The Shadow
Welcome back, Shadowers! Can you believe we are halfway through summer? And what an amazing time we live in. Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve had an assassination attempt on one Presidential candidate, and the other one just dropped out. Break out the popcorn, we’re in for some sensational theater!
Last week at the July 15, 2024 Alleghany Highlands Public School board meeting, Rylee Reynolds publicly accused former Chairman Jacob Wright of inappropriate comments made about her while he was at a local restaurant. She stated Wright was apparently drunk, and repeatedly asked Reynold’s sibling and cousins, “Does anyone know Rylee Reynolds”, “Does anyone know where Rylee Reynolds is”, and “Rylee is so touchy-feely.” And so on. “He did not stop here, but continued to mention my name and how I wouldn’t be coming to pick him up that night.”
Was Wright so inebriated that perhaps he was innocently looking for a ride home? Or perhaps he was hoping for something closer to a sexual encounter? They’re both consenting adults, so what’s the issue?
Sounds like only one of them was consenting. The other was feeling harrassed.
Reynolds also stated Wright told her that “earlier in the day on June 15 he hit someone’s vape twice, while drinking, and does not remember that evening or the day after that.”
After Reynolds spoke at the board meeting, Wright followed and apologized. He stated that “touchy-feely,” to him means a “mental thing.” Then in a written statement to the Virginian Review, Wright furthered, “I was only commenting on my impressions of Rylee based on what I had viewed based on her social media communications, which is the sole source that informed the comment. By using the term ‘touchy-feely,’ I meant only that she is someone who openly communicates emotion and feelings through social media which can make others feel uncomfortable.”
Hoooooo-weee, let’s unpack this Pandora’s box.
First, why in the world is a middle-aged man, in a very powerful position and responsible for our children’s education and welfare, apparently lurking on a twenty-year-old, former student’s social media pages? Reportedly, she’s only met him once on stage during graduation two years ago. Reynolds also stated that allegedly she’s not the only young woman to experience Wright’s behavior.
Creepy?
A poll in the Shadow FB group asked what was the best definition of “touchy-feely.” Out of the responses, 54% (out of 220+ votes) felt it meant “Physically affectionate, referring to someone who frequently engages in physical contact, such as hugging, patting or touching others.”
The most fitting comment from one Shadower was, “I think it means that a grown man who sits on the school board shouldn’t be drunk referring to a young girl that won’t pick him up and spouting she is touchy-feely – in ANY TYPE OF systemized statement or expression. Allegedly.”
Allegedly, Mr. Wright also told Reynolds that he had been vaping and drinking earlier that day and into the night at the restaurant to the point of not being able to remember anything for two days.
Two days?
Maybe for a college kid or a rock star, this might seem like normal behavior. But for the Chairman of our county-wide school system? What message does this send to our community? That it is okay for older, high-level public officials to go around in public allegedly drunk and “vape-altered,” trying to pick up young girls that have relied upon him for their education? And common sense suggests people don’t build a high tolerance for drugs and alcohol overnight. Could this be more than an isolated incident?
Mr. Wright’s publicly available criminal/traffic history shows he has more than 20+ arrests, violations, and infractions on his public record. Among those, he has been arrested four times for public intoxication in Oct 2001, Nov 2004, December 2007, and December 2014. Then a couple of years ago, Wright was present at a party in Cool Valley. Multiple sources state Wright was allegedly heavily inebriated. The Sheriff’s office then responded to an initial complaint, only to allegedly discover several underage children drinking alcohol. The officers left doing nothing and later that evening Wright was severely beaten, with his ear partially bitten off, and receiving multiple beatings to the groin area.
Regardless of who was right or wrong, let’s ask the real questions: While Wright was the victim and his assailant is now in prison, has anyone wondered why Wright was beaten specifically in the groin? And afterward, why did he apparently refuse to press charges? Also, who at the party had enough influence to convince the responding deputies to leave and ignore their duty to uphold the law? Does this mean the Sheriff’s Department is now giving a thumbs-up to underage drinking? Are we in a reality show where law enforcement is just a suggestion?
Wright also has several speeding tickets, with one particularly of note in November 2021 for speeding through a School zone.
Honk honk! Get outta my way children, I’m more important than your life.
With a rap sheet longer than a CVS receipt, including arrests, zipping through school zones like it’s NASCAR, and public intoxication that would make a sailor blush, how is this person still playing an active role in managing our children’s welfare in the Alleghany Highlands? Have we collectively misplaced our moral compass? Are we ignoring the law just because he’s got a big name in town? Seriously, when is enough, enough?
What about the Law?
Mr. Wright’s actions could expose him to civil and criminal violations should Reynolds wish to proceed. Consequences could include being sued for defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and sexual harassment.
So what about the Board?
Virginia Law stipulates a code of ethics and conduct for all public school board officials. We’re still searching for the section that endorses harassing former students and considers public intoxication and substance use exemplary behavior for our children. And if the School Board decides to emulate the Sheriff’s office and look the other way, does this mean they support and endorse such behavior as a stellar example for our kids? Time will tell if the Board follows Wright’s own final statement at the board meeting and “call it like it was.”
Reynolds has demanded Wright’s resignation. Stay tuned.
In the “Shiny new objects” bag we’re starting to investigate, it seems Charlie Wiley no longer owns Wiley’s Garden Center. Also, does anyone know what Poland has to do with Covington? Stay tuned.
I’m out of time, out of coffee, but remember folks, if you want the rainbow, you first have to put up with the rain.
