The Stauntonian: Volume 1, Issue 26 | Loss, Launches & Liberty
Police are investigating a death on Betsy Bell Road. Happy Birthday America brings its biggest Fourth yet to Gypsy Hill Park. And The Stauntonian marks six months of independent coverage.
Six Months In. Still Here.
When we sent the first issue of The Stauntonian on January 1, this year, we had no idea whether anyone would care. Twenty-six issues later, you’re still opening it every Thursday, and we’re still grateful for every single one of you. This newsletter exists because of your subscriptions and your support. Thank you.
This week brought heavy news. Two deaths under investigation. A Fourth of July preview that requires some real planning. And a Beverley Street demonstration project wrapping up with your voice still needed.
Lead Stories
A Death on Betsy Bell Road Puts the City on Edge
SPD opens investigation; no arrests made as of press time
Police in Staunton are investigating a death that occurred Tuesday evening at a residence in the 300 block of Betsy Bell Road. According to WHSV, the Staunton Police Department posted a notice to social media just before 6 p.m. asking residents to avoid the area. Sergeant Christopher Ammons said there is no ongoing threat to the public, but beyond that, details have not been released.
Rocktown Now confirmed the address as 317 Betsy Bell Road, in a neighborhood most Stauntonians know as the quiet residential stretch that winds below Betsy Bell Mountain. The investigation is ongoing, and no suspect has been identified. This is a developing story; The Stauntonian will update readers as more information becomes available.
Anyone with information should call the Staunton Police Department at 540-332-3842.
A Missing Man Found Dead
The family of Paul Lavelle Hassett Jr. is grieving after a difficult week
The week brought another painful chapter for a Staunton family. On Monday, June 22, a family member reported 72-year-old Paul Lavelle Hassett Jr. missing after not seeing him since June 11 at his Staunton residence. The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office put out an appeal for help locating Hassett, describing him as a 6’1” white male with brown hair and green eyes.
WHSV reported that Hassett was located Tuesday, June 23. His obituary at Henry Funeral Home confirms he passed away Monday, June 22, at his residence. No services are planned per the family’s wishes.
Fourth of July: What You Need to Know Before You Go
The city has modified schedules, and Happy Birthday America is going big this year
The City of Staunton will observe the Fourth of July holiday with adjusted hours and closures beginning Friday, July 3. Per the city’s official schedule release, administrative offices will be closed on Friday, July 3. The Staunton Public Library closes Friday and Saturday, July 3 and 4, reopening Monday, July 6, though the outdoor book drop remains open and digital resources are available around the clock at StauntonLibrary.org.
Trash pickup changes: residential trash normally collected Friday, July 3 will be picked up Wednesday, July 1. Downtown CBD customers receive collection Wednesday and Thursday, with no pickup Friday or Saturday, and normal service resuming Monday, July 6. The Recycling Center closes both Friday and Saturday, reopening Monday.
The Gypsy Hill Park Pool will be closed Saturday, July 4. Montgomery Hall Park’s pool stays open on regular hours. The Gypsy Hill Golf Course closes early at 1 p.m. Friday, July 3, and stays closed all day Saturday due to proximity to the fireworks launch area.
Beverley Street in the downtown Central Business District closes beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday, July 2, and reopens at 7:30 a.m. Monday, July 6, in observance of the extended holiday weekend.
Traffic around the park will be heavy both days. Thornrose Avenue closes from 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturday for the parade. Constitution Drive, the main road through Gypsy Hill Park, closes to vehicles at 11 p.m. Friday and doesn’t reopen until noon Saturday. General parking in the stadium lot beside Lake Tams is prohibited Thursday through Sunday morning; limited accessible spaces remain for those with a DMV-approved placard or plate.
Happy Birthday America returns to Gypsy Hill Park for what organizers are billing as a milestone Semiquincentennial celebration, marking 250 years of American independence. The three-day event, started in 1970 by the Statler Brothers, runs June 29 through July 4. This year’s lineup on the main stage July 4 includes Wilson Fairchild at 7:30 p.m. and Country Music Hall of Famer Jimmy Fortune at 8:30 p.m. Fireworks begin at approximately 10 p.m. The event is free. No ticket required; bring a lawn chair. Full schedule at HappyBirthdayAmerica.org.
Beverley Street Demo Project Ends June 30. Have You Weighed In?
One month, one lane, and a lot of questions still on the table
The city launched its month-long Beverley Street Demonstration Project on June 1, temporarily closing the right-side travel lane on the two-block stretch between Augusta and Market streets to test how a single-lane configuration might serve pedestrians, businesses, and drivers. As reported by the City of Staunton, the demonstration ends June 30, and city staff are collecting community feedback ahead of a permanent 2027 redesign funded by nearly $2.2 million in federal Highway Safety Improvement Program money.
The demo space includes benches, planters, bike racks, and artificial turf, and was designed in partnership with the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission. If you haven’t filled out the survey yet, there are a few days left. Scan a QR code on any of the signs in the demo area, or go directly to bit.ly/StauntonBeverleyDemo.
Thursday’s City Council meeting (7 p.m. at City Hall, 116 W. Beverley St.) includes public hearings on rezoning at 802 N. Coalter Street, a vacation of a portion of Anthony Street, amendments to city code regarding private day nurseries and kindergartens, and a Special Use Permit request at 575 New Hope Road. The work session, covering strategic environmental initiatives and the Staunton Connect economic mobility initiative, begins at 5 p.m.
What do you think about this project?
Downtown Tunnel Work Accelerates, New Street Closures Coming
Byers Street tunnel ahead of schedule; New Street work begins the week of June 29
The City’s downtown tunnel repair project continues to outpace its own timeline. The city’s June activity report notes that Byers Street tunnel work is moving ahead of schedule, with new precast tunnel sections set for installation next month. The next phase, on New Street, gets underway the week of June 29. Expect night-work closures from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., Thursday, June 25 through Monday, June 29, according to Rocktown Now.
Residents near the downtown tunnel corridors should factor in delays and plan alternate routes during evening hours.
City Council to Consider Rezoning and Zoning Amendments Thursday Night
Agenda also includes update on Staunton Connect, a workforce mobility initiative
This Thursday’s regular City Council meeting carries a substantive agenda. Public hearings include a rezoning request at 802 N. Coalter Street, a proposed vacation of a portion of Anthony Street, proposed amendments to city code around private day nurseries and kindergartens, and a Special Use Permit request at 575 New Hope Road. The work session features updates on the Staunton Connect economic mobility initiative.
Council meetings are open to the public and streamed online. More information at staunton.va.us/council.
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Quick Hits
Waynesboro goes drones, not fireworks, this year. If you’re curious about Staunton’s neighbor to the east, Waynesboro is hosting its “GloW” aerial drone show July 11 from 5 to 10 p.m. at Constitution Park on the South River, per the News Leader. A different kind of light show, but worth knowing about if traditional fireworks aren’t your thing.
Friends of the Middle River sound an alarm. A conservation group has gone public with concerns about trash dumping along the Middle River, according to WHSV. Volunteers say the volume of garbage they’re finding has become frustrating and growing. The Middle River runs northeast of Staunton through Augusta County into the Shenandoah; its health directly affects local water and wildlife.
Staunton is a 2026 Tree City USA. For the 30th consecutive year, the Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Staunton with its Tree City USA designation. City Horticulturist Matt Sensabaugh accepted an Arbor Day proclamation from City Council. The honor recognizes communities that meet standards for urban forestry management, maintenance, and public education.
Civic Access goes live. The City of Staunton’s new online permitting portal, Civic Access, officially launched in May and is now the preferred route for residents and contractors to submit building permit applications, request inspections, and check project status. It went live May 5; more details at ci.staunton.va.us/departments/building-services-divison.
Out & About
Blackfriars Playhouse: As You Like It and Our Town
The American Shakespeare Center’s two-show summer repertory continues through August 8 at the Blackfriars Playhouse on New Street. As You Like It and Our Town rotate in repertory; check specific performance dates and times at americanshakespearecenter.com. The Blackfriars remains one of the most distinctive theater experiences in the country, and both productions are running concurrently with a full house most nights.
Happy Birthday America Pageant
Sunday, June 28 at Gypsy Hill Park. The annual beauty pageant kicks off the three-day celebration. Free admission. Full schedule at HappyBirthdayAmerica.org.
Fourth of July at Gypsy Hill Park
Saturday, July 4, gates open at 6 a.m. The Firecracker 5K steps off at 7:30 a.m. Parade begins at 10 a.m. The main stage lineup includes Wilson Fairchild at 7:30 p.m. and Jimmy Fortune at 8:30 p.m. Fireworks at approximately 10 p.m. Free. Bring lawn chairs. No pets in the ballfield area. Full FAQ and map at HappyBirthdayAmerica.org.
Staunton Farmers’ Market
Every Saturday, 7 a.m. to noon, at its 2026 temporary location at 2020 West Beverley Street, through September. Local produce, baked goods, and handmade goods from regional vendors.
River Watch
The South River at Waynesboro has seen some movement this week after recent rain pushed through the Valley, but conditions at USGS Station 01626000 remain well within safe range. Flood stage at this location begins at 10 feet; the river has not approached that threshold. Stage readings refresh continuously throughout the day at the USGS National Water Dashboard; check there for current conditions before any wading, kayaking, or riverside activity this weekend. River levels across the South River watershed have run below seasonal averages for much of June, which favors calm recreational use but points to cumulative dryness in the region. Verify the live gauge the morning you go out.
The Sneeze Index
Both major tracking sources show Staunton’s air quality in the good-to-moderate range heading into the holiday weekend. IQAir is reading an AQI of 43, rated Good, with PM2.5 as the primary pollutant, and pollen counts registering Low; not unusual for late June as tree and grass seasons wind down. Weather Underground’s Staunton health station is showing a somewhat higher AQI of 59, rated Moderate, also PM2.5-driven, with a note that people with respiratory conditions should reduce prolonged outdoor exertion. The gap between the two readings reflects different sensor networks and modeling approaches rather than any contradiction. Neither signals a problem for most people.
For those with asthma or sensitivity to fine particles, early-morning hours at Gypsy Hill Park on July 4 will generally carry lower ozone levels than midday. Verify both sources on the morning of the event, as readings change daily with wind, humidity, and any smoke from regional sources.
The Weekly Pump
Drivers in the Staunton-Waynesboro area are among the least expensive-fueled in Virginia right now. AAA data as of June 24, via WSLS, puts the Virginia statewide average at $3.763 per gallon for regular. Our metro area was tracking around $3.50 as of mid-June, per AAA via Stacker, placing it well below the Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads markets. That gap has been consistent for several weeks.
The slide from June 1, when the state average sat at $4.163, has been significant; more than 40 cents dropped in less than a month as crude oil markets settled after the earlier volatility. Diesel is tracking at $4.89 statewide, still elevated by historical norms. With a full holiday weekend ahead and I-81 traffic building toward the Fourth, minor pump-price fluctuations are possible.
Real Estate Watch
Staunton’s housing market continues to compress available inventory against rising prices. Zillow’s Home Value Index currently places the average home value at $276,602, up 3.4% over the past year, with homes moving to pending status in roughly nine days on average. Redfin’s February 2026 market data — the most recent monthly close data available — put the median sale price at $286,000, a 10.1% increase year-over-year, with homes selling in 55 days and a price per square foot of $215, up nearly 23% from a year prior. Movoto’s active listing data for June 2026 shows the median asking price at $400,000, a figure that reflects where sellers are anchoring rather than where deals are closing. Active inventory sits at approximately 60 listings, per Realtytrac, in a city of roughly 24,000 residents. Buyers are competing in a narrow pool, and cost of living in Staunton remains about 5% below the national average according to Redfin, a persistent draw for relocators moving down the I-81 corridor from higher-cost markets.
Who’s Hiring
Daikin Applied is the most active large employer currently recruiting in Staunton, with more than 20 open positions at its local manufacturing facility. Roles span production assembly, materials handling, mechanical maintenance, EHS coordination, and engineering. A second-shift manufacturing position carries a starting wage of $25.25 per hour plus an $0.80 shift differential, with full medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) with employer match, and tuition reimbursement after six months of continuous service. The Staunton plant builds commercial HVAC systems and is one of the city’s larger industrial employers.
Liberty Point Behavioral Healthcare has 14 open positions at its Staunton campus, ranging from Mental Health Technician and Dietary Cook to Special Education Teacher and Admissions Clinician. Liberty Point provides trauma-informed psychiatric residential treatment for adolescent males with psychiatric disorders, intellectual disabilities, and autism spectrum disorder, and recently added a Partial Hospitalization Program through its Branches Staunton outpatient program. Applications are managed through UHS careers.
Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is actively recruiting for multiple roles at its Verona headquarters, which is the region’s central distribution hub. Current confirmed openings include a Grants and Programs Accountant with a hiring range of $89,000 to $100,000, and a Chief Financial Officer at $160,000 to $200,000. Additional positions may be posted; the full list is at brafb.org/about-us/careers or send inquiries to humanresources@brafb.org.
City of Staunton municipal and school district openings are posted continuously at the City HR portal. Applications are accepted online.
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