The Knights (2-1) led 6-0 at halftime before the Fighting Blues (2-1) tied the game when Thomas Conner scored a touchdown in the third quarter. However, the Knights scored two TDs in the fourth quarter to pull away.

For their homecoming game, the Blues will play host to Stonewall Jackson (1-2) next Friday at 7 p.m.

The story, photos, stats and a prediction for next week will be in our Sept. 16 newspaper. 

Staunton improved to 3-0, while the Wildcats fell to 0-3 after their closest game of the season.

With strong running on their first drive, the Wildcats got to the Staunton 14-yard line before turning the ball over on downs on an incomplete pass. After a scoreless first quarter, Staunton’s Luc Geffrard intercepted RC sophomore quarterback Taylan Tyree on a fourth-and-21 pass and returned the ball 90 yards for a touchdown. An extra-point kick by Thomas Hutchinson gave the story a 7-0 lead with 10:12 left in the first half. 

Led by Carson Fridley, the Wildcats had success running the ball before turning it over on downs at the Staunton 27. The Storm gradually got the ball down the field, and a 38-yard run by Braxton Covert set Staunton up for a 33-yard field goal by Hutchinson as the first half concluded, extending the Storm lead to 10-0 at intermission.

At the start of the second half, an RC penalty helped Staunton get into the red zone, and quarterback Kayden Organ made a 19-yard TD pass to Covert to stretch the Storm lead to 16-0 just 1:01 into the third quarter. 

Penalties hurt the Wildcats on their next drive, and Staunton got the ball back. On the Storm’s next drive, Fridley got the home crowd excited when he intercepted Organ and sprinted away from Staunton players for a 60-yard TD. Fridley then ran for a two-point conversion to cut Staunton’s lead to 16-8 with 31.1 seconds left in the third quarter. 

Early in the fourth quarter, RC made another interception, with Maliq Corbin picking off Organ and returning the ball to the RC 46. However, penalties hurt the Wildcats again, and Staunton milked the clock on its next drive. The Wildcats had one more possession, but they weren’t able to get the ball past midfield, and the Storm ran the ball and milked the clock for the final minutes of the game. 

The Wildcats will continue district action next Friday at 7 p.m. at Waynesboro (0-3 overall, 0-1 district).

For the full story, photos, stats and a prediction for next week, please see our Sept. 16 newspaper.

Storms with 60 mph straight-line winds tore through Lexington last Friday night, leaving trees on homes and cars, streets and sidewalks full of debris and leaving thousands without power. 

At the cemetery, a massive, 385-year-old white oak know as the Preston Oak was uprooted, damaging gravestones below. At least one other large tree also fell in the part of the historic cemetery lining South Main Street. 

Public Works officials said crews will come in to assess damage to the cemetery Monday and remove smaller branches. In the meantime, visitors can still access the Stonewall Jackson gravesite by going around the back of the plot. 

Lt. Jonathan Bowden opened the ceremony and led everyone in a moment of silence. He then gave a short speech remembering the firefighters who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, as well as those who have died from the lingering effects of the attacks. 

"The 343 firefighters were more than names on the memorial. They were sons, they were daughters, husbands, wives, mothers and fathers, friends, neighbors, coaches and mentors. They were firefighters and they had families waiting for them. Yet when the call came, they did what they had been sworn to do: they went."

The program for the ceremony contained the times of each incident on Sept. 11, 2001. 

For more on this story, as well as stories with area residents’ memories from Sept. 11, 2001, see the Sept. 23 edition of The News-Gazette.

And what can we, as citizens, do to help with some of the common issues our local law enforcement officers grapple with to keep our localities the safest places to live in Virginia? In this interview series, we'll look behind the badge to see people, just like you and me, who choose to serve our communities in ways that make us safer and improve our quality of life. 

This week's interview is with Deputy Michael Fitzgerald, a School Resource Deputy for Rockbridge County schools. He's been in law enforcement for 23 years, first with the Lexington Police Department for 19 years and this is his fourth year with the Rockbridge County Sheriff's Office. His favorite food is egg roll in a bowl on a black stone.

Did you always want to be in law enforcement? If not, what was your original career path?

Well, yes and no. From as long as I can remember, I always wanted to either be in law enforcement or in kind of the biology field, whether that was teaching biology or doing marine biology research. So I actually went to James Madison University and I have a bachelor's degree in biology. But I always wanted to be a police officer too so I kind of had those two paths and decided to go into law enforcement. Have been here ever since.

What motivated you to become a police officer?

I've always had an interest in helping people and obviously you can do that through biology, you know whether it's teaching and educating or it's actually being out in the field and helping that way, but in law enforcement it's really up close personal day-to-day. You get to help people. So that kind of was what pushed me to the right instead of the left.

Describe your journey from academy to where you are now.

I graduated high school and [asked myself, 'Do I want to go into law enforcement?' because it's a tough field. It's not for everybody. There are definitely challenges with law enforcement. So I went to JMU and got my degree in biology,  graduated from there in 2002. Still kind of was undecided, kind of figuring out what I wanted to do because you know, I like to be dedicated to it and you know I wanted to go full force in the law enforcement area, go full force into the biology field. 

So I took a couple years and kind of worked odd jobs and did everything and then in 2004 I decided that 'Yep, I'm going to do law enforcement.' So I applied to several places: State Police, Waynesboro, Harrisonburg and Lexington – they had two openings at the time. I was going through the process with Lexington and Lynchburg kind of, they were the two that kind of got it started soonest. Went through the hiring process with Lexington, they agreed to hire me, went to the academy (at that time Lexington goes to Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy which is in Salem). It's 20-some weeks of the Academy, where they do kind of everything: criminal laws, all traffic stops, defensive tactics, driver training. Graduated from the academy, came back to Lexington and did 12 weeks of field training – it’s where you ride with an experienced officer and they do daily observations of you and kind of make sure, 'Hey, you know the basics,' and then teach you some of the stuff that you don't learn in the academy. Graduated from field training and served with Lexington, like I said, 19 years there. 

I worked my way up through patrol, corporal, sergeant, first sergeant, lieutenant and deputy chief. And then there was an opening at the sheriff's office for the school resource deputy position and I just couldn't pass it up. So I came over here in March of 2023 and I've been here ever since. From day one, kind of, I always wanted to be chief because, you know, you kind of get [to know] how the department is going and make sure it's headed in the right direction. But the more I climbed up the ladder, it became more kind of budgeting and equipment management and personnel management. Obviously chiefs and sheriffs, they make a huge impact, they can control the way the department goes but for me, I really wanted that personal kind of making a difference in the everyday life. Being a school resource deputy, all our school resource officer whichever, kind of really always interested me because, you know, the youth is our most important resource. Being able to actually get in day-to-day and make sure that they're safe and they have a safe place to come and get an education, but also kind of helping mentor and just being that person there that, you know, on a day-to-day basis no matter what's going on they know they have somebody they can come to.

What has been your favorite position, role or location?

You know, I can honestly say right now the role I'm in – being a school resource deputy. It was a big choice. I went from deputy chief to school resource. You know, I try to bring a ton to it and really try to make those personal connections with the kids, I mean, it's simple as telling 'good morning' or give them a high five and wishing them well on the weekend or you know stuff like that.

When I started here, I was the first school resource deputy here, they never had one before and you could see certain kids that kind of would shy away from you, you know? They would see the police officer and they would kind of, you know, duck their head or whatever. And now you know it's like I'm a part of their community. I know some of them have come up and told me things that, you know, and it's a big family - there's Miss Camden and Miss Bailey. Obviously they'll tell their teachers stuff but sometimes having that other person, I know some of the kids are kind of more comfortable talking to me. You know, there's things that I can help them with that obviously the school can't. So I personally have gotten more out of this position than any of the other ones. 

In your position, what is the hardest part of your job?

The biggest part of it, and I think what really kind of wears on a lot of law enforcement, is we serve so many roles. You know, even your patrol officer – one minute they may be going to a call where it's a really bad abuse case (whether that's physical, emotional, sexual), and then the next minute they're going out and they're having to make a traffic stop and having somebody that doesn't like police and having to deal with that, and then the next call could be a DOA where they're dealing with that and dealing with a family and the loss, and then right after that they may be dealing with an 80 year old grandma [that] got scammed out of money. So, it's kind of, you never know what call you're gonna get and sometimes you get those calls back-to-back and you really have to be able to manage your emotions and deal with a lot. Law enforcement, kind of in the past, has always been that kind of tough guy thing and you know 'we handle anything' but sometimes being able to regulate all those different emotions you can go through in a very short amount of time.

What is the best part? What motivates you to keep doing your job?

The best part of the job is obviously helping people. I was lucky when I first started. I had a sergeant way back in the day in 2004. He sat me down as I joined his shift and he told me, 'No matter what you do, in everything you do, your job is when you encounter somebody, put them in a place better than you found them.' Now sometimes that may be you know somebody has lost control or is doing something, so maybe the best place for him is jail. That can be the best place for people. But he said, 'you can always hold your head up high at the end of the day if every time you encounter somebody, you put them in a place better than you found them.' And so for me, you know, that's the best part of it. When you can meet people at their worst and you know we can't fix all the problems, we can't solve everything for them, but we can give them the resources, we can do everything we can and at the end of the day if you've put them in a better place then that's a pretty good feeling.

What do you do to unwind? Do you have any hobbies/unique skills or talents?

I love the outdoors. I love going camping, fishing, stuff like that. I've recently got into gardening, which I wouldn't say I'm really good at yet but I'm kind of figuring my way through it. I don't know of any unique talents but as far as hobbies, yeah, camping, fishing.

Based on your professional experience, what is a common call type or complaint you handle in your position? What actions are taken in response and what programs are in place?

I can't really say a certain call type but I will say what I have seen drug addiction, you know, which that can lead to domestics and larcenies and even here to school when you have kids that have to deal with that. So I would say anything that's involving, you know drug addiction and what all that can entail, whether that's kids seeing things or being exposed to things that they shouldn't be. Obviously if somebody's under the influence it can lead to physical assaults and domestics, and then sometimes when people get [become addicted], it's hard to financially feed it, which can lead to larcenies and breaking-and-entering. 

I'll say one thing that I've been truly impressed with is Sheriff McFadden, [he] has really [at] the forefront and two of his …  overarching goals that he's focused on is the drug abuse problem, addressing that, and then also the scams. That would be another common one that we have. So he's created programs like the senior Triad and then the Lunch In with a Sheriff. So they get that education part out there and kind of tell people these are the kind of scams we're seeing, this is what to look out for. The sheriff's office has also been more active on Facebook with posting things like that so definitely the readers should follow the Sheriff's Office Facebook because there's always good tips on there.

Then on the drug thing, the sheriff has started back into the schools the DARE program. So we're teaching DARE in all the elementary schools to help with that education because it's much easier to keep somebody from using drugs than it is to kind of deal with the after math. We're trying to prevent people from using drugs. Then in the middle school and high school, they're also doing programs: Virginia rules and safe surfing in the high school.  …  There's been a big focus on actually apprehending the people that are ruining other people's lives. So the sheriff, those have been two of his major initiatives where 'Let's combat the drugs and try to get it where people aren't dealing with that on a day-to-day basis' and 'let's help educate so we can prevent people from going down that path,' and then also the scan aspect of it because, I mean, that's everywhere.

How can we educate the public on their role in crime prevention in our community?

Just being aware. We see it so much now with technology, I'm amazed at the people that are walking around out in public and they're locked into whatever their technology device is. I think we need, as a society, to be more aware of our surroundings, be more aware of the people that are around us and what's happening, and, you know, report [it] when you see something. It's a whole lot easier for us in law enforcement to gather evidence to, you know, solve a crime if it's reported as opposed to 'oh, well yeah I saw something but, you know, I didn't think about it' and here it is a week later, 'I'm letting you know.' So, just being more aware of what's going on around you and not locked into what's going on on Facebook or TikTok or Instagram, and then making sure that we report things when we see them and give as much detail as you can.

Livia Clinedinst totaled 11 kills and four blocks, while Maddie Gale also finished with 11 kills to help the Indians (9-0, 3-0 district) remain unbeaten with a 25-14, 25-14, 25-19 victory.

Geneva Snyder posted a match-high 14 kills and added eight digs for the Wildcats (1-5, 0-4). Cesi Beidle contributed seven kills and three aces, and Allison Licona-Asto registered 20 assists. The 'Cats also received eight digs from Adrianna Grue and five from Braelyn Polly.

Alexis Miller recorded 29 assists and three service aces for Fort, which has reached the VHSL Class 2 state championship game in each of the past two seasons. Caroline Hanger notched seven kills and two blocks for the Indians, while Harper Carter added four kills and four blocks.

RC will play host to Parry McCluer on Monday, beginning with the junior varsity contest at 5:30 p.m. The Wildcats swept the Fighting Blues in the season opener for both teams in Buena Vista back on Aug. 25.

There were fewer speeches this year at the Buena Vista Labor Day festival Monday, but they were a bit longer than usual and as heated as ever.

The war in Iran, health care, inflation and tariffs were among the topics on which the candidates clashed. There were only four candidates to take the stage – Republican Sixth District Congressman Ben Cline and his Democratic opponent Beth Macy, and Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Warner and his Republican opponent, Bert Mizusawa – but they made the most of their time in the spotlight.

“I think it’s time to end this war in Iran,” declared Warner. “We need to bring this war to an end. We need to go back to an America that is respected around the world. I never thought I’d say this. It’s kind of hard to piss off Canadians. But this president, with his willingness to go against all of our allies and friends and put tariffs in place … [is] not about affordability. The issue is how do we bring costs down. What I see in the president is that he’s not focused on affordability but his focus is almost entirely on vanity projects like the new ballroom or the God-forbidden arch being built that would block Arlington Cemetery. We need to respect our veterans – not put a Trump memorial in front of that cemetery.”

“We are going to continue to advocate for a resolution of this war that does so on our terms – not on the terms of Iran,” said Cline. “We are going to win this war in Iran. We are going to make sure Iran does not possess nuclear weapons. We are going to make sure they do not threaten the Middle East or the people of the United States of America.”

“Do we really want another endless war?” asked Macy. “Trump promised no more endless wars. Ben Cline kisses the king’s ring while our men and women are stuck on aircraft carriers with little food and water while the Iranian mullahs taunt us. You know, Republicans can’t really explain this war. I can explain it in three words – it’s a distraction from the Epstein files. And that distraction is going so badly that they are creating distractions to distract us from the distractions.”

The least partisan of the speeches was delivered by Mizusawa, a retired U.S. Army major general and former deputy undersecretary for the Army. “I know a lot of you like to bring up President Trump for obvious reasons,” he said. “This is [for] a six-year term and it will transcend Trump’s presidency. Who knows what’s going to happen in 2028? I pledge to you that I will do everything that I can do to provide security [and] a positive return on our tax dollar investments.”

According to Warner, “It’s an incredibly important election year. I’m asking you to hire me one last time. Let me tell you why. I think politics is about choices. And there are a series of choices going on right now in Washington.”

If Democrats don’t take control of Congress, Warner warned, “We’re going to see another 300,000 Virginians lose their health care after this election. Nothing was more hypocritical than passing a big bill and not letting the pain take place until after the election. Those 300,000 Virginians – they’re still going to get sick. They’re still going to show up at the emergency room. We have to do better. ... As long as we keep band-aiding this broken health care system we’re never going to get to cost containment. It’s time to move to universal

ABOVE, the Democratic candidates who appeared in Buena Vista’s Labor Day festivities, Sen. Mark Warner and Sixth District House of Representatives hopeful Beth Macy speak with local residents along the parade route Monday morning. AT RIGHT, the Republican candidates who spoke on stage at Labor Day, U.S. Senate hopeful Bert Mizusawa and Rep. Ben Cline, recite the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the start of the speeches. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photos) health care in America.”

Cline countered that Republicans “are going to continue to … advocate for positive policies that benefit working families – reducing taxes and reducing the cost of prescription drugs. Making sure that we reduce the cost of housing. The costs are going down because of the legislation that we passed and every Democrat voted against.”

Cline claimed that inflation was much higher under Biden, whose policies, he said, raised the costs of housing, “food, goods and services across the country. … We are rolling back the high inflation that came with the Joe Biden administration. Inflation in Biden’s administration, remember, was 9.5 percent.” Addressing the Democrats in the audience, Cline said, “All of you are lying in saying, ‘Not true.’ [You] seem to have forgotten what 9.5 percent high inflation felt like. You know what? It’s coming down,” which he attributed to the policies of the Trump administration.

Macy offered a starkly contrasting view of Trump’s “disastrous policies that [Cline] backed 100 percent of the time.” Because of the “one big ugly bill,” which led to USDA and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cuts, “People are going hungry like you would not believe.” She said she’s witnessed very long lines at food pantries in Fincastle and Woodstock. Accusing Cline of exhibiting “such entitlement, such arrogance,” Macy said, “I’m running to roll back the one ugly bill [which contained] tax cuts for billionaires. I’m running to stop the tariffs. I’m running to end this illegal war so we can afford to rebuild education, feed our kids, and give health care to working people. I’m running because, in America, we made a promise that you should be able to go as far as your talents allow.”

Mizusawa noted that he’s the proud son and grandson of immigrants who came from opposite sides of the globe – his father’s parents were from Japan and his mother is from the Netherlands. His father’s parents settled in Hawaii. “They were basically laborers in the sugar fields of Hawaii. That was very arduous work. Hawaii was a leader in the labor union movement. They contributed to this holiday we have today known as Labor Day. … We should all applaud the efforts of American labor. They helped make America great. It’s a bipartisan issue.”

He said he and his father share a common bond in having witnessed attacks on America – he worked at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, and his father was a 12-year-old boy in Hawaii in 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. “So, near and dear to me, as you might imagine, is the national security of our nation. National security should always be a bipartisan effort by both parties in this nation.”

The book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, verses 1 – 8 is among the most often cited passages from the Bible and it begins “For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven ...” with verse 3 being “ a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up” (New Revised Standard Version).

And it is this particular verse that is the basis of the deliberately weighty title of this week’s column. For it is in killing these unwanted invasive species we can contribute to healing and building-up our Rockbridge landscape.

The last half of September and early October, before the leaves of these plants begin to turn, is a good time to kill them because, like all woody perennials, they are photoperiod sensitive. This means the plant can detect when the number of daylight hours is declining and it responds by translocating sugars from the photosynthetic leaves into its root system.

Judicious and targeted application of the correct herbicides during this period is highly likely to be translocated to the root system and effectively kill the entire plant. Springtime applications of the same herbicides may give the appearance of effectiveness, only to see secondary and tertiary shoots emerge later in the season.

In reality, it is unlikely a single early autumn campaign against these invasives will address the problem. Stewardship has never been a “one-anddone” task. However, early fall applications are most likely to be most effective and achieve the most efficient use of time and material. This period can also be a good time to kill the biennials thistle and poison hemlock when their small rosettes are just emerging. The same herbicides so effective on the woody perennials also kill these problematic weeds. Biennials, different from perennials, are best controlled in the vegetative rosette stage before they “bolt” in their second year to produce seed.

The active ingredients of choice are triclopyr; 2,4-D; and dicamba ,but there are others that are effective. There are a number of retail products available at farm supply stores that contain these active ingredients and do not require an applicator license. Glyphosate (a.k.a. ‘Round Up™’) can be effective on the weeds mentioned in this column but it is not the best choice. Glyphosate is a broader spectrum herbicide that kills grasses as well as broad leafed plants so there is much more likely to be “collateral damage” if glyphosate is used.

Important to remember is to include a non-ionic surfactant in the herbicide mix. The surfactant breaks the natural surface tension of the droplets of spray and allows the water and herbicide mix to adhere to the leaves. Some herbicide pre-mixes already have the surfactant included. “Readyto- Spray” pre-mixed herbicide products are generally much more expensive per unit of effective product. Regardless of what product is used, the label is the law and the directions for use on the label must be followed.

A detailed guide of weeds common to open fields of the Rockbridge region with color photos and detailed herbicide recommendations is available at the Rockbridge Extension office on the second floor of the Rockbridge County Administrative Building, 150 S. Main St., Lexington. You can contact the Rockbridge Extension office at (540) 463-4734.

The historic Chautauqua Lecture Series held in upstate New York is one of the oldest and most prestigious platforms in the U.S. dedicated to “engaged dialogue on matters that shape our world.” Those who have taken the stage for the series include nine U.S. presidents, several Nobel laureates, celebrated poets and other influential figures such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Jane Goodall, Yo-Yo Ma and Ken Burns.

In her first talk, Green joined bestselling climate writer Katharine K. Wilkinson on stage, contributing her poetry to Wilkinson’s “Climate Wayfinding” lecture.

In Green’s second talk, as part of Chautauqua’s Interfaith Lecture Series, she delivered a lecture on that series’ theme for the week: “Spiritual Responses to a Throwaway World.” Green’s talk drew on her own experiences of living in an ecological community and growing food in the Shenandoah Valley, as well as her research within environmental literature and ecological Buddhist practice. She emphasized ideas from Wendell Berry, Thich Nhat Hanh and Robin Wall Kimmerer, and interspersed readings of poetry from her own work. The talk was profiled in greater detail in an article published in The Chautauquan Daily.

Green has been published and anthologized frequently over the years. She is the author of the book “The More Extravagant Feast,” which was selected by Li-Young Lee for the Walt Whitman Award of the Academy of American Poets and was hailed as one of the best books of 2020 by The Boston Globe.

Green has been featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and was presented with a Treehouse Climate Action Poetry Prize as well as the Lucille Clifton Legacy Award.

A visiting member of the W&L faculty since 2009, Green earned a master of fine arts in English from the University of California, Irvine, and a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Earlham College.

The lawsuit, filed by O’Byrne Contracting Inc., alleges a breach of contract by The General’s Redoubt pertaining to unpaid bills for renovation work done at a property in Fancy Hill, and further alleges behavior by Spivey had created a hostile environment which resulted in O’Byrne Contracting being unable to continue to work while Spivey was living on the property.

Arguments were heard on three motions on Aug. 13, each motion filed by one of the parties involved in the suit.

The first motion, filed by Stan Barnhill, attorney for The General’s Redoubt, was a motion craving oyer, in which Barnhill argued that O’Byrne Contracting had not submitted the contract which was alleged to have been violated – or any evidence of any meeting of the minds – in its initial filing with the court.

The document it submitted as Exhibit A is both undated and unsigned, Barnhill argued, so it can’t be the final contract, and the filing also makes reference to contingencies and other stipulations that are not included in the document that was submitted in the initial filing, such as a process for change orders to the work that was referenced several times in the filing but is not referenced in the included document.

The purpose of the motion, Barnhill argued, was to get a copy of the final signed contract so that he and his clients could properly defend against any alleged breaches of the contract.

“We are entitled to those documents,” he said. “We have things that talk about a meeting of the minds, but do not have documentation to show a meeting of the minds.”

Michael Montgomery, the attorney for O’Byrne Contracting, argued that he and his client had “put forth facts sufficient to state a claim,” and that it was not the province of the court to rule on whether or not there was a meeting of the minds. Prior to Russell ruling on the motion, Montgomery offered to make all of the requests for payment and written change orders that were referenced in the initial filing – but were not included as exhibits – available to the defense as a possible solution to the defense’s concerns over not having sufficient documentation. Russell agreed to that solution and denied the motion.

Barnhill asked Russell if he was ruling that the document filed as Exhibit A in the suit was in fact the final contract and Russell said that he was not “making any findings of fact” regarding the contract, but was simply ruling that the plaintiff had provided sufficient facts to state their claim in the suit. Whether the contract filed with the suit was the final contract or had been breached by The General’s Redoubt will be matters for a jury to decide if the suit goes to trial.

Russell also ruled in Montgomery’s favor on a motion to quash a subpoena filed by Barnhill on the Bank of Botetourt asking the bank to produce all bank records for O’Byrne Contracting from February 2024 to the present. Montgomery argued that the subpoena was “overly broad” in its request and would result in information related to other projects O’Byrne is working on as well as potentially privileged information.

Barnhill argued that the purpose of the subpoena was to get more detailed financial records related to the renovation work done at Fancy Hill.

Russell acknowledged that that information would be relevant to the case, but agreed that the subpoena was too broad in its request and granted the motion to quash it.

The third motion argued in court on Aug. 13 was filed by Spivey’s attorney Joshua Johnston for demurs related to the allegations against Spivey, namely that he had interfered with the contract between O’Byrne Contracting and The General’s Redoubt through alleged behavior that created a hostile work environment for O’Byrne Contracting, and that there had been a conspiracy between Spivey and The General’s Redoubt to breach the contract.

Johnson argued that in both claims against Spivey, Montgomery had argued facts that make them legally impossible. He specifically noted that Spivey is a member of The General’s Redoubt and is not listed as a separate party in any contracts with O’Byrne Contracting. As a result, Johnson argued, Spivey cannot have legally interfered with the contract or conspired with The General’s Redoubt to breach the contract.

He went on to argue that Spivey was listed as a separate defendant due to a personal grievance between him and Elizabeth King, the president of O’Byrne Contracting, which was also discussed in detail in the filing, including an incident where Spivey had allegedly confronted King after she removed signs he’d placed on the property and had prevented her from leaving. Spivey has filed two countersuits against King for defamation related to comments she’s made in emails about him.

“This is a contract dispute between two entities,” Johnson argued in court on Aug. 13. “There’s no place for personal complaints with the executive director of one of those entities.”

Montgomery argued that Spivey’s behavior had interfered with the contract by creating an environment “so hostile that [O’Byrne Contracting] had to leave the project.”

Russell granted Johnson’s motion for demur, stating that he felt the complaint was “too bare-boned” in its recitation of the facts regarding Spivey’s role in the alleged dispute. He did grant Montgomery leave to amend the suit within 21 days of the entry of the order regarding the motion. As of yesterday afternoon, that order had not been entered.

Another hearing is scheduled for Oct. 1 for a different motion to quash a subpoena, this one filed by Rockbridge County attorney Herb Rubenstein through his attorney Creigh Deeds. The subpoena was filed by Johnson requesting any documents Rubenstein has related to a meeting he had with King regarding the case prior to her hiring Montgomery to represent her. Rubenstein has moved to quash the subpoena on the grounds of attorney-client privilege.

Sept. 9, 1976

James F. Bowen of Lexington purchased the East Lexington Grocery Store from Roland Fifer. He planned to operate it under the name the East Lexington Store. - Hermann Lee oversaw his last formal meeting with the Rockbridge County School Board. - Lexington Mayor Charles F. Phillips declined to state how he would vote on a personal proposal for a trial period of two-way streets downtown.

20 Years Ago

Sept. 13, 2006

Peter Sils continued to work on plans for a courts complex on the Courthouse Square property despite the recent rejection by the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors. He expected to have the plans completed by November. - Lexington City Council and the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors adopted resolutions supporting plans by Dabney S. Lancaster Community College to build a new and larger Rockbridge Regional Center. - The area behind Parry Mc-Cluer Middle School was proposed for a site for a new municipal building for the city of Buena Vista.

It’s likely the closest we’ll get to seeing a debate between these political adversaries. Their campaigns have been having a debate over what constitutes a debate and whether their candidates will participate. We’ve been among the recipients of dueling press releases issued by each campaign.

On Aug. 17, Macy’s campaign issued a press release challenging Cline to three debates, with the dates, venues and rules of engagement to be determined through discussions between the campaigns. A week later, on Aug. 24, Cline issued a press release saying he had accepted invitations to make three joint appearances with Macy before the Small Business Alliance in Frederick County, the Salem Rotary Club and the Harrisonburg Rotary Club.

Macy issued a press release the next day, Aug. 25, in which her campaign characterized Cline’s proposed unilateral debate schedule as “phony,” not actual debates, that amounted to a “chicken-you-know what” response. “I look forward,” she said, “to working with the Cline team on actually scheduling real debates, in good faith. Rep. Cline doesn’t get to make the rules.”

Cline followed with another press release later the same day, Aug. 25, in which his campaign accused Macy of having “smeared” the service clubs and their events by labeling them as “phony.” Cline said, “It is unfortunate that my opponent thinks these groups are not legitimate organizations or capable of successfully sponsoring important events to inform their respective communities. … I hope my opponent reconsiders her poor treatment of our community leaders and accepts their invitations to engage in meaningful conversations with voters about the issues that matter to them.”

Macy obviously didn’t intend to disparage the organizations that were to hold the forums. She did, undoubtedly, intend to criticize Cline for his avoidance of engaging in a genuine debate, rather than just agreeing to joint appearances.

Cline’s position is, however, understandable. He is a threeterm Republican incumbent seeking to be reelected in a solidly Republican district. He doesn’t have much to gain by taking part in multiple debates in which candidates are subjected to questions by an impartial moderator not associated with either campaign.

However, our hope is that Cline does agree to take part in at least one genuine debate in which a standard format would be used that is agreeable to both campaigns. The voters would certainly benefit.

If such a debate doesn’t transpire, we can at least be grateful that Buena Vista’s Labor Day festival did live up to its tradition of providing a spirited opening to this fall campaign. Voters did get to see both candidates engage in a lively exchange.

Now That It’s Lake America …

Sept. 3, 2026 Editor, The News-Gazette: For years, children trying to remember the names of all five Great Lakes relied on the mnemonic H.O.M.E.S in order to trigger Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior.

Now that President Trump has decided to rename Ontario “Lake America” (and Google maps have already incorporated the change), what memory trick will help us now? I guess it must be the only real-world combination that forms an English word. And, sadly, that’s S.H.A.M.E.! How appropriate!

RONALD E. GRAVATT Buena Vista

Once again, it boasts an embarrassment of riches in terms of cultural, intellectual, athletic, university-connected, and overall community-oriented events to attend. From the Community Festival to the wide array in the C.R.E.W. Playbook by RARO; the wonderful community dinners by Rockbridge CAN and The Community Table; our local churches, historical societies and museums; the beautiful flowers maintained by the garden clubs; small business owners; Brushy Hills, the Chessie Trail, and Woods Creek trail; activities for children and teens; the multitude of opportunities for enjoying live music – the list goes on and on.

Added, we are fortunate to have two independent newspapers – a true rarity for any community, and especially one of this size.

We tell newcomers to the area that you have to work really hard at “being bored” around here – there is always something to do, see, learn, or experience around here.

None of this happens by accident. It is due to everyone who finds ways to contribute their talents, energy, finances, creativity, education, and perspectives. To everyone who, in their own way, makes the community we live in so wonderful: thank you!

EMILY ROUKEMA KING Lexington

Not one molecule of water from any source should ever be used to cool any planned data center in Botetourt County, or anyplace else where water supply is at a premium. No one knows much about droughts any more than they know about floods. Regardless of what any analysis may show, water supply to the county will be drastically impacted if water from streams, groundwater or reservoirs is used for cooling. That says nothing about impacts of data center heated water discharge to streams in the area.

The simple solution is cooling towers! Here is a link to just one site that discusses their use: https://spxcooling.com/applications/ data-centers/ I urge the Botetourt County officials to do the smart thing and require that cooling towers be used for any data center in the county. Oh, and require an irrevocable bond in the amount necessary to tear down the data center if it ever becomes unusable.

Thank you for this opportunity to be a good neighbor, and at no charge! BRADFORD PRICE Buena Vista

Folks can check their registration before they vote to make sure that their registration is current (a good idea), at www.elections. virginia.gov and click on the “Citizen Portal” button on that page.

And if a resident is not yet registered, they can easily do that online (same website as above) or in person. The last day to register to be able to vote a “normal” ballot is Oct. 23 by 5 p.m. If someone registers Oct. 24 or later, they’ll just vote a provisional ballot.

Please vote early and in person. SHANNON SPENCER Lexington

Except for a few concerning blemishes on the stat line, Parry McCluer played a near perfect football game last Friday night.

For a half, the Blues looked dominant, and the defense was stout throughout. That allowed PM to overcome a second half marred with penalties and fumbles to score a 31-14 victory over Page County in Shenandoah.

“Our game scheme worked well,” said PM head coach Jeremiah Brockenbrough, noting the week of delayed practices because of the heat and having to play Friday’s game without a game clock, which was out due to a storm just before game time. “We just have to clean up some of the penalties we had Friday night; in big ball games, that’s going to cost you. I’m not disappointed in any way. I thought our kids played hard after so much uncertainty all week long.”

Possessions were limited in the contest between two ballcontrol teams, but the PM offense clicked on all cylinders as the Blues scored all three times they had the ball in the first half.

After taking the opening kickoff, a squib kick that went out of bounds, the Blues set up shop at midfield. Eleven plays later, Parry McCluer had the first score of the game. Thomas Conner did the honors from a yard away, and when he ran in the two-point conversion, the Blues had an 8-0 lead.

The host Panthers countered with a drive of their own, moving all the way to the PM 45yard line. But that drive stalled after a holding penalty and two straight fumbles, and after the ensuing punt, the Blues started their next scoring drive at their own 17-yard line.

It turned out to be the best drive of the young season, though the Blues did have to overcome a holding penalty and unsportsmanlike conduct violation along the way. PM turned that holding call into a first down when Parker Snider sprinted for 15 yards and a first down at the 50-yard line. Brody Coleman ran the Blues to the Page Couty nine when the 15-yard penalty was incurred. But three plays later, quarterback Quentin Rosser found Michael Fleming behind the Page County defense for an 18-yard TD pass on fourth-and-15, the second fourth-down conversion of the march for the Blues and the first career touchdown pass for the PM quarterback. Conner once again ran in the two-point try, and the Blues upped their lead to 16-0.

The third scoring drive was not nearly as long, but just as dramatic. After the PM defense forced a three-and-out, the Blues began at the Page County 43. It took just one play to find the end zone again. Snider took a toss to the right side, and when he found nothing there, he reversed field for an open lane to the end zone. Conner’s 2-point run gave Parry McCluer the 24-0 halftime lead. “When we got the ball to start the game, I felt like we had to wear them down,” Brockenbrough said. “I think we’re doing what we’re supposed to up front. We changed up a few things in our blocking scheme at game time and stayed between the tackles.”

Parker once again led the Blues in rushing, finishing the game with 117 yards on 18 carries, while Coleman chipped in with 71 yards on 13 tries. Rosser completed two of four passes for 38 yards and the touchdown. As a team, the Blues piled up 254 yards rushing.

Meanwhile, though Page County did mount a couple of long drives in the game, the Blues all but shut down the Panther run-heavy offense. The Panthers ran the ball 41 times in the contest for only 110 yards, an average of just 2.7 yards per attempt, and at the same time the Parry McCluer defense held Page to a mere 3-for-11 on third down attempts.

“I thought [the defense] played well,” noted Brockenbrough. “We knew we could bend but we couldn’t break. They can push the ball around. We just couldn’t give up a big play, and we didn’t do that.”

The opening drive of the third quarter was a good example of bend-but-don’tbreak for the PM defense. The Panthers ran the first 16 plays of the second half, driving all the way to the Parry Mc-Cluer 8-yard line. They got no further, however, as the Blues recorded tackles for loss on the last two plays of the march.

Parry McCluer gave the ball right back with a fumble, which followed a holding penalty, one of 10 violations in the game for the Blues, but once again the defense came up big. This time, Rosser intercepted a pass at the 4-yard line to end that threat.

Page County finally found the scoreboard midway through the second half with a 24-yard run, but that was it for the Panther offense. The other score came on an 80-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter.

By then it was too little, too late, however, as the Blues put the game away by answering Page County’s first score. Thank to Conner’s 19-yard run, the Blues kept the ensuing drive alive on fourth-and-two at the Page County 30. Three plays later Coleman scored from the eight, and when Snider booted the extra-point kick, the Blues upped their lead to 31-6.

“That is what we’ve been trying to install for the last four years,” Brockenbrough said. “Somebody is going to break something; somebody is going to score, but we’ve got to get back to what we do and let that go. In the last three years, if somebody did that to us, we’d go three and out and be fighting for our lives. To get the ball back and go straight down the field, put together a three or four minute drive and put one in the house, that showed our character and our ability to stay calm and cool.”

After two straight road games to start the season, the Blues open a stretch of three straight home games when they entertain longtime rival James River this Friday night. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m., and Brockenbrough knows that the old rivalry is going to provide a real test.

“This week will be a different type of challenge; James River is a pretty good football team,” said the PM coach. “Playing James River at home is a big game, and it’s going to be no small task. We have to control the line of scrimmage, and our linebackers have to tattoo that fullback all night long.”

The Rockbridge County High School golf team placed third of nine teams in its second Shenandoah District match on Monday of last week at The Homestead in Hot Springs.

The match started on Aug. 10 but was suspended after five holes due to a storm, and the teams completed the rest of the course last Monday.

RC recorded a score of 341 on the hilly and challenging course.

Leading the Wildcats was junior Davis Welsh, firing an 80 on the 18-hole, par-72 course. RC’s second golfer was junior Parker Flint, shooting an 84, while sophomore Brody Grue carded an 85 for the Wildcats’ third score, and junior Tanner Hickman completed team scoring with a 92. Also competing for the Wildcats were junior Hendrick Colvin, posting a 94, and senior Finbar Looney, shooting a 96.

The Wildcats’ next contest will be a nine-hole match against Turner Ashby next Thursday, Sept. 10, at 5 p.m. at Lakeview Golf Club in Harrisonburg. RC will then play an 18-hole district match at Ingleside Golf Resort in Staunton on Monday, Sept. 14, at 9 a.m. The Wildcats’ final 18-hole district match is scheduled for the following Monday, Sept. 21, at 9 a.m. at The Club of Staunton in Verona.

RC head coach Garret Huffman said the Wildcats are focusing on earning one of the two Shenandoah District berths in the Region 3C tournament. “We are working hard to get a spot as a team in regionals,” he said.

After receiving the opening kickoff versus the Knights (2-0), the Wildcats fumbled on their first possession of the game deep in their own territory. On the first play after the turnover, the Knights cashed in on a nine-yard touchdown run by running back Ethan Farrish.

Rockbridge failed to move the ball on its next possession. Turner Ashby marched down the field and Farrish was able to put another touchdown on the board, from a short yardage gain, putting TA up 14-0 two minutes into the game.

Halfway through the first quarter, Farrish scored his third touchdown of the game after a 40-yard outside carry got him into open field for a home run score.

Farrish scored his fourth touchdown after making an interception late in the first quarter, returning it to the Rockbridge two, and then scoring from there.

Trailing 28-0, the Wildcats endured another quick score with a touchdown by Turner Ashby’s Cooper Smith. A safety on the following possession increased the Knights’ lead to 36-0.

Scoring his fifth and final touchdown of the night, Farrish thrashed through the Wildcat defense for a 42 yard run that put the Knights up 43-0.

With a monumental early lead, Turner Ashby opted to rest many of its starters and play their reserves for the rest of the contest. Rockbridge was able to stave off any more scores against them in the second half.

Looking to bounce back against a Shenandoah District contest against Staunton High School (2-0), the Wildcats will host the Storm on Friday, September 11, in Lexington with a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Staunton (2-0) at Rockbridge County (0-2) WHEN: 7 p.m. on Friday WHERE: Prasnicki-Ross Field at Veterans Stadium im Lexington. LASTYEAR: In a 14-7 slugfest, the Staunton Storm came out on top after the Storm’s Taiden Tombs found Luc Geffrard for a TD early in the fourth quarter. With Staunton holding a 14-0 lead, Rockbridge made it a one-score game after Gayden Brown found the end zone with seven minutes to play. The Wildcats lost their closest game of the year after failing to equalize. Despite the loss, it was the Wildcats’ best defensive performance of the season.

SCOUTING THE STORM: The Storm are 2-0 after two wins against Valley District opponents. Staunton earned a dominant 53-0 win versus Harrisonburg for their opening game and then a come-from behind 21-18 win versus Rocktown last Friday. Late in the game on Staunton’s final possession, Storm quarterback Kayden Organ led a game winning drive that was capped off with his seven-yard touchdown pass completion to Braxton Covert. The Storm will be full of confidence coming into Lexington on Friday.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS: The Wildcat offense has been held back by early mistakes in the first two games of the season, which has led them to having to chase early deficits. Quarterback Taylan Tyree and his group of receivers will look to find a steadiness that they haven’t had to start the year and utilize a potentially potent offense full of returners against Staunton.After coming off a grueling 43-0 loss to last year’s Valley District champion, Turner Ashby, the Cats are looking to bounce back.

THE NEWS GAZETTE’S PICK: Unless the Wildcat offense can keep up with a potentially explosive Staunton offense which has already shown it can put points on the board, it could be a long game for Rockbridge. Last year, the contest went down to the final quarter, and the ‘Cats were able to make crucial stops throughout the game. With 23 returners, there’s reason to believe it could be this could be a close game. We see Rockbridge playing much better this week but losing a one possession game, 21-16.

James River (1-1) at Parry McCluer(2-0) WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday WHERE: Robert E. Williams Field in Buena Vista. Tickets are $7. LAST MEETING: Behind running back Gavin Binns, who rushed for 297 yards and scored three touchdowns, James River exploded for 21 points in the third quarter and rolled past the Blues, 35-7, in Buchanan. The game was tied 7-7 at halftime, but the Knights scored on their first three possessions of the second half, with Binns doing the bulk of the damage (he was the only JR runner with positive yardage in the game). The Blues were whistled for 15 penalties in the game, 14 in the first half, and never got on track offensively, mustering only 132 yards on the ground.

SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS: Just like last year, James River is off to a 1-1 start after beginning the season with a victory over Auburn and falling to Blacksburg, 16-14, last Friday. Binns graduated and is no longer in the lineup for the Knights, so sophomore quarterback Merit Hammons and sophomore fullback Ashton Orange have taken over the bulk of the offensive load in James River’s veer offense. In the first three games, Hammons has accounted for three of James River’s five touchdowns. He threw for one and ran in another in the victory over Auburn while running in a score in the loss to Blacksburg. A number of other runners will handle the ball for James River, including senior Sam Wilson, who rushed for nearly 60 yards and scored a touchdown last week. Defensively, the Knights will mostly run out of a 4-4 set, though if history proves true, they will bring extra defenders into the box to try to stop PM’s running game.

SCOUTING THE BLUES: Parry McCluer overcame 10 penalties and four fumbles to roll past Page County, 31-14, last Friday night in Shenandaoh. The Blues did surrender a long kickoff return for a touchdown for the second straight week, but the PM defense continued to be stout. The Blues allowed only 123 yards of total offense to the Panthers and all but shut down the powerful Page running game, giving up just 110 yards on the ground. In two games thus far, Parry McCluer has allowed an average of just 119 total yards per game. Meanwhile, the starting backfield accounted for three more touchdowns, with Brody Coleman, Parker Snider and Thomas Conner all finding the end zone, and Snider went over 100 yards for the second straight game.

THE NEWS-GAZETTE’S PICK: James River and Parry McCluer first met way back in 1970 and have played every year since, with the Blues holding a 35-20-1 edge in the series. The Blues will not have to contend with Binns in this game, but they will have to cut down the penalties, which killed all momentum last season against the Knights and really hampered the offense in last week’s contest against Page County, and find a way to stop James River’s option attack. Do that, and the Blues should eke out a 21-14 win.

The Wildcats then fell short in their first two Shenandoah District matches of the fall, losing to Buffalo Gap on the road and to Wilson Memorial at home. RC is now 1-3 on the season.

In last Monday’s contest, Sarah Hairston notched 13 kills and Anna Hairston added 10 as the Knights (7-1) recorded a 25-20, 21-25, 25-23, 25-17 victory. Tenley Knight tallied 30 assists for TA, and Makenna McNeal totaled three service aces.

Cesi Beidle posted a match-high 14 kills for the Wildcats. Geneva Snyder registered nine kills and three blocks for RC, but she left the game due to an injury midway through the third set. Allison Licona-Asto led the ’Cats with 16 assists and 10 digs, while Adrianna Grue had nine digs and Braelyn Polly finished with eight.

After dropping the opener, RC turned the tide in the second set – only to see Snyder, a six-rotation hitter, collide with a teammate on the decisive final point of the frame. Snyder tried to give it a go in the third set, which the Wildcats led on multiple occasions. But once the senior exited the match for good, momentum swung back in TA’s favor as the Knights secured the four-set win.

“There isn’t anything else that they could have done in that moment,” RC head coach Graceon Whitesell said of her squad’s response to Snyder’s injury. “It’s definitely tough, but we came together and tried to band together as a team.”

TA was in control for most of the first set, getting six kills from Sarah Hairston as the Wildcats’ defense struggled to contain the Knights’ attack. The visitors built up a 19-11 lead and then kept RC at arm’s length the rest of the way.

But RC tweaked its scheme in the second stanza, and the adjustments worked well to bottle up the TA offense. Beidle also came to life in the set, recording five kills as the Wildcats evened up the match.

“They just went out there and really sacrificed their bodies as best as possible,” Whitesell said. “It just kind of flowed together right for the second set.”

Despite getting hurt on the last point of that frame, Snyder came out and recorded three early kills in the third set. But she eventually had to leave the game for good, and a back-and-forth set that featured 11 ties and five lead changes ultimately went the Knights’ way.

“The third set was tough,” Whitesell said. “It came down to clutch points.”

TA carried its momentum into a dominant fourth set. The Knights raced out to a 20-7 advantage in the frame – and while the Wildcats showed some resolve with a late 6-0 run, they simply had too much ground to make up.

RC served up 12 aces in the match, getting three apiece from Beidle, Grue and Licona-Asto, while Emerson Duff chipped in four kills. Claire Stallard had five kills for TA, and Caroline Byerly and Adisyn Snead added four apiece.

Though the Wildcats came up short, they certainly acquitted themselves well against one of the strongest teams on their schedule.

“I’m very proud of them. I’m not going to allow that one game to discourage my season at all,” Whitesell said. “It’s super important that we just maintain our composure as a team – and continue our intentionality and intensity that we’ve started the season with.”

RC Falls To BG, WM

RC then fell in straight sets in its first two district contests of the season.

Last Tuesday in Swoope, Buffalo Gap (3-0, 2-0 district) recorded a 25-16, 25-18, 25-13 victory over the Wildcats. Wilson Memorial then picked up a 25-10, 25-22, 25-17 win over RC in Lexington on Thursday.

In the matchup with the Green Hornets (3-1, 2-0), Beidle paced the ’Cats with 11 kills while also picking up six digs and a block. Duff had five kills, Licona-Asto totaled 12 assists and seven digs, and Grue collected eight digs.

RC was scheduled to travel to Riverheads on Tuesday. The Wildcats will take on district foe Fort Defiance, the two-time VHSL Class 2 state runners-up, at home on Thursday, starting with the junior varsity contest at 6 p.m.

Last Monday, the Lancers (2-2) captured a win in straight sets against the Fighting Blues. While disappointed with the result, first-year PM head coach Elle Kindred is continuing to see progress from her squad.

“We are growing and getting better,” Kindred said. “Now we just need to put it all together. Each match, we’ve shown growth in certain areas, but we are due for a match where everything comes together.”

PM followed that up on Thursday with a 3-0 setback against the unbeaten Knights (4-0), who completed a season sweep of the Blues. JR also won in consecutive sets against PM in Buena Vista on Aug. 27.

In Thursday’s rematch in Buchanan, Jorja Catlett paced the Blues with four assists and two blocks. Ciara Hamilton notched two kills, and Josie Martinez had two aces.

Despite the loss, Kindred thought that her team made some significant strides with serve-receive – though she acknowledged that the Blues still have other areas where they’re striving to improve.

“We received so much better than we have been – really proud of the girls there,” the PM coach said. “I think we still have some growing to do in the communication aspect of things. We are in the process of learning effective ways to communicate, and I think that will really elevate our game level.”

The Blues were slated to face Amherst in the return match at home last night. PM will visit Nelson County this evening before traveling to Rockbridge County on Monday, with junior varsity competition beginning at 5:30 p.m. on both nights.

The event will feature four teams in three games, with one trophy.

There will also be a bounce house, a “kids run the bases,” games, raffle drawings, firehouse chicken and other concessions.

All proceeds will benefit the Travis Roadcap Scholarship Fund.

Travis Roadcap, who had coached the RCHS baseball team for seven years, died in July at the age of 34.

Now Planned

What was to be one of Buena Vista’s biggest housing projects in years has been downsized considerably in scope.

Instead of building 22 townhouse units that were to go in an undeveloped wooded/ pasture area on the east side of Magnolia Avenue, between Sixth and Ninth streets, Bryson Adams is now proposing to build four single-family houses and two duplexes for a total of eight residences.

The Planning Commission recommended approval of a special exception permit for the housing project on Aug. 11 and City Council held a first reading this past Thursday, Sept. 3, of an ordinance to grant the SEP.

Tom Roberts, the city’s director of community development, explained that the earlier plans, approved about 18 months ago, proved to not be “feasible because of the infrastructure costs. … In order to do it all – the storm water management and the roads and the utilities and all – the numbers just didn’t pencil out. So, the developer reworked it.”

A conceptual site plan shows four single-family houses facing Magnolia Avenue that would have rear driveways accessed by a two-way alley off of Sixth Street. On the east side of the alley, in the direction of Woodland Avenue, would be two duplexes, which would actually be oriented toward Magnolia Avenue and accessed from the alley.

Duplexes require an SEP in the R-3 residential district. An SEP is also needed because the front setbacks for the duplexes are just 10 feet from the alley, which is less than would otherwise be required. The rear of the property toward Woodland Avenue has a substantial dropoff, necessitating the siting for the duplexes that is closer to the alley. Parking for the duplexes will be right off the alley. The single-family homes will have driveways and garages.

“There’s basically a big cliff back there,” said Roberts. “So, Woodland Avenue is much lower than Magnolia Avenue. And these [all of the proposed structures] are on the Magnolia Avenue side of that cliff, if you will. So the alleyway will be … paved [and] wide enough for twoway traffic.” Noting that staff and the Planning Commission are recommending approval of the SEP, Roberts said the addition of eight new housing units would be a “positive thing” for the city.

City Manager Krystal Onaitis said the project would help “fill a need that the city has with a lack of diversified housing … it’s a step toward … getting a little more density in some areas where we can support it.”

Set in Oxford, England, during the early 1900s, The Bookbinder follows Peggy and Maude, twin sisters who work at the Oxford University Press during World War I. As the war changes their community, Peggy begins questioning the path of her life and women’s lives and longs for a change in the role that society has granted her.

New members and visitors are welcome.

Filmed live from Wyndham’s Theatre in London’s West End, the movie features critically acclaimed stars like Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste (“Hard Truths”).

Running time is 150 minutes with no interval.

At the heart of Arthur Miller’s play is the Keller family, whose seemingly comfortable life is haunted by a post-World War II tragedy. When the long-held truths resurface, the family is asked to confront different questions about love, loyalty, guilt and responsibility, all while their relationships are being tested and trialed. Using a more relatable family story to reflect a larger moral and social picture, the drama raises the question about how far we are willing to go to protect our closest ones, especially if it costs.

Directed by Ivo van Hove and designed by Jan Versweyveld, the production has earned widespread positive critics since its debut. The Guardian praised its “dream cast” with a 5-star rating, while The Evening Standard called it an “astonishing piece of theater.” In terms of the cast, The Independent praised Cranston, stating that he was “magnetic” in the play’s “masterful staging.”

Ticket prices are $20 for general admission and $8 for students other than W&L students, who are free with ID. Online ticket sales are available at the Lenfest website: https:// my.wlu.edu/lenfest-center/ ntl-all-my-sons.

Tickets can also be purchased on the night of the screening onsite at the Stackhouse Theater.

The box office is open for in-person sales Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Patrons can contact the box office by calling (540) 458-8000 or emailing boxoffice@wlu. edu.

The National Theatre Live is sponsored in part by the Class of ’64 Performing Arts Fund.