Hey Jim, The Campaign Is Over

Jim Webb apparently thinks he's still out campaigning. By now I'm sure you've heard of his petulant little stance against George Bush, if not you can find an excellent summary of it here by George Will.

What I find most odd about this kerfuffle is the fact that Webb's staff seems to have been pushing the story. Now that would make some sense if he were still campaigning, but he's now a Senator. Or he will be as soon as he is sworn into office. It's time now to stop the schoolyard taunting tactics and begin representing us Virginians in a somewhat more dignified manner.

Now I Know How Jerry Feels

I got a phone call last night from Tonya, my daughter. It started with a statement very similar to this; "Hi daddy, I need to learn how to shoot a rifle".

Now I've heard a lot of people say they "want" to learn how to shoot a rifle, but this was the first time I had ever heard anyone, not to mention my sweet petite daughter, say I "need" to learn how to shoot a rifle. Tonya is fairly well acquainted with a pistol, as is her mother. Her mother, by the way was always able to outshoot me with a pistol or revolver. But Tonya and I have never shot pop bottles with a rifle of any sort.

Naturally I had to ask, "Tonya, why do you 'need' to learn how to shoot a rifle"? I then went into roughly the same dialogue with her I just had with you about the difference between 'needing to' and 'wanting to'.

It seems that quite some time ago Tonya applied to the Danville City Police Department, and at about the same time to the Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Department. She was subsequently called in for some interviews with the Danville Police Department and, without getting too deep into the particulars, it seems a reverse discrimination affirmative action kind of thing kept her from being hired. Then, last week she was called by the Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Department for an interview and some physical testing. She passed the physical stuff, and apparently the interview portion as well, and is scheduled to take some firearms tests on Thursday. Tomorrow! She was worried that she may have to show some proficiency with a rifle at that test, and she is somewhat intimidated by that thought because she has never handled a rifle. In my ham-handed fatherly way I assured her that she would probably not have to deal with a rifle because a deputy would most likely be issued a shotgun instead. Oops, that was hardly reassuring. Now she's not worried about a rifle, instead she is concerned that she must deal with some big bad shotgun. I think I was able to convince her that actual proficiency with the weapon would not be what they are looking for, that can be taught, but instead a general knowledge of firearms handling. On that score I know she will do well.

Of course after all of this was settled, I had to ask why she waited until this late date to let me know all of this. She was afraid that my reaction would be too similar to that of her mother, a patronizing tone and a questioning of why anyone would want to aspire to such a silly thing. Yep, her mother has always been a great cheerleader for Tonya. Of course I told her just how proud I was of her for making this decision, and how I was behind her all the way. I didn't express my concern that in Pittsylvania County, it being Virginia's largest County, backup may take some time to respond. She just needs to know that I love her, I'm proud of her, and I'm behind her. And I'll pray for her safety every day.

Roscoe's Challenger To Be Introduced Here Soon

I'm out of the kitchen now. The apron is hanging by the door and I'm ready to join the big kids back out here in the political arena.

I mentioned in an earlier post that Roscoe Reynolds (D)-Ineptitude, will face a challenger during this election cycle. I'm almost prepared to name him, and I will as soon as I speak with him. For now you will know that he is from the western portion of the 20th SD, an area that Roscoe has ignored even more than he has those of us in the eastern portion.

I called this candidate this evening, but unfortunately I got his answering machine. It was around 6:30pm when I called, so I assume he was at church.

Check back often, as I may be able to update this post as early as later this evening.

Thanksgiving, Part Four

Thanksgiving day was spent at my best friend's house and I reported earlier on that. Tomorrow, Sunday, I will spend with my Dad and my stepmother at their house in Franklin County. Last April Dad remarried. It is such a delight whenever I see him and Betty Jo together. They just exude happiness.

In the late sixties and early seventies Dad built and maintained a late model stock car. His shop was in the back of a local body shop owned and operated by a good man named David Clark. It was located on Cherward St. in Collinsville, on property now occupied by KFC, the fried chicken place. I first met Betty Jo then. She was the wife of David Clark, and as a youngster I thought she was a very nice lady. David passed on some time ago, and circumstances I am not fully aware of (hey, I haven't asked) brought Dad and Betty Jo to a re-meeting. Needless to say, I was pleased when they married on a rainy day this past spring.

Tomorrow's Thanksgiving dinner will be a potluck type of affair, with everyone bringing something. I will be bringing my chicken and wild rice casserole. I have no wild turkey to make my wild turkey casserole with, so I'll fall back on this proven crowd pleaser. Get your pencil and paper ready, for another I'm Not Emeril cooking show is about to ensue.

This recipe will serve eight hearty adult diners, so you may want to adjust things accordingly if you want to serve this to your family.

Gather together the following stuff;

• 6 cups cooked, chopped chicken breasts
  
• 2 packages quick cooking wild rice, cooked according to package directions
  
• 2 packages frozen French green beans, thawed and drained
  
• 4 tablespoons butter
  
• 1 cup chopped onion
  
• 6 tablespoons flour
  
• 2 cup chicken stock
  
• 1 cup cream or milk
  
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
  

Of course you want a pre-heated 350 degree oven. For the chicken I use frozen chicken tenderloin strips, available in most market freezer sections in one to three pound units. To cook these I heat a large skillet, coated with a liberal dose of olive oil, and sweat about a half cup of finely chopped onion. When the onion has turned translucent I add two mashed cloves of garlic and continue until the garlic is nicely browned. At this point, remove the garlic. Nothing in this world tastes worse than burned garlic. Remove as much of the onion as possible and cook a few of the thawed chicken strips at a time, adding olive oil if needed. About twelve nice sized chicken strips will provide the six cups of chopped chicken needed. Now let's clarify the term "chopped". I don't mean minced. I don't mean tiny little pieces. Just cut it up into many small chunks, don't go overboard and achieve the consistency of chopped barbeque.

While you are frying the chicken strips you can also be preparing the wild or long grain brown rice. Just follow Zaterain's or Uncle Ben's directions and you will do fine. Also, you can be thawing the frozen green beans. You really don't need me to tell you how to thaw frozen green beans, do you?

Once the chicken and rice are done, and the green beans have been thawed, combine them all in a buttered 9x13 casserole dish. Grab a small saucepan and melt the butter over medium high heat. Add the onions and cook for a minute or so, just until the onions have wilted a bit. Now add the flour and whisk with a wire whisk to thoroughly blend the flour into the melted butter. When the flour is thoroughly blended, add the chicken stock, whisk and bring to a simmer. Once the mixture heats back up after the addition of the stock, add the cream and bring to a simmer again. After a few minutes the sauce will begin to thicken, at that point pour the sauce over the chicken and rice mixture in the casserole. Sprinkle a liberal covering of parmesan over the casserole and bake for 30 minutes.

Thanksgiving, Part Three

Sometime back Red Queen sent me a small canister of Market District Espresso rub. Available at Giant Eagle Stores, it's a great product. But I'm nowhere near a Giant Eagle. Basically, if Lowe's, Food Lion, Wal-Mart or Kroger does not have it I ain't gonna to be able to just run out and get it.

I liked it so well on everything from chicken breast to hamburgers and even scrambled eggs I decided I needed to find a reliable source. Then I thought, why not just make it. It seemed simple enough. The ingredient list was very basic, no odd scientific items, just seven common kitchen spices. In order they are;

• Sugar
• Salt
• Pepper
• Espresso Powder
• Onion
• Paprika
• Cayenne

I poured a small amount out on a light green sheet of paper (for contrast, none of the ingredients are green) and checked it out with a powerful magnifying glass under a bright light. I could immediately tell that the sugar was integrated, being composed of a mixture of light brown and granulated, with the granulated being in the minority. So, I wrote down 2 parts light brown sugar and 1 part granulated. Next I noticed that the salt crystals slightly outnumbered the granulated sugar crystals. So next I wrote 1.5 parts salt. The coffee and the black pepper seemed to be about evenly matched, so I set them at 1 part each. Even with a powerful magnifier I could not determine the onion, cayenne, and paprika ratio, so I decide to just use my best judgment and wing it.

My first small batch was every bit the equal of Market District Espresso Rub. But I wanted better! What would happen if I took the base of sugar, salt, coffee, and black pepper and kicked it up a notch?

I began to think about what I wanted it be like. I immediately decided that a bit of garlic would certainly be a welcome addition. I also thought that since this is used primarily on roasted or broiled foods, and since ancho chiles are simply roasted jalepenos, logically I would replace the cayenne with ancho chile powder.

Well, I may be a bit prejudiced, but I think my final version is much better than Market District's already good rub. Throw together a batch yourself and see if you think I'm right.

• 2 parts light brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1.5 parts salt
  
• 1 part granulated sugar
• 1 part ground black pepper
• 1 part espresso coffee, I used Cafe' Bustelo simply because it readily available here due to a rather large Mexican population, but something from Honduras Coffee in Stuart will be included in my next batch.
  
• 1/16 part onion powder
  
• 1/16 part garlic powder
• 1/16 part ancho chile powder

(Note; if you set the size of 1 part at 1/4 cup, you will make about 1.6718 cups, enough for a whole summer of grilling. Oh, and 1/16 of 1/4 cup is 1 teaspoon, if you don't believe me check it out with this great little piece of free software, Convert. Convert is an easy to use unit conversion program that will convert the most popular units of distance, temperature, volume, time, speed, mass, power, density, pressure, energy and many others, including the ability to create custom conversions! Happy grilling!)

(Note II; To Susan and Kilo, watch your mailbox for a 1.6718 cup sample.)

Thanksgiving, Part Two

I Am The Stuffing

According to Blogthings I am complicated and complex, yet all my pieces fit together. People miss me if I'm not there - but they're not sure why.

What Part of Thanksgiving Are You?

Let's File This Under "Ethical Blogging"

Shaun Kenny is one of Virginia's most ethically focused bloggers. A trait I admire greatly. In a recent post, however, he highlighted this quote from our fellow Virginia blogger Waldo Jaquith.

I'm surprised at how often I see bloggers post about private exchanges, or exchanges that occurred where there was a reasonable belief that no press was present and people felt comfortable speaking accordingly. I would never dare write about these sorts of things. It helps to brand bloggers as unpredictable radicals, rather than as reasonable people who happen to publicly reflect on the events of the day.

Would that be the same Waldo Jaquith that recently posted this unsubstantiated gossip. If so, I applaud his return to ethical blogging.

Now that the election is over, let me be the first to welcome you back from the dark side, Waldo.

Caption Contest Continues

As all except the comotose in the Virginia blog community are aware Chad Dotson has gone on hiatus, possibly for good. I hope he will drop in on a few blogs with a comment from time to time, but even if he does not I wish him well in his 2007 re-election efforts.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of http://vaconservative.com/ was the notorious caption contest. While most of us will miss Chad's patented quick hit links, we need not mourn the passing of the Caption Contest.

SouthwestBySoutheast has taken up the mantle and will continue the weekly tradition.

This week's contest.

Some Intemperate Thoughts

• Howling Latina recently used the following phrase; "The yummy gravy on the political souffle is Obama's opposition from the very beginning to the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Just like Webb." Now that's a nauseating thought. I have numerous recipes for souffles, including one for a great bread pudding souffle with a bourbon sauce I begged and cajoled out of the chef at a great little restaurant in Augusta, GA. None of them would be enhanced by the addition of gravy.


• I don't expect the new Democratic-controlled Senate to immediately confirm Robert Gates for defense secretary. My bet is they will hold out for a like-minded nominee. Is Cindy Sheehan available?


• Look around. The stock market is at a record high. Interest rates are fairly low. Unemployment is at its lowest point in decades. The economy is generally sound and growing. And Nancy Pelosi wants to take us in a new direction.


• First thing to go with the Democrats now in control? Wendy's "Super Value Menu".


• A new Virginia blog. The Direction. It's a blog about blogs. In a weekly video format. I love the concept, I just hope it works. Good luck with it Ken.


• To the lady in Collinsville; When I see your vanity license plate with "KY GIRL" on it I'm guessing you want to let everyone know you're from Kentucky. I'm afraid that's not what immediately comes to mind.


• It is amazing that after all the recent weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth from the liberal bloggers about electronic voting machines we just had an election with no major complaints about being denied the right to vote and no major problems with the electronic machines. I wonder why?


• Once upon a time there was a great little airline named Piedmont. US Air bought it out and promptly ruined it. US Air now wants to do the same with Delta.


• I could possibly enjoy reading Politics With Pam if she would change either her background color or her text color. I'm sorry Pam, a black background is bad enough, but blue on black is just plain wrong.


• In 2004 much was made of the exit polls. Two years later, with exit polls showing corruption to be at the top and Iraq way down on voter's agenda, Nancy Pelosi's first action was to place John Murtha in charge of clearing the US out of Iraq. She must have read those polls from the bottom up. And stopped before she reached the top.


• Mark Martin will end his final full season in NASCAR today. Quite possibly the driver most deserving of a championship to have never won one.


• A mention of NASCAR without a mention of Denny Hamlin's phenomenal rookie season is like Benny Parsons going more than 10 laps without mentioning how great Dale Earnhart Jr. is.

Welcome Home Roscoe

With one election cycle over and done, it's time to begin thinking about another. Wednesday, Nov.8 marked the beginning of the Roscoe Reynolds homecoming tour.

No, that may not mean quite what you think I mean. I like to think that 2007 will be the year that Roscoe comes home to stay. No more gruelling weeks in Richmond pretending to be effective for the 20th Senatorial District. No more of those exhausting fund raising dinners in Richmond and Central Virginia where he has historically picked up more than 50% of his campaign contributions. No more of those same tiring fundraisers outside his district, where the percentage rises to nearly 84%.

That's right folks. While Roscoe has been pretending to be effective for the cities of Martinsville and Galax, and the counties of Henry, Patrick, Floyd, Carroll, and portions of Grayson and Wythe, he has been collecting almost 84% of his campaign contributions from outside this area. Including almost 17% from outside the Commonwealth. His constituents are so fond of him they have only contributed 16% of his campaign funds, or maybe, due to his and Ward's complete ineptitude it's because there are so few industries left in their districts to generate any more than 16%.

Now I'm not saying that Roscoe is more beholden to those who have been paying his way for all these years than he is to those of us here in his district, but one does have to wonder if that may have become some small factor in his apparent lack of interest in representing these Blue Ridge Counties and the Southside City of Martinsville.

Of course one's opponent's campaign contributions are not really much of a campaign issue, if that's all you have, just ask Al Weed. There is much more to come. I'll be focusing on many of Roscoe's other well known traits as well, including his apparent ignorance of just what it is that the Supreme Court of the United States actually does. Remember, he's a lawyer. Roscoe's ignorance on this subject is documented within the pages of this blog. Yes, Roscoe, your ideas regarding Eminent Domain will be spread across this district.

Roscoe has a challenger this time. A challenger you will read more about here in the days, weeks, and months to come. I have volunteered myself to be the Henry County Chairman of the William Roscoe Reynolds Homecoming festival that will be celebrated for the following twelve months, culminating on the eve of November 6th, 2007.

Oh, Roscoe, one more thing. Welcome to Henry County, (tongue planted firmly in cheek).

Who's To Blame? Not Diebold Nor Acorn.

There has been much speculation, both in the blogging community and in the major media, that the recent election was a repudiation of George W. Bush's administration. I reject this premise based on quite a few observations.

One caveat that should be mentioned though, is that in my opinion Bush did contribute somewhat with two of his tendencies. One, and probably foremost, was his reluctance to use his veto pen. Second was his insistence upon regarding illegal immigration as a job creation program.

The Republican voters are who turned the Congress over to the Democrats. Not me, of course, and probably not you either, but the more "moderate" Republican voter. The same one who does not report for duty when the election is somewhat uncontroversial, or chooses not to vote when he sees the result as being in some manner already decided. This Republican voter saw this election as a chance to make a statement on what he sees as a reversal of his ideals. I've stated before that the Republicans who were brought to the forefront by Newt Gingrich in '94 now seem to be nowhere to be found, replaced by Democrat clones in a Stepford Wife fashion in Washington DC. Those voters who can ordinarily be counted upon to vote Republican (when they vote at all) registered their discontent with the party by voting for the opposition. (Keep in mind I'm speaking nationally, not just of Virginia. George Allen had a few other issues to deal with, that do not necessarily coincide with the nationwide rout administered to the Republican Party.)

Exit polls listed as the most important issue to be dealt with by the voters to be corruption and fiscal responsibility. I do not believe that either was George Allen's downfall. It was, however, a factor overall. Tom Delay and Jack Abramhoff, Duke Cunningham, Mark Foley (no relation, please!) and Dennis Hastert's do nothing attitude, bridges in Alaska and a lack of action on illegal immigration all contributed in no small way to create a cumulative effect across the country.

What that average voter did not consider was what effect their cumulative votes might have on the Nation. I hope that the recent election will cause Mr. Bush to use his Veto pen, if he can find it and if the ink has not dried up and the ball stuck permanently. He will soon receive from the Pelosi/Reid Congress legislation that will increase the minimum wage, (check back tomorrow for reasons against this and other issues soon to follow), calls for an immediate drawdown of troops from Iraq, no action (if not a reversal) on making the recent tax cuts permanent, not to mention a renewed stonewall of Administration appointments.

The title of this piece may lead you to believe that I am a "Rabid Republican". Not so. I consider myself to be a very moderate Republican. But I did vote. I voted for George Allen, based solely upon his prior service to the Commonwealth. I voted for Bill Carrico, because he is not Rick Boucher (and because I could post one final vote to cancel out your's Barnie....GRIN). I also voted against the marriage amendment. I know, I live now in the 5th District. I voted last year by absentee ballot and thought that I had changed my registration at the time I applied for that absentee ballot. I didn't. On Monday, November 6th, I went to bed early and set my alarm clock for 2:30am Tuesday morning. I drove 4 hours plus to Hurley Virginia, in Buchanan County in order to vote. I did not run into my ex-wife at the precinct, thankfully. I was back at work by 9:30.

Blogging, Elections, And SOB's

My posts here became much more infrequent recently, partially in response to the increasingly hostile atmosphere on some of Virginia's political blogs, and partially due to an increase in demands on my time by my career. If the truth were known, it may well be that the former reason held the greater influence subconsciously. I was disheartened by the lack of ethics shown by some, and refused to join in that type of political battle.

The election is now over. My side lost. Neither Diebold nor ACORN is to blame. The Republicans who swept into power in 1994 on the ideas and platforms of Newt Gingrich somehow metamorphosed into the Democrats they replaced. Did the Republican party deserve the spanking it recently received? Sure it did. The party now must look back at the past twelve years and (hopefully) see where it lost it's way. Here's a hint guys, look somewhere between my wallet and a bridge in Alaska. Of course there were other factors involved. Many of them in fact. Duke Cunningham. Tom Delay. Jack Abramoff. Dennis Hastert apparently ignoring Mark Foley's indiscretion. (Why do conservative politicians and evangelical preachers always seem to go for either strippers or young boys? Whatever happened to an old fashioned fling with the secretary?) A complete abandonment of border security and immigration law violations. And then there is Iraq. While not the primary reason cited in exit polls, the situation we find ourselves in now after an easy victory in a very brief war contributed in no small way to the Republican party's defeat.

Now, in the immortal words of Rocky, (the squirrel, not the boxer), here's something you'll really like;

Several weeks ago I received an e-mail from Conaway Haskins briefly describing an idea he had for an "association" of sorts for Virginia bloggers. Bloggers who may fit in any slot of the political spectrum. He has been working on a plan for a Virginia blogger's association, something along the lines of Media Bloggers Association. Conaway's own explanation is much better than any treatment I can give his idea here. Mash your mouse here to read it.

As for me, I'll be pleased to become a Commonwealth SOB.

John Brownlee Continues To Impress Me

John Brownlee continues to impress me.

Those of you who do not know my recent background may not be aware that the current problems here in Henry County are not my first introduction to John Brownlee, United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia.

Some of you may make the connection to the recent blog conference I organized (with substantial help) here in Henry County, which featured as one of it's speakers John Brownlee. That was my second introduction to Mr. Brownlee. Even though it was my first personal meeting with him.

I'm willing to wager that most of you do not remember the "Big Coon Dog" investigation a few years ago in Buchanan County. Go read the link, I'll be here when you get back.

In May of 2002 there was a devastating flood in the Northwestern portion of Buchanan County where I lived at the time. It took us all by surprise, I was working at the time in Kemper Kentucky, about 25 miles away, and had spent the day in placid solitude in my office realizing that it had been raining most of the day. It was only during my drive home that I realized that this particular rain was different. When I got near the small town of Phelps, Kentucky on my way home I noticed that the water level in the small creeks feeding into the Knox River was exceedingly high. In order to get home that evening I had to take a few detours through some surface mining roads that I was aware of due to my occupation at that time.

My home was quite a bit upstream from the town of Hurley, and although the kid's swingset was threatened, there was no damage incurred on the Foley estate. I called work the following morning to inform them that I was volunteering to work to clean up the community. I am fortunate that I was raised the son of a heavy equipment operator, so I was familiar with a backhoe, loader, bulldozer and other such equipment.

I went to work the following morning operating a bobcat loader. While cleaning up the debris I personally found one of the two fatalities of the flood.

I also noticed that after putting one or two dipper loads into the waiting dump truck, I would turn around and find that truck gone and another truck backing in to receive a load. A bobcat cannot load a dump truck with two scoops. It quickly became apparent to me what was happening, since I knew the trucks were being paid by the load. I told Joe Stephens that I would no longer have a part in this operation and went back to work in Kemper the following day.

I was doing this work for Joe Stephens, the owner of Vansant Lumber in Vansant, Virginia, just east of Grundy on US 460. Joe was subsequently indicted in the Big Coon Dog investigation I linked to above. I'll go even further here. I made a deal with Joe for some lumber to be used for a deck on my home in Hurley. It was to be paid for by my service as a loader operator on some property in the southwest corner of Buchanan County, property he acquired through the previously named scam. I did the work. I'm still being dunned for the lumber.

Sheriff Without A Gun

Regular readers (Hi Leslie, Anne, and Dad) may have noticed a lack of activity here lately. Here at the board factory we have just finished upgrading a couple of systems to improve the quality of our finished product, a project that has kept me pretty much occupied for the past month.

During this period though I have not been living in a vacuum. I know, for example, that George Allen is up in the polls, in spite of (or perhaps because of) the Webb campaign's insistence upon focusing on catch words, slanders, and innuendoes instead of actual issues.

But even that is not what brought me out of hibernation. It seems there has been another "Big News Day" in Henry County's history of deplorable big news days. Why is it that every time Martinsville or Henry County gains national attention it because of some extremely negative news? Here is just a short list, in no particular order;

1. Textile plants closing
2. Sid Clower, County Administrator, convicted of embezzlement
3. Short family murders
4. The notorious jingle contest
5. Ramona and the cable access station's reporter
6. MZM and Duke Cunningham
7. The largest mortgage scam in history
8. And last, but by no means least, 8% of the Sheriff's uniformed Officers and the Sheriff were indicted today on drug, money laundering, and racketeering charges
   

I have no idea whether or not they are all guilty, I hope at least some of them are not.

The news today has been full of people saying that out of an employee base of 120 (approx.) employees, "only" eight were indicted. Only eight? Wow, that's comforting. That completely ignores the fact that 96 of that 120 are active, sworn law enforcement officers, 8 of which were indicted, that comes to 8.33%, a failure rate I strive to avoid at the plant in my production numbers. Add in the 5 other former sworn law enforcement officers who have been indicted and you get 13 out of 101, or almost 13%. With a failure rate like that Frank Cassell should have also been indicted for incompetence, if that was a crime.

The one intriguing thing about this story happens to be Frank Cassell himself. WDBJ, Channel 7 in Roanoke has undercover video of Sheriff Cassell discussing ways to launder drug money with former deputy James Alden Vaught. The quality of the video is very poor, but the audio is adequate to convey the intentions of Sheriff Cassell. Why would Sheriff Cassell go along with such a scheme if he was not afraid of information Mr. Vaught might have on him? Could there be any other explanation? I can't conceive of one, so you might want to watch for the proverbial "other shoe" to drop.

Sheriff Cassell was released today on $25,000 unsecured bond, with the caveat that he have no interaction with any law enforcement personnel. This effectively renders him useless as Sheriff, yet his attorney states that he will report for duty tomorrow. What will he do besides sit in his office and answer his phone, which I doubt he will do. Today the Henry County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution calling for the resignation of Sheriff Cassell. Functionally this resolution is impotent, as Frank Cassell is an elected official, and thus not subject to the wishes of the BOS. Several people have asked me if the Board of Supervisors can cut the budget of the Sheriff's office to eliminate the pay of those active duty employees who have been indicted. I don't think that's an option available to the BOS.

I don't know of any parallel situation that has ever occurred in the history of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Apparently we will wake up tomorrow with a Sheriff without a gun. Having been charged with a felony Mr. Cassell will have to dispose of any firearms he owns. But the bigger question remains, will Sheriff Cassell, guilty or not, ever regain the trust of the citizens of Henry County?