A burglary ring that recruited juveniles and preyed on well-to-do, quiet neighborhoods in Hanover and Henrico counties has run its course. A Henrico judge sentenced the leader of the loosely knit operation to two years in prison Tuesday after hearing Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Nikki Clarke describe how that leader looted and broke into the home of a vacationing school friend.

Like a virus, statutory restrictions on panhandling have been spreading throughout Central Virginia. What began in Richmond moved to Henrico, and now threatens to infect Hanover. County officials will hold a hearing in mid-October on an ordinance that would forbid people to sell, solicit, or distribute literature on public roads. Legitimate concerns about safety underlie the proposal. People darting in and out of traffic present a danger to themselves and to others, and localities certainly should be able to restrict such behavior.

Tomatoes were disappearing by the bite, bag and box yesterday as tens of thousands of people took advantage of a beautiful afternoon at the area’s two annual tomato festivals. At the 31st annual Hanover Tomato Festival, traffic backed up for miles either way on Pole Green Road in Hanover County as people waited to snake into the park for a taste of the county’s most famous crop. At a big tent in the middle, the tomatoes were going fast at $7 to $10 a bag or $35 a box.

Arthur Utley discusses weather conditions at the Softball and Baseball semi-finals to have been held at Hanover High School.

The era of big government is back—at the federal level. Locally, it’s a different story. With the exception of Henrico, municipal governments in Central Virginia have been crafting budgets that are smaller in real terms than in previous years. Henrico’s budget is increasing by only 1 percent, and collectively area localities will spend 3 percent less in fiscal 2010 than in fiscal 2009.

You don’t have to be a fisherman or a hunter to go to Bass Pro Shops on Wednesday night. Just take your appetite. The fifth annual Taste of Hanover will be at the mega sporting-goods store, and all proceeds go to Hanover ARC and Hanover Community Support Services, said Pat Thacker, a co-chairwoman of the event and a representative of community support services.

One of the defining principles of new urbanism is that its design should celebrate local history. Providence Creek, a proposed 64-acre development off state Route 54 just east of Interstate 95, would cut off access to a historic Hanover County community. The development would result in the closing of nearby Providence Church Road at state Route 54—a move that would seal off direct access to Providence Baptist Church.

One more night. One more game to play. One more day to spend together. That was the motivation that carried the Hanover Hawks to a 51-41 victory over Deep Run last night in the opening round of the Central Region basketball tournament. “I love these girls to death, and I don’t want this season to end,“ said point guard Tiquana Hill, a 5-4 senior who played a key role in the relentless defensive effort that harried the Wildcats into 13 turnovers and 16-for-50 shooting.

Five Atlee High School students have been charged with 42 felonies in connection with rocks and other objects being thrown onto northbound Interstate 295 in Hanover County. The arrests of the five, all males between 15 and 17 who have been released to the custody of their parents, grew out of a joint investigation by Virginia State Police and the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, state police Sgt. Tom Cunningham said yesterday.

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones extended the olive branch of regional cooperation to Chesterfield County leaders yesterday by making an appearance at the county’s Board of Supervisors meeting. It was the first time in recent history that a city mayor had crossed the county line to speak with elected leaders. “It’s the first time we know of,“ said County Administrator James J.L. Stegmaier, who has been with Chesterfield for 23 years.

Hanover CASA has been awarded certification by the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association. This certification recognizes that Hanover CASA is in compliance with National CASA’s high standards for quality child advocacy. According to Michael Piraino, chief executive officer of the National CASA Association, “The National CASA quality assurance process is very rigorous, and reflects our commitment to ensure every child we serve has the most powerful volunteer advocate working on their behalf. This certification says Hanover CASA has demonstrated to us a strong capacity to provide excellent services to the abused and neglected children within their community.“

A Hanover County jury this afternoon found Derek Edward Burkhead guilty of second-degree murder in his third trial for the 2006 shooting death of his girlfriend, Jennifer Michelle Willis.

Derek Edward Burkhead, facing a first-degree murder trial for the third time, is leaving his fate to a seven-man, five-woman Hanover County jury. Greg Sheldon, who has represented the Mechanicsville man through two previous mistrials, rested his case yesterday, putting on no defense evidence. Sheldon said he will argue today that, while Burkhead apparently shot his longtime girlfriend, there is no evidence that he did so maliciously or planned the attack.

The Hanover County Department of Social Services is looking for new homes for its popular “Stretch Your Dollar” community meetings. If you have a facility whose main meeting room could accommodate about 75 people, please call the Hanover Department of Social Services at (804) 365-4109 (Monica Chenault) or (804) 365-4101 (Lisa Axel). The department prefers a facility located within Hanover County. The facility would be needed between 4:30-9:30 p.m. on Monday nights. A separate room for child care also is needed.

Hanover County has joined the select few Virginia localities that have earned AAA bond-rating status from two municipal-bond rating agencies, according to county officials. Standard & Poor’s upgraded the county to the triple-A status, the highest rating possible. That lets the county borrow money for construction projects or issue bonds at a lower interest rate.