I’ve known state Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath County, since 1991.

Kudos to Joseph D. Snodgrass, of Stuarts Draft, for his support of free speech (“A crown of thorns rewards free speech,” April 23).

This is a letter of facts, reality, and not given to emotionalism.

May 5 is National Teacher Day. Thank a teacher for making school great! Teachers in Waynesboro and in communities across the nation will be in the spotlight on National Teacher Day, as students, parents, school administrators and the general public learn how teachers are making public schools great for every student.

I am sure you were as distressed as I was upon learning from the recent publication of the Obamas’ tax returns that their income took a decided downturn from that of the previous year when the revenue from books such as “The Audacity of Hope” were rolling in.

I read with interest your front-page article “Parent: Lewd songs played at school” (April 27).

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell knows something we don’t. He knows that Terry McAuliffe will win the nomination in the Democratic primary June 9.

While I did not see any part of the recent Miss USA Pageant, I certainly heard the “so-called storm” that was a result of Carrie Prejean’s answer to a question concerning gay marriage.

I was taken aback by your recent editorial (“Bitter Pills, False Cures,” April 21) and it didn’t take long.

At a recent Augusta County supervisors meeting, discussion was conducted concerning adopting a policy ordering all of the volunteer rescue squads to charge fees for rescue work.

This is an open letter to Nelson Graves. I have read many of your columns and the last one (“Here’s what change means,” April 9) really got me thinking. What I think is that you, Mr. Graves,  are a true, dyed-in-the-wool racist. No question about it.

I must admit that I write this letter out of pure frustration. The aggravation comes from experiencing a very costly theft of lawn equipment from American Legion Post 340, located on East Side Highway in Waynesboro. Recently you (person or persons unknown) broke into our storage building and took a lawn tractor, self-propelled walk-behind mower and a weed eater. The loss of the tractor, a John Deer Model LA130, serial number GX0130A13535, is financially devastating to us.

Just a few things to ponder:

I still hear in my head the cries of the pro-Obama crowds. “O-Bama.” “Yes, we can.” “Change we can believe in.” Have you seen the light yet?

I want to make sure we recognize the people of Fargo, N.D., in their battle against flood waters from the Red River.

We note an item in the March 15 edition of the Richmond Times-Dispatch that Sen. Mark Warner voted to accept an annual automatic congressional pay raise while many of his colleagues felt it was inappropriate in view of the country’s economic chaos.

Just a few simple perspectives:

The Democratic Party has been hijacked by the Euro-socialist component of its radical element.

I can’t help but respond to the two letters to the editor I read in the paper March 19 from Thomas Mehnert and Charles Salembier.

Recently, I heard a talk radio caller ask the host why our government leaders are promoting policies which in the past have proved ineffective and are out of favor with many in the public.

I would like to express sincerest thanks to The News Virginian sports staff.

Since The News Virginian has in recent days looked into the tax payment history of a private citizen and splashed that report all over their front page (“Chester owes IRS back taxes,” March 11), I wonder if they’ll expand their investigation?

The greatest destruction of wealth by a president that we have ever seen: Yes, $3 trillion in personal wealth has been lost since President Barack Obama was elected.

This AIG business is scary, but not for the reason you might think.

Tonight, my wife and I traveled to the Augusta County Government Center in Verona to address the Augusta County Board of Supervisors to protest inaccurate, unfair and inequitable county real estate assessments (“Motion defeated,” March 12).

The News Virginian’s editorial page of March 4 offered a sharp contrast with respect to the political, economic and cultural choices that confront us as a nation of supposedly free individuals.

I was impressed by the Wednesday photo of Kevin Blackburn holding a battle flag carried all those years ago at New Market (“Battle for Waynesboro,” March 4).

If the reassessment goes forward it will have severe financial impacts on Augusta County.

On behalf of The Salvation Army of Waynesboro-East Augusta County and those whom we serve, may I say, we are blessed – so very blessed!

Some of the latest details of President Barack Obama’s bailout plan continue the disturbing trend of a man and a government determined to undermine the financial structure of our nation.