SportsDominion story gets mention on SI.com
The SportsDominion story on Venus Williams’ visit to Virginia last week (“Williams on the prowl for slams, opportunities to effect change,” Oct. 25) earned mention in the weekly Tennis Mailbag column of Sports Illustrated writer Jon Wertheim today.
Check it out for yourself here.
Cara’s story says it all – never give up hope
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
I always wonder how I would react if I had everything taken away from me and had to fight to get it back.
Cara Atkins has been there, done that – and says it is the most difficult thing you can imagine having to go through.
“It’s been really difficult – but I’ve been able to stay positive throughout it all. Because there are good plans for me – and there are bigger things ahead,” said Atkins, now 30, who was left in a coma following a 1997 car accident in Rockingham County involving a drunk driver.
In the immediate aftermath of the accident, doctors told her mother, Darlene Spitler, that Cara was not expected to recover from the coma and that she should consider putting her into a nursing home to provide for her long-term care.
But Atkins beat the odds – waking from her coma after 12 weeks and leaving the hospital five months into what has become an 11-year journey back from brain injury.
As is chronicled in the book From Coma to College: The Reconstruction of Cara Atkins from Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Caused by a Drunken Driver, it is something that Atkins will be dealing with the rest of her life. Read more
Sime gets nod from local paper in 24th Senate race
Item by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
The first newspaper endorsement in the 24th Senate District race is in – and you might be surprised who received it.
The News Virginian has endorsed Libertarian nominee Arin Sime in the three-way race with incumbent Republican Emmett Hanger and Democratic nominee David Cox.
The paper said that among the three, “Sime’s views are the most alluring.”
“He favors a constitutional amendment to block the abuse of eminent domain, has compiled a detailed platform on open government, backs school choice and promises he will not raise taxes,” the paper said in its endorsement.
“Fresh thinking such as his is a rarity in an era of knee-jerk, party-line politics,” the paper said.
The Decline and Fall of the Wrestling Civilization
Story by Chris Graham
sportsdom@ntelos.net
It used to be my dirty little secret – I was a professional wrestling fan, and that meant that Monday nights were booked up, and when the circus was in town, I had to be there at ringside, if not closer.
And then something happened this summer that changed things for me forever as far as my dirty little secret was concerned. Read more
Could gas tax be area for vulnerability for Hanger?
Column by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
One area where Emmett Hanger could be vulnerable in his re-election bid in the 24th Senate District is in the area of taxes – particularly with his record of supporting an increase in the state gasoline tax. Read more
Welcome to the Great Depression
Carly at the Movies column by Carl Larsen
Saw a couple of really depressing movies this week – “Gone Baby Gone,” currently playing at The Dixie Theater in Staunton, and “Rendition” now at the Regal multiplex up in Harrisonburg. Each, in its own way, is enough to keep me gloomy until the big Holiday Depression sets in around Thanksgiving. Have a nice day. Read more
Hanger understands the legislative process
Op-Ed by Holly Herman
Unfortunately political ideology and real-life at the Virginia General Assembly are vastly different. Many people say Richmond isn’t accomplishing what it needs to benefit Virginia. In some cases that’s true, but more than not our Commonwealth earns high ranks. A little background may help to explain the seemingly slow pace and why we need to return Sen. Emmett Hanger to Richmond to fight for us all. Read more
