4BETTER OR WORSE- The week in review
Biggest tempest: A three-minute downburst on June 24 wreaks the havoc of a Hurricane Isabel, with 31 houses crunched by trees, compared to 27 felled onto structures by Isabel.
Biggest medical feud: Augusta Health revokes the hospital privileges of three UVA cardiologists practicing over the mountain, the News Virginian reports. The doctors' 2,500 patients will have to travel to Charlottesville if they want to continue with their doctors, and Augusta Health is gearing up to grab a piece of the cardio market.
Biggest family feud? Four Magruders are arrested June 21 on East Market Street. Jesse Wardel, 52, Joyce Johnella, 51, and Ethel Ann Magruder, 51, are charged with using abusive language, while Michael Howard Magruder, 47, is charged with trespassing.
Biggest click-it or ticket change: Virginia's secondary-offense seat belt laws, which mean cops have to stop unstrapped motorists for another violation, move to a primary offense for 16-17 year olds who aren't buckled up starting July 1, although how officers will know the unbelted are under 18 is not clear.
Biggest alleged burglary ring bust: Three people from Alabama believed to be behind a series of commercial break-ins and are arrested following a high-speed chase on U.S. 15. Indicted June 28 in Fluvanna County on four counts of burglary and entering a building to commit a felony are Richard Steven Winston Burns, Tiffani Samyle Mashburn and Dakota Lee Davis are charged with .
Worst pool casualties: Sherri Ballard, 46, drowns June 27 at a residence on Red Hill Road. And a five-year-old nearly drowns that same day at Jefferson Ridge Apartments.
Best idea for inmates–- and cash-strapped local government: Putting nonviolent offenders to work, with their salary going to pay off fines and court costs that can prevent them from getting a driver's license when they get out of jail. Sheriff Chip Harding is pushing the plan, which has worked well in Norfolk.
Best news for vets handing out poppies: The National Park Service will allow Vietnam vet "Big John" Miska to distribute the flower of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and accept donations. Miska, with the help of the Rutherford Institute, filed suit after Park officials tried to stop him from handing out the "Buddy Poppies" on the Mall in Washington, D.C. Brian McNeill has the story in the Progress.
Newest gig for Dave Phillips: The Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors CEO takes a job as the head of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors, Bryan McKenzie reports in the Progress.
Newest gig for Real Estate Weekly: The association's tabloid will downsize staff and be published under contract by C-Ville Weekly.
Latest setback in the mystery of how Meriwether Lewis died: The National Park Service nixes a family request to exhume the remains of the northwest explorer, who is buried in a cemetery outside Nashville.
Latest vegetable-oil running bus: The Big Green Bus full of Dartmouth students pulls into town July 2 and will be on Grounds from 11am to 3pm at Newcomb Hall Plaza and possibly at the Transit Center for Fridays after Five. In 2005, a trio of locals filled up at Duner's and headed for Alaska.
Latest on a mixed use development we'd almost forgotten about: Albemarle Place at the corner of U.S. 29 and Hydraulic Road is pushing ahead under new ownership. The 65-acre parcel is now owned by South Carolina-based Edens & Avant, according to Charlottesville Tomorrow.
Latest on another oldie: The literally named Fifth Street-Avon Center is good to go, the Newsplex reports, and construction will start soon.
Most mice: Karen Morrison's collection of mice mementoes has a shot at the Guinness Book of World Records, according to another Newsplex story.
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