Here's the wind-up...

Well, looks like the Star-Sentinel has finally got it's set of cojones in the mail. In this weeks issue (available online as a pdf) Stuart Revercomb (subject of not a few comments for some reason) lays out the timeline for the Dowe-based Scandal...

Not only did Harris know nearly the second the FOIA request was made, but the Times waited over 3 weeks to run the story after they received all the information back. You know, after the Dem primaries.

SO, doing a little extrapolative thinking here - and judging by the timing of certain stories that co-broke with the Dowe thing.. I'm going to lay this out.

1. On Dec. 19th, the VMT received it's report on how lousy it is. Anyone even remotely associated with the VMT knows that, and knows the potential it holds is 100 times greater than what it is now. Bev knows it, but the city part-owns it...

2. Jan. 28th, the Roanoke Times files it's FOIA (still no given reason as to why), 2 days later, the results of the search were handed back to the Times and all 7 council members. Harris knows.

3. Feb 9th. The City Democratic "Firehouse" popularity contest. The shake-out begins. Fitz is cast aside for someone younger and with more real-estate ties.

4. Feb. 21st. The Roanoke Times and Star-Sentinel both run headlines as the Dowe story finally breaks. In it's 2/29 edition, the editor of the Star-Sentinel documents the entire 3 week process.

5. Feb. 23rd. Dowe resigns, after a 90 minute chit-chat with Harris over his kitchen table. Light tea-sipping reported.. along with much knitting of brows.

6. Feb. 26th. Report surfaces about the VMT's problems. The same report which was handed over on Dec. 19th, that even the museum's own blog reported on (12/26) which was the follow up to a scathing report a few days earlier that got Fitz and co. in trouble. So how this report was missed a few days earlier, or a few MONTHS earlier - well, it's beyond me. Unless it was timed to try and take the heat off someone, there's no valid reason to try and make this an issue now.

7. March 3rd. Now it comes down to this - the city council meets to accept Dowe's resignation, and figure out a way out. I'm going to start taking names and figuring out odds here.. so if you have anyone you want on the list - let me know.

Possible Fill-Ins: Bill Bestpitch (10-1), Bev Fitz (100-1), Stu Revercomb (50-1).. Me (1000-1)

Anyone else?

Meebo Chatbox from time to time today.. see you there.

It happened again

In 1941, it has been recorded that Norfolk and Western Railroad reached over 7,000 employees in the Roanoke area.



It took a long time, but finally someone has taken that mantle.



Carilion Clinic now employs over 7,932 persons in the Roanoke area.



They say N made this town, I guess now it's Carilion's turn.



Some more random economic stats from the past, and think for a moment how they match up to modern numbers.



In 1939, there were 105 manufacturing plants within the city and county of Roanoke.



In 1942, there were no less than 170 industries and 11 public utilities located in the immediate Roanoke area.



The Downtown businesses spawned WDBJ radio (in a manner of speaking, they did)



Shenandoah Life spawned WSLS radio.



All before 1945. The intervening years have seen some progress, much promise, and some loss.



How does a City overcome a change from manufacturing and industry to "other" kinds of work? Each worker must realize they are individual industries.



But it's been a long day, the Norfolk South-Western whistle has blown, and there's a meal in the distance. I'll be back tomorrow with oh so much more. These are just some things to consider.