For Pittsylvania County Schools, the road back will be much, much longer.

It’s not the budget cuts in a down economy that hurts so much, it’s how long it took to build the school system to where it is today — and how difficult it will be to get back to this point

If there’s any lesson here, it’s that you can’t ask too many questions when a new source of jobs — and that’s how Green Rock was sold to this community, as an economic development project — comes to town

Here’s some good news that no one is celebrating: Street crime is down in Danville

The Barkhousers’ gift stems from a desire to encourage entrepreneurs and keep them in the Dan River Region. That’s long been a part of the community’s economic development plan — to nurture and grow local businesses

Pittsylvania County has had a land-use program for 29 years, and the basic concept is sound and prudent

State funding is critical to the Dan River Region’s school systems. In Danville, 49.6 percent of the public school budget comes from Richmond, and in Pittsylvania County, the number is 57 percent. The statewide average is 34.9

What were Coy Harville and Tim Barber thinking? The two supervisors voted against Sunday beer and wine sales in the Callands-Gretna district after the voters there approved Sunday sales, 1,217-1,054, in November

If the Berry Hill Road industrial mega park is being developed for the uranium mining and milling industries, the taxpayers deserve to know that — because to date, the safety of those industries hasn’t been demonstrated to the taxpayers

Pittsylvania County Schools has no expectation that the Board of Supervisors will ever give it anything more than the mandated minimum, even when is has an opportunity to do so

The life and work of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. were celebrated in Danville — and around the country — this week. But one of the local events took on a new urgency this year

Instead of the one-on-one contest that would have been the toughest for Perriello, we could see the GOP Fifth District nominee have to compete with an independent — or even two or three — for votes. At the end of the day, who will really be helped by that kind of fight?

McDonnell is fulfilling a campaign promise, but more importantly, he’s changing the game on economic development. Everybody talks about the need to create more jobs. Executive Order No. 1 is McDonnell’s way to cut through duplication, waste, red tape and other structural impediments to job creation.

If the city and the private sector didn’t prepare for even the occasional winter storms that we see here, then we would all pay the high cost of being snowed in

Virginia Beach continued interest in this project — and its willingness to put its money where its concern is — represents a wild card VUI most likely never expected to see played

Hank Davis has said he wants to bring the Board of Supervisors together. That’s an important goal — and a real test of true leadership. The county can’t move forward if its political leaders are constantly squabbling with one another or settling old scores

Congressional candidate Robert Hurt has to make a lot of tough decisions this year. In a crowded field during a contentious year, Hurt has a lot of chances to get things right — or make a mistake.

Piedmont Drive was finished during the 1980s with new gasoline tax dollars that were part of a massive statewide road construction package.

From the comments recently made by Pittsylvania County residents who live near Green Rock Correctional Center, it appears they are having second thoughts about the state
prison that was built near their homes.

For the past several years, Chatham-Blairs Supervisor Hank Davis argued to anyone who would listen that he should be elected chairman of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors. After 10 years on the board, Davis has finally won the chairmanship, thanks to a last-minute vote switch by Banister Supervisor William Pritchett.

“I’m very appreciative that the board saw fit to elect me,” Davis said after the vote. “I’ll do all I can to (take) this county forward.”

If Davis wanted the job at a tough time for the county, then he has been given exactly what he asked for

The public’s right to know is every bit as important as any other consideration in a case like this. The officer’s name should have been released on Tuesday

Robert Hurt shouldn’t have to choose between representing the 19th Senate District in Richmond and attending a debate.

The primary is six months away. At the least, any Republican candidate debates should begin after the General Assembly adjourns.

Students are familiar with the concept of report cards. Their work is constantly graded on pre-established criteria and performance over a defined period.

The “2009 Regional Report Card” for the Dan River Region, published on these pages Sunday (“Seeing changes, making progress,” page A11), tries to do the same thing for an emerging community that needs to make smart choices about its future

Danville Sheriff Jim Dooley leaves office pleased with his performance during his 21 years in office. We don’t share his enthusiasm

In the dead of winter, during some the shortest days of the year, the calendar gives us a chance to reset our lives and hope for a better tomorrow. With the new year comes new promise, a hope for better things, better times and better fortunes.

Here in the Dan River Region, we have nothing but the future to look forward to

Long waits and limited government services are the logical result of years of government budget cuts. If that’s what the people want, that’s what they should get.

It’s expensive to pay someone else to house your jail and prison inmates. In Pittsylvania County, we’re seeing two sides of the same issue — a state prison will hold out-of-state inmates at a profit, while the sheriff’s office must pay others because its jail is too small

A dozen years and soon to be four governors later, Virginia’s hated car tax is still being paid by taxpayers while their cities, counties and towns still depend on the money

Two unique groups that have long labored to make this community a better place recently had good news to share

The question we have to ask the high-flying members of the Danville Tea Party is why a Democrat is leading the charge for fiscal accountability on Danville City Council — and whether their group is even concerned with how taxpayer money is spent outside the Beltway

Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell hasn’t taken the oath of office yet, but he was in Danville Wednesday making good on one of his signature campaign promises: To be in our community on a regular basis working to find solutions to the economic development problem