The week in review

Worst week for the Western 29 bypass: The Washington Post's Robert McCartney slams the project in his June 15 column, "Wasteful Charlottesville highway highlights problem with Bob McDonnell’s road plans," and notes that the controversial $245-million, six-mile road inspired John Grisham's new novel, The Activist. McCartney calls it "one of the most egregious examples" of expensive road projects pushed by McDonnell's administration "despite abundant evidence that the money could be spent more wisely elsewhere."

Worst news for Walnut Hills homeowners: The Earlysville neighborhood claiming that airport blasting is damaging their homes learns that a geotechnical study concludes the explosions have nothing to do with the cracks appearing in their houses, the Daily Progress reports.

Worst nightmare for Burnley-Moran Elementary parents: Former school bus driver Darrell Eugene Farley of Howardsville is indicted on several counts of online seeking to have sex with kids, according to the Newsplex.

Latest supe candidate: Independent Philip Seay, executive director of the youth-golf program The First Tee, files to get on the ballot as a candidate for Dennis Rooker's seat representing the Jack Jouett District on the Albemarle Board of Supervisors, Charlottesville Tomorrow reports. He'll challenge independent Diantha McKeel.

Latest Dumler replacement candidates: Three people have stepped forward seeking to replace the resigned Scottsville supervisor until the November election: Former Albemarle sheriff/Republican Terry Hawkins, Dem planning commissioner Rick Randolph, and district resident Nancy Carpenter. Henry Graff has the story on NBC29.

Most unusual speech by a political candidate: E.W. Jackson, the fiery minister/Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, tells reporters of his past marijuana and other drug use, his bankruptcy filing in 1993, and being asked to leave his first church in Cambridge after two years, among other foibles, adding that the revelations would "maybe save you and your colleagues some further research," the AP reports.

Most likely follow-up to Jackson's disclosures: The Times-Dispatch polls other state candidates on illegal drug use, and attorney general candidates Mark Obenshain (R) and Mark Herring (D) both confess to youthful pot smoking, while gubernatorial candidates Ken Cuccinelli (R), Terry McAuliffe (D), and Dem lieutenant governor candidate Ralph Northam say they've never inhaled.

Boldest heist: A white t-shirt- and aviator-sunglasses-wearing white male robs United Bank on the Downtown Mall about a block from the Charlottesville Police Department around 4:45pm June 17 and flees south toward Water Street.

Newest owners of the the Homestead: Omni Hotels & Resorts, which owns the Omni in Charlottesville, buys the historic Hot Springs hotel from KSL Capital Partners LLC, along with four other fancy resorts, including Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, California, according to a release.

Most enlightened public service: Pete Myers, founder and CEO of Environmental Health Sciences, receives a $50,000 Frank Hatch "Sparkplug" Award from the John Merck Fund. Charlottesville-based Myers first sounded the alarm on endocrine disruptors found in plastic containers containing BPA.

First espagnol on the Senate floor: Senator Tim Kaine delivers a speech on immigration reform in Spanish June 11.

Worst riding lawnmower fatality: Schuyler resident James C. Caudill, 55, is reported missing June 12 and found shortly after on his property partially beneath a riding lawn mower. Police do not suspect foul play, the News and Advance reports.

Worst bull trampling fatality: Fifty-nine-year-old Grottoes farmer Sam Saufley dies after a bull tramples him June 15, NBC29 reports.

Best news for George Huguely: Virginia's Court of Appeals agrees to look at three additional possible trial errors in the ex-girlfriend slayer's second-degree murder conviction in the 2010 death of Yeardley Love, the AP reports.

Best sign labor unions aren't dead: Six Piedmont Airlines flight attendants picket at the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport June 13, claiming they haven't had a raise since 2009 from the US Airways regional carrier, J. Reynolds Hutchins reports in the Progress. They say they'll go on strike if negotiations fall through and they don't get the three percent raises they're asking for and will coordinate something called impromptu CHAOS strikes that "create havoc around our system."

1 comment

WaPo's piece against the Bypass is a one-sided editorial - not a news piece and it makes no attempt to offer the other side. The history of McCartney's writings are anti-road in general.