The week in review

Best sign Louisa may be cursed: A tornado touches down southeast Gordonsville around 3:30pm October 13, ripping the roof off historic Sylvania, a house on the James Madison Highway that dates from 1746, according to various sources. That, of course, follows the 5.8 earthquake and hurricane for which FEMA declines to pitch in.

Best news for county teachers: The Albemarle School Board and Board of Supervisors recommend one- to two-percent raises to help attract better teachers.

Best pool: Smith Aquatic & Fitness Center on Cherry Avenue earns top-10 marks from a publication called Athletic Business.

Worst break-up: Janice Highlander, 29, pleads guilty October 12 to hitting her ex boyfriend and his new GF with her car, in which she carried her three kids, in May, the DP reports. The Crozet resident faces up to seven years in prison and will be sentenced January 3.

Worst pedestrian accident: A 55-year-old man is critically injured around 7pm October 17 when he's struck crossing Seminole Trail near Rio Road.

Worst single-car accident: Stephen R. Lamb, 57, dies on Route 151 near Afton October 12 when his Prius runs off the road and overturns, landing in a creek. He was not wearing a seatbelt.

Worst tree trimming accident: An Augusta man clearing limbs from a bucket truck dies instantly October 13 when he touches a power line, the News Leader reports. The victim, whose name was not immediately released, was employed by Dominion Power contractor Asplundh Tree Expert Co.

Grimmest anniversary: October 17 marks two years since Morgan Harrington disappeared from a concert at JPJ Arena. Her body was discovered in a field south of Charlottesville three months later. No arrests have been made in her slaying.

Most apologetic: City Council is likely to pass a resolution to acknowledge the damage done to Vinegar Hill, an African American community, when it was razed in the name of urban renewal in the 1960s. Outgoing City Councilor Holly Edwards brought the resolution so Charlottesville can show its remorse and avoid taking out whole neighborhoods in the future.

Most painful revenue source for drivers: Albemarle Sheriff's Office uses a $16,100 grant from the DMW to pay six deputies overtime to write more than 1,400 traffic tickets and raise over $100,000 over the past year under Operation Hammer.

Most territorial: Neighbors around Greenleaf Park complain  about the park's popularity– and that it's being used by Albemarle schools– at a City Council town hall meeting for Barracks and Rugby roads residents. City Parks & rec director Brian Daly will change the rules to allow reservations of the picnic shelter and tell county schools not to use that park. Another resident complains about having to drive to top-rated Smith Aquatic & Fitness Center. Sean Tubbs with Charlottesville Tomorrow has the story.

Highest mpg(e): Oliver Kuttner's new, electric four-passenger Very Light Car can go 350 miles on the equivalent of one gallon of gas, according to the Progress.

Biggest pot case: Riad Hassan Rayess, 29, pleads guilty October 17 to one count of manufacturing marijuana after police find 92 plants inside a house he rents in Bumpass in April. He faces 30 years on that charge, according to the DP. Rayess is the same guy who was arrested in Alleghany County April 6 in a routine stop, allegedly with 35 pounds of reefer in his car.

Smallest pot case: Philip Cobbs is convicted of possession of two plants in a three-plus hour trial October 18 in Albemarle General District Court. He vows to appeal.

Latest tent city: At press time on October 18, 10 tents are pitched in Lee Park as part of a protest called Occupy Charlottesville. Organizers ask for a suspension of the park's 11pm curfew at the October 17 City Council meeting, and councilors voice support for the protest, but have some concern about the park being turned into a campground, according to Ted Strong in the Progress.