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SATURDAY,
MARCH 13th, 2010 A.M. UPDATE
Reported
by Chuck Vipperman & Jack
Garrett
(RICHMOND)
--
HOUSE
AND SENATE NEGOTIATORS MADE SOME
IMPORTANT BREAKTHROUGHS FRIDAY NIGHT
IN THEIR BID TO BALANCE VIRGINIA’S
BUDGET FOR THE COMING YEAR.
IN A BUDGET BURDENED BY
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PROPOSED
CUTS, LEGISLATORS AGREED ON SOME
CRITICAL AREAS LIKE FUNDING OF
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND HEALTH CARE, BUT
MANY LESSER ISSUES REMAIN TO BE
SETTLED.
INSIDERS
SAY THEY DON’T EXPECT A FINAL VOTE
UNTIL LATE SATURDAY, WHICH WILL
DELAY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S
SCHEDULED ADJOURNMENT UNTIL
SUNDAY. THAT WILL MARK THE
FIFTH TIME IN TE YEARS THAT THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION HAS RUN
INTO OVERTIME. THE LEGISLATURE
HAS TO RECONCILE A BUDGET THROUGH
2012 THAT'S MORE THAN $4 BILLION
SHORT OF PROJECTED REVENUES.
THAT'S THE SHARPEST AND LONGEST
DOWNTURN FOR STATE FINANCES IN
MODERN HISTORY.
 (DANVILLE)
-- THOUSANDS
OF LOCAL RESIDENTS WILL PAY THEIR
RESPECTS TO CITY MANAGER LYLE LACY
SUNDAY DURING HIS MEMORIAL SERVICE.
WHILE
MANY WILL ATTEND THE SERVICE AT THE
GRANT CENTER ON AVERETT’S NORTH
CAMPUS, AVERETT UNIVERSITY IS MAKING
IT POSSIBLE FOR THOUSANDS MORE TO
WATCH VIA WEBCAST. IF YOU'D LIKE TO
WATCH THE SERVICE, GO ONLINE TO
AVERETTCOUGARS.COM AND CLICK ON
“AVERETT TO HOST MEMORIAL
SERVICE.” CLICK THE LINK TO
“FREE VIDEO WEBCAST” AND ADD THE
FREE EVENT TO YOUR CART. YOU
MAY BE ASKED TO REGISTER WITH PENN
ATLANTIC THROUGH A LINK AT THE
BOTTOM OF THE PAGE. THERE IS NO
CHARGE TO REGISTER. MAKE SURE
THE MEMORIAL SERVICE IS SELECTED,
CLICK ON "CHECK
OUT,"
"PROCEED," AND FINALLY
"VIEW NOW." THE
LINKS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL
SUNDAY. LYLE LACY DIED LAST WEEK
AFTER A LONG BATTLE WITH CANCER.
HIS MEMORIAL SERVICE IS SET
FOR 2 PM SUNDAY.
(DANVILLE)
-- THE
VIRGINIA ORGANIZING PROJECT
PRESENTED A CHECK TO THE
GOVERNOR’S OFFICE FRIDAY TO MAKE A
POINT ABOUT THE ONGOING STATE BUDGET
CONTROVERSY.
THE
GROUP HELD BAKE SALES AROUND THE
STATE LAST WEEK, INCLUDING ONE HERE
IN DANVILLE, TO PROVE ITS POINT THAT
A CUTS-ONLY APPROACH TO THE BUDGET
ISN’T THE ONLY WAY TO BALANCE IT.
LEADERS
OF THE GROUP PRESENTED THE GOVERNOR
WITH A CHECK IN THE AMOUNT OF 921
DOLLARS.
WHILE THE AMOUNT IS FAR FROM
THE BILLIONS NEEDED TO BALANCE THE
BUDGET, CHAIRPERSON JANICE JOHNSON
SAID THE CHECK SHOWED THAT
LEGISLATORS CAN LOOK FOR OTHER
OPTIONS BESIDES CUTBACKS.
 (DANVILLE)
--
THE 2010 CENSUS FORMS WILL BE
ARRIVING IN MAILBOXES THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY NEXT MONDAY THROUGH
WEDNESDAY. TAMMIE
MCGEE IS A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE U-S
CENSUS BUREAU.
SHE SAYS IT’S VITALLY
IMPORTANT THAT EVERY HOUSEHOLD FILLS
OUT IT’S FORM AND SENDS IT IN AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
ACCORDING TO MCGEE, EVERY ONE
PERCENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF
FORMS RETURNED IN THE MAIL, SAVES
TAXPAYERS ABOUT 85 MILLION DOLLARS
IN THE COST OF SENDING CENSUS TAKERS
DOOR-TO DOOR TO COLLECT THE
INFORMATION.
CENSUS
INFORMATION IS USED TO
DETERMINE HOW MANY SEATS AN AREA
GETS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, HOW
VOTING DISTRICTS ARE REDRAWN, AND
MOST ESPECIALLY HOW BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS IN FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS
ARE DISTRIBUTED.
MCGEE SAYS THE FORMS ASK FOR VERY
LITTLE PERSONAL INFORMATION.
AND SHE SAYS WHAT INFORMATION
IS GATHERED IS TALLIED BUT NOT
SHARED WITH ANY OTHER AGENCIES.
ANYONE WHO NEEDS HELP FILLING
OUT THE QUESTIONNAIRE CAN CALL THEIR
TOLL FREE HOT LINE AT 1-866 872-6868
OR GO ONLINE AT 2010CENSUS.GOV.
 (DANVILLE)
-- DAYLIGHT
SAVINGS TIME COMES A LITTLE EARLY
THIS YEAR.
IT STARTS TONIGHT.
RESIDENTS
ARE REMINDED TO SET THEIR CLOCKS
FORWARD BY ONE HOUR.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU GO TO
BED AT 10 PM, FIRST CHANGE THE TIME
ON YOUR CLOCK TO READ 11 PM. THE CHANGE OFFICIALLY TAKES EFFECT AT 2 AM SUNDAY.
DANVILLE
FIRE MARSHALL SHELBY IRVING REMINDS
RESIDENTS THAT IT’S ALSO A GREAT
TIME TO CHECK THE BATTERIES IN YOUR
SMOKE ALARMS AND CARBON MONOXIDE
DETECTORS.
(PITTSYLVANIA
COUNTY)
--
PITTSYLVANIA
COUNTY OFFICIALS WILL BREAK GROUND
ON THE OLDE DOMINION AGRICULTURAL
COMPLEX MARCH 18TH.
STATE OFFICIALS ARE EXPECTED
TO ATTEND CEREMONIES MARKING THE
START OF THE $5.2 MILLION COMPLEX,
WHICH HAS BEEN ON THE DRAWING BOARD
FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS. THE CENTER
WILL INCLUDE AN INDOOR ARENA FOR
HORSE AND CATTLE SHOWS, A CONFERENCE
CENTER, OFFICE SPACE AND A FARMERS
MARKET WITH 40 STALLS.
THE COMPLEX WILL ALSO HOUSE
OFFICES FOR THE PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, THE
PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY BRANCH OF THE
VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU, THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE’S FARM
SERVICE AGENCY AND THE COUNTY OFFICE
OF THE VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE
EXTENSION SERVICE.
THE COMPLEX WILL BE LOCATED
OFF U.S. 29, AT THE SITE OF THE
FORMER BILLY’S RESTAURANT NEAR
GRETNA. GROUNDBREAKING WILL TAKE
PLACE MARCH 18TH AT 2 PM.
 (RICHMOND)
-- A
SOUTHSIDE LEGISLATOR’S EFFORT TO
REIGN IN HIGH UTILITY RATES HAS
FAILED. ON
THURSDAY, THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES DEFEATED MARTINSVILLE
DELEGATE WARD ARMSTRONG’S BILL TO
PROVIDE RELIEF TO CUSTOMERS OF
APPALACHIAN POWER COMPANY.
GOVERNOR BOB McDONNELL HAS
ALREADY SIGNED LEGISLATION
SUSPENDING APPALACHIAN’S INTERIM
RATE INCREASE, BUT ARMSTRONG WAS
PUSHING FOR ADDITIONAL ACTION.
ARMSTRONG MADE A MOTION
THURSDAY TO FORCE HIS BILL OUT OF
THE COMMERCE AND LABOR COMMITTEE AND
ONTO THE HOUSE FLOOR FOR A VOTE. THE
MOTION FAILED ON A 26-69 VOTE.
ARMSTRONG’S BILL WOULD
CONSOLIDATE ELECTRIC UTILITY INCREASE REQUESTS, ELIMINATING STAND-ALONE RATE HIKES. THE
LEGISLATION WOULD HAVE APPLIED ONLY
TO APPALACHIAN POWER, WHICH HAS
INCREASED RATES REPEATEDLY OVER THE
PAST FEW YEARS.
ARMSTRONG TOLD HOUSE MEMBERS
HIS MEASURE WOULDN’T ELIMINATE
RATE HIKES, BUT WOULD PROBABLY
RESULT IN SMALLER INCREASES.
 (DANVILLE)
--
MORE
THAN 100 NEW CALL CENTER JOBS
ARE COMING TO DANVILLE THANKS TO A
COMPANY THAT LOCATED HERE SIX YEARS
AGO. TELVISTA
HAS ANNOUNCED A
PARTNERSHIP WITH ALLCONNECT TO
PROVIDE SALES AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT
SERVICES TO ALLCONNECT CUSTOMERS.
THE FIRST THIRTY AGENTS ARE
ALREADY ON THE JOB AND
THE REST SHOULD BE HIRED BY
THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR.
ALLCONNECT IS AN ONLINE
SERVICE HEADQUARTERED IN ATLANTA,
GEORGIA. THE COMPANY PROVIDES CUSTOMERS WITH
DIRECT INTERNET LINKS TO A VARIETY
OF HOME SERVICES. TELVISTA
OPENED A CALL CENTER ON CANE CREEK
BOULEVARD IN 2004.
TELEVISTA SPOKESWOMAN KIM
BANKS SAYS LOCAL EMPLOYEES WILL BE
HANDLING SALES PROGRAMS FOR
ALLCONNECT, INCLUDING SATELLITE TV,
PHONE, CABLE, INTERNET, HOME
SECURITY AND NATURAL GAS AND
ELECTRIC UTILITIES. SHE SAYS
ALLCONNECT COVERS A MYRIAD OF
SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE MOVING
TO A NEW AREA.
 (DANVILLE)
--
STUDENTS
FROM TWO SCHOOLS ARE SPENDING SPRING
BREAK HELPING HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
NINE STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
CENTRAL FLORIDA IN ORLANDO AND A
TEAM OF STUDENTS FROM CHATHAM HALL
STARTED WORK MONDAY.
HABITAT DIRECTOR MARLIN YODER
SAYS THEY’RE HELPING BUILD TWO
HOMES FROM THE GROUND UP ON BURTON
STREET, NEAR THE NATIONAL CEMETERY
IN DANVILLE.
HE SAYS THE STUDENTS ARE
FRAMING THE INTERIOR WALLS THIS
WEEK. YODER MOST OF THE STUDENTS
HAVE NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE IN THE
BUILDING TRADES, SO HE HAS AN
EXPERIENCED CREW WORKING ALONGSIDE
THEM.
THE HOMES ARE SCHEDULED FOR
COMPLETION THIS SUMMER. WEST MAIN
BAPTIST CHURCH IS HOUSING THE
STUDENTS FROM FLORIDA.
  (ROCKINGHAM
COUNTY, NC) --
AUTHORITIES HAVE MADE A SECOND
ARREST IN CONNECTION WITH A PAIR OF
RECENT CHURCH BREAK-INS.
IN
A PRESS RELEASE FRIDAY MORNING, A
SPOKESMAN FOR THE SHERIFF’S
DEPARTMENT SAID THEY HAD ARRESTED
WILLIAM DAVID GARDNER, JUNIOR FOR
RECENT BREAK-INS AT STONEVILLE
PENTECOSTAL HOLINESS CHURCH AND
WENTWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH. THEY WERE
STILL SEARCHING FOR 19-YEAR-OLD
SARAH ANN ISLEY IN THE CASE.
ISLEY
WAS PICKED UP FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
GARDNER AND ISLEY ARE EACH
CHARGED WITH BREAKING AND ENTERING A
PLACE OF WORSHIP, POSSESSION OF
STOLEN PROPERTY AND LARCENY.
THEY’RE BEING HELD IN THE
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY DETENTION
FACILITY.
(CHATHAM,
VA)
--
A
PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY WOMAN IS SEEKING
$15 MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE STATE
OF VIRGINIA, CLAIMING NEGLIGENCE IN
THE DROWNING DEATH OF HER SON.
DORA MAE HENLEY’S SUIT
CLAIMS THE DEATH OF HER 12-YEAR-OLD
SON, MARVIN STRICKLAND, WAS DUE IN
PART TO NEGLIGENT TRAINING AND
SUPERVISION OF LIFEGUARDS AT THE
SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE STATE PARK.
STRICKLAND WAS ON AN OUTING WITH A
CHURCH GROUP ON AUGUST 7, 2008 WHEN
HE DROWNED. THE SUIT WAS FILED LAST
WEEK IN PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY CIRCUIT
COURT.
HENLEY ASKS FOR $15 MILLION
FROM THE STATE, THE CHURCH, SEVERAL
LIFEGUARDS AND CHURCH CHAPERONES.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE
DEFENDS THE STATE AGAINST SUCH
LAWSUITS. CHIEF DEPUTY ATTORNEY
GENERAL CHARLES JAMES DECLINED
COMMENT ON HENLEY’S LAWSUIT.
(RICHMOND,
VA)
-- THE
DEBATE AT A URANIUM MINING SYMPOSIUM
IN RICHMOND THURSDAY CENTERED ON THE
SIZE OF THE COLES HILL DEPOSIT NEAR
CHATHAM.
ENVIRONMENTAL
ANALYST PAUL ROBINSON INSISTS THE
DEPOSIT IN PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY IS
MUCH SMALLER THAN THE 119 MILLION
TONS CLAIMED BY VIRGINIA URANIUM
INC., THE GROUP THAT HOPES TO MINE
THE DEPOSIT. ROBINSON ESTIMATED THE
DEPOSIT AT FIVE-AND-A-HALF MILLION
TONS, BASED ON HIS CALCULATIONS.
BUT V-R-I SPOKESMAN PATRICK
WALES CALLED THAT ESTIMATE
“ABSURD” AND SAID HIS COMPANY
STANDS BY ITS ORIGINAL ESTIMATE.
WALES SAYS HIS NUMBERS ARE
BASED ON CORE AND ROCK SAMPLES AND
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS.
THE
FORUM IS SPONSORED BY ACTIVISTS AND
ENVIRONMENTALISTS
WHO OPPOSE A MINING AND
MILLING OPERATION IN PITTSYLVANIA
COUNTY.
BEFORE THE ORE COULD BE
EXTRACTED, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
WOULD HAVE TO LIFT A MORATORIUM
THAT’S BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 1982.
(DANVILLE)
--
A
COMPACT CAR CRASHED THROUGH A LARGE
PLATE GLASS WINDOW AT THE OLD DUTCH
SUPERMARKET ON NORTH MAIN STREET
WEDNESDAY. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED
ABOUT 12:30 PM AS THE
GROCERY WAS FULL OF CUSTOMERS. THE
83-YEAR OLD FEMALE
DRIVER WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED.
POLICE SAY SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN TO
PARK WHEN HER FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE
BRAKES AND HIT THE GAS. NO ONE INSIDE THE
SUPERMARKET WAS INJURED. DANVILLE
POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED.
THE DRIVER'S NAME WAS NOT
IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE. THE ACCIDENT
REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION. (photos:
Leonard Harville)
(DANVILLE)
--TWO LOCAL
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE GETTING TOP
HONORS. WOODROW WILSON AND CHATHAM
ELEMENTARIES HAVE BEEN NAMED AGAIN
AS “TITLE-ONE DISTINGUISHED
SCHOOLS,” BY THE STATE BOARD OF
EDUCATION.
THE SCHOOLS WERE HONORED FOR
A HIGH PASSAGE RATE ON THE RIGOROUS
BENCHMARKS OF THE STATE STANDARDS OF
LEARNING.
THEY AND ONE-HUNDRED OTHER
SCHOOLS IN VIRGINIA HAVE MET THOSE
THRESHOLDS FOR TWO YEARS IN A ROW.
 (DANVILLE)
--
THE
DANVILLE REGIONAL FOUNDATION HAS
AWARDED A GRANT OF NEARLY $1 MILLION
TO THE DAN RIVER BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT CENTER TO EXPAND ITS
VIRTUAL OPERATIONAL CAPACITY, AIDING
ENTREPRENEURS IN DANVILLE,
PITTSYLVANIA AND CASWELL COUNTIES.
THE $912,000 IS FOR THREE
YEARS. IT WILL ALLOW THE DAN RIVER
BUSINESS CENTER TO EXPAND INCUBATION
SERVICES TO START-UP BUSINESSES ON
THE SOUTHSIDE. THE MONEY WILL BE
USED ON BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE TO
HELP “VIRTUAL TENANTS,” OR THOSE
WHO BENEFIT FROM THE SERVICES AND
OCCASIONAL USE OF THE FACILITY, BUT
ARE NOT TENANTS. THE FUNDING WILL
PROVIDE FOR THE EXPANSION OF
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR COACHING
AND COUNSELING SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS, BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITIONS
AND EXECUTIVE ROUNDTABLES.
OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THE
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER'S
TENANTS HAVE CREATED 1,758 JOBS,
WITH CAPITAL INVESTMENTS OF OVER $54
MILLION.
 (CASWELL
COUNTY, N.C.)
--FORMER
CASWELL COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
JOEL BREWER IS UNDER INVESTIGATION
FOR ALLEGEDLY USING HIS POST TO
DISMISS CITATIONS IN EXCHANGE FOR
POLITICAL FAVORS, AND FOR
IMPERSONATING A POLICE OFFICER.
THAT’S ACCORDING TO A
SEARCH WARRANT THAT WAS ORDERED TO
BE MADE PUBLIC THIS WEEK.
BREWER ANNOUNCED IN JANUARY
HE WOULD RETIRE AT THE BEGINNING OF
MARCH, EVEN THOUGH HE HAD TEN FULL
MONTHS LEFT IN HIS TERM. BREWER WAS APPOINTED TO THE POST IN 1994, AND WON
RE-ELECTION FOUR TIMES OVER THE NEXT
16 YEARS.
THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE
BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS LAUNCHED A
PROBE IN NOVEMBER, AND SEIZED ITEMS
FROM BREWER’S OFFICE LAST WEEK.
HIS SEAT WILL STILL BE ON THE
BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER.
MEANWHILE, GOVERNOR BEVERLY PURDUE
ON WEDNESDAY APPOINTED FORMER
SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE JAMES M. LONG
TO SERVE AS ACTING DISTRICT ATTORNEY
IN PERSON AND CASWELL COUNTIES. LONG
WILL COMPLETE BREWER'S TERM. JUDGE
LONG SERVED AS A RECORDER'S COURT
JUDGE FOR CASWELL COUNTY FROM
1964-1970 AND AS A SUPERIOR COURT
JUDGE FROM 1970-1994. GOV. PURDUE
PRAISED LONG FOR "HIS
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE" THE
PEOPLE OF CASWELL AND PERSON
COUNTIES.
 (WASHINGTON)
--EVERYONE ELSE IS
TIGHTENING THEIR BELTS, AND CONGRESS
SHOULD BE NO DIFFERENT.
THAT’S WHAT FIFTH DISTRICT
CONGRESSMAN TOM PERRIELLO SAYS AS HE
SUPPORTS A MEASURE TO CUT
CONGRESSIONAL PAY FIVE PERCENT.
PERRIELLO WAS AMONG THE
SUPPORTERS LAST YEAR IN A SUCCESSFUL
EFFORT TO BLOCK AUTOMATIC
CONGRESSIONAL PAY RAISES, AND HE’S
SUPPORTING AN EFFORT TO PREVENT ANY
PAY HIKES FROM AUTOMATICALLY TAKING
PLACE IN THE FUTURE.
IF IT PASSES, THIS WOULD BE
THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL PAY CUT
SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
Chatham
Elementary School Geography Bee
Winners (Left to Right) Hannah
Reynolds (3rd place), Macon Maxey
(1st place), and Madisyn Dunford
(2nd place)
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