Winners and Losers: June 30, 2008
Compiled by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
LOSER: The Frank Lucente flip-flop on stormwater, explained
Nice story in today’s NV that in part allows Frank Lucente to explain his flip-flop on funding for stormwater.
“I think we can do the whole thing with what we’ve got,” Lucente told The News Virginian.
He told me a different story a few weeks ago. The reason for the switch that he related had to do with political pressure from big business.
(Credit to Jimmy LaRoue for hinting to that in his lede.)
New GI Bill now law
Item by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
It’s now law – and U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., couldn’t be any happier about the New GI Bill that he helped bring to fruition.
“This is a great day for our veterans. This bill properly provides a modern and fair educational benefit to address the needs of those who answered the call of duty to our country–those who moved toward the sound of the guns – often at great sacrifice,” said Webb, a Vietnam veteran who has a son fighting in Iraq. Read more
It’s time, Tom
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Tom Reynolds can hear his dad’s voice today.
“Dad used to tell me, Son, you have bigger fish to fry here. I’ve got a church that’s looking for a significant amount of leadership. They’ve been gentle with me as a part-time pastor, but as a full-time pastor, there’s going to be significantly more in terms of expectations for my time and my efforts,” said Reynolds, who is retiring from Waynesboro City Council today and tomorrow begins a new chapter in his life. Read more
A bridge between centuries
The Top Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Poll Question: What creature comforts could you do without for a year?
OK, so I’m a wimp. I can’t imagine life without air conditioning and cable TV and the Internet. And I’m saying this, and I lived the first two years of my life in a house with no indoor plumbing. Not that I remember much of that time, of course. Logan Ward has me beat in that respect. He can recall the barest of details about what life can be like without the creature comforts.
“We missed cold drinks, a cold beer. We missed music. We hadn’t had music in a year, so we missed just being able to put in a CD. We missed a hot shower. All of those things,” said Ward, who with his wife, Heather, relocated from New York City to rural Augusta County in 2000 to take a step back in time, literally. Read more
Another political misstep
Fear and Loathing in Waynesboro column by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Bad political move on the part of the new Lucente-Williams-Allen front group regarding who will be our next vice mayor.
“I don’t see it as a possibility,” would-be-mayor Tim Williams told The News Leader for a story published in this morning’s edition, regarding the talk that Lorie Smith could be elected vice mayor at tomorrow’s city-council reorganization meeting.
“I think it certainly should be one of the three of us, mayor and vice mayor,” Williams told the Leader.
If they were listening to me, they would elect Smith vice mayor by acclimation, and here’s why. Every time some dope like me would offer criticism of this decision or that move or some other action on the part of the new council as having been done without consulting with the political minority, they could point to Vice Mayor Smith. Read more
Preserving Virginia’s historical and natural landmarks
Column by U.S. Sen. Jim Webb
One of my highest priorities in the Senate is to preserve Virginia’s abundant natural, historical and cultural resources. As we approach the height of the summer travel season, I am pleased to report that we have enjoyed several significant accomplishments. Read more
Veteran EMU professor passes away
Item by Jim Bishop
Albert N. (Al) Keim, 71, professor emeritus of history at Eastern Mennonite University, died June 27, 2008 at University of Virginia Medical Center. He had a successful liver transplant in 2007, but his health had declined in recent months.
Dr. Keim joined the EMU history department faculty in 1965 and retired in 2000. He was appointed vice-president for academic affairs/dean at EMU July 1, 1977 and served in that role seven years. Read more
First Fridays Art Walk this week
Item by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
The First Fridays Art Walk in Downtown Harrisonburg will have a patriotic flavor of sorts.
The Art Walk will be held from 1-4 p.m. on Friday, the Fourth, and will coincide with the Valley 4th Celebration in Harrisonburg.
There will be a guided art walk at 3 p.m. beginning in front of the Smith House at 311 S. Main St. Read more
Art Expose on tap for this weekend
Item by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
The fourth annual Art Expose at Lower Cove Run Art Studios in Matthias, W.Va., just over the state line from Rockingham County, is set for the extended Fourth of July weekend.
The July 4-6 event will run from 4-6 p.m. each day at the studios. Read more
Staunton Scout earns Gold Award
Item by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
A recent Riverheads High School graduate has given the reading room at the Booker T. Washington Community Center in Staunton a new lease on life. Read more
Latest AFP News
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Heart health fair at Augusta Health - AAA: Demand down, crude oil prices down, but prices continue upward tick
- Gardner-Webb 77, VMI 61
- Poll: Santorum builds big, if brief, lead in GOP race
- W&L convention picks Romney as GOP presidential nominee
- Second-half run pushes #5 UNC over UVa.
- JMU holds off Towson, 58-56
- Bridgewater holds off W&L
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Wait and see …
Posted June 30, 2008
freepress2@ntelos.net
“Wait and see.” That sums things up rather nicely.
I’ve been spending a good deal of time the past few days talking with city-council members, department heads and line employees in City Hall to try to gauge opinion about what life is going to be like when the new self-styled conservative majority takes the reins of city government tomorrow morning.
“I don’t know that we’re going to see that much in the way of change,” one department head told me on background.
All of these conversations, incidentally, were on background. I wasn’t interested in doing interviews for attribution, assuming that there would be little or no interest on the part of the people that I wanted to talk with to go on the record with anything other than noncontroversial comments about how they were looking forward to working for the new majority and that kind of thing. Read more
Filed under Government/Politics · Tagged with Special Commentary, waynesboro