News Near You for March 7

NEWS NEAR YOU

Caroline The county's parks and recreation department is taking applications and scheduling practices for youth league soccer teams. For information, call (804) 633-7277.

Hanover The Pamunkey Regional Library's seventh annual Poetry Contest began Monday. Entries from school-age children and adults must be turned in by March 28. Prizes will be awarded during in April, during National Poetry Month. For information, call (804) 365-6211 or visit a library.

Chesterfield The Adult Continuing Education Office in Chesterfield will waive the $45 fee for those taking the General Educational Development test for the first time if they register this month. Registration for GED tests takes place at the Chesterfield Technical Center, 10101 Courthouse Road, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays. To register, applicants must bring a valid ID issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles; bringing a Social Security card is recommended. Preregistration is available online at http://www.ged123.org. For information, call 768-6140 or go online to chesterfield.k12.va.us.

Richmond To celebrate the opening of the 100th CarMax store, the CarMax Foundation partnered with Reading Is Fundamental to donate a set of books to RIF programs in each location where there are stores. In the Greater Richmond area, books were donated to Falling Creek Elementary School in Chesterfield and the Community Action Program in Hopewell. The books focused on travel adventures and safety. The theme of the donation is "Put Your Imagination in Gear," and encourages kids of all ages to enjoy a book.

Petersburg The Petersburg Fire Department this week made a donation of several boxes of school supplies to Peabody Middle School in Petersburg. School Principal Cheryl Perkins said the school was grateful for the donations, particularly in this time of budget cuts, when "every piece of material that we can get to help our students to perform is appreciated."

Richmond The city is collecting outdated electronics today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Diamond, 3001 N. Boulevard. For a list of accepted items, fees and additional information, visit http://www.cvwma.com or call (804) 340-0900.

AROUND THE STATE

Alexandria An Arlington County man has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm after he posted a video of himself posing with a gun on YouTube.com. Benjamin Hornstein, 37, admitted in U.S. District Court in Alexandria on Tuesday that he filmed the video in his bedroom, prosecutors said. Because the gun was manufactured outside Virginia, the incident became a federal crime. Hornstein was convicted of grand larceny and burglary in 1994. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine at his sentencing May 15.

Vienna Police have arrested a nurse on a second sexual-battery charge. Authorities said this week that others came forward after Bassam Karim was charged Feb. 11 with sexual battery. He is being held on $5,000 bond. In the first arrest, Karim allegedly examined a woman in an inappropriate manner after taking her to an exam room at Inova Urgent Care Center in Vienna.

Hardy Authorities say a 59-year-old man drowned in Smith Mountain Lake in Franklin County. Sgt. Karl Martin of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries said the man's body was recovered about 2 p.m. yesterday near Bay Roc Marina. Martin says the death, the first drowning this year at the lake, appears accidental. Franklin County Sheriff Ewell Hunt said the victim is Floyd A. Frost Jr., who lived on a boat moored at the marina.

Newport News About 40 soldiers are returning to Newport News from a 15-month deployment in Iraq. A welcome ceremony is scheduled for 7 a.m. tomorrow at Fort Eustis for the 510th Human Resources Company Headquarters.