"Agitate, agitate, agitate!" -Frederick Douglass
The Free Lance–Star: UPDATE: Most potential jurors unaware of Blanton case:
Jury selection in the case of Donna Blanton started this morning and is expected to be complete by mid-afternoon, with opening statements to follow.
[…]
In Virginia Beach, however, only one of the 40 potential jurors questioned today had heard anything about the case.
[…]
Today is the first day of what is expected to be an eight day trial here.
The Free Lance–Star: City suspect dies in custody:
Cocaine may have contributed to the death of a man who died in the back of a Fredericksburg police cruiser Sunday night, police said.
James Howard Jones Jr., 36, of Roanoke died after being arrested following a disturbance at the Twi-Lite Motel in Fredericksburg, city police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe said.
As noted previously, Senate Ryan McDougle has introduced a bill (SB 505) that would change Bowling Green’s charter. This bill has since passed through the House of Delegates (97–0).
Again, as noted previously, this change to the charter would affect the upcoming town election in Bowling Green:
An election shall be held on the first Tuesday of May, 2008, and every two years thereafter. At the election to be held in May, 2008, the candidate for the office of mayor receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected for a term of four years; the four candidates for councilmen receiving the highest number of votes, respectively, at such election shall be elected for a term of four years, and the three candidates receiving the next highest number of votes, respectively, at such election shall be elected for a term of two years; in the event that the three councilmen receiving the next highest number of votes cannot be determined because of a tie in the vote, the candidates who have tied in the votes shall draw lots to determine who shall serve the two-year term. Thereafter as the terms of the mayor and the members of the council, respectively, expire, their successors shall be elected for terms of four years. The mayor and councilmen elected at such elections shall enter upon their duties the first day of July next succeeding. Any vacancies on the council occurring other than by expiration of terms shall be filled, from the electors of the town, for the unexpired term, by a majority vote of the remaining members of the council.
In English: For the May 2008 election, the mayor would be elected for a four-year term, while the top four vote getters for the town council would serve a four-year term. The bottom three vote getters would have a two year term, then after the next election, those three seats would have four-year terms as well.
To make it simple: Mayor and four town council seats, elections in: 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, etc.
Three town council seats, elections in: 2008, 2010, 2014, 2018, etc.
The bill would also remove the salary cap for town council members and the mayor.
From WFLS via AP via WTOP (or something): Man Dies in Fredericksburg Police Custody:
Fredericksburg police were awaiting word Monday on the cause of death of a Roanoke man who apparently died just after being arrested. Police have not released the name of the 37-year-old man, but say he stopped breathing Sunday night in the back of a police cruiser.
Fredericksburg police say the man forced his way into a motel officer and attacked the manager with a knife, then was subdued by the manager and family members until officers arrived.
Police report the man was combative and tried to kick out the windows of the cruiser. They say he was put in leg restraints and minutes later an officer discovered that he was not breathing.
Officers began CPR. He was pronounced dead a short time later at Mary Washington Hospital.
And the probable answer to “why?”, directly from WFLS this time: Suspect dies in custody:
A search of the man’s room resulted in the discovery of narcotics and drug paraphernalia.
The Free Lance–Star has a longer write-up: City suspect dies in custody
The Free Lance–Star: Blanton trial starts today in Virginia Beach:
Not only will Donna Blanton get a new jury in Virginia Beach to hear her case today, but a new prosecutor to try it as well.
Tony Spencer, who took over as Caroline County commonwealth’s attorney about two months ago, will prosecute the case, which could last eight days.
Most of today is expected to be consumed by jury selection.
[…]
Spencer said 240 jurors have been summoned for the first day, which is at least 100 more than showed up for Blanton’s scheduled retrial in Caroline.
[…]
Spencer said the main concern today will be to select jurors who do not know details of the case or that the case has been tried before.
Revercomb has said previously that anyone who knows of the previous conviction cannot sit on the jury.
“I just hope we don’t have any trouble seating the jury,” Spencer said.
From The Office Down Memorial Page: Deputy Sheriff Strother W. Lewis Sr.:
Deputy Lewis was shot and killed by a prisoner while questioning him about a robbery. During the interrogation the suspect struck the weapon that Deputy Lewis was holding, causing it to discharge and strike Deputy Lewis in the head. The man then fled the scene with Deputy Lewis’ service weapon. The suspect was eventually apprehended after being shot by a posse and almost killed. He was initially sentenced to death but received a life sentence during a second trial.
Deputy Lewis was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWI.
On February 8, 2008, The Free Lance–Star published a story about the new visitors center:
So Caroline administrations are preparing by taking applications for the county’s first full-time tourism manager, a position that will probably be filled this month.
[…]
So far, about 65 people have applied for the additional manager position, which will pay between $36,145 and $54,468, plus benefits.
Whoever is hired will not only manage the $2.4 million, 5,000-square-foot center just off Interstate 95, but also help promote such attractions as the State Fair, which opens next year at The Meadow, birthplace of Triple Crown winner Secretariat.
On February 26, 2008, Gary Wilson published a press release stating that Kathy Beard had been hired to serve as the tourism manager for Caroline County. Her qualifications:
Beard served as the Director of Economic Development & Tourism for the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia from 1995 to 2003 and in recent years has served as an Executive Vice President for the Stafford Council for Progress and as an economic development consultant for the Town of Bowling Green.
Beard attended West Texas State University in Canyon, Texas and holds an Institute of Organizational Management certification from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
On February 29, 2008, The Free Lance–Star published a story (p. B5) that was nothing more than a rewording of Gary Wilson’s press release.
Let me say that I find her qualifications lacking:
Is this the same Stafford Council for Progress that doesn’t even possess a functioning website? Isn’t the Stafford Council for Progress “a research organization representing the development industry in Stafford”?
According to Wilson’s own press release, this person doesn’t even possess a college diploma — not even an associates degree — only a certificate.
A person that is supposed to manage a $2,400,000, 5,000 square foot facility and receive between $36,145 and $54,468 (plus benefits), who lacks a college degree, is hired over at least 64 other people? Of course, the sheriff’s office functioned wonderfully for twelve years under similar leadership.
Let me throw something else out there: This person (Beard) serves as an economic development consultant for Bowling Green. Surely her hiring had nothing to do with the fact that the wife (Susan Sili) of a current Board of Supervisors member (Jeff Sili) is on the Town Council for Bowling Green? Right?
Surely, I’m must be wrong about this but, alas, Mrs. Sili, using the alias of oharascarlett, knew about Beard’s application and was talking her up on Fredtalk, on February 16, 2008:
64 people applied (and yes ken was in the newpspaper) for the job of toursim director for Caroline County, top salary at present, 54,000 dollars. only 2 applicants were from Caroline. One of the applicants was the former, Economic Development Director of Fredericksburg.
And on February 17, 2008:
yep and funny you should mention Fredericksburg’s tourism organization, there is quite a bit of interest from that direction in the new job here in Caroline.
This was over a week before there had been an official announcement about the hiring of Beard.
Consider a dig through of the Bowling Green Town Council minutes:
CE&O, Inc. (Kathy Beard’s company) has received $50,635.33 from the town since December 2004. $50,635.33 for three years for a town that has a population of 1,013 people. Amazing. Nice to see where that $0.17 per $100 assessed real estate tax and $1.20 per $100 assessed personal property tax are going.
Care to guess who was involved with CE&O, Inc.’s contract with the town of Bowling Green? If you guess Susan Sili you get a special prize! From the February 2, 2006 minutes of the Town Council minutes:
The Town Manager’s report is as follows with some additional discussion during the meeting that are in italics:
1. CE&O Contract and related matters – I met with the Economic Development Committee (Susan Sili and Glenn McDearmon) and we bring two items to Town Council for consideration, and we recommend the approval of both matters.
1. Approval of proposal and contract for “Economic Development and Promotional Services” with CE&O, Inc. (Kathy Beard).
[…]
On motion by Sili, seconded by Wright, Council voted to accept the Contract as proposed by CE&O, Inc. (Kathy Beard) for Economic Development projects and allow the Mayor to sign on behalf of the Council. Voting Aye: Allen, Wright, Haley, Parke, McDearmon, Ketterman, Sili.
The TM [town manger] asked for authorization to negotiate a contract with CE&O which would include, at a minimum, the planning and arranging of the 18th Annual Harvest Festival, creation and distribution of four Town newsletters, preparation and planning of a Clean Sweep event, arranging of Second Friday events, and additional marketing activities, as needed.
[…]
Ms. Sili said she would like input from the business community regarding which economic services are helping and which ones are not.
[…]
On motion by Sili, seconded by Wright, Council voted to allow the Town Manager to work with the Economic Development Committee and negotiate a contract with CE&O to provide economic development services and activities for the coming fiscal year in an amount not to exceed $37,000.00, with the Mayor signing the contract.
Beard also seems to be buddies with current Speaker Bill Howell (R) of the Virginia House of Delegates according to The Washington Times:
“He [Howell] has always had a calming presence in the region and he likes to do his business face to face,” said Kathy J. Beard, director of the Office of Economic Development and Tourism for Fredericksburg, who sits on several community boards with Mr. Howell.
Isn’t Jeff Sili chairman of the Caroline County Republican Committee?
And on her experience with Fredericksburg, consider this from The Free Lance–Star:
Kathy Beard, outgoing director of Fredericksburg’s Economic Development and Tourism office, agrees that the conference center is just what the city needs to draw more visitors for longer stays.
This is the same conference center that the city of Fredericksburg is considering subsidizing now!
Ms. Beard also seems to be unfamiliar with the intricacies of the proffer system as well: Proffers = high density = crime:
One of the things that Kathy Beard of the Stafford Council for Progress failed to mention in her op-ed is that in order for Stafford County to receive proffers from developers, they must first rezone the property that will produce the proffer [“Stafford supervisors need to reassess the current growth policies,” Oct. 5].
[….]
Keep in mind that the SCP is an organization of builders, developers, landowners, and business owners. Their motivation may serve a different master than the welfare of Stafford County.
Well said. Now that leadership comes to Caroline County under suspicious and odd circumstances.
Fred2Blue: Where Are They Now?: Rob Wittman
UPDATE: Meanwhile, The Free Lance–Star shills for Wittman:
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/032008/03022008/357374
Gag a maggot.
Or as Raising Kaine calls it: Worst. Newspaper. EV-ER
Epilogue: In no way should the preceding be considered a complaint of all the reporters at The FL–S (especially the ones that visit this blog [you know who you are :) ]). Okay, thanks, bye.
NBC 12 in Richmond: Campus traffic stop turns dangerous:
Richmond police still searching for the man who took a VCU Police officer on a wild ride.
There is a warrant out for the arrest of this man, 18-year-old Zorin Ammad Holton.
Police say a female officer was trying to issue Holton a routine traffic ticket when he grabbed her by the arm and took off.
The officer was dragged alongside the car for four city blocks.
The officer, whose identity is not being released, survived the experience with only a few minor injuries.
That has not stopped officials from issuing a felony warrant for attempted capital murder for the man they believe is responsible.
[…]
That in itself is not a major offense, but VCU Police say a minor traffic stop turned into a major problem when Zorin Ammad Holton grabbed hold of a female officer who pulled him over and took off.
Holton allegedly sped away with the officer hanging out the window down these four blocks of Cary Street, when the driver slowed down enough and she was able to break free.
Hey dumbass at NBC 12, how about I drive for four blocks with you hanging out to the window, and then see if you think that an attempted murder charge is appropriate? And for those unfamiliar with the definition of “capital murder” (he’s charged with attempted capital murder in this case). Code of Virginia, § 18.2-31:
The following offenses shall constitute capital murder, punishable as a Class 1 felony:
[…]
6. The willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing of a law-enforcement officer as defined in § 9.1-101 or any law-enforcement officer of another state or the United States having the power to arrest for a felony under the laws of such state or the United States, when such killing is for the purpose of interfering with the performance of his official duties;
Sounds appropriate to me.
Of course, it’s no big secret that certain people at NBC 12 don’t seem to like local law enforcement; especially after they criticize the Sheriff for increasing security at the high school when there was a rumor that there would be a shootout in the parking lot (link #1, #2).
[…]
VCU Police are asking you to be on the lookout for Zorin Ammadd Holton.
If you spot him, call them at 828-1196.
Richmond Times-Dispatch: Impact fee bill delayed until next year:
Lawmakers have delayed until next year a proposal to drastically change the way developers help pay for municipal services required by new development.
The House Rules Committee agreed Thursday to postpone the bill to allow further negotiations between developers and local governments. Both sides support the delay.
Currently, developers offer cash and land for roads, schools or parks. Those commitments, called proffers, are usually negotiated with local governments and can be as much as $47,000 for each new house. Critics say the proffers are making houses unaffordable.
Sen. John Watkins of Powhatan County proposed replacing proffers with impact fees, which would be capped at a designated level. Some localities are concerned that impact fees would bring in less money and limit their ability to pay for new services.
Why was this delayed? Not Larry Sabato has a pretty good explanation of why: How the Speaker gives Chris Jankowski VIP Treatment