Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

Did you know I’ve never been on a ghost tour? Admittedly, I’m not one for creepy stuff—I don’t like getting spooked. But I certainly find Virginia’s ghost stories intriguing, and since I learned this summer that many of y’all like them, too, they’ve been rather fun to include in newsletters and social posts.

We’re a third of the way through “spooky month,” so today seemed like a great time to explore Virginia’s battlefields—and the stories that hide among them. Make sure the lights don’t flicker when you read this one. And remember, I’m so glad you’re here.

Third Winchester Battlefield Park spans 600 acres. (Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District)

By Aila Boyd

Here’s what you need to know: From the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, the commonwealth has served as the site of several of the country’s most tragic and bloody battles. As a result of the conflicts, scars have been left on the landscape, and tales of soldiers who perished have been left behind on the battlefields.

Our top haunts:

• Given that it was the site of two battles, the Manassas National Battlefield Park surely has a ghostly soldier still lingering around. In fact, those inclined to the paranormal claim that they’ve seen shadows of Civil War soldiers crossing the Bull Run Stone Bridge, which was destroyed in 1862 but rebuilt in 1884. They also claim to hear the slight sound of cannon fire.
• Spanning over 600 acres with six miles of walking trails, Third Winchester Battlefield Park has plenty of haunted history to uncover. Some visitors have reported hearing distant battle noises, including cannons and battle cries, along with spotting shadows moving along the battlefield.
• Unlike most of the others, Yorktown Battlefield is likely haunted by colonial-era ghosts. It was the site of George Washington’s siege of General Charles Lord Cornwallis’s British troops in 1781, which marked the end of the war. During the battle, 28,900 forces were engaged, with 8,978 casualties.

Seeking more spooks? We’ve got you covered at the link below.

We asked, y’all answered. So, which Virginia small town should get more tourism hype?

According to our readers—plenty of them!

Sherry M. emailed about an event I’d never heard of, but it sounds like a whole lot of fun. The Enchanted Mushroom Festival takes place annually in the small town of Churchville. 

Naturally, that had me Googling “where is Churchville?” I’ll save you the search: It’s located in the western part of Augusta County—and what I’m guessing is its main thoroughfare, Churchville Ave, looks absolutely quaint. Along that road, you can explore the local library, see the volunteer fire department, and get a new look at Wild Roots Salon.

Being a small-town girl myself, I wish I could feature every single one in our beautiful commonwealth. Write to me at amie@couriernewsroom.com to tell me about your favorite. I have a good feeling we’ll loop back around and feature some more of your suggestions.

By Ryan Pitkin

Could you recognize the warning signs of authoritarianism if they were creeping into your everyday life? There has been a lot of talk about the looming “death of democracy” on the news and social media lately, but it can be hard to put a finger on what that means.

Let’s consider the alternative: authoritarianism, defined as “the blind submission to authority and the repression of individual freedom of thought and action” in politics and government. In other words, one relatively small group of people ruling over the rest with no accountability, no checks, no balances, none of that. 

Experts have identified seven basic tactics used by aspiring authoritarians: attempts to politicize independent institutions, spread disinformation, expand executive power, quash criticism and dissent, target vulnerable or marginalized communities, undermine elections, and stoke violence.

While historically, authoritarianism would often take hold of a country quickly, with new leaders swooping into power by way of military action—think coup d’etats or the less swift and often more bloody revolution—many of the world’s modern authoritarians have used what are called “salami tactics,” slicing away at the institutions of democracy one sliver at a time.

If you’ve ever seen “Goodfellas,” think of the scene where Paulie slices up the garlic reaallll thin, and each piece of garlic is another one of your civil rights. 

So now that you know the warning signs, it’s worth asking the question: How much salami (or garlic) has already been sliced?

• Did you watch the governor’s debate last night? We’re featuring information on both candidates—and what you read about their stances might surprise you. (Read more)

• Richmond’s local head of the NAACP is fired up after city elections officials sent 283 voters the wrong ballots for their House of Delegates races, with five already cast and unchangeable. (Watch here)

• Leslie Mehta, who’s running for a seat in the House of Delegates (D-73), says she’s concerned about Virginia families being able to access the reproductive care they need, particularly IVF, which can be costly. (Watch here)

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