NEWS NEAR YOU

Louisa Gordonsville Mayor Robert K. Coiner has asked the Louisa Board of Supervisors for a donation to build a significantly larger library in the town than the current one. Although Gordonsville is in Orange County, the town sits on the Louisa line. Many Louisa residents have a Gordonsville address and use the tiny town library, Coiner said. Orange County has offered to fund nearly three-quarters of the $1.1 million construction cost, and Coiner hopes to raise the rest by Oct. 1. The Louisa supervisors took no immediate action.

Henrico A malfunctioning transformer was blamed for setting off multiple brush fires in eastern Henrico County yesterday. Witnesses told firefighters a transformer fell from a pole and caught fire about 1 p.m. on Masonic Home Lane near Eighth Street. The burning transformer set off several brush fires, and fire and police units were dispatched. No injuries were reported, but Dominion Virginia Power said several hundred customers lost power.

Richmond Partnership for the Future will recognize 31 outstanding high school students as well as exceptional business partners at its annual closing ceremony tomorrow at Plant Zero in the Manchester area of South Richmond. The majority of the graduates are first-generation college students, and 99 percent of last year's graduation class matriculated to college. Partnership for the Future works with students for three summers to help them gain exposure in the workplace and attend the college of their choice.

Colonial Heights The Dunlop House Assisted Living Facility will stage the Dunlop House Wii Olympics opening ceremony tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. Teams have been selected, and the playoffs will begin after the ceremony. Members of the Colonial Heights Fire and EMS will be coaches for the residents.

Chesterfield Chesterfield County was one of 12 counties to win a 2008 achievement award from the Virginia Association of Counties for its Central Virginia Most Wanted (Criminal Justice & Public Safety) program. The program was developed by Chesterfield personnel and is a partnership among area law-enforcement and corrections personnel and the media to help determine the whereabouts of fugitives. The awards recognize model local government programs.

Goochland The county Board of Supervisors passed a resolution Tuesday urging the state to remain on schedule for the planned widening of U.S. 250 in the Centerville area. The project has been a priority for more than a decade, and the Virginia Department of Transportation recently announced an 18-month delay because of unforeseen right-of-way issues.

Petersburg Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced this week the appointment of Petersburg Sheriff Vanessa R. Crawford to the State Board of Corrections. Crawford is a retiree of the Virginia Department of Corrections and a former superintendent of two correctional facilities. The Board of Corrections is a policy-making board made up of nine members appointed by the governor.

Dinwiddie The Dinwiddie County Board of Supervisors will hold a special work session today and tomorrow on strategic planning. The sessions will be today from 3 to 5 p.m. and tomorrow from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Dinwiddie County Airport Conference Room, 6775 Beck-Chappel Drive.

AROUND THE STATE

Chincoteague The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge will stay open overnight Aug. 11 so people can watch the Perseid meteor shower. Meteor watchers must arrive before the entrance gate closes at 10 p.m. but can leave at any time. For details, call (757) 336-6122.

-- From Staff and Wire Reports