Former GOP leader throws hat into ring for supervisor seat

Chris Graham

Former Augusta County Republican Party chair Kurt Michael will announce his candidacy for the Wayne District seat on the Augusta County Board of Supervisors on Saturday. Michael, 47, of Fishersville, is currently a teacher at the Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School. He and his wife, Pamela, and two children have lived in Augusta County since 2001….

Webb, Warner introduce Bay-restoration bill

U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., and Jim Webb, D-Va. have introduced legislation that would bring increased accountability measures and a more collaborative management approach to Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. The Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act of 2011 requires the Office of Management and Budget to prepare a crosscut budget to better track the…

EMU alumna in national spotlight on immigration issue

Contributors

Isabel Castillo, a 2007 Eastern Mennonite University graduate, has become a nationally recognized spokesperson for the plight of undocumented young people in the United States. Castillo was featured in a Feb. 20, 2011, New York Times article, “Dream Act Advocate Turns Failure into Hope.” This publicity led Jesuit-run University of San Francisco to invite her…

Marirose Pratt: A cleaner energy future

Contributors

It’s been just a year since the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history. Rather than focus on enacting much needed safety and environmental reforms, Rep. Goodlatte wants to open Virginia’s waters to drilling, as if last year never happened (“Goodlatte bill would push offshore drilling off Virginia waters,” April 6, 2011). The notion that…

VCU researchers’ study finds major U.S. newspapers are warming up to Wikipedia

Contributors

Major newspapers in the United States are referencing Wikipedia more often and framing the online encyclopedia more positively in stories, according to a study by a pair of faculty researchers in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Mass Communications. In the study, published in the April issue of “Journalism Practice,” researchers analyzed the framing of…

Robert Hurt: Continued focus on job creation

Robert Hurt

This past week in Congress we continued to focus on taking the necessary steps to help foster a better environment for job creation for the people of the Fifth District by shrinking the size and scope of the federal government, reducing unnecessary regulations, working to lower energy costs, and cutting spending. I was proud to…

Wilson Ready Mix announces staff addition

Wilson Ready Mix LLC is pleased to announce that Todd Fretwell has joined the company effective immediately. Fretwell, a graduate of Virginia Tech with a degree in civil engineering, brings more than 20 years of construction experience to the Wilson Ready Mix team located in Fishersville. Fretwell’s engineering background and experience will be utilized in…