Waynesboro: Virginia Fly Fishing and Wine Festival this weekend

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The weather is sunny with temps in the 60s for Waynesboro’s 15th Annual Virginia Fly Fishing and Wine Festival this weekend. This is the largest outdoor event of its kind in the county so expect to see crowds on the banks of the South River and in downtown Waynesboro, taking in the vendors, restaurants, shops, and the experience of fishing in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Waynesboro is a heartbeat away from Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Police think missing UVa student’s last text was incorrect – UPDATED: Surveillance video of Hannah

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Police in Charlottesville now think missing University of Virginia student Hannah Graham’s last text message was not sent from the location she said, according to the latest from WVIR TV-6 out of Richmond:

Pleasants said the camera outside McGrady’s Irish Pub showed Graham walking “in front of the building for several minutes, apparently it appears, maybe even talking to someone, and then walking away –leaving east bound on Grady at 12:46 a.m..”

That would be the opposite direction of her apartment, police said.

Please continue to pray for the safety of this 18-year-old sophomore and for her family.

UPDATE #1: The search area has shifted to the Charlottesville Mall area. Police will hold a news conference at 4:00 this afternoon (see Missing UVa student last spotted at Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall) — link to stream news conference in the article.

UPDATE #2: Video from reporter Parker Slaybaught with TV-8 out of Richmond: BREAKING: This security camera footage shows Hannah Graham walking into the pub just before 1 am on Saturday.

UPDATE #3: And another video from Parker Slaybaugh: “Many of you have said it’s hard to see Hannah Graham running in the gas station video so I’ve tried to zoom in to help you see her. Mind you I’m trying to do all of this on my cell phone. Can you see her running now? At the very end she stops running and continues walking.”

UPDATE #4: A UVa fourth year student, Aaron Bentley, who is a member of the Blue Ridge Mountain Rescue Group, is helping in the search for missing UVa student Hannah Graham (see UVA student aids search for Hannah Graham).

UPDATE #5: Charlottesville police have asked downtown landowners and businesses to help with the search with their properties (see Charlottesville police chief: Landowners should check downtown properties for signs of missing UVa student).

UPDATE #6: Richmond Times Dispatch — Parents of  missing UVa student fear foul play.

Gratitude expressed by Mass. Air National Guard for rescue efforts searching for down pilot

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The Massachusetts Air National Guard released the following statement in regard to the fighter pilot crash Wednesday in the mountains of western Augusta County, Virginia:

8/29/2014 – BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, 104TH FIGHTER WING, Westfield, Mass. — Senior leaders from the Massachusetts Air National Guard express their gratitude to the many local, state and federal agencies that supported the search and recovery operations and continued to participate in the ongoing recovery efforts following the fatal crash of a 104th Fighter Wing F-15C aircraft in the remote mountains near Deerfield Valley, Va.

“The level of support provided by a number of states and at the federal level has been very helpful during this challenging time,” said Maj. Gen. L. Scott Rice, the Adjutant General, Massachusetts National Guard. “On behalf of the men and women of the Massachusetts National Guard, I thank each and every one of you for your assistance. The continued support from the available agencies will be critical as we work through the ongoing recovery and investigation.”