The Virginia House of Delegates Appropriations

The Virginia House of Delegates Appropriations

Committee has taken the first step in the long process

that might lead to ai regional jail serving the counties of Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren. The four counties desire to study the practical feasibility of a regional jail, which would be funded by the General Assembly. Such a first step is currently hlocked by a statewide moratorium on jail construction.

At the request of C. Tbdd Gilbert, the representative for the 15th District, the House Appropriations Committee has granted an exception to the moratorium on jail construction. The exception will allow the feasibility study to go forward.

Senator Mark Obenshain succeeded getting a similar amendment through the Senate Finance Committee, so there is a veiy good chance the study will go forward. Eventually, most of the 15th district plus Warren County could share a regional facility that would end the overcrowding in some county jails.

Rappahannock’s aging facility could then well serve as a transfer site rather than a permanent jail.

With a limited staff, Sheriff Larry Sherertz has long voiced his opinion that this would be the way to go and it appears that his long-range vision may be on the horizon.

Tastings, tourists

and too much noise

TTTith the passage of HB 1435 by the House of \I\I Delegates, many fear that rampant partying, * » towering tents and basically just too much noise i id traffic may be the order of the day if local wineries ore not required to restrain themselves in some way.

For others, it’s trying to constrain what has become !,ig business in Virginia - making and selling premium wines and promoting that business by partnering with lavish events.

Let your representatives in Richmond know if you’d like the Senate to lean heavier than the House of Delegates elected not to do.

There's still time to lobby.