Harrisonburg Blogs

Rockingham County 03/09/10  After ten years on the run, one of Rockingham County's "10 most wanted" has been arrested.

Tammy Lucas, formerly of Elkton, was court ordered back in August of 2000 to turn over custody of her six year old son to her ex-husband. Instead, Lucas allegedly fled with the child.

Harrisonburg 03/09/10  Despite the warnings, State Police say thousands of speeders and hundreds of reckless drivers and seat-belt violators were cited during the weekend as part of Virginia State Police's Operation Air, Land & Speed traffic-safety enforcement effort on Interstates 81 and 95.

On I-81, more than 2000-speeders were cited and another 212 were ticketed for reckless driving.

Staunton 03/09/10  A Staunton man faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine after being convicted of failing to register or update a registration as a convicted sex offender.

Thirty five year old James Patterson was found guilty following a jury trial in U.S. District Court.

New Market 03/09/10  Two Maryland men are in custody after allegedly trying to break into an ATM.

New Market Police say about 3:45 this past Saturday morning, officers were called to the BB&T Bank on North Congress Street for the report of two people trying to break into the ATM. A witness provided a vehicle description and which way the suspects were headed.

Rockingham County 03/09/10  The winter storms this year have caused more than 10-thousand dollars in damage to Rockingham County facilities.

A report to be submitted to the Board of Supervisors this week details the damage done to both the county administration building and the Bergton Community Center.

Harrisonburg 03/09/10  Access to quality health care that is affordable for all Virginians and support for Medicaid and Medicare funding are the centerpiece's to a legislative platform on health care adopted by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

A statement regarding the platform says the chamber supports health initiatives that align Medicare and Medicaid payments with the true cost of high quality and accessible care, thus reducing cost shifting.

Rockingham County 03/09/10  The housing slump won't rebound in Rockingham County if homebuilding figures into the equation.

According to a report from the county's Department of Community Development, permits issued to construct new single family homes in February slipped 15-percent compared to the same month last year.  The manufactured home sector took an even bigger hit, with permits slipping 91-percent.  Construction of commercial and industrial buildings registered a 75-percent decline.

Staunton 03/09/10 The Staunton Police Department is on the lookout for some cell phones.

The department has joined with 911 Cell Phone Bank to collect used cell phones to help provide emergency communications for senior citizens and victims of domestic violence.  The collected cell phones are cleaned, re-furbished, and then provided free of charge to senior citizens and crime victims.

Bedford 03/08/10  A 14-year old Bedford girl is safe and sound thanks in part to the efforts of a search team from Harrisonburg.

The teen went missing Friday morning after a walk in the woods.  A search was launched that night involving ten teams, including from Harrisonburg Blue and Gray Dog Rescue.  It was one of the Harrisonburg dogs and handlers that located the girl Saturday morning, about 24-hours after she had originally gone missing.

Lyndhurst 03/08/10  While State Troopers were working overtime to keep Interstate 81 safe, it was another valley road that claimed a life over the weekend.

Authorities report 17-year old Seth Ryan Hodge died when his car crashed early Saturday morning on Mount Torrey Road in Lyndhurst.  Hodge's 1995 Honda Civic ran off the road and struck both a fence post and a tree.