Farmers for Hanger: Farm bureau endorses Republican’s re-election bid

Column by Chris Graham 

For Emmett Hanger, being conversant in agricultural issues isn’t an election-year strategy.

It’s a way of life.

“I think he’s more effective because he understands the realities that we face out here every day,” said Gerald Garber, a Weyers Cave farmer who remembers Hanger, a Mount Solon Republican, from their days as members of the Future Farmers of America organization at Fort Defiance High School back in the 1960s. Read more

Fallout from the October surprise

Story by Chris Graham

Don Michael doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about.

“The way I look at it, board of supervisors races shouldn’t be about party politics anyway,” Michael told The Augusta Free Press. Read more

Addressing the issues in the Wayne

Story by Chris Graham

The final candidate forum of the 2003 local election season - featuring the three candidates for the Wayne District seat on the Augusta County Board of Supervisors - drew 105 people to the Wilson Memorial High School auditorium Thursday night.

Republican incumbent Tom Sikes and independent challengers Wendell Coleman and Larry Weeks answered questions on issues ranging from education to transportation to tax policy in the 90-minute forum - which was cosponsored by the Emerald Hills Home Owners Association and The Augusta Free Press.

AFP co-publisher Chris Graham served as the moderator for the forum. Read more

Pyles questions Michael’s motives

Story by Chris Graham 

The camera is trained on Tracy Pyles.

It is Sept. 19, 2001, and Pyles, a Democrat and five-year veteran of the Augusta County Board of Supervisors, is preparing for a candidate debate with Republican Chris Saxman.

Pyles and Saxman are locked in a battle for the newly created 20th House District seat in the Virginia General Assembly.

A campaign tete-a-tete scheduled to take place at Buffalo Gap High School is but a few days away.

Off camera sits Frank Nolen, the chairman of the Augusta County Democratic Committee. Read more

Meet the chief: Davis introduced to Waynesboro City Council, PD

Story by Chris Graham

Doug Davis is getting to know the folks at the Waynesboro Police Department.

Davis, who will take over as chief of police in Waynesboro on Nov. 3, was in town this week to meet with officers and senior leaders at the PD.

He also took care of one other important bit of business - signing a contract on a new home. Read more

Differences of opinion: Pyles, Michael share views on tourism, development

Story by Chris Graham

Pastures District board of supervisors candidates Tracy Pyles and Don Michael are split on how Augusta County should approach the promotion of growth in its tourism industry.

“We need to put ourselves in a position to take advantage of the natural treasures that we have here at our disposal,” said Michael, the Republican Party nominee for the seat, at a candidates forum last week in Verona. Read more

Like the Maytag repairman: Unopposed candidates talk about running a one-person race

Story by Chris Graham

Jean Shrewsbury could take it easy this election season.

Given that Shrewsbury, the commissioner of the revenue in Augusta County, is unopposed for re-election this fall.

But the Republican isn’t sitting on the sidelines lamenting the fate of her challenged colleagues. Read more

Riverheads candidates debate preservation issues

Story by Chris Graham

Candidates for the Riverheads District seat on the Augusta County Board of Supervisors hear the question every day.

What do you think we should do to preserve our agricultural heritage here in Augusta County? Read more

Declarations of indepdents: Political independents speak out

Story by Chris Graham

Nancy Sorrells doesn’t take being a political independent lightly.

“When I enter the polling booth, I pride myself on the fact that I have always looked at the best person for the job rather than the party label,” said Sorrells, an independent candidate for the Riverheads District seat on the Augusta County Board of Supervisors. Read more

Circuit-court candidates debate privacy issue

Story by Chris Graham

Records on file at your local circuit-court clerk’s office include items that could be used by people with bad intentions to access … your life.

The horror stories are out there - involving how identity thieves have accessed Social Security numbers and mother’s maiden names and copied signatures from records in efforts to basically become the people whose information they have targeted. Read more

Next Page »