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 The Amelia County Extension Office is re-establishing its Extension Leadership Council and is soliciting people interested in providing community input on programs and policies. Those interested in serving on the council can call (804) 561-2481 or e-mail extension agent Robyn Whittington at rdustin@vt.edu.

Caroline Have something to crow about? Go to the Caroline County Agricultural Fair, which features rooster-calling competitions along with nightly watermelon-eating and corn-shucking contests. Events include carnival rides on the midway, entertainment for children in the Caroline Barn and a 4-H steer and market hog show. The fair runs Thursday-Sunday with a special midway preview on Wednesday. See www.visitcaroline.com/calendarevents08.html for details.

Charles City Architect Bill Lafoon will make a presentation to the Charles City County Board of Supervisors tomorrow night on the status of a possible project to build a new public library. The Heritage Public Library has a temporary branch inside the Charles County courthouse.

Chesterfield The Chesterfield County Planning Commission next month will consider a zoning-ordinance change that would allow taller church steeples in residential areas. The limit in those districts is now 50 feet. The planning staff recommends increasing the height allowance to 150 feet, the same as in agricultural districts, citing the benefits of incorporating cell-phone transmission equipment in the towers. The issue was deferred at the commission's meeting last week.

Colonial Heights The Colonial Heights Convenience Center is no longer accepting solid waste -- no garbage, trash, rubbish, litter, construction materials, debris or discarded materials of any kind. The center continues to accept materials for recycling. New hours of operation for the recycling center are Fridays and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m., excluding holidays. For details, visit the city's Web site at www.colonial-heights.com/

Cumberland The Cumberland County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing Aug. 12 on providing relief for some veterans from vehicle license fees, formerly called a decal fee. In mid-June, the board voted to provide tax relief for members of the county's volunteer fire departments and rescue squads, as well as some disabled veterans. At the time, the board established the personality property tax rate for one personal vehicle used by volunteer firefighters, rescue squad members and some disabled veterans at 1 cent per $100 assessed value. Otherwise, the county's personal property tax rate is $4.40 per $100 assessed value. Board members thought the license fee was included but have since learned it was not.

Dinwiddie The Dinwiddie County Board of Supervisors has decided to shorten the name of the Brunswick-Dinwiddie-Mecklenburg Regional Jail Authority. The new name will be the Meherrin Regional Jail Authority. County Administrator W. Kevin Massengill, said the Meherrin River runs through Brunswick and that an American Indian tribe by that name has historical ties to Dinwiddie and Mecklenburg counties.

Goochland The Goochland County Board of Supervisors this month approved rezoning from agricultural to industrial a 2-acre tract east of Oilville. J.B. Rent LLC asked for the rezoning to support office and warehouse space in a proposed 22,800-square-foot building, county records show. The supervisors approved the request after a July 1 public hearing.

Hanover The Hanover County Board of Supervisors this week is scheduled to consider proposed changes to the county's code that would tighten the rules on recreational shooting on private property. The supervisors could set a public hearing on the matter. The issue is scheduled to come up Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. at the meeting in the Hanover administration building.

Henrico Residents can register through Sept. 15 for the Henrico County Extension Office's SMART Lawns program. Enrollment costs $20 and includes a customized lawn-care plan, information, seminars and support. For details, visit www.co.henrico.va.us/extension/anr/lawncare.html or call (804) 501-5160.

Hopewell In a special session last week, the Hopewell City Council continued to debate how a recently approved police task force will work with city officials. The council voted this month to create the task force, which would study why police officers leave the force and would recommend measures to improve retention and promotion of police officers. Some critics of the task force say the department is doing well under Police Chief Steven Martin, who took the job in January, and doesn't need an additional advisory body.

King and Queen The King and Queen County school system has met or exceeded standards for district accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, officials said. School Superintendent Richard W. Layman said King and Queen has had all of its schools accredited by the association since 1996, but this is the first time it has received district accreditation.

King William Enrollment for kindergarten classes at Cool Spring Primary School in King William County is now open. Parents of children living in the county who are 5 years old or will reach their 5th birthday by Sept. 30 are urged to enroll as soon as possible. Summer kindergarten registration hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (804)769-7644 for details.

Louisa Louisa County Commonwealth's Attorney Thomas A. Garrett Jr. continues to review the case against a suspect in a fentanyl overdose case. Garrett's office dropped charges against Randy Eugene Taylor, 35, because a witness didn't appear for a preliminary hearing. The victim, Nichole Brockett, was a 24-year-old mother of infant twins when she died in December of an overdose from the prescription opiate, which is used to treat chronic pain. Mathew Glenn Minster, 28, is still charged with second-degree murder. His case is scheduled to go before a Louisa Circuit Court grand jury next month.

New Kent The Rotary Club of New Kent County has elected new officers. They are president, Kevin Eddowes; president-elect, Mark Smith; secretary, Stran L. Trout; treasurer, Jeffrey M. Summers; and sergeants at arms, Amy Stonebraker and Dwight Johnson.

Petersburg The Petersburg City Council last week granted the Cameron Foundation a tax exemption for the property at 801 S. Adams St., the current Southside Regional Medical Center, which will be vacated this weekend when the hospital moves to its new building.

Powhatan The Powhatan County Public Library now has a motorized cart available for library users with disabilities.

Prince George Prince George 4-H will hold an Aquaculture Funshop for youth tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The workshop is for people ages 9 to 18 and it will be held at Virginia State University's Randolph Farm. Participants will tour the site and have an opportunity to harvest fish with nets, study fish anatomy, operate their processing plant, do some fishing the old fashioned way, and end the day with a fish fry. The program costs $10. For registration, contact the Prince George County Extension Office at (804) 733-2686.

Richmond Richmond's plan to construct a roundabout to slow and control traffic at Hermitage Road and Laburnum Avenue could hit the skids under a request by City Councilman Chris A. Hilbert. He's asking the City Council to block construction of the traffic-calming device so it can be further studied. A public hearing is planned for Sept. 8.

Sussex The Sussex County Chamber of Commerce will hold a meeting on "InnoVAtive Leadership" tomorrow from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. For details, call (804) 248-2223 or email: info@sussexvachamber.org.

AROUND THE STATE

Altavista The state Department of Environmental Quality will hold a public meeting July 29 at 7 p.m. at the Altavista YMCA to discuss toxic pollution in the Staunton River. During several years of studying the Staunton between Altavista in Campbell County and Clover in Halifax County, the DEQ has found fish contaminated with chemicals called PCBs, which are believed to cause cancer. The high levels of PCBs have led to state warnings on eating fish from the river.

Orange Thirty-one macaws seized by animal-control officials from an Orange County couple in May will be transferred to a facility in Florida and returned to the couple in 18 months, providing they pay nearly $20,000 in medical bills owed to local veterinarians. According to an agreement approved earlier this month in Orange County General District Court, Danny Ray Crosswhite, 49, and Sally A. Crosswhite, 58, will regain possession of the birds, all animal-cruelty and neglect charges will be dropped and all seizure efforts cease, providing that the couple make the payments by Jan. 9.