News Near You for June 24

This daily column features short news items from some of the 20 localities that make up the greater Richmond area. If you have a news item, call 649-6990 or e-mail us at .

NEWS NEAR YOU

Henrico The Henrico County Health Department is seeking 100 more volunteers for Sunday's drill to test the county's plan to dispense emergency medication in response to a bioterrorism event or a disease outbreak. The exercise will take place from 6-7 p.m. at CVS Pharmacy, 9501 Woodman Road. Registration has been extended to Friday. There is no age limit for volunteers, and participation is not limited to county residents. For information and to register, call 501-4643 or log on to http://www.co.henrico.va.us/health.

Louisa State police are targeting two highways in Louisa County for safety enforcement in response to a rash of wrecks. State police officials say patrols will increase today on U.S. 15 and a 9-mile section of Interstate 64 near the U.S. 15 (Zion Crossroads) interchange between mile markers 142 and 133. Thirty wrecks were reported on the targeted highways between Dec. 1 and June 15. Five people were injured and two were killed.

Richmond Céline Cousteau, the daughter of Jean-Michel Cousteau and granddaughter of Jacques Cousteau, will share her stories of adventure and exploration at the Science Museum of Virginia tomorrow, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20, or $10 for museum members and are available online or by calling (804) 864-1400 or (800] 659-1727.

Petersburg A Petersburg teen was shot and seriously wounded during an attempted robbery Monday night in the 800 block of Farmer Street in Petersburg, city police said. The 15-year-old victim, whose name was not released, was airlifted to VCU Medical Center in Richmond with a gunshot wound to his upper left leg, said Petersburg police spokeswoman Esther Hyatt. The victim was shot after three males attempted to rob him of jewelry, Hyatt said. The teen's condition was not immediately available, but police said he is expected to survive. Anyone with information can call Petersburg/Dinwiddie Crime Solvers at (804) 861-1212.

AROUND THE STATE

Fairfax Fairfax County supervisors are trying to close a loophole that allows for the construction of unusually tall homes referred to as McMansions. The county currently imposes a 35-foot height limit, measured from the average height of the base of the house to the midpoint of the roof. But officials say builders sometimes artificially elevate the ground on which the house is built by a few feet, allowing for extra height. Supervisors now propose that the height of most houses must be measured by the original ground level, not the raised one.

Bedford A Bedford County man will go to jail for selling roosters for cockfighting. A Bedford County circuit judge yesterday sentenced Avery Fitzgerald, 63, to a four-month term after he pleaded guilty to a charge of aiding, abetting or promoting animal fighting. An undercover officer purchased two roosters for fighting from Fitzgerald in December, and a search of Fitzgerald's property near Big Island yielded 39 roosters, game spurs, betting slips and a fighting pit.

Winchester A mid-1800s weather vane valued by Sotheby's New York at $3 million to $5 million has found a temporary home after failing to sell at auction. The 6-foot-tall copper weather vane known as "Old Jake" will be on display at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley beginning July 3. "Old Jake" has topped the Rouss Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company's fire houses in Winchester since around 1860. The fire company decided to sell "Old Jake" at Sotheby's New York's "Important Americana" auction in January. But the highest bid, $2.1 million, didn't meet the undisclosed reserve price, so the fire company decided several weeks ago to loan "Old Jake" to the museum. -- From Staff and Wire Reports