4BETTER OR WORSE- The week in review
Skeeviest allegations: Steven Bruce Joplin, 59, former education director at Christ United Methodist Church in Staunton, is indicted by a grand jury on seven counts of sexual battery October 19 for allegedly molesting five girls under age 13 at the church over the spring and summer, NBC29 reports.
Biggest setback for Arby's owner: Longtime critic of Albemarle sign regs Tom Slonaker is found guilty of four sign ordinance violations October 16 and fined $3,400, according to the Newsplex.
Best place to start a small business: Money Magazine puts Charlottesville at number 19 on its top 50 list.
Least improved: The Rivanna River watershed, according to StreamWatch, which has monitored it since 2006.
Biggest war chest in the Albemarle supes' race: David Slutzky edges unchallenged Dennis Rooker, who's raised $70,405 even without an opponent for the Jack Jouett District. Slutzky clocks in with $71,115 in October 15 filing, according to Virginia Public Access Project, while his opponent for the Rio District seat, Rodney Thomas, has $52,085.
Biggest boost for Creigh Deeds: In the governor's race, the Washington Post endorses Deeds, who is polling as much as 8 points behind Bob McDonnell.
Biggest boost for Bob McDonnell: The Daily Press out of Newport News endorses the Hampton Roads gubernatorial candidate, as does the Prince William County's News and Messenger.
Latest Republican to join the 5th District race: Candidate #7 is Ron Ferrin from Campbell County, who announces his bid for the GOP nomination to challenge Congressman Tom Perriello (D-Ivy) in 2010. Albemarle candidates who've announced are Supervisor Ken Boyd, Michael McPadden, and Laurence Verga. State Senator Robert Hurt (R-Chatham), Feda Kidd Morton, of Fluvanna and Bradley Rees of Bedford County also want Perriello's seat.
Latest Rick Turner contretemps: The head of the local NAACP accuses Charlottesville Schools Superintendent Rosa Atkins and Albemarle Superintendent Pam Moran of blowing off an NAACP forum October 12, according to Brandon Shulleeta in the Daily Progress. The superintendents claim they were told the forum was canceled; Turner contends they didn't want to talk about the drop-out rate of black students, and says, "If you are afraid [to talk about race], you need to get another job. You need to go to Wal-Mart, where people aren't asking you questions."
Most jail time: Theodore Calvin Timberlake gets 14 years October 15 for the July 19, 2008, second-degree murder shooting of Joshua Magruder.
Most hallowed ground: The U.S. Secretary of Transportation declares the 180-mile "Journey through Hallowed Ground" from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to Monticello in Albemarle– which includes nearby Routes 15, 231, 20, and 53– a National Scenic Byway.
Highest honors: UVA President John Casteen and microbiology chair J. Thomas Parsons receive the university's top honor, the Thomas Jefferson Award, October 16 for, respectively, excellence in service and in scholarship.
Biggest boost for affordable cop housing: The Charlottesville Community Foundation writes a $75,000 check to help with down payments so city police officers can live in or closer to town.
Worst job news in Waynesboro: Mohawk Industries will close its plant at the end of the year, leaving 120 employees without a job.
Worst bridge leading to swankiest neighborhoods: The wooden one-lane Broomley Road bridge, which leads into Flordon and other Farmington satellite neighborhoods, is in such poor shape that fire engines can't use it, and funding for a replacement may not be available until 2017, Charlottesville Tomorrow reports.
Worst shot: A father accidentally shoots his nine-year-old son in the leg when picking a shotgun up off the ground while squirrel hunting October 19 in Rockingham County, the Daily News-Record reports.
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