Prince George Prince George County placed seventh nationally in the medium-sized category of the 2009 Pinnacle Awards program of the National Association of Government Webmasters. The judges noted that the Prince George Web site was “clean, simple, informative and makes good use of colors in overall design.“ The judges also noted that the site was “very functional and easy to navigate.“ County Administrator John G. Kines Jr. said: “Providing useable information to our citizens is a critical objective of county government, and our excellent Web site makes this task much easier. Our information technology staff is to be commended for a job well-done.“

Henrico One juvenile died last night and another was in critical condition at VCU Medical Center after a fire in a single-family home in eastern Henrico County, said fire Capt. Chris Buehren. Firefighters responded at about 8 p.m. to the 1900 block of Johnson Road, near The Showplace on Mechanicsville Turnpike, and found the home engulfed in flames. Two people were rescued and taken to the medical center for treatment, where one of them died, Buehren said. The fire is under investigation.

Richmond The Richmond City Council is looking to appoint Senior Assistant City Attorney David W. Seitz as acting city attorney when Norman B. Sales retires Dec. 31. During their Organizational Development Committee meeting Monday, council members voted 8-1 to appoint Seitz. Councilwoman Reva M. Trammell opposed the appointment, saying she favored Assistant City Attorney Greg Lukanuski. The council is expected to approve Seitz’s appointment Nov. 23. It also is preparing to advertise the permanent position and has no timetable for naming Sales’ replacement.

Colonial Heights Dupuy Avenue between Battery Place and Braxton Avenue will be closed to westbound traffic Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Monday, city authorities said. Westbound traffic will be detoured onto Battery Place, Maple Lane and Meridian Avenue. Eastbound traffic will experience alternating lane shifts. A contractor will be installing storm sewer, water and sanitary sewer lines. The work is scheduled to be completed on or about Dec. 9. For information, call the Department of Public Works at (804) 520-9334.

Hanover Residents interested in the development around the state Route 54 corridor near Interstate 95 are invited to attend a meeting tonight at 7 at Providence Baptist Church, 9491 Providence Church Road. Several mixed-use developments are making their way through the approval process with the county and the town of Ashland, including East Ashland and Providence Creek. If approved, these two communities could have nearly 1,300 residential units and more than 1 million square feet of office, retail and commercial space. Construction has begun within a third community, Woodside Estates, which will have 158 homes. The meeting will be hosted by the Coalition for Hanover’s Future and will include presentations about each development from planning staff members.

Henrico “Mission: Possible,“ a silent auction to benefit Youth Missions, will be held Saturday at 7 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 903 Forest Ave. in Henrico County. Tickets are $25 per person. The event includes live music, heavy hors d’oeuvres and complimentary babysitting. For details, call (804) 288-7528 or visit http://www.trinityumc.net.

Henrico “Mission: Possible,“ a silent auction to benefit Youth Missions, will be held Saturday at 7 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 903 Forest Ave. in Henrico County. Tickets are $25 per person. The event includes live music, heavy hors d’oeuvres and complimentary babysitting. For details, call (804) 288-7528 or visit http://www.trinityumc.net.

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 Caroline Caroline County’s annual rabies clinic will be held Saturday and Nov. 14 from noon to 4 p.m. at the community center. Chesterfield The Chesterfield County Office of Cooperative Extension is offering a free seminar, Plant the Holiday Spirit, next Monday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Clover Hill Library. Learn how to plant bulbs and live greens for December and beyond. This seminar is free. Registration is required. For details or to register, call (804) 751-4401 or e-mail

Richmond Richmond’s Department of Public Works has been reaccredited by the American Public Works Association through 2013. The accreditation process is designed to promote excellence in the operation and management of public-works agencies and their programs and employees. The Richmond Department of Public Works was first accredited in 2005.

Chesterfield Residents of a Chesterfield County home were startled awake early yesterday morning when a car crashed into their living room, police said. No one was injured in the 4:15 a.m. wreck in the 6100 block of Gates Green Drive. The home is in the Courthouse Green subdivision near the Chesterfield Government Complex. Chesterfield police Capt. David Stone said the driver of the errant car apparently was fatigued and veered off the road into the house about 1 to 2 feet. The woman, who lives in the same subdivision, was charged with reckless driving, he said.

Caroline One of nine people charged in the fatal shooting of a teenager at a Sweet 16 party in Caroline County has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. Dwight Leo Smith II pleaded guilty Wednesday to assault by mob and received a 12-month jail sentence that was suspended. Smith, 20, had been charged with murder by mob, a felony. Sixteen-year-old Raquel Hunter was fatally shot as he left a classmate’s birthday party in November 2007.

Richmond The customer-service area of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles’ central office on West Broad Street was evacuated briefly yesterday morning after a suspicious white power spilled out of an envelope in the agency’s basement mailroom. Members of the Richmond Fire Department’s hazardous-materials team retrieved the envelope and monitored air quality, said Richmond fire spokesman Lt. Shawn Jones. Authorities were alerted about 11:30 a.m. after a mailroom employee was exposed to the white power after opening an envelope. About 12 employees in that section were evacuated, Jones said. The affected employee was evaluated by emergency medical personnel but exhibited no signs of illness, Jones said.

Colonial Heights The Colonial Heights Police Department and Colonial Heights Chamber of Commerce will present “Crime Trends and Prevention: A Business Seminar” Nov. 4 for Colonial Heights business owners, operators and managers. Two sessions will be offered: from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration is required. For details, visit http://www.colonial-heights.com or contact Sgt. Tom Kifer at (804) 520-9306 or

Caroline The Caroline County Chamber of Commerce will hold a benefit dance Friday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Feedlot Restaurant, 20017 Rogers Clark Blvd. in Ruther Glen. Music will be provided by Casper. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door. For details or reservations, call (804) 448-5264. Richmond Richmond firefighters responded to what turned out to be a false fire alarm at VCU Medical Center yesterday. Several fire crews were called shortly before 8:30 a.m. for an alarm at 1213 E. Clay St., the medical center’s new critical-care hospital. Authorities said a fire alarm had been activated on the hospital’s eighth floor. The first crews on scene, however, found that the alarm had been set off by burnt toast in a kitchen area, creating a minor amount of smoke on the eighth floor.

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 Chesterfield The Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Department will offer a beginner target archery course for adults 50 and older Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds Exhibition Building, 10300 Courthouse Road. Skills will include stance, follow-through, form, safety and proper use of equipment. All equipment will be provided. The fee is $12 per person. Register by calling (804) 748-1623 and mentioning Course 19166.