This daily column features short news items from the 20 localities that make up the greater Richmond area. On Mondays, we run at least one item from each of the localities. If you have a news item, call 649-6990 or e-mail us at: news@timesdispatch.com

NEWS NEAR YOU

Amelia Brothers Kenny and Daniel Barnard recently were recognized by the Piedmont Soil and Water Conservation District for conservation efforts on their Hoot Owl Farm. The two received the district's Conservation Friendly Farmers Award.

Caroline The Caroline County Health Alliance will hold its second annual Walkabout starting Aug. 16 to promote healthy living and wellness. The event is a three-month effort by county residents to walk 10,000 steps per day throughout designated walking paths in such communities as Ladysmith Village, Lake Caroline, Bowling Green, Port Royal, Lake Land'Or, and others. Registration is $10 and will be Aug. 16 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Resident Club at Ladysmith Village. Each participant will receive a pedometer.

Charles City Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-3rd, will hold a get-out-the-vote rally Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Charles City County government administration building, 10900 Courthouse Road. Scott is supporting Sen. Barack Obama for president and U.S. Senate candidate Mark R. Warner in November's election. Scott is running unopposed.

Chesterfield Chesterfield County Cooperative Extension will hold a series of free fall gardening and lawn-care seminars in August and September. The classes will focus on how to achieve a greener lawn while protecting the environment, grow and use herbs at home, choose the best shrubs for this area, start a compost pile and more. Seating is limited, and registration is required. To register, call (804) 751-4401.

Colonial Heights The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has awarded $4,200 to the Colonial Heights CADRE Coalition of the Office of Youth and Human Services for a program that focuses on improving parenting skills. Seven organizations from across the state received grants this year. The grants are given for alcohol education and enforcement initiatives.

Cumberland The Cumberland County Board of Supervisors will meet Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. at the courthouse.

Dinwiddie Dinwiddie County has hired John C. Blair II as the new county attorney. He replaces Michael H. Drewry, who resigned in February. Blair was the assistant city attorney in Danville. He will start in Dinwiddie on Sept. 2.

Goochland Goochland County's public schools will hold a new-teacher academy next week. Goochland Middle School will hold a new-student orientation Aug. 21 from 4 to 5 p.m. School is scheduled to begin Aug. 25, according to the school calendar.

Hanover The Hanover Youth Service Council is conducting its annual school supply drive for the county's neediest elementary school students. A supply collection day will take place at the Mechanicsville Wal-Mart on Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Items can also be dropped off at the Department of Community Resources, 12310 Washington Highway in Ashland. Items needed include: kindergarten writing tablets and composition notebooks, No. 2 pencils and pencil cases, folders, erasers, notebook paper, baby wipes, glue sticks, crayons and more. The council is also accepting gift cards for retail stores that sell school supplies.

Henrico The Virginia Coalition for Open Government has named Patricia S. O'Bannon, Tuckahoe District supervisor and vice chairman of the Henrico County Board of Supervisors, to its board of directors. Her term of service will continue through Dec. 31, 2009.

Hopewell The Hopewell City Council will hold a special work session tomorrow to discuss economic development in the city. The meeting will take place at 4:15 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 300 N. Main St.

King and Queen The State Board of Education recently recognized King and Queen County's school system as one of only four in the state meeting all standards this year for District Accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement.

King William The King William Ruritan Club will host its seventh annual golf tournament at Queenfield Plantation on Aug. 15. Registration is noon, and the tournament starts at 1 p.m. Lunch and dinner are provided. Registration is required to enter a team or sponsor a hole. Forms may be picked up at King William Pharmacy, 7890 Richmond Tappahannock Highway.

Louisa Louisa County students and visitors will pay slightly higher prices for lunch when school begins Aug. 11. Elementary school prices will rise to $2 from $1.75. Middle and high school prices will rise from $2 to $2.15. Visitor lunch prices will go up from $2.50 to $2.75, said Jean Mason, an administrator for the Louisa school system. The School Board adopted the new prices at its July meeting.

New Kent With the digital-television transition only months away, New Kent County is launching an ongoing household electronics recycling opportunity at the main refuse site on state Route 618 (Olivet Church Road). County residents can dispose of one unwanted computer monitor or television per day free of charge in the 20-foot collection container provided. Central Virginia Waste Management will transport the container to New Jersey to a certified electronics recycling facility. For details, contact the New Kent General Services Department at (804) 966-8502.

Petersburg Portraits for Petersburg High School's 2009 senior class will be taken Aug. 11-14 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Appointment cards will be sent to students from Prestige Lifetouch Studios.

Powhatan Powhatan County's War Memorial Building, which has been owned by the state Department of Military Affairs since 1991, may be taken over by the county. The county had declined to take over the building because of high renovation and maintenance costs. But the Board of Supervisors has now organized a War Memorial Building Citizen Study Group to examine the issue and recommend possible uses for the facility should the county decide to take it on.

Prince George The Prince George County Regional Heritage Center is looking for young people from around the region to act as youth spokesmen for the center. An open audition will be held at the center, 6404 Courthouse Drive, on Aug. 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. The museum seeks both male and female talent. A chosen pair will be featured in video episodes that will air as part of the museum's exhibit. For details, visit www.Prince GeorgeVAHistoricalSociety.org.

Richmond A junior baseball team from Saitama, Japan, will visit Richmond beginning today for a week of cultural exchanges and baseball games, to mark the 15th anniversary of the Sister City relationship between Richmond and Saitama. The visiting team includes 26 players, a city official, a nurse and five coaches. The team will play baseball games with the Richmond Little League. The first baseball exchange began in Richmond in 1994 and rotates each year from Richmond to Saitama.

Sussex The Sussex County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m. to consider changes in Sussex's erosion-control ordinance, involving wetlands mitigation banks and certain exemptions for stream restoration.

AROUND THE STATE

Harrisonburg James Madison University's first major fundraising campaign has ended with $70 million committed, beating the campaign goal by 40 percent. The six-year comprehensive campaign began July 1, 2002, with a goal of $50 million. The campaign officially closed June 30. JMU, established March 14, 1908, is the only university in the U.S. named for James Madison, the nation's fourth president. -- From Staff and Wire Reports