Hopewell As part of Clean City Month, police officers and volunteers are stepping up efforts to identify vehicles that do not comply with Hopewell's inoperable-vehicle ordinance. The ordinance states that inoperable vehicles "must be kept within a fully enclosed structure . . . [or] must be fully covered with a fitted automobile cover in good repair."

Henrico A town-hall meeting on underage drinking, "Effective Strategies for Communication with Your Teen," will be held tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at Mills Godwin High School, 2101 Pump Road. The featured speaker is Brenda Conlan. For details, visit www.toosmart2start.com.

Powhatan Col. Robert E. McMillin II of Powhatan County has been appointed the Virginia Army National Guard's director of operations, plans and training. McMillin has served in the state Guard for 23 years. Commissioned through ROTC at the University of Virginia, he commanded the 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation during the unit's deployment to Iraq in 2006-2007.

Goochland The Goochland County Planning Commission last week endorsed a request from the Richmond Strikers Soccer Club to eliminate from its permit a condition requiring left and right turn lanes off Pouncey Tract Road at the club's current site. The Strikers, who serve 4,000 youths, plan to build new fields at West Creek Business Park on property owned by Markel Corp. that was once planned for a semiconductor plant.

Louisa A Caroline County man pleaded guilty last week to using a computer to solicit sex from a minor, according to the Louisa County's commonwealth's attorney's office. Bradley Gray, 23, was caught through an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigation. The same type of task force operation was used to make a case against suspended Howard University soccer coach Joseph Okoh. Gray is scheduled to be sentenced July 7.

AROUND THE STATE

Buckingham A Virginia Department of Forestry employee was in intensive care last night at the University of Virginia Medical Center after suffering upper-body burns while fighting a large brush fire in Buckingham County. Two other firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation at local medical facilities. The fire, which covered about 600 acres near state Routes 622 and 676, was brought under control after about nine hours, said Kevin Flippen of Buckingham emergency services. All five of the county's fire companies battled the blaze throughout the day.

Blacksburg Virginia Tech and a group of New River Valley agencies and businesses are hosting the New River Valley Green Home seminar, exhibit, and tours this month in Blacksburg to help homeowners learn to conserve energy and lower energy bills. The second annual event is set to run Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Blacksburg Recreation Center, 725 Patrick Henry Drive.

Saluda Oyster growers, unite! The Tidewater Oyster Gardeners Association's annual fair is May 17 at Christchurch School in Middlesex County. Stan Allen, director of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science's aquaculture breeding center, and Karen Forget, director of Lynnhaven River Now, will speak on oyster gardening and water quality restoration. The fair features exhibits, seed oyster sales, and oyster gardening supplies. Seed oysters must be ordered in advance from www.oystergardener.org. Registration is $8 for the fair, which runs from 9 a.m. to noon. For details, call Chan Chandler at (804) 725-5898, or Jackie Partin at (804) 694-4407.