News Near You for Nov. 4

NEWS NEAR YOU

Hanover Residents interested in the development around the state Route 54 corridor near Interstate 95 are invited to attend a meeting tonight at 7 at Providence Baptist Church, 9491 Providence Church Road. Several mixed-use developments are making their way through the approval process with the county and the town of Ashland, including East Ashland and Providence Creek. If approved, these two communities could have nearly 1,300 residential units and more than 1 million square feet of office, retail and commercial space. Construction has begun within a third community, Woodside Estates, which will have 158 homes. The meeting will be hosted by the Coalition for Hanover's Future and will include presentations about each development from planning staff members.

Petersburg Petersburg police will hold a community meeting to discuss crime trends tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the Country Inn and Suites Hotel, 130 Wagner Road. Residents will hear about crime-incident and arrest rates and will learn strategies to stay safe. They will have opportunities to voice their concerns directly to police administration and patrol officers working their neighborhoods.

Prince George A rabies clinic is scheduled for Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. in the parking lot of the Prince George County Administration Building, 6602 Courts Drive. County residents and non-residents are invited to attend. Rabies vaccinations will be available for $7 each, cash only, for dogs and cats 4 months of age or older. Initial rabies vaccinations are for a one-year certificate. A previous rabies vaccination certificate must be presented with the pet for a three-year vaccination certificate. The three-year certificate is issued for second or subsequent vaccinations. All dogs must be on a leash and cats in cat carriers. An adult should handle all animals. For information, call (804) 733-2796.

Hanover The Hanover County school system's Parent Resource Center will have a free workshop for parents of children with special needs tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at Oak Knoll Middle School on U.S. 301. Information will be available about Medicaid waivers that enable children and adults with disabilities to access services. To reserve a seat, call (804) 365-4597 or e-mail .

AROUND THE STATE

Roanoke Four men who pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in a plot to kidnap the wives of wealthy Roanoke-area men and hold them for ransom are going to prison. The U.S. attorney's office said 20-year-old Mohammed Hussein Guhad, 19-year-old Joshua Kasongo and 20-year-old Luke Elbino were sentenced Monday to 5½ years in prison. The fourth man, 18-year-old Anthony Boyd-Muse, received 4½ years. Prosecutors say the defendants drove through Roanoke County neighborhoods to identify houses where they believed wealthy people lived and then would research targets on the Internet. The men were arrested after a thwarted attempt by Guhad, Elbino and Kasongo to kidnap a woman on April 9.

Virginia Beach Contributions to Operation Blessing International increased by 46 percent last year, with most of the donations non-cash contributions such as surplus food and goods for needy families and disaster victims. The Virginia Beach charity founded by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson in 1978 reported 2008 revenue of $407 million, up from $279 million in 2007, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy. According to Operation Blessing's 2008 tax statement, 94 percent of its donations were non-cash, in-kind contributions. Operation Blessing's president, Bill Horan, said the surge in contributions came in part from the charity's expanded system for procuring and disbursing more donated goods and services.

Norfolk Newport News attorney Douglas Miller has been selected to replace retiring U.S. Magistrate Judge James Bradberry. Miller, a 1995 William and Mary law graduate and a partner with Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein, will join two other magistrate judges who hear cases in the Norfolk and Newport News federal courthouses.