The man who stopped the Unabomber

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham David Kaczynski didn’t believe for a second that his brother, Ted, could have been the man known to the world as the Unabomber. “My initial reaction was, ‘Well, Ted’s never been violent. I can’t imagine him harming other people like this,’ ” said Kaczynski, whose wife, Linda, confronted him…

Where all is bright and gay: Virginia at forefront of gay-rights debate

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham   There was an unspoken tension in the room – beneath the surface, but very much palpable. The Valley Family Forum hosted an event last week in Bridgewater titled “Gay Activism: Its Impact on America.” The idea was to get Shenandoah Valley residents together to hear from a group…

Escape from New Orleans: Refugee, Staunton native, talks about Katrina, rebuilding

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham Scott Obenschain is glad he answered his phone. “I was going to stay, originally, but on the Sunday before the storm hit, a friend of mine called me up and said, ‘It’s a Category 5, and it’s heading our way. Let’s go,’ ” said Obenschain, a Staunton native who…

Being Russ Potts

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham Russ Potts is running for governor as an independent – to the consternation of Republican Party officials in Richmond and elsewhere in the Old Dominion. The state party asked Potts to resign his Virginia Senate seat – and declared that Potts is no longer a member of the GOP. Potts, for…

Getting to know Tim Kaine

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham Tim Kaine knew when he made his mind up that he was going to run for lieutenant governor in 2001 that he was committing himself to another political campaign four years later. “Honestly, when I ran for lieutenant governor, I thought, you know, if I am lieutenant governor, then I will…

Taming the beast of tournament golf

Chris Graham

Golf Things Considered column by John Rogers [email protected]   Tournament golf is no more like casual golf than bowling. That’s a slight exaggeration, but it’s what I tell my junior golfers when helping them prepare for competition. It might be a better analogy to say that playing tournament golf is like playing golf with someone…

The Valley media market

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham Another attempt by another publisher to add to the Central Shenandoah Valley media-market offerings has breathed its last breath. “Our board of directors has examined all of the aspects of our operation since we began in mid-March and has determined that the costs of delivery, news gathering and printing far exceed…

Waynesboro’s growing pains

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham  Waynesboro City Council members have come across in recent weeks as being at odds among themselves and with city manager Doug Walker over issues involving the debt load that the city can take on and the city government’s handling of a recent political controversy regarding a proposed West End fire substation….

Swing like a pro

Chris Graham

Golf Things Considered column by John Rogers [email protected] Golfers often wonder how and why professional golfers’ swings look so effortless. They wonder why their own swings feel and look so different. Instead of the fluid, quiet power of Ernie Els or Fred Couples, most amateurs get that little white ball moving with a swing that…