Sarah van Gelder: The new normal

AFP

Americans are facing a troubling reality. The economic recovery they were promised has not materialized. There’s growing talk about a “new normal”—a new way of life to take us through a long period of failed recoveries. There are, indeed, good reasons to believe we won’t go back to the old ways. But this new normal…

Jim Bishop: Opun the window … but watch out for the pane

Jim Bishop

Column by Jim Bishop Submit guest columns: [email protected]   What is that distinct, almost overpowering aroma? Spring hath sprang, or is it sprung? – sounds like something just broke – in the Valley of the Shenandoah, so fling wide the doors, throw up the window sashes (bet they’re sticking because they, although inanimate objects, innately…

Va. 907 bridge closed by VDOT

Chris Graham

   Staff Report News tips: [email protected] The Virginia Department of Transportation has closed the bridge over Christians Creek on Va. 907 in Augusta County. This location is just off Va. 612. Keith Weakley, the VDOT Staunton District bridge engineer, said that it appears that a vehicle struck the bridge causing extensive damage. A sign is…

Over the banks

AFP

But Waynesboro sidesteps flood disaster   Story, photos and video by Chris Graham [email protected] Waynesboro dodged potential disastrous flooding associated with heavy rain that overswept the Shenandoah Valley Sunday and into Monday morning. The river had been projected to crest at 1 p.m. Monday at 10.5 feet, a foot over the 9.5-foot flood stage, according to the Waynesboro…

Official: South River at flood stage, expected to crest at 1 p.m. Monday

Chris Graham

   Story by Chris Graham [email protected] The South River is above flood stage in Waynesboro after Sunday’s dousing of heavy rain, and is expected to crest at 1 p.m. Monday at 10.5 feet, about a foot above flood stage, according to a report from the Waynesboro Department of Emergency Management this morning. The river is…

City officials watching weather forecast

AFP

Snow-rain double-whammy caused massive ’96 flooding Story by Chris Graham [email protected] The first of the two 100-year floods of 1996 in Waynesboro was precipitated by a massive early-January snowstorm that dumped 30 inches-plus of snow followed by a heavy-rain event a week later that forced the South River out of its banks. With snow still…

Focus | Going green to save green

AFP

    Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Going green isn’t about making a climate scientist in England or a bunch of bureaucrats in Copenhagen happy. It’s about the bottom line in places like the Town of Grottoes, where the new home for Wellness Concepts, a long-term care pharmacy, is being built with green-building principles foremost…

Planet’s future depends on Copenhagen

AFP

  Column by Sarah van Gelder Columns, letters: [email protected] As the Copenhagen Climate Summit approaches, some world leaders predict there will be either no deal or one so weak that it will be virtually worthless. Little wonder. Climate change could be one of the toughest issues the world has ever faced, less because of the…

The Rant | Why Was Kaine in Arkansas?

AFP

OK, so he had a fundraiser for the DNC on the schedule. Easy to get that. And it’s not like he needed to be in Virginia to monitor the situation with flooding associated with the remnants of Hurricane Ida. But … appearances still matter in these kinds of situations, don’t they? AFP editor Chris Graham…