Loudoun County

Loudoun breaks ground for Public Safety Center Members of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and the Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management joined other local officials Thursday for the groundbreaking of the Brambleton Public Safety Center, described by officials as a state-of-the-art facility, on Belmont Ridge Road. The center will be the home of Fire and Rescue Station No. 9 and the county Fire Marshal's Office, Loudoun officials said in a statement.

Donovan Kelly, a former chief spokesman for the U.S. Geological Survey who found acclaim in his second career, moonlighting as a critic of "crummy-but-good" restaurants for The Washington Post, died May 2 of a heart attack at his home in Loudoun County community of Hamilton. He was 71. The death was confirmed by his son, Donovan "Mike" Kelly. From 1997 to 1999, Mr. Kelly penned more than 50 reviews for his "Crummy but Good" series in The Post, in which he humorously reviewed local, hole-in-the-wall,...

The Washington region has emerged from the recession looking even more affluent compared with the rest of the country, boasting seven of the 10 counties with the highest household incomes in the nation, new census numbers show. With a median household income surpassing $119,000, Loudoun County heads the list. Fairfax County, at nearly $106,000, is second. Both have held the same positions for several years running. More surprising, Arlington County leapfrogged from the fifth spot to third, with a...

A 52-year-old Washington airports authority police officer was shot to death Friday night, allegedly by his wife in their home on a cul-de-sac in Sterling, the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office said. Cpl. Steven Spradling, a 25-year veteran of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, was found dead about 9 p.m. in the house in the 21700 block of Blossom Drive. Rosangela Spradling, 42, was charged with first-degree murder. She was being held at the county jail without bond.

MARYLAND Petition targets law ending death penalty A new battle has begun over the future of Maryland's death penalty — soon after Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) signed a bill abolishing capital punishment. MDPetitions.com said Friday that it would lead an effort to gather enough signatures to force a public vote next year on the law. If it gathers 55,736 valid signatures by June 30, the repeal law will be put on hold pending a statewide vote in November 2014. One-third of those signatures must be...

3Clyde is a 4-year-old neutered bluetick coon hound. Maggie is a 7-month-old female rat. The Loudoun County Animal Shelter, 3920 Charles Town Pike (Route 9), makes animals available for adoption by eligible residents 18 and older. More animals can be seen at www.loudoun.gov/animals . Adoption hours are noon to 6 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and noon to 4 p.m.

Thursday, May 16 Rotary Club of Ashburn, noon, 1757 Golf Club, 45120 Waxpool Rd., Dulles. 703-969-3070 or www.rotaryclubofashburnva.org . Pinochle, 12:30 p.m., Leesburg Senior Center, 102 North St., Leesburg. 703-737-8039. Poker, age 55 and older. 1:30-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Potomac Falls. $1; center members, free. 703-430-2397. Sterling Ruritan Club bingo, benefits local charities. 7 p.m., Sterling Ruritan Club, 183 Ruritan Rd....

These sales data recorded by the Loudoun Office of the County Assessor were provided by Lender Processing Services. For other residential real estate transactions, go to www.washingtonpost.com/homesales . Loudoun County ALDIE-BRADDOCK ROAD AREA Basalt Dr., 42068-Demetrios P. Spiros to John W. Emmons, $451,100. Fritz Ct., 25453-Daniel C. Dipillo to Kevin O. Blair, $587,500. Rosebay Terr., 24678-Venus Properties Corp. to Sofia B. Wicker, $255,000.

Loudoun County These were among incidents reported by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office and the Leesburg, Middleburg and Purcellville police departments. For information, contact your police or sheriff's department. ALDIE AREA THEFTS/BREAK-INS Kudu Ct., 42000 block, 7:45 to 8 p.m. May 1. A laptop was stolen from a residence entered through an unlocked back door. ASHBURN AREA THEFTS/BREAK-INS Crew Sq., 20100 block, 9 a.m. May 8. An MP3 player was stolen from a vehicle.

American Red Cross needs volunteers to greet donors at blood drives and offer reading materials and refreshments. One-hour training sessions. 800-272-0094, Ext. 1, or karlofft@usa.redcross.org . Arcola Fire Department needs volunteers in EMS, firefighting and administration. N o experience necessary; training will be provided free of charge. E-mail acalimlim@-arcolavfd.org or go to www.arcolavfd.org. Blossom and Bloom thrift shop needs volunteers from 10 a.m to 4 p.m.

3Armani is a 5-year-old domestic shorthair. Tootsie is a 7-year-old female Australian shepherd. Loudoun County Animal Shelter, 3920 Charles Town Pike (Route 9), makes animals available for adoption by eligible residents 18 and older. See more animals at www.loudoun.gov/animals . Adoption hours are noon to 6 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Information: 540-882-3211 or 703-777-0406.

These were among cases received by the Loudoun County Department of Animal Services. For information on the county shelter's hours and location, adoption and licensing, rabies clinics and low-cost neutering, call 703-777-0406 in eastern Loudoun or 540-882-3211 in western Loudoun. Heavy lifting: Paxson Rd., Purcellville, May 4. An apparently ailing 11-year-old Great Pyrenees was lying on the ground and unable to get up. Its elderly owner was unable to lift up the dog. An animal control officer took the dog to a veterinarian.