Local Politics: A view of the ’08 election from BRCC

Chris Graham

Story by Riley Murray blueridgedata.blogspot.com In the swing state of Virginia, the deadline of Oct. 6 for voter registration is fast approaching. Across Virginia, voter registration efforts are breaking records. With the race for the White House entering its last full month, the focus is on the Shenandoah Valley region. This rural region, in the…

The Top Story: Democrats taking up mantle of fiscal responsibility

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Democrats have been doing well in Virginia in recent years, and it’s no secret why. They’ve been balancing budgets and building the economy. And while national Democrats are using a “more of the same” theme to link GOP presidential nominee John McCain to the failed presidency of George…

EMU commencement this weekend

Jim Bishop

Item by Jim Bishop Eastern Mennonite University will culminate activities marking its 90th anniversary year with its annual commencement exercises to be held 1 p.m. Sunday on the front lawn of campus, weather permitting. President Loren Swartzendruber will confer 411 degrees – 291 undergraduate, 89 graduate, 17 associate degrees, 7 graduate certificates and 7 Study…

Landes lauds GA action on capital improvements

Chris Graham

Item by Chris Graham [email protected] State legislators today approved a $2.6 billion bond package that will fund a host of important infrastructure improvements across the Commonwealth. State Del. Steve Landes, R-Weyers Cave, talked up the improvements that will be in the works in the Greater Augusta area as a result of the action in the…

Former aide raises questions about where Rasoul is getting money

AFP

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Rick Howell remembers asking Sam Rasoul about his campaign fund-raising efforts last summer when he worked for the Sixth District Democratic Party congressional nomination candidate as his campaign manager. And he remembers that he didn’t like the answer that he was given. “I felt that Sam was rather vague with…

GOP leader endorses Smithdeal in Pastures race

Chris Graham

Op-Ed by Lynn Mitchell Travis Smithdeal is my choice for Pastures District supervisor. He will bring a new attitude because he is a listener with a calm presence, which will allow him to hear from everyone and not react without gathering information from all available sources including citizens and fellow board members.

Breaking down the 24th Senate race

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham He had to fend off perhaps the fight of his political life in June with a party-primary challenge from Rockbridge County businessman Scott Sayre. With the change of seasons from summer to fall, 24th District Republican Sen. Emmett Hanger would seem to have if not the second-biggest fight of…

Traffic flows near new Town Center benefit from quick VDOT fix

AFP

Story by Chris Graham The Interstate 64 interchange near the new Waynesboro Town Center has benefited from a series of inexpensive operational enhancements that should improve traffic flows at what was already a busy intersection. “We evaluated the shoulders and pavement width and determined by restriping the Route 340 end of the exit ramp, VDOT…