Hooray for Staunton!

Chris Graham

Op-Ed by Bob Broxton Something historic happened in the little town of Staunton on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007. The Staunton City Council passed a resolution that asks the General Assembly to stop certain “exploitative” practices of payday lenders by capping interest rates at 36 percent APR.

Head of EMU program to retire

Jim Bishop

Story by Jim Bishop It’s been “five wonderful years,” but he wants to retire from Eastern Mennonite University in order to “devote more time to family, other organizations and several entrepreneurial interests.” Allon H. Lefever, 61, who has directed the master of business administration program at EMU since 2003, plans to leave that role on…

EMU, Harrisonburg schools teaming up on music program

Jim Bishop

Story by Jim Bishop The (Shenandoah) hills will be alive with the sound of (string) music as a cooperative program between Harrisonburg City Schools and Eastern Mennonite University begins this fall. The city school system is funding a strings instruction program through EMU’s Preparatory Music Program, part of the university’s music department. It will begin…

Art show names judges

Contributors

Item by Chris Graham The Virginia Fall Foliage Festival Art Show has announced the judges for the 2007 show. Homer L. Springer Jr. and Trudi Van Dyke will serve as judges for the 36th annual show – set for Oct. 13 and Oct. 14 in Downtown Waynesboro. Springer has taught art for 40 years, the…

Candidate forum in Vesuvius next week

Chris Graham

Item by Chris Graham The Vesuvius Community Association is hosting its 13th annual Candidate Forum at the Vesuvius Community Center next week. The forum will be held on Monday at 7 p.m. Among the candidates for public office invited to attending include candidates for office in Rockbridge County, candidates for the Riverheads District seat on…

Payday lenders, Albemarle smart-growth advocates, former college cartoonist

Chris Graham

Winners and Losers column by Chris Graham LOSERS: Payday lenders Just as I have said that it appears that the feds will eventually get it that they need to do something about illegal immigration because they see local governments in Virginia taking action on their own, I see the same thing happening with the Virginia…

It’s all in a (brand) name

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham What do you think of when you think of the Shenandoah Valley? Or Staunton? Stop right there. It took you too long. When you think of Nike, you think “swoosh.” Instantly. When you think of Coca-Cola, you see in a flash the red can and script lettering in your…

Mohawk, Commonwealth Transportation Board, Floyd Landis

Contributors

Winners and Losers column by Chris Graham LOSER: Mohawk Industries Nice PR department they must have there. The Georgia company first tells The News Virginian that it was not going to be laying off employees at its Waynesboro plant as part of a companywide restructuring, then goes ahead and lays off employees at its Waynesboro…