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    <title>Op/Ed for Madison News</title>
    <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/</link>
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        <title>Op/Ed for Madison News</title>
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    <description></description>
    <dc:language>en</dc:language>
    <dc:creator>Madison News</dc:creator>
    <dc:rights>Copyright 2009</dc:rights>
    <dc:date>2009-07-02T14:31:22-05:00</dc:date>

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          <title>Grymes honors MC&#8217;s Julia Williams</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/grymes_honors_mcs_julia_williams/42406/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
In the spring of 1977, [Julia Williams] drove a banana-colored Datsun up the driveway of Grymes Memorial School to her appointment with Headmaster Joseph Y. Rowe. She was applying for the first grade position and had years of teaching experience, along with a master&#8217;s degree to recommend her. 
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          <pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:31:22 EDT</pubDate>
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          <title>Madison Question of the Week</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/madison_question_of_the_week1/42307/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
In looking back through the years &#8211; either recently or years back &#8211; describe your best or most interesting Fourth of July experience.
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          <pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:00:01 EDT</pubDate>
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          <title>Madison Question of the Week</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/madison_question_of_the_week/41716/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
What do you plan to do after graduation? (The question was asked to Madison County High School seniors earlier this month.)
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          <pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:34:36 EDT</pubDate>
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          <title>What class of &#8216;09 member could forget ...</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/what_class_of_09_member_could_forget_/41715/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
Welcome class of 2009, teachers, administrators, parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and friends. I think that I can say for the most of us seniors that today is certainly a day of celebration and we thank you for sharing it with us. Over the last four years, we have all had our share of high school drama, tardies, and, of course, the inevitable arguments with &#8220;the parentals.&#8221; 
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          <pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:02:11 EDT</pubDate>
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          <title>Supervisors race features full field</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/supervisors_race_features_full_field/41714/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
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          <pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:42:03 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/supervisors_race_features_full_field/41714/#When:18:42:03Z</guid>
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          <title>No white flag on trailer issue</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/no_white_flag_on_trailer_issue/40743/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
A roving vessel is making its rounds on a mission to help make at least a small corner of the world a better place. Misbehaving &#8220;pirates&#8221; improperly board it, halting it from making any further progress. A stand-off of sorts ensues and the vessel remains out of service. This sounds something like last month&#8217;s Maersk Alabama drama in which pirates operating on the high seas off the coast of Somalia boarded the large container ship as it was en route to delivering, among other things, relief supplies. But we&#8217;re actually talking here about Madison County&#8217;s mobile recycling trailer and events that took place in Banco, not Mogadishu.           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2009 18:28:38 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/no_white_flag_on_trailer_issue/40743/#When:22:28:38Z</guid>
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          <title>Chamber president writes mayor on &#8216;non vote&#8217;</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/chamber_presidents_writes_mayor_on_non_vote/40038/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
I am writing this letter to voice my disappointment and the disappointment of Board of Directors of the Madison Chamber of Commerce on the &#8220;non vote&#8221; on April 2, 2009, by the Town Council for the proposed zoning text amendment dealing with mixed use zoning in the Town of Madison.            ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2009 11:41:34 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/chamber_presidents_writes_mayor_on_non_vote/40038/#When:15:41:34Z</guid>
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          <title>Pain of downturn instructive</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/lessons_exist_in_downtowns_pain/39832/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
With the downturn in the economy causing workplaces to cut back and cut corners, resulting in more and more people losing jobs, many people &#8211; particularly people in their middle or late middle age &#8211; have been forced to rethink their entire job history and to re-inventory what gifts and graces they bring to the next place where they will work.
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          <pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2009 14:25:20 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/lessons_exist_in_downtowns_pain/39832/#When:18:25:20Z</guid>
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          <title>Consider elected office</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/consider_elected_office/39536/</link>
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          <pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:39:01 EDT</pubDate>
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          <title>Carver Class of 1959 reunion coming up</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/carver_class_of_1959_reunion_coming_up/38858/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
April is National Poetry Month. The inspiration came from the successful 1956 celebration of Black History Month (February), Women&#8217;s History Month (March) and based on studies of booksellers, teachers and Liberians, April seems to be the appropriate time during the year to give attention toward the art of poetry and encourage poetry readers.           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:10:52 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/carver_class_of_1959_reunion_coming_up/38858/#When:19:10:52Z</guid>
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          <title>Wesley&#8217;s words more valuable than ever in current tough times</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/wesleys_words_more_valuable_than_ever_in_current_tough_times/38857/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
We have crossed over that secular &#8220;holiday&#8221; of Tax Day. We may have even seen or participated in a TEA party recently. Money has been on our minds this week, even this week after the great celebration of Easter. It certainly has been on our minds this year as we have seen great sums lost by just about everyone, and we have had great sums proposed and passed as stimulation to our economy and for our governments upcoming budget.           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:59:31 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/wesleys_words_more_valuable_than_ever_in_current_tough_times/38857/#When:18:59:31Z</guid>
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          <title>Town should explain position</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/town_should_explain_position/38783/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
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          <pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:51:14 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/town_should_explain_position/38783/#When:15:51:14Z</guid>
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          <title>Did officials disrespect democratic ideals?</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/did_officials_disrespect_democratic_ideals/38426/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
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          <pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:05:37 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/did_officials_disrespect_democratic_ideals/38426/#When:15:05:37Z</guid>
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          <title>Old Criglersville school good polling place</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/old_criglersville_school_good_polling_place/37500/</link>
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          <pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:49:50 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/old_criglersville_school_good_polling_place/37500/#When:19:49:50Z</guid>
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          <title>Good luck, MC hoop boys</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/good_luck_mc_hoop_boys/36870/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
We join the community in a doff of the chapeau to this season&#8217;s incredible Madison County High School boys basketball team &#8211; or should we instead say a tip of our Mountaineer raccoon-skin cap?           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:00:23 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/good_luck_mc_hoop_boys/36870/#When:22:00:23Z</guid>
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          <title>New Jersey transplant experiences hiking in MC</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/new_jersey_transplant_experiences_hiking_in_mc/36869/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
One of the nice things about living in Virginia is that the weather is more moderate in the winter. One can actually hike, bike, jog or walk in the middle of January without risking frostbite or dressing to look like the Michelin man. Hiking seemed like a good choice for a new outdoor adventure and my husband swears it&#8217;s the best.           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:48:16 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/new_jersey_transplant_experiences_hiking_in_mc/36869/#When:21:48:16Z</guid>
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          <title>MC community should again pull together</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/mc_community_should_again_pull_together/36866/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
By now, we all know of someone who has been adversely affected by the state of our nation&#8217;s economy. In fact, it probably would be correct to say that we have all been adversely affected, either directly or indirectly.            ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:31:58 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/mc_community_should_again_pull_together/36866/#When:21:31:58Z</guid>
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          <title>Valentine&#8217;s nears; strengthen marriage</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/valentines_nears_strengthen_marriage/35413/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
In &#8220;Hedges: Protective Walls Insuring Good Marriages,&#8221; or as Dr. Jerry Jenkins simply calls his best-selling  book, &#8220;Hedges,&#8221; it tells how you should love your marriage enough to protect it. 
           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:43:10 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/valentines_nears_strengthen_marriage/35413/#When:19:43:10Z</guid>
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          <title>County should spend for schools</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/county_should_spend_for_schools/35228/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
I attended the first public hearing on the county budget a few weeks ago and read all the letters on the subject in The Eagle. Almost all were critical of the Madison County Board of Supervisors and the possibility of even a very small tax increase.           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:06:23 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/county_should_spend_for_schools/35228/#When:14:06:23Z</guid>
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          <title>Too many &#8220;Earls&#8221; in Madison County?</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/too_many_earls_in_madison_county/34997/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
Upon arriving in Madison County, I was just a woman from New Jersey with very little knowledge of anything south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Of course I had sampled biscuits and gravy and was definitely a fan, although my waistline wasn&#8217;t. The local produce was very tasty but I was still partial to a Jersey tomato. (And) nothing, in New Jersey could have prepared me for the numbers of &#8220;Earl&#8217;s.&#8221;            ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:19:04 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/too_many_earls_in_madison_county/34997/#When:21:19:04Z</guid>
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          <title>Madison girl, 13, writes to Obama</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/madison_girl_13_writes_to_obama/34840/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
Dear President Obama, The air is crisp and fogged with each breath of the four million people watching, waiting for a new chapter in history to begin. The date is Jan. 20, 2009, Inauguration Day. However, this Inauguration Day won&#8217;t be the same as any other. Today history unfolds as you, the first black American president, are sworn in.           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:30:24 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/madison_girl_13_writes_to_obama/34840/#When:16:30:24Z</guid>
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          <title>Wolftown round barn earns spot on landmarks list</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/wolftown_round_barn_earns_spot_on_landmarks_list/33749/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
The Hoffman Round Barn in Wolftown has been accepted for listing in the Virginia Landmarks Register. The application to list the historic barn built by Haywood Montebello &#8220;Tiny&#8221; Dawson on the historic Hoffman Farm (now owned by Joyce Gentry and farmed by her son and daughter-in-law, Brad and Amy Gentry) was prepared and submitted by Beth Pastore of Piedmont Environmental Council in October 2008. The Board of the Virgina Department of Historic Resources voted its approval on Dec. 18, 2008.            ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:32:08 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/wolftown_round_barn_earns_spot_on_landmarks_list/33749/#When:15:32:08Z</guid>
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          <title>Thumbs up, down</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/thumbs_up_down2/33463/</link>
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          <pubDate>Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:41:12 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/thumbs_up_down2/33463/#When:15:41:12Z</guid>
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          <title>Scenic shots submitted great&#8212;thanks&#8212;but ...</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/scenic_shots_submitted_great_--_thanks_--_but_/33462/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
Reader interest in the annual calendar published by the Central Virginia Weekly Group &#8211; which includes The Madison County Eagle and its two sister newspapers &#8211; the Greene County Record and the Orange County Review &#8211; remains high. When we asked readers this past fall for their scenic photos of Madison County for us to consider using in the calendar, they flooded us with them.           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:32:50 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/scenic_shots_submitted_great_--_thanks_--_but_/33462/#When:15:32:50Z</guid>
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          <title>Willy&#45;nilly tax change wrong</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/willy-nilly_tax_change_wrong/33016/</link>
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          <pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:30:24 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/willy-nilly_tax_change_wrong/33016/#When:19:30:24Z</guid>
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          <title>PEC working to preserve Madison County</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/pec_working_to_preserve_madison_county/32650/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
For years, I&#8217;ve actively supported the Piedmont Environmental Council &#8212; giving it spare money, attending annual meetings, and, most recently, staffing the PEC hospitality tent this past Election Day. I loved sharing home-baked cookies, local apples and cider with fellow Madisonians after they voted. I especially loved hearing about hopes and fears for our future, and that inspired my main message here: PEC is here to help address our concerns, but as a 501C3, nonprofit, membership-based organization, PEC very much needs our tax-deductible support.&nbsp; Even a small contribution will help.&nbsp;            ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:52:36 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/pec_working_to_preserve_madison_county/32650/#When:18:52:36Z</guid>
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          <title>Where were Madison officials?</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/where_were_madison_officials/31889/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
The turnout for the Madison County Veterans Day observance on Nov. 11 at the Madison County High School was disappointing and disturbing. Most all who attended were veterans and family members of veterans and most of the seats in the auditorium remained empty. What was most disturbing was the absence of our community leaders in Madison and the public officials who had the day off to celebrate Veterans Day.           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:35:49 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/where_were_madison_officials/31889/#When:14:35:49Z</guid>
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          <title>Let us unite as Americans</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/let_us_unite_as_americans/31183/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
Now that the presidential election is over, we should heed the calls for unity from both President-Elect Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain. This is needed not just nationally, but in Madison County as well. No matter how your political tastes run, we all need to work together to overcome the big challenges of the day. And while it&#8217;s fine to experience the joy of a new president&#8217;s inauguration, you should temper that with the realization that he inherits many weighty problems that will not likely all be solved quickly.           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:59:52 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/let_us_unite_as_americans/31183/#When:14:59:52Z</guid>
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          <title>Be part of historic event</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/be_part_of_historic_event/30411/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
Compared to other places, Madison County generally has a strong voter turnout for presidential elections. Although Registrar Diana Eanes declined to make any specific predictions on the turnout for this Tuesday&#8217;s voting, when asked if she thought it would be a higher percentage turnout than the 75 percent of the county&#8217;s registered voters who cast ballots in the 2004 Bush-Kerry race, she replied, &#8220;Oh, sure.&#8221;           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:42:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/be_part_of_historic_event/30411/#When:16:42:00Z</guid>
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          <title>MCHS student shares thoughts on Constitution</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/mchs_student_shares_thoughts_on_constitution/30087/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
Written in 1787 and ratified in 1788, the United States Constitution is one of the most influential documents in the history of our country. In what was originally a meeting to revise the &#8220;Articles of Confederation,&#8221; our founding fathers painstakingly crafted this new document in secret one summer, closed up tight in the Philadelphia statehouse. They created a living document; a supreme law that would change with the times and the people.           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:55:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/mchs_student_shares_thoughts_on_constitution/30087/#When:19:55:00Z</guid>
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          <title>Playing stock market like playing roulette?</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/playing_stock_market_like_playing_roulette/30005/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
&#8220;What&#8217;s the difference between gambling and playing the stock market?&#8220; asked Bucksnort Bugle Editor Roy Seabrooks Jr. &#8220;A lot of folks lost their britches recently in the market. Isn&#8217;t investing your hard-earned money in the stock market gambling?&#8221;            ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:50:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/playing_stock_market_like_playing_roulette/30005/#When:16:50:00Z</guid>
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          <title>Thumbs up, down</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/thumbs_up_down1/29165/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
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          <pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:31:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/thumbs_up_down1/29165/#When:17:31:00Z</guid>
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          <title>Focus on financial meltdown obscures bigger problem</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/focus_on_financial_melton_obscures_bigger_problem/28421/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
After the failure of Lehman Brothers and the purchase of Merrill Lynch by Bank of America, now the media and most everyone in America is concerned about the condition and reliability of financial institutions. It is unfortunate that there has been no clarion call by our elected officials or media pundits concerning a far more pressing and sustainable problem. America has more than the current financial industry upheaval. I cite specifically the current and deteriorating condition of the federal government&#8217;s finances and its oppressive debt burden on current and future taxpayer generations.           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:43:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/focus_on_financial_melton_obscures_bigger_problem/28421/#When:13:43:00Z</guid>
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          <title>Mice still bedevil downtown Madison retiree</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/mice_still_bedevil_downtown_madison_retiree/27374/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
I&#8217;m back again because of a request from one of my friends and an Eagle reader, with a heads up on mouse catching and an ongoing mystery that I don&#8217;t expect to solve anytime soon.When last I wrote, I had caught/murdered/put out of their misery four nasty little mice. The day I delivered my guest column to our faithful and talented editor of The Madison County Eagle, Don Richeson, a profound mystery occurred in the same cutlery drawer that I had previously alluded to in my column.           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:19:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/mice_still_bedevil_downtown_madison_retiree/27374/#When:04:19:00Z</guid>
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          <title>Help Madison seniors stay mobile</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/help_madison_seniors_stay_mobile/26893/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
Imagine how you would feel if after many years of useful activity you found yourself without a way to get around. You might not be able to drive for a variety of reasons and yet do not want to ask friends, neighbors, or family to take you where you need to go. That situation is becoming increasingly common in Madison County with the growing number of older residents who don&#8217;t drive.           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:47:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/help_madison_seniors_stay_mobile/26893/#When:18:47:00Z</guid>
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          <title>Aren&#8217;t Olympics &#8216;special&#8217;?</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/arent_olympics_special/26602/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
Everyone sometimes has a beef with what they see and hear in &#8220;the media.&#8221; But for me, the week before last was exceptionally bizarre. On Friday of the week before last (Aug. 8), I was able to scoot out of the office early enough  &#8211; as I had eagerly intended &#8212; to catch the broadcast of the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. I made it home in time to even catch the national news broadcast just before it.           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:24:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/arent_olympics_special/26602/#When:15:24:00Z</guid>
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          <title>The price of eggs . . . and oil</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/the_price_of_eggs_and_oil/26354/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
Four factors other than supply and demand have brought about the recent increase in the price of oil.           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:47:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/the_price_of_eggs_and_oil/26354/#When:14:47:00Z</guid>
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          <title>Your county&#8217;s animal control services</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/your_countys_animal_control_services/26353/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
Recently, the county administration has reorganized the management and operation of its animal control and animal shelter services. We&#8217;d like to take this opportunity to inform county citizens about the organizational structure for those services.           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:38:01 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/your_countys_animal_control_services/26353/#When:14:38:01Z</guid>
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          <title>Cell towers need independent evaluation</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/cell_towers_need_independent_evaluation/25593/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
It seems that Verizon wants to &#8220;protect&#8221; Madison County and has hired a consultant to that end. The question is why have we not &#8212; as a county &#8212; hired a practical minded engineer to study the facts delineating adequate cell coverage for our community? Placing our confidence in Verizon&#8217;s consultant is like allowing the fox to count the chickens as they go to roost for the evening. Where is the common sense in this equation?           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:05:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/cell_towers_need_independent_evaluation/25593/#When:16:05:00Z</guid>
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          <title>Money not for &#8216;revenue recovery&#8217;</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/money_not_for_revenue_recovery/25266/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
The Madison County Rescue Squad Inc. (MCRS) thanks the Madison County Fair Inc. and its board of directors and officers for sponsoring a first time ever Community Give Back Night at the county fair on Wednesday, July 16. We also thank the Madison County community for its support on July 16. Despite the price of fuel and the tough economy of late, you &#8212; the Madison County community &#8212; donated more than $4.600 to the rescue squad and the fire company, to be split in half, as your entrance fee to the fair. The volunteers of MCRS, from the bottom our hearts, thank you for your support to our organization. Your donations will go a long way and be a big help to our organization. Your donations will help fund improvements, purchase much-needed life saving equipment and provide training to our volunteers. 
           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:19:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/money_not_for_revenue_recovery/25266/#When:18:19:00Z</guid>
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          <title>Protect Madison&#8217;s trout streams</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/protect_madisons_trout_streams/24648/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
More should be done to protect trout fishing in Madison County&#8217;s Robinson and Rose rivers &#8211; the beautiful streams that tumble from headwaters high in the mountains surrounding Syria. Scientists say acid rain is sharply reducing numbers of the fish &#8211; it&#8217;s already said to have wiped out wild brook trout in a third of Virginia&#8217;s 500 trout streams. This is particularly alarming because brook trout &#8211; the Virginia state fish &#8211; are more pollution resistant than many other types of fish.           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:53:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/protect_madisons_trout_streams/24648/#When:16:53:00Z</guid>
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          <title>More on cell towers</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/more_on_cell_towers/24357/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:54:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/more_on_cell_towers/24357/#When:16:54:00Z</guid>
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          <title>Special session not simple</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/special_session_not_simple/23734/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
On June 23, the General Assembly will convene in special session to deal with transportation legislation, having been called back to Richmond by Gov. Tim Kaine. The original impetus for this special session was the decision of the Virginia Supreme Court to overturn regional transportation funding programs for northern Virginia and Hampton Roads that were included in House Bill 3202 which passed both houses and was signed by the Governor in 2007.           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:01:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/special_session_not_simple/23734/#When:17:01:00Z</guid>
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          <title>Cell tower &#8216;zonk&#8217;</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/cell_tower_zonk/23704/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:20:01 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/cell_tower_zonk/23704/#When:15:20:01Z</guid>
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          <title>Life more than wealth, riches</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/life_more_than_wealth_riches/23404/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
Inspiration can mean many things. What drives you? Motivates you? Keeps you going? What changes the way you view the world around you? I tried to figure out what inspired me in life, and what carried me through my high school years as I tried to become not only someone that my peers would look up to, but someone who Christ can be proud of.           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:17:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/life_more_than_wealth_riches/23404/#When:20:17:00Z</guid>
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          <title>Tower OK violated comp plan</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/tower_ok_violated_comp_plan/23386/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
Both the Madison County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors approved 199-foot cell towers despite unequivocal language in the comp plan that should have  precluded such approval.            ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:46:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/tower_ok_violated_comp_plan/23386/#When:15:46:00Z</guid>
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          <title>Thumbs up, thumbs down</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/thumbs_up_thumbs_down1/22665/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
Thumbs up to county officials&#8217; idea to block access to the county&#8217;s shooting range to non-Madison County law enforcement officers. Madison officers do need a close-by range to practice shooting &#8211; and so do taxpayers, who would be hit with added expense if they have to keep paying hefty mileage fees for Madison deputies to use ranges in other counties. But letting outside agencies over-run the Shelby range apparently inflicted a good bit of unneeded misery for folks living nearby. The outsiders overwhelmed the facility, forcing expanded hours and even creating traffic problems as users sped to and from the site (we&#8217;re assuming the out-of-county lawmen were the ones reportedly speeding, since hometown &#8220;Madison Pride&#8221; likely keeps Madison lawmen more neighborly than outside ones).           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 29 May 2008 12:57:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/thumbs_up_thumbs_down1/22665/#When:16:57:00Z</guid>
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          <title>Should supervisors make bears toe the line?</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/should_supervisors_make_bears_toe_the_line/22663/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
The letter to the editor of May 22 alerting us to the &#8220;bear problem&#8221; and the dangers that attend their presence&#8212;particularly their predilection for feeding at birdfeeders&#8212;was quite helpful and reminded me that I&#8217;ve been meaning to talk to the board of supervisors to suggest they do something about all the wildlife, the prevalence of which [one infers from the increase in sightings] has greatly increased over the past 20 years or so. Perhaps a comprehensive zoning ordinance to manage it is in order.           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 29 May 2008 12:37:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/should_supervisors_make_bears_toe_the_line/22663/#When:16:37:00Z</guid>
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          <title>Memorial Day&#8217;s nearing prompts thoughts</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/memorial_days_nearing_prompts_thoughts/22340/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
When I was on active duty in the Air Force I had an opportunity to be stationed overseas in Germany near the French border. My family and I often visited the Lorraine American Cemetery in France. Staff Sgt. Andrew Miller is buried there. I will share with you his story while fighting near the French German Border during World War II. It comes from a citation he received.           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 22 May 2008 17:45:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/memorial_days_nearing_prompts_thoughts/22340/#When:21:45:00Z</guid>
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          <title>MCSO investigator: Accepting new position was good move</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/mcso_investigator_accepting_new_position_was_good_move/21279/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
As a &#8220;new deputy&#8221; to the Madison Sheriff&#8217;s Office and a &#8220;casualty of the last election in Culpeper,&#8221; I would like to address several of the issues brought up by Charles P. McDowell of Reva. First of all, Madison Sheriff Erik Weaver did not let anyone go after his re-election or the proper phrase is &#8220;not reappoint&#8221; anyone. I would venture to say that anyone who left did so because the opponent did not get elected.            ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Fri, 02 May 2008 18:50:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/mcso_investigator_accepting_new_position_was_good_move/21279/#When:22:50:00Z</guid>
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          <title>Catching fish doesn&#8217;t pay the bills</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/catching_fish_doesnt_pay_the_bills/20831/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
Sheila and Scott Chadwick&#8217;s daughter, Rene, is getting serious with Larry Barnes. He&#8217;s 21. The families haven&#8217;t known each other, but they&#8217;ve known of each other. That&#8217;s the way it is in Bucksnort. You either know a person or know of them &#8212; sometimes a lot more than you wish you knew!&nbsp; 
           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:47:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/catching_fish_doesnt_pay_the_bills/20831/#When:18:47:00Z</guid>
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          <title>Eagle hatches new Web site</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/eagle_hatches_new_web_site/20829/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
If you haven&#8217;t checked out our Web site lately&#8212;www.madison-news.com&#8212;now is a good time to do so. It received a major revamp late last month and now has all sorts of new bells and whistles.            ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:22:01 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/eagle_hatches_new_web_site/20829/#When:18:22:01Z</guid>
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          <title>Thumbs up, thumbs down</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/thumbs_up_thumbs_down/7998/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
Thumbs up to 2008 James O. Clore Award winner Hunter Weaver, the Madison County Volunteer Fire Company&#8217;s longtime chaplain. Weaver received the award at the annual MCVFC banquet March 22 at the Madison fire hall.            ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Sun, 06 Apr 2008 18:40:01 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/thumbs_up_thumbs_down/7998/#When:22:40:01Z</guid>
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          <title>What is best use of transfer station site?</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/what_is_best_use_of_transfer_station_site/7997/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
In January, the Madison County Board of Supervisors, at a workshop meeting, raised the topic of possible &#8220;industrial uses&#8221; on a portion of the county-owned 242-acre site that currently houses the transfer station and the animal shelter.            ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Sun, 06 Apr 2008 18:29:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/what_is_best_use_of_transfer_station_site/7997/#When:22:29:00Z</guid>
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          <title>Here&#8217;s an idea&#8212;walk or bike to school</title>
          <link>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/heres_an_idea_walk_or_bike_to_school/7571/</link>
          <description><![CDATA[
An economic downturn presents challenges, but it also offers opportunities &#8211; folks are forced to get creative. (More on the &#8220;creative&#8221; part later.)           ]]></description>
          <pubDate>Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:57:00 EDT</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.madison-news.com/mce/news/opinion/op_ed/article/heres_an_idea_walk_or_bike_to_school/7571/#When:13:57:00Z</guid>
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