Guest Columns
Opinion — Build back better?
President Biden’s election motto was “build back better.” To some, it sounded interesting, even though few understood what it meant. It was implied that he ...
Frank Ruff, Author at Farmville
Columns
Opinion — The ABCs of schooling
Once upon a time, families sent their children to school to learn the basics of education. We called that the ABCs, but the goal was ...
by Frank Ruff, Sunday, October 17, 2021 8:18 pm
YOUR TURN
Column – Cotton candy
Remember when you were 3 or 4 years old, and you went to your first county fair? As your parents walked you past the man ...
by Frank Ruff, Tuesday, October 5, 2021 12:05 pm
YOUR TURN
COLUMN – Why policing matters
When we drive a little fast and see blue lights, it is easy to question why we have so many police officers. However, that is ...
by Frank Ruff, Tuesday, September 28, 2021 3:37 pm
YOUR TURN
Understanding small business and inflation
Last week, I wrote regarding the dilemma created in the business world driven by COVID, the fear of COVID and the government’s mishandled responses. A ...
by Frank Ruff, Wednesday, September 22, 2021 6:00 am
Guest Columns
Opinion — Prayers needed
The challenges upon us are numerous. We must pray like never before. Rarely have we seen so many issues before us at one time. Natural ...
by Frank Ruff, Tuesday, September 7, 2021 11:16 am
YOUR TURN
COLUMN – Nero fiddled while Rome burned
I have no animosity towards President Biden; I wish him well. We disagree on most public policy issues, but I have no reason to believe ...
by Frank Ruff, Thursday, September 2, 2021 10:00 am
Columns
Opinion — Is Virginia really No. 1 for business?
It was great news that, according to CNBC, Virginia is the number one state in the nation to do business. An honor like this is ...
by Frank Ruff, Thursday, July 29, 2021 4:23 pm
Guest Columns
Are we really a racist nation?
The phrase “Can’t we all get along?” by the late Rodney King was uttered after he was brutally beaten by Los Angeles police officers three ...
by Frank Ruff, Thursday, July 8, 2021 3:15 pm
Columns
Opinion – Are we really a racist nation?
The phrase “Can’t we all get along” by the late Rodney King was uttered after he was brutally beaten by Los Angeles officers three decades ...
by Frank Ruff, Monday, July 5, 2021 11:43 am
Guest Columns
Opinion — Amazingly, parole board investigation turns up nothing
With great shock and amazement, I write to tell you that, after a few weeks study which concluded that “there was nothing to worry about ...
by Frank Ruff, Thursday, June 24, 2021 9:35 am
Guest Columns
Opinion — The founding fathers were far from perfect
While perfect is what we should all work toward in everything we do, seldom do we reach that goal every time. There has been only ...
by Frank Ruff, Thursday, June 10, 2021 10:00 am
YOUR TURN
Biden’s tax plan will hurt the economy
In Washington, President Joe Biden is patting himself on his back for his plans to raise your taxes. During his campaign last year, he repeatedly ...
by Frank Ruff, Wednesday, June 2, 2021 6:00 am
YOUR TURN
OPINION — We must reverse the trend of violent crime in Virginia
The lead story of the May 16 Gazette Virginian was a murdered teen shot to death. Same newspaper, next edition, the lead story was a ...
by Frank Ruff, Wednesday, May 26, 2021 6:00 am
Columns
OPINION — We must work to restore our nation’s work ethic
As acid corrodes aluminum, once it starts it gets worse faster and faster. We are watching this happen before our eyes. The headline in the ...
by Frank Ruff, Monday, May 10, 2021 4:46 pm
Columns
OPINION – Our students must be prepared to compete
The education of our young people is at risk. Parents, grandparents and would-be parents need to be aware. Attacks are coming from many directions. We ...
by Frank Ruff, Wednesday, May 5, 2021 3:02 pm
Guest Columns
OPINION — Marijuana legislation makes very little sense
The reconvened session was held last week with few surprises. Most Republican proposed legislation had already been killed. For this reason, we mostly considered technical ...
by Frank Ruff, Monday, April 12, 2021 10:47 am
YOUR TURN
Virginia wasn’t ready for vaccine distribution
Three issues have been causing turmoil for a year: unemployment, schools and vaccines. Gov. Ralph Northam closed down the state with power not seen since ...
by Frank Ruff, Wednesday, February 17, 2021 6:00 am
YOUR TURN
COLUMN — Democrat priorities have changed over the years
When I was growing up, I knew my father was a Democrat. In the ’50s and ’60s, if one wanted a voice in Virginia’s government, ...
by Frank Ruff, Monday, February 15, 2021 6:00 am
YOUR TURN
Column — What will 2021 look like?
For months now, everywhere I have gone, people have been saying, “I can’t wait until 2020 is over.” With all that has occurred in the ...
by Frank Ruff, Friday, January 8, 2021 6:00 am
YOUR TURN
A new way to formulate the state budget
Every year, the most important thing that the governor of Virginia does is produce a budget or a revised budget. Yet, way too frequently, a ...
by Frank Ruff, Wednesday, December 30, 2020 6:00 am
Guest Columns
Should we really legalize marijuana?
Over the years that I have been in the General Assembly, there has always been an effort by some to change the laws on the ...
by Frank Ruff, Monday, December 7, 2020 4:06 pm
YOUR TURN
Is climate change really an existential threat?
Remember John Stossel? For those who don’t remember him or never heard of him, Stossel made it big a generation or two ago when he ...
by Frank Ruff, Wednesday, December 2, 2020 6:00 am
YOUR TURN
Some taxes unfairly affect rural Virginia
We all want to be treated fairly. Sometimes we do not like government policies at the federal, state, or local levels, but if it affects ...
by Frank Ruff, Tuesday, November 24, 2020 2:00 pm
YOUR TURN
Can we thrive as a mediocracy?
Once upon a time, not that long ago, one received things from earning them. You merited a raise. You merited a promotion. That system was ...
by Frank Ruff, Wednesday, November 11, 2020 6:00 am
YOUR TURN
Looking forward to a brighter future
Thankfully, it is human nature to have faith in a brighter future. If not, 2020 would drive us crazy. Most of the year, COVID-19 has ...
by Frank Ruff, Wednesday, November 4, 2020 6:00 am
YOUR TURN
COLUMN — Treat the voters with honesty and respect
In slang, the phrase, “Come on, man,” is used to convey the speaker’s frustration or annoyance with someone else. The term has been used repeatedly ...