City of Lynchburg

[Supa J]

Haha, is that what you call her?

I actually had some people start calling me SuperJon before my senior year in high school and it's stuck. There are high school baseball coaches in NC that know me as SuperJon. I interned with my high school coach last year and there was a coach that called him and goes, "Hey, can you see if SuperJon can get some dirt on this team for me?" Then after one of the games a coach from another team (who I hated) was like, "See ya SuperJon."

[PAmedic]

it's confirmed. You are insane.

[Supa J]

You still love me anyways.

The baseball thing can be explained. I'm a really active member on an NC high school sports message board so everyone has read my crap.

[PAmedic]

LOCK YOUR DOORS!

Students robbed at gunpoint in dorm

Lynchburg News & Advance
December 1, 2005

Lynchburg investigators don’t believe an armed robbery of two Lynchburg College students in their dorm room early Tuesday was random.

According to police, two masked men pushed open an unlocked door in Hundley Hall at 1:25 a.m. They confronted the two 19-year-old male students, one of whom was sleeping and the other watching TV, and demanded their valuables at gunpoint.

The students gave the men a few hundred dollars in cash and their cell phones, and the gunmen left, said Investigator Jerry Hise.

No one was hurt.

Hise called the dorm-room robbery “very odd.”

“More than likely (there will) be some connection between the two students and those that went in there because there’s no other justification for passing up all the other buildings and rooms and singling out this room,” said Hise, who could not recall any other college dorm robbery in recent years.

“Why this dorm? Why this room? Why pass up all the other things they pass up? That’s why I say there has to be a connection.”

The dorm room, which police are not identifying, is located on the second floor of a three-story building, which also houses several school offices on the first floor.

“This does not appear to be a random act. I don’t want other students to (be) concerned that people are doing random robberies,” Hise said.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Lynchburg Police at 455-6054 or Crime Stoppers at [phone].

[PAmedic]

and HOW or WHY do college kids have "a few hundred dollars in cash"?

I have an idea, but color me cynical. possibly they're "entrepreneurs"

[PAmedic]

well well well. I must say. I am SHOCKED. SHOCKED I tell ya by this UNEXPECTED TURN OF EVENTS

ok, enough of the sarcasm.

Police Say LC Student Robbery Victims Sold Drugs

Thursday December 01, 2005 11:23pm Reporter: Rob Harrington Posted By: Jeff Taylor

Lynchburg, VA - It sent chills through the campus of Lynchburg College. Now, police say an armed robbery in a dorm room there was anything but random. Lynchburg Police have concluded that the two students robbed at gunpoint in their dorm room at Lynchburg College were local drug dealers and not random victims.

A bittersweet development for college officials. While there's no doubt they have to be relieved that these masked bandits didn't strike randomly, it really has to be a concern that alleged drug dealers were living on campus.

Early Tuesday morning two masked men entered a dorm room at Hundley Hall and robbed the two students at gunpoint. Police say the intruders knew the students had marijuana and cash in their room. Besides making off with money and cell phones cops say the crooks also stole a small amount of pot.

Police are having a tough time making any headway in the case because they claim the students haven't been cooperative. College officials say they're continuing to investigate and hope to conclude that investigation some time Friday. They hope to comment at that time.

[PAmedic]

in case anyone was counting- PAmedic and his cynical attitude had that one pegged- oh, 17 hours ago

[bigsmooth]

the LC boys got expelled according to WDBJ-7....SELLING DRUGS OUT OF THE DORM...nice!!

[ATrain]

Thats not to say it doesn't happen here...I've been on 2 halls were someone got kicked out for that (17-2, in the room directly across from mine and E5-4, in my quad in the room right next to mine). I'm just happy it was kept as internal as possible (until now....this why I'm studying journalism-to be a muckracker, W00T!!!)...I hate it when a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch

[PAmedic]

poss 60% of people nationwide use some sort of recreational drugs, narcotic or otherwise. In the case of MY clientele, its probably closer to 70%, not counting all those addicted to prescription meds (Rush Limbaugh)

figure LU has 1/10th of those numbers (giving the benefit of a doubt) that's still 6%, or- outta 9000 people, around 500 doing drugs. They're gettin them somewhere.

[PAmedic]

ok- this isn't from Lynchburg- but it fits the stereotype nicely.
At least it oughta make you guys feel better about the 'burg anyway.

(I've helpfully highlighted some significant portions)

Dishing it out

Man beams 5,000 radio, TV channels with a dozen satellite receivers

By Amelia A. Pridemore
Register-Herald Reporter

Are 20 movie channels on demand just not enough?

Do constant reruns of “I Love the ’80s” on VH1 have you ready to gouge out your eyeballs?

Then come to Al Jessup’s house — where his 5,000-plus radio and television stations from around the world beamed in by his 12 satellite dishes are bound to keep you entertained somehow.

Since 1998, the Beckley resident has amassed a collection of 12 dishes around his James Street home. He said he first just began subscribing to Direct TV and Dish Network, but he later learned that by purchasing special satellite receivers he could receive “free to air” programming from several different satellites swirling the globe. The information on how to adjust a dish and set up a receiver to pick up programming from these stations such as Galaxy 10, AMC 2 and Telestar 5 is included with these receivers.

“Up in the sky, there’s lots of free stuff,” he said.

Over the years, the 54-year-old disabled former ice cream salesman collected more and more dishes so he could pick up more and more “free to air” channels. Neighbors, he said, never complained about his large display of dishes in front of his house. In fact, some of his dishes were hand-me-downs from his neighbors.

The last time he counted, he received more than 5,000 channels. He has stopped counting since.

Now, he picks up local stations from Wyoming, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee and Ohio, he said. Being a former resident of both Tennessee and New Orleans, he does like to watch the local news from there, just to see what is happening.

“New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey, you name it,” Jessup said. “I get everything but Alaska. But if I pointed something toward Alaska, I’d probably get Alaska.

“... I can scoot one over and see what’s going on in Ohio ... or the U.S. Virgin Islands.”

His Beckley home would likely rival most government communications centers. Not only does he pick up stations from across the country, but across the world as well. He picks up stations from Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Jerusalem and other foreign locations.

“Sometimes they speak English, and sometimes they don’t,” he said. “You never know.

“It’s just interesting to watch stations from far away.”

In his home, Jessup has three television sets, and only one gets the plethora of stations. The other two, he said, just receive his programming from his Direct TV and Dish Network subscriptions.

Because the programming is free, it changes regularly, he noted. Sometimes, a program he likes will disappear and something he dislikes will be put in its place, or vice versa. For example, he once had three ABC stations from Wyoming only to have it reduced to one.

“One day it may be here, the next day it may be gone, the next day it may be back,” he said. “You never know.”

Jessup said some programming includes things he likes, like racing or music, and some of it is, well, “weird.”

Soon, he plans to add a 13th dish to his collection, he said. He may later get a “fancy” satellite dish that is basically like 16 dishes in one. This could eliminate some of the dishes outside his house — or enable him to get even more channels.

“I could point them toward the east where there’s a bunch of satellites running around,” he said. “I don’t know what I would get there.”

[PAmedic]

here's the pic: just wanted to make you wait for it...
SCAR- is this your place?

[PAmedic]

Lynchburg Mayor Carl Hutcherson indicted

Lynchburg News & Advance
December 7, 2005

Lynchburg Mayor Carl Hutcherson was indicted on federal fraud charges this morning.
U.S. Attorney spokeswoman Heidi Coy said the seven-count indictment alleges that Hutcherson defrauded a charitable organization, defrauded Social Security and obstructed a federal investigation.

An indictment is a formal charge, and Hutcherson has not been convicted of any crime. The charges bring an end to almost a yearlong federal investigation that shook City Hall.

U.S. Attorney John Brownlee filed a motion today asking the federal court to disqualify Hutcherson's attorney, Roanoke-based John Fishwick.
"It is clear that the defendant used Mr. Fishwick as an unwitting agent to deliver the fraudulent documents to the Grand Jury," the filing says. "It follows that Mr. Fishwick should be barred from being counsel and a witness in the same proceeding."
Read the Hutcherson Indictment

Here are the seven charges in the indictment:
-- two counts of Social Security fraud
-- two counts of mail fraud;
-- one count of bank fraud;
-- one count of making a false statement to a federal official
-- one count of obstruction of justice.

[El Scorcho]

Yeah. The Mayor really blew it. He took a lot of money in the name of the church, from a lot of people/organizations. He's actually a nice guy, but it's so wrong that I'm glad he got caught.

[tallyw]

What church was he a part of?

[El Scorcho]

tallyw said:

What church was he a part of?

Trinity New Life Church. It's downtown somewhere.

[PAmedic]

reading the indictment itself- he evidently was acting as a responsible party for several persons; incl managing their social security payments. According to the indictment handed down up from the grand jury, the money intended for them was allegedly diverted to this gentleman's personal accounts as well as to his church and the non-profit group he organized. This is a sad story.

[Sly Fox]

Technically, grand juries hand up indictments. But you are absolutely on target with your assessment of this sad story.

[PAmedic]

thanks for catching that one SLY. and you are- SLY

[PAmedic]

I'm just intrigued by the fact that, with all the talk about him being a pastor- he's also THE MAYOR! no liberals concerned about separation of church and state? hmmm.

(Can't say I have EVER seen a headline like THIS one:)

Mayor takes leave as pastor

Conor Reilly
[e-mail]
December 9, 2005

Lynchburg Mayor Carl Hutcherson voluntarily stepped down Wednesday as pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church, a congregation he helped build over the past 20 years.

The announcement comes one day after Hutcherson was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of fraud, lying to federal officials and obstruction of justice.

“Rev. Hutcherson does not wish to cause additional distress for his congregation or further embarrassment for the United Methodist Church and believes that in their best interest, removing himself as pastor is the best course of action,” Virginia United Methodist Church spokeswoman Carole Vaughan said Thursday.

His leave of absence was effective Thursday. Lynchburg District Superintendent David Drinkard will preach in his place this Sunday.

Reached by telephone Thursday, Hutcherson said he hopes to address his church during Sunday services.

“It is, it is sad,” he said.

The church building has stood on Grace Street for 123 years.

Hutcherson founded the current Trinity church in 1985, shortly after graduating from Duke Divinity School. Before Hutcherson took over, Trinity was a mostly white church that closed because of dwindling membership, according to a 1985 article in The News & Advance.

In a 1999 article, Hutcherson was asked what he most wanted to be remembered for.

“Founding Trinity United Methodist Church,” he answered.

Drinkard and Hutcherson met Thursday to discuss the pastor’s options outlined in the church’s “Book of Discipline.”

Hutcherson sent a letter the same day to the Bishop of the Virginia United Methodist Church requesting his own leave of absence, according to a news release.

Right now, his absence is temporary.

If he is found guilty of any of the government’s charges, the “Book of Discipline” provides a formal mechanism for his removal as pastor.

Hutcherson has yet to comment on his political future. He said he would make an announcement early next week.

He is due to be arraigned in federal court in Roanoke on Monday.

Bishop Charlene Kammerer and the cabinet said they hold Hutcherson, his family, his church and Lynchburg citizens in their prayers.

[PAmedic]

this has gotta be the most screwed up municipal system I've ever seen. Not only a Pastor, and head of a charity, but the MAYOR, AND a city councilman. How the heck does THAT one work?

anyway- he's taking the high road here and refusing to step down. more impressive leadership.

Mayor to council: I will not step down

Conor Reilly
[e-mail]
January 11, 2006

Facing intense criticism Tuesday night for his decision to remain Lynchburg’s mayor, Carl Hutcherson said for a second time in just a few weeks that he will not step down as a member of City Council.

The heat came as council members adjourned to a session closed to the public during their regularly scheduled City Council meeting to discuss the mayor’s “performance.”

Hutcherson was indicted in early December on charges of mail fraud, bank fraud, lying to federal officials and obstruction of justice. He first refused to resign shortly after, saying he will serve out his term but not seek re-election this May.

Council members spent 45 minutes behind closed doors with Hutcherson. Three members - Joe Seiffert, Jeff Helgeson and Mike Gillette - all urged Hutcherson to resign as mayor.

“I certainly respect the sentiments expressed by my fellow council members,” the mayor said after the closed-door session. “However, I am firm in my conviction to finish the job that I was elected to do.”

Though council elected Hutcherson in 2004 to a two-year term as mayor, it has no legal mechanism to remove him from the body or from his leadership post.

Helgeson attempted to pass a resolution after the closed meeting that would formally urge the mayor to resign as both mayor and a council member. That failed because no one seconded the motion.

It said the mayor, who has documented financial troubles, failed to meet a “significant prerequisite” to oversee the spending of city money.

“… it is incumbent upon this council to protect the integrity and public trust of this council generally, and the office of the mayor particularly …” Helgeson’s resolution said.

But Councilman Ceasor Johnson lashed out at the members who attempted to force Hutcherson out, calling Tuesday’s meeting a “travesty” and saying the move was nothing more than “political grandstanding.”

“When you have a person who is down, who has already been kicked, you don’t keep kicking him and knocking him down,” he said.

In order to move into closed session, council cited a section of the state code that allows members to discuss “personnel matters” in private.

“It’s not a personnel matter,” said Councilman Bert Dodson, who refused to participate in the closed meeting. “This should have been in the open.”

Vice Mayor Joan Foster, who made the motion to go into closed session, said she did so because council members have not had an opportunity to tell the mayor how they feel.

She said she refused to second Helgeson’s motion to pass the resolution because “it has no meaning in the past or in the future.”

For Seiffert, Tuesday’s meeting helped to bring the members’ feelings out in the open.

“I had hoped that Carl would do the right thing and step down,” Seiffert said at the meeting. “By not doing so means continuing media exposure, statewide, that can only be described as a negative influence for our city and its reputation. This is bigger than Carl. It affects the whole city.”

[LUconn]

He also owns Hutcherson Funeral.