As a marine biologist at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at Gloucester Point, Dr. Morris Henry “Mory” Roberts Jr. studied the movement and effects of toxins through marine organisms and their environment. “He was an internationally known authority on issues related to the early development of marine organisms and the effects of environmental conditions, natural and man-made, on critical underlying processes,“ VIMS Dean and Director John T. Wells wrote in an e-mail.

Four Gloucester County supervisors have each filed a $1.35 million lawsuit against Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert D. Hicks, saying that he made defamatory and false statements against them that smeared their reputations. The lawsuits were filed Nov. 3 in Richmond Circuit Court by lawyers from the Troutman Sanders law firm who are representing Gloucester supervisors Teresa Altemus, Bobby Crewe, Michelle Ressler and Gregory Woodard.

A human skeleton spotted Aug. 20 by a boy in his backyard along the York River still is awaiting examination. Officials are trying to determine whether the case is going to be investigated further for criminal activity or whether the remains are the latest batch of old bones to turn up unexpectedly. “What you have is not an unusual occurrence,“ said Randy Turner, director of the district office in Newport News for the state Department of Historic Resources. “Given the location, that’s definitely a very historical area.“

Just when Gloucester County taxpayers thought it was safe to petition their elected officials without penalty, it turned out the meter was still running. Two law firms recently billed the county an additional $42,146 in legal expenses for their defense of four supervisors whom citizens unsuccessfully tried to remove from office last year.

Open government and the First Amendment are on trial in Gloucester County, where citizens who sought redress against conniving politicians were charged a steep price for their vigilance. Forty residents who unsuccessfully petitioned to remove four Gloucester supervisors from office have been or dered to pay $80,000 of the nearly $125,000 in legal fees accrued by the board members.