A look at localities that reassessed residential and commercial properties this year: Chesterfield County: In all, the county’s tax base grew 1 percent. The Board of Supervisors will advertise a tax rate of 95 cents per $100 of assessed value, the same as it now charges, even though the so-called rollback-rate calculation shows it could set a 97-cent rate for all real estate. The rollback rate, which localities are required to disclose when reassessments average a more than 1 percent increase, is what the real estate tax rate would have to be to keep tax bills unchanged.

A Caroline County woman died in a house fire early yesterday in the county’s Port Royal area, authorities said. Marion Detweiler, 78, of the 8100 block of Eva Road, was found dead inside her home after firefighters extinguished the blaze, reported at 1:39 a.m., according to a news release issued by Caroline Sheriff A.A. “Tony” Lippa Jr.

Caroline County authorities yesterday identified a 63-year-old man who was killed Saturday in a fire at his home. Robert E. Jeter Sr.‘s remains were found after firefighters extinguished the fire at the house in the 30000 block of Bethlehem Road in the Sparta area in eastern Caroline, authorities said. Firefighters were summoned at 6:22 p.m. after someone called 911. Caroline sheriff’s deputy C.M. Polliard arrived first and found the house engulfed in flames. Intense heat prevented him from going into the home, authorities said.

Caroline County authorities release name of victim in house fire.

CAROLINE—In an attempt to close a $315,000 budget shortfall, Caroline County is eliminating six positions in the Department of Planning and Community Development by March 1. The move will save the county about $103,000 through June 30, County Administrator Percy Ashcraft said in making the announcement yesterday. In addition, each county employee will take six unpaid days off between March 1 and June 30 to make up an additional $212,000.

Someone stole a laptop and other items from a woman’s car after the woman stopped on Interstate 95 in Caroline County on Sunday to help out at a car crash, police said yesterday.

Hanover County investigators have arrested two men and two women in a string of daytime residential break-ins in the county’s Beaverdam area, authorities announced yesterday. The break-ins took place between Dec. 31 and Jan. 7. They happened in the 1900 block of Hewlett Road, the 14000 block of Verdon Road and the 16000 and 17000 blocks of Goshen Road, authorities said.

A 24-year-old man has pleaded guilty to two murders in Caroline County, authorities announced yesterday. Lashawn M. Monroe entered the plea in the shooting deaths of Miguel Vazquez Garcia on May 7, 2007, on New Baltimore Road, and of Raquel Hunter, 16, on Nov. 10, 2007, at the Madison Ruritan Club in Ladysmith. Garcia was found dead on the side of the road with multiple gunshot wounds. Hunter was shot in the head as a birthday party was ending for another 16-year-old.

One in an occasional series on foreclosures Abuilding lot that sold for $40,000 two years ago is on the market for $6,000. A spacious house in a new subdivision is listed for $100,000 less than what it sold for new in 2007.

Colonial Heights Fire officials have determined that a house fire Friday in the 400 Block of Lyons Avenue in Colonial Heights was started by a faulty electrical cord to a lamp. Firefighters responded to the blaze before noon and found heavy fire in the front living room. No one was at the house during the time of the incident, officials said. Damage to the house is estimated at $15,000. Officials said there were no smoke detectors installed in the home.

Henrico St. Joseph’s Villa announced this week that it has officially reported to the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation that it had received $1.3 million in new funds to successfully complete the terms of the foundation’s challenge grant. In May 2008, the foundation challenged St. Joseph’s Villa to raise $1 million in new funds to support improvements on the villa’s campus at 8000 Brook Road. The foundation stipulated that the villa raise the money by November 2008, and that if it did so, the foundation would provide $500,000 toward the project. More than 50 donors responded to the challenge, contributing more than $1.3 million, said villa CEO Kathleen Burke Barrett.

Caroline To help compensate for a $2.7 million shortfall in budget projections, the Caroline County Board of Supervisors has asked for 15 percent cuts in most county operations. The cuts will include schools, but not at the full 15 percent rate because that would push the county below the state’s minimum level of school funding. An exact cut in school funding is still under discussion. The county has also imposed a hiring freeze and is prepared to put off capital purchases until after 2010.

Having dodged tornadoes twice in one day, Cindy and Steve Willis decided they needed a safe place to hide. They started a tornado-shelter company and built one in the yard of their Caroline County home. “Our first customer was ourselves,“ Cindy Willis said. Since it was formed in May, Safe Zone Shelters has installed five underground fiberglass shelters, with a sixth planned.

This daily column features short news items from the 20 localities that make up the greater Richmond area. On Mondays, we run at least one item from each of the localities. If you have a news item, call 649-6990 or e-mail us at Amelia Work has begun on the visitors center at Amelia County’s Sailor’s Creek Battlefield State Park. The $1.1 million center is expected to be completed next summer.

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.