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THE TOP STORY: Inside the fake Kaine
memo INSIDE ... LG candidates spar over tax issue By Chris Graham/AFP The race for the Republican Party nomination to run for lieutenant governor in the fall could very well come down to the matter of taxes and spending. "That issue will be a major issue in this campaign," said Mechanicsville Sen. Bill Bolling, who was in the Shenandoah Valley on Wednesday to make two stops on his statewide campaign-announcement tour. IN FOCUS: Control over the final days By Chris Graham/AFP Seventy percent of people say that they want to be able to die at home when the time comes, said Teri Humphries, the clinical coordinator at AMC Hospice of the Shenandoah. "But only 25 percent of people are actually able to die at home. This is one area where we can make a difference," Humphries told The Augusta Free Press. Hospice care for seniors and others dealing with end-of-life issues ... NOTES FROM THE PRESS: Governor's race notebook By Chris Graham/AFP As if you didn't know already, Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine is running for governor. Here's one thing you probably didn't know - the presumptive Democratic Party nominee might be aiming to ride the real-estate-tax issue to the governor's mansion. Kaine announced on Wednesday on day one of his eight-day tour of the Commonwealth to talk up his campaign for the state's top government job ... EYE ON VIRGINIA: State promoting iFile system for tax returns By Chris Graham/AFP You already file your taxes on-line? So why did you still end up having to fork over dough at the end of the day for the privilege? "With the vast majority of companies that offer these services, you can file your federal taxes electronically for free, but you will be charged for filing your state taxes," Virginia Department of Taxation spokesman Joel Davison said. EYE ON THE VALLEY: Changing of the guard in Waynesboro treasurer office By Chris Graham/AFP Nancy Beverage is going to miss her family. "Most of the citizens in this city, they've come to feel like family to me," said Beverage, who confirmed to The Augusta Free Press this week that she plans to step down as Waynesboro city treasurer at the end of the calendar year. "So yes, I will miss a lot of people. But I'll still be around," said Beverage, who has served in the treasurer office for 28 years ... THE NOTEBOOK: Police investigating two robberies By Chris Graham/AFP Man wanted in connection with Planter's robbery Sketch of robbery suspect MBC released THE AGENDA: Staunton City Council meeting tonight By Chris Graham/AFP Staunton City Council is holding a special meeting this afternoon at 5 p.m. in the city-council chambers on the first floor of City Hall at 116 W. Beverley St. in downtown Staunton. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. The agenda for the meeting includes ... THE AGENDA: Waynesboro City Council meeting this evening By Chris Graham/AFP Waynesboro City Council will meet today at 6 p.m. to hold its third work session on city manager Doug Walker's proposed 2005-2006 fiscal-year operating budget for the city government. The meeting will be held in the city-council chambers ... ROCKINGHAM BEAT: From the WSVA newsroom ... By Karl Magenhofer JMU OK with delay on high-school deal Car sales slumping New traffic light coming Local employment outlook released Ex-cop guilty of assault
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Another look at checkpoint tragedy
Guest View Armond Simmons Special to The Augusta Free Press
The death of Italian agent Nicola Calipari and the injury of two accompanying agents who had just successfully negotiated the freedom from abduction of former hostage Giuliana Sgrena, a 56-year-old journalist for the communist newspaper Il Manifesto, who was also injured, was the result of an egregious but totally avoidable mistake. This tragic incident should be fully investigated to determine why supposedly experienced agents would totally disregard the duty of Coalition forces who manned a highly visible and commonly familiar checkpoint in Western Baghdad and attempt to run the checkpoint as soldiers, doggedly alert from experiencing past deadly terrorists' checkpoint violations, and while following orders of standard operating procedure, tried to warn the driver to stop by hand and arm signals, flashed white lights, fired warning shots and finally shot into the engine block to bring the intruding vehicle to a halt. These brave, professional Coalition soldiers should be paid tribute for their outstanding performance of duty in placing their lives on the line while guarding against unauthorized incursion in an effort to protect those whose lives are placed in their hands. Many are hoping that those responsible for this unnecessary tragedy caused by a flagrant disregard of checkpoint responsibility will be brought to justice.
Armond Simmons resides in Pell City, Ala.
The views expressed by op-ed writers do not necessarily reflect those of management of The Augusta Free Press.
What do you think? Share your thoughts on this story at letters@augustafreepress.com.
(Published 03-15-05/Opinion) Click here to email a copy of this story to a friend |
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