The loudest silence I’ve ever heard

Chris Graham

Fear and Loathing in Waynesboro column by Chris Graham [email protected] Silence. Absolute silence. That’s what we’ve gotten from Bruce Allen regarding the effective firing of city manager Doug Walker that he helped engineer. The official word, according to a News Leader reporter with whom I spoke Thursday, is that Allen is out of town, and…

It’s all in the detail: Banjo part of fundraising efforts for Wayne Theatre

Chris Graham

Item by Crystal Graham [email protected] It’s not your everyday banjo. With musical instruments being cranked out of big factories every day, Geoff Stelling’s handmade banjos are a true rarity. The Afton-based business produces just 200 or so banjos annually. Geoff’s son, Jimmy, who works with his dad in the business, is a banjo player who…

The high road

Chris Graham

Fear and Loathing in Waynesboro column by Chris Graham [email protected] How about the sudden about-face of our would-be mayor? “I don’t see any need to air out our discrepancies and our differences. Kind of give Mr. Walker respect,” Tim Williams said in a voicemail message to the News Leader that was reported in that paper’s…

The stitch in time that saved Staunton

Chris Graham

The Local Beat column by Chris Graham [email protected] Interesting lunch date for me today with a city official in Staunton, from whom I learned that the recent Staunton City Council elections were similar to the ones in Waynesboro that I was involved in, with one difference. The difference – the progressive candidates in Staunton found…

City manager resigns under political pressure

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] The new ultraconservative majority on Waynesboro City Council hasn’t been seated yet, but it is already effectively in charge down at City Hall. Backroom maneuvering instigated by city-council members Frank Lucente and Tim Williams and Councilman-elect Bruce Allen has pushed city manager Doug Walker to step down from his post…

Report: City manager to resign

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Multiple sources are confirming to the Augusta Free Press that Waynesboro city manager Doug Walker will tender his resignation to Waynesboro City Council tonight. A closed session to “discuss the resignation of an employee” was added late today to the agenda for tonight’s regular business meeting. A second closed session…