4BETTER OR WORSE- The week in review
Biggest story: Two teens shooting into occupied vehicles close I-64 March 27 and bring back memories of the 2002 attacks by DC snipers John Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo.
Worst vehicle to use in a shooting spree: The distinctive 1974 orange AMC Gremlin is used by alleged perps Slade Woodson and an unidentified 16-year-old.
Worst break for soccer fans: The Albemarle Planning Commission deems a proposed 94,000-square-foot sports complex east of town near U.S. 250 and I-64 too large for the supposedly rural area there, according to a Jeremy Borden story in the Daily Progress. The Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors shot down a 39,000-square-foot facility last year, perhaps indicating they don't think soccer and rural areas mix.
Worst break for homeless people living in Hope Community Center: City zoning threatens to close the shelter, which houses more than 50 people, because overnight facilities are not permitted in residential areas, Seth Rosen reports in the DP.
Worst loss for the Daily Progress: Veteran political reporter Bob Gibson leaves to head the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership April 21.
Worst loss for local radio: Long-time WINA announcer Dick Mountjoy dies March 26 at age 61, after suffering from throat cancer.
Worst driving: A Toyota going the wrong way on Ridge Street March 31 slams head-on into another car, Henry Graf reports for NBC29.
Boldest UVA Student Council move: Passing a March 25 resolution condemning JuicyCampus.com, a website where anonymous posters are urged to write salacious gossip about their classmates. StudCo calls for students to boycott the website because it violates university principles of honor and respect, the Cavalier Daily reports.
Most startling appearance at the Cav Daily offices: CBS anchor and former CD staffer Katie Couric drops in March 24 with her daughter, Ellie, 16, who's looking at colleges and wants to be a journalist, according to the Washington Post.
Most pyro: UVA student Andrew Michelotti is arrested March 26 and charged with one count of arson after three separate fires are reported in a three-block area around 15th Street NW and Grady Avenue between 3 and 4am.
Most expensive signage: City staff asks for $1 million over the next four years to help people find downtown, the Rosen reports.
Most gender specific: Saint Anne's-Belfield plans to separate the fifth-grade boys from the girls next year for math and science classes, according to Barney Breen-Portnoy in the Progress.
Most disruptive web redesign: The already limited archives of the Daily Progress disappear entirely when it unveils its new web page March 27.
Best get: UVA Library scores the papers of civil rights activist/history prof Julian Bond.
Biggest speedtrap: Albemarle police write 104 tickets to 92 drivers between 1 and 7:30pm on the U.S. 29 bypass between Ivy Road and Fontaine Avenue March 24.
Smokiest: An Augusta brushfire cloaks Western Albemarle in second-hand smoke March 26.
Mulchiest: Charlottesville gives away free chipped-up Christmas trees from 8am to noon April 5 and 12 at the Charlottesville High School parking lot.
Least successful getaway: Bank of America on the Corner is robbed around 1pm April 1, and a suspect is captured less than 15 minutes later around 10th and Page, WINA reports.
Best return to the political arena: Gail "For Rail" Parker joins the Senate race, reviving her previous catchy campaign song.
Best April Fool's prank: The Sabre.com reports that UVA football coach Al Groh will resign to work as the Dolphin's player personnel director, and that he'll be succeeded at UVA by his son Mike.
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