Eight years after the smallmouth bass population in the Shenandoah River began dying off in large proportions, Shenandoah Riverkeeper Jeff Kelble says they have “recovered completely” from the mysterious malady that nearly wiped them out.

The Rappahannock Shenandoah Warren Regional Jail Authority voted last Thursday to hire a superintendent for the $82 million, 375-bed jail under construction on U.S. 340/522 in Warren County. Robert Mulligan will lead the new jail, which is slated to open in July of 2014. Mulligan's hire becomes effective June 1. The superintendent will be paid $95,000 per year and will receive a $300 a month vehicle allowance.

After struggling financially for more than 19 months, the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging (SAAA) is giving its employees a raise and is ready to hire a permanent leader. The SAAA’s board of directors on Monday voted 8-0 to begin a search for an executive director. The title, Chairman John Hudson said after the meeting, reflects a change from the former president and CEO label to bring the SAAA in line with other similar agencies in Virginia. The SAAA has been without a permanent leader since Helen Cockrell was fired as president and CEO in September 2011. Cockrell, 57, was indicted by a Warren County grand jury on April 1 on four felony counts of embezzling amounts of $200 or more from the nonprofit group.

The honorary grand marshal for the 86th  Shenandoah Apple Blossom will be longtime festival participant,   former  U.S. Sen. Harry F. Byrd Jr. As honorary grand marshal, Byrd, 98, of Winchester will ride  in the Chevrolet Grand Feature Parade, which starts at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, said John H. Rosenberger, executive director of the festival.

As many as 300 people are expected to visit Front Royal this weekend for the Garden Club of Warren County's house and garden tour. Proceeds from the tour, which includes four Victorian homes in Front Royal, will benefit the Garden Club of Virginia for the restoration of gardens in historic properties in Virginia. The event is part of Historic Garden Week in Virginia. Members of the Garden Club of Warren County will create floral arrangements for each room in every house on the tour.