Published March 24, 2004, in issue 0412 of The Hook

Biggest deathbed drama: Congress intervenes in the March 18 removal of Terry Schiavo's feeding tube and votes over the weekend to allow Schiavo's parents to argue for their daughter's life in front of a federal judge, who denies their request March 22.

Most unusual grand jury: Judge Edward Hogshire impanels a special grand jury that charges Kerry Von Reese Cook with two counts of assaulting an officer, and one each of resisting arrest and attempted escape, Reed Williams reports in the Daily Progress. Cook was shot after a struggle with Charlottesville police officers Jeremy Carper and William Sclafani during an August 21 arrest at Friendship Court. The grand jury finds no probable cause to indict the officers, but recommends community relations training and hiring more black officers.

Lowest paid attorneys: Public Defenders, whose prosecutorial counterparts average nearly 30 percent more in Charlottesville and 53 percent more in Albemarle. Local PD Jim Hingeley is asking the city to cough up $105,000 and the county for $70,000 to even the salaries.

Biggest fine: Trinity Mission nursing home must pay $10,000 for failing to protect a resident from being sexually abused by her brother, according to a Claudia Pinto story in the Progress. Trinity is also looking at three wrongful death lawsuits.

Latest entrant to the crowded lieutenant governor's race: State Senator Emmett Hanger, who represents the 24th District, which includes western Albemarle County, announces his bid and faces three other Republican opponents in the June 14 primary.

First Rob Bell challenger: Albemarle School Board member Steve Koleszar, a Democrat, announces a run against the Republican two-term incumbent for his 58th District seat.

Best commemoration of Sunshine Week: The Daily Progress requests public records from Charlottesville, Albemarle, and UVA to see how well officials respond to Virginia's Freedom of Information Act.

Most cooperative: Albemarle County police.

Least: Charlottesville police.

Worst extracurricular activity: UVA student and teaching assistant Tereri Demissie Dejene, 34, is arrested March 16 for soliciting sexual acts over the Internet from a detective posing as a 13-year-old girl.

Worst week for buildings getting in the way of drivers: The Dollar General in Crozet finds itself in the path of Julia Lee Mawyer, 80, whose Kia ends up inside the store March 21 when her foot slips off the brake and onto the accelerator. Mawyer is charged with reckless driving. And March 19, William N. Marshall Jr., 19, drives into a house at Pinehurst Court and Fifth Street. Damage to the house is estimated at more than $40,000, and Marshall is charged with hit and run, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and driving under the influence.

Worst residue: Fumes from weekend cleaning work send Burnley Moran Elementary students home at 10am March 21.

Worst-case romantic fireplace scenario: A Grassmere home valued at more than $700,000 is destroyed March 15 when warm ashes are placed on the deck in a flammable container. Also on March 2, an $800,000 home on Laurel Ridge Road in Earlysville burns from the same cause.

Best get for the free speech place: Dave Matthews Band violinist Boyd Tinsley joins the board of the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression.

Best gets for Larry Sabato's American politics class: Governor Mark Warner speaks March 21, and gubernatorial candidates Tim Kaine and Jerry Kilgore are lined up for April 4 and April 13 respectively.

Best use of The Hook in a UVA classroom: Last week, history prof and NAACP executive chair Julian Bond reads excerpts of Paul Gaston's March 10 essay on UVA's reaction to Selma 40 years ago, according to a student in the class.

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