Two Front Royal Doctors honored by Virginia physicians group.

Two doctors who practice in the Front Royal area were recognized for their clinical and teaching excellence by the Virginia Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. William Kerns and Dr. Frank Dennehy are physicians with Front Royal Family Practice and members of the attending medical staff at Warren Memorial Hospital. Dr. Kerns was named Family Physician of the Year by the organization. He has been practicing medicine in Front Royal for 32 years and founded Front Royal Family Practice back in 1978. Dr. Dennehy received the Teacher of the Year award. He has been residency director with the Shenandoah Valley Family Practice Residency Program since 2005. 


Strasburg Police announce seven arrests on drug charges.

Strasburg Police, in partnership with the Northwest Regional Drug Task Force, obtained 15 felony indictments for seven individuals in the Strasburg area. Police Chief Tim Sutherly said the individuals are not associated as part of a larger organization; the indictments were simply obtained at the same time. Among those indicted are Michael Miller, who turns 46 on Saturday, and 50-year-old Roseann Miller, both of Woodville, Virginia. They were charge with possession of heroin. Also arrested were 42-year-old Thor “Buff” Mattison the third of Strasburg for possession of heroin with the intent to distribute. The following indictments were the result of controlled purchases with confidential informants: 39-year-old Andrea Alexander of Woodstock for two counts of distributing Morphine, 19-year-old Ryan Brill of Strasburg for distributing oxycontin, 22-year-old Daniel Yeakle of Strasburg for distributing Marijuana and 28-year-old Nathan Carbury of Strasburg for distributing Cocaine. 


V-DOT will ease travel this Labor Day weekend.

The Virginia Department of Transportation will make it easier for travelers this Labor Day weekend. Starting at noon on Friday and runnin through noon Tuesday, travelers will not encounter any construction or maintenance-related lane closures on interstates and other high volume roads throughout Virginia. However, while workers are out of the roadway for the holiday weekend, motorists still need to use caution driving through work zones where lanes are narrowed with construction barriers. V-DOT also cautions motorists about the move over law, which requires motorists to move to the next lane, when possible, when approaching vehicles with flashing blue, red or amber lights stopped on the side of the road. Failure is punishable as a traffic violation. Motorists can also reduce the risk of a crash or serious injury by always buckling up, obeying speed limits, avoiding distractions, sharing the road and not drinking and driving. 


Virginia State Police step up enforcement for holiday weekend

As Labor Day traffic on Virginia’s highways increases so will the presence of Virginia State Police troopers. Motorists traversing the Commonwealth this holiday weekend can expect to see 75-percent of the State Police’s uniformed workforce on patrol statewide as part of Operation CARE, which stands for Combined Accident Reduction Effort. Last year, Virginia experienced a sharp rise in traffic deaths over the Labor Day weekend with 14 people losing their lives during the four-day holiday statistical counting period. Seven were killed in traffic crashes in 2008. 


Virginia tries to lure fall tourists with new Web site.

Virginia is hoping a new Web site will help lure fall travelers to the commonwealth. The Virginia Tourism Corporation says the site focuses on two-person romantic trips to wineries, historic inns and picturesque small towns. The organization says it's trying to capitalize on growing interest in romantic getaways for aging baby boomers and Virginia's growing reputation as a wine region. Virginia now has 160 wineries and 16 wine trails among its attractions. Many of them are in the Northern Shenandoah Valley.