Freedom, Festival, Prison & Rumors

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Journalists freed, return to U.S.

Two American journalists were freed by North Korea this week and came home to their families on a flight with former President Bill Clinton. It was a joyous homecoming for Laura Ling, 32, and Euna Lee, 36, who were held for nearly five months in the communist country.

The women were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor for spying, but were not sent to a labor camp. They later said they believed they could be taken to a labor camp at any point. Ling said the women were shocked when they were brought to a room Tuesday and saw Clinton.

The Obama Administration was careful to separate Clinton’s private, humanitarian trip from efforts to restart talks with North Korea, which has continued to engage in nuclear testing and released rockets earlier this year. We think Clinton’s visit gave Kim Jong Il a sensible way to release the women and a crack in the door to reopen six-party talks to stop nuclear proliferation by North Korea. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Obama must capitalize on this opening.

Moreover, we are thrilled to see these journalists returned safely to their families in the United States.

Highlands Festival wraps up Aug. 9

If you haven’t been to Abingdon for this year’s Highland Festival, run, don’t walk to the final events. The two-week festival wraps up Sunday with a slate of events that include the antiques show at Virginia Highlands Community College, art events, photography exhibits and historic tours. For a full schedule, go to http://www.vahighlandsfestival.org. Get outside with your family this weekend and enjoy this fantastic event.

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Former police chief heads to prison

Tony Richardson, 42, the former police chief of Damascus, was sentenced to five years in prison this week for selling drugs while working as the chief. He admitted selling methamphetamines and prescription drugs several times in the spring and summer of 2007.

Sentencing guidelines for his offenses were four years and seven months, but Judge Birg Sergent gave him five months more, citing the fact that as police chief Richardson had been in a position of public trust.

This incident also led to a federal investigation and two sheriff’s deputies in Smyth County were fired. We are glad to see Richardson sentenced stiffly, but the entire affair was a black eye on law enforcement and the region. The sooner he heads to prison and serves his sentence the better.

Sarah and Todd Palin divorce rumors

Internet trolls love former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and when she isn’t making news, they like to make up nasty rumors about her. The latest is a series of rumors citing – false – sources that she and her husband are divorcing.

The chatter has grown so loud and nasty that she responded Tuesday in a telephone interview with Politico.

She said the rumors are made up and told the reporter her husband was with her in New York City for a visit to see her publisher, HarperCollins Publishers.

We’re certain Palin will stay in the news, especially because her memoir will be released next spring. And asking her about issues when she is a candidate for vice president is one thing. But needling her now about divorce rumors is a slimy low.