The new guy at the Waynesboro News Virginian

We've been taking a while to get to know the new editor and general manager at the Waynesboro News Virginian. Jonathan Hunley, 35, joined the NV in May, filling a void left when former editor Lee Wolverton took another job in December.

We have much respect for the NV and its former publisher so there were high expectations for someone new taking over this Valley newspaper. I'm happy to say there has been no disappointment.

I was pleased to see Mr. Hunley continue the Three Up, Three Down column which offers a brief weekly review with commentary of all subjects at the local, state, and national level. Perhaps the strength of that column was its willingness to point out flaws at the local level where politics is perhaps the stickiest. There's editorials again about local issues, not just reprints from Charlottesville or Richmond. The out-of-town ones are fine but it adds more when it's about local concerns.

Many newspapers nowadays seem unwilling to tangle in local issues. With cutbacks, there are few investigative reporters left to dig and probe looking for details about issues that are then allowed to fester and grow. Perhaps financial reasons prevent newspapers from searching for answers that may cut off sources of income from those in the community who are politically and financially powerful.

Because of the milquetoast coverage by some, it is nice to have the News Virginian's honest opinions. With fair-minded reporters like Bob Stuart and Megan Davis, we hope the balanced coverage will continue.

SWAC welcomes NV editorJonathan Hunley to Valley

Jonathan Hunley, the new editor and general manager at the Waynesboro News Virginian, introduced himself in Sunday's paper with the humble comment, "As I told the staff, they don’t need me. I need them — and their fine work. It is an honor to join them."

Originally from Roanoke, Hunley traveled to just about every other corner of the Commonwealth before hanging his hat in Waynesboro in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park. We around here -- even those of us who transplanted in from other areas of the Old Dominion -- like to think of it as God's Country. 

Former editor Lee Wolverton left in December to take a newspaper position in Texas. In April it was announced a replacement had been found with 35-year-old Hunley who has spent a long time in the newspaper business, and who is dad to a four-year-old son.

Interviewed at the time, Hunley noted that he wanted to take a comprehensive look at economic development and quality-of-life issues in the area:

“I really want the newspaper to engage in its community and reflect its community,” he said. “We want to take a look at what’s happening and be the watchdog for the community.”

We have much respect for the News Virginian and welcome Mr. Hunley to the Valley.

News Virginian thanks citizen watch dogs

Citizens who oversee the government ... it can work when Americans hold their employees -- the government -- accountable.

Case in point is the mess at the Waynesboro treasurer's office that was brought to the attention of the News Virginian and Waynesboro residents by citizen watch dogs, and resulted in a new treasurer being elected to that post. After Ellen and Phil Winter noticed what appeared to be shabby record keeping in the Waynesboro treasurer's office, they took action. From the NV:

Close followers of city politics knew the Winters waved the red flags and then gathered reams of information from city government that showed a Treasurer’s Office in disarray. That led to a front-page story in this newspaper Sept. 30 reporting that Treasurer Sandra “Sandee” Dixon had been thumped in four straight state audits for tardy accounting and sloppy recordkeeping and had botched the handling of hundreds of thousands of dollars in city and state taxpayer money. Within slightly more than two weeks, two write-in candidates joined the treasurer’s race, doubling the field. On Election Day, challenger Stephanie Beverage topped Dixon for the job.

It was more involved than that ... the NV editorial goes more indepth ... but the end result was that citizen watch dogs stepped in to oversee government. As a result, the Winters have been nominated for the American Society of News Editors Local Heroes Award which recognizes people who help improve access to government.

The News Virginian concluded with sage words:

This is how a representative republic, powered by the people through open government and the accountability that affords, is designed to work. Thanks to the Winters for the lesson. Let us all follow it with due and equal vigilance.

It turned out well in this case but too often it is impossible to fight city hall and government overwhelms the watch dog citizen which would never happen if everyone was a vigilent as the Winters.

Thanks, News Virginian!

We had no mail or newspaper delivery on Saturday during the snowstorm, which was understandable. That's why I was surprised this morning when the newspaper guy delivered the Waynesboro News Virginian and Richmond Times-Dispatch. Hard copy news!

Many thanks to our carrier....

Waynesboro News Virginian: "Time ends for slumber"

On New Year's Day 2010, the Waynesboro News Virginian's editorial was spot on.

As the conservative-leaning newspaper of the SWAC area, a daily read of the NV is a must ... and the New Year's Day editorial did not disappoint.

Citing warnings ignored and lessons to be learned but possibly ignored, the NV overviews catastrophies of the past decade:

A greater danger lurks than those inhuman and natural that swarmed over the United States starting in 2001. It is that the country will look upon the calamities of the last 10 years as a simple series of unfortunate events, as mere rotten luck. Viewing the decade this way without learning its lessons will doom America to repeat its recent history, to even starker results.

Consider the 9/11 attacks. For years in advance of that awful morning, members of the Federal Aviation Administration’s so-called Red Team, assigned to test airport and airline security, had warned top officials and Congress of vulnerabilities in the system. Those warnings were substantively ignored. The recent bombing attempt on Northwest Airlines demonstrates remarkably that even after 9/11 aviation security remains an aberration. The terrorist attacks of 2001 were preventable. The same will apply the next time.

Similarly, engineers for decades had warned that New Orleans could not withstand a major hurricane, that if a Category 3 storm or larger rumbled into the Bayou, levees would break and lives would be imperiled. Those calls went unheeded. Hopes that the inevitable would not occur were shattered, and homes and families with them.

Those at the News Virginian get it. With a chilling reminder of what lies before us, the editorial concludes by warning:

This might well be the decade that determines whether the country ascends again or makes her decline permanent. It is a time for hard thinking and hard work.

Millions of conservatives have rolled up their shirt sleeves for some hard thinking and hard work. Millions more are needed.

To quote former President George W. Bush, "We're ready, we're steady, we're resolved."

Now let's get to work.

NV: "GOP faces test of principles"

Today's Waynesboro News Virginian editorial examines the GOP coming out of the RPV Convention 2009 and decides that the "GOP faces test of principles."

"God Bless America ... We Still Believe" -- News Virginian ad

Photo of Reo Hatfield's patriotic ad in Friday's
Waynesboro News Virginian, page A9.

One patriotic man ... one patriotic newspaper. Put them together and you get Waynesboro businessman Reo Hatfield and the Waynesboro News Virginian.

Talk about putting your money where your mouth is! Mr. Hatfield took out a full-page color ad on page A9 in the Friday, March 27, 2009, edition. The cost of the ad was $2,400. The page was outlined in red with the words, "God Bless America ... We Still Believe!" across the top against the background of a red, white, and blue American flag.

Across the page, top to bottom, were five columns of names of people in the community who also believe that God blesses America and joined with Mr. Hatfield in publicly saying so.

Notable names included were former Waynesboro City Council member Reo Hatfield, Reo Hatfield III, Reo Hatfield IV (and a slew of other Hatfields), former Augusta County Supervisor Tom Sikes, former Augusta County GOP Chairman Kurt Michael ...

... veterinarian Dr. Bruce Bowman, former GOP Speaker of the House Vance Wilkins, Phyllis Hollowell, realtors Kevin & Vonda Lacey, home builder Mike & Kathy Lacey (Kathy's Restaurant), Del. Steve Landes ...

... auto dealership owner Charlie Obaugh, Augusta Supevisor Tracy Pyles, Harrisonburg-Rockingham Clerk of Court Chaz Evans-Haywood, Rebecca Quick, Yellow Freight salesman Jim Rimel, Valley Blue Dog Steve Sisson, and me as well as many others for a total of approximately 400.

I asked Reo about the reason behind the ad, keeping in mind that he had run patriotic ads in the past. Reo's response:

"I had enough of the government telling the majority of the people that God isn't important.... We are Americans and we have built a country on Truth, Justice, and Freedom ... and 90% of Americans believe it but we can't get the message out. I finally said, 'I am getting the message out.' I love this country and I am ready to fight to keep it."

One patriotic man ... one patriotic newspaper. Together they reminded us of what made this a great country.

May God bless America!

News Virginian full-page ad: "God Bless America ... We Still Believe!"

Photo of Reo Hatfield's patriotic ad in today's
Waynesboro News Virginian, page A9.

One patriotic man ... one patriotic newspaper. Put them together and you get Waynesboro businessman Reo Hatfield and the Waynesboro News Virginian.

Talk about putting your money where your mouth is! Mr. Hatfield took out a full-page color ad on page A9 in the Friday, March 27, 2009, edition. The cost of the ad was $2,400. The page was outlined in red with the words, "God Bless America ... We Still Believe!" across the top against the background of a red, white, and blue American flag.

Across the page, top to bottom, were five columns of names of people in the community who also believe that God blesses America and joined with Mr. Hatfield in publicly saying so.

Notable names included were Reo Hatfield, Reo Hatfield III, Reo Hatfield IV (and a slew of other Hatfields), former Augusta County Supervisor Tom Sikes, former Augusta County GOP Chairman Kurt Michael ...

... veterinarian Dr. Bruce Bowman, former GOP Speaker of the House Vance Wilkins, Phyllis Hollowell, realtors Kevin & Vonda Lacey, home builder Mike & Kathy Lacey (Kathy's Restaurant), Del. Steve Landes ...

... auto dealership owner Charlie Obaugh, Augusta Supevisor Tracy Pyles, Harrisonburg-Rockingham Clerk of Court Chaz Evans-Haywood, Rebecca Quick, Yellow Freight salesman Jim Rimel, Valley Blue Dog Steve Sisson, and me as well as many others for a total of approximately 400.

I asked Reo about the reason behind the ad, keeping in mind that he had run patriotic ads in the past. Reo's response:

"I had enough of the government telling the majority of the people that God isn't important.... We are Americans and we have built a country on Truth, Justice, and Freedom ... and 90% of Americans believe it but we can't get the message out. I finally said, 'I am getting the message out.' I love this country and I am ready to fight to keep it."

One patriotic man ... one patriotic newspaper. Together they made an important statement.

May God bless America.

Original graphic from News Virginian.

Saxman says Biden pick is "Washington politics as usual"

"He chose a Washington insider with 36 years of experience. That negates the change mantra," said Del. Chris Saxman, R-Staunton, McCain's Virginia campaign co-chairman. "He has taken one attack off his ammunition. This is Washington politics as usual."

The Waynesboro News Virginian's story today discusses Barack Obama's vice presidential pick as the Democrat Convention is set to begin in Denver. The SWAC area's Chris Saxman weighs in on the choice.

Waynesboro welcomes Appalachian Trail hikers

Waynesboro, sitting in the shadow of Afton Mountain and the Skyline Drive that runs along the ridges of the Blue Ridge Mountains, has always opened its doors to Appalachian Trail hikers throughout the years.

From the fire station allowing camping on its premises to the local YMCA offering shower facilities to the hospitality of locals who give rides into town or help in other ways, Waynesboro is a hikers' town. "Through" hikers from the Trail know it is a refuge on their journey north or south.

Today's Waynesboro News-Virginian has an article by Cleve Wiese that tells the story of a Waynesboro resident who continues the tradition of reaching out to Trail hikers.

Delegate Ben Cline questions VA lottery on wasteful spending

Should the Virginia lottery pay Donald Trump half-a-million dollars for his picture to appear on lottery tickets? How about $800,000 for use of the name "Deal or No Deal" and Howie Mandel's image? Delegate Ben Cline (R-Rockbridge) says no, and has exposed what he considers wasteful spending of money that could be used for education, the intent of lottery proceeds.

The Waynesboro News Virginian backed Delegate Cline which brought questions from lottery officials.

Yesterday's editorial in the NV followed up on the issue as they reemphasized their backing of Delegate Cline in his pursuit of cost-cutting efforts for the Commonwealth.

Miffed by our editorial last week backing state Del. Ben Cline’s push to halve what he described as a $26 million advertising budget, a Virginia Lottery official fired off a missive that we published Sunday disputing the figure. Lottery officials say the advertising budget is $20 million, not $26 million.

Cline tells us he arrived at the latter figure in consultation with House Appropriations Committee budget writers, who, presumably, know a thing or two about budgets. Lottery officials in response told reporter Bob Stuart that they simply defined the advertising budget more narrowly than did Cline. We’ll stick with the House and Cline on this one.

Read the entire editorial here.

Congressman Bob Goodlatte visits Waynesboro

Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-6th Congressional District) visited Waynesboro yesterday to applaud a successful business in the community.

Clark Manufacturing on Hopeman Boulevard builds walk-in freezers and other related manufacturing items and will employ 60, producing $10 million in sales.

Read the entire article by Bob Stuart at the Waynesboro News Virginian.

Cross-posted at SixtyFour81.com

Veterans Day 2007 ... we remember....

Veterans Day. It's almost overwhelming when you stop to think about it. All around are men and women who have been in the service of this country to protect you and I ... the citizens who often take it for granted that we are able to jump in our vehicles and drive anywhere without fear of terrorism in the streets, in our Capitol, in our malls.

We have that freedom and peace at home because of our veterans. They are all around us from the World War II generation to Korea to Vietnam to Operation Desert Storm to the present-day Operation Iraqi Freedom war in Iraq.

My American flag is flying in their honor and memory ... my hat's off to these American heroes. We thank them.


SWAC Husband, United States Air Force, 1966-1971; North Carolina Air National Guard

Check out Bob Stuart's excellent front-page tributes in today's Waynesboro News Virginian:
-- Honoring Service
-- Woman recalls adventuresome spouse

Also check out other tributes in the News Virginian:
-- What makes a hero?
-- Iconic Vietnam Memorial in Washington turns 25

The entire front page of the Waynesboro News Virginian is dedicated to Veterans Day. It's a wonderful tribute and it is great to see a newspaper take the lead on honoring our military veterans. Well done, Bob Stuart and the News Virginian.

Waynesboro News Virginian covers John Hager's visit to SWAC....

RPV Chairman John Hager's visit yesterday to the SWAC area Republicans is the front page top-of-the-fold story in today's Waynesboro News Virginian. In GOP chairman wants unity, reporter Alicia Petska did a great job highlighting the issues that were discussed along with Chairman Hager's plans to bring the Party back together after a contentious Primary season.

Even though we were in Staunton -- in the home territory of the News Leader -- there was no representative from them but, then, that's not anything unusual. They were MIA when 120 people turned out in November 2006 to see George Allen at Rowe's just before the election ... it was covered by Waynesboro but Staunton ignored it. Typical.

Waynesboro News Virginian fastest growing community newspaper in Virginia

Seventh-fastest growing in America

There's good news for one of our local news outlets in the SWAC area. The Waynesboro News Virginian is the fastest growing newspaper of its size in Virginia, as ranked recently by Editor & Publisher and advertised in the NV. They are also the seventh-fastest growing community newspaper in America.

The News Virginian is owned by Media General, an independent, publicly owned communications company in the Southeast with ownership in over 100 newspapers, 23 television stations, and more than 75 online enterprises.

Good news, indeed. Congrats!

Waynesboro News Virginian ... could they dominate SWAC area news?

While catching up today with SWAC area news, I read that Bruce Potter, publisher of the Waynesboro News Virginian, is leaving his position to head to Northern Virginia with Media General, owners of the NV.

Would this be a good time for the NV to hire a conservative publisher and become a more conservative newspaper ... maybe in the same vein as the Washington Times?

After all, the SWAC area is overwhelmingly conservative. The Staunton News Leader has a mostly liberal slant on the news and especially on their editorial page. Could the NV become the reigning paper in the area if they were known as being more fair and balanced, more conservative?

Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County conservatives are hungry for news that tells the other side of the issue and doesn't just push a liberal agenda.

Readership would rise, subscriptions would rise (because many who have canceled their NL subscriptions over the years would sign on), and the NV's influence in the area would grow.

Many local businesses are conservative. Perhaps, if given a choice, they would be willing to drop advertising with the NL and go exclusively with the NV.

The NV's reporters appear to be more impartial ... Bob Stuart, Mike Owens, Alicia Petska ... they have covered Support the Troops rallies and other conservative events and reported fairly.

It would be nice to have a conservative voice on the local newspaper front and, while we're sorry to see Bruce Potter go, we will be contacting Jim Sacco (jsacco@newsvirginian.com) at the NV to make our suggestion.