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“If you write that story and put our office in a negative light, saying we’re not doing what we’re supposed to be doing – let me tell you something, you’re going to have to answer for it.”
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People blame tolls at the Downtown and Midtown tunnels for sapping traffic from the city’s sluggish tourism district. Studies, including one released publicly last month, have found some evidence of that. But it’s impossible to say for sure how business has been in Olde Towne in the 4½ years since the tolls went into effect. That’s because, unlike in Norfolk, Portsmouth’s chief assessor won’t release neighborhood-by-neighborhood data about tax collections. “You’ve taken up a lot of time – taxpayer dollars – trying to respond to your request because you want something very specific because you won’t do your job,” Commissioner Frankie Edmondson said in a phone interview Tuesday after threatening a Pilot reporter. “If you write that story and put our office in a negative light, saying we’re not doing what we’re supposed to be doing – let me tell you something, you’re going to have to answer for it.”
The Virginian-Pilot
A jury found Councilman Mark Whitaker guilty of three felony forgery counts Wednesday, finding that he repeatedly falsified the signature of a contractor on financial documents. Jurors recommended Whitaker serve no jail time and pay $7,500 in fines. A judge will decide the sentence during a Sept. 26 hearing . The maximum punishment for the charges is 30 years in prison – 10 years for each count – though such a sentence for forgery would be highly unusual for someone with no criminal record.
The Virginian-Pilot
The destruction of seized items in a Smyth County drug case resulted in two misdemeanor charges being filed against a Virginia State Police trooper, according to court records. State Police charged Trooper Lee Testerman, 40, of Chilhowie, on Monday with two counts of false entry and destruction of public record in Smyth County.
The Roanoke Times
The Rockbridge Area Board of Social Services announced the resignation of its chairman Wednesday amid controversy surrounding the board’s aborted hiring of a new director. Duaine Fitzgerald did not attend Wednesday’s board meeting; instead, Vice Chairwoman Vicki Turner made the announcement of his resignation. No comments were made about why Fitzgerald chose to resign. Fitzgerald could not be reached for comment Wednesday. The board received widespread criticism last week after hiring a former social services administrator from Georgia. The board offered the director position to Andre Chambers on July 6, according to an offer letter from Rockbridge Area Department of Social Services. He accepted the position and was scheduled to start Aug. 1 at a salary of $80,000. After questions from local residents and The Roanoke Times about episodes in Chambers’ personal and professional past, the board voted at a specially called meeting Friday to rescind the job offer.
The Roanoke Times
Abingdon Town Attorney Deborah Icenhour has resigned from her position. She submitted a letter of resignation on Tuesday, July 17. She began her career with the town in 2007 as an Assistant Town Attorney. Icenhour was appointed as Town Attorney in 2009 and served in that role for nearly a decade. She also served as one of Abingdon's Freedom of Information Officers. She was appointed to that role in 2016. A request for Icenhour's resignation letter was denied by current FOIA Officer Floyd Bailey on the grounds it was part of her personnel files, which are exempted from disclosure under Virginia law. The town and Icenhour lost a lawsuit that accused them of violating the Freedom of Information Act last September. Icenhour also filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint in July 2017. Icenhour's claim was closed, which means that nothing was being done to the person when it was filed. The nature of the complaints was never released to the public.
Bristol Herald Courier
Front Royal Town Councilman William Sealock said the lack of productivity at a recent Town Council meeting was disturbing. He said at a Monday work session that such meetings should be canceled. “To me, the meeting of last week was not lucrative. That whole agenda could have been delayed until the next meeting,” Sealock said. Councilman Eugene Tewalt explained that the town code stipulates that the council hold two regular meetings per month and the town code would have to be amended to cancel meetings. Town Attorney Doug Napier noted that a cancellation would require the council to meet and vote to disband. After being told why the council could not cancel meetings, he said “it still doesn’t make sense. You have a meeting to meet. It’s a waste of our time.”
The Northern Virginia Daily
Before the Pittsylvania County Department of Social Services board meeting was even called to order Monday evening, tensions were high. Tempers flared in the parking lot between individuals, and a Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Officer stepped outside to get the situation under control. Ron Scearce added to the agenda discussion of dissolving the current DSS administrative agenda and creating an advisory board for DSS under the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors. Pittsylvania DSS director Sherry Flanagan said she wants to work closely with them on a possible transition to resolve the issues Scearce and the board may have. Evans reminded Flanagan that the facility would still be there. Flanagan then moved from her seat to stand in front of Scearce, three chairs away from her, to speak directly to him. “I’m concerned with the level of distrust with [Scearce] and how receipts you FOIA’d ended up in the hands of Matt Bell, Vic Ingram, and Henry Hurt on Facebook,” Flanagan said before Scearce. The Star-Tribune does not comment on sourcing for this or any other news reporting.
Star-Tribune
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