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Comment:

I now a man who worked for years at the jail house and got a DWI. He was having problems at home and lost it for a while. He's a really good guy. He couldn't keep it together. He got fired from the jail and didn't get any retirement or benefits either. They didn't pay for him to go to rehab!

Comment:

My Grandson was charged with a DUI at just about the same time. He probably sserved his jail sentence during the same time Mr. Hildebrand was returning to work. Why didn't the same consequences apply for both? May I also note that my Grandson was making approx. $10.00 per hour before this happened, paid well over $1500.00 in fines plus a fee to take each mandatory AA class over a period of 6 months or more. I read that Mr. Hildebrands fines were $250- $500 and his income is near $100,000. according to previous newspaper reports. How is this even remotely fair? Where is the justice in this? Our leaders are teaching the next generation that anything can Dissappear or get FIXED if you know the right people. Sounds like a mini mafia doesn't it? Oh yeah,.....our tax dollars paid his fines.

Comment:

Once again, our judges and local GOOD OL BOYS have abuse the power that they have been given. We all know had it been JOE CITIZEN, he'd currently be eating jail meals in his cell. I specifically know of more than one person who made a foolish and dangerous decision to drive while under the influence. Both lost their jobs, driving privledges, spent time in jail ( MORE THAN 10 DAYS ) and had enormous fines not to mention a permanent record....at the hands of "Judge" Whitacre himself! NONE where "reinstated" after the fact and were paid salaries by the tax payers. SHAME ON YOU JUDGE WHITACRE!!! Just because the Judge and the Criminal have probably shatred afew golf games, fund raisers or dinners together does not mean the laws don't apply. Wake up folks, Joe Taxpayer isn't going to keep putting up with this!

Comment:

Ok,

This is a little odd in the middle of a recession Stephens City is going to spend money on an old school when current schools are being cut to the point of not having enough funding for kindegarten or middle and high school sports. Yet they are receiving funding and grants for destroying property for 5 Habitat for Humanity houses which has left a strip mine. Now grants and funds for Main st improvements??? and last but not least grants and funding for a school museum. When the current schools need money desprately. How does this happen is this economy ???? Is anyone watching because Stephens City students attend Frederick County Public Schools!!!

Comment:

It's an old tradition that goes way back....

Small town newspapers publish items like arrests and indictments for the "other" purpose of embarrassing their citizens.

It's not about accuracy and it's doubtful the dismissals and acquittals ever get published after it's all over.

Now the citizen gets treated badly by everyone even if the charge is dismissed.

Comment:

A "fee" to play? I thought that was only allowed in Vegas. Hard to tell how much money the house was making here.

Comment:

In 2002 this guy basically got let off the hook for a DUI.

I don't know if all of you are aware, but many towns in Virginia have a second-chance program which allows privlidged (i.e. rich and well connected) drivers to pay a large fine in return for a reduction of their DWI charges to reckless driving. it is basically a money-making scheme for the towns involved (Luray is a good local example of this racket).

Not only did this guy get his DUI dismissed, but he was also restored as the head of jails. He got a second chance. Now he is YET AGAIN unwilling to take responsibility for his actions. Sad really. On many levels.

Comment:

The appeal defense is "I was not under the affluence of incohol az manee teeple phink I wuz"?

Maybe for his own safety he should spend his ten days someplace where his reputation doesn't precede him? Or maybe not? Was he so well loved Bubba can't wait to see him again? Is there a dry eye in the big-house?

Comment:

DSS is the most corrupt, wasteful state agency the state of Virginia taxpayer throw their money away on. It exists SOLEY to funnel Federal matching dollars to the State's General Fund to PAY SALARIES AND BENEFITS to Social Workers who are NEVER held accountable for violations of the Laws, nor Ethics. Social workers in Virginia now hold more authority than that of Judges thanks to legislation passed over the past two years. They are the "change" so many lazy taxpayers begged for.

Comment:

A Winchester Circuit Court grand jury has indicted two people. . .
both face charges of marijuana manufacturing and obstruction of justice. .
he did not know if Rennie or Gossage had been arrested.
no one by either name was incarcerated there Tuesday afternoon.
Gossage was detained . .
Rennie was charged with obstruction of justice. . .
No one else is expected to be charged in the crime, . . .
Rennie faces one count of marijuana manufacturing and two counts of obstruction of justice. Gossage faces one count of marijuana manufacturing and one count of obstruction of justice.

This IS one well written story!!!!

Comment:

Was ANYBODY at the scene arrested for the 'illegal' poker tournament?
Just curious.

Comment:

How can you appeal when you plead guilty?
Isn't that saying I did it???
Then what's to appeal?

Comment:

Thanks, but no thanks. Why on earth would I want a job like that with someone like me always whining and grumbling about something? I got me a brand new ‘Be Your Own Boss Captain of Industry” kind of full time job picking up pop bottles alongside the highway. I learned about it on the interweb thingy. I’m gonna get rich…..rich, I tells ya!

Comment:

Awww, RATS! If that is true guess I better hustle on down to the Ferrari dealership and cancel my order, get my deposit back and use it to enroll in one of those English As A Second Language courses, then think up another get rich quick scheme. Picking up pop bottles alongside the road looks pretty good.

Comment:

Ryank, You recognized em.

Comment:

You have waaaaaay too much time on your hands. Perhaps you could use that time to do some more research. What you quoted in bold in your post is how a Meals Tax is SUPPOSED to work. However, in the 522 case, the restaurants are not within town limits and the town cannot collect a meals tax from them and the restaurants cannot collect a meals tax from their customers on behalf of the town. They were therefore adding the equivalent of a meals tax to their utility bill. The court found this to be wrong and therefore overturned the agreement.

The key line here is "It is clear as a matter of law that the Meals Tax is not a tax that the restaurants would pay - no matter where they are located." This is why it was overturned in court. Because the restaurants WERE paying it.

Comment:

Whacko Jacko for Town Council !

Comment:

Trimming the Police Department in economic times such as these would be a dire mistake. This economy is likely to INCREASE crime rate, not decrease it.

Offenses such as shoplifting and thievery could possibly become accompanied by force - as the times worsen. Just because we are small does not mean that statistics don't touch us here as well.

Decreasing ANY police services, INCLUDING pay to the officers and dispatchers could possibly spur them to jobhunt elsewhere.

I think the citizens of Front Royal would feel much more secure if the police force stayed the course and kept up the excellent service it has strived to provide.

I am sure there are plenty of other non-essential places where cuts can be made.

SUPPORT YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT!!!!!

Comment:

Since the manner of the death of the cavy wasn't determined, how does "cruelty" apply? If the animal was humanely killed, where does the word "cruel" come into the equation?

Cavies (the proper name for guinea pigs) have been raised and served on the dinner table for much longer than they've been kept as pets. While they do make fun pets, they are also a food animal. There are, indeed, breeds of cavy that are raised expressly for their meat.

This entire affair is ludicrous--a hideous waste of taxpayers' money especially in these trying times.

Potbellied pigs, incidentally, ARE considered companion animals by many owners. They make special furniture for them, potty train them, keep them in their own houses and walk them on leashes. They may not be Dr. Scott's choice of pet, but I don't think that's the criteria that laws are made from.

Dawn
Fluff N Furr Angora (rabbits)

Comment:

Hmmmm.....I went down to the courthouse and looked at Circuit Court case #L09000018. It's a stack of paperwork about a foot high (3 folders and a 4 inch notebook) and here is what I found: When both sides of a lawsuit agree on things, they create a document they title "Stipulated Facts". I found such a document dated 10-30-2009 and this is what it had to say, in part:

"...Exhibits 6 - 7 - & 8 Stipulated Facts. It is clear as a matter of law that the Meals Tax is not a tax that the restaurants would pay - no matter where they are located. The Meals Tax is a "Trust Fund Tax" imposed on the restaurants customers. (Town Code 75-24 Exhibit 7) It is collected from the customers and remitted to the Town by the restaurants acting as the Town agent. (75-25) Between the time the tax is collected and remitted, these funds are held in trust for the Town (75-30). For these tax collection services the restaurants "receive a commission" in the form of a deduction from the tax so remitted (75-31). This pattern is mandated by Virginia Law and is the same pattern found in various statutes dealing with trust fund taxes."

Did you see the part that said " It is collected from the customers and remitted to the Town by the restaurants acting as the Town agent."? I think that part is pretty clear in saying the plaintiff and the defendant agree the restaurants collected the tax from paying customers.

So, since the Town and the restaurants both agree the restaurants collected the tax from the customers,......

So, Applebee, TGI Friday, and Cracker Barrel, I think you owe your customers some tax money refunds. How much is my share of the tax refund?