In 1982 Randall Lee Smith was convicted of the 1981 murders of Laura Ramsay and Robert Mountford Jr., two hikers on the Appalachian Trail. He was sentenced to 30 years.

Under the leadership of Gov. George Allen, the General Assembly voted to abolish parole in 1994. Smith was paroled in 1996, after serving less than half of his sentence. He qualified for release because his conviction occurred before parole’s abolition.

Last week Smith was arrested and charged with shooting two campers in Giles. The campers survived. Smith died in a jail cell after telling officers he had no reason to live.

The sordid story explains one of the reasons Virginia enacted “no parole.”

May 11, 1776
Washington recommends using German-American troops to Congress

On this day in 1776, in a letter addressed to the president of Congress, American General George Washington recommends raising companies of German-Americans to use against the German mercenaries anticipated to fight for Britain. Washington hoped this would engender “a spirit of disaffection and desertion” among Britain’s paid soldiers.

Washington surmised that “If a few trusty, sensible fellows could get with them, I should think they would have great weight and influence with the common Soldiery, who certainly have no enmity towards us, having received no Injury, nor cause of Quartell[sic] from us.” Though Washington was correct in realizing that many so-called English colonists were actually German immigrants, he was apparently unaware that most Germans living in the American colonies spoke southern German dialects, and they might well be derided by the British mercenaries—Hessians from the central German territory of Hesse–if they could understand one another at all.

One third of Pennsylvania’s population was German speaking. Significant German-speaking populations also lived in the Shenandoah Valley of western Virginia and the Carolinas, as well as the Mohawk Valley of New York, the Raritan Valley of New Jersey and areas near Savannah, Georgia. However, the vast majority of these German speakers originated from the Rhineland-Palatinate, Swabia and Salzburg. Although fellow members of the Holy Roman Empire and possibly readers of Hoch-Deutsch, the German used by Luther in his translation of the Bible, their spoken language would have been extremely difficult for Germans from other regions to understand. In addition, many German-Americans remained neutral during the revolution, unwilling to oppose the empire that had offered them the opportunity to enjoy better and freer lives in its colonies than they had at home.

From: Mark Salter, Senior Advisor

Date: May 8, 2008

Re: Senator Obama’s Attack Today

First, let us be clear about the nature of Senator Obama’s attack today: He used the words ‘losing his bearings’ intentionally, a not particularly clever way of raising John McCain’s age as an issue. This is typical of the Obama style of campaigning.

We have all become familiar with Senator Obama’s new brand of politics. First, you demand civility from your opponent, then you attack him, distort his record and send out surrogates to question his integrity. It is called hypocrisy, and it is the oldest kind of politics there is.

It is important to focus on what Senator Obama is attempting to do here: He is trying desperately to delegitimize the discussion of issues that raise legitimate questions about his judgment and preparedness to be President of the United States.

Through their actions and words, Senator Obama and his supporters have made clear that ANY criticism on ANY issue — from his desire to raise taxes on millions of small investors to his radical plans to sit down face-to-face with Iranian President Ahmadinejad – constitute negative, personal attacks.

Senator Obama is hopeful that the media will continue to form a protective barrier around him, declaring serious limits to the questions, discussion and debate in this race.

Senator Obama has good reason to think this plan will succeed, as serious journalists have written of the need for ‘de-tox’ to cure ’swooning’ over Senator Obama, and others have admitted to losing their objectivity while with him on the campaign trail.

Today, Senator Obama is complaining about comments John McCain made about a senior Hamas advisor stating that Hamas would welcome Senator Obama’s election as president. Indeed, on April 13th, senior Hamas political advisor Ahmed Yousef said, ‘We don’t mind – actually we like Mr. Obama. We hope he will (win) the election and I do believe he is like John Kennedy, great man with great principle, and he has a vision to change America to make it in a position to lead the world community but not with domination and arrogance.’

The McCain campaign has never suggested that Senator Obama supports Hamas’ agenda, but it is more than fair to raise this quote about Senator Obama because it speaks to the policy implications of his judgment.

Just today, the president of Iran, whom Senator Obama wants to meet with unconditionally, called the state of Israel a ’stinking corpse.’ Iran is the paymaster and state sponsor of Hamas.

In his victory speech this week, Senator Obama stated that ‘wisdom’ is meeting with our enemies, including Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, North Korea’s Kim Jong Il, Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez and Cuba’s Raul Castro. John McCain couldn’t disagree more. Rather than giving tyrants and dictators the prestige of meeting with an American president, John McCain will instead meet with the champions of human freedom around the world and opposition leaders fighting for liberty .

We understand why Senator Obama doesn’t want to engage in a debate over leadership and judgment with John McCain, but the American people demand that debate take place.

These are serious times that call for a serious debate on the profound issues facing our future. John McCain is ready for that debate and we hope Senator Obama will one day get serious and join it.

###

(Paid for by John McCain 2008)

1981 AT Killer Linked to New Shootings
After two fishermen were shot Tuesday at a Giles County campsite, police said they apprehended Randall Lee Smith in a pickup belonging to a victim.

By Shawna Morrison and Mike Gangloff
The Roanoke Times

GILES COUNTY — A man who befriended, then killed, two hikers on the Appalachian Trail in Giles County 27 years ago may have returned to the same section of the trail and shot and wounded two fishermen Tuesday night.

Giles County investigators said Randall Lee Smith, 54, of Pearisburg, Va., is suspected in the shootings at the campsite off Lions Den Road near Dismal Creek, just more than two miles from Wapiti Shelter, where Smith committed an infamous double murder in May 1981.

Smith was captured Tuesday night after he wrecked a pickup truck that belongs to one of the fishermen, Giles County Sheriff Morgan Millirons said.

CLICK HERE to view the entire article.

Amped to end slide
His two-year winless streak notwithstanding, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is happy with his first season with Hendrick.

By MARTY O’BRIEN
The Daily Press
May 2, 2008

By the time the green flag drops Saturday for the Dan Lowry 400 at Richmond International Raceway, you’ll have heard plenty about Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s winless streak. Anniversaries have a way of highlighting things.

This weekend marks two years and 71 races since Earnhardt won here at RIR, and he hasn’t made it to Victory Lane in a Sprint Cup Series points race since. But the dearth of victories aside, Earnhardt is feeling pretty darned good about his debut season with Hendrick Motorsports.

He should.

Earnhardt enters Richmond third in the Cup standings, just 79 points behind leader Jeff Burton. That’s better than Hendrick golden boys Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, who stand fifth and 14th, respectively.

CLICK HERE to view the entire article.

Richard and Kyle Petty cheer up paralyzed vets
May 1, 2008
Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The smiles on the faces of the veterans in wheelchairs were unmistakably broad Thursday as they posed for pictures with NASCAR icon Richard Petty.

But the smiles coming from “The King” and son Kyle Petty were just as wide as the two leaders of Petty Enterprises paid a visit to McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

“It’s funny how every story you hear always ends on a high note,” Kyle Petty said as he signed autographs and posed for pictures with giddy patients, doctors, nurses and physical therapists. “They’re always overcoming something — “I made it over that mountain.’

“It’s not the type of story where you look at a guy and you feel sorry for him … because they don’t feel sorry for themselves, and they don’t want you to feel sorry for them.”

CLICK HERE to view the entire article.

CONSOL Energy To Increase Capacity At Buchanan Mine

Apr 30, 2008
By Kathy Still
Staff Writer
Bristol Herald Courier

One of the nation’s largest underground coal mines is expanding production and will create 40 jobs.

CONSOL Energy will increase mining capacity at the Buchanan Mine by nearly 1 million tons of coal per year, according to a company news release issued Tuesday.

The expansion is expected to be completed in about three years. The increased production will create 40 jobs over the next two years, the release states.

According to CONSOL, the company will invest nearly $100 million in the mine and the construction work should boost the region’s economy.

The Buchanan Mine, near the Oakwood community, is larger than some small cities. It is one of the nation’s largest coal mines and among Virginia’s largest coal producers.

“The world wants what Buchanan County produces,” John Zachwieja, vice president of the company’s central Appalachia operations, said in the release. “We think this is the right level of response to the world’s demand for our product.”

CLICK HERE to view the entire article.

At No. 11, I now predict Buffalo/Toronto will pick CB Leodis McKelvin of Troy State because his name will appeal to les Quebecois and Ontario residents. They may be tempted ot pick Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie – CB from Tennessee State for the same fan appeal.

The Arizona Cardinals will pick at 16 and take a remaining CB out of Aqib Talib, Rodgers-Cromartie or Mike Jenkins from South Florida.

Hampton Roads’ economy gets high marks from magazine
By Chris Flores
Daily Press
April 23, 2008

Hampton Roads was recently rated by Southern Business & Development magazine as the second-best economy in the South over the last 15 years. Cities with more than 3 million residents were not included in the rankings.

The magazine annually ranks areas based on the number and size of deals that add at least 200 jobs or generate $30 million in investment.

Hampton Roads has twice ranked first during the 15 years.

The region tied with Orlando, Fla., for second place during the full 15 years, with Charlotte taking the top spot.

A population of 1.7 million makes Hampton Roads the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the southeast.

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.