4BETTER OR WORSE- The week in review

Published online 8:00am Thursday May 15th, 2008
and in print issue #0720 dated Thursday May 15th, 2008

Worst Friday morning: Sixteen-year-old Sydney Aichs is struck and fatally injured by a tractor-trailer on U.S. 29 north as she leaves her Forest Lakes South neighborhood May 9 to go to Albemarle High School.

Worst drug-test results: The Louisa father of the two cocaine-positive toddlers, Derrick A. Christmas, who faces child endangerment and crack and marijuana possession charges, argues that a court-ordered drug test he failed last week was faulty, and presents negative results from his own test in court May 6, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports.

Most surprising Board of Supervisors action: Albemarle supes direct a steering committee to keep the costs down on the 20,000-square-foot Crozet library, budgeted at $10 million, according to Charlottesville Tomorrow. David Slutzky, the supe who famously said a tax increase last year cost the equivalent of a pizza and beer a month, votes against the long-promised Crozet library, saying it's too big and too expensive.

Priciest skate boarding: Charlottesville spends over $200,000 for replacement ramps and upgrades at the Skate Park, which is right beside the proposed McIntire Interchange. BOS Chair Ken Boyd balks at the County getting presented a bill for half without being consulted about the work beforehand, reports Charlottesville Tomorrow.

Most unusual "tithing": Fifth District congressional candidate Tom Perriello pledges 10 percent of his campaign's volunteer hours to community service projects around the district.

Latest Slade Woodson tally: A Waynesboro grand jury indicts the alleged I-64 shooter on six charges May 12 for firing at the Dupont Community Credit Union and an occupied North Commerce Avenue home during the rampage that shut down the interstate March 27, bringing Woodson's total– including 15 in Albemarle– to 21 felony charges. Woodson's 16-year-old accomplice, who pleaded guilty to charges in Albemarle May 7, picks up four felony charges in Waynesboro.

Best time to stock up on batteries and duct tape: Between May 25 and May 31, the hurricane preparedness sales tax holiday. Generators, tarps, and fire extinguishers are also on the list of qualifying items.

Best coach: UVA women's lacrosse coach Julie Myers is named ACC coach of the year, and leads the team to its third ACC championship in a row and its first-ever undefeated season at home– until falling to UNC May 11 in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Biggest brain drain: UVA's orthopedic surgery chair, Dr. Cato Laurencin, who also holds chemical and biomedical engineering professorships, heads to the University of Connecticut as VP and dean of its med school August 11, according to Brian McNeill in the Progress.

Biggest wedding: Soon-to-graduate Darden student Henry Hager marries First Daughter Jenna Bush May 10 in Crawford, Texas.

Just like a virgin: The Rutherford Institute threatens Albemarle County Schools– which was sued by Alan Newsom in 2002 for making him remove his NRA t-shirt– with legal action for telling an AHS student to remove her "Virginity rocks" t-shirt; the County denies that happened and says the t-shirt is fine.

Best canine recovery, part 1: Melody, a 12-year-old mixed breed, spends three days in a Crozet drainage pipe following May 9 thunderstorms. Her owner, Catherine Hermary-Vielle, hears the dog whimper May 12, calls 911, and eight firefighters show up to free the trapped pooch, according to another McNeill report.

Best canine recovery, part 2: The missing mascot of All Good Groceries in Earlysville, Harry the Hot Dog, turns up buried in a field near Cedar Hill trailer park May 6– nearly three weeks after his disappearance, WCAV reports. Harry suffers broken arms and a foot injury, and loses his mustard and ketchup. Jeremy Strain, 23, is arrested May 9, and police have an arrest warrant for David Dudley, 21.