Published October 13, 2005, in issue 0441 of The Hook

Best news for defendants facing federal charges: The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, which includes Charlottesville, gets Larry Wayne Shelton as its first public defender.

Worst charges for a pediatrician: Child abuse. Former UVA doctor Iain Gainov goes to court October 11, accused of trying to kill his infant daughter, who suffered third-degree burns on her face, a fractured skull, and dangerous levels of water, Liesel Nowak reports in the Daily Progress.

Worst publicity for a school resource officer: Albemarle police officer Alan Reid, 34, is arrested for domestic assault and obstructing the property rights of others October 8 after a dispute with his wife. Reid, a six-year veteran of the force and the resource officer at Albemarle High School, is suspended with pay pending an internal investigation.

Longest sentence for hit-and-run while racing: Brandon P. Shifflett, 19, is sentenced to nine months in jail for racing on U.S. 29 March 18 and then striking a pedestrian near Colonial Auto.

Most grisly discovery: The badly decomposed body of missing VCU student Taylor Behl is discovered October 5 in Mathews County, 70 miles east of Richmond.

Worst flooding: Five to seven inches of rain closes four Albemarle County roads October 7-8.

Worst quake: A 7.6-magnitude earthquake October 8 leaves an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 dead in Kashmir and Pakistan.

Worst mudslides: Heavy rains from Hurricane Stan leave over 600 people buried in Guatemala in villages that will be left as graveyards.

Worst threatening health disaster: Avian flu is poised to kill millions.

Best boost for Slutzky and Schoenewald: The Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors endorses Democrat David Slutzky to represent the Rio District on the Board of Supervisors and Republican Christian Schoenewald for the Jack Jouett seat, snubbing incumbent BOS chair Dennis Rooker in that race.

Biggest oops: CAAR misspells Schoenewald's name in its endorsement.

Most interesting press releases in the 58th District race: Democratic challenger Steve Koleszar accuses the incumbent, Republican Rob Bell, of using push polls in September. In October, Koleszar complains that Bell won't debate him-- and then announces the pair's only debate October 11 in Fluvanna.

Oldest publisher: Michie, now owned by LexisNexis, celebrates 150 years October 10.

Best get for Crozet: US Joiner, which designs and installs ship interiors, will be moving from Waynesboro to a new facility on Three Notched Road that should be completed in 11 months. The company will employ around 40 people, according to David Hendrick in the DP.

Best get for the Music Resource Center: The Rolling Stones donate fifty percent of the proceeds from an onstage box at the Scott Stadium show.

Best way to raise money for Mississippi: Playing golf in the Rebuild the Coast tournament October 10 at Wintergreen adds $25,000 to the fund started by John and Renee Grisham.

Best foreign review of a local filmmaker: La Nacion, Argentina's premiere paper, gives Central Virginia filmmaker Rick Preve's documentary, Chagas: A Hidden Affliction, four out of five stars.

Best appearance by an early Hook contributor: J. Tayloe Emery suits up for CNN Headline News October 6 to talk about his boss, U2's Bono, and Bono's shot at winning the Nobel peace prize.

Biggest extravaganza in Charlottesville since DMB in April 2001: Do we really have to say?

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