Doug Grant joins us today as our managing editor. His last day of work in Marianna, Fla. was Friday and he made the 800-plus mile drive Saturday and Sunday.

I'm excited about having someone of Doug's experience and talent heading up our news department.

It's going to take a while for him to get acclimated to Suffolk and I imagine Peanut Festival Week will be a tough week to transition, but I'm sure we'll be seeing the positive impact he has on our product soon.

I hope you will all welcome him and his wife, Martha, to our community.

I was of course disappointed over the weekend to see my alma mater, West Virginia University, fall to Virginia Tech, however, it was not a devastating event. It was clear early that Tech is a great team, perhaps the best in the country. The young Mountaineer team gave them about all they wanted and a fan can't ask for much more.

Hokie fans are going to be in for a fun ride this season.

The News-Herald will be on site again this year at the Peanut Fest. We are making final preparations for our tent. Please make sure you stop by for a visit and register to win an Apple IPod Nano. It's really cool.