Acouple of Chesterfield County restaurants could use a guy like Ren McCormack. McCormack, for those of you trying to forget the 1980s, was the teen portrayed by Kevin Bacon in the film “Footloose.“ He managed to sway the town government, the law and an overzealous preacher and got the rural farming community of Bomont to lift its ban on dancing.

Belden to close Midlothian plant An electronic-components manufacturer said yesterday that it will stop production at its plant in Chesterfield County, putting 45 employees out of work. Belden Inc. said it will close its Midlothian manufacturing plant by July and move production to its plant in Tijuana, Mexico, as part of a corporate restructuring.

Back to School The headline, “Budget Process Divides Boards,“ made us think. According to a Times-Dispatch story by Juan Antonio Lizama: “Some members of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors feel frustrated by what they see as a lack of cooperation and ineffective communication with the school administration and School Board in this year’s budget process.“

In honor of Earth Day, Chesterfield County is partnering with John Tyler Community College to host an environmental event at the Fool for Art Festival, Saturday, April 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at the JTCC Midlothian campus, 800 Charter Colony Parkway. Enjoy music, food, art and lectures highlighting environmental issues. Vendors and educational displays will present information on topics ranging from biofuel and alternative fuel vehicles to tips on composting and gardening. Music will be provided by Chesterfield County public schools. The Office of Environmental Management will provide educational material at the event’s welcome desk.

Students, parents and members of the public are invited to explore the 28 careerand technical-education programs at the Chesterfield Technical Center, 10101 Courthouse Road, during an open house 1-3 p.m. March 22. Teachers, administrators, students and business partners of the school will be available for information and to demonstrate activites.

Substance Abuse Free Environment Inc., or SAFE, received a Got Outcomes! Coalition of Excellence award by the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America. The award is given each year to coalitions that have successfully reduced substance abuse in their communities through evidence-based strategies and practices. This year, four coalitions were honored nationwide.

The inaugural induction of the Chesterfield Community High School National Honor Society has been rescheduled to Thursday, March 19 at 8:40 a.m., because of recent inclement weather. The induction will be followed by breakfast.

Residents of about 20 homes were evacuated for several hours last night along Cattail Road in Chesterfield County after authorities feared they could be threatened by a fast-moving brush fire. As a precaution, county fire officials issued a mandatory evacuation order at about 5 p.m. for residents on Cattail between Reedy Branch and Rowlett roads. Residents were encouraged to use a temporary shelter set up at Matoaca High School at 17700 Longhouse Lane.

As part of its proposed fiscal year 2010 budget, Chesterfield County’s Utilities Department is recommending fee increases for water and sewer service. The proposal comes in response to an analysis of the budget and 10-year projections that show current revenue, without fee increases, will not be sufficient to cover the department’s operating expenses.

Most of central Virginia’s state legislators did not favor a ban on smoking in restaurants, but a strong majority backed a bill to allow concealed weapons into them. In the recently concluded General Assembly session, the 18 delegates and nine state senators who represent the region overwhelmingly supported Virginia’s revised $77 billion budget, as well as changes to election laws that clarify residency requirements for registration and allow voters to wear politically themed clothing to the polls.

A 23-year-old man, one of 10 passengers in a minivan, died at a Wythe County hospital early yesterday after the van rolled three times on Interstate 77 in Bland County. Virginia State Police said Jose Luis Rivas Morales of Alvarez, Mexico, died shortly before 2 a.m. at Wytheville Community Hospital. Morales was not wearing a seat belt, police said.

Virginia law-enforcement agencies will receive nearly $40 million in federal stimulus dollars as part of a $2 billion package announced yesterday by President Barack Obama. In addition, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced yesterday that Virginia will get $281 million in funding for special education and that localities will receive a total of $165.3 million for K-12 education through Title 1 funds, which help pay for programs in schools with a high percentage of needy students.

Circuit Court judges in Chesterfield County have picked a new electoral board member after the local Democratic Party declined to recommend the reappointment of Ernest Harris. Glen G. Besa, lobbyist for the Virginia chapter of the Sierra Club, is the new appointee on the three-member board. Perry DeMay, chairman of the Chesterfield County Democratic Committee, said the party declined to recommend Harris because he did not keep minutes of the monthly meetings of the electoral board, as he was supposed to do. He was secretary of the board.

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is issuing a special invitation to residents of Chesterfield County to visit the museum March 18. VMFA will offer free tours that focus on art with ties to Chesterfield and Virginia, along with other highlights of VMFA’s collection. Tours at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. will showcase such treasures as Fabergé imperial eggs and Edgar Degas’ bronze sculpture “The Little Dancer,“ both given to VMFA by Virginians. A portrait of Sir Thomas Dale, founder of the Citie of Henricus, will also be among the featured works.

Henrico took the lead. Because the county shared certain ZIP codes with Richmond, taxes submitted by businesses in various zones went to the city, whose name appeared as the mailing address, instead of the county, where the businesses were located and the sales taxes assessed. After residents signaled their consent in a mail-in referendum, the Postal Service changed the jurisdictional name in specified ZIP codes from Richmond to Henrico.