Canadian killed in Albemarle traffic accident
One man was killed and four other individuals injured in a crash in Albemarle County Wednesday afternoon (Dec. 21). At 4:16 p.m., Virginia State Police Trooper A.T. Covey was called to the scene in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 64 at the 122 mile marker.
A 2006 Toyota Tacoma was traveling eastbound on I-64 when a piece of cargo fell off and into the roadway. The wooden chair came to rest in the left travel lane. The driver of the Tacoma immediately pulled over to the right shoulder.
A 2006 Saturn Relay was eastbound in the left travel lane when it came upon the chair. The Saturn swerved to miss the chair and ran off the right side of the interstate. The Saturn struck the rear of the stopped Tacoma and overturned. The Saturn came to rest on its passenger side. Continue reading “Canadian killed in Albemarle traffic accident” »
Expansion adds 51 jobs in Albemarle County
MicroAire Surgical Instruments announced today that it will invest $8 million to expand its operations in Albemarle County for the development of new products. The project will create 51 new jobs.
“Close proximity to its company headquarters and R&D opportunities with the University of Virginia made Albemarle County an easy choice for MicroAire’s expansion project,” said Jim Cheng, Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “With its new product development plans and history of success I am confident that the company will continue its remarkable growth.”
MicroAire is a made-in-America success story that could serve as a model for the new economy. The medium-sized, privately owned company designs, manufactures and distributes highly specialized medical instruments to a global marketplace, all from its facility in Albemarle County. MicroAire products include precision, powered instruments for joint replacement, sterile-packaged orthopedic accessories such as blades and drills, endoscopic treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, and a powered liposuction system with applications for adipose-derived stem cell therapies.
Their latest product, called Endotine, is one of the main reasons behind MicroAire’s expansion. The product provides an alternative to sutures during facial surgery, and it must be manufactured in a specialized environment with temperature and humidity controls and high-efficiency air filters, so that it can be sold in pre-sterilized packages. This type of manufacturing is performed in a facility called a “Clean Room,” which has extremely low levels of environmental pollutants such as airborne microbes, aerosol particles and chemical vapors.
MicroAire was the first company to sell pre-sterilized disposable accessories for orthopedic instruments, so the company already has a Clean Room at its current facility. With the expansion into a new facility, the company will double its Clean Room capacity, and will add significantly to its machining, assembly, inspection and repair spaces. The new building also provides space for new-product development labs and surgeon-training facilities.
“MicroAire has been a part of this community for more than 15 years,” said company president George Saiz. “We feel especially fortunate to have found the ideal space for our expansion so close to our current facility. We know that MicroAire’s success comes directly from the talent and ingenuity of our employees, who come to us from all around the Charlottesville region, so we definitely wanted to stay in the area as we grow. Expanding in Albemarle County makes a lot of sense for us. This is simply a great place to do business.”
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Albemarle County and the Thomas Jefferson Partnership for Economic Development to secure the MicroAire project for Virginia. Governor McDonnell approved a $100,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Albemarle County with the project. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance (VDBA) will provide funding and services to support the company’s recruitment and training activities.
“We are very pleased to welcome and support MicroAire’s expansion into the facility on Airport Road, which allows for reuse of an existing building and provides additional capital investment and quality job opportunities for local residents,” said Ann Mallek, Albemarle Board of Supervisors chairman. “MicroAire has been an outstanding corporate citizen for more than 15 years and we look forward to their continued success and exciting new commercial ventures as a valued Albemarle County business.”
One killed in I-64 crash
A Charlottesville man was killed and another man injured along Interstate 64 in Albemarle County early Tuesday morning, Mar. 1, 2011. At 8:23 a.m., Trooper K.M. Ralston was called to the scene of a multi-vehicle crash at the 104 mile marker in the eastbound lanes of the interstate.
A 2002 Toyota Camry and a 2003 Ford Escape were both traveling in the westbound lanes of I-64. The driver of the Camry, traveling in the right lane, attempted to change lanes and struck the 2003 Ford Escape which was traveling in the left lane. The Camry continued into the median and proceeded into the eastbound lanes of I-64, where it sideswiped a 2006 Acura TSX and then struck a 2000 Volvo V70 head-on. The driver of the Camry, Woodland Anderson IV, of Charlottesville, Va., was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene. He was not wearing a seatbelt.
The driver of the Volvo, Andrew D. Werner of Staunton, Va., was airlifted to the University of Virginia Medical Center. He was wearing his seatbelt.
The driver of the Ford Escape and the driver of the Acura were not injured in the crash. Both drivers were wearing their seatbelts.
The collision closed the eastbound lanes of I-64 so troopers could investigate the crash. For a time, traffic was diverted at the 99 mile marker onto Route 250 and back onto I-64 at the 107 mile marker. Both eastbound lanes were re-opened at 11:22 a.m.
The Virginia State Police Accident Reconstruction Team assisted with the investigation. At this time, no charges will be filed.
Tunnel vision: Ecotourism project a future boon?
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Claudius Crozet’s forward thinking two centuries ago is serving as a guide for local leaders trying to turn his technological marvel of a railroad tunnel through the Blue Ridge at Rockfish Gap into a tourist attraction.
“It will be a draw for hikers, for railroad buffs, geology people, history people. There’s a wide swath of people that this should appeal to,” said Emily Harper, the director of parks and recreation in Nelson County, which has taken the lead on the project to repurpose the Crozet Tunnel. Continue reading “Tunnel vision: Ecotourism project a future boon?” »
Location of ‘greatest significance’ in Harrington investigation
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
The Albemarle County farm where the remains of Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington were discovered on Jan. 26 are of “the greatest significance” in unraveling the mystery of her Oct. 17 disappearance, a Virginia State Police investigator said Thursday.
Investigators believe that the person or persons responsible for her homicide is or are likely to have traveled, worked, recreated or lived in close proximity to the historic Anchorage Farm located in southern Albemarle County.
“Of all the events that transpired between Morgan and the person or persons responsible for this tragic incident, the person(s) responsible had complete control of deciding to choose the specific farm where Morgan was discovered. Therefore, investigators need to understand who knows this area,” said Lt. Joe Rader of the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Appomattox field office. Continue reading “Location of ‘greatest significance’ in Harrington investigation” »
Barrel tasting at Virginia Wineworks
Staff Report
News tips: freepress2@ntelos.net
Virginia Wineworks will have a special barrel-tasting event on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 30 and Jan. 31, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day
This is a unique opportunity to taste the recently blended 2008 Meritage and other Bordeaux varietals while they are still in the barrel. These wines will continue to age for another year and will not be officially available until 2011.
Customers will have the opportunity to purchase red wines from the heralded 2008 vintage at a significant savings. Both Michael Shaps and Philip Stafford will be on hand to sample and discuss these wines. Continue reading “Barrel tasting at Virginia Wineworks” »
Marrow: Obama, Dems no better than GOP
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
See if you can guess who updated their Facebook status this way over the weekend.
“A year later is has become abundantly clear that Obama and the dems are no better than bush and his republican sleaze. They are all corporate wh@#es, liars and thieves. The only difference is that Obama actually has a brain (most medical experts agree that bush did not), but no spine, at least bush had a spine ..even if was cheney’s…”
No, though I have a number of hardcore Republican friends, it wasn’t one of them.
And no, it wasn’t me, centrist critic of the Obama administration that I am.
Would you believe, Greg Marrow, the Democratic Party House of Delegates nominee in the 25th District from last fall? Continue reading “Marrow: Obama, Dems no better than GOP” »
Boyd: Poll gives candidate early lead
Staff Report
News Tips: freepress2@ntelos.net
Albemarle County Board of Supervisors member Ken Boyd is claiming the early lead in the race for the Fifth District Republican congressional nomination.
An e-mail sent out by the Boyd campaign on Monday reports that a poll commissioned by the campaign has Boyd ahead of State Sen. Robert Hurt by a 21 percent-to-10 percent margin in an undefined low-turnout primary, though Hurt leads Boyd 23 percent-to-10 percent in a likewise-undefined high-turnout race.
The poll gives Boyd the lead when voters are informed of Hurt’s vote in 2004 in favor of the tax-reform plan championed by former Gov. Mark Warner and a bipartisan coalition in the General Assembly that effectively raised state revenues by $1.5 billion and Boyd’s own efforts on the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors to cut spending in county government. Continue reading “Boyd: Poll gives candidate early lead” »
To conserve and protect
Biscuit Run grant pushes state past Kaine’s 400K-acre conservation goal
Staff Report
News Tips: freepress2@ntelos.net
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today announced that more than 400,000 acres has been conserved since the first fiscal year of his administration in 2006. Several major acquisitions in Albemarle, King and Queen and Rockbridge counties, along with end-of-the-year easement recordings, helped the Commonwealth meet one of Gov. Kaine’s signature goals. The final total is 424,103 acres.
“This land conservation goal is one that strongly resonated with me personally, and it obviously resonated with other Virginians as well,” Gov. Kaine said. “It was truly a team effort among state agencies, land trusts and private landowners to make this a reality.” Continue reading “To conserve and protect” »
Biscuit Run to become state park
Former largest planned development in Albemarle history to be preserved as open space
Staff Report
News Tips: freepress2@ntelos.net
Gov. Tim Kaine on Wednesday announced the purchase of approximately 1,200 acres in Albemarle County known as “Biscuit Run” to be held by the state as a site for a future state park.
“When developed as a state park, this extraordinary piece of land will benefit the citizens of Albemarle, Charlottesville and the Commonwealth for recreation, natural resource protection and the preservation of open space in a fast growing area,” Gov. Kaine said. “This property is a real jewel and I am very pleased to add it to the long list of properties preserved during my Administration.”
This purchase will add to the goal of 400,000 acres of open space preserved during Governor Kaine’s Administration.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the state to acquire such a valuable property which offers spectacular mountain views, abundant flora and fauna and is in the viewshed of Mr. Jefferson’s Monticello estate and farms,” said Secretary of Natural Resources L. Preston Bryant Jr. Continue reading “Biscuit Run to become state park” »
Focus | Verga makes case for GOP nomination in Fifth
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
What’s wrong with America, if you ask Laurence Verga, isn’t just with the direction that the Obama administration and the Democratic Congress is taking, but what their Republican predecessors did, or rather didn’t do, ahead of them.
“One of the reasons our country is in the challenged position it is in is because when we had Republican power in Congress and in the White House, it wasn’t the right type of conservatism,” said Verga, who is running for the Republican Party nomination in the Fifth District, which represents a wide swath of Central Virginia and Southside extending from the Charlottesville area to the North Carolina border. Continue reading “Focus | Verga makes case for GOP nomination in Fifth” »
Focus | Perriello ’10: A safe bet? Hardly
Story by Chris Graham
We’re about a year away from the November 2010 elections, though you wouldn’t know that by watching local TV and seeing the wall-to-wall commercials telling you about what Fifth District Congressman Tom Perriello has been doing up in Washington.
First it was the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with an ad in heavy rotation that has come under fire for the tagline at the end saying that the freshman congressman is “Wrong on Health Care, Wrong for Virginia” in apparent violation of federal campaign-finance laws. The new ad in heavy rotation has come from Americans United for Change, which is encouraging Fifth District voters who support health-care reform to call Perriello’s Washington office to thank him for his vote earlier this month on the House reform package. Continue reading “Focus | Perriello ’10: A safe bet? Hardly” »
