I have a question: Who was taking care of the 13-year-old?

The Free Lance–Star:

A Ruther Glen woman was charged last week with five counts of animal cruelty after her pet dachshunds were found dead and decomposing in kennels at her Caroline County home.

[…]

[Caroline County Commonwealth’s Attorney Tony Spencer] said the dogs were found dead in kennels on Gaylord’s Meadows Farm Road property and two other dogs were found alive, but severely dehydrated.

[…]

Spencer said that during the civil hearing, Gaylord told the judge she had been out of town and left the dogs in the care of her 13-year-old daughter.

She testified that she came home to find the dogs dead, even after reminding her daughter daily to feed them and provide them with water, Spencer said.

Uh, child neglect, anybody?

More on the State Fair and the gazillions it will be bring into the county.

Gary Wilson in his infinite wisdom said that hotels and other businesses will bring in money to the county…

What hotels and other businesses?

The only hotels that have been built that are going to be around the State Fair are in Hanover County!

The majority of people that go to the State Fair are going to take Interstate 95 to Route 30 and go to the State Fair that way.

If that’s the case, they will not pass a single business in Caroline County except for the fair itself.

If they opt to stay the night, it’s going to be at a hotel in Hanover County. The closest hotel or major business in Caroline County to the fair is at Carmel Church.

Further, if someone wanted to set up a hotel or business on the east side of the fair inside Caroline County, they would need water and sewer treatment.

The lucky bastards at the State Fair are going to get their water and sewer via Hanover County via Caroline County.

If the fair goes bankrupt, Caroline County will be responsible for the bill due to the way the deal was set up. Apparently, Hanover County has a brain and doesn’t trust the State Fair as far they can throw them.

Of course — according to the same terms of that agreement — the pipes that will provide services to fair can, in no way, be used to provide water or sewer treatment to anyone except for the fair.

That means anyone hoping to start a business on the east side of the fair in Caroline County is SOL (and I’m not talking about the Standards of Learning).

And hey, look, another de facto monopoly for Hanover County. Bravo.

And then there’s the problem of inadequate infrastructure in the area.

The majority of the people going to the fair will be coming from Interstate 95 to Route 30. Route 30 at the fair, and to the west of the fair, has been expanded to four lanes.

What about east of the fair?

It’s the small crappy road it’s been for years.

What happens when people from the Middle Peninsula and the Northern Neck go down Route 30 and there’s 10 mile backups?

I’m sure the home owners are going to love the fact that won’t be able to get out of their driveways in that area.

No new businesses in those areas either!

And what about Carmel Church?

If Carmel Church is where the all the money making for the County is going to occur, where’s the infrastructure to handle all those people?

Hell, the I-95 exchange at Carmel Church can’t handle the traffic it gets now — something the people at The Free Lance–Star should know since that fact gets readily pointed out during Board of Supervisors meetings.

How is the exchange going to handle 60,000 more people?

And why is it the county wanted a special tax on admissions at the fair — presumably to offset the costs associated with fair — which has yet to pass in the General Assembly even five years after the fact (link)?

*Sigh*, there goes what little respect I had for The Free Lance–Star.

There wasn’t much left, of course.

The word “fawning” as defined by Merriam-Webster:

1 : to show affection -used especially of a dog
2 : to court favor by a cringing or flattering manner

The word “puff piece” as defined by Wiktionary:

1. A journalistic form of puffery; an article or story of exaggerating praise that often ignores or downplays opposing viewpoints or evidence to the contrary.

This, however, sets a new level for fawning puff piece about the State Fair.

I guess the paper was too lazy to go out and find anyone that might have any opposition to the fair.

Does The Free Lance–Star think that Caroline County residents are too stupid to handle a back and forth debate in a news article?

After all, I’m sure all those reporters and editors at the paper think Caroline is full of banjo-playing yokels. You know, I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen a banjo in person — much less one in Caroline County.

But anyway, the paper is usually too busy talking about the important and pressing issue of the use of golf carts in subdivisions.

I’m sure Caroline residents were dying to read that article.

Here’s the basic point of this fawning puff piece: The State Fair of the Virginia will bring in gazillions of dollars to the county and anyone that says otherwise is a idiot.

Hmm…didn’t people say the same thing about the Fredericksburg Expo Center?

And what’s happening with that now?

Oh wait, the Fredericksburg Economic Development Director said the expo center was “horribly underutilized” and just like everything else, they needed government subsidies — specifically $50,750!

That was in July 2007.

In January 2008, the Fredericksburg City Council was considering giving the Expo Center another $225,000 a year for three years. The only thing that stopped that from happening was Kalahari expressing interest in buying the Expo Center.

I’m sure all those other business owners in Fredericksburg would love some subsidies thrown their way as well.

But I have a feeling they’re not holding their breath in the mean time.

I noticed the reporter for The Free Lance–Star was too lazy to go ask the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office how much it was going to cost to police that area during the fair: The very objection that Sheriff Tony Lippa brought up when the county was first considering the fair and which the supervisors opted to completely ignore.

I noticed the paper didn’t bother asking what the cost of fire/rescue services for the fair were going to be.

Specifically, a fire marshal was supposed to be hired before the fair was to begin: Still waiting on that.

Also, Director Fuzy had requested equipment specifically for the fair and the Emergency Services Commission opted to remove those items from their budget.

Also, in the mean time there won’t be a cell phone tower in the area since Caroline County’s “consultant” — who has a clear conflict of interest — wants Hanover County to have a monopoly over the area.

Oh, I’m curious, how many people have been down to the current state fair grounds?

It reminds me of a certain song by Elvis Presley: Is that what that area of Caroline County is going to look like after 40 years of the fair being here?

Weekly News Media Briefs – Week Ending August 16, 2008

From the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office:

On August 5, 2008, Animal Control Deputy S.M. Jessee responded to Ruther Glen for a report of animal cruelty. After further investigation, Jeron L. Morris, 24, of Ruther Glen was charged with Animal Cruelty. He was arrested on August 12, 2008 by Deputy C.M. Hall. Morris was released on a $1,000 unsecured bond and a court date of August 20, 2008.

On August 5, 2008, Animal Control Deputy J.C. Heffler and Animal Control Deputy S.M. Jessee responded to an animal complaint in the Ruther Glen area. On August 11, 2008, after further investigation, Katherine H. Gaylord, 37, of Doswell was charged with five counts of Animal Cruelty. She was held on a $2,500 secured bond and a court date of August 20, 2008 was set.

On August 8, 2008, Deputy C.A. Heywood responded to Ruther Glen for a larceny. Upon further investigation, Upon further investigation, George A. Sansom, 51, of Ruther Glen and Cynthia K. Sansom, 42, of Ruther Glen were charged with Attempting to Obtain Drugs by Fraud, Conspiracy to Attempt to Obtain Drugs by Fraud and Obstruction of Justice. Bothe subjects were held on a $6,000 secured bond and a court date of August 20, 2008 was set.

On August 9, 2008, Deputy F.L. Brennan responded to Milford for a domestic situation. After investigating, a male juvenile was charged with Domestic Assault. He has a pending court date in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.n August 10, 2008, Deputy C.A. Heywood encountered three juveniles while on patrol in the Ruther Glen area. After further investigation, the three juveniles were charged with trespassing and one juvenile was charged with Possession of Marijuana. All three juveniles have a pending court date in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

On August 10, 2008, Deputy P.E. Ford stopped Jamaal R. Hines, 26, of Maryland for a traffic violation. Upon further investigation and a narcotics canine alert on the vehicle, Hines was charged with Possession of Marijuana. He was held on a $1,000 secured bond and a court date of August 13, 2008 was set. Hines was also issued a summons for Unsafe Lane Change.

On August 10, 2008, Deputy C.A. Heywood was on patrol in the Ruther Glen area when he encountered Aaron D. Hartman, II, 23, of Aylett and Kristy M. Saunders, 22, of Aylett. Upon further investigation, both subjects were charged with trespassing. Both were released on a summons and a court date of October 1, 2008 was set.

On August 10, 2008, Deputy C.A. Heywood was on patrol in the Ruther Glen area when he encountered Ashley D. Davis, 21, of Glen Allen and Kristina D. Southall, 21, of Montpelier. After further investigation, both subjects were charged with Trespassing and were released on a summons. A court date of October 1, 2008 has been set.

On August 10, 2008, Deputy C.A. Heywood was on patrol in the Ruther Glen area when he encountered Nicolas D. Sgro, 18 of Mechanicsville, Curtis L. Carter, 19, of Mechanicsville and Chad E. Carter, 18, of Mechanicsville. After further investigation, all three subjects were charged with Trespassing and were released on a summons. A court date of October 1, 2008 has been set.

On August 11, 2008, Deputy C.A. Heywood encountered three juveniles while on patrol in the Ruther Glen area. Upon further investigation, the three juveniles were charged with trespassing and one was charged with Underage Possession of Alcohol. All three juveniles have a pending court date in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

On August 11, 2008, Deputy G.J. Hamilton stopped Donald L. Loving, II, 23, of Woodford for a traffic violation. Upon further investigation, Loving was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Drugs/Alcohol, and Possession of Marijuana, 3rd Offense. He was held on a $2,500 secured bond and a court date of August 20, 2008 was set.

On August 12, 2008, Deputy G.J. Hamilton stopped Holly R. Mullins, 42, of Maryland for a traffic violation. Upon further investigation, Mullins was charged with Driving Suspended, 5th Offense, Speeding and he was served an outstanding warrant out of Madison County. He was ordered held on a $4,000 secured bond and a court date of August 27, 2008 was set.

On August 15, 2008, Deputy C.M. Polliard stopped a male juvenile for a traffic violation. After further investigation, the juvenile was charged with Possession of Marijuana, Underage Possession of Alcohol and Advertising Drug Paraphernalia. A passenger in the vehicle, also a juvenile, was charged with Underage Possession of Alcohol. Both subjects have a pending Court date in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

On August 16, 2008, Deputy F.L. Brennan responded to Port Royal for a disturbance call. After further investigation, James W. Conley, 18, of Culpeper was charged with being Drunk in Public and Possession of Marijuana. He was released on his own recognizance and a court date of September 17, 2008 was set.

On August 16, 2008, Deputy B.N. Doucet responded to Bowling Green for a disturbance call. Upon further investigation, Raymond L. Johnson, 35, of Milford was charged with being Drunk in Public and Shoplifting, 3rd offense. He was ordered held without bond and a court date of August 20, 2008 was set.

Caroline County Sheriff’s Office Wrap Up

According to Sheriff Tony Lippa, Caroline Deputies made 11 drug arrests, 2 DUI arrests, 10 domestic violence arrests, and 83 other criminal arrests during the past week. The deputies served 252 civil papers, issued 438 traffic summonses, handled 10 motor vehicle crashes, responded to 34 alarm calls, and dealt with 17 juvenile offenders. The Sheriff’s Office Communications Center dispatched 542 calls for service and handled 1,793 telephone inquiries. The CCSO also logged 46 calls assisting outside agencies and had 413 self-initiated calls.

Miss two court dates, get a year in prison.

Throw your three-year-old daughter in a pool, refuse to rescue her while she sinks to the bottom, have a beer and kick your one-year-old daughter accross the room while your other daughter goes to the hospital, get a year in prison.

Sounds proportionate to me; what about you guys?

To recap: A man who missed two court dates in Stafford County — while he was sitting in jail in Norfolk — received a jury’s recommendation to serve a year in prison (link).

And now in Spotsylvania County (The Free Lance–Star):

A mother who threw her 3-year-old daughter in a pool and let the toddler sink to the bottom will spend a year in prison.

[…]

The incident that led to her charges last Aug. 6 occurred when she was intoxicated with a .26 blood alcohol content, according to evidence presented yesterday in court.

According to a March plea agreement, Frank was playing in an outdoor pool at a friend’s home with her 3-year-old daughter last summer.

While playing, the toddler ripped Frank’s shirt, so she angrily threw the girl into the center of the pool. She sank to the bottom.

After realizing Frank was not helping her daughter, a 7-year-old girl went to the bottom of the pool to bring the toddler up for air, according to the agreement.

[…]

While the 3-year-old was en route to the hospital, Frank sat on the couch, drinking a beer, and, still angry, kicked her 1-year-old daughter across the kitchen floor, according to witness statements in the plea agreement.

The incident with her younger daughter is what led to Frank’s assault conviction.

You’re supposed to have a dog license to own a dog right?

I am hereby purposing that before you are allowed to have children you should have to obtain a breeding/children license.

If it’s good enough for dog breeders (ask Bobby Orrock), why not humans?

We can change Animal Control to Human Control too.

Ditto for the Animal Shelter, it would be a Human Shelter.

We must do it for the children!

Oh yeah, and we can hang people charged with crimes like this…

“Which office does he go to to get his reputation back?”, Part 2

A paraphrase of something Ray Donovan, a former United States Secretary of Labor, said after he was acquitted of criminal charges. The title of yesterday’s post was a slight misparaphrase.

Some good news on this front at least (The Free Lance–Star):

The child molestation charges against Spotsylvania County sheriff’s Deputy Richard Earnest Lloyd Jr. are not being prosecuted in Caroline County Circuit Court.

[…]

But yesterday, Goochland prosecutor Nancy Oglesby, who handled the case because of a conflict of interest in the Caroline commonwealth’s attorney’s office, moved to nolle pross the charges based on a lack of evidence in the case.

[…]

Spotsylvania Sheriff Howard Smith said Lloyd would be reinstated today as a deputy.

“We’re glad to have him back,” Smith said.

[…]

According to a July 11, 2006, Virginia Court of Appeals decision, allegations that Lloyd had sexually abused his children were unfounded.

Those allegations, which came as part of a custody battle, were found to have no basis, according to the appeals decision. Lloyd was permitted at the time to keep full custody of his children.

However, when Lloyd was charged in January, his custody was taken away.

Witmeyer said yesterday that he intends to file an emergency custody appeal in Hanover County, where Lloyd lives.

If you want to read the whole monstrosity of a custody case this is: click here.

The important news out of the Caroline County BOS meeting: Golf carts!

So sayeth The Free Lance–Star: Golf carts possible for Caroline subdivision

I guess I have to handle the unimportant news from the meeting:

The county is considering spending $4,500,000.00 for a bloody park. That’s at least another cent on the tax rate to handle the debt retirement for the project.

Meanwhile, there’s still no public safety building nor a new public works workshop.

Meanwhile, Jeff Sili was whining (and boy, can he whine) about spending $61,000 to improve security at the Circuit Court so a sheriff’s deputy or someone else doesn’t get killed by a prisoner who tries to escape. And remember, this is the Circuit Court: that’s where felons are being tried.

You know, I don’t much care for Wayne Acors, but he has his moments, especially when he essentially tells Jeff to STFU.

There was the Belmont hearing with the BOS giving the developer crap after the developer has proffered millions of dollars, including a new fire station.

There was the BOS stealing someone’s subdivisions: Apparently the BOS believes that a rezoning/subdivision applicant should know every letter of the zoning/subdivision ordinance and when the Planning Commission or the Department of Planning & Community Development messes something up, it’s okay to take someone’s private property rights away. Ever funnier was after the applicant’s lawyer got up and said, “we’re going to sue your asses [the BOS]”, Jeff Sili moved to vacant the subdivision, and no one offered a second! In fact, they all gave him a look that read, “are you stupid or just crazy?”. Eventually Maxie Rozell decided it might be important to ask the county attorney before they did anything. After a closed session, they showed the great leadership of doing nothing and letting the Planning Commission handle it.

Oh, and the board finally got around to approving the six month goals “for [the] period of July to December 2008”. Isn’t it currently August or did I miss something?

By the way, if you want to watch all this unimportant news, the county has started to put video of the meetings up online (and thankfully, now I don’t have to do it). The video of this meeting isn’t up as I’m writing this, but it should be up in a day or two:

http://www.visitcaroline.com/boardmeetingsonline.html

Where does he go to get his reputation back?

The Free Lance–Star:

The child molestation charges against Spotsylvania County sheriff’s deputy Richard Earnest Lloyd Jr. were nolle prossed today in Caroline County Circuit Court.

Lloyd was charged in January with sexual battery and taking indecent liberties with a child.

But yesterday, Goochland prosecutor Nancy Oglesby, who handled the case because of a conflict of interest in the Caroline commonwealth’s attorney’s office, moved to nolle pross the charges based on a lack of evidence in the case.

[…]

“I think this is over finally,” [Lloyd’s defense attorney Carl] Witmeyer said. “I always had the utmost confidence that [Lloyd] would be exonerated from allegations he’s been facing for almost five years.”

The main evidence in the case was testimony from the child Lloyd was accused of abusing, but Witmeyer said that child had recanted since Lloyd was charged in January.

What was the origin for all this?

A bloody custody battle (Cynthia Weaver v. Richard E. Lloyd, Record No. 0224-06-2).

These charges had previously been declared unfounded by St. Mary’s Hospital, the Medical College of Virginia, the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office, the State Police Criminal Investigations Unit, and Caroline County Child Protective Services in 2004.

Consider this from the court case:

According to Dr. Fisher [a social worker], the children do not need any further active counseling or therapy regarding mother’s unfounded allegations of sexual abuse, and he opined that continued discussion of the allegations could “pathologize” the children and cause a “false positive.” He found the children were more open and communicative than when they first began seeing him and indicated they were doing better because they have not been “as exposed” to the continued allegations of abuse by mother and maternal grandmother, which abuse Dr. Fisher ruled out “within a reasonable degree of clinical certainty.”

Talk about taking vindictiveness to a new level…

Weekly News Media Briefs – Week Ending August 9, 2008

From the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office:

On August 3, 2008, Deputy M.J. O’Connor responded Ruther Glen for a domestic situation. After further investigation, Darren K. Baker, 41, of Ruther Glen was charged with Domestic Assault. He was released on an unsecured bond and a court date of August 7, 2008 was set. Additionally, Marvin L. Toliver, 43, of Ruther Glen was charged with Obstruction of Justice. He was released on an unsecured bond and a court date of September 7, 2008 was set.

On August 5, 2008, Deputy P.E. Ford responded to Ruther Glen for a domestic situation. After further investigation, Maurice D. Williams, 40, of Ruther Glen was charged with Domestic Assault. He was released on a summons and a court date of August 12, 2008 was set.

On August 6, 2008, Deputy C.M. Polliard stopped Angela L. Maggi, 22, of California for a traffic violation. Upon further investigation, Maggi was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Drugs and Possession of Marijuana. She was held on a $1,500 secured bond and a court date of August 20, 2008 was set.

On August 7, 2008, Deputy J.O. Cecil responded to Ruther Glen for a report of trespassers. After investigating, Russell S. Griggs, 55, of Mechanicsville was charged with Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Stolen Property and Trespassing. He was held on a $5,000 secured bond and a court date of August 8, 2008 was set.

On August 8, 2008, Deputy G.J. Hamilton stopped William C. Haynie, 50, of Woodford for a traffic violation. Upon further investigation, Haynie was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Refusal to Submit to a Test. He was released on a $1,500 unsecured bond and a court date of August 20, 2008 was set.

On August 8, 2008, Investigator M.M. Ellett encountered Paxton D. Fobbs, 19 of Bowling Green. Fobbs was arrested on an outstanding warrant for Malicious Wounding. He was released on his own recognizance and a court date of August 20, 2008 was set.

On August 9, 2008, Deputy C.S. Wooldridge responded to Woodford for a disturbance. After further investigation, McQuinn A. Johnson, 24, of Woodford was charged with Possession of Marijuana. He was released on a summons and a court date of September 12, 2008 was set.

On August 9, 2008, Deputy C.M. Polliard responded to Woodford for a disturbance. After further investigation, a male juvenile was charged with Possession with the Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Underage Possession of Alcohol, Possession of a Scheduled IV Controlled Substance and Distribution of Marijuana. He was held without bond and has a pending court date.

On August 9, 2008, Deputy C.M. Polliard responded to Woodford for a disturbance. After further investigation Travis W. Howard, 21, of Woodford was charged with Possession of Marijuana. He was released on a summons and a court date of September 12, 2008 was set.

On August 10, 2008, Sgt. R.L. Hixson stopped Everett E. Coleman, 47, of Ruther Glen for a traffic violation. Upon further investigation, Coleman was charged with Driving Under the Influence, 2nd offense, Refusal to Submit to a Test, Driving Suspended and Speeding. He was held on a $1,500 secured bond and a court date of August 20, 2008 was set.

Caroline County Sheriff’s Office Wrap Up

According to Sheriff Tony Lippa, Caroline Deputies made 11 drug arrests, 2 DUI arrests, 11 domestic violence arrests, and 84 other criminal arrests during the past week. The deputies served 181 civil papers, issued 244 traffic summonses, handled 13 motor vehicle crashes, responded to 41 alarm calls, and dealt with 9 juvenile offenders. The Sheriff’s Office Communications Center dispatched 616 calls for service and handled 2,134 telephone inquiries. The CCSO also logged 46 calls assisting outside agencies and had 366 self-initiated calls.