Opinions

Feb. 19, 2024 Editor, The News-Gazette: In your excellent Feb. 14 editorial, “Ukraine Aid Is Good For America,” you wrote: “Supporting Ukraine now is in our direct national interest, and shouldn’t be a political football. Not voting aid to Ukraine would be a shameful and craven act.”

The Rockbridge NAACP is attempting to convey a welcoming message of inclusivity for people of all backgrounds in the Rockbridge, Lexington and Buena Vista community. Local chapter President the Rev. Reginal A. Early points out that this hopeful message may be seen via a new billboard on Interstate 81 south at mile-marker 202 with the words, “Hand in hand, moving forward together,” accompanied by a picture of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and an American flag.

As a part-time employee at The News- Gazet te, I have the privilege of taking Wednesdays off. This was an arrangement that was made back in April 2020 during COVID’s reign of terror. And now Wednesday is my favorite day of the week.

Feb. 16, 2024 Editor, The News-Gazette: Dogs on the Chessie Nature Trail must always be on a 6-foot leash for the safety of trail users, other pets, and wildlife. Most dog owners respect this rule, but recently, there have been multiple incidents of unleashed dogs on the trail. Even a dog who is not aggressive can be scary to someone who is afraid of dogs, and an aggressive one can scare all of us.

17, 2024 Editor, The News-Gazette: I trust readers have been following the publisher’s informative reports on the decline of community newspapers. Matt Paxton mentioned that an average of 2.5 community papers per week shut down during 2023.

Feb. 12, 2024 Editor, The News-Gazette: I found Mike Lowry’s recent piece on free speech to be highly problematic.

Feb. 19, 2024 Editor, The News-Gazette: While complaining that the economy is in the Dumpster, why do over 100,000 people pay an average ticket price of over $200 to attend the Daytona 500, $377 to attend an NFL game, and over $1,000 for a Taylor Swift concert ticket (transportation, food and lodging excluded). Store shelves are full, and interstates are loaded with trucks carrying commodities from greedy manufacturers! Stop buying nonessential stuff and prices will come down. Consumers drive the economy, not the president.