News Near You for Aug. 7

By: | Times-Dispatch
Published: August 07, 2009

NEWS NEAR YOU

Richmond The city's Department of Public Works is set to start street paving in Bellevue, Oregon Hill, North Highland Park and on Dinwiddie Avenue. The work, which will use slurry seal, is scheduled to begin this month and wrap up in October. Officials expect minimal impact on traffic flow.

Prince George Rain barrel kits are on sale at the James River Soil and Water Conservation District office in Prince George County. All kits must be pre-ordered. Kits cost $35 each. To order a barrel, call (804) 957-6148 or (804) 732-4375. Kits are on sale until Aug. 21.

Hopewell The Historic Hopewell Foundation Inc.'s "Lunch and Lecture" series will be held Wednesday at noon at the Appomattox Regional Library. Col. Porcher Taylor Jr., a Tuskegee Airman, will speak on "And We Too Served and Died." For details, call (804) 458-4682.

Petersburg Petersburg National Battlefield and the City of Petersburg Museums will sponsor a free bird-watching walking tour Aug. 15. "Birding Among the Buried" will take place at 10 a.m. at Blandford Cemetery. For details, call (804) 732-3531, ext. 200.

Richmond A city bomb squad responding to a report of a suspicious package outside the Richmond Coliseum found only a harmless duffel bag yesterday. Authorities were summoned about 5:30 p.m. to an area about 30 feet from the building in downtown Richmond, said city police Capt. Harvey Powers. Authorities determined the duffel bag contained clothes.

AROUND THE STATE

Fredericksburg Spotsylvania County authorities said a woman and her Labrador were attacked by a pit bull owned by her son. The Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office said the woman, 60, suffered numerous bites and broke her shin bone and finger during the Sunday attack. Her dog was euthanized because of life-threatening injuries. An anonymous tip led authorities to the victim's son, Michael Baggett, who told police his pit bull attacked his mother and her dog. Results of an investigation will be reviewed by prosecutors.

Abingdon Ground was broken yesterday for a $16 million arts center in Abingdon showcasing Southwest Virginia's cultural, musical and artisan heritage. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said the 28,000-square-foot center, called Heartwood, will be a portal to the region's cultural and heritage attractions, including the Crooked Road and the Artisans Trail of Southwest Virginia. It's expected to draw 270,000 visitors annually.

Newport News A partial container-break bulk ship is the latest vessel to leave Virginia's "Ghost Fleet." The U.S. Department of Transportation said the Resolute was scheduled to leave the James River Reserve Fleet yesterday and will travel to Esco Marine Inc. in Brownsville, Texas, where it will be recycled.

Bedford A print of Allied planes signed by 50 veterans who visited the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford is being auctioned online to raise money for the financially troubled memorial. The National D-Day Memorial Foundation said the eBay auction will run through Tuesday. The starting bid is $250.

Manassas An internal review by Prince William County police has found officers acted appropriately when they deployed a Taser while arresting a man and woman at a party. Officials said yesterday that an investigation shows that the July 26 arrests of Edgar Rodriguez and Leticia Elias were lawful.

Alexandria Neil MacBride, a former longtime aide to Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., was nominated yesterday as the U.S. attorney in Alexandria, a high-profile federal prosecutor job. MacBride, a Justice Department official, has been an associate deputy attorney general since January and has worked as general counsel and lobbyist for the industry group Business Software Alliance. His nomination was sent to the Senate. MacBride would be the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and would oversee offices in Richmond, Norfolk and Newport News.