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News Briefs
Gateway quorum issue heard by Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Virginia was scheduled to hear 30 minutes of oral arguments Wednesday on the Save Our Gateway appeal of a lower court ruling stemming from the Front Royal Town Council's 2003 approval of a Wal-Mart rezoning request.
Judge James V. Lane, of the 26th Judicial Circuit Court, ruled in Harrisonburg that a number of recusals reduced the amount of councilmen necessary to form a quorum. The council approved the Wal-Mart commercial rezoning request on the 121-acre Richards' tract by 3-0 margins in successive votes on June 9 and 10, 2003, with only three of the council's six members present.
While both the town and Wal-Mart have withdrawn from presenting defenses in the case, attorneys for the Richards Trust were anticipated to argue the defense position before the Supreme Court. The trust is interested in maintaining the site's commercial zoning.
The council majority that approved the controversial rezoning was voted out of office in May 2004 and Wal-Mart abandoned the site after four years of delays imposed the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Gateway President Craig Laird said his attorneys believe a Supreme Court ruling is not likely for weeks or possibly months.
The case has attracted attention statewide because as Lane noted prior to his ruling it presents a case of judicial first impression on the quorum issue that could impact municipalities across Virginia.
Fair Association schedules first stand alone concert
Country singer Travis Tritt has been signed to perform the first ever stand alone concert at the Warren County Fairgrounds on Sunday, July 9, according to entertainment co-chairman Tom Eshelman.
Tickets for the concert will go on sale on Saturday, March 18, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Fairgrounds office. The price will be $50 for reserved seats and $40 for general admission. The ticket price includes all fairgrounds fees, Eshelman said.
"This is something new for us, a concert outside of the Fair itself," Eshelman said. He added that he and entertainment co-chairman Dennis Grove were lucky to book Tritt - whom they have been trying to get for the Fair for the past two years - because Tritt will be traveling from an engagement in Maryland that Saturday to another one in Tennessee on Monday.
Eshelman said the entertainment for the Fair is nearly booked, with the Hubcaps and other favorites returning for the weeknight concerts, but the big kickoff concert for Sunday has yet to be booked.
"We had Kenny Rogers, but he fell through, and then we had Merle Haggard and he fell through," Eshelman said. He and Grove are currently negotiating with another big name performer, and will make that announcement as soon as a contract is signed.
In addition to taking on an extra concert this summer, the Fair Association has announced that this year's fair will be extended to eight days.
Fair Association president Joye Wood said the Fair will offiically begin on Saturday, Aug. 5 and run through Saturday, Aug. 12, due to popular demand fir nire community events.
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More stories on Shenandoah.com:
 (MASSANUTTEN REGIONAL LIBRARY)
- Yesterday
(Bluemont Concert Series)
- Wednesday Jul 28 2010
(Woodstock Enhancement Committee)
- Wednesday Jul 28 2010
(Virginia Farm Bureau)
- Wednesday Jul 28 2010
(The Warren Sentinel)
- Monday Nov 30 2009
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