Area Blogger Makes Regional Headlines

As most of you know, one of Virginia's premier weblogs is hosted by a fella by the name of Chad Dotson. Besides being a gifted writer, Chad, come to find out, has a day job! And America's drug kingpins are the worse for it this morning:

Operation Street Sweeper nets 49 drug arrests in Wise
Wednesday, April 19, 2006 By Stephen Igo, Kingsport Times-News

WISE - A two-year investigation revolving around a drug subculture in Big Stone Gap has provided investigators in other states - including Tennessee - with leads on illicit drug suppliers to the tiny Wise County town, particularly significant amounts of cocaine.

On Tuesday, Wise County Commonwealth's Attorney Chad Dotson announced more than 100 felony indictments against 49 individuals in what the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force dubbed "Operation Street Sweeper." As of 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, 30 of the 49 individuals indicted by a special grand jury had been taken into custody during a daylong roundup.

"Most of this is a cocaine ring," Dotson said, describing "loose-knit networks" of distributors and users mostly in Big Stone Gap, Appalachia and Norton. (link)

There have been occasions when readers have openly speculated as to why Chad wasn't devoting more time to his weblog. Now we know. He's been focused on eliminating the area's crime problem. Chad, you're going to have to get your priorities straight, man.

In all seriousness, Wise County should be very proud. Your prosecutor's making your streets and back roads a whole lot safer.