Plenty Of Other Local Milestones Marked Year
In a year that most of us will remember for the headlines from Washington – and its impact and possible impacts on our daily lives – there was no shortage of noteworthy local news.
Some of that news was very good news. Modine Manufacturing, one of the area’s industries who stayed with us through the Election Day Flood of 40 years ago, announced in November that it would be investing $19.6 million in its Buena Vista operations, creating 57 new jobs and relocating its heating division here.
And that wasn’t the only good news from Buena Vista in 2025. Mountain Gateway Community College opened its Joe Wilson Workforce Center, designed to train the next generation of trades workers, and the Virginia Innovation Accelerator, a business incubation center, celebrated the completion of its second phase.
“Innovation” was also in the name of another center that was celebrated this year. Replacing the Floyd S. Kay Vocational Center that dated from the 1970s, the Rockbridge Innovation Center opened next to Rockbridge County High School last winter.
Over at Washington and Lee University, the new Williams School of Commerce, Economics and Politics opened, as well as the Lindley Center for Student Wellness, named after a W&L alum and doctor who was killed at her medical office in Texas in 2021.
While these projects were completed, others got underway in 2025. Construction began on the new Lexington Golf and Country Club, while the renovations to historic Courthouse Square are also moving quickly ahead at year’s end. The first part of that project, the relocation of the Veterans Memorial, was completed in time for a Veterans Day parade marking the rededication of the 25-yearold memorial.
The year wasn’t without its local controversies, from the proposed large-scale dorm at Southern Virginia University to the perceived “W&L creep” into downtown Lexington. The Natural Bridge Zoo court saga continued, with the zoo’s owner now in jail on a contempt of court charge for not revealing what happened to the calves of the giraffes confiscated by the state during the year.
And, yes, the national drama created by the start of President Trump’s second term also played out here, with protests in Lexington starting early in the year and “No Kings” rallies later. Political anger also flared during the Labor Day speeches at Glen Maury Park.
During the year, the community mourned the loss of a number of people who worked hard to make this area a better place to live, including Otis Mead, the “father” of the Virginia Horse Center, and Lee Merrill, who dedicated his life to environmental and other causes.
Join us now as we take a week-by-week look back at the news from 2025 compiled by Ed Smith, Joann Ware, Joseph Haney and Scotty Dransfield.
Jan. 8
Snow, sleet, and freezing rain rung in a frigid start to the new year, closing government offices and local services and creating hazardous driving conditions.
Tony McFaddin was sworn in as sheriff of Rockbridge County and Lexington on Dec. 20 and assumed his new duties on Jan. 1. McFaddin succeeded Steve Funkhouser, who had been reelected as sheriff in 2023 and announced his retirement in 2024.
Lexington City Council heard a report from Buena Vista Commonwealth’s Attorney Josh Elrod about the Maury River Recovery Court, a proposed court dedicated as an alternative program for individuals facing drug-related charges that puts an emphasis on recovery rather than punishment. Elrod also requested $13,174 in funding from the city to be put toward the cost of hiring a coordinator for the court. Rockbridge County and Buena Vista also contributed to the $77,262 estimated for the coordinator position.
A proposed multi-family housing development in the 2500 block of Sycamore Avenue in Buena Vista – and the requested rezoning for the project – drew opposition from city residents.
Jan. 15
Lexington City Council held a work session at VMI to hear a presentation from Superintendent retired Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins on the Institute’s strategic plan, which focused on capital improvement projects being planned over the next decade.
Lexington City Planning Commission finalized a proposed ordinance to allow cottage housing developments in the city.
Ten property owners with land in the vicinity of Irish Creek sought to create an agricultural/ forestall overlay district to protect their more than 430,000 acres from development over the next four years, making a presentation of their proposal to the Rockbridge County Planning Commission at its Jan. 8 meeting.
Republican Del. Ellen Campbell announced her intention to seek reelection in the November general election.
Jan. 22
The Buena Vista Joint Facilities Committee reviewed the results of a comprehensive feasibility study on the city’s aging school buildings. The results suggested that building a new middle school near Parry Mc-Cluer High School may be the best choice for the city.
Buena Vista City Council approved spending more than $386,000 on four different projects: $100,000 to complete the Town Square project, $10,000 to extend a water line across Magnolia Avenue, $60,000 for a new roof on the Maury River Senior Center and more than $216,000 for city-wide sidewalk repairs.
Buena Vista City Council approved a conditional use permit to allow the owner of the Jordan House, a Victorian house in Buena Vista that dates back to the 1890s, and the house next door to be converted into two adjacent bed and breakfast inns.
Rockbridge County school leaders held a joint meeting with the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors regarding the draft budget for the county schools and asked for an increase of more than $997,000 in funding to cover numerous costs, including increases in salaries and insurance costs.
Jan. 29
Lexington’s Threshold Housing Commission reviewed the results of a windshield survey of housing conditions in the city conducted in October of 2024. Properties were scored on a scale of one to five, with one indicating the property was in sound condition and five meaning the structure was dilapidated. The survey scored 72 properties throughout the city a three or higher.
Lexington City Council approved a memorandum of understanding with VMI to begin billing the school’s water use through a master meter rather than individual meters on each building.
Buena Vista School Board approved a measure to rename the Parry McCluer High School baseball field for city native Charlie Manuel, a former Major League Baseball manager best known for leading the Philadelphia Phillies to their 2008 World Series victory.
Natural Bridge Elementary School was forced to close on Tuesday, Jan. 28, due to a severe flu outbreak among the students and staff.
Feb. 5
At an interjurisdictional meeting, the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors, Lexington City Council and Buena Vista City Council approved a bid from R.L. Price, a Salembased contractor, to construct a new building for the Rockbridge Area Department of Social Services. R.L. Price’s bid of $7,955,000 was well under the $10 million projected cost of the project.
Several Lexington residents and business owners protested the proposed removal of two parking spaces in front of Courthouse Square on Main Street as part of a planned renovation of the square.
Chad Coffey, executive director of the Rockbridge Area Recreation Organization, and Joey Jones, chair of RARO’s board of directors, made a presentation to the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors requesting more facilities to allow RARO to continue to grow its offering of activities for the area.
While Natural Bridge Elementary School reopened on Monday after closing last week due to a flu outbreak among students and staff, cases of flu continued to rise throughout the area, causing attendance issues at schools throughout the area and overwhelming school nurses.
Feb. 12
Goshen was awarded a $1.25 million grant to cover the cost of building a community center in town. The proposed facility will be built as an expansion of the new town hall building on Maury River Road.
Rockbridge County Fire-Rescue introduced PulsePoint, a free mobile app that alerts CPR-trained residents to nearby cardiac arrest emergencies, allowing them to provide aid until paramedics arrive.
Helen Hodges, the last living founder of what is now Connections Plus Hospice + Healthcare, died on Feb. 1.
Buena Vista City Council unanimously rejected a rezoning and conditional use permit request for a multi-family housing project in the 2500 block of Sycamore Avenue.
Feb. 19
A second winter storm hit the area, kicking off a wild week of weather that included snow, rain and wind. More than a foot of snow fell in some areas of the county on Tuesday, Feb. 11, which began to melt later in the week. Rain on Saturday, Feb. 15 and early Sunday caused creeks and rivers to rise, though minimal flooding was reported. High winds blew through the area on Sunday, Feb. 16, taking down trees and knocking out power in parts of the county.
Earl Wayne Smith, 67, was taken into custody on Feb. 10 by Virginia State Police and charged with one felony count of human trafficking and several misdemeanors.
Lexington City Schools sent two letters to families of students which outlined the district’s stance on student privacy and immigration enforcement policies. In the first letter, Superintendent Rebecca Walters emphasized that a student’s immigration status does not affect his or her right to a public education and assured families that the school district is committed to maintaining a safe and welcoming learning environment. In the second, she provided details about how the city schools would respond if immigration enforcement came to the schools.
Feb. 26
Lexington City Council unanimously voted to approve a resolution authorizing the issuance of more than $21 million in municipal bonds to fund several upcoming projects, including the construction of the new Department of Social Services building and renovations to Lexington City Hall.
A house fire in the Fairfield area left a local resident displaced and resulted in significant damage to the home. Firefighters battled the blaze in the middle of a snowstorm, with slick and cold conditions complicating their efforts.
A study undertaken by the Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project Inc. at the behest of the Rockbridge County Economic Development Department found that the Rockbridge area is a “day care desert” in comparison with other localities in Virginia.
March 5
The VMI board of visitors voted 10-6 to not renew the contract of retired Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins, the school’s first Black superintendent.
Concerns over institutional creep into downtown Lexington were raised by city residents during a public hearing on a conditional use permit application by John Adamson to allow parts of the Grand’s Building to be used by W&L – the lower level of the building will house the university’s copy center and the upper floor could potentially be used for administrative offices. The Planning Commission voted 5-1 to approve the application.
Deborah Loraine Trott, 60, of Edgemoor, S.C., led Lexington Police and Rockbridge County sheriff’s deputies on a chase through Lexington which ended when Trott drove into the backyard of a Taylor Street residence, causing minor damage to the house before stopping.
March 12
Retired Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins released a statement regarding the VMI board of visitors’ decision to not renew his contract. In it, he argued that the decision “was not based on my performance or the tangible progress we achieved,” instead calling it “a partisan choice that abandons the honor, integrity, and excellence upon which VMI was built.” Several VMI alumni and supporters also demanded answers regarding the decision.
Lexington’s Architectural Review Board approved proposed designs by John Adamson for the exterior of the Grand’s Building. The designs showed three store fronts – two on Main Street and one on Washington Street.
A new skateboard park was proposed for vacant city-owned land on the west side of the 1700 block of Magnolia Avenue in Buena Vista.
March 19
Lexington City Council held a work session to discuss its budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. No changes to the city’s tax rates or utility fees were proposed, but salary increases for most city employees were included.
The Buena Vista Planning Commission approved a rezoning request and conditional use permit for a proposed townhouse development on the east side of Magnolia Avenue.
Donnie Coleman Sr. of Buena Vista died in a Roanoke hospital several days after being involved in a three-vehicle crash in Buena Vista. Jason Esque, also of Buena Vista, was taken into custody and charged with three felonies in relation to the accident.
The developers behind plans to develop the USS Hilltop Solar LLC 3.0 megawatt solar array in Natural Bridge Station asked the Rockbridge County Planning Commission for a revision to the timetable to get the facility up and running. Work was scheduled to begin in May 2025, but delays in the regulatory process caused the owner to request an 18-month delay in the timeline, moving the start date of the project to May 1, 2026 with the completion set for June 2027. The request was approved in a 3-2 vote.
March 26
Lexington City Council unanimously approved a conditional use permit application by John Adamson to allow W&L to utilize portions of the Grand’s building following his planned renovations. Several members of the public spoke against approving the application during a public hearing.
The Lexington Police Department continued to investigate a rash of car break-ins and thefts that occurred over two separate nights earlier in the month.
Buena Vista City Manager Jason Tyree reported to City Council that the city had received “an influx of complaints” about roosters crowing from three different parts of the city – the Enderly Heights neighborhood, Ninth Street and Long Hollow Road.
April 2
Mimi Elrod, educator, civic leader and first woman mayor of Lexington, died at age 81. Among the many projects she oversaw as mayor was the rebuild of Waddell Elementary School.
A regional study conducted by the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission revealed that there is a significant shortage of affordable, workforce and market rate housing in the Rockbridge area.
A former member of VMI’s board of visitors, Tom Watjen, criticized the board for not renewing the contract of Superintendent Cedric Wins and for its lack of transparency in reaching its decision. Watjen, who has since resigned, was one of six board members who voted against the ouster of the superintendent.
Lexington City Council adopted a zoning ordinance to allow cottage housing development in all of the city’s residential districts.
April 9
A teenage hiker who suffered a serious ankle injury was hoisted by helicopter from the slopes of Devils Marbleyard in Arnolds Valley.
Goshen Town Council voted to take over tax collections for admissions and machinery and tools while turning over collections for vehicle taxes to the county.
Kentucky Fried Chicken, a staple of fast food in Lexington for more than 50 years, abruptly and permanently closed its Walker Street restaurant.
More than 70 volunteers came together in Glasgow to raise a new timber frame pavilion on the playground of the James E. Thompson Community Center.
April 16
Margaret Mary Wright, 45, of Buena Vista, was indicted on a charge of aggravated murder for the stabbing death in April 2024 of Carl Agnor in his Hawthorne Avenue home.
A Remote Area Medical clinic set up at Rockbridge County High School provided 230 people with free medical care over the course of a weekend.
More than 500 people participated in the Rockbridge Area Community Cleanup this year, collecting around 1,500 bags of litter, tires and car parts weighing an estimated 20 tons.
Shaun Sparks, assistant principal at Rockbridge County High School, was appointed to be the school’s next principal. He’ll be taking the place of Mike Craft, who is retiring.
April 23
The remains of a Veusvius man, Dustin Cody Butler, who disappeared in 2022, were found on Sallings Mountain in Glasgow.
Distemper was suspected in calls to the Buena Vista police department about raccoons showing signs of illness.
BARC Electric received an amended special exception permit that extended the time period by two years for its laydown yard at the former Highland Belle school property but no provision was made for the construction of any new structures.
A Lexington-based humanitarian organization shifted its focus from housing Ukranian refugees to preventing them from being deported.
April 30
Following an outcry from citizens, the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors reversed course and restored funding for a preschool program so that it could continue next year.
Extensive surveying using drone photography with groundpenetrating radar revealed far more burials than had been previously documented at the McKee Big Spring Cemetery at Kerrs Creek.
Marysue Forrest, owner of the Bookery, a popular book store in downtown Lexington, died at age 77.
Buena Vista’s gap between planned expenditures and projected revenues for next year’s budget was reduced from $1.7 million to $951,000 over the course of several work sessions held by the city’s budget and finance committee.
May 7
Charlie Manuel, a Buena Vista native who managed the Philadelphia Phillies to the 2008 World Series championship, returned to his hometown to take part in a christening of Charlie Manuel Field, the baseball field of his alma mater, Parry McCluer High School, that was named in his honor.
Brig. Gen. Dallas B. Clark, VMI’s deputy superintendent for finance and support, was appointed to be VMI’s acting superintendent when Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins departs the post on July 1.
Under a proposed Buena Vista budget that’s being advertised, the city’s real estate tax would rise by 14 cents, a cigarette tax of 25 cents per pack would take effect in the second half of the fiscal year and various city fees would be increased.
Jeremy Franklin was named the new executive director of Main Street Lexington.
May 14
Illegal gambling charges against Brian Rowsey related to bingo games played at the 501 Restaurant were certified to a Buena Vista grand jury.
Buena Vista’s town square, several years in the making, was named Magnolia Square, based on the results of a naming contest. The other two names considered were Green Valley Junction and Piccadilly Commons.
Southern Virginia University handed out diplomas to 184 students in commencement exercises – SVU’s largest graduating class to date.
There was a temporary interruption to movies being shown at Hull’s Drive-In when the theater’s projector broke. Only one weekend of movies was missed after a key component of the projector was replaced.
May 21
Citizens packed a Buena Vista City Council meeting to protest proposed tax and fee increases for the upcoming fiscal year.
A special exception permit for a reconstruction of the Lexington Golf & Country Club course and facilities was recommended for approval by the Rockbridge County Planning Commission.
Thomas Langston, one of 170 graduating cadets at VMI who were commissioned into the armed services, gave his first salute as an officer to World War II combat veteran Jack Moran, who served in France under Langston’s great-great uncle, Tommy Langston.
A second giraffe, Valentine, was removed from the Natural Bridge Zoo under court order because of a legal ruling that found animals had been mistreated at the zoo.
May 28
Dr. Heather Ault, director of instruction for Amelia County schools, was named the next superintendent of schools in Buena Vista.
A proposed 14-cents real estate tax in Buena Vista was cut in half to 7 cents so that next year’s tax rate would be 98 cents per $100 value.
It was announced that a $30 million anonymous gift to Washington and Lee University would fund a new building at the corner of Washington Street and Lee Avenue that will bring together the offices of admissions, financial aid and the Johnson Program in Leadership and Integrity.
June 4
Threshold, Lexington’s housing commission, began developing a program that would provide funds for homeowners to make much needed repairs.
Citizens weighed in with their concerns about plans for the reconstruction of the Lexington Golf & Country Club course and facilities. Among the issues raised were safeguarding the quality of groundwater and preventing amplified music at a planned outdoor pavilion from disturbing neighbors.
Buena Vista City Council approved a budget for next year that raises the real estate tax from 91 to 98 cents per $100 value and increases fees on various city services.
Rockbridge County’s preschool program, having survived a threatened budget cut, was told it might be turned over to the county schools or a private entity in the future.
June 11
A site assessment and planning study indicated the Bontex property, with grant funding and a substantial investment from the right developer, could be transformed into an attractive gateway into Buena Vista.
A special exception permit with conditions that include testing of wells and streams was granted to the Lexington Golf & Country Club for the reconstruction of the golf course and facilities.
T he Rockbridge Innovation Center, a modernized and expanded career and technical education center adjacent to Rockbridge County High School, was officially opened with a ribbon- cutting ceremony.
June 18
A contingent of 48 VMI cadets marched in the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday parade in Washington, D.C.
A local woman was rescued from flash flooding in the Kerrs Creek area after she had become stranded in her car along Sycamore Valley Road.
A proposal was made for Lexington to become a sister city to a city in war-torn Ukraine.
A Natural Bridge Station man, Charles Derek Mayo, 33, was charged in connection with multiple thefts that occurred in the northern part of the county.
June 25
G. Otis Mead III, considered the father of the Virginia Horse Center, died just three weeks shy of his 91st birthday.
Mountain Gateway Community College’s Joe Wilson Workforce Center opened in the former Courtesy Motors Ford dealership building in Buena Vista, following the completion of a $7.3 million transformative restoration.
The Maury River Recovery Court, created to provide an alternative to traditional court proceedings for individuals charged with drug offenses, began accepting referrals.
Seven candidates filed to run for three Buena Vista City Council seats that were to be up for election later in the year.
July 2
The Buena Vista Police Department worked on several initiatives to help the city qualify as a certified crime prevention community. Initiatives include a registry for security and doorbell cameras within the city.
At a meeting of the Buena Vista Joint Facilities Committee, local leaders faced a sobering presentation from architect Graham Boyd of CPL Architecture. Boyd presented a conceptual layout for a 99,000-square-foot school to be built adjacent to Parry McCluer High School, featuring two distinct wings for younger and older students. The design would consolidate the city’s three existing non-high schools into one. But it would come with a price tag: $69 million in construction costs if built in 2027.
Suzanne Youngkin, first lady of Virginia, visited the Hope House in Buena Vista to learn about community health and recovery efforts. Her and her husband, Glenn Youngkin, also visited Young Life Rockbridge in Goshen and donated their third quarter gubernatorial salary to Young Life.
The Courthouse Square rehabilitation project prepared to start.
July 9
Karl and Gretchen Mogensen, the former and current owners of Natural Bridge Zoo, were found guilty of violating a court order and received suspended jail sentences, related to actions and comments made before, during and after the move of Jeffrey the giraffe from the zoo last October.
An estimated 700-800 children participated in the 40th annual children’s bike parade through downtown Lexington on the fourth of July.
Kendal at Lexington celebrated its 25th anniversary.
School officials toured the vacated Mountain Gateway Community College’s Rockbridge Center in Buena Vista, looking for less pricey options for a new school building amid deteriorating middle school issues.
A recent lawsuit filed in Fairfax County Circuit Court accused Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares of violating the Virginia Constitution by seating university board appointees who had been rejected by the General Assembly — including members of the Virginia Military Institute’s board of visitors.
July 16
Southern Virginia University proposed a five-story, 600-bed dormitory, with 218,525 square feet of floor space, hoping to have it under construction by the end of the year.
The News-Gazette covered the 25th anniversary of the fire at the Lexington Presbyterian church that destroyed its sanctuary and steeple.
The county courthouse closed after a minor crisis: a sprinkler head had been activated and was spraying water all along the hallway. The courthouse shut down and cleanup began.
The Virginia Scenic Railway, the Virginia Museum of Transportation, the Steam Railroading Institute, and the Virginia Mechanical Preservation Society announced the return of the Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 steam engine to service for passenger excursions based in Goshen.
July 23
Three felony charges were certified to a grand jury against Jason Esque, 38, of Buena Vista, related to a car crash that resulted in a death in March.
Buena Vista City Council began discussions about the potential establishment of a cigarette tax of 25 cents per pack that would begin January 1.
Earl Wayne Smith, 67, of Lexington, was indicted on nine felony counts of human trafficking for a time period between July 2024 and February 2025, and nine felony counts of selling schedule I or II drugs over the same period.
A Greenville man, Jake Collins, was charged with several felonies in connection with theft and vandalism at the Fairfield Square carwash.
July 30
One of the three female giraffes transported from Natural Bridge Zoo in May died during transportation, and its death was added to the ongoing criminal investigation into the zoo.
A Buena Vista grand jury added three new felony charges to Jason Esque’s indictment.
Goshen requested a split share of Rockbridge County’s admissions tax revenues from the steam train rides planned in Goshen.
Sgt. Norman Claytor Jr., a cancer survivor and first responder participating in the Guns & Hoses Softball Games for first responders, was honored at the game.
Aug. 6
Lexington Police Chief Angela Greene announced her departure from the department, after accepting a job heading the Organized Retail Crime unit at the Virginia attorney general’s office.
Fairfield Elementary fourthgrade teacher Stephanie Tuttle won the J.L. Lifelong Learning Award for her project-basedlearning work, and as a result attended the national PBL World conference.
The News-Gazette’s investigation into the local effects of tariffs spoke to Lexington’s game store, Just Games, about the economic downturn.
Aug. 13
Kristina Ramsey, Buena Vista’s economic development director, announced a new Tractor Supply store coming to Buena Vista at the former FoxTrot Boots & Apparel store building on 29th Street.
Buena Vista was awarded a $50,000 brownfield grant to assist with the environmental cleanup of the Bontext industrial property.
Former Buena Vista Police Chief Anthony “AJ” Panebianco was announced as the new interim chief for Lexington.
The tax-revenue-sharing deal for the steam train excursions, between Goshen and Rockbridge County, was approved.
Aug. 27
Lexington City Council received results of an engineering study on Moores Creek Dam, meant to explore solutions to a sinkhole that was discovered at the base of the dam last year.
Layne’s County Country Store, an iconic roadside store, was sold to a new owner after the owners decided to retire.
Buena Vista School Board member Wayne Flint, who was the high school principal for many years, died.
The black granite panels of the Veterans Memorial at Courthouse Square in Lexington were moved to their new location closer to the front of the building.
A Lexington citizen, Andrew Hartless, was nominated by House District 37 Democrats as the new candidate for the House of Delegates after Sharon Burgess had to withdraw due to injury.
Sept. 3
At Buena Vista’s 54th annual Labor Day Festival at Glen Maury Park, all six major party statewide political candidates showed up, many gave speeches, and the tone veered wildly between civility and combativeness.
The Virginia Aviation Board approved funding for a comprehensive feasibility study to evaluate the potential for establishing a general aviation airport in Rockbridge County.
City and state leaders celebrated the completion of the North Main Street improvement project, a $4.1 million upgrade that expanded sidewalks, added a bike lane, and widened the roadway at the city’s north entrance.
Two Rockbridge County residents, Molly Lepisto and Earl Wayne Smith, were each indicted on five counts of racketeering for a period between November 2020 and February 2025.
A request by the W&L alumni group Generals Redoubt to be exempt from paying real estate taxes on its Fancy Hill property was denied by the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors.
Sep. 10
Augusta Medical Group announced the closure of three Augusta Health practice offices, including the Buena Vista Primary Care office, in the wake of the passage of a federal spending bill that made cuts to Medicaid and other health programs.
Lexington Vice Mayor Marylin Alexander was honored by the Rockbridge NAACP for her years of faithful service to Lexington.
The zoning approval process for Southern Virginia University’s proposed new dormitory was paused after concerns about parking were raised by Buena Vista City Council members.
Brian Rowsey, accused of running illegal gambling operations at the 501 Roadhouse restaurant, pled not guilty to three charges, and argued to dismiss the case.
Sept. 17
School officials for Buena Vista, Rockbridge County, and Lexington began addressing artificial intelligence, with Rockbridge County approving a new policy regarding the technology, Buena Vista outlining a three-year training plan, and Lexington weighing a potential proposal.
Lexington paused some budgeted expenses for the year as a report showed revenue sources being down from the prior year.
Sep. 24
Rockbridge County leaders unveiled plans for a new $12.9 million recreation center that would serve both Rockbridge County High School students and the wider community. The center is planned for countyowned property on the site of the existing tennis courts, and would be operated by Rockbridge Area Recreational Organization. If the plan moves forward, it would replace several capital improvement projects already planned for Rockbridge County schools.
Oct. 1
Judge Christopher Russell ruled in Rockbridge County Circuit Court that the two giraffe calves that were born at Natural Bridge Zoo earlier this year – and disappeared soon after – would have to be turned over to the state or Gretchen Mogensen, owner of the zoo, would serve 100 days in jail. He gave Mogensen until noon on Oct. 29 to tell the state the locations of the baby giraffes, or else to report to the Rockbridge Regional Jail to serve her sentence.
Rep. Ben Cline returned to Rockbridge C ounty f or h is fi rst l ocal town hall since 2023, addressing a small group of attendees at the Rockbridge County Courthouse while a group of protesters demonstrated outside.
The Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors heard around half an hour of passionate testimony Sept. 24 as residents and community leaders debated whether the county’s noise ordinance should be tightened to address late-night disturbances, particularly from Washington and Lee University student housing. At issue was whether to move the county’s weekday cutoff for loud noise from 11 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Oct. 8
The zoning approval process for Southern Virginia University’s proposed 600-bed dormitory was postponed for a second time. Buena Vista City Council tabled the first readings for a conditional use permit and abandonment of various rights of way until City Council’s Nov. 6 meeting.
Virginia’s statewide Standards of Learning results inched upward again this year, continuing the slow recovery from pandemic-era declines. Local divisions mirrored those statewide trends in different ways. Buena Vista and Lexington again outpaced the state in most subjects, while Rockbridge County’s results showed uneven progress, with encouraging signs in some areas and persistent gaps in others.
The Buena Vista City School Board appointed Allen “Mac” Felts Jr. to fill the unexpired term previously held by the late Wayne Flint during a special called meeting.
The century-old Parry Mc-Cluer Middle School building was among 10 historic places that were approved for inclusion in the Virginia Landmarks Register by the Commonwealth’s Board of Historic Resources at its quarterly public meeting on Sept. 18.
Oct. 15
The Lexington Farmers Market, a fixture in downtown for about 25 years, was looking at a possible move from its location in the Mc-Crums parking lot to Stonewall Square.
Rockbridge County High School proposed a transition to a 4x4 block schedule beginning in the 2026–27 school year.
Oct. 22
Buena Vista City Council voted 4-3 to establish a 25-cent-per-pack tax on cigarettes, beginning Jan. 1, bringing the city in line with the rate of neighboring jurisdictions Rockbridge County and Lexington, each of which established such a tax several years ago.
Parents of RCHS students filled the auditorium and asked questions and raised concerns about the proposed 4×4 block system.
Buena Vista native and baking connoisseur Susan Gravatt was chosen to be a contestant on the Hallmark Channel’s new baking competition show, “Baked With Love: Holiday.”
Oct. 29
It was announced that XFS Global, a manufacturer of deployable fabric shelters that had operated out of the Natural Bridge Station industrial park the past two years, would be leaving Rockbridge County and relocating to Graniteville, S.C. The company employed as many as 52 people here but had about 20 workers in Rockbridge County. It planned to phase out its local operations by the end of this year or early next year.
Six Rockbridge area schools were to receive nearly $255,000 in state funding to strengthen campus safety as part of a new round of School Security Equipment Grants announced by the Virginia Department of Education.
Longtime Washington and Lee University professor Harlan Beckley died Oct. 21. Beckley was the creator of the Shepherd Program on Poverty and Human Capability at W&L and was an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church.
Nov. 5
After being found guilty of contempt of court in September for failing to disclose the location of two giraffe calves born at Natural Bridge Zoo earlier this year, Gretchen Mogensen, one of the owners of Natural Bridge Zoo, reported to the Rockbridge Regional to begin serving her 100-day sentence.
The Rockbridge Area Health Center and the Rockbridge Regional Library, two of the perspective tenants for Goshen’s community center, which was still in development, opted to not follow through on signing a lease for space.
The Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jeremy Ray Young, 39, a man from the Fancy Hill area, in connection with a break-in at Layne’s Country Store on U.S. 11 South. Once discovered inside the store, Young had fled on foot, but Sheriff Tony McFaddin caught up with him before he got too far.
Nov. 12
Jesse Lineberry was elected Buena Vista mayor in last Tuesday’s elections, defeating incumbent Tyson Cooper. Of the three candidates who were elected to Buena Vista City Council, two are newcomers – Stephanie Noel-Branch and Amy Gilliam. Vice Mayor Danny Staton was successful in his bid for reelection. In the county, Steve Hart was elected to be the next Kerrs Creek District member of the Board of Supervisors, while Jay Lewis was reelected Walkers Creek District supervisor. Rockbridge County Sheriff Tony McFaddin was elected to the position he has held on an interim basis since the first of the year. Buena Vista Sheriff Randy Hamilton was reelected.
The recent election in Buena Vista prompted yet another delay in the consideration of zoning approval for a proposed new dormitory at SVU. The first reading of a conditional use request for the 600-bed dormitory was an agenda item for City Council, but SVU asked that the first reading be postponed until Council’s first meeting in January, when the new mayor and two new members of City Council take office.
With temperatures barely above freezing, several hundred people bundled up along the sidewalks for Lexington’s Veterans Day Parade. The date marked the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the Veterans Memorial, which was rededicated after being relocated this fall as part of the Courthouse Square renovation project.
Rockbridge County High School hit pause on its plan to shift to a 4x4 block schedule, announcing that the school would remain on its current seven-period schedule for the 2026–27 school year. The decision, shared with families in a Nov. 5 email, came after weeks of public meetings, student organizing and pointed feedback from parents and teachers — the vast majority of which was resistant to the plan.
The Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to move forward with building a community recreation center.
Nov. 19
Modine Manufacturing announced that it was relocating the headquarters for its heating business to Buena Vista, where it is investing $19.6 million and creating 57 new jobs. The company has had a plant at 1221 Magnolia Ave. in Buena Vista since 1963 and opened up a manufacturing facility at 360 Collierstown Road in Rockbridge County in 2021.
A fire destroyed the Dirty Dog Depot grooming business just south of Lexington. A stray cat died in the fire but all of the dogs were safely removed, according to the owner. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries.
Buena Vista Police Chief Wayne Handley announced plans to retire from the BVPD at the end of June 2026, marking the end of a 26-year-long career in law enforcement. Handley has served as the city’s chief of police since July 1, 2023.
Charles Jolley was elected to the Buena Vista School Board. He received the most write-in votes to win the fourth seat that was up for election Nov. 4.
Nov. 26
Actress Alicia Silverstone partnered with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to offer a reward of up to $50,000 for information that leads to the location of the two baby giraffes that went missing from the Natural Bridge Zoo earlier this year.
The late Bob Gilbert was honored posthumously by Gov. Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne Youngkin with a Governor’s Volunteerism & Community Service Award.
Hundreds of area residents gathered at the Virginia Horse Center for the first Rockbridge FriendsGiving. By the evening’s end, more than 500 meals were served to 412 diners, and at least 75 meals to volunteers, for a total of 615 meals
Dec. 3
Despite a year marked by economic uncertainty, Rockbridge area shoppers turned out in force over the Thanksgiving weekend, delivering a strong start to the holiday season for many local stores.
Federal funding was approved to pay for extending broadband internet service to the remaining unserved remote locations of Virginia, including parts of the Rockbridge area. Those unserved locations include 954 addresses in Rockbridge County, 40 in Buena Vista and 22 in Lexington.
John Stallard, owner of CHEFS Catering Company, posted on the company’s Facebook page that he, along with Paige and Jay Williams and Leslie Giles, were under contract to purchase both the building that houses the Southern Inn and the neighboring Norgrove building.
Dec. 10
The first snows of the season came to Rockbridge. Schools, courts and government offices had either a delayed opening or closed for both storms, and many businesses were closed as well. Among the cancellations was the annual Lexington Christmas Parade.
More than 100 people gathered in the Junction 245 Marketplace to celebrate the completion of Phase 2 of the Virginia Innovation Accelerator, a business incubation center in the former Mundet-Hermetite factory building in Buena Vista.
Washington and Lee University announced that President William C. Dudley would be stepping down at the end of the academic year to become the next president of Claremont McKenna College in California.
Dec. 17
An apartment complex with up to 192 units was proposed for a tract of land behind Devils Backbone brewery off of U.S. 11, north of Lexington.
A plan to consolidate some voting precincts and change certain polling locations was presented to the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors by the county Electoral Board.
Susan Gravatt and husband Saman Zomorodi were a big hit with the judges on Hallmark Channel’s “Baked With Love: Holiday” show and made it to the semifinals, but ultimately the winning contestants were a mother and daughter baking team from New Jersey.
Dec. 24
A performance agreement with Modine Manufacturing that calls for Buena Vista to provide tax and fee incentives worth $300,000 in connection with the company’s recently announced expansion plans was approved by City Council.
The Campus Kitchen at Washington and Lee University and Rockbridge Area Relief Association announced two new sites for their mobile food pantry program serving Rockbridge County. The two new mobile food pantry sites will be at the Effinger Volunteer Fire Department from 2 to 3 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month beginning Jan. 8, and at the Raphine Volunteer Fire Department from 2 to 3 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month beginning Feb. 5.
BARC Electric Cooperative’s special exception permit to operate a public utility at 1972 Big Spring Drive, the former Highland Belle School, was amended to allow a scaled-back warehouse to be constructed on the property within four years. The amendment eliminates a time constraint associated with the SEP, which allowed what was originally intended to be a temporary laydown yard to store materials and equipment for BARC to respond to power outages and to install broadband fiber electric cable.
