The week in review

Biggest margin: Democrat Jason Vandever wins the special election for Charlottesville treasurer April 2 by 75 percent with 1,280 votes to independent opponent John Pfaltz's 397 votes.

Biggest stepdown: Jack Jouett district Supervisor Dennis Rooker announces he won't seek a fourth term April 3 at the Board of Supervisors meeting, and endorses Albemarle School Board member Diantha McKeel to succeed him. Supes Duane Snow and Rodney Thomas have already said they'll seek reelection, and Albemarle County Service Authority board member Liz Palmer is set to launch a challenge to Snow in the Samuel Miller District.

Biggest budget/smallest tax increase: Albemarle okays a $322-million budget and a four-tenths of a cent property tax increase, raising the rate to 76.6 cents per $100 of assessed value.

Biggest dis: City Council joins the Albemarle Board of Supervisors in refusing to up the salaries of public defenders, who say they earn 25 percent less than prosecutors, according to the Progress. Both bodies say they're willing to meet later in the year about the paltry public defender pay in case surplus dollars miraculously appear.

Biggest real estate merger: Charlotte Ramsay, Inc., Realtors merges with Roy Wheeler Realty Company. Ramsay, who died in 2005, was the first female agent to work for Roy Wheeler, and started her own company in 1975, according to a release.

Latest on former Boy Scout troop leader: David Watkins picks up two more forcible sodomy charges after Albemarle's grand jury meets. Watkins was already charged with one count of forcible sodomy against someone younger than 13 years old.

Least successful escape from police: Marcell Macuthur Turner, 25, who was wanted on five outstanding warrants, rams two police cars on Meridian Street, jumps out of a moving car, and hides out in a basement until a police dog sniffs him out, the Newsplex reports. Turner accrues another seven charges from that escapade.

Highest-profile missing dog: Jack, a yellow lab/golden retriever mix, bolts after deer from the fenced yard of Charlottesville Fire Chief Charles Werner. The two-year-old, 40 pounder has been missing since April 4 from the Martin Kings Road/Nahor area of Albemarle near the Fluvanna line. If you see Jack, give the chief a call.

Highest-profile missing husband and father: Columbia resident Robert Lee Hourihan was last seen two years ago on April 8 at a convenience store in Palmyra. Seven weeks later, his white Chevy turned up in a Target parking lot in La Plata, Maryland. The Fluvanna Sheriff's Office suspects foul play and that Hourihan is dead, and asks that anyone with information contact them at 434-589-8211.

Latest resurrection of a road presumed dead: The Eastern Connector, last bandied about in the mid-'00s to join U.S. 29 North, is back under consideration if the Metropolitan Planning Organization decides to use a $250K federal grant to study it, Sean Tubbs reports for Charlottesville Tomorrow. Supervisor Ken Boyd prefers expanding South Pantops Drive across the Rivanna into Woolen Mills to relieve traffic on Free Bridge– a plan Charlottesville is likely to approve when hell freezes over.

Latest fraternity misconduct: UVA Dean of Students Allen Groves ends pledge early after reports of hazing and a spike in alcohol-related hospitalizations during rush week earlier in the spring, according to the Progress.

Unhappiest meal: One teen whacks another with a plastic BB gun at the McDonald's on Ridge-McIntire April 7, sending one to the hospital with minor injuries. Police are looking for the alleged whacker, NBC29 reports.

Most freakish delivery: A two-headed calf is born in Augusta County April 6. NBC29 has the story.

Most hysterical: A prank Snapchat photo and message that Alcoholic Beverage Control officers were searching UVA dorms and arresting booze-possessing students April 8 sets off a school-wide panic, according to the Cav Daily.