The week in review
Most powdery substances: The day before white and red powdery substances are found in the mailbox of the Sylvan Learning Center on Greenbrier Place to bring out hazmat units again, a bag of white powder is discovered in the women's room in the Snyder Research Building at Fontaine Research Park. Authorities test the substance found March 29 at Fontaine, and it turns out to be... cocaine. Someone is really kicking herself for leaving that in the bathroom!
Most likely a cleaning solvent: The Charlottesville Fire Department hazmat team is called to 1215 Wertland Avenue April 2 with reports that people were getting sick. Turns out the building's hall had been mopped with a hospital-grade cleaner.
Most protective of a killer's identity: Culpeper police still have not released the name of the officer who fatally shot unarmed Patricia Cook, 54, on February 9 in a church parking lot. Special prosecutor James Fisher requests a special investigative grand jury April 2, the AP reports.
Most passengers: CHO– Charlottesville Albemarle Airport– logs in 406,373 passengers in 2011, a record that's nearly 10 percent over 2010, the Daily Progress reports.
Most rational resolution: Activist Jordan McNeish asks City Council to support a resolution to decriminalize marijuana by making it the lowest priority for the police department. Councilors at the April 2 meeting indicate a willingness to study the measure, Graham Moomaw reports in the DP.
Latest in the Eddie Snead slaying: Police say papers in Snead's residence suggest he may have reported that the woman accused of killing him March 5, Wanda Marie Turner, fraudulently used his Virginia National Bank account, according to the Progress. Turner has been charged with second-degree murder.
Latest for mother charged with daughter's death: Jessica Lewis, 36, waives a preliminary hearing April 2 for the involuntary manslaughter charges she faces for the deaths of daughter Amber Johnson, 20, and Amber's father, Michael Johnson, November 10 in a crash on Half Branch Road in Crozet. Lewis goes before a grand jury June 4.
Latest in 2009 National Forest murders: Police say they have DNA from the scene of the August 2009 slayings of Virginia Tech students Heidi Childs and David Metzler in the Jefferson National Forest, and that the murder weapon was a .30-30 caliber rifle, according to WSLS. A $70,000 reward is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer.
Latest for girlfriend-tosser: Benjamin Grant Alger, 28, of Criglersville is sentenced to 27 years in prison for throwing April Dodson, 29, off the Quaker Run Road bridge over the Robinson River in Madison July 20, from which she suffered serious injuries. According to the Times-Dispatch, the two had argued when Dodson discovered Alger had fathered a child with another woman.
Latest sign crackdown: Albemarle goes after advertisers who plant their signs in public rights of way– again. The Board of Supervisors authorized enforcement in 2009, but placards have crept back onto roadways. Violators face a $100 per sign fine.
Least open to rational discourse: After City Councilor Kristin Szakos wonders whether it's time to get rid of Charlottesville's Civil War statues at a Virginia Festival of the Book event, a numbskull allegedly phones her house and swears at her daughter, according to the DP.
Biggest controlled burn: Shenandoah National Park plans to torch 500 acres between Jarmans Gap and Waynesboro between April 4 and 20, weather permitting.
Best volunteer: The Chamber of Commerce names Putt-Putt owner Lloyd F. Wood its volunteer of the year.
Best April Fool's stunt: A 50-foot Russian submarine floats in Lake Tam in Staunton's Gypsy Hill Park, courtesy of the Shenandoah Valley's prank master, "Professor" Mark Cline, according to NBC29.
Worst Botox-and-dash story: A woman using a fictitious name gets cosmetic facial injections from a Culpeper doctor March 9 and leaves without paying the $1,600 bill, NBC29 reports. She's believed to be in her 50s, but with skin so smooth, it's hard to tell.