News Near You for July 14

By: | Times-Dispatch
Published: July 14, 2009

NEWS NEAR YOU

Chesterfield Enjoy a family-friendly evening of old-time music at Rockwood Nature Center, 3401 Courthouse Road in Chesterfield County, next Tuesday from 7 to 10 p.m. Musicians from the Virginia Association of Folk Music will play traditional American and Irish music instruments including mandolin, hammer dulcimer, mountain dulcimer, fiddle, banjo and guitar. Audience members are invited to bring their own instruments and join in the free concert In case of rain, the concert will be held inside the nature center.

Richmond The city has been recognized for excellence in financial reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United State and Canada. The certificate of achievement represents a significant accomplishment by a state or local government, Richmond officials said. "Excellent performance always matters and improved financial operations tie right into our desire for a Triple-A bond rating," said Mayor Dwight C. Jones.

Richmond Seniors and adults with disabilities can apply online for Medicaid now at www.easyaccess.virginia.gov. A collaborative effort among the Virginia Department for the Aging, the Virginia Department of Social Services and the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services created the streamlined application that can be submitted online to local departments of social services. About 235,000 low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities live in Virginia.

Richmond The anti-ballpark sign outside the Velvet strip club in Shockoe Bottom has vanished with the proposed Shockoe Center ballpark development. Richmond inspectors noted yesterday that the large, yellow sign has been removed to satisfy a July 1 requirement set by zoning officials. Early this year, club owner Sam Moore was initially cited for having a sign that exceeded size limits. However, zoning officials backed off after Moore and the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia argued that the sign was exempt as a political-campaign sign. The sign, estimated by city officials at 300 square feet, said, "No Stadium in Shockoe" and "Why Make Developers Rich at Tax Payers Expense." It also referred to bills approved by the General Assembly related to a financing plan for the Shockoe Center ballpark. Zoning officials had advised Moore that the political campaign would end July 1 because that's when the bills would become law. The issue also became moot when the Shockoe Center proposal was withdrawn last month.

Richmond Authorities have made an arrest in the May 22 fatal shooting of a man at a South Richmond rooming house. James Edward Hamlin III, 34, of the 3500 block of Decatur Street was arrested by a regional fugitive task force Friday, three days after he was indicted on charges of murder, use of a firearm in a felony and possession of a firearm by a felon. Hamlin was charged in the slaying of Daniel Burns, 32, who was found May 22 at a rooming house in the 2000 block of Dinwiddie Avenue with a gunshot wound near the base of his skull. Burns died the next day.

AROUND THE STATE

Chesapeake A 2-year-old female draft horse from Chesapeake is the first confirmed case of equine encephalitis in Virginia this year. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said yesterday the horse was euthanized on July 3, and tests confirmed the illness a week later. Virginia had only one case of equine encephalitis in 2008.

Suffolk New policies are in place at Suffolk's animal shelter after an outbreak of parvovirus that resulted in 14 dogs being euthanized. The city closed the shelter June 27; it reopened yesterday.

Axton A former call-center employee has pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining more than $100,000 from her employer through a refund scheme. U.S. Attorney Julia C. Dudley said yesterday that 47-year-old Sheila Mae Hairston of Axton faces up to 60 years in prison when she is sentenced Sept. 6 on three counts of wire fraud.

-- From Staff and Wire Reports