Author reveals unknown chapter of Civil War history

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Edited by Chris Graham [email protected]   Of the 620,000 soldiers who perished during the American Civil War, the overwhelming majority died not from gunshot wounds or saber cuts, but from disease. And of the various maladies that plagued both armies, few were more pervasive than malaria—a mosquito-borne illness which afflicted over 1.1 million soldiers serving…

Fund fosters growth of small business in Staunton

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected]   Brian Wiedemann and Katie McCaskey weren’t looking for a handout, but a hand up. “We’re into our next growth phase,” said Wiedemann, who with McCaskey opened the George Bowers Grocery on West Beverley Street in the heart of Newtown in Staunton in November 2008, and after a harsh winter…

Augusta County Library celebrates National Library Week

Chris Graham

Edited by Chris Graham [email protected]   National Library Week is in full swing at Augusta County Library. The theme of this year’s national recognition of libraries is, “Communities Thrive @ your Library.” This theme is in line with the mission of Augusta County Library: “to create an environment for people to learn, explore, enjoy, create…

Was the PGI deal a good one?

Chris Graham

Special Report by Chris Graham [email protected]   How much did the economic-incentive package put together by the City of Waynesboro have to do with the ultimate decision of Polymer Group Inc. to expand its operations here and not in Mooresville, N.C.? The first question that I posed to PGI spokesman Cliff Bridges was the generic,…

Quiet on the Staunton election front

Chris Graham

Column by Chris Graham [email protected]   When nine people – yes, nine! – submitted their names for consideration for the six-month appointment to the Staunton City Council seat left open by the election of longtime Council member Dickie Bell to the Virginia House of Delegates, Mayor Lacy King had one word in mind: dogfight. “I…

Degner to announce in 26th

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected]   Harrisonburg Mayor Kai Degner is throwing his hat into the ring for the soon-to-be-open 26th District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. “At a time when the General Assembly’s decisions are so severely impacting local government budgets, be it in education, transportation, law enforcement, environmental security, social services…

Workshops highlight efforts to grow local foods economy

Chris Graham

Submitted Item News tips: [email protected]   This week, workshops up and down the Shenandoah Valley will bring together farmers, restaurant owners, distributors, bankers, volunteers, and government agencies to discuss the growth opportunities in the local foods economy. As national attention is focusing on both the health and environmental benefits of eating locally, entrepreneurs in the…

J.R. Tolbert: Keeping the faith on Earth Day

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Column by J.R. Tolbert Submit guest columns: [email protected]   Forty years ago, nearly 20 million Americans participated in what was the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Inspired by Sen. Gaylord Nelson after witnessing an oil spill off California’s coast, Earth Day was started to spotlight issues related to environmental degradation and the need to…