Robb: We Must Protect Jail from Terrorists

Published by Waldo on June 15, 2005 in Law and Justice and Politics. 4 Comments

Sheriff Ed Robb is concerned about the jail. Not about people breaking out but, rather, about terrorists attacking the jail. He’s issued a report recommending that security fence be built around the…er…security fence and, around that, build camouflaged cement walls, put barbed wire on the roof of the building, have a video monitoring system for the jail to see what’s going on outside of the facility, and build large pillars at the entrance to prevent cars from driving into the building. None of this is to ensure that people don’t break out — it’s all to keep those nefarious terrorists from leveling an attack on the jail. The proposal is reminiscent of the Albemarle County office building’s installation of boulders for the same purpose, only a whole lot more expensive — at least $60,000, presumably a lot more.

Some may recall Ed Robb’s last brush with the media. In March of 2003, his deputy, Stephen Shiflett, claimed to have been shot at by a mysterious black man, which Robb immediately declared to be a “hate crime.” Shifflett turned out to have made up the whole story, which prompted his resignation. Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Camblos refused to file charges against him. It emerged that Shiflett had attacked and arrested a couple who had reported an unlocked convenience store when Shiflett was a Louisa deputy in 2000, with a federal judge consequently awarding half a million dollars to the couple for having their constitutional rights violated. Robb refused to admit any problem with his having hired this guy, pointing out that Shiflett was very punctional, and concluding that that he’s “ready to put this behind us.” Reed Williams wrote a damning profile in the Progress, speculating that Robb could lose reelection in November of ’03 as a result of it all. But Robb had two challengers who split the vote, and he won with 49% of the vote.

Liesel Nowak has the story about Robb’s proposal. Remember: if we don’t build a new fence around the jail fence and a new fence around that, then the terrorists have already won.

Superintendent Castner to Retire

Published by Waldo Jaquith on June 15, 2005 in Education. 2 Comments

Albemarle Superintendent Kevin Castner has announced that he will retire from his position on December 31, WINA reports. Castner has held the position since 1994. Albemarle is now in the same unenviable position as Charlottesville — they’ve got to find a new superintendent. Hey, I hear Scottie Griffin is looking for a job.

Toscano Wins 57th HoD Primary

Published by Waldo on June 15, 2005 in Politics. Closed

In yesterday’s 57th District House of Delegates Democratic primary, former mayor David Toscano easily won the nomination with 54% of the vote. The other two candidates, developer Clement “Kim” Tingley and UVa professor Rich Collins, split the remainder, with Collins at 24% and Tingley at 22%. Turnout was, frankly, embarrassing, At 10% turnout , the district fared better than the 4% statewide, but with something closer to 25% forecast, it was a disappointment to see just 4,152 people take part in the process. Toscano will face Republican Tom McCrystal in the general election in November. Bob Gibson has the story in today’s Progress, and the State Board of Elections has the numbers.

Cross-Country Biodiesel Bus

Published by Waldo Jaquith on June 12, 2005 in General News. Closed

David Maurer has a good piece in today’s Progress about Charlottesville’s Scott Wilcox and Luke & Emily Scruby, and their attempted Virginia-to-Alaska round-trip in a school bus modified to run on biodiesel.

Wilcox and Scruby started their trip from Albemarle County on May 29. Their first stop was in Blacksburg to pick up Emily Scruby, who works for an engineering firm there.

Then it was on to Memphis, Tenn., to get some blues and barbecue ribs. By the time they reached Sevierville, Tenn., in the southeastern section of the state, they needed fuel.

The travelers struck out at a couple of eateries, but they hit a home run when they asked the manager of a Golden Corral restaurant if they could fill up at the restaurant’s grease trap.

“They were so nice to us,” Emily Scruby said via cell phone. “We sucked up 200 gallons of vegetable oil, and they even treated us to a free meal.”

Harrisonburg is, to my knowledge, the closest place with a gas station that provides biodiesel — anybody with a diesel engine can run an 80/20 diesel/biodiesel mix without making any modification to their car. Fuel could definitely increase their hipness quotient by making it available.

Albemarle First Bought

Published by Waldo Jaquith on June 11, 2005 in Business. Closed

Local bank Albemarle First has been bought out by Millennium Bankshares, a D.C.-area financial holding company, for $29M in cash and stock, the Associated Press reports. Shareholders of Albemarle First (notably including Richard Spurzem, who called for a sell-out in December) were immediately rewarded with a 36% leap in stock price — Millennium shares fell 6%. Albemarle First will continue to function under its current name and retain its branches here, but it has lost its status as a local bank. Thanks to Colin for the tip.

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