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Jim Webb stopped in downtown Harrisonburg today. The junior U.S. senator met briefly with local residents at Blue Nile. He fielded questions ranging from the Russian-Georgian conflict to off-shore oil drilling and constitutional imbalance on Capitol Hill.
I would have a video to post, but my battery died.

I realize this is at least a day late, but I just found out that Fred Hutchins, Sen. Jim Webb’s regional aide (who frequented Harrisonburg) was recently found dead in Botetourt County. Investigators are trying to determine if it was a suicide.
I had a long conversation with Fred last year at Massanutten Regional Library, during [...]

I have received several emails (some forwarded) from a reader in Rockingham County that informs me there is a “strange” man traveling door to door in county neighborhoods, reportedly selling various items — at times stating that he is conducting a survey for the school system — and is looking for households with children.
But [...]

A friend of mine who works at JMU got this message in their e-mail last week:
“Just a friendly reminder that D-Hall will close after dinner July 22 to upgrade the tray return area.  The renovation will increase capacity, making the process faster, and will include installation of a pulper, laying the groundwork for composting and other sustainability efforts.”

A water main burst beneath East Market Street downtown Saturday (between Federal and Court Square). The city just announced that the street is expected to be opened later this evening, but that both lanes will be “restricted” tomorrow while temporary repairs are completed.

Recently, an 8-year old boy was allegedly assaulted in the bathroom of the Dayton Wal-Mart. The suspect was an employee of the store, 30-year old Felix Alberto Martinez-Pacheco. Martinez-Pacheco, originally from Puerto Rico, told police that he had previously served 9 years in jail over a similar allegation involving a 7-year old boy, [...]

The City of Harrisonburg, along with other Shenandoah Valley localities, was featured in the July-August issue of Stormwater Magazine in a article titled “Heritage and Promise”. The article describes the City’s cleanstream campaign which includes “A Doodie-Free Harrisonburg” campaign and “Harrisonburg’s Best Tips for Yard Care”.

“The first is usually in New York City or San Francisco, but we have it in Harrisonburg, and I’m proud of that,” says Brad Driver with a smile. Driver, a Bridgewater native and owner of the 9-store “Backstage Video” chain, is talking about his newest endeavor, which is located in the same shopping center [...]

JMU reports Main Street will reopen Thursday. Early.

On June 19, a group from the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries led by Steve Reeser & Paul Bugas went out to take several fish samples in Blacks Run. The group sampled at three locations in Blacks Run - one near Our Community Place, one in Purcell Park, and one just south of City [...]

Due to a combination of rising gas prices, greater awareness about carbon emissions’ impact on the environment, and individuals looking for healthier lifestyles, I’ve been seeing a lot more bicycles on the road and a lot more people walking. Although admittedly Harrisonburg doesn’t have the most ideal bicycle facilities (yet) and many neighborhoods were designed when cars dominated [...]

The City has just posted a video online titled “Your Trash”. The video has been shown at the Public Work’s session of Citizen Academy and it follows, literally, your trash.
Where does your trash go to after you put it out on trash day? What is the Resource Recovery Facility? How is recycling good for the environment and how [...]

While Rockingham County begins to rewrite its zoning ordinance, George Washington National Forest officials announced they will resume their land and resource management plan revision.
Roughly a quarter of Rockingham County is within the boundaries of the National Forest.

There’s an article in today’s Washington Post about the local poultry industry and federal immigration “reform.” It hits several of the same points touched on in past hburgnews and DNR articles (such as the effects of high grain prices on the industry).
Hobey Bauhan, president of the Virginia Poultry Federation, and Rep. Bob Goodlatte use [...]