OUR VIEW: Culpeper has bonded after tragedy

Staff Editorial
Published: October 3, 2008

» SUMMARY: We’re proud of the community for its response to the Dr. Cook vigil and Orndorff memorial.

The Aug. 29 car wreck that killed teenager Kelsey Orndorff and left longtime doctor J. Bryon Cook hospitalized continues to send shockwaves through Culpeper. Now, area residents are turning their grief into tangible works to honor Kelsey and pray for Dr. Cook.

A prayer vigil showed how the community has come together as people from all walks of life spoke about the doctor, who has cared for Culpeper for nearly 30 years. Dr. Cook is slowly recovering at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, and though he has crossed several hurdles, he is still on a ventilator and unable to eat.

We hope the community remembers Dr. Cook’s plight and keeps an influential and important part of Culpeper’s recent history in their thoughts and prayers.

And we hope people do the same for the Orndorff family, who is still reeling from the loss of their daughter and sister.

Two weekends ago, folks came together to build a memorial garden for Kelsey at her parent’s home on Oaklawn Drive.

The strenuous yard work that went into building the garden will be an ongoing project, just like the ongoing grief everyone feels about this tragic accident.

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EMERGENCY OPTIONS: Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg’s recent designation as a Level 2 trauma center gives area patients in need of urgent care another option.

In emergency situations, a helicopter flight from Culpeper to Fredericksburg is a bit quicker than going to northern Virginia or Charlottesville. We hope that by utilizing the new trauma center Culpeper’s emergency services department will be able to save more lives and get timely, quality care for those who need it most.

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REGISTER TO VOTE: With Nov. 4 just a month away, we’d like to remind everyone that Monday is the voter registration deadline. Visit sbe.virginia.gov, click on “Online Services,” “Verify Your Voter Registration Status” and then “Voter Registration.”