Well-Rounded Stories

This week, The Rockbridge Report sent two reporters to the City Council… luckily. The meeting, which lasted until after 10 p.m., was peppered with public outcry and criticism. Local citizens came to the City Council meeting to share their opinions regarding the new urban deer season, the apparently strained relationship between the rescue squad and Lexington Fire Department, and displaying Confederate flags during Lee-Jackson Day.

Once the meeting was over, our reporters were able to talk to a few citizens who spoke at the meeting and got their contact information.

But when our three reporters went to research and flesh out the stories, a hush fell over Lexington.

Michael Freeman tried to talk to rescue squad members, who had been vocal about their "mistreatment" by the Lexington Fire Department. But, when he tried to reach the rescue squad members, they were not able to talk to the press, or perhaps they were less enthusiastic about their cause.

Brooke Sutherland made a number of phone calls to citizens who had spoken against the urban archery season at the meeting, but only a small number of them returned her calls.

One of the most important roles of a journalist is showing all sides of a story. Lexington residents are frequently an important facet of stories we put together. When local citizens become silent on an issue they were previously passionate about as soon as the camera or tape recorder rolls, they do themselves a disservice by not letting their voices be heard.

Throughout the term, and even in our explanations of the inner workings of The Rockbridge Report, we talk about the importance of cultivating sources. Allowing us to share your voice in a story also validates the concerns you citizens bring to the table. The whole purpose of the press is to enforce the democratic process. Our stories make better sense when we can include voices of the public.

As The Rockbridge Report ends this term, I look back at how far our small news organization has come, and appreciate everyone who took the time to work with us while our reporters developed their stories. Helping them helps the nation’s journalistic future.

Signing Off,

Anne Vesoulis

The importance of cultivating sources

We journalists have always been told that the most important tool of journalism is the ability to write.

Equally important, though, is the relationship a journalist builds with his or her sources.

In our weekly story meetings, we discuss developing stories in Rockbridge County and decide how best to cover all of our bases. In order to get the best and most accurate story, it is vital that reporters get to know their points of contact, or sources.

This relationship is almost a friendship—a two-way street that mutually provides information and additional resources.

When I was a reporter in Winter 2010, I covered the education beat. I knew that I would be working with Rockbridge County Schools Superintendent John Reynolds. So, when I went to my first school board meeting, I walked up to Mr. Reynolds and said,

“Hi, Mr. Reynolds. My name is Anne Vesoulis and I will be covering education in Rockbridge County this semester. I wanted to introduce myself because you’ll be seeing a lot of me this term, so get ready.”

From that day forward, I was in Mr. Reynolds’ office two to three times a week.

Just the other day, I saw Mr. Reynolds in Wal-Mart. He still recognized me and proceeded to say hello.

It is that kind of source cultivation that gets journalists the story.

This year, our education reporter, Melissa Powell, has had similar successes with her sources. In her coverage of Lexington schools’ decision to rebuild Waddell, Melissa is able to get the inside "scoop." This enables her to inform our readership about what went into the decision and any conflict—angles we wouldn’t have gotten without good sources.

If a journalist doesn’t cultivate a source, it is unlikely that he or she will get anything more than an overview or vague statement.

Getting to know your source is invaluable. Without information, how can we write a good story? 

Learning to cover local and national news

This week, the reporters are covering several important issues that have arisen around the area. Many of them are localizing national stories that are important to residents of Rockbridge County.


Caffeinated alcoholic drinks have become a major issue around the country. Reporter Jessica Strait looks at how drinks such as Four Loko, which contains 12 percent alcohol as well as stimulants, are affecting the community.

Michael Freeman looks into why county noise complaints are aiming to be the highest ever this year. He talked to residents, the sheriff’s department and students to get at what is causing so much tension.

Although elections are over, we are still on top of following the newly elected candidates for Lexington City Council as they prepare to take office in January. Reporter Tim Watson found out how they are preparing and what their goals are.

Lastly, Melissa Powell reports on the new federal grant that allows for tutoring and enrichment activities at Maury River Middle School. The program provides kids with opportunities to get help with their homework from volunteers along with special programs, something they wouldn’t have gotten without the grant.

As our reporters stay busy covering the area, we will be sure to keep you updated on what’s going on around Rockbridge County.

Be sure to check out what stories we have for you next Thursday!

Pre-Election Coverage Begins!

Good afternoon! With less than one week until the 2010 midterm elections, the reporters and producers of The Rockbridge Report have been working tirelessly to get you the latest on important local, state-wide and national elections.

Brooke Sutherland met with each of the candidates in the Virginia 6th District House of Representatives race. Even though incumbent Bob Goodlatte is pretty much a shoo-in for the seat, contenders Stuart Bain and Jeff Vanke are trying to get their messages out to the public.

But the 6th District race is blasé compared to the House races in Virginia’s 5th and 9th Districts. Jessica Strait has been hot on the trail covering these contentious campaigns. Incumbent Tom Perriello is facing a tough challenge by long-time state legislator Robert Hurt, in a national trend of anti-incumbency sentiment. Similarly the race between Rick Boucher and Morgan Griffith looks like it could be a photo-finish.

Closer to home, Michael Freeman spoke with members of the Rockbridge County Tea Party to find out how the new political movement is affecting the area.

Melissa Powell took on the task of analyzing close national races. This election is unusual in that only a handful of races could decide which party holds the majority in both the House of Representatives and in the Senate. Melissa has been working with members of the Washington and Lee Mock Convention—a group of budding politicos, who dedicate their free time to analyzing political races in order to correctly select the 2012 Republican Presidential nominee—to get a handle on exactly which races will tip the scales.

Three amendments are on the ballot for the state of Virginia, and each issue is quite technical. Nonetheless, Tim Watson sat down with public officials to find out how voting “yes” or “no” could affect Rockbridge County.

Locally, Holly Suthers has been following the five candidates seeking the three open seats on the Lexington City Council. In talking to each, Holly found out that all of the candidates are trying to promote local businesses, and each has his or her own ideas about other ways to improve the community.

We hope that each of these stories gives you a good idea about the upcoming election. The entire Rockbridge Report team will be in the newsroom on Election Night to bring you the latest updates of race results and implications, so be sure to visit our website at www.rockbridgereport.wlu.edu.

Happy voting!

--Anne and Caroline

Getting the Scoop

This week on The Rockbridge Report there are so many interesting stories. All of the reporters are staying on top of their beats, and getting scoops before other news outlets in the region.

One of the biggest stories this week is a feature on landlord/tenant relations in Lexington. With the closing of Cool Spring Organic Market, many residents were upset over what they thought was the mistreatment of the renters by their landlords.Holly Suthers got the building owner’s side of the story, and it turns out the landlord is not necessarily the bad guy in this controversy, as many in the community had been led to believe.

Also featured on the website this week is a broadcast package by Michael Freeman about the Lexington parking proposal that is to be voted on by the city council tonight. If passed, parking fines will increase in time-limited parking spots. However, 50 long-term parking permits will be available to those who live or work downtown.

Brooke Sutherland covered how local businesses are being affected by the recession – and competition from the Internet. She found that area business owners are creating an initiative to encourage people to buy locally rather than online or at large chain stores.

Another scoop is Melissa Powell’s story on the potential reconfiguration of Kling and Enderly Heights Elementary Schools in Buena Vista. The proposal may not be decided until January, but it is already starting to stir some support, although school officials expect an outcry from several community members.

Rockbridge County could owe big bucks to a local family in a social services case. The Lawrence family adopted a child, then sued the county alleging it breached the “adoption assistance agreement” when social services did not reimburse the family for expenses. The judge found there was a breach of contract, and is in the process of deciding just how much it will cost the county.

Last, but not least, we have continued coverage of the issue of what is going to be done with area trash after the landfill closes in 2012. Buena Vista had signed a contract with Rockbridge Resource Recovery Inc. to remove trash through a transfer station. Lexington officials are leaning towards joining the Buena Vista contract, but Rockbridge County is still at a standstill in making a decision. They all need to decide what to do with the trash by the end of the year to pursue those plans in time to meet state deadlines closing the dump two years later.

All of our reporters this semester are learning how to develop relationships with their sources, which is why we are on top of all the news in the area!

Be sure to check out The Rockbridge Report next week to catch some pre-election coverage.

--Caroline

The News Process

Hello again from the Journalism lab in chilly Lexington, Virginia!

This fall term got off to a great start last week with successful launches of both the website and the broadcast. Thanks to our reporters, the news reached its intended audiences.

This week, I wanted to let you know a little bit about how our newsroom functions. Each Wednesday, the week before our show, Caroline and I (the producers) sit down with each of the reporters as they “sell”—or pitch—us their stories for the following week. Once each reporter gets assigned a story, it’s off to the races. On top of a regular course load, each reporter has to pre-interview, film interviews, get in contact with local (and sometimes national) officials, and either write a print story or put together a 90 second video news story.

When I interned in D.C. this summer, I worked with a journalism grad student who was focused on the same production and reporting aspects as we are working on this term. Kudos to the j-school!


The point isn’t to toot my own horn here, but simply to state the amount of professionalism and dedication each reporter, producer and professor puts into The Rockbridge Report each week.


So, while all of you are watching our newscast or reading the various stories on our website, think about each element as a separate piece of a puzzle. It’s exciting!

--Anne

News Never Sleeps

Our second week in the newsroom has gone pretty smoothly! A lot of important stories are going on around the area, and our reporters have been getting scoops. The biggest story this week has been the relief from the severe drought that Rockbridge County has been experiencing over the past several months. The area has gone from being six to nine inches behind average to receiving upwards of five inches in some places in the county over this past week alone.

Another headline story this week is unemployment numbers recently released for the area. Rockbridge Reporter Brooke Sutherland found out that some areas still have high unemployment rates, where others have leveled out.

Also, Reporter Tim Watson has the latest on the proposed broadband connection coming to the county. Officials now believe that it might be implemented nine months ahead of deadline. The project was originally to be completed in July of 2013, however now it is believed it will be finished at the end of 2012.

Reporter Melissa Powell took a look to see the effects of the merger between Effinger and Central Elementary Schools since over a month of school has past. She found that the school year has gotten off to a smooth start at Central despite all the new faces.

The annual Boxerwood festival occurred this past weekend, and Holly Suthers was there to cover the exciting activities and performances that hundreds of area residents came out to enjoy.

Another busy news week has gone by, and we can’t wait to bring you more exciting news next Thursday!

-Caroline Helms and Anne Vesoulis

New Year, New Stories

Happy Fall Solstice! It’s Anne and Caroline, your producers for the Rockbridge Report this semester. While we were busy at work this summer at CBS in Washington, D.C. and ArkMedia in Brooklyn, NY the coveted “J-school” (our home away from home) was busy getting ready for a new year.

We have a group of great reporters this year, each of whom will focus on a “beat” or aspect of the area community. Brooke Sutherland is our business and commerce beat. Michael Freeman will cover police and courts. Melissa Powell is tackling the Education beat and Holly Suthers is following the happenings within Lexington. Tim Watson will focus on Rockbridge County news. Finally, Jessica Strait will keep us up to date on social welfare and religion.

This semester, the Rockbridge Report will tackle big issues like the water loop project, follow citizens seeking public office in the upcoming elections, and as always, keep Rockbridge County informed.

We look forward to your viewership and comments about the website and newscast. The Rockbridge Report broadcasts Thursdays on channel 18 at 4:30pm. If you don’t live in the viewing area, check us out at http://rockbridgereport.wlu.edu to see the broadcast online.

--Caroline Helms and Anne Vesoulis

Hey Rockbridge,
It’s been an exciting winter reporting the news in one of the coolest small towns in America. We’ve covered snow storms, tremendous school board budget dilemmas, gang trials, and much more. The Rockbridge Area might be small, but there’s always something going on despite its sleepy feel.

But some of the most interesting stories are what goes on in our very own newsroom.

For the past few months, our reporters, professors, faculty members and my co-producer and I have been working day and night to bring the community the best coverage of local issues as possible. Any given night at least one of our diligent reporters is plugging away at a story for the Rockbridge Report. On Thursdays when we launch the Web site and broadcast the news on Channel 18, all the excitement takes place, especially in the control room.


I hope you’ve enjoyed our news coverage this winter, and that you continue to check out The Rockbridge Report next fall.


A special thank you to all the wonderful people behind The Rockbridge Report. Without you, none of this would’ve been possible.

Until next time –



Farrell

Openings, closings?

I have to admit, I had to resist the urge to break out into the famous Village People party anthem more than a few times while working on this week’s Rockbridge Report.

After years of planning, the Rockbridge Area YMCA opened its new doors early Monday morning. The health club has also expanded its services thanks to its bigger facility. The new building, located at the College Square shopping center off of Route 11, allows for multiple fitness classes at once. The folks at the Y also plan to offer classes to teach young people about healthy lifestyle choices and habits.

Meanwhile, Lexington and Rockbridge Area tourism plans to use geocaching, high-tech treasuring hunting using GPS equipment, to attract visitors to the area when they launch the Gems of Rockbridge Geocache Trail in June.

And how does a speed limit of 70 on I-81 sound? The General Assembly passed a bill allowing this increase, but first VDOT has to conduct speed surveys to see which parts of the interstate are safe enough to make this change.

The battle of the county school budget raged on this week. The Board of Supervisors decided on Monday not to grant the school board full funding for the shortfall. The supervisors will hold a public hearing later this month.

That’s all for this week. Tune in the Channel 18 next Thursday at 4:30 p.m. and check out rockbridgereport.wlu.edu for this semester’s last Rockbridge Report.


-Victoria

Health care, noise and school-budget squabbles continue

This week the saga continues for the Rockbridge County School Board’s budget cuts. Tonight the board will meet to determine what to slash from the budget. The options: close Effinger Elementary or pray that the Board of Supervisors will make up the difference. Rockbridge Reporter Anne Vesoulis will have an update after tonight’s meeting.

And speaking of meetings, the Board of Supervisors passed a revised noise ordinance Monday that will shorten the time for county parties by one hour. The ordinance mandates that party-goers will go home at 11 p.m. instead of midnight, and, in theory, the neighbors will get an extra hour of sleep.

While attending those county parties, don’t forget to lock the doors and windows beforehand. A break-in on Collierstown Road reminds locals of home security.

But county woes are small potatoes compared to the massive health care debate. The bill is now a law, and a new “fix-it” bill is headed to the House. Virginia now has its own state health care law, and Virginia congressional representatives are receiving threatening mail from angry activists.

Still, this post is only a glimpse of the full stories, which you can watch, and read, on our Web site, rockbridgereport.wlu.edu. Stay tuned for next week’s show, which airs live on Channel 18.

- Melissa Szumlic

What are we going to do about budget cuts?

That seems to be the question of the week. School systems across the area - Rockbridge County, Buena Vista and Lexington - are all trying to come up with how to balance the budget without cutting important extracurricular programs and teaching jobs and, in some cases, closing schools.

The fine arts community in Lexington is also suffering because of budget shortfalls handed down by the General Assembly. But luckily for a rural town that prides itself on theatrical, musical and other cultural productions, the budget cuts aren't as much as they were feared to be.

And that's not all Lexington has to be thankful for. A new police chief has finally come to town - and he's from just across the Blue Ridge in Lynchburg, Va.

Our town may be small, but we've sure developed a habit of making big news these past couple months. Whether its snow storms, new gun laws, local drug investigations or school budget cuts, you can 'bet your bottom dollar' (like we all seem to be doing these days) that The Rockbridge Report will deliver you the most important local stories of the week. Keep your televisions on at 4:30 on Thursdays - Channel 18.

Hello, Rockbridge. I’m Catherine Carlock-- this week's producer for The Rockbridge Report Web site.

It’s a tale of two corners: last weekend, construction crews demolished the long-standing gift shop A Corner of Lexington to make way for CornerStone bank. Construction was delayed for about six months, but crews hope to finish by the year’s end. Lexington’s only locally owned bank will soon be the third to call the intersection of Main and Nelson streets home.

In local school news, the Rockbridge County School Board is thinking about slashing fine arts programs in elementary, middle, and high schools. One drama teacher was so shocked by the news that she inquired if McDonald’s is hiring… and found out that she won’t be working for the restaurant with the golden arches anytime soon. The potential cuts disappoint a lot of students and faculty, many of whom say that fine arts is the best part of their day.

A civil suit brings up old memories of the Barger Quarry expansion. In 2007, the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors said Charles Barger could expand his quarry. Now, some residents are suing the county because of the decision. We’ll give you up-to-date information as the trial continues.

Finally, it felt like the snow would never stop falling in the winter… and now it means that roads may be a little bumpier in the spring. The increased cost of snow removal this winter put the city’s Public Works Department way over budget, and money has to be taken from the repaving budget as a result. Watch out for those potholes!


Thanks for reading!

-Catherine

Our last post of February

Last week’s snow has iced over but that doesn’t mean things haven’t been heating up in Rockbridge County.


One of the hot issues in the area has been gang violence. Rockbridge Reporter Rosie Purdy spent two days in court watching the dramatic trial of two members of a local gang the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation. The defendants were found guilty on all charges. Another alleged gang member awaits his trial.

Also, this week it becomes clearer and clearer how our community is continually being hit by the ripple effects of the economic downturn. Not only has the local Blockbuster closed, but also Woody’s Chevrolet, a dealership that has been around for generations. The dealership closes after serving the Rockbridge Area for close to eighty years. And to make matters worse, the severe budget cuts our community faces could cause Effinger Elementary and Rockbridge County Middle School to shut its doors. The decision’s not definite yet. But if even the schools do stay open, several programs could get cut. As this story unfolds we’ll keep you in the know, as always.

We’re taking a short hiatus next Thursday because W&L has the week off. Next time we write, it’ll be March. I can’t believe how fast the year is flying by!

Farrell

When it rains, it pours...

Literally. After the sky unleashed more than seven inches of cold, winter rain on the Rockbridge area Monday, there was little more for residents to do except watch the flood waters rise.

Again, literally.

Luckily the Maury River and its tributaries receded relatively quickly - the water levels are high but manageable on this lovely Thursday afternoon. But the troubles for the W&L student who was arrested after an 18-month drug trafficking investigation by local police may not end so quickly...stay tuned to the Rockbridge Report for continuing coverage.

And don't forget to keep an eye out on what those proposed state budget cuts mean for area law enforcement, schools and transportation officials. We've got a new governor in office who's promised not to raise taxes - but are we really ready to watch our area lose more than $1.3 million in state funding for law enforcement and school programs?

Speaking of which, congratulations to those of you who were able to get your hands on tickets for Waddell Elementary School students' rendition of "Oklahoma!" Tickets for both nights of the musical are no longer available.

Whew. What a week! Our community may seem quiet during this cold January in the Shenandoah Valley, but don't mistake that winter stillness for hibernation - there's enough news around here to overflow the Maury, and I pledge that even when the Rockbridge Report doesn't have it first, we'll deliver it best.

- Cameron

In the beginning...

Hey, Rockbridge County. Cameron Steele and Farrell Ulrich here, and we’re the new producers of the Rockbridge Report.
It’s a new year, a new decade, and new news for The Rockbridge Report.

Like the rest of the world, The Rockbridge Report and our community have been focused on the devastation that Haiti currently faces in the aftermath of one of the deadliest earthquakes in human history. Local residents do their part as they donate time, money, and supplies to help the thousands of victims in the ravaged city of Port-au-Prince. It’s been sobering for us to cover this international tragedy. We are proud to cover the news in a community whose small size doesn’t keep it from giving a big help to those in need.

On a lighter note, our uniformed friends at VMI travelled to Richmond to march in an inauguration parade honoring our new governor. One cadet said he thinks Republican Bob McDonnell will do a great job as governor. But we’re worried about Virginia’s nearly $4 billion budget shortfall. Stay tuned for more coverage on what McDonnell plans to do to close that gap and how it will affect our community. He says he’s not going to be raising taxes, but the money’s got to come from somewhere.

We hope you enjoy our first winter news site. Be sure to check it out next week and tune into Channel 18 at 4:30 p.m. for the first broadcast of the term, January 28, at 4:30pm.

-Cameron and Farrell

Lexington police chief cites criticism in decision to step down this month

Lexington Police Chief Steve Crowder says two public forums that Mayor Mimi Elrod organized last summer to address citizen complaints about his department were factors in his decision to retire at the end of this month.

“It upset me, it bothered me about the accusations that were made and the perceptions," Crowder said this week. “I can’t say that it didn’t.”

Crowder, who announced his retirement at the Aug. 14 City Council meeting, has been a police officer for 34 years and Lexington’s chief for the past three. He plans to start a limousine and private car service in February.

Elrod said this week she had heard many complaints from residents about the police when she became mayor, the most common being that police were “too aggressive, that citizens felt harassed, that too many people are cited for drunk in publics when they should be allowed to walk home.”

Crowder had the opportunity to address the community concerns in the second forum, but Elrod was unhappy with the response.

"I did not think he dealt with the concerns that were expressed. He reverted back to things like, ‘we don't want drunk drivers on the street,’ which I do not think really addressed citizens' concerns,” Elrod said this week.


Crowder said things appeared to have been blown out of proportion.

“When all is said and done… perceptions were not as bad as we thought,” he said earlier this week.

Opinions expressed at the forums will affect the hiring of the new chief, Lexington City Manager Jon Ellestad said.

“The community panels have influenced what I am going to do in terms of the skills and traits I am looking for [in a new police chief], but not the process itself,” said Ellestad. “I knew I wanted a more open process.”

The last time the police chief position opened, Ellestad did not look outside the department and instead promoted Crowder, a lieutenant at the time.

Now the position is open to all officers who are certified in Virginia. Twenty to 30 applicants are expected. Ellestad said he hopes to have a new chief by the end of February.

Crowder predicts a strong field of applicants.


“This is a very sought-after position in a very sought-after town,” he said. “Look around; it’s one of the best towns you can live in.”


If Ellestad hires a chief from outside the department, it will be the first time since the 1980s.


“There are definitely pros and cons to bringing someone in. If you get the wrong one who doesn’t understand what a small college town force should be like, it could be bad,” he said, referring to the dynamic between students and residents. One of the main concerns at the public hearings was the number of drunk in public citations issued to students who were trying to walk home.

Two people within the force, Lt. Bucky Miller and Investigator Mark Riley, have the necessary experience to apply but neither one has announced his intentions. As for what kind of chief he is looking for, Ellestad said he wants someone to fine-tune the police force.

“I am not looking for someone who will come in and change the whole operation,” he said. “I don’t think our department is broken.”

Ellestad’s selection process includes a two-part interview by separate panels, one of retired and active Virginia police chiefs and one of Lexington citizens. The five members of the citizen panel represent city institutions and demographics: Mike Young of Washington and Lee University’s Public Safety team, Col. Jeff Curtis of Virginia Military Institute, Lexington Schools Superintendent Dan Lyons, and two citizens, Leonard Stewart and Diane Herrick. Stewart is a former Lexington Police officer, current Project Horizon employee and longtime Lexington resident. Herrick is a former member of the Lexington City Council.