LATEST NEWS
VSP: Woman riding atop hood of car killed in Rockingham County, driver charged
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY — Virginia State Police said a Broadway woman riding atop the hood of a car was killed earlier this week in Rockingham County. Police said at about 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, 34-year-old Dymond A.S. Thacker, 34, of Broadway, was riding on the hood of a 2020 Hyundai Elantra in the 5500 block of Bryant Hollow Road, a press release said.
Harrisonburg Police Department warns against ‘sextortion’
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - The Harrisonburg Police Department is warning parents of a disturbing internet crime happening in the Shenandoah Valley. ‘Sextortion’ is exactly what the name suggests; an online predator will befriend a minor via social media, coerce them into sending explicit photos or videos and demand money from the victim. If the victim doesn’t pay, the perpetrator will threaten to share the explicit content.
Cloudy with a couple showers
Today: mainly cloudy and not as warm with a couple of showers this afternoon. High 68. Winds south 6-12 mph. Tonight: cloudy with a brief shower or two. Low 51. Winds northwest 4-8 mph. Tomorrow: intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 66. Winds west-northwest 7-14 mph. Sunday: cooler with a...
City of Harrisonburg to introduce new 'spraygrounds'
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - The city of Harrisonburg is seeking community input on a new water playground. The ‘Spraygrounds’ will be installed at Ralph Sampson Park, and it’s all thanks to a $2 million grant the city received in 2021. Mike Parks, the director of communications for the city of Harrisonburg, said the Spraygrounds will have interactive water elements and features that people of all ages can enjoy.
Check out this rare snow event in April 1925
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - On April 18 in 1926, the Dale Enterprise weather station, just outside of Harrisonburg recorded 12 inches of snow!. This is a really unique event because Staunton recorded no snow, and Woodstock barely picked up an inch and then it melted. The snow basically stretched in a band from Pickens, West Virginia, into Highland and Pendleton County, stretching into Rockingham County and across the Blue Ridge.
Charlie King appointed as JMU Interim President
HARRISONBURG, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – Charlie King has been appointed as James Madison University’s Interim President by the university’s Board of Visitors. He previously served as JMU’s Senior Vice President of Administration and Finance for 25 years until his retirement in 2021. The Board of Visitors voted and approved his appointment Friday morning during their quarterly meeting.
Sunshine and very warm today
This afternoon: partly sunny and very warm. High 78. Winds north 6-12 mph. Tonight: mostly cloudy. Low 48. Winds east 4-8 mph. Tomorrow: mainly cloudy and not as warm with a couple of showers. High 69. Winds south 6-12 mph. Saturday: intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 67. Winds west-northwest...
New collision center coming to Harrisonburg
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - A new $6 million collision center is coming to Harrisonburg to serve Valley drivers. Community members gathered Thursday to break ground for the new Harrisonburg Auto Paint and Collision Center. The 36,000 square foot facility off of South Main Street will feature 40 bays, an efficient...
City hiring firefighters to staff new station
HARRISONBURG, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – With the city of Harrisonburg on the verge of a fifth fire station, officials are going to need firefighters to man the facility. Fire Chief Matt Tobia explained during a recent meet and greet recruitment event that they are looking for individuals who thrive in team-challenging environments.
Rocktown Museum exhibit commemorates 100 years of county baseball league
DAYTON, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – This summer marks the 100th anniversary of the Rockingham County Baseball League and to mark the occasion, league officials are opening an exhibit at the Rocktown Museum in Dayton. RCBL Media Director Randy Atkins explained some of the items that are on display during...
DEA National Drug Takeback Day at Valley Mall
HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) — Harrisonburg Police Department will be setting up at the Valley Mall in front of Books-A-Million in Harrisonburg for this year’s DEA National Drug Takeback Day. The event will be Saturday, April 27th from 9am-1pm. HPD is partnering with the Community Services Board to...
Major delays in Mount Crawford area due to crash
MOUNT CRAWFORD, VA (Rocktown Now) — Cecil Wampler Road in Mount Crawford will be shut down from South Valley Pike to Crowe Drive for an extended period of time this morning (Wednesday, April 17th 2024). According to Bridgewater Volunteer Fire Company on Facebook, fire and rescue crews are on...
‘Shop to Stop Hunger’ collects thousands of dollars – and thousands of meals – worth of groceries
HARRISONBURG, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank ended this year’s ‘Shop to Stop Hunger’ event with more than $7,300 in donations and nearly 700 lbs. of food in their pantry. Altogether, the Supermarket Sweep-style event gathered enough groceries to make nearly 30,000...
Sprayground to open at Harrisonburg’s Ralph Sampson Park in summer of 2025
Starting in 2025, the Harrisonburg community will have another option to cool off in the summer. Harrisonburg Parks & Recreation and city staff are in the planning process to create a sprayground at Ralph Sampson Park. The water attraction, also known as a splash pad, is typically outfitted with various types of water features for young children to play outdoors.
Cloudy skies overnight with thunderstorms possible
Tonight: a couple of evening showers and a heavy thunderstorm; otherwise, cloudy. Thunderstorms could. bring damaging winds, flash flooding and hail. Low 54. Winds west-southwest 6-12 mph. Tomorrow: partly sunny and very warm. High 79. Winds northwest 6-12 mph. Tomorrow night: mostly cloudy. Low 48. Winds east-southeast 4-8 mph. Friday:...
Enright departs Bridgewater, named head coach at Keene State
BRIDGEWATER, Va. (WHSV) - Steve Enright is departing Bridgewater to become the head men’s basketball coach at Keene State. Enright served as head coach at Bridgewater for the last five seasons. He helped lead the Eagles to the ODAC tournament in all five seasons, which included trips to the quarterfinals the last two seasons.
Weyers Cave man sentenced to 43 years in prison for murdering brother
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - A Weyers Cave man has been sentenced to 43 years in prison for murdering his brother. In November of 2023, a jury found 62-year-old Richard Brunk guilty of murdering his brother, then-63-year-old Ronald Brunk, back in June of 2022. On Wednesday, April 17th, a Rockingham County Circuit Court judge sentenced Brunk to 40 years in prison for second-degree murder, and an additional three years for the use of a firearm in commission of a felony.
Return of the new school day: Superintendent suggests new approach for adjusting school start and end times
After the collapse of an effort to change city schools’ start and end times, Superintendent Michael Richards unveiled his plans for a sequel: one he hopes has a better ending. Last month, the school board struck down a task force’s proposal to start elementary schools earlier and middle schools...
Rockingham County home total loss after fire
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, VA. (Rocktown Now) — A home just north of Harrisonburg is a total loss after a large fire last night. Chief Jeremy Holloway with Rockingham County Fire and Rescue said that crews responded to the five-thousand block of Springhouse Circle around 6:15 to find flames showing from the two-story structure.
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