BRIEFS: NEWS NEAR YOU

NEWS NEAR YOU

Caroline Fifteen people were arrested yesterday on a total of 57 indictments in what the Caroline County Sheriff's Office described as a war on illegal drugs and distribution. The arrests resulted from a yearlong undercover drug investigation. The indictments, handed up by a Caroline grand jury Oct. 1, ranged from distribution of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute cocaine to distribution of marijuana.

Sussex County Administrator Mary E. Jones said steps are being taken to improve the county animal shelter after an animal-rights activist complained about poor conditions there. The activist, Eileen McAfee, took photos inside the shelter on Aug. 11 and mailed her findings to Sussex officials. County Attorney Henry Thompson told the Board of Supervisors last month that Jones has sole control of the shelter. However, supervisors have the authority to fire or reprimand her. An inspector from the state Office of Veterinary Services also made an unannounced inspection Sept. 18 to the shelter off state Route 40. Among the findings were: housing areas not properly disinfected with sufficient frequency; waste not removed with sufficient frequency to minimize animal contact; and an accumulation of waste matter and debris on the wall and gate surfaces of enclosures.

Richmond Police have made an arrest in the recent shooting of a retired Armstrong High School music teacher. Bobby Aaron Richardson, 19, of the 1800 block of Joplin Avenue, was arrested Wednesday night and charged with malicious wounding and use of a firearm in a felony. He is accused in the Oct. 11 shooting that injured Haywood McCallum Jr., 56, during an apparent robbery attempt in the 2400 block of Cedar Street in East Richmond. McCallum remains in critical condition at VCU Medical Center.

Chesterfield During October, the county is supporting a national effort to educate Internet users about safe computing and Internet practices. Today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Johnny Long, a professional hacker, security researcher and author or co-author of numerous books about computer safety, will speak during an event at the county's Public Safety Building for county employees and invited guests. For details, call (804) 748-1590. .

Hopewell The 12th annual City Point 5K River Run & Walk will be held tomorrow at 9 a.m. The walk along the Appomattox River will start and end at John Randolph Medical Center. On-site registration begins at 7:45 a.m. For details, call race director Malcolm Covington at (804) 541-2356.

AROUND THE STATE

Williamsburg A roughly $943,000 grant will help Colonial Williamsburg create a virtual experience for visitors. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation this week announced the funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services awards. Colonial Williamsburg is partnering with the Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities at the University of Virginia to develop 3-D computer models of five historical sites as they appeared in 1776.

Virginia Beach A high school student who allegedly sent death threats to classmates through MySpace has been arrested and charged with two felony counts. Police said the 17-year-old student sent the threats to two female classmates on the social networking site and told a third to her face he would harm her. Police spokesman Adam Bernstein said the parents of one of the girls alerted the school resource officer. The student was arrested earlier this month and has been held in the Virginia Beach Detention Center.