The News Virginian / News Virginian
Published: April 10, 2008

A thumbs-up, thumbs-down assessment of newsmakers here and beyond:

THUMBS-UP: While the pages of newspapers, including this one, are filled these days with news of America's economic malaise, it's worth noting that Waynesboro is navigating the downturn better than most. Look no further than nTelos for evidence. The growing communications provider headquartered here in our town has opened a new store near Target on the west end, where Waynesboro's retail district continues to bustle with new life. The store is nTelos' second here in the city. Along with the company's usual line of communications products, the outlet will offer nTelos Mobile Broadband service, which is being launched this month, providing "unlimited wire access to the Internet at speeds comparable to wired broadband connections such as cable modem or DSL," said Carl Rosberg, president of nTelos Wireless. The commitment of nTelos, along with prolonged retail growth off Interstate 64 demonstrates that Waynesboro's future remains bright even in these dark economic days.

THUMBS-UP: Concise references could speak volumes, or so we hope. The words "Minor league baseball team" appear under the heading "What is missing- / Issues" in Waynesboro Downtown Development, Inc. management team meeting notes forwarded to us by Councilwoman Lorie Smith. The baseball item was among dozens listed in the document. Beyond those four words, there is none other on the subject. Certainly, we would like to see more, but we are nonetheless encouraged. Since The News Virginian in February broke the story about a well-connected Charlottesville developer's plans to build a $20 million ballpark in Waynesboro, city officials have played the part of Sgt. Schultz of 1960s television fame, saying and knowing nothing. The WDDI reference is the first we have observed in anything resembling an official setting. Insiders tell us the next step will be for developers to make a presentation to the city. We look forward to that, and urge officials in the meantime to press the issue. The proposed ballpark, after all, is about more than baseball; it's about a vision for the bustling economic center our city can become.

THUMBS-UP: Against a Hollywood backdrop composed of stars who flit to liberal causes with a regularity matched only by their affinity for jilting lovers, Charlton Heston formed a finely chiseled contrast. The Oscar winner's stature as a giant in the gun rights movement rivaled that established during a remarkable acting career spanning more than a half-dozen decades. Heston served as president of the National Rifle Association from 1998 to 2003, resigning while battling the onset of Alzheimer's disease. With Heston leading the charge, the NRA soared in prominence, successfully pushing the Second Amendment to the political forefront. An image of Heston at the peak of the NRA's surge endures, that of the tough-guy actor holding aloft a rifle, declaring that he would surrender his firearms only when they were pried "from my cold, dead hands." Heston died Saturday. He was 83. A political cartoon published in The News Virginian after Heston's death depicted an arm outstretched from a coffin accompanied by a reference to the famous vow. We viewed the cartoon as an affirmation that Heston stayed true to his word to the end. Some readers viewed it as offensive. Let us say it with clarity here: While we cannot say we supported all of Heston's stands, we believe he helped guide America in the right direction by advocating for the Second Amendment. His commitment to the cause won few admirers in the Hollywood set, but won him legions around the country. Count us among them.