Was the four-legged visitor weeks early for its move-in date? Community members took to social media to share photos of a black bear flouncing around UVA Grounds August 1. A state wildlife biologist tranquilized it outside the Children’s Hospital, loaded it into a truck, and, after the drug wore off overnight, dropped it off on national forest property west of Harrisonburg
It gets worse
CHS teacher Rick Wellbeloved-Stone, who was charged with one count of child porn possession July 27, was charged with 19 counts of child porn production and one count of aggravated sexual battery August 4. He was placed on leave and remains in Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.
Daycare distress
Classroom ratios and failure to supervise children are noted issues at Kiddie Academy, an Albemarle daycare that has racked up more than 40 violations since January 2016. It was placed on a provisional license last month and the state Department of Social Services says it has until January to prove it can comply with regulations, or it could lose its license, according to the Newsplex.
Motorcycle fatality
Twenty-two-year old Jordan Marcale Cassell died traveling west on Garth Road August 5 when his Honda bike struck a 2013 Honda Fit driven by an 87-year-old turning left onto Garth from Free Union Road, closing down both roads for three and a half hours. Cassell, a grad of Staunton’s Robert E. Lee High, is the 10th fatality in Albemarle this year. Police say no charges are pending.
Algae yucks up lake
The Virginia Department of Health continues to advise people and their pets to steer clear of Chris Greene Lake because of a harmful blue-green algae bloom that may cause rashes and other illnesses.
Quote of the week: “There is a credible risk of violence at this event, and your safety is my foremost concern. Moreover, to approach the rally and confront the activists would only satisfy their craving for spectacle. “—UVA President Teresa Sullivan on the August 12 Unite the Right rally.
The cost of a KKK visit
The July 8 Loyal White Knights of the KKK demonstration racked up a hefty bill for the city, with neighboring
Albemarle police chipping in 52 officers at a cost of $14,045. Here’s a breakdown of some of the city’s $32,835 in expenses, which don’t include the Albemarle County Sheriff’s Office bill for $2,467.
The Virginia State Police won’t provide its manpower costs unless we cough up $300, and it won’t release the number
of officers it sent due to tactical and safety reasons. Its
spokeswoman does say that many state police were scheduled in advance of the Klan fest as part of their 40-hour week to minimize overtime. She says the helicopter that buzzed over Justice Park costs $615 an hour to operate and ran for 3.6 hours for a total of $2,214.
So far, it all adds up to more than $51,565.
At a price
City salaries $23,352
Includes city police, fire, deputies and ECC, with CPD racking up $16,299 in overtime.
Incidentals
Flex cuffs $660
Cutters for flex cuffs $40
Trailer hitch to pull riot gear $731
Gatorade $90
Lunches $2,423
More Gatorade, water, protein bars, sunscreen $466
Gas masks $277
Taser battery packs $45
Non-lethal equipment $2,237
Rally together
Follow C-VILLE Weekly on Facebook and @cvillenews_desk on Twitter for August 12 rally coverage.