News for today's 2018

And then there were 5: News-Virginian endorses no one for governor

5:37 AM Tukiyooo 0

Conservative Shenandoah Valley newspaper <a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/newsvirginian/opinion/editorials/no-endorsement-from-news-virginian/article_d796171c-429b-11e3-8074-0019bb30f31a.html"><i>The News-Virginian </i></a>has declined to endorse any of the three candidates for governor in the 2013 Virginia campaign.<br /><br />That now makes <a href="http://www.swacgirl.blogspot.com/2013/11/no-gubernatorial-endorsements-from.html">five newspapers</a> who have passed on this endorsement: <i>Richmond Times-Dispatch, Roanoke Times,</i> <i>News & Advance,</i> and <i>News Progress</i> and, today, the<i> News-Virginian</i> to that growing list.<br /><br />Addressing the campaign, the <i>News Virginian</i> wrote: <br /><blockquote>It’s ... been one of the nastier ones in recent memory, with both Democratic and Republican nominees focusing too much time on attacking their opponent and too little on talking up their own plans for the Commonwealth. If that’s an indication of how their administration would be, we can’t endorse any of the candidates in this year’s race. We’ve seen too much bickering and attacking in Washington. It just takes up time and accomplishes little.</blockquote>This is notable because the <i>News-Virginian</i> is a relatively conservative newspaper in the conservative Shenandoah Valley, one of the reddest parts of the Commonwealth, with conservative representatives who often go unchallenged. Indeed, in 2013 the three local delegates for the House of Representatives who represent the SWAC area, have no opponents as noted by <i>News-Virginian</i> political reporter Bob Stuart earlier this week in his article, <a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/newsvirginian/news/virginia_politics/local-house-members-face-clear-path-to-re-election/article_54b2b352-41d1-11e3-a880-0019bb30f31a.html">"Local House members face clear path to re-election."</a><br /><br />Reflecting the sour mood of the electorate in this election cycle, two newspapers -- the <i>Daily Progress</i> and <i>Roanoke Times</i> suggested writing in Republican Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling.<br /><br />Election 2013 has, indeed, been an odd one.

And then there were 5: News-Virginian endorses no one for governor

Conservative Shenandoah Valley newspaper The News-Virginian has declined to endorse any of the three candidates for governor in the 2013 Vir...

Former president swings through Harrisonburg

6:32 AM Tukiyooo 0

Former president swings through Harrisonburg

Bill Clinton Bob Stuart Harrisonburg James Madison University Lynn R. Mitchell Shenandoah Valley Waynesboro News-Virginian Former president swings through Harrisonburg

It's not every day a former president of the United States drops by the Shenandoah Valley so Bill Clinton's appearance in Harrisonbu...

Observations at the Homestead gubernatorial debate

5:00 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00HbtbfjrRUFAfs3xK0lj2wOzBvcBQWaUZ7OFTElCvJFmXdqPYSPYccSZk3zEnjVMXY3vD_YbFkCGbAzTiDB95jPHVVNjPfHV5zeCTfdxQE5LIMTh1o_q_wtiqLJ8C17DZ-mMGc25_GU/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362587583604724690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00HbtbfjrRUFAfs3xK0lj2wOzBvcBQWaUZ7OFTElCvJFmXdqPYSPYccSZk3zEnjVMXY3vD_YbFkCGbAzTiDB95jPHVVNjPfHV5zeCTfdxQE5LIMTh1o_q_wtiqLJ8C17DZ-mMGc25_GU/s400/1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> <i>The Homestead early Saturday morning.</i></div><br />We arrived early at the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs for the Virginia Bar Association (VBA) gubernatorial debate between Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Ken Cuccinelli after leaving home at 8:00 Saturday morning for the leisurely, one-hour drive over the mountains.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetj2gwn2naco7g7lwdKS6OgbSIFuUNs5yNFDndkaqTzMQ7TaNg-mffJCQLxxFM6O7SaAj9Mg9BAn1Sw9K8DxHRbQccmtkXshNKOaLa_jy_c8pAK5ScdbDW5uA2bKdNxEdhqNDl4XLLCXi/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetj2gwn2naco7g7lwdKS6OgbSIFuUNs5yNFDndkaqTzMQ7TaNg-mffJCQLxxFM6O7SaAj9Mg9BAn1Sw9K8DxHRbQccmtkXshNKOaLa_jy_c8pAK5ScdbDW5uA2bKdNxEdhqNDl4XLLCXi/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Everyone and his brother has written about the debate and there's not really much more I could add to that so I'll pass along some out-of-the-way observations....<br /><br />Ken Cuccinelli ... walking in George Allen's boots? Were those cowboy boots he was wearing with that lawyer suit on Saturday?<br /><br />Chris LaCivita, part of the Cuccinelli's entourage for their pre-debate mike check, dropped his name tag in the hallway. Yellow ... all access ... hmm. Wonder if I could get away with it? Tried to get his attention as he hurried away so retrieved the name tag and handed it off to Cuccinelli campaign  manager Dave Rexrode in the ballroom. With an all access pass ... oh, the places I could go?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8VZf3m0SYsQBq-Iw1t_xV_IppF6_VoRhxnqysxzaxRKSabc9jXCKfkXErhyphenhyphen0Fcr7X2przm88IOV4VA1cRNqCkjLaYZXmcVRbB5boMLCDg_HTKuvI_Hs-sPJ1ej1S3WWqljo68RIxhgiw/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8VZf3m0SYsQBq-Iw1t_xV_IppF6_VoRhxnqysxzaxRKSabc9jXCKfkXErhyphenhyphen0Fcr7X2przm88IOV4VA1cRNqCkjLaYZXmcVRbB5boMLCDg_HTKuvI_Hs-sPJ1ej1S3WWqljo68RIxhgiw/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Pre-debate was a flurry of activity as media worked to get set up. This is a community where many knew others as they called greetings to one another. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Ue-h3GeLEQ60dd3iJYc9U_QOLDTMITzFN5mAtvaweqcHin01Yf-lkt0PjlmUEBEEb-8EBkDTv71UO3AFzi3i6lBjrrm7MZfyFmII_oHlxCVR0-7sgBNzjKhmsPCb-S6NGyfDUM9AsKke/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Ue-h3GeLEQ60dd3iJYc9U_QOLDTMITzFN5mAtvaweqcHin01Yf-lkt0PjlmUEBEEb-8EBkDTv71UO3AFzi3i6lBjrrm7MZfyFmII_oHlxCVR0-7sgBNzjKhmsPCb-S6NGyfDUM9AsKke/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Mike Stark</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Cue the "Twilight Zone" music ... sitting at the table in front of me was Mike Stark. If you don't recognize the name, you weren't blogging in 2006. We've jostled on the blogging front lines -- liberal Democrat versus conservative Republican -- throughout the years so I asked to get his photo to prove his presence to my fellow SWAC bloggers. He was congenial as we discussed issues like energy and Obamacare ... kind of a surreal feeling.<br /><br />Brian Coy with the McAuliffe campaign came by press tables to meet everyone and hand out a fact sheet. A young man with America Rising, the Republican youthful outfit, stopped by with an information sheet and introduced himself. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhTHN_1CJtS_kX-zDY9N7UUhSGmg5rsdbT6I2A_mpo3IZQkU1vCLdGhZfQOyNoMpX-Y9ffHrYgiOTfO5gb-kVdCRmYLIgIjt3OP21akG8-h3X3AbJd1vpy_cxorhdd5LfGsu4PccEVjxi/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhTHN_1CJtS_kX-zDY9N7UUhSGmg5rsdbT6I2A_mpo3IZQkU1vCLdGhZfQOyNoMpX-Y9ffHrYgiOTfO5gb-kVdCRmYLIgIjt3OP21akG8-h3X3AbJd1vpy_cxorhdd5LfGsu4PccEVjxi/s400/7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bob Brown, photo-journalist, Richmond Times-Dispatch</i></div><br />As always, I enjoyed sitting with local political reporter Bob Stuart from the <a href="http://www.newsvirginian.com/">Daily Progress/News-Virginian</a>. Look for his a<a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/newsvirginian/news/virginia_politics/gubernatorial-candidates-duke-it-out-in-homestead-debate/article_f57a1c4c-f1a6-11e2-88e3-0019bb30f31a.html">rticle about the debate in Sunday's paper</a>. Bob Brown, longtime photo-journalist from the <a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/">Richmond Times-Dispatch,</a> was there -- love his work so stopped by to say hi and chatted a moment with him. There was no sighting of the TD's political writer Jeff Schapiro. His bow tie was missed.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aua3Q1CTnOgwny1PB7VrjlHlze_tkPWJZtOGLlnPtZF7eGXRVkK6tBeEEEswzR2NPgOqN1Nj5XJYSaot8oWgitPVNKrQ9nsNXIDxWWJGaSn8MlHHnPDNj6d378eZ4vec46AmO0Uex2db/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aua3Q1CTnOgwny1PB7VrjlHlze_tkPWJZtOGLlnPtZF7eGXRVkK6tBeEEEswzR2NPgOqN1Nj5XJYSaot8oWgitPVNKrQ9nsNXIDxWWJGaSn8MlHHnPDNj6d378eZ4vec46AmO0Uex2db/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ellen Qualls</i></div><br />Bob pointed out Ellen Qualls, who kind of made her name working with Mark Warner and is now a consultant to the McAuliffe campaign, was standing nearby. State Senator Creigh Deeds was seen in the audience.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSiuSi2tzj6hYepauJYA0dbUQW_4DJ2q9ewE6yb0AmJ6IrsKKn8u8cNhEySD_StUcUmcMgGrfu_ZMeiBGTZ3d-4xdz9XiAJdRXmiwK4-aHXUOAJNzzIxWwDKmehqFwqyiEz6BZS84U5hb/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSiuSi2tzj6hYepauJYA0dbUQW_4DJ2q9ewE6yb0AmJ6IrsKKn8u8cNhEySD_StUcUmcMgGrfu_ZMeiBGTZ3d-4xdz9XiAJdRXmiwK4-aHXUOAJNzzIxWwDKmehqFwqyiEz6BZS84U5hb/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The debate began with introductions of the candidates and then intro of Judy Woodruff, co-anchor of the "PBS NewsHour." There was a slight hiccup when Ms. Woodruff offered the podium to McAuliffe to begin opening statements, only to be told by Cuccinelli that he was to be first. She apologized and tossed it over to him. Later in the debate, Cuccinelli again corrected Woodruff's question rotation. Awkward.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETdMJTNLbupSvXZ33WxVpOb99KPHnyNTW0lHSr3f5HlV-cTLUjVPF4dR4mTxxIGJgV_lxPpQ4NoLealgmy_PPIMYp6QC0cQGSE_HRxUExFAv3kHPlf_Kd7Pg2WZzDxZeATfK3iQoyGBb0/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETdMJTNLbupSvXZ33WxVpOb99KPHnyNTW0lHSr3f5HlV-cTLUjVPF4dR4mTxxIGJgV_lxPpQ4NoLealgmy_PPIMYp6QC0cQGSE_HRxUExFAv3kHPlf_Kd7Pg2WZzDxZeATfK3iQoyGBb0/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Afterward, both candidates offered a brief interview opportunity for the media. In the middle of the cluster pictured above was Terry McAuliffe.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1rU_QKlDucAaGXVNO5BORg9pb3majGeQI-i5XeXRtlBtZT-ecbRN9rXaZkAi1GtzFVB3Qzhc5SGCPcRj_Fr5mWRpDDBerfyQnAsMjSLVtdzj-2DVSmdrH03H43YIYAkNZEpsZOw6E2-L/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1rU_QKlDucAaGXVNO5BORg9pb3majGeQI-i5XeXRtlBtZT-ecbRN9rXaZkAi1GtzFVB3Qzhc5SGCPcRj_Fr5mWRpDDBerfyQnAsMjSLVtdzj-2DVSmdrH03H43YIYAkNZEpsZOw6E2-L/s400/1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />As I was leaving the ballroom after the debate, Libertarian candidate <a href="http://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/libertarian-candidate-for-va-governor-robert-sarvis-beats-margin-in-poll">Robert Sarvis</a> was outside the doors greeting folks. I got his photo and talked briefly with him, asking how he felt about not being included in the debate and if he hoped to be in future ones.  He was upbeat and said he's working to make that happen.<br /><br />Just down the hall stood Greg Letiecq in the hallway talking with someone so I patted him on the arm as I passed. NoVa was in the house.... <br /><br />Heavy media coverage. Extra tables were brought in after all seats were taken.<br /><br />Someone's cell phone went off at 12:25 on Republican side of ballroom -- it was playing some kind of country song that went on for several seconds while Cuccinelli was speaking -- another awkward moment.<br /><br />Many thanks to Marilyn Shaw with the VBA who does a great job year after year of communicating with the press and including bloggers. The Homestead was gorgeous, as always. Another year, another VBA debate tucked away into the archives. It's less than four months until election day.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBi7KBZZc5qM8SIx94La3TSBDnmLSvEgEHy70m-tF348eFsVm-GP3-mt1QJ7bpHKtBO_6NRR3ehIuvDlHGD5AJ39zIKxg6iILE6iOkcldsmliFmWyEI6CMREblE5cJuXrm7YG6ptTjlHH0/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBi7KBZZc5qM8SIx94La3TSBDnmLSvEgEHy70m-tF348eFsVm-GP3-mt1QJ7bpHKtBO_6NRR3ehIuvDlHGD5AJ39zIKxg6iILE6iOkcldsmliFmWyEI6CMREblE5cJuXrm7YG6ptTjlHH0/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I never tire of the drive to the Homestead on the back roads of western Virginia. Those who know me know I have to post the obligatory rural photo, this one taken near my home as I started out on my morning journey to Hot Springs. Hay bales, mountains, chicory ... serenity.<br /><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />July 20, 2013

Observations at the Homestead gubernatorial debate

Bob Brown Bob Stuart Ellen Qualls George Allen Judy Woodruff Ken Cuccinelli Robert Sarvis Terry McAuliffe The Homestead Virginia Bar Association Observations at the Homestead gubernatorial debate

The Homestead early Saturday morning. We arrived early at the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs for the Virginia Bar Association (VBA) gubern...

U.S. Justice Department drops by to investigate Augusta County

5:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

Just in time for Independence Day, <a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/opinion/editorials/abc-agents-went-too-far-in-response/article_14b4daf2-e194-11e2-ae78-001a4bcf6878.html">Uncle Sam is taking a stroll around Augusta County</a>'s 26 voting precincts today and tomorrow with the three members of the local electoral board. Actually, he's sending one of his lawyers and an architect from the civil rights division of the U.S. Justice Department.<br /><br />Uh-oh. Almost sounds like being called to the principal's office.<br /><br />Originally scheduled for June, the trip was delayed until this week, and Augusta Electoral Board chairman Ruth Talmage seemed unhappy even though she had originally <a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/newsvirginian/news/virginia_politics/former-augusta-supervisor-candidate-said-he-complained-to-justice/article_227f93ec-cef8-11e2-bc0b-001a4bcf6878.html">requested the visit be held off</a> until after the June Democratic Primary:<br /><blockquote>"Voters ought not to have to worry with some strange person from Washington watching and asking questions," Talmage said.</blockquote><a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/newsvirginian/news/augusta-electoral-board-tells-justice-to-stay-away-on-election/article_67de2d68-ce30-11e2-b122-001a4bcf6878.html">She also said,</a> "The message is that they (Justice) are welcome to come, but not on election day.''<br /><br />An <a href="http://An email response sent to Justice on Wednesday through Augusta County Attorney Patrick Morgan said the electoral board "has concluded that permitting such inspections is not in the best interest of Augusta County, at this time. Therefore, I regret to inform you that the board of elections will not authorize you to inspect the polling places as previously planned."">email from the county's attorney</a> closed the door on the June visit:<br /><blockquote>An email response sent to Justice on Wednesday through Augusta County Attorney Patrick Morgan said the electoral board "has concluded that permitting such inspections is not in the best interest of Augusta County, at this time. Therefore, I regret to inform you that the board of elections will not authorize you to inspect the polling places as previously planned."</blockquote>It's rainy and drippy out there today so hope they've all got their umbrellas and golashes as they traverse the second-largest county in Virginia.<br /><br />As former magisterial district chairman in Pastures District located west of Staunton, I have personal knowledge of the time it takes to travel its five precincts, the most of any district in the county. Pastures' borders touch Staunton City and extend to Bath and Highland counties with the George Washington National Forest in between. It's a gorgeous district but you'd better be driving your reliable vehicle because it will rack up the mileage. <br /><br />That does not include the rest of Augusta that runs as far north as Rockingham County, south to Rockbridge County, and east to the tiptop of the Blue Ridge Mountains as it borders Nelson and Albemarle counties.<br /><br />The visit is in response to a complaint filed by Churchville resident Steve Morris who questioned a North River precinct located in the Churchville Fire Station in Pastures District, and handicap accessibility to that precinct. Morris ran an <a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/newsvirginian/news/virginia_politics/former-augusta-supervisor-candidate-said-he-complained-to-justice/article_227f93ec-cef8-11e2-bc0b-001a4bcf6878.html">unsuccessful bid as supervisor</a> in 2011.<br /><br />The electoral board <a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/newsvirginian/news/local/justice-department-delays-visit-until-july/article_6818dd36-d309-11e2-aa7c-0019bb30f31a.html">has defended the Churchville Fire Station precinct</a> location:<br /><blockquote>Talmage said both the precinct location and handicap access are  appropriate. Talmage said Virginia law allows for a polling place within  one mile of the border of a precinct boundary, and said North River  lacks such a needed facility. She said the fire station's ramp and  access door offer sufficient access. </blockquote>Talmadge complained in the <i>Waynesboro News-Virginian</i> that the tour would take "an unnecessary amount of time'' on Monday and Tuesday.<br /><br />Hmm. It's not wise to tweak Uncle Sam's nose.<br /><br />Reporter Bob Stuart <a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/newsvirginian/news/justice-department-to-visit-augusta-county-precincts-monday-tuesday/article_90c93bfe-e0dd-11e2-94f5-001a4bcf6878.html">reported</a>:<br /><blockquote>[Talmage] said the electoral board had asked to work with Justice on a  schedule for touring the county precincts, but said the federal agency  has not been cooperative.</blockquote>I guess once the June date was postponed, Uncle Sam decided to get his work done before his holiday, and this week was it. Maybe the federal agents will stick around for a Smalltown USA Fourth of July.<br /><br /><b>Update:</b> <a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/newsvirginian/news/local/justice-begins-investigation-in-augusta-county/article_c5a1f696-e2c1-11e2-b5ab-001a4bcf6878.html">Justice begins investigation in Augusta County </a>by Bob Stuart

U.S. Justice Department drops by to investigate Augusta County

Augusta County Blue Ridge Mountains Bob Stuart Churchville Fire Station Pastures District Ruth Talmage Steve Morris U.S. Justice Department Uncle Sam Waynesboro News-Virginian U.S. Justice Department drops by to investigate Augusta County

Just in time for Independence Day, Uncle Sam is taking a stroll around Augusta County 's 26 voting precincts today and tomorrow with the...

Bob Stuart: 'Vets hike trail to heal and help others'

5:31 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9P7buNvYzmpEr_xbUsZPWBv9BFp6Qt4XmAu7NSZtTIHTxjhfnR8CuOqTaBG5Qqo7nOQ9mZ2j8bq7ugVHxIQVYgFfzcp77HThmxbL_JJ9v_-7wpFKlBX8an_z1GfNvRFhFqDye_fsr431/s1600/Warrior+Hike+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="83" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9P7buNvYzmpEr_xbUsZPWBv9BFp6Qt4XmAu7NSZtTIHTxjhfnR8CuOqTaBG5Qqo7nOQ9mZ2j8bq7ugVHxIQVYgFfzcp77HThmxbL_JJ9v_-7wpFKlBX8an_z1GfNvRFhFqDye_fsr431/s400/Warrior+Hike+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The Warrior Hikers were in the area Sunday, and <a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/newsvirginian/news/local/vets-hike-trail-to-heal-and-help-others/article_a3d08fbc-d6e8-11e2-9cfa-0019bb30f31a.html"><i>News-Virginian</i></a> reporter Bob Stuart was there to talk with these military vets -- American heroes -- on their thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail.<br /><br />Read about the Warrior Hikers at <a href="http://vapolitics.us/2013/06/update-walking-off-the-war-at-warrior-hike-military-vets-to-be-at-devils-backbone-brewery-near-wintergreen-on-sunday/">Virginia Politics On Demand</a> (VPOD), and be sure to read Bob's article in the <i>News-Virginian </i>with thanks for his coverage.