Cops nab second heist suspect
A second man accused of robbing a house in the 1100 block of Mountain View Drive last week was arrested Feb. 12 and is now in custody in Newport News, according to the Harrisonburg Police Department.
On Sunday morning, a tip led police to Kenneth Lee Taylor Jr., 25, of Harrisonburg.
Taylor was charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit a felony and the use or display of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
HPD released a statement Friday that identified Taylor as the second suspect in the robbery.
Shan L. Barber, 31, of Harrisonburg was arrested on Friday and charged with the same three offenses Taylor now faces.
Mary-Hope Vass, HPD spokeswoman, said arrangements to transport Taylor from Newport News to Harrisonburg are being made by the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office.
The robbery took place on Feb. 6 at about 10 p.m. The victim in the case says two men entered his apartment and then demanded money, police said.
The victim told police he knew one of the men and was acquainted with the other.
Though one of the men claimed to have a firearm, a gun was never displayed, according to police.
JMU professor one of 12 selected for state award
Anne Stewart, professor of psychology at James Madison University, is one of the 12 college and university faculty from around the commonwealth honored by The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and Dominion Resources.
Winners of the Outstanding Faculty Awards were announced recently by SCHEV and the Richmond-based energy company. The honorees are culled from among Virginia’s public and private institutions.
This year marks the 26th anniversary of the statewide awards program, which honors faculty members for their excellence in teaching, research, knowledge integration and public service. Since the first award ceremony in 1987, 304 Virginia faculty members have received the honor.
Nominations are reviewed by various award committees, which look at the mission statement of the nominee’s institution and how each teacher or professor honors their institution’s statement.
“Every year, SCHEV is very impressed by the diverse accomplishments of the professors. One of the unique things we’re looking for is not just academic research, but service to students and community,” said Kathleen Kincheloe, assistant director of communications at SCHEV. “Many of these professors even have national and international projects they’re working on.”
Stewart came to JMU in 1979 as an instructor in special education and took psychology classes. As her interest in psychology grew, Stewart attended Harvard Medical School where she completed a clinical fellowship in 1986. She then attended the University of Virginia, where she earned a doctorate degree before returning to JMU to join the psychology department in 1991.
The award recipients were recognized during a ceremony Thursday at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond. Each winner will receive an engraved award and a $5,000 check from the Dominion Foundation.
Valley agritourism focus of economic study
A Richmond-based financial consulting firm has been selected to conduct an economic impact analysis of the Valley’s agritourism ventures.
On Feb. 8, the Augusta County Board of Supervisors awarded a $20,000 contract to Chmura Economics and Analytics to study the dollars and cents behind the growing industry.
Augusta County is serving as the fiscal agent of a grant received by the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission, a coalition of local governments. The commission includes Rockingham County.
The commission received a $40,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and $16,000 in local funds to launch a program called Fields of Gold. The initiative aims to promote and foster agritourism in the region.
Agritourism ventures often bring visitors to farms to experience and interact with agricultural life and learn about farming and life on a farm. Examples include pumpkin patches and wineries, but could also include farmers markets and “specialty” farms.
Chmura is tasked with determining the growth potential of agritourism and actual economic impact of existing businesses, said Dennis Burnett, economic development director for Augusta County.
Burnett said the data could be used to help farmers make decisions about whether to pursue agritourism.
“It would just be another tool for us to help our agriculture sectors,” he said. “I think the big thing we’re going to see is what our growth potential is.”
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