The VDT caught up with the TV stations today on the Quitman 10 story,
and provided updates and context they did not.

David Rodock wrote on the front page of the VDT today,

Gov. suspends `Quitman Ten’ officials,

On Tuesday, Deal issued his order prior to the Brooks County Board
of Education’s first meeting of 2012. Dr. Nancy Whitfield-Dennard,
Elizabeth Diane Thomas and Linda Faye Troutman were notified of this
suspension at approximately 4:30 p.m., according to sources.

That’s a bit more context than

the TV stations provided.

The VDT also says who gets to serve instead:

Following the governor’s suspension this week, Brooks County school
board member Brad Shealy, who is also an assistant Southern district
attorney, was appointed to serve as president of the board with
board member Larry Cunningham serving as vice president. Shealy
served many years as the school board president prior to
Whitfield-Dennard being named president last year.

That seems to be

the same Brad Shealy who used to be chairman
until the recent election.

The VDT adds this context:

With Whitfield-Dennard, Thomas and Troutman being black, the
governor’s suspension returns the Brooks County school board to a
white majority.

That and returning the chairman defeated twice in the election makes for
a de facto annulment of the election.

Except not quite:

Harold Eddy, an attorney with a Gainesville-based public-education
law firm, said the school board remains uncertain what it will do
with the three vacant seats caused by the suspension.

“They were not actually dismissed,” said Eddy.
“They are temporarily suspended and, pending the proceedings,
they could be found not guilty and return to the board. We just
found out about this (Tuesday) afternoon and are trying to determine
whether there is any type of statutory provision that would address
this. If not, it would be up to the governor’s office to appoint
replacements.”

So when will this trial be?

“…the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial,
by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall
have been committed…”

—Sixth Amendment, U.S. Constitution

We’re getting the public part, with the review committee and
D.A. on TV.
I wonder when we’ll see the impartial jury part.

Here’s the best part of the VDT story:

“My concern as a community activist and concerned citizen is
why I have not seen their attorneys,” said George Rhynes, who
has covered the case on his online blog since it started in 2010.
“We have state representatives, the NAACP and (famed civil
rights activist) Joseph Lowery who have came out to support the
Quitman Ten, yet so many things about this case have not been
published.”

The VDT finally acknowledges George Rhynes for his work on this story.

-jsq