Education: How many children left behind?

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Twenty, twenty-five, close to thirty percent of students who start the ninth grade in the Shenandoah Valley aren’t graduating high school in four years, according to figures released by the State Department of Education on Wednesday. But are the numbers an accurate reflection of how many children are…

Waynesboro: Art in a different light

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] We as artists like to think of ourselves as creative geniuses, but the truth is some of our best inspirations come from chance and paying attention. That’s how Waynesboro artist Deb Booth came into producing a new DVD using her groundbreaking photography and the music of local talent Richard Adams…

Harrisonburg: Learning in a real-world setting

Jim Bishop

Story by Jim Bishop For most majors, Eastern Mennonite University offers smaller classes that provide much opportunity for close student-faculty interaction and mentoring. In addition, many majors include opportunities for internships, where students apply classroom learning to “real world” settings. Beyond this, a number of students majoring in the sciences, particularly biology or chemistry, are…

Waynesboro: Moran stumps for Obama, Warner, has eyes on ’09 prize

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] The last time Virginia went Democratic for president, gas was 25 cents, The Beatles were about to make their debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” Ronald Reagan was still a Democrat, and Brian Moran was 5 years old. “A lot has changed, but this year, Virginia is going to elect…

Harrisonburg: Annual relief sale a big success

Chris Graham

Story by Jim Bishop Economic woes apparently took a back seat to spectacular weather that helped draw an enthusiastic crowd of nearly 10,000 to the 42nd annual Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale held Oct. 3-4 at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds. This year’s sale raised approximately $307,638 in total receipts for Mennonite Central Committee. This does not…

Local Politics: Are we all losing our minds?

Chris Graham

Column by Chris Graham [email protected] Dinah Gottschalk is a volunteer in the Waynesboro Democratic Committee. She’s a committed Democrat, a lifelong Democrat, and she’s been working hard this campaign season at the local Waynesboro Dems election headquarters in Willow Oak Plaza with me and dozens of other Waynesboro and Augusta County Democrats. She was, to…

Poll Watch: Obama opens up double-digit lead in Va.

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Two new polls have Democrat Barack Obama opening a double-digit lead in Virginia as the campaign enters the final month. A SurveyUSA poll released this morning has Obama leading Republican John McCain by a 53 percent-to-43 percent margin. A new Suffolk poll released today has Obama ahead of McCain by…

Election ’08: Today is the last day to register to vote in Nov. 4 election

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Today is the last day for Virginia residents to vote in the Nov. 4 general election, which includes contests for president, the United States Senate and Congress. Applications must be in your local voter-registration office by 5 p.m. or postmarked today. Download a voter-registration application online. Check your registration status…