Three Winchester men are arrested in firebombing of car.

Winchester Police arrested three men Friday night and charged them with the firebombing of a woman’s car. Sergeant Amanda Baker reports 31-year-old Kevin Grayson, 25-year-old Caressa Cain and 27-year-old Johnny Touissaint are all charged with arson and obstruction of justice. Grayson is also charged with identity theft. All three live in the 2400 hundred block of Papermill Road. The incident occurred during the early morning hours of August 8 on North Kent Street. Baker says the incident stemmed from the fact that the victim was cooperating with authorities in an investigation. She was not injured. Cain was released on bond while the other two remain in the Northwest Regional Adult Detention Center.


 Front Royal Vice Mayor named United Way campaign chairman.

The United Way of Front Royal and Warren County announced Tuesday that Front Royal Vice Mayor Bret Hrbek will serve as the Campaign Chairman for the upcoming 2009 Annual Campaign. Executive Director Lee Smith-Osina said the choice Hrbek is ideal in emphasizing that all the funds raised in this most important campaign are utilized in Front Royal and Warren County. This year’s campaign will benefit 15 local health and human service agencies and assist them with operating expenses for the 2009-2010 program year. The theme of this year’s campaign is: “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” and the goal is $95,000. 


Virginia unemployment rate drops in July.

Virginia's unemployment rate is looking better. The Virginia Employment Commission reported Tuesday that the seasonally unadjusted rate fell from 7.3 percent in June to 6.9 percent in July. The number of jobless workers declined by 16,500 to 289,700. The state agency said the rate improved in part because summer plant furloughs ended and college students either found jobs or stopped looking. Virginia's rate remains well below the U.S. average of 9.7 percent. Employment improved in all but one of Virginia's 10 metropolitan areas, including the Winchester Metropolitan Statistical area. 


Lanes to be opened to ease Labor Day travel in Virginia.

Lanes on major Virginia roads that are temporarily closed for construction or maintenance will be open during the Labor Day weekend. The Virginia Department of Transportation says the move is aimed at easing holiday travel in the state. Temporarily closed lanes will be open from noon Friday until noon Tuesday. However, VDOT says long-term construction zones with concrete barriers and orange barrels will remain in place. 


Bond denied for O’Connor.

Bond was denied Tuesday morning for a Winchester man who was arrested earlier this week on child pornography charges. Winchester Police Sergeant Amanda Baker reports 23-year-old Ryan O’Connor was apprehended at around 10 am Monday. He is charged with four counts of child pornography as well as one count each of taking indecent liberties with a child and using a computer to solicit sex with a minor. Baker said a 14- year-old girl who resides in Illinois chatted with O’Connor online. During one of the chats, O’Connor forwarded a partially nude photograph of himself to the victim. This information was forwarded to authorities for follow-up investigation. An analysis of the victim’s computer was completed and revealed an ip address of the suspect, which returned to O’Connor at his Pemberton Drive address. A search warrant was conducted and among some of the items taken were O’Connor’s computer and four photographs depicting partially nude female juveniles. O’Connor was a television reporter for TV3 Winchester, but the station’s website is reporting that he is no longer employed there. He is currently being held at the Northwest Regional Adult Detention Center.