Author Archive for Waldo Jaquith

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BoS Votes to Hold Property Taxes at Current Rate

Published by Waldo Jaquith on March 14, 2011 in Government, Politics and Taxes. 11 Comments

A divided Board of Supervisors has agreed not to raise real estate taxes, Brandon Shulleeta reports for the Progress. Although they haven’t set the rate, they have agreed to advertise a rate of 74.2¢, and in doing so they set a ceiling that they are not permitted to exceed.

Last year, Republican Duane Snow was part of the four-man majority that prevented the advertisement of a higher rate, but this year he switched sides, joining Ann Mallek and Dennis Rooker in wanting to advertise a 75.2¢ rate. With the remaining three members of the BoS refusing to compromise, the unlikely trio backed down. Snow pointed to low construction costs, saying that now is the time for the county to build the new library in Crozet, and to the state’s offer to match transportation construction funds, saying that we should put money towards improving roads.

By the county’s math, the decreased property assessments should leave most people paying $36 less in property taxes, assuming that the 74.2¢ rate becomes law. They’ll have a hearing about it in a couple of weeks.

Debbie Ryan Retiring

Published by Waldo Jaquith on March 12, 2011 in Sports. 2 Comments

After coaching UVA’s women’s basketball team for longer than I’ve been alive, Debbie Ryan is retiring at the end of the season, Jerry Ratcliffe reports for the Progress. Ryan took over as head coach in 1977, and in the intervening years she established a career record of winning 69% of games. The university is launching a nationwide search to find a replacement for her.

Charges Dropped Against Former Mayor

Published by Waldo Jaquith on March 3, 2011 in Law and Justice. 3 Comments

Assault charges against former mayor Frank Buck have been dismissed, the Daily Progress reports. He’d been accused of attempting to choke his own client while in court, but he and his (presumably former) client reached a settlement, allowing the judge to dismiss the charge. Buck says he intends to be more selective in his selection of clients.

Admittedly, this isn’t terribly exciting news, but I think that after reporting that somebody has been charged with a crime, if they’re acquitted or charges are dropped, that should probably get as much attention as the initial story.

Portico Shutting Down Two Publications

Published by Waldo Jaquith on March 2, 2011 in Business and Meta News. 5 Comments

Portico Publications is shutting down Metro Spirit, their Augusta, GA alt weekly. Portico, the local business that publishes C-Ville Weekly, bought Metro Spirit six years ago, a year after they bought the Free Times, a Columbia, SC weekly. (The Free Times appears to be alive and well, still owned by Portico.) They’re also folding Metro Parent, a monthly parenting publication that they bought along with the Spirit. That leaves Portico with just the Free Times and C-Ville Weekly. This news comes within hours of word of the resignation of C-Ville Weekly editor Cathy Harding.

C-Ville Weekly Editor to Resign

Published by Waldo Jaquith on March 2, 2011 in Business and Meta News. 3 Comments

C-Ville Weekly editor Cathy Harding is resigning at the end of this month to take a job with the Columbia Journalism Review. Harding was brought on by Portico Publications nine years ago, when a falling-out among the three publishers resulted in co-publisher and founding editor Hawes Spencer leading a bunch of the staff to found The Hook. Portico apparently doesn’t have a replacement in mind, as they say that they’re starting on a search for Harding’s replacement.

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