With the second large snowfall now mostly cleared from city streets, and as a third significant storm system heads our way, Dominion has managed to restore power to roughly 35,000 homes, leaving only 2,000-5,000 in need. The local teams have tripled in size, with outside crews being brought in to sh0oulder some of the load.
The 5-10″ of ice and snow expected to start this evening around 6:00PM will most likely create further outages, and possibly delay the repairs currently underway.
Fortunately, the Downtown Mall has experienced only brief power flickers, and many bars have remained open even during the worst of it.
Customer Key: Blue circles indicate 1-50, Green 51-250. [Info]
Bel|Rio - Is sticking it out. [Info] Mas – “10-4 on being open, sidewalks cleared and I’m salty as hell.” – Tomas Rapture - Doesn’t close, Al sleeps there. Ventana - Food & drinks guaranteed. [Info] The X-Lounge - Closed for dinner, possibly opening up around 6:00PM The Southern – Closed all weekend. [Info] The Jefferson - Closed all weekend. [Info] The Paramount - Closed all weekend. [Info] Live Arts - Assume closed, but not currently listed on main page. [Info] »Read More
Governor McDonnell has formally declared a state of emergency, thereby placing state agencies, including the National Guard, at the disposal of local government throughout the area. VDOT, the State Police, and VDEM (Virginia Department Of Emergency Management) are also holding preparedness and planning meetings.
The National Weather Service has finally stepped forward with the current prediction of 16-24″, commencing around 6AM Friday morning. While this certainly doesn’t match some of the wild speculation posted online, with a few quoting up to 60″, it does possibly top the roughly 22″ most locations in Charlottesville reported during the December 19th storm, and would push our seasonal total to 54″ thus far. »Read More
Governor Bob has managed to fast track a bill which ups the speed limit in rural and low population areas to the big 70. Both the House & Senate groups signed off on the new legislature with no complaint, and once the bills change houses for final review, they can land on the Governors desk for signature.
Virginia becomes the 33 state to impose 70 as a maximum, with 13 others allowing for up to 75 mph, and a few areas of Texas allowing up to 80.
McDonnell’s statement that “This slight increase in our speed limit will be safe for motorists and help get Virginians to their destinations a little quicker each day” couldn’t be more accurate apparently. While many (this writer included) equate increased speed with a higher frequency and fatality rate in accidents, the inverse is apparently true. For the brief period of time during which Montana enacted a no posted maximum speed on certain roads, accidents and fatalities reached record low numbers. This also appears to hold true along the unlimited stretches of the Autobahn in Germany.
While the speed increase is certainly a step in the right direction, most of the frustration in daily driving situations appears to center around individuals failing to maintain a minimum speed around town. Perhaps posting, and enforcing, minimum speeds would decrease traffic congestion within the city. [Info] [Photo Credits]
Congratulations are in order for Caressa Cameron, a FBurg native and journalism student from VCU, for her recent win of Miss America. The 22 year old won out over 52 other competitors in categories ranging from a talent contest, evening wear, lifestyle & fitness in swimsuit, on stage question, and personal interview.
Miss Cameron wowed the judges (including Rush Limbaugh) with a rendition of Beyonce’s “Listen“, and also pushed parents to “…get our kids back outside, playing with sticks in the street like I did when I was little,” when questioned regarding physical fitness and childhood obesity. Along with the crown, she was awarded a $50K scholarship, and will represent the organization during her year long reign.
Cameron went on to accept the coveted position of “Spokesperson for IHOP’s National Pancake Day Celebration”, which kicks off Tuesday, February 23rd, from 7:00AM-10:00PM. IHOP will be giving away untold numbers of its ’signature’ pancakes (3 million were handed out last year), while hopefully raising $1.75 million for the Children’s Miracle Network through guest donations.
While raising millions for children is certainly an exceptional goal, we have to wonder if IHOP may not only be “America’s favorite restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner…”, and therefore perhaps one of the root causes of health concerns among overweight Americans. [Info]
A new, and surprising, development occurred in the 2007 murder case of Jayne McGowan earlier today, with Michael Pritchett pleading guilty moments before trial was set to start.
The November 9th event shocked many, as Jayne’s house, located just off of Locust Ave., was definitely not in a high crime area, along with the fact that the entire event stemmed from a random break-in by two perpetrators. The 26 year old UVa graduate had moved back to Charlottesville only months earlier, in order to become the Development Coordinator for a local non-profit, the AIDS/HIV Services Group. She had just completed preparations for the 20th Anniversary Gala event, held on November 10th, when she was murdered.
Within four days of her death, police had captured William Gentry (22) and Michael Pritchett (18), and charged them with 4 felonies each, including breaking and entering, robbery, and murder.
Pritchett’s plea this morning was not expected by prosecutors nor family members, as a claim of not-guilty had been entered during preliminary hearings. An additional hearing will occur to determine the exact sentence; however, he is facing the possibility of life without parole.
The Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement force along with team RUSH (an acronym seemingly without a published long form) scored a major marijuana bust recently, to the tune of 30 pounds being kept off the streets of Charlottesville. The twin arrests occurred in short order, with the first search warrant being carried out in the 5K area of Stony Point Rd., netting the arrest of one James B. Gunn along with 4 lbs of pot, $6K, & two firearms.
Shortly thereafter a second warrant was served at 2000 Paddock Wood Road in the Keswick area, to a Jeremy Manning-Smith. This search provided roughly 26 pounds of the schedule 1 drug, and $50K in cash money.
Both individuals have been charged with intent to distribute, and further charges may be pending.
The body of an as yet unidentified blond female has been discovered at a property in souther Albemarle county. The remains are described as “skeletal” and the body is clad in dark clothing. As UNCUS reports, Morgan is the only local missing person to fit the description. Police have taken control of the 540 acre farm, located near Red Hill on 29 South, and a forensic vehicle is on site.
We will continue to provide updates as they become available. [Info]
An unlikely proponent of marijuana has emerged with (R)Del. Harvey Morgan, speaking this afternoon at a press conference regarding not only acceptable medical use, but decriminalization of small amounts entirely. Morgan has spent 31 of his nearly 80 years or age in the general assembly, and while he states he has never touched the drug, he is seeking to allow those in need access, and to spare some of the 18,000 individuals convicted of simple possession per year alone.
Virginia’s law books recognize marijuana as a medicine, however, they indicate no legal route to provide this to pharmacists or doctors for distribution. Morgan’s bill seeks to address that and numerous other issues, along with altering legal limits upon which ‘criminal’ distribution charges would be levied. The bill would push Virginia to join 21 other states which have already decriminalized the drug.
The bill currently has not found a sponsor, nor have local medical or police organizations endorsed it. We will continue to chart this as information becomes available. [Photo Credits]
Details are still light on this one, however a gunman in Appomattox (roughly 2 hours southwest near Lynchburg) appears to have killed 7-8 individuals, and forced a police helicopter to land after shooting holes in its fuel system. [Info]
With the second large snowfall now mostly cleared from city streets, and as a third significant storm system heads our way, Dominion has managed to restore power to roughly 35,000 homes, leaving only 2,000-5,000 in need. The local teams have tripled in size, with outside crews being brought in to sh0oulder some of the load.
An unlikely proponent of marijuana has emerged with (R)Del. Harvey Morgan, speaking this afternoon at a press conference regarding not only acceptable medical use, but decriminalization of small amounts entirely. Morgan has spent 31 of his nearly 80 years or age in the general assembly, and while he states he has never touched the drug, he is seeking to allow those in need access, and to spare some of the 18,000 individuals convicted of simple possession per year alone.
