Published June 23, 2005, in issue 0425 of The Hook

Oddest bedfellows: City councilors Kevin Lynch and Rob Schilling, who rarely agree on anything, both vote against appropriating $3.8 million in state and federal funds to the ballooning budget of the Transit Center and wind up together on the losing end of a 3-2 vote June 20.

Biggest exodus: Albemarle's school Superintendent Kevin Castner announces his retirement at the end of the year, after 10 years of heading county schools, and Albemarle joins Charlottesville in searching for a new superintendent.

Goldest parachute: Charlottesville pays $291,000 to buy out its departing superintendent, Scottie Griffin, who had three years left on her contract.

Most brutal attempted rape: Three men are charged with malicious wounding and attempted rape in a June 13 attack that left a woman badly beaten and naked on the train tracks near the coal tower and Douglas Avenue, Reed Williams reports in the Daily Progress. Charged are Howard Gail Edman, 28, Jeremie Shane Williams, 23, and Corey David Turner, 18.

Worst swimming accident: Sean Zachary Jones, 19, drowns in the closed pool at Abbington Crossing Apartments early June 16.

Worst week for corporate convictions: Former Tyco head Dennis Kozlowski and his Albemarle estate-owning CFO, Mark Swartz, are both found guilty June 17 of looting nearly $600 million by a jury that deliberates 11 days-- even longer than Michael Jackson's.

Latest corporate sentencing: Adelphia founder John Rigas gets 15 years, and his son Timothy is sentenced to 20 years June 20 for using the bankrupt cable company as their "personal piggy bank," according to prosecutors.

Feistiest robbery victim: The manager of Gibson's Grocery in Belmont grabs a large butcher knife after being robbed at knifepoint by two men-- and cut-- June 16. He chases the robbers, who drop half the stolen money, according to a DP report.

Most ATV injuries: Ninety-eight vehicle-riding patients have been treated at the UVA Children's Hospital in the past two years, and three deaths have occurred.

Worst zero tolerance: Waynesboro High principal Mitch Peeling resigns under threat of firing for having three glasses of wine-- two one night, one the next-- while dining with other adult chaperones on a New York field trip in April, J. Todd Foster reports in the News Virginian.

Worst Congressional perennial: A Constitutional amendment to ban U.S. flag desecration-- called the Constitution Desecration Amendment by its opponents-- could be within a couple of votes of the two-thirds Senate majority it needs to head out to the states for ratification, USA Today reports.

Most historic apple orchards: The Covesville Historic District makes it onto the National Register of Historic Places.

Best Charlottesville representation at CineVegas: Producer Barry Sisson premieres Charlie's Party June 13 at the Las Vegas film fest, and director Kevin Everson screens his film, Spicebush.

Best new place to drink wine: Chardonnay-lottesville in Albe-merlot, puns Progress reporter John Yellig in his article about the once venerable Life magazine, now a weekend newspaper insert, including this area in its June 24 "10 Perfect Weekend Escapes."

Biggest literary prize: UVA grad and author of The Known World, Edward P. Jones, snares the $120,000 IMPAC Dublin Literary Award June 15.

Best opening act: Trey Anastasio of Phish will play at the October 6 Rolling Stones' show at Scott Stadium.

Biggest gull cull: U.S. Department of Agriculture wildlife agents shoot nearly 1,300 sea gulls over the past two weeks near the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, where at least 60 birds a day are struck and killed, according to the AP.

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