31-year-old Linwood Hughes, of Charlottesville, was arrested this afternoon and charged with robbing the BB&T bank earlier today. At 1pm, the suspect went into the bank with a stocking on his head (”Son, you’ve got a panty on your head”), was given an unknown amount of money, and was apprehended by an officer who saw his car shortly thereafter. This latest robbery is thought to be unrelated to the robbery of First Union about a week ago. WINA has the story.
Archive for October, 2001
At tonight’s City Council meeting, the three big issues were a living wage, raising Council’s pay, and changing the date of Council elections from May to November. It was decided that the final vote on the living wage will be held in two weeks, the Council raise (from $6k to $10k for members, $8k to $12k for Mayor) may be voted on next meeting as well, and there will likely be a public hearing sometime next month on changing the election date. WVIR had the story on their 11pm broadcast.
Greene County Sheriff William Morris is totally unwilling to ticket vehicles for failing to display a county sticker. This in the face of the Virginia Attorney General’s office saying that he is required by law to do so. Says Morris, “I am not going to be a tax collector for Greene County.” His problem is this: county citizens cannot get the $25 county sticker until they’ve paid their personal property taxes. So Morris believes that he and his deputies have been turned into tax collectors for the county, a role that he’s not willing to assume. Keri Schwab has the story in today’s Progress.
I feel a little silly putting this on cvillenews.com, but here goes. nancies.org, a site that I help run, has been nominated for the VH1 My Music Award in the “Coolest Fan Website” category. The site is a Dave Matthews Band fan site, and we actually won the same award last year. The whole thing is decided by votes from John Q. Public, so if you want to vote for nancies.org, or for Dave Matthews Band in the several categories that they’re nominated in, well, I’d appreciate that.
A second case of West Nile Virus in Albemarle County has been confirmed. The first case was in a crow found on Garth Road in early September. This latest case, also avian-borne, was discovered on September 28th near Farmington. 128 birds have tested positive in Virginia so far this year, and there should be very few more cases between now and the end of the year, given that mosquito season is ending. No human infections have yet been reported in Virginia. WVIR had the story on their 11pm broadcast.
This was one of those stories that made me want to start cvillenews.com in the first place. In January, Russell Payne was arrested for biting his bail bondsman in an attempt to avoid capture. Payne, who has Hepatitis C, will spend eighteen months in prison for the biting of Bill Shannon. Judge Peatross ordered man to seek treatment for his substance abuse problem. The story is from WINA.
The Charlottesville School Board has endorsed the use of Internet censorware to prevent students from viewing websites considered “harmful to minors.” They’ve done so in order to comply with a law that passed in Virginia in March that requires filters to be placed on computers in schools. WINA has the story about “inter-net filters.”
A suspect in last month’s robbery of the First Union Bank has been arrested. 42-year-old Richard Hawes, of New Castle, has been charged with robbing the bank as well as knocking over the same bank in Blacksburg twice in a single week. He was arrested Tuesday night at a Roanoke Hotel with cash and crack cocaine, and is described by police as “the primary suspect.” Reed Williams has the story in today’s Progress.
Judge Downer has dismissed charges against four people ticketed for “excessive honking” in their support of living wage protesters on West Main Street in July. The judge based his ruling on police officer’s selective enforcement of the law. The defendants, all women, were responding to protesters’ “honk for a living wage sign.” The full story is in today’s Progress.
Daley Craig, the Albemarle County resident that initially proposed the creation of a police review board, has simply gone ahead and created it. One would imagine that such a group needs to be formed by the County with extensive citizen input. Craig is apparently not put off by this, as he’s gathered a dozen people together for the group. He intends to go a step beyond what Chief John Miller and Supervisor David Bowerman have planned, by making use of a special grand jury to permit the board to launch full-blown investigations into police. It is unclear where Craig and his board will go from here to make things official. The story is in today’s Progress.
Jake Mooney has an extensive article in today’s Progress exploring Charlottesville’s cultural identity to figure out one thing: how southern are we? We get free tea refills, but it’s unsweetened. Our most popular bluegrass band will argue long and loud that they don’t play bluegrass. We say “y’all,” but without a hint of a drawl. So what do you think, cvillenewsers, are we southerners, or is that identity fading?
Krues8dr writes: I heard a little while ago on Z95 (95.1 FM) that they’re no longer allowing people to be dropped off at the front gate of the C’ville airport. Apparently, all traffic is now routed through the parking lot, except for employees and rental car returns.
Paranoia, or realistic?
School is closed in Madison County Schools for today, and possibly longer, prompted by an outbreak of whooping cough. The illness (which is not deadly, but a real bummer) is quite contagious, so the small number of infections so far led the Thomas Jefferson Area Health District to shut things down to keep things from spreading further. The story is in today’s Progress.
As if their efforts in radio and newspaper weren’t impressive enough, UVa has started a TV program. It’s running weekly, on Friday evenings at 7pm, including a 25-minute news program called “Hoo Knows,” and a 25-minute comedy show entitled “Grover Cleveland Dance Party.” It’s being done on a $150 budget and the school’s stellar digital media lab. On grounds, it can be found at channel 14. The rest of us can see it on public access, or channel 13 for Adelphia subscribers. The Cav Daily has the story.
Greene County’s Board of Supervisors have decided to take Sheriff William Morris to court over his refusal to write tickets to people without county stickers on their vehicles. Morris recently ordered his deputies to cease writing tickets to motorists that lack a county sticker, because he believes that his office’s role is not that of tax collector. The BOS disagrees. The Progress has the full story, but you can read WINA’s on-line.
Local radio is abuzz with the news of a bear on the loose. It’s a 150-pounder that’s been wandering around the Old English Inn region of town and eating out of bird feeders. Police want to trap and relocate it, but they’re having trouble finding it. So if you spot it, let the police know. While you’re at it, you should put your arm around it, grin broadly, and preserve the moment on film. Bears like that. WINA has the story.
Northwest Airlines is ending their three daily flights to Detroit from CHO. Northwest is cutting back, like most every other airline, and this new addition (the flights were announced in May, and started in August) was one of the first things to go.
The Albemarle County School Board voted last night to consider the addition of “sexual orientation” to their anti-discrimniation policy. Currently the policy names race, religion, age, etc., but no wording about sexual orientation. In Kate Andrews’ Daily Progress story today, she mentions that a similar move by Charlottesville’s School Board ended up “causing controversy” last year. The county school board will examine Charlottesville’s approach and consider enacting the change at their November 8th meeting.
Amber writes: A suspicious white powder was found at Staples office supply store in Shopper’s World yesterday. A customer left the store without paying for his copies and left behind some sort of white powder. Seminole Trail firefighters suited up in haz-mat uniforms and removed the substance. It has been taken to a Richmond lab for analysis. The FBI is investigating.
A mysterious pink powder was also found on the steps of Casteen’s office at UVA on Friday. The UVA police department and health department are still investigating. Two security guards were taken to the hospital for possible exposure to the powder and were released.
The Daily Progress has the story.
GE Fanuc is moving back to a four-day work week in an effort to cut costs. The downside is that everybody gets paid less. The upside is that nobody gets fired. WINA has the story.
Liberty Fabrics is closing their Gordonsville and Orange County plans. The company, which is owned by Sara Lee, is laying off all 345 workers as the parent company leaves the lace business. WINA has the story.
This weekend, from the 19th - 21st, Live Arts will be hosting “The Common Good,” an extended musical event to raise money for the American Red Cross. Over 100 artists will perform over the course of the weekend, including Shannon Worrell, Kenneth Coles, Terri Allard, Buzby, Fred Boyce, devon, Greg Howard, the Hogs, Brady Earnhart, Nickeltown, John D’earth, The Hackensaw Boys, and lots and lots more people. You can buy tickets on-line, or call Live Arts at 977-4177. 100% of ticket sales will go to the Red Cross. Read on for Live Arts’ press release, which has details on the line-up and the schedule.
The tragedies of September 11 hit every heart in the nation. In response, Charlottesville artists are taking action for THE COMMON GOOD in a weekend-long benefit for the American Red Cross on October 19 - 21.
Over three days, Live Arts will host more than 100 artists in four concerts and two late-night dance parties for THE COMMON GOOD. 100% of ticket sales will go directly to the American Red Cross. “We need to be able to use our gifts to benefit others,” said Live Arts Artistic Director John Gibson. “At Live Arts, as it is as all across America, the lights are still on.”
On Friday the 19th, check out the benefit’s first concert, featuring the Naked Puritans, Clare Quilty, Andy from ‘Earth to Andy,’ Shannon Worrell, Kenneth Coles, and a performance of Vasalisa by Foolery, all starting at 7:30 p.m. at Live Arts. A minimum $15 donation will provide general admission to the concert. Then stay for a late-night dance party featuring Peter Griesar and Raphael at 11 p.m. Minimum donation is $10 for the dance party.
On Saturday the 20th, join Terri Allard, Jane Scatena and Doug Schneider with Greg Harris, the Music Resource Center, Kathryn Caine, Buzby, Miki Liszt and Fred Boyce for a family concert at 2:00 p.m., as well as a performance of Antigone by LATTE. Minimum donation is $10 for adults, and there is no minimum donation for children under age 13 attending the family concert. Saturday’s second concert begins at 7:30 p.m., with performances by Devon, Greg Howard, Hogwaller Ramblers, Brady Earnhart, Nickeltown, Third Man Improv, Miki Liszt, and Thadd McQuade. A minimum $15 donation will provide general admission. The night closes with another dance party starting at 11 p.m., with details to be announced. Minimum donation is $10.
On Sunday the 21st, come back for the benefit’s final concert at 7:30 p.m. for performances by Karmen, the Hackensaw Boys, John D’Earth and friends, Danny Schmidt, Wisher, Hoganzeroes, Teresa Dowell-Vest, Zen Monkey Project, and Offstage. A minimum $15 donation will provide general admission.
Tickets can be purchased in advance through the Live Arts Box Office beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 16 during regular Box Office hours. The Box Office is open from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Call the Box Office at 977-4177, extension 108. Advance tickets also can be purchased online beginning October 16 by going to www.livearts.org and linking to musictoday.com. Tickets can be purchased at the door for each event, starting an hour before each performance and continuing for the duration of each performance.
Recognizing the needs of those around us, Live Arts is replacing its previously scheduled haunted house and masquerade ball fund-raiser with THE COMMON GOOD, which is sponsored by C-Ville Weekly, The Widening Gyre, Sprint, and Crutchfield.
Over at nancies.org, we just received a tip from Kyle Smith of Richmond that the DMB video for “Everyday,” their next single from their newest album, will be filmed here in C’ville on Monday and Tuesday of next week. The location is unknown, but no doubt the secret will be out by Monday afternoon.
The free bicycle program is underway. Yesterday the yellow bike racks were placed at a half-dozen locations along Main Street, from City Hall to Elliewood on the Corner. Anybody is welcome to use any of the bright yellow bicycles on those racks, and return them to any other yellow rack when finished with them. The program received $4,500 in funding from Dave Matthews Band in early September, which enabled it to get off the ground. Thanks to Kevin Cox for the tip. To see the announcement to the CHABA mailing list from Stephen Bach, read on. Update: Turns out that the program hasn’t actually begun — there may be yellow bikes and yellow bike racks scattered about, but they’re chained up for now. Oops.
From: Stephen Bach
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2001 10:39:54 -0400 (EDT)
To: Charlottesville Area Bicycling Alliance
Subject: chaba: Yellow bikes racks debut!
Hi Folks:
Yesterday the City, in consultation with Mr. Huja and me, installed yellow bike racks in six locations:
In front of the downtown post office in line with the other bike rack there; on Water St. just west of the skating rink; on the northeast side of the bridge on West Main, across from the bus stop; at the bus stop at 11th and West Main; in front of the Red Roof Inn near 13th St. NW; and in front of Starbucks at Eliewood and University.
Then later, Bruce Dembling and I moved four bikes to the rack near the downtown post office in preparation for a meeting with a reporter from the Richmond Times-Dispatch today at 1:00.
The racks look very nice. The bikes in the racks look nice too.
Stephen
Senator Emily Couric succumbed to pancreatic cancer this morning, surrounded by friends and family. She was 54.
The Charlottesville School Superintendent is going to retire in June. Bill Symons has run the school system for the past five years, and is being praised for his renovations to buildings, increased teacher salaries, and improved SOL scores. The articles is in today’s Progress.
Inter-Fraternity Counsel Vice President Kevin Dixon was arrested in the wee hours of the morning on Sunday on charges of threatening fellow students with a shotgun. Dixon held up several students out front of his home on University Circle for reasons unknown. The Cav. Daily has the story.
Yesterday the first of two days of filming took place for Dave Matthews Band’s “Everyday” video. Actor Judah Friedlander wandered from the pink warehouse on South Street down First Street to SNL, providing hugs to extras and strangers alike as he went, all the while being record by a film crew. Afterwards the crew moved down to a home named “Breasthaven” on 14th Street (where else?) before finishing up for the evening. Today they intend to film at the band’s studio out of town, off Route 20, before Dave leaves tonight for his Thursday show in London. The story is in today’s Progress and the Cav. Daily.
Electronic Arts’ on-line gaming division, EA.com, has laid off a third of their employees, including nearly everybody here in Charlottesville. Electronic Arts purchased Kesmai a few years ago and ramped things up quickly, gobbling up office space and tech employees left and right. But in the past year or so, fear of layoffs have been looming large, and now it’s finally happened. Good luck, Kesmaites. Reuters has the story.
A special election to fill Emily Couric’s seat for the last two years of her term will be held on December 18th. This is for Emily’s new 25th District, which covers Albemarle and Nelson all the way to the West Virginia border. Potential Democratic candidates include City Council members Blake Caravati, Meredith Richards and David Toscano, plus Susan Payne of Nelson County and Delegate Creigh Deeds of Bath County. Republicans include Kenneth Boyd and Sharon Jones. The story is in today’s Progress.
Charlottesville’s annual Virginia Film Festival opens today, and will run through the weekend. With the usual packed schedule and the timing with leaf season (ie, tourists in town for the weekend), this is likely to be the sell-out success that it has been for the past decade. This year’s theme is Masquerades, and consequently includes films like Phantom of the Opera, Some Like it Hot, Tootsie, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
Today’s Progress reports on City Council, the proposed changes in the date of the election, and the fact that 3/5 of Council intends to run for Senate this fall. It turns out that, if a Council seat is vacated, Council is supposed to appoint a replacement rather than hold an election. Councilors David Toscano and Blake Caravati, who are interested in Senator Couric’s former seat, believe that the members of Council should choose a candidate from themselves informally. Councilor Meredith Richards, also interested, doesn’t favor that approach. Amidst all of this, Council members are now saying that it would just be too confusing to move the election from May to November, and that they may put off that decision this time around.
Both David Toscano and Susan Payne have announced that they are not running for the 25th District Senate elections. In an interview with the Progress, City Councilor David Toscano said that he wants to spend time with his four-year-old child, and is concerned about the legalities of the election as regards the recent redistricting. And in a letter to George Loper today, Susan Payne said that she had not thought about running for the seat, but that she just cannot make a commitment to running.
Three months after it was announced that an anonymous donor had given $20M towards a replacement for University Hall, UVa has gotten another $20M. This time it’s from Paul Tudor Jones II, Connecticut philanthropist and Virginia alumnus. This is the same guy that gave $10M to expand Clark Hall and, previously, endowed a research professorship. This latest gift brings UVa $40M into the needed $125M that it will take to construct the new basketball arena.
Marine Wayne Rolland has been convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the murder of 39-year-old Dollie Mae Staton. He shot her when she tried to break into her home (which he was a guest in at the time.) WINA has 3 Comments
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