4BETTER OR WORSE- The week in review
Worst watershed: The Rivanna River's, according to nonprofit StreamWatch. A majority of streams in its watershed fail Department of Environmental Quality standards, and their quality has declined since StreamWatch commented on them in its 2004-05 report. Brandon Shulleeta has the story in the Daily Progress.
Latest UVA football player woes: Quarterback Peter Todd Lalich, 20, is charged with underage possession of alcohol July 13 when he's seen holding a beer– egads! The charge will be dropped if he stays out of trouble for a year. Two linemen, Will Barker, 21, and Dave Roberts, 19, are charged with larceny for allegedly reaching behind the bar at Club 216 on July 26 and swiping a couple of beers. Roberts picks up underage possession and fake ID charges.
Most enticing: Former Albemarle schools employee Louin Richard Deane, 45, pleads guilty July 22 to attempting to contribute to the delinquency of a minor for text messaging a 17-year-old Nelson County girl last August to have sex with him. He'll spend three months in jail, Tasha Kates reports for the DP.
Most pathetic crime: Eight– count 'em– thugs attack a Domino's Pizza driver making a delivery to 2411 North Berkshire Road at 12:04am July 29 and flee with an undisclosed amount of cash, according to Albemarle police. The victim suffers minor injuries.
Most squalid: Judge Susan Whitlock sends the parents of cocaine-positive children recently in the news to the grand jury after she sees photos of Brenda D. Quarles and Derrick A. Christmas' abode in Louisa.
Most retirable: AARP deems Charlottesville healthy enough to make its top-10 list of best cities in which to retire.
Biggest speed trap: Albemarle police write 107 tickets to 86 drivers on Seminole Trail July 28. Top speed is 78 mph in a 45 mph zone.
Biggest blowing smoke: Charlottesville pumps smoke through city sewers to detect leaks.
Biggest driveway: Albemarle Planning Commission approves an 800-foot runway extension at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, which Mark Graham, county director of community development, dubs a "driveway," a designation exempt from certain water-protection ordinances. Charlottesville Tomorrow reports on the July 22 PC meeting.
Latest gig for Rick Moore: The former Albemarle deputy commonwealth's attorney fired when new boss Denise Lunsford took office will be working as an assistant prosecutor in Orange County, the Progress reports.
Best time to stock up on pencils: Virginians get a sales-tax holiday August 4-6 for back-to-school related items.
Best news for Advance Mills residents: VDOT says a permanent replacement bridge for the one that's been closed since 2007 should be complete by 2010.
Worst news for Ivy residents: The Dry Bridge Road span continues to deteriorate, and repairs scheduled by responsible party Buckingham Branch RR have been postponed indefinitely, according to NBC29.
Favorite lawmaker for docs: Delegate Rob Bell is named legislator of the year by the Virginia Academy of Family Physicians for his work on mental health reform.
Favorite lawmaker for greens: Delegate David Toscano receives a perfect score of 100 from the League of Conservation Voters for his enviro votes.
Best pilgrimage: UVA religious studies assistant professor Heather Warren will take six students on a 56-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail. The pilgrimage is among the latest faculty dream courses made possible by Mead Endowment, created in honor of extra-popular music professor Ernest "Boots" Mead, 90.
Best last words: "Tell my family and friends I love them, tell the governor he just lost my vote," said convicted killer Christopher Scott Emmett, who was executed July 24 for beating a coworker to death in 2001 after unsuccessfully appealing Virginia's capital punishment as "cruel and unusual."
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