by Laurence Hammack | Dec 11, 2005 | Politics/government
MARTINSVILLE — For nearly five years, the building for sale in Martinsville’s Clearview Business Park stood as barren as the surrounding economic landscape. A different company toured the empty building about every six weeks, tantalizing officials with the...
by Laurence Hammack | May 8, 2005 | Politics/government
APPALACHIA — At first, Christina McKinney just laughed at the suggestion that she sell her vote for a pack of cigarettes and a bag of fried pork skins. Then McKinney started hearing stories from her neighbors in Appalachia: They too had been approached by a...
by Laurence Hammack | Feb 20, 2005 | Politics/government
GATE CITY — Tough as it was to lose by two votes, Mark Jenkins was ready to accept defeat graciously in the May election for mayor of this mountain gap town that calls itself a city. Then Jenkins called to congratulate incumbent Mayor Charles Dougherty. His...