I’m in favor of an independent study to determine if uranium can be mined safely. I’m smart enough to know that I’m not smart enough to know if it can be mined [...]]]> Some of the anti-uranium folks seem to think that I’m in favor of uranium mining. As I’ve said before, they’re quite wrong.

I’m in favor of an independent study to determine if uranium can be mined safely. I’m smart enough to know that I’m not smart enough to know if it can be mined safely or not. I get completely frustrated by the anti-uranium nutballs who say that Southside VA will be glowing for 500 years or other assorted ridiculous claims like that. People like Jack Dunavant irritate me when they try to control the debate using intimidation (remember his beloved “Chemical Trespass” idea that got obliterated?) and other heavy-handed tactics.

Well, there are tactics by the pro-uranium mining side that piss me off just as much. Walter Coles, come on down!

Uranium VP: Mining bill likely in 2012

Walter, just like the gloom-and-massive-doom nutballs on the other side, you have no idea if uranium mining can be done safely. Patrick Wales can spin your remarks in any way he chooses but by making this speech, you have severely damage the respect that I have of you and your company. I always believed that you were in this business to make a profit, but now I’m wondering if that’s the only motivation that you have.

The Register & Bee’s John Crane wrote an excellent article about the meeting, so I’ll refer you to that for the play-by-play. I just want to touch on two experiences I had during the meeting.

Supervisors reject uranium ban at mega park – again

This crapola started with the quite-ridiculous and quite-dead attempt to make a 25 mile uranium ban by the Usual Suspects.

Coy Harville said it best this [...]]]> A governmental body refuses to ban something that’s already banned. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.

Supervisors reject uranium ban at mega park – again

This crapola started with the quite-ridiculous and quite-dead attempt to make a 25 mile uranium ban by the Usual Suspects.

Coy Harville said it best this time…

“It’s not an issue,” he said. “There’s a moratorium on mining uranium in Virginia.”

Coy, they’ve heard that before. They’re just not listening.

On Tuesday, the director of Pittsylvania County Youth Sports had to get ten stitches after he was punched in the mouth at a youth basketball game on Tuesday.

After a 10 & 11 year old game. some family members of the [...]]]> And he had to get ten stitches to take care of his wound…

On Tuesday, the director of Pittsylvania County Youth Sports had to get ten stitches after he was punched in the mouth at a youth basketball game on Tuesday.

After a 10 & 11 year old game. some family members of the losing team thought that supporters of the winning team were taunting them. George Henderson, the director of Pittsylvania County Youth Sports, got everybody out of the gym at the former Blairs Middle School but was blindsided by a punch to his mouth from the grandfather of one of the players. The punch was so strong that it caused two of his teeth to go through his upper lip. Henderson had to get 10 stitches to take care of his cuts.

This grandfather also punched another of Henderson’s coworkers. The Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Department is still investigating the case but Henderson said that he’ll make sure that there will be security at the basketball games in the future to prevent incidents like this.

Dewberry gives estimate on Berry Hill cost

Three [...]]]> That’s right, folks. Taxpayers have just saved just shy of $52 Million Dollars*. (That sounds better if you do it in a Dr. Evil voice, by the way) Oh, you noticed that asterisk behind “52 Million Dollars”, did you? Very observant. Let’s see why it’s there…

Dewberry gives estimate on Berry Hill cost

Three years ago, Dan Sleeper said that the mega-park would cost $222 million dollars to complete. He arrived at that number by using the accounting method that is properly known as “making up big numbers to make it sound real good”.

Now, the Danville-Pittsylvania County Regional Industrial Facility Authority has hired the Dewberry firm to handle the master plan for the park. The project manager has came up with a new revised cost of building the park to completion. Shawn Harden says that it’s going to cost $163.9 million dollars. Instead of using the “making up big numbers to make it sound good” method, the Dewberry project manager appears to have used the “pulling big numbers out of your ass” method.

This industrial park is a good eleventy-four years away from any semblance of completion. This industrial park is a good Stone Age from even being started, considering that nobody’s got $83 to break ground (much less the $82.6 bajillion needed to complete it). Hey, making up big fake money amounts is fun! Try it! You can even pretend you’re a high-priced consulting firm while you make up giant random numbers that have absolutely no meaning!

Layoffs possible for Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office

Oh come on, does anybody really think that the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office will end up firing 22 deputies? Do you really think that the Board of [...]]]> Want a good (but underhanded) tactic to make sure your upcoming Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office budget isn’t cut severely?

Layoffs possible for Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office

Oh come on, does anybody really think that the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office will end up firing 22 deputies? Do you really think that the Board of Supervisors would pass a budget making the Sheriff’s department have no cellphones, no email and no radios?

NO! But it sure does scare the hell out of people who don’t think for themselves! Oh Dear God, Mabel, we’re on our own now! Criminals will take over the county!

You know what the saddest part is about this whole stupid-ass bare-bones budget proposal game? It’s probably going to work the way it was planned. Citizens will express their moral outrage at the proposed dismantling of the Sheriff’s Office (which never would happen under any circumstances) and then miraculously, the PCSO will get the funding that’s at least level with last year’s budget.

Peace & Order will continue to blossom in the county (as it always would have) and the whole scare-the-crap-out-of-you tactic will be forgotten.

Industrial mega park mining ban denied

Even though this mining ban proposal would have been Dead On Arrival to the first court of record, it’s refreshing to know that the BOS got this one right. If Karen [...]]]> The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors defeated the proposed 20-mile uranium mining ban on Tuesday night. Hooray!

Industrial mega park mining ban denied

Even though this mining ban proposal would have been Dead On Arrival to the first court of record, it’s refreshing to know that the BOS got this one right. If Karen Maute wants to make sure that there will be no uranium mining in the mega-park, why didn’t she propose that it be banned in the mega-park?! (although I firmly believe that would be struck down as well)

Nope, she had to try and make it a 20-mile radius. Twenty friggin miles?! Never mind the fact that her 20-mile ban would extend into North Carolina and be completely useless, or that the 20-mile circle would envelop Danville. (Karen: If there’s uranium in my backyard and they can get it out safely, it’s coming out and I’ll laugh all the way to the bank. Get off my lawn.)

But wait, there’s a candidate for Stupid Statement Of The Year from this article. Marshall Ecker, the BOS member who advocated this, said…

“If they’re not going to mine in the mega park, what’s the problem with passing a resolution saying that?”

Hello, Marshall? Boing?! There’s one hell of a difference between drawing a red boundary around the 3500 acre mega-park and drawing a big-ass 20 mile circle into North Carolina and completely covering Danville. If you want to make sure that uranium mining is banned in the mega-park, get with Karen and specify it down to the actual boundaries of the mega-park.

This was yet another heavy-handed effort by the anti-uranium mining people to try and get a (unconstitutional) preemptive ban on mining before the safety study is complete. Face it, Southside Concerned Citizens, your efforts are going to fail every time. If you ever get lucky enough to get something like that passed, it will be struck down as quick as the “Chemical Trespass” law was. The citizens and political leaders are starting to get wise to your scare tactics. I fully expect the Usual Suspects to come in and post a Litany-O-Links saying that Pittsylvania County will become a Glow-In-The-Dark Apocalypse if uranium mining is allowed. Let’s see if they surprise me.

Here’s a look at the proposed resolution…

Support for uranium no surprise

In this Letter to the Editor (Does the editor really care? Shouldn’t they just label these as Personal Opinions anyway?), another anti-uranium nutcase completely misstates Fred Ingram’s opinion on uranium mining. Ingram said he’s in favor of an independent [...]]]> It’s Hyperbole! Like This! That Makes! It Easy To Mock!

Support for uranium no surprise

In this Letter to the Editor (Does the editor really care? Shouldn’t they just label these as Personal Opinions anyway?), another anti-uranium nutcase completely misstates Fred Ingram’s opinion on uranium mining. Ingram said he’s in favor of an independent study and if the study finds it safe to mine uranium, why not?

But noooooo… that’s too rational for our letter writer. You just gotta point and laugh as he compares Fred Ingram to William Sherman. Here’s one of my favorite parts of this “letter”…

Uranium mining is by definition damaging to the environment and ruinous on local land values and local economies

What?! And what source to they get that definition from? Ha! I’m sure it’s on Page 6 of the Southside Concerned Citizens’ “How To Win Over Weak-Minded People By Intimidating Them”, but that’s not an acceptable source for a rational definition.

Ah, point and laugh time on a Sunday morning… how refreshing!

Chamber Awards Grants for Innovative Educational Projects

Education came out on top at the Ed Steffey Memorial Education Open golf tournament which took place in September at the Goodyear Golf [...]]]> This is one of the best examples in how money that’s raised in the community can go back to the community for great causes.

Chamber Awards Grants for Innovative Educational Projects

Education came out on top at the Ed Steffey Memorial Education Open golf tournament which took place in September at the Goodyear Golf Course. All proceeds from the
golf tournament go into a pool of money from which educators and educational institutions in our region may request grant monies. This year, proceeds from the Ed Steffey Memorial Education Open Golf Tournament were used to fund grants ranging from $200 – $800 for educational projects and/ or programs in our region.

The Chamber’s Education Committee reviewed over 25 grant proposals requesting a total of more than $92,000. The committee was able to award over $5,000 to 13 grant applicants. “While economic conditions hampered our participation in this year’s golf tournament, we continued to build on the strong foundation of this tournament to support collaborative projects that benefit our students,” commented Chamber President Laurie S. Moran, CCE.

The Chamber congratulates the following recipients of the 2009-2010 grant program:

“Chatham High School FIRST Robotics Team #1095”
Stephanie O’Brien and Kimberly Dooley
Chatham High School
Students will be exposed to cooperative learning in the areas of math, science, engineering, psychology, sociology, and technology to plan, build, produce & program a robot to perform duties required by NASA.

“A Book Bag Lunch – Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko”
Lisa Hartgrove
Dan River Middle School
Dan River Middle School’s first book club will encourage students to read for pleasure and to enjoy sharing ideas gleaned from reading the same book at the same time. Also, it will encourage students who may be reluctant readers to participate so that they will enjoy reading with others in a stress-free atmosphere.

“GWHS FIRST Robotics Competition”
Daniel Waters
George Washington School
Students learn to work as a team and to work with professionals to meet a common goal.

“Going Green!”
Ramona Booker, Alexis Crews, Cynthia Daniel, Stephanie Shelton, Paula Gaither, Alice Showalter
Glenwood Elementary Schools
Students will take responsibility in assisting with planning, designing, and sustaining a garden. They will continue to promote health and wellness with an emphasis on the environment for the school year.

“Sounds Like the Best of Both Worlds”
Lola King, Allison Cundiff, Alexis Crews, Pamela Adams, Paula Gaither, Andrea Pointer, Stephanie Richardson
Glenwood Elementary School
Students will master the areas of weakness in phonics to sound out (decode) words independently thus building comprehension skills and becoming fluent readers.

“Listen Up!”
Cynthia Daniel, Stephanie Shelton, and Pamela Adams
Glenwood Elementary School
Students will become confident, fluent readers through modeling, repetition, and increased sight vocabulary. They will gain experience in comprehension.

“Starlab: Portable Planetarium”
Kimberly Dawson
Gretna Elementary School
Students will have a better understanding of day/night, reasons for the season, phases of the moon and how the moon affects the tides and the solar system.

“Artist Within After School Program”
Chastity Wertz, Amelia Wilson, Patricia Cocke
Mt. Airy Elementary School
Students will use problem solving skills to plan, create, and complete each of their creative works of art. This project will help students become more self-expressive, unleashing any artistic skills that they may possess.

“Junior Solar Sprint”
Cathleen Hincker
OT Bonner Middle School
The goals of the JSS are to generate enthusiasm for science and engineering at a crucial stage in the educational development of young people, improve students’ understanding of scientific concepts and renewable energy technologies, and encourage students to consider technical careers at an early age.

“Take Home a Teacher!”
Sara O’Donnell and Jacob Spencer
Park Avenue Elementary School
The students will gain a better understanding of the information presented in class and their parents will be better able to assist them at home.

“Big Buddy, Little Buddy”
Kimberly Seamster and Melissa Gillie
Park Avenue Elementary School
Big Buddies will establish a positive relationship with Little Buddies by taking on a leadership role and seeing the importance in doing for others. Little Buddies will gain a feeling of accomplishment by building fluency in reading and creating something that will be displayed in their school.

“Driver Education Tool Kit”
Dr. Lynn Dillon – W.W. Moore Detention Education Program
LaDelle Moan – George Washington High School
Nancy Rook – Galileo Magnet High School
Students will have a better understanding of signs, line of sight, weight transfer, crash avoidance, steering, the affect of drinking and driving and be able to apply these concepts.

“Kool Keyboarding for Kids”
Molly Motley, Susan Custer, Jennifer Snead, Karen Brown
Woodlawn Academy
Fourth and fifth grades students will be introduced to basic keyboard concepts and achievement of proficiency in touch typing.

The Board of Directors and the Education Committee of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce would like to thank The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. and everyone involved with the tournament for making the 2009 -2010 grant projects possible.

(Thanks to Laurie Moran at the Danville-Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce for getting this information out.)

A student attending Dan River High School informed me that there have been gang signs spray painted all around, and inside of the school. As a result, cameras have been/are being installed to monitor this situation. If this is true, and several students [...]]]> Is there a lack of communication at Dan River High School?

A student attending Dan River High School informed me that there have been gang signs spray painted all around, and inside of the school. As a result, cameras have been/are being installed to monitor this situation. If this is true, and several students backed up the allegations, why has there been no mention of it to parents? It could be due to the fact that local authorities still deny any organized gang activity in the area. Officially the platform is “if we acknowledge it, it gives them credibility.”

Yes, and denial leads to festering sores that will eventually erupt.

Pittsylvania County tables megapark mining issue

I had covered this issue when it first came up and called it bullcrap. This was another attempt by Karen Maute & the SCC to preemptively ban uranium mining before an independent study of the [...]]]> This time, a 4-3 Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors decision actually made sense.

Pittsylvania County tables megapark mining issue

I had covered this issue when it first came up and called it bullcrap. This was another attempt by Karen Maute & the SCC to preemptively ban uranium mining before an independent study of the safety could come out. Not only would this proposed piece of legislation failed a judicial review, the 25-mile circle was clearly designed to wipe out what may happen if an independent study says that mining can be done safely.

In the comments to the R&B article, Maute says…

I did not consider Coles Hill to be in the 25 mile radius. I did however hope that that radius, half of which would be in NC and not be included, would give security to the potential industries, the homes in which workers and executive’s families would live.

Then why did you pick 25 miles (which happens to be right on the edge of the proposed Chatham mining site)? I also don’t believe that Karen Maute came up with this idea on her own. This has SCC’s smell all over it.

Let’s also take a look at “porkchop62″‘s quote from the comments…

Personally, I really believe that it is time to unseat and re-align the BoS and county administration to better balance and serve the people on a more equitable scale. It would seem the time is right to initiate such a campaign.

Well, well. That sounds eerily similar to the Shireen Parsons’ idea of “let’s overthrow the county government”. Parsons was the “community activist” that the SCC was briefly aligned with before she came up with that idea. The SCC quickly dropped their support of Parsons and “The Alliance” after that concept was presented.

Anyway, who cares? Good riddance to bad legislation.

ADDITION: Whoa! It’s getting fun over at this article’s comments section. I’m sure this one is going to be deleted quickly so I’ll save it here for posterity. Here’s “porkchop62″‘s meltdown…

Well touche’ rockit, except for one thing, it’s Mr. not Ms., so kiss my ASSertion that you possess any integrity AT ALL. I don’t have any problem with anonimity, it’s cowardice I dispise, and I back up what stand I take, but you know what they say about opinions and @&&holes;. Plenty of folks around here know exactly who I am, by moniker and nickname and character. You however, not so many. I sense a tilting of balance with you, one that favors, by monetary gain if nothing more, not just the mining of uranium but the continued wholesale r@pe of our lands and resources for the financial gains of a select few at the egregious detriment of many. AND, sir, since I am directly decended from Cherokee, Choctaw, and Poquoson Native Americans, GET THE H&// OFF OUR LANDS AND RETURN UNTO OUR PEOPLES
WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY OURS ALONE. What was stolen from us as our forebearers were murdered, diseased intentionally, starved, enslaved, r@ped, beaten, herded like cattle, wronged as no other peoples upon this earth, save for the Jewish race, have ever been treated. That is a fire within that will never be settled! Now GO SCREW Yourself!@

It would be funny if it wasn’t so sad. Nah, strike that. It’s funny as hell.

From our friends at the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office…

On 12/7/09 at 1:00 PM, Deputies Chris Yeatts and Chuck Bates (riding together) were utilizing moving radar on HWY 58 (Philpott Rd.), when they met a white vehicle traveling approx. 80 mph heading westbound. They turned around [...]]]> You’re not going to outrun the law, folks.

From our friends at the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office…

On 12/7/09 at 1:00 PM, Deputies Chris Yeatts and Chuck Bates (riding together) were utilizing moving radar on HWY 58 (Philpott Rd.), when they met a white vehicle traveling approx. 80 mph heading westbound. They turned around on the vehicle, at which time the vehicle accelerated to speeds exceeding 120 mph. The pursuit continued into Pittsylvania Co., and then right onto Swedwood Rd., at which time the deputies lost sight of the vehicle. As they approached the Cane Creek Pkwy. intersection, they spotted the vehicle on the side of the road off Cane Creek Pkwy., where the 2 occupants of the vehicle were switching sides. The deputies turned around and got behind the vehicle again, at which time the vehicle, a white 2005 Hyundai, took off again. After approx. 3/10 of a mile, the vehicle stopped. Wendell G. Estes, age 34,of 254 Hairston St., Danville, was charged with felony eluding police, and misdemeanor driving on a suspended license. Donald W. Johnson, age 20, of the same address, was charged with felony eluding police.

Uranium mining study gets green light, with conditions

I had to re-read this quote to make sure I read it correctly…

Jack Dunavant, chairman of Southside Concerned Citizens, said whether the study turns out to be objective after it’s [...]]]> Do you believe in miracles? Not so fast… another SCC gasbag takes up the slack.

Uranium mining study gets green light, with conditions

I had to re-read this quote to make sure I read it correctly…

Jack Dunavant, chairman of Southside Concerned Citizens, said whether the study turns out to be objective after it’s over remains to be seen.

“As long as they do it objectively, I say full steam ahead,” Dunavant said Thursday.

Yeah, I know that Wacky Jack has left a giant hole to weasel out, but I’m taking the fact that Jack Dunavant is in favor of an objective study and freezing. Perhaps the SCC has actually stopped making ridiculous statements?

Or perhaps not…

Council continues concerns with uranium study funding

Eloise Nenon (of the Southside Confused Concerned Citizens) drops this steamer into the story…

“I seriously doubt it,” said Eloise Nenon, founding member of Southside Concerned Citizens, when asked if she believes the study would be objective.
The proposed study, Nenon said, “ignores the people, the communities, the traditions and our history. This is a very historic state.”

Hello, Eloise? Are you listening? This is a study about whether the uranium can be mined safely. It should have nothing to do with the people, the communities, the traditions NOR the history. It’s going to say if technology and science have evolved enough to get the uranium out safely. That’s all. No more, no less.

Of course, this is the same Eloise Nenon who is an expert at “poisoning the well” in her own way.

“You can do research to prove almost anything, if you want to,” Nenon said.

AMP, city abandon plant plan

I’m betting that Martinsville will be hung out to dry on their investments here, but that’s not my biggest concerns with this news.

Haven’t we really been [...]]]> You may be saying “So what?”, but this has some current Southside Virginia implications and makes me really wonder about the Mega-Park.

AMP, city abandon plant plan

I’m betting that Martinsville will be hung out to dry on their investments here, but that’s not my biggest concerns with this news.

Haven’t we really been here before?

OddsMakers of this brand-new AMP plant being built in the Berry Hill land area in the next five years: ZERO percent.

This power cooperative is not going to build a brand new plant at a minimum price tag of $321,000,000. It’s just not going to happen, no matter how the local politicians and economic developers try to spin it. I just don’t see it as possible.

Maute wants to know if megapark is protected

(Dr. Evil voice)Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight…

Let’s just say that the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors goes [...]]]> In the biggest stretch of logic since Jack Dunavant’s “Chemical Trespass” law (which was steamrolled into unconstitutional oblivion), Karen Maute comes up with another creative way to try and ban uranium mining.

Maute wants to know if megapark is protected

(Dr. Evil voice)Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight…

Let’s just say that the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors goes quite insane and passes this proposed piece of legislation. It would take approximately 38.6 seconds for any judicial review to rule it unconstitutional. The county simply doesn’t have the authority to put an any-mile ban of any activity thanks to the Dillon Rule.

Maute is an intelligent woman. Based on her SCC experience, she should know that this law would have no chance of surviving any judicial review, but then common sense seems to be lacking in lots of the SCC’s activities.

Hurt keeps part-time chief

You’re a very small town when your police chief is part-time and you pay him $10 each time he drives down to his job.

(Aside: The comments on the article are approaching R&B [...]]]> We all know that Hurt, VA is a small town. We didn’t know it was this small.

Hurt keeps part-time chief

You’re a very small town when your police chief is part-time and you pay him $10 each time he drives down to his job.

(Aside: The comments on the article are approaching R&B hilarity.)

The Danville-Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Southside Show-Biz Expo today (Thursday) at the Institute. Over 75 business will have booths that showcase what they do for the community and can do for [...]]]> Head to Danville’s Institute today from 11 AM to 4 PM and have a great time learning about local businesses!

The Danville-Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Southside Show-Biz Expo today (Thursday) at the Institute. Over 75 business will have booths that showcase what they do for the community and can do for you.

Laurie Moran & the chamber ave worked hard to put this trade show together and we promise that you’ll have a great time. Admission is free and the expo runs from 11AM to 4 PM. SouthsideCentral will do our best to be there LIVE! for at least a part of the day.

Hope to see you there!

Charles Poindexter is running for re-election for the first time and he’s facing a candidate from the Independent Green party.

>>>

Charles Poindexter (R): In his first term, Poindexter got some good [...]]]> The 9th District includes Floyd County, Franklin County and the northwest part of Pittsylvania County. Let’s take a look at this race.

Charles Poindexter is running for re-election for the first time and he’s facing a candidate from the Independent Green party.

>>>

Charles Poindexter (R): In his first term, Poindexter got some good committee assignments and was able to push through legislation that got Franklin County a “Drug Court” authorization. He had a few other bills make it into law as well. Nothing super special about his first term, but that’s not unexpected for a first-term Delegate.

Sherman Witcher (IG): Witcher ran against Robert Hurt in the 2007 Virginia Senate election in a very under-funded campaign. It really wasn’t much of a contest as Hurt won 75-25. Unfortunately, the money isn’t coming into this campaign either. DISCLAIMER: I am good friends with Witcher’s campaign manager.

>>>

Thoughts: Witcher seems like a good guy, but he’s facing almost-impossible odds. With no major-party backing (in other words, $$$$$), I just can’t see any realistic chance of a win. Poindexter defeated Eric Ferguson in 2007 in a open-seat 46-44-10 election, but Ferguson isn’t running this time after losing in 2005 & 2007. Poindexter is playing it safe and that’s the correct way to run this campaign against a candidate like Witcher. The only way that Witcher’s going to have a shot is to hope that Poindexter implodes. If Witcher does get some money, the Republican party will carpet-bomb this district with ads to ensure that this seat stays Republican.

>>>

Current vote prediction: Poindexter 72%, Witcher 28%

OddsMakers of a win: Poindexter 99% (I can’t lock this one away yet, but it’s as locked as they get at this time.)

>>>

We’ll be writing more about this race as the election comes near and will be making an endorsement.

More coming soon!

The Danville-Pittsylvania County Fair starts tonight and runs through next Saturday (9/26). After two days off from county fairs, the Halifax County Fair will run from Tuesday, September 28 through Saturday, October 3rd.

SouthsideCentral will be at both fairs and we’ll have LIVE! coverage!