Pat Byington: Follow the scientists

AFP

Dr. James McClintock, a renowned University of Alabama-Birmingham marine biologist who has conducted research in Antarctica for more than 25 years, told me the following story. “You work in a scientific lab in the quietest place on Earth — Antarctica. “There’s a Crack! Boom! “You rush to the window of your remote lab with a…

Mill at South River completes $5.5 million prep work

AFP

Redevelopment team members for the Mill at South River in Waynesboro announced today that the project has successfully completed a $5.5 million voluntary remediation and site preparation phase of the property redevelopment. It is the largest known voluntary Brownfield investment by an individual in Virginia and ranks in the top 7 percent in size of…

Sanford D. Horn: Juan gone From NPR

Chris Graham

The vigorous and immediate support of former NPR commentator Juan Williams, in the wake of his unceremonious dismissal via cell phone, from both sides of the aisle both politically and in the media speaks volumes – especially when Williams has been silenced, albeit only by NPR. For a simple expression of his true feelings, that…

Kathleen Rogers and Jigar Shah: Moving capital and winning the debate on climate

AFP

Disasters from climate change are becoming more frequent and more severe – consider this year alone, with the devastating flooding in Pakistan, the Russian heat wave, an incredible ice chunk calving off of Greenland – and New York’s hottest summer on record. Governments are becoming exhausted dealing with these impacts and realizing that adapting to…

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…