‘I want to…be able to help people who really need it’ The Rappahannock Benevolent Fund recently welcomed a new team member, hoping to expand the reach of its Safe and Healthy Homes program. Rafael Vittitow, a local contractor and Washington resident, joined the...
Local Services
Doers Profile: Lacey Jenkins
Background: Deputy Director of Programs, Headwaters Foundation, under-six coach with the Rappahannock County Soccer Association for four seasons, T-ball coach with the Rappahannock Culpeper Baseball League, clerk of Thornton Gap Regular Baptist Church and SperryFest...
Long-awaited new Rappahannock Food Pantry home ‘a gift for everybody’
Expanded new building scheduled to open in May Thanksgiving is a busy time for most food pantries and Rappahannock’s own is no exception. It’s also a time when many in Rappahannock are thankful for what they see in the near future: Completion of a new, long-awaited...
Judge accepts Amissville sex offender’s plea deal ‘with some reluctance’
William McGinnisWilliam McGinnis leaving Rappahannock County Circuit Court. • Resident’s sentence suspended • Judge: ‘I think you pose a danger’ A Rappahannock County Circuit Court judge “with some reluctance” accepted a plea deal Friday between William McGinnis, a...
Amissville resident vacates mother’s estate
Court forbids him to be within 1,000 feet of property Christopher Demitry of Amissville has vacated his late mother’s estate, complying with an order to do so from a Rappahannock County Circuit Court judge after a lengthy legal battle with a neighbor over the state of...
Bill Fletcher’s ‘wildcard’ cases
Prosecutor, judge remove themselves from case A special prosecutor has been appointed to try the cases of James William “Bill” Fletcher III, who is charged with speeding and driving while intoxicated, after Commonwealth’s Attorney Art Goff recused himself due to a...
Local NAACP hosts Juneteenth celebration
06152024_Juneteenth_011 copy.jpgA young attendee is mesmerized by a bubble machine. The NAACP Culpeper Branch, which includes Rappahannock County, hosted a lively Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, filling Yowell Meadow Park with music and laughter. Juneteenth,...
Montpelier First Amendment workshops ‘valuable’ in learning people’s rights
NAACP first amendment workshopThe first of three workshops hosted by NAACP Culpeper and the Robert H. Smith Center for the Constitution at Montpelier was held at the Culpeper County Library. The final two workshops will be held in the community room at the Culpeper...
Washington moves to allow more guests at certain B&Bs
Final plans to be reviewed in July Town of Washington officials held a public hearing Monday to hear what townsfolk thought about possible changes to the bed and breakfast ordinance, allowing for some establishments to host as many as eight more guests. But before the...
Leaving the forge: Rappahannock blacksmith Nol Putnam sketches life’s next chapter
FF-Nol_Putnam-250-web.jpgNol Putnam works in this Huntly forge. In the way he would plan in pencil a creation to be rendered in iron, Nol Putnam is sketching out his own transition. Rappahannock County’s celebrated blacksmith, now 87, is preparing to leave his forge...
Rappahannock County Public Schools approves budget for new fiscal year
The Rappahannock County School Board voted to approve its 2024-25 budget, which totals over $15 million, but falls short of what it had hoped to receive for the new fiscal year. Superintendent Shannon Grimsley said the state funding fell “pretty short” of the $10.1...
Amissville residents plead guilty to animal cruelty
Barred from owning pets for two years Two Rappahannock County residents pleaded guilty to abandonment of animals and cruelty to animals after 12 malnourished and ill-treated dogs were found in a residence in Amissville in February. Dozens of other charges, including a...
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