An arrest has been made in connection with the recent armed robberies of the Stop-In Food store on West Midland Trail just outside of Lexington.
A Lexington man, Thomas Anthony Witten, was arrested and charged with two counts of armed robbery.
The robberies occurred October 2 and October 14.
A memorial service for 15 year old Victor Clark, who died Saturday in a tragic hunting accident in Buena Vista, will be held Thursday night at 6 p.m. at Parry McCluer High School. Clark was a freshman at PMHS and a member of the school's JV football team. Memorial contributions can be made to the PMHS Scholarship Fund.
The funeral arrangements are also set for John Evans, the VMI cadet who passed away last Saturday after a training event. The funeral mass will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the St. Louis Catholic Church in Clarksville, Maryland. Contributions may be made to the John A. Evans Memorial Fund for the VMI Foundation, c/o St. Louis Catholic Church in Clarksville, Maryland.
All 4 lanes of Route 11 were closed overnight due to a haz-mat spill at the Lee High Travel Plaza. A highly flammable substance leaked from a tanker at the truck stop. There were no evacuations of homes but the Rt 11 lanes were closed for about 8 hours overnight.
The Rockbridge Supervisors agreed to send a letter to the state requesting that a dialogue be opened regarding the Natural Bridge Juvenile Correctional Center, which was closed in October. Supervisor Hunt Riegel says they'd like to try to get the facility re-opened. He says they also heard from citizens Monday regarding the latest fly rock incident at the Barger Quarry in Lexington. The State Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy was investigating the October incident and was expected to send the Board of Supervisors a report in the near future.
And a candlelight vigil was held Monday night in Buena Vista for 15 year old Victor Thomas, the Parry McCluer High School freshman who died in a tragic hunting accident last Saturday. Extra counselors were also on hand at PMHS Monday to help students deal with the tragic death of Clark, who was a member of the PM JV football team.
A tragic hunting accident Saturday in Buena Vista claimed the life of 15 year Victor Clark, who was shot Saturday afternoon around 4:40 in a wooded area on Route 501 near the city limits.
Codee Clark of Lexington was charged with involuntary manslaughter and recklessly handling a firearm. He was released from the Rockbridge Regional Jail on $1,000 bond.
Meanwhile, a freshman at VMI died Saturday after collapsing following a training event. 19 year old John Evans of Highland, Maryland collapsed in his barracks room after completing a 10 mile road march with other members of the VMI rat class. Evans was pronounced dead shortly after noon on Saturday at Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital.
Incumbents picked up victories Tuesday in the local area. Buster Lewis was re-elected to the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors in the Walkers Creek district. Rusty Ford ran unopposed in the Kerrs Creek district.
Benjamin Swisher took the Rockbridge County School Board seat from Kerrs Creek while Sarah Jane Deacon took the board seat from South River.
Glasgow Mayor Sam Blackburn was also re-elected. Monica Dock, Ruby Clark and Boyd Walker won the three Town Council seats up for grabs.
Republican Delegate Ben Cline also easily defeated Democrat Jeff Price in the race for the 24th District House of Delegates seat.
Voters go to the polls Tuesday to take part in state and local elections. In Rockbridge County, voters will decide the race for seats on the Board of Supervisors from the Walkers Creek and Kerrs Creek districts as well as two seats on the Rockbridge County School Board.
In Glasgow, the mayor's position and three seats on Town Council are up for grabs.
In the 24th House District, the incumbent, Republican Ben Cline is being challenged by Democrat Jeff Price.
Polls are open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Rescue crews Sunday were able to rescue two Albemarle County volunteer firefighters in Rockbridge County who found themselves stranded in the James River near Balcony Falls after their canoe capsized and sank. The two people were able to use their cellphone to alert 911 Sunday at 6 p.m. Rescue personnel from the State Police, Glasgow, the Buena Vista Swiftwater Rescue team, the Rockbridge County Sheriff's Office and the Rockbridge County Emergency Management Office got the canoeists out of the water by 9 p.m., cold but uninjured.
