The week in review
Least friendly incident at Friendship Court: Police shoot and critically wound Kerry Von Reese Cook August 21 while responding to a domestic complaint. At press time, Cook, who police say has outstanding warrants, is in serious condition and Charlottesville Commonwealth's Attorney Dave Chapman is investigating the incident.
Worst homecoming: A woman who lives off Hydraulic Road is punched in the face August 18 when she returns home from work and finds a male intruder– the same MO as the serial rapist. Albemarle police say they're investigating evidence collected at the scene.
Second best public university: UVA slips from number one in the U.S. News & World Report rankings to tie with University of Michigan for the number-two spot.
Worst slippage: UVA goes from number 13 in last year's "best value" rankings to number 21 this year.
Hottest for fitness: Newsweek chooses UVA for its "America's 25 Hot Schools" list based on its many fitness facilities.
Worst loss of a bluegrass legend: Charlie Waller, Gordonsville resident and founder of the Country Gentlemen, dies August 18.
Biggest change of heart: Omar Musa, who was charged with the rape of an acquaintance in June, plead guilty to misdemeanor sexual battery in July. Now he's withdrawn that plea, and will go to trial October 4, according to the Daily Progress.
Worst spill: A cement mixer overturns on Barracks Road August 17, spilling 35 gallons of diesel fuel but no cement.
Better than a Jersey barricade: The Albemarle County Office Building deploys boulders at its entrance for more natural protection during those Code Orange alerts.
Worst annual camper abuse story: Two teen counselors and three campers at a Baptist-run camp in Gainesville are charged with assault and battery and object penetration on younger campers during a July 18-23 session. Last year, counselors at a 4-H camp in Roanoke were charged after setting up a fight club, charging admission, and taking bets on the 9- to 13-year-old youths they forced to pummel one another.
Best Charlottesville moment in the political sun: The episode filmed here of Showtime's American Candidate aired August 22.
Worst break for Ralph Nader: He doesn't make it onto the presidential ballots in Virginia and Maryland.
Best break for Nader: Republican Attorney General Jerry Kilgore revisits that decision and orders state elections officials to process petitions bearing signatures to get Nader on the ballot.
Best news for state coffers: Virginia posts a $324 million surplus.
Most defiant board of supervisors: Augusta County's, which votes 4-3 to continue prayers at meetings, despite a recent Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals decision that prayers referring to Jesus at government meetings are unconstitutional, the Augusta Free Press reports.
Best Greek weeks: The 2004 Olympics run August 13 through August 29. Not surprisingly, the U.S. wins many gold medals.
Best local gold connection: Wyatt Allen, a 2001 UVA grad who rowed for UVA's club team, gets a gold medal as part of the winning U.S. Men's Eight on August 22.
Most audacious art theft: Thieves heist Edvard Munch's The Scream from an Oslo museum in broad daylight August 22.
Most annoying new gimmick: Yellow post-it advertisements slapped on the front page in the middle of the lead story in the Progress.
Biggest birthday: Riverdale Assisted Living resident Anna Howard celebrates her 104th August 24.
Most babies: The Progress' Claudia Pinto reports on the spike in babies born at Martha Jefferson Hospital in June and July following last September's Hurricane Isabel.
Worst day for kids/best day for parents: Public schools begin classes August 23.
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