpers, please visit : www.seniorhelpers.com.

  

Thursday, Aug. 27
Local News: Progress Augusta meeting set for next week

Progress Augusta is set for its September monthly meeting Tuesday, Sept. 1, from 6-9 p.m. at Irish Alley Restaurant & Pub, 19 W. Johnson St., Downtown Staunton.

Progress Augusta gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics.

The group is affiliated with the national Drinking Liberally organization.

    

Wednesday, Aug. 26
State News: Special lottery deer hunts to be held in Virginia state parks

Applications are being accepted for special lottery deer hunts at Grayson Highlands State Park in Grayson County, Kiptopeke State Park in Northampton County, Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania County and Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County.

Grayson Highlands will hold a youth general firearms hunt Nov. 15 and general firearms hunts Nov. 17-18. Applications are due by Sept. 24 for both of the Grayson Highlands hunts.

Kiptopeke will hold an archery-muzzleloader hunt Nov. 15 and shotgun hunt Dec. 12-13. The lottery application deadlines for both of the Kiptopeke hunts is Oct. 3.

Lake Anna will hold a muzzleloader hunt Nov. 18-19 and a muzzleloader-shotgun hunt on Dec 2-3. The application deadline for both lottery hunts is Sept. 19.

Muzzleloader-shotgun hunts at Pocahontas will be Dec. 1-2 and Dec. 17-18, with applications due by Sept. 26.

A $5 non-refundable application fee must be submitted for each hunt. Anyone may enter the lotteries for a chance to participate in the controlled hunts, however successful applicants on the day of the hunt must show proof of completion of a hunter safety education course and pay a $10 fee. Each lottery entry requires a separate application.

For more information about these and other hunting opportunities and programs in Virginia State Parks or to obtain a lottery application, contact the Virginia State Parks Reservation Center at 800-933-PARK. Applications and information may also be found at www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/hunting.shtml .

False Cape State Park, in conjunction with Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, will hold lottery hunts for deer and feral pig on Oct. 4, 6-8, and 23-25. Interested hunters must apply through the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries quota hunt system. Applications may be made online at www.vaquotahunts.com or by phone at 877.VAHUNTS Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The lottery deadline for the False Cape-Back Bay hunts is Aug. 31.

For information on quota hunts, hunting licenses, hunter safety education and hunting regulations, call the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries at 804.367.1000 or visit the DGIF website at www.dgif.virginia.gov .

Mason Neck State Park, in conjunction with the Potomac River National Wildlife Refuge, will hold lottery hunts Nov. 20-21 and Dec. 12. The lottery deadline is Oct. 3. Interested hunters should contact the Potomac River National Wildlife Refuge at 703.490.4979 for more information.

The award-winning Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.  

  

Tuesday, Aug. 25
State News: Museum of Natural History releases 20th installment of the Jeffersoniana scientific publication series

The Virginia Museum of Natural History has released the 20th installment of its Jeffersoniana scientific publication series, which is now available as a free download from the museum’s online store. The publication, titled “Injuries in a Mysticete Skeleton from the Miocene of Virginia”, focuses on the mostly complete fossil skeleton of a baleen whale discovered during a museum excavation at the Carmel Church Quarry in Caroline County, Virginia in 2006. Unique features from these particular remains had never been documented in any other fossil baleen whale and give evidence to suggest several previously unpublished theories of the feeding habits of this now extinct species.

Co-authors Dr. Brian Beatty, VMNH museum research associate and assistant professor of anatomy at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Dr. Alton Dooley, Jr., assistant curator of vertebrate paleontology at VMNH, suggest that the baleen whale was likely a benthic, or bottom feeding animal, primarily obtaining its food from scooping mud from the ocean floor and filtering the sediment from the plentiful fauna living in the sea floor. Such behavior is common in today’s gray whales and to a lesser extent in humpback whales. The size and placement of a fracture on the left side of its jaw suggests that the injury likely had occurred during feeding. The characteristics of the injury indicate it was likely the result of a severe impact, likely trauma resulting from benthic feeding.

Supporting this theory is the density of the whale’s rib bones. Dense ribs like those seen in this baleen whale are associated in bottom feeding in some other marine mammals, such as the manatee. Moreover, the presence of similar dense ribs in early baleen whale relatives suggests that baleen may have originally evolved to allow feeding from seafloor mud and only later was adapted for capturing fish and shrimp.

In addition, the publication documents the presence of lateralization in a fossil whale for the first time. Lateralization, or handedness, is well-known in humans and occurs in many animals, including modern gray and humpback whales. Like humans, whales are usually right-handed, and primarily feed from the right side of their mouths when they canvas the ocean floor. Such a fracture on the left side of the fossil whale’s jaw indicates it favored eating from its left side, a much less frequent occurrence.

The museum has recently made select installments of the Jeffersoniana series available for free download from the museum Web site in an effort to make the scientific research of the museum’s full-time curators more widely accessible to the public. Currently, the museum offers editions 17 to 20 of Jeffersoniana as free online downloads, with additional installments planned for release soon. Hardcopy versions of all museum publications are available for purchase from the museum’s online store.

Visit www.vmnh.net for more information.

 

Local News: Horse show hosted by Glenmore Hunt Club

The Glenmore Hunt Club will be hosting a SWVHJA-sanctioned Fall Horse Show at Mill Creek Farm in Port Republic on Saturday, Sept. 5, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

More information is available online at www.glenmorehunt.org.

 

Local News: Sierra Club sets September meeting

The Sierra Club of the Shenandoah Valley will get together on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m. at Clementine Cafe, 153 S. Main St., Downtown Harrisonburg, for its regular monthly business meeting.

JMU professor Kate Kessler will present a talk entitled “Tales from the Appalachian Trail: Students Hike for Fun…and Credit” to chronicle her recent hiking experience on the Appalachian Trail.

For more information about the local Sierra Club, contact [email protected].  

 

Monday, Aug. 24
Local News: Augusta County Board of Supervisors staff briefing agenda

The Augusta County Board of Supervisors will hold its monthly staff briefing today at 1:30 p.m. at the Augusta County Government Center, 18 Government Center Lane, Verona.

The agenda for the briefing includes:

– Road report by the Virginia Department of Transportation.

– Discussion of possible code revisions to the animal-control ordinance relating to the sale of multi-year licenses, license fees and shelter costs.

– Discussion of a resolution establishing the rate of tax relief of qualifying vehicles for purposes of the Personal Property Tax Relief Act.

– Discussion of the acceptance of construction bids and costs associated with phase two of the Augusta County Library renovation project.

– Discussion of the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Commission to award a grant not to exceed $36,464 for a concession stand and handicapped-accessible restroom to the Buffalo Gap High School Sportsman Club.

– Discuss the transfer of Grand Caverns to the Town of Grottoes and Natural Chimneys to Augusta County by the Upper Valley Regional Park Authority.

– Presentation by staff on the proposal to establish a new fire and rescue station in the Riverheads District and the evaluation of the proposed Company 10 relocation.

 

Local News: Waynesboro City Council meeting agenda

Waynesboro City Council will hold a business meeting tonight at 7 p.m. at the Charles T. Yancey Municipal Building at 503 W. Main St.

The agenda for the meeting includes:

– Presentation by Dr. Don Lewis regarding the Valley Community Services Board Performance Contract.

– Consideration of the Planning Commission’s report and recommendation on a request from South River, Inc., to rezone, with proffers, approximately 41 acres located in the general vicinity of 200 W. 12th St., legally described as Tax Map Parcels 55-2-A, 55-1-13-1, 55-1-14-1, 55-1-14-5, and 55-1-15-31, from a mix of M-1 Light Industrial, M-2 Heavy Industrial, RB-3 High Density Dwelling, and C-2 General Business districts, to a Planned Unit Development (PUD); the current comprehensive plan designation for this area being Industrial/Revitalization, and consider introducing an ordinance.

– Consider scheduling a public hearing for Monday, Sept. 14, 2009 to receive public comment on a land donation to Waynesboro First Aid Crew.

– Consider approving an application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for Way-2-Go Taxi to operate in the City of Waynesboro.

– Setting the Personal Property Tax Relief Act (PPTRA) rate of relief for tax year 2009.

– Consider making an appointment to the Community Policy Management Team (CPMT).

– Go Green Initiative Update.

 

Local News: VDOT road-work schedule

The updated schedule of local road projects from the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Rockbridge County
Interstate 64
* Mile marker 41 to 57, eastbound and westbound – Litter and debris removal. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
* Various locations – Shoulder repair, ditch cleaning, tree removal. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Interstate 81
* (NEW) Mile marker 173 to 237 – Mowing. Sunday to Monday, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
* Mile marker 174 to 205, northbound and southbound – Litter and debris removal. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
* (NEW) Mile marker 182.3, northbound and southbound – Bridge painting. Alternating lane closures, Monday to Sunday, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.
* Mile marker 195, northbound and southbound – Roadway lighting construction. Work will resume with power supply connection from power company.
* Mile marker 200, northbound and southbound – Roadway lighting construction. Work will resume with power supply connection from power company.
* Various locations – Shoulder repair, mowing, ditch cleaning, tree removal, herbicidal spraying, litter and debris removal. Sunday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Primary Roads

* Route 11 (Fancy Hill) – I-81 bridges. Bridge painting. Alternating lane closures, flagger traffic control, 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week.
* Route 11 – Roadway lighting construction. Work will resume with power supply connection from power company.
* Route 130 (Glasgow) – Bridge construction at Route 501. Periodic single-lane traffic with flagger traffic control, signs posted Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday, 7 a.m. to noon. Use extreme caution as motorists become acquainted with new traffic pattern. Completion is in September 13, 2010.
* Various roads – Mowing, litter removal.

Secondary Roads
* (NEW) Route 631 (Furrs Mill Road) – Brush cutting from Route 11 to Beans Bottom. Single-lane traffic, flagger traffic control, Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
* Route 710 – Roadway lighting construction. Work will resume with power supply connection from power company.
* Various roads – Grading, mowing Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Augusta County
Interstate 64
No lane closures reported.

Interstate 81
* (NEW) Mile marker 173 to 237 – Mowing. Sunday to Monday, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
* Mile marker 205 to 237, northbound and southbound – Litter and debris removal. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
* Mile marker 210 to 229, northbound and southbound – Bridge deck maintenance. Possible single-lane traffic, Monday night to Friday morning, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.
* (NEW) Mile marker 218, northbound and southbound – Bridge over Route 654. Bridge painting. Alternating lane closures, Monday to Sunday, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.
* Various locations – Ditch cleaning, shoulder repair, mowing, litter and debris removal. Sunday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Primary Roads
* (NEW) Route 11 – Mowing from Staunton City limits to Rockbridge County line. Mobile operations, Monday to Tuesday.
* (NEW) Route 11 (Greenville) – Sweeping from Route 662 to Route 1210. Mobile operation, Monday to Friday.
* Route 250 – Shoulder reconditioning from Route 358 to Staunton City limits, westbound. Mobile operations, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
* Route 262, westbound – Construction of acceleration lane extension from Middlebrook Avenue to Route 262. Single-lane traffic, flagger traffic control, Monday to Friday, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Estimated completion is October.
* Route 340 (Waynesboro) – Construction from Route 250 to Delphine Avenue for railroad bridge replacement and roadway widening, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Expect minor delays from Broad Street to Sixth Street for construction work. Seventh Street closed from Winchester Avenue to Commerce Street, June 1 to January 2010, and Sixth Street closed from Delphine Avenue to Commerce Street, July 6 to late January 2010, for retaining wall construction, bridge and utility work. Estimated completion is November 2011.
* Various roads – Litter and debris removal.

Secondary Roads
* Route 612 – Bridge widening from Augusta County line to Route 250. Flagger traffic control, Monday to Friday.
* (NEW) Route 626 – Patching from Route 11 to Route 612. Traffic control, Friday.
* (NEW) Route 680 – Patching from Route 696 to Route 11. Traffic control, Monday to Wednesday.
* Route 699 – Patching from Rockingham County line to Route 699. Traffic control, Thursday.
* Route 774, northbound and southbound (Cline River Road, New Hope) – Bridge over Middle River. Bridge replacement activities from Route 608 (Battlefield Road) to Route 775 (Craig Shop Road). Road closed from Mar. 30 to Nov. 13. Suggested detour: Northbound traffic take Route 608 to Route 778 (Knightly Mill Road) to Route 775 to Route 774. Southbound traffic take reverse of northbound detour.
* Route 794 (Sangers Lane), eastbound and westbound – Bridge over Christians Creek, from Route 792 (Basley Road) to Route 642 (Barren Ridge Road). Bridge replacement. Road closed, 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week, April 27 to Dec. 16. Suggested detour: Westbound traffic, take Route 792 south to Route 250 (Jefferson Highway) east to Route 642 north to Route 794. Eastbound traffic, take reverse of westbound detour.
* Route 802 – Rural rustic from Route 252 to Route 693. Road closed to thru traffic. Flagger traffic control, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Estimated completion is Sept. 15.
* (NEW) Route 1103 (North Church Street), northbound and southbound – Bridge deck work from Route 1105 (First Street) to Route 1106 (Third Street). Road closed 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week, Aug. 24 to 27. Signs posted.
* Route 1103 (Church Street) – Bridge deck replacement from Route 1106 (Third Street) to Route 1101 (Kingsbury). Road closed 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week, Aug. 24 to 27. Signs posted.
* Various roads – Mowing, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Signs posted.
* Various roads – Brush cutting, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Signs posted.
* Various roads (Swoope) – Pothole repair, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Signs posted.
* Various roads – Surface treatment, pavement markings. Expect minor delays.

Rockingham County
Interstate 81
* Mile marker 237.51 to 263, northbound and southbound – Shoulder repair, litter and debris removal. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Primary Roads
* Route 42, northbound and southbound – Plant mix application from Route 1151 to 2.23 miles north of Route 778. Single-lane traffic, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
* Route 211 (New Market Road) – Cable installation from Route 960 (Water Wheel Road) to Shenandoah City limits. Right shoulder closure, Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
* Route 253 (Port Republic Road) – Sewer line installation from Route 704 (Osceola Springs Road) to Route 276 (Cross Keys Road). Westbound lane shoulder closure. Occasional single-lane traffic with flagger traffic control. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Secondary Roads
* Route 641 (Cave Hill Road) – Road work from Route 843 (Cemetery Road) to Route 991 (Jacob Burner Road). Intermittent lane closures. Flagger traffic control. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
* Route 709 (Autumn Lane) – Sewer line installation from Route 704 (Osceola Springs Road) to Route 710 (Greendale Road). Westbound shoulder closure. Occasional single-lane traffic with flagger traffic control. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
* Route 724 (Trinity Church Road) – Road widening from 0.7 mile east of Buffalo Drive (Route 238) to 0.2 mile west of Route 717 (Indian Trail Road). Single-lane traffic, flagger traffic control, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
* (NEW) Route 743 (Honey Run Road) – Pipe installation from Route 734 (Lumber Mill Road) to Route 752 (Keller Road). Road closed, Monday to Friday.
* Route 843 (Cemetery Road) – Road work at Route 641 (Cave Hill Road) and Route 650 (Power Dam Road). Intermittent single-lane traffic, flagger traffic control. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
* Route 867 (North River Road) – Construction entrance from Route 11 (Main Street) to Route 693 (Fairview Road). Right shoulder closure, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
* Route 981 (Rockingham Pike) – Sewer and drainage work from Route 33 to Route 829 (Independent Road). Right shoulder closure, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
* Route 996 (McGaheysville Road) – Sewer line installation from Route 651 (Power Dam Road) to Route 842 (Slate Road). Single-lane traffic, flagger traffic control, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.