Author Archive for Waldo Jaquith

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Bomb Case Analysis

Published by Waldo Jaquith on April 7, 2006 in Law and Justice. 14 Comments

There’s been a lot of discussion of the knowns, the unknowns, and the what-the-hells? in the case of the four teenagers convicted in the school bombing conspiracy case.

On Wednesday, the Daily Progress‘ Liesel Nowak wrote about the now-named 15-year-old convicted in the case, Alan Newsom, talking with father Fred Newsom about the boy. The name will ring a bell for many: the boy sued Jack Jouett in 2002 after they refused to let him wear his NRA t-shirt at school. The school system’s case was terrible, and Newsom defeated them in court in early 2004, which was a public embarrassment for the Albemarle schools. I have to wonder if he was targeted in this matter as a form of retribution.

Nowak also identified the 16-year-old who pled guilty, WAHS student Dominc Hawranke, saying that he may be in prison until he’s 21. She wrote that she couldn’t learn how the case of the two 13-year-olds ended, because “authorities have said privacy laws prevent them from disclosing the outcomes of the cases.” The very next day, though, Nowak wrote that the two 13-year-olds were found guilty, with the court apparently having changed their minds on what could be released.

Sheila Pell has a piece in this week’s Hook for which she interviewed Fred Newsom and noted local children’s attorney Andy Block, speculating as to what these kids’ futures hold.

Also, Lisa Provence also has coverage of Jim Camblos’ bungling of the case in the current Hook, complete with Camblos denying that he ever said there was a gag order. I have to wonder if Camblos will make good on his threat to go after reporters who print any details of the case.

Finally, Rick Sincere has a thoughtful blog entry on Alan Newsom, what “conspiracy” really means, and about what the lesson is to other students. I’m inclined to agree with Rick’s conclusions.

Tax Rate Drops to $1.00

Published by Waldo Jaquith on April 4, 2006 in Politics and Taxes. 10 Comments

City Council voted last night to cut the real estate tax rate down to $1.00, the lowest that it’s been in some years, John Yellig reports in today’s Daily Progress. That cut is a result of skyrocketing assessment rates, requiring lower tax rates in order to maintain (or increase) income for the city. Even with the cut, there will still be an effective tax increase for most residents.

Blogging Round Up

Published by Waldo Jaquith on March 31, 2006 in Blogs. 8 Comments

Here are some of my favorite Charlottesville blog entries from the past week

Anoop Ranganath reviews his dining-out experiences of the week. Let me just say that I’m jealous that he eats out so much. Orbit good. Mellow Mushroom and Sticks eh. Old Virginia Fried Chicken good. Martha’s too slow. Tokyo Rose service atrocious. Sheetz’s nachos awesome. Anoop promises more each week.

Colton Noakes pleads with you, for the love of all that is good and holy, to rent his apartment. He even put up a web page about his Monticello Ave. pad.

Andrew Hersey is freaked out that people from his past keep showing up in his life again. His theory? Good karma.

Jennifer doesn’t understand why Democratic Council candidates don’t have their yard signs out yet. Former party chair Lloyd Snook replied explaining that Schilling broke the no-signs-before-the-Dogwood-Festival deal and caught the Dems unawares.

Dave Norris is worried that the revitalization of Cherry Avenue will destroy its social, historical, and cultural fabric. Smart guy that he is, he proposes a solution involving a Community Development Corporation working with residents and developers to lift up the neighborhood intact, rather than pricing out the lifelong residents.

Bill Emory looks back at the Woolen Mills’ sewage problems in 1917 and doesn’t see that much has changed. Because he’s Bill, he includes an awesome photo that’s also pretty gross—the RWSA outlet into Moores Creek with a sketchy-looking foam on top of the water.

Joe Stirt is amazed by a crazy-cool service that tracks, in real time, what songs are playing on the radio. yes.com tracks some area stations, including WNRN which is, at this second, playing Nelly’s “Grillz.” If it weren’t for the internet, I would have to suffer the indignity of walking across the room and turning on the radio to find that out. WNRN’s top 5: Foo Fighters’ “No Way Back,” Nada Surf’s “Imaginary Friends,” Gorillaz’ “Dare,” Flyleaf’s “I’m So Sick,” and Blue October’s “Hate Me.” I’ve never heard of 3/5 of those artists.

Cory Capron had a run-in with a bobcat at 1:30 yesterday morning. I’m guessing his whacking stick isn’t going to do the trick; I’d best loan him my rifle.

Brian Wheeler provides the audio of the first City Council candidate forum, held a few nights ago by the 10th & Page Neighborhood Association.

And, finally, “Patience Crabstick” (I love that pseudonym) visited a health food store in town only to have a woman recite poetry when the check-out line was held up. Apparently she wasn’t crazy—she just wanted to read her poem. A poem about vegetables. Patience doesn’t report if it was any good.

Bomb Case Gag Debate, Conviction

Published by Waldo Jaquith on March 30, 2006 in Law and Justice. 14 Comments

In today’s Daily Progress, Liesel Nowak outlines the legal debate over the bomb trial gag order, describing the case as starting with a bang and ending with a whimper. But the debate may be irrelevant—both The Hook and The Richmond Times-Dispatch are reporting this evening that there is, in fact, no gag order. That’s how we now know that the 15-year-old in the case has been found guilty of two counts of conspiracy, and will be sentenced in two weeks.

Hawes Spencer writes:

“There’s no gag order,” says a deputy clerk in the Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court, after allegedly conferring with Susan L. Whitlock, judge in the high-profile case. The deputy clerk declined to give her name, and the similarly reluctant clerk of the court, Alice Price Waddy, confirmed the facts for a reporter.

Carlos Santos reports having the same experience—the clerk wouldn’t name herself, and wouldn’t provide any documents about the case.

Portion of J&DR Court Collapses

Published by Waldo Jaquith on March 30, 2006 in General News. 3 Comments

The Hook reports on their blog that a portion of the under-renovation Juvenile & Domestic Relations Courthouse on High St. collapsed a few hours ago. Charlottesville blogger Michael Prichard says that it appeared to be empty at the time of the collapse, while another commenter says that the workers previously managed to set the building on fire. The Hook’s got pictures, too—it looks like quite a mess.

6:15pm Update: Jordan Conley has a few great photos in his Flickr stream [1, 2, 3].

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