News Near You for Nov. 23

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@times dispatch.com

NEWS NEAR YOU

Petersburg The Greater Tri-Cities Hospitality Coalition will hold a town-hall meeting today at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, 380 E. Washington St. in Petersburg, to update business owners and community leaders on the proposed 1,000-room hotel complex at Fort Lee. At the 5:30 p.m. meeting, coalition members will share some of the coalition's projections regarding the economic impact of the project, including employment in the region and local government tax revenues. The coalition is concerned about area restaurants, hotels, inns, and retail and service businesses being hurt by the project. All area businesses, civic and church organizations, and residents are welcome to attend. The Greater Tri-Cities Hospitality Coalition represents 160 area businesses.

Powhatan The Powhatan County School Board will hold a special meeting today after the transportation facility workshop meeting, which begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Powhatan County School Board Administrative Office, 2320 Skaggs Road.

Hopewell The Hopewell City Council has voted to issue Water and Sewer System Revenue bonds in the maximum amount of $30 million to finance improvements to the city's sewer system, including the construction of a wastewater-treatment plant, pumping stations and other related infrastructure. The city this year approved an increase in the sewer service rate to help pay for construction of the $29 million wastewater-treatment plant that the city intends to build to keep up with expected growth in the region.

Hanover Wednesday is the deadline to sign up for Hanover County Master Gardener training classes that begin Jan. 13. Classes will be held every Monday and Wednesday for 10 weeks in the Department of Social Services meeting room at the Hanover Human Services Complex, 12304 Washington Highway, south of Ashcake Road. The fee of $140 covers the cost of the Master Gardener Handbook, the Pest Management Guide and other materials for each trainee. Contact the Hanover County Extension Office, (804) 752-4310, for information or an application packet.

Richmond The Armstrong-Walker Commemorative Football Classic will be held Saturday at Virginia Union University's Hovey Field at 1:30 p.m. The game will commemorate the 40-year football competition between Armstrong High School and Maggie L. Walker High School between 1938 and 1978. The classic will be a game between two semi-pro teams, the Virginia Hornets and the Montgomery County Rams of Maryland. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the gate, and $7 for children ages 7 to 16. Children younger than 7 are free. For information, visit http://www.armstrongwalkerclassic.org or call (804) 908-6121.

AROUND THE STATE

Arlington A Northern Virginia driver is holding a $1,000 ticket after a recent crackdown on those who drive illegally in car-pool lanes. Virginia State Police say they handed out the fine Thursday to a motorist driving through Arlington County on the HOV lanes. The $1,000 ticket is for a fourth offense in five years. Police also issued 25 tickets for first-time offenses and one for a second offense. Police are conducting a second wave of their Operation HOV Crackdown. On one morning last month, officers issued 89 tickets in three hours along interstates 95 and 395. A steep increase in fines was enacted several years ago because authorities said the law had no teeth. The first offense draws a $125 ticket. That fine doubles for the second, third and fourth offenses.

Fairfax Fairfax County police and fire officials are investigating the death of a person found in a burning car in the Annandale area. Police are not releasing the person's age, gender or identity until autopsy results are returned.