Testifying in front of a jury and other people in a courtroom is traumatic enough, but then to have some rag of a newspaper give your identity to the whole world? Worst newspaper in Virginia.

In fact, if I had a single spare cent to my name, I would be inquiring about buying some stock in Aqua Virginia (assuming that they provide a regular cash dividend).

But do not fret Aqua Virginia customers, in a year or two President Obama and his newly founded Unification Board will ensure that those evil owners of Aqua are not making any profit. And I am sure folks like Delegate Chris Peace, Supervisors Wayne Acors and Floyd Thomas, and The Caroline Progress will be celebrating.

But — hopefully — by that time, the people at Aqua will have gone on strike and the customers of Aqua will be dying of thirst, unable to take a shower, and their lawns will be dead.

Oh-so-sincerely,
Midas Watson

From a story in this week’s edition of The Caroline Progress about an Arby’s opening in Carmel Church:

There are now close to 3,000 Arby’s in the U.S. and Canada. In 1964, Arby’s was founded in Ohio by Forrest and Leroy Raffel who intended to create a fast food franchise based on a food other than hamburgers. The Arby’s name is derived from “Raffel Brothers” or “RB.” By coincidence, the initials can also stand for “roast beef.”

Arby’s, oriented more towards adults than other fast food restaurants, is known not only for roast beef sandwiches but also for chicken sandwiches, curly fries, and popcorn chicken. Included on the menu are appetizers, salads, Market Fresh (deli-style) sandwiches, wraps, and submarine sandwiches.

And from the Arby’s page on Wikipedia:

Arby’s is a fast food restaurant chain in the United States and Canada that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wendy’s/Arby’s Group, Inc. It is primarily known for selling roast beef sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, curly fries, and popcorn chicken. The company’s target market attempts to be more adult-oriented than other fast food restaurants. The Arby’s menu also includes appetizers, salads, Market Fresh (deli-style) sandwiches, wraps, and submarine sandwiches.

[…]

Arby’s was founded by Forrest and Leroy Raffel in Ohio in 1964, who were determined to own a fast food franchise based on a food other than hamburgers. The brothers wanted to use the preferred name of “Big Tex”, but that name was already being used by an Akron businessman. They eventually decided on the Arby’s moniker, based on R.B., the initials of Raffel Brothers,^[5] thus Arby’s, LLC, was born. By coincidence, R.B. can also be short for roast beef, the company’s main product, a point which was used when the backronym “America’s Roast Beef, Yes Sir” was used as an advertising campaign in the 1980s.

And if you were wondering about Wikipedia’s copyright requirements:

If you want to use Wikipedia materials in your own books/articles/websites or other publications, you can do so — but only in compliance with the GFDL. If you are simply duplicating the Wikipedia article, you must follow section two of the GFDL on verbatim copying, as discussed at Wikipedia:Verbatim copying.

If you create a derivative version by changing or adding content, this entails the following:

• your materials in turn have to be licensed under GFDL,
• you must acknowledge the authorship of the article (section 4B), and
• you must provide access to the “transparent copy” of the material (section 4J). (The “transparent copy” of a Wikipedia article is any of a number of formats available from us, including the wiki text, the html web pages, xml feed, etc.)

And, of course, this isn’t the first time that The Caroline Progress has been caught plagiarizing someone. The last time it was The Free Lance–Star.

The second letter in support of Lee Anne Washington (R), that was in the January 30th edition, was from Robert Fountain of Montross, Virginia. Robert Fountain is the Chairman of the Westmoreland County Republican Committee and is on First Congressional District Republican Committee. Montross is in Westmoreland County, and is 40.99 miles away from Bowling Green. This same letter also appeared in the February 6th edition of the Northern Neck News, which is owned by Lakeway Publishers, Inc., the same company that owns The Caroline Progress.

Another letter in support of Lee Anne Washington (R), appearing in the February 6th edition, was written by Terry Beatley from Lancaster, Virginia. Lancaster is in (again, obviously) Lancaster County, and is 68.31 miles away from Bowling Green.

The sole letter in support of Albert Pollard (D) appearing in any edition was in the February 6th edition. It was written by Rose West (who, admittedly, is the Secretary of the Caroline County Democratic Committee) who lives in Milford. Milford is 3.75 miles away from Bowling Green.

Yet another letter supporting Lee Anne Washington (R) written by Ron Herring of Heathsville, Virginia appeared in the February 13th edition. Heathsville is in Northumberland County and is 63.85 miles away from Bowling Green.

This is the same paper that in its December 5, 2007, edition printed a letter from the sheriff of Poquoson and York County in support of Rob Wittman (R). Yorktown is 100.57 miles away from Bowling Green!

Does anyone else see a problem with a 4–1 ratio of letters in support of one candidate (and if you include the letter in support of Wittman, a 5–1 ratio for one party)? Especially when the four letters (five, including Wittman’s) are from people not even in Caroline County? Especially times two, when the letters are being published in other newspapers owned by the same company?

It wouldn’t be a problem with using letters from their sister publications if they were done in a fair and balance manner!

Wait a second…I’m expecting them to do their jobs — how foolish of me…

A Spotsylvania County sheriff’s deputy has been charged in Caroline County with sexually abusing a child.

Richard E. Lloyd Jr., 38, of Dawn is charged with aggravated sexual battery and taking indecent liberties with a child.

Spotsylvania Sheriff Howard Smith said Lloyd is on administrative leave from the office and that the issue was a personnel matter.

Lloyd was arrested Jan. 23 on the charges and was released from Pamunkey Regional Jail on a personal recognizance bond. The child is related to Lloyd, authorities said.

Caroline Sheriff Tony Lippa said Lloyd’s arrest stemmed from a call from the Department of Social Services requesting assistance.

Online court records show that Lloyd is set for a jury trial May 28 in Caroline County Circuit Court.

A special prosecutor from the Goochland County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office will be trying the case.

This is an article by Toni Stinson that appeared in the February 6, 2008, edition of The Caroline Progress: Spotsylvania Deputy arrested in Caroline:

A Spotsylvania County sheriff’s deputy has been charged in Caroline County with indecent liberties with a minor and aggravated sexual battery on January 23.

Lloyd is on administrative leave from the Spotsylvania sheriff’s office said a representative of the sheriff’s office and that the issue is a personnel matter.

Lloyd was arrested Jan. 23 on the charges and was released from Pamunkey Regional Jail on a personal recognizance bond. Caroline Sheriff Tony Lippa said Lloyd’s arrest stemmed from a call from the Department of Social Services requesting assistance.

The incident originated as a call for service from social services. After the investigator assigned to the call completed her inquiry, direct indictments were sought and obtained from Caroline Circuit Court.

Online court records show that Lloyd is set for a jury trial May 28 in Caroline County Circuit Court.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Tony Spencer issued an information on Lloyd which allowed law enforcement to immediately pick him up without the preliminary hearing. The information is just like an indictment, but is signed by the Commonwealth’s Attorney, which allows law enforcement to move quickly.

Originally assigned to the case was the new incoming Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Diane Abato. Abato had previously represented Lloyd’s ex-wife in a custody hearing, so a special prosecutor from the Goochland County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office will be trying the case. Goochland’s Commonwealth’s Attorney Claiborne Stokes has acknowledged that Nancy Oglesby will be assigned to the case.

For those out there that are dense, I’ll highlight the parts that are exactly the same, from Stinson’s story:

A Spotsylvania County sheriff’s deputy has been charged in Caroline County with [first paragraph of Biltz’s story -ed.] indecent liberties with a minor and aggravated sexual battery on January 23.

Lloyd is on administrative leave from the Spotsylvania sheriff’s office said a representative of the sheriff’s office and that the issue is a personnel matter. [third paragraph -ed.]

Notice that Stinson didn’t include paragraph two of Biltz’s story which identified Lloyd’s full name and residence. That’s usually something pretty important in a story, no?

Lloyd was arrested Jan. 23 on the charges and was released from Pamunkey Regional Jail on a personal recognizance bond. [fourth paragraph -ed.] Caroline Sheriff Tony Lippa said Lloyd’s arrest stemmed from a call from the Department of Social Services requesting assistance. [fifth paragraph -ed.]

The incident originated as a call for service from social services. After the investigator assigned to the call completed her inquiry, direct indictments were sought and obtained from Caroline Circuit Court.

Online court records show that Lloyd is set for a jury trial May 28 in Caroline County Circuit Court. [sixth paragraph -ed.]

Commonwealth’s Attorney Tony Spencer issued an information on Lloyd which allowed law enforcement to immediately pick him up without the preliminary hearing. The information is just like an indictment, but is signed by the Commonwealth’s Attorney, which allows law enforcement to move quickly.

Originally assigned to the case was the new incoming Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Diane Abato. Abato had previously represented Lloyd’s ex-wife in a custody hearing, so a special prosecutor from the Goochland County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office will be trying the case. [seventh paragraph -ed.] Goochland’s Commonwealth’s Attorney Claiborne Stokes has acknowledged that Nancy Oglesby will be assigned to the case.

Notice that “sheriff’s deputy” is not capitalized in both stories, that Lippa is referred to as “Caroline Sheriff Tony Lippa” in both stories, and that “Goochland County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office” is exactly the same in both stories.

Also notice that in the original mention of “January 23” that January is spelled out (first paragraph of Stinson’s story); however, in the copy and paste portion, “Jan.” is abbreviated just like in Biltz’s story (paragraph three of Stinson’s, paragraph four of Biltz’s).