Deal of the Day
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Latest Opinion Articles
Published Sep 01, 2010 Back to school stirs some fond memories Melody Kinser As a child, there was no mistaking when it was time to get ready to return to the classroom. The family — parents, sister and your’s truly — made the annual trip to Sears in Huntington, W.Va., for the tradition of getting new clothes for school. Funny how that image came to mind last week when thinking about Hanover County Public Schools students preparing for the 2010-2011 term. Doors will open on Tuesday, Sept. 7. It’s a fond family memory and — even though we made the 60-mile journey frequently — there was something special about shopping for school clothes. Memories stir of the excitement on the first day of school, especially the… Read more... Published Aug 25, 2010 Mosque near Ground Zero stirs emotions Melody Kinser Last Wednesday, the question, “What do you think about the mosque issue near Ground Zero?, was posted on our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/mechlocal). The response was immediate. At 9:36 a.m., the question went up; at 9:38 a.m., a straight-to-the-point “heck no” (yes, that was paraphrased) was posted. And that was the start of some online dialogue that saw how varied our community’s opinions are about this controversial subject. A common theme saw the stance of Muslims being within their rights, but construction would be in poor taste. One writer said, “I support their constitutional right… Read more... Published Aug 18, 2010 Victim’s daughter joins in search for answers Melody Kinser Desarae Wayne was a child when her mother left suddenly. Her departure left a void that has never been filled. And these days questions swirl through her thoughts. Her mother, Theresa Baker, was spotlighted in our second Cold Cases series with the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office. The year was 1985 when a young mother and her three children were settling into a new life in the Midlothian area of Chesterfield County. About two months later, their lives were forever changed when Theresa fell victim to a killer. The 24-year-old went missing on Sept. 20, with her remains not being found until Feb. 8, 1986, in Mechanicsville. According to the article, which appeared in… Read more... Published Aug 11, 2010 If you’re legit, then proof isn’t an issue Melody Kinser Security seemed a bit extreme, but those preparing to tour Hoover Dam were not deterred by the precautions implemented. It was March 2001 and those learning about the man-made marvel were agreeable and accepting of tightened security measures. For example, no purses, diaper bags or camera bags were allowed on the tour. Our nation was rocked that fall with the Sept. 11 attacks. Gone were the days of being immune to the evil of the world. We had become the victim. Since that fateful day, we have seen security levels changed in our every day lives. We are asked on a frequent basis to display photo identification. All the hoopla in Arizona about proof of legal status… Read more... Published Aug 04, 2010 Sheriff’s Office keeps focus on job at hand Melody Kinser When Lt. Col. V. Stuart Cook, sheriff of Hanover County, officially announced he would retire this year, the department he has molded so well continued to do just what is expected of a law enforcement agency: Serve and protect. While there was already buzz about the 2011 election, the Sheriff’s Office, as it prepares for a change in command, has been taking care of business. During his interview on July 13, Cook was straight to the point in terms of politics and his office: They don’t mix. Yes, it is an elected position, which obviously means the sheriff files and runs as a candidate. But how he operates is another story. Cook said he isn’t a politician,… Read more... Published Jul 28, 2010 The term neighbor isn’t what it used to be Melody Kinser Sadly, the days are gone when the man or woman next door was just a good neighbor. It doesn’t seem that long ago when those either next door or throughout the neighborhood shared the same goals: being responsible to family and employer. That description has become an idyllic dream. These days, the person next door could very well be a predator. In the good news department, though, we can learn the identity and circumstances surrounding that individual — including the criminal history that led to the oh-so-public disclosure. A visit Monday to the Virginia State Police website, http://www.vsp.state.va.us/, revealed a… Read more... Published Jul 21, 2010 Social media gets news out swiftly Melody Kinser Without question, Facebook has changed the way we gather and present the news. Last Tuesday was an example of the impact of being connected online. While scanning sites and obtaining contacts for what would become a tragic article, the buzz between the news and advertising departments had turned to a Facebook posting that former commonwealth’s attorney Kirby Porter was dead. The item had appeared on Facebook and the news spread quickly. Confirmation of his death was not available that day, but websites were soon posting the sad news. Details were sketchy, but enough information was provided for an article to be posted at http://www.mechlocal.com… Read more... |
