Five Dukes named to College Sporting News All-America team

Contributors

Five James Madison University football players have been named to the College Sporting News’ 2009 preseason Football Championship Subdivision All-America team. Senior cornerback Scotty McGee (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) was named to the first team as a return specialist; junior offensive tackle Theo Sherman (Danville, Va./Chatham) and senior defensive tackle Sam Daniels (Portsmouth, Va./Woodrow Wilson)…

Staunton firefighters to aid MDA

Contributors

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local #3468 in Staunton will be on the intersection of Richmond Road and Greenville Avenue on Wednesday, Sept. 2 for the first day of the annual Fill-the-Boot fundraising campaign in support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The Staunton Fill-the-Boot will continue until Friday. Sept. 4.

Stinging rebuke to local GOP lawmakers

Chris Graham

How about that ringing endorsement of 25th District Republican Del. Steve Landes’ effort to inject partisan politics into the special session of the Virginia General Assembly on Wednesday? The Republican-majority House of Delegates voted 82-7 to limit the legislation to come before the session to the matter at hand cited by Gov. Tim Kaine in…

Kaine details budget shortfall

Chris Graham

It’s official – the state is enduring another budget shortfall. “I directed executive agencies in July to prepare budget reduction plans at the 5, 10 and 15 percent levels so that we can make decisions promptly. I began review of these plans last month and will be prepared to announce and implement decisions in early…

Stimulus monies to help pay for solar panels

Contributors

An $80 million grant from the federal stimulus will fund improvements to wastewater-treatment plants across the Commonwealth, including here in the Valley. Augusta County will get $364,964 to go toward the installation of solar panels at wastewater-treatment plant pump stations across the county, according to the office of Gov. Tim Kaine, who on Tuesday accepted…

Wagner picks up VEA endorsement

Contributors

Democratic lieutenant-governor nominee Jody Wagner was endorsed by the Virginia Education Association at an event in Richmond on Monday. Speaking to a group of educators attending a roundtable event led by Wagner, Dr. Kitty J. Boitnott, chair of the VEA Fund for Children and Public Education, cited Wagner’s long-standing commitment to public education, saying “We…

Kaine touts green building

Contributors

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine on Monday toured the renovated, environmentally friendly Virginia Association of Counties headquarters where he highlighted the benefits of green construction and green roofs. The VaCo headquarters on Main Street in Richmond was built in 1866 and recently was completely renovated using LEED standards.

Don’t call it a comeback

Chris Graham

“Which one of your candidates is the one that fired his campaign manager?” I happened to be standing at the Staunton-Augusta Democratic Party booth at the Augusta County Fair last week when that question was directed at a volunteer. The reference was to a report from University of Virginia politics professor Larry Sabato from earlier…