RICHMOND - Millbrook High School entered this state semifinal contest with a sterling 20-0 record.

Make that 21-0.

The Lady Pioneers topped Patrick County 61-35 in VCU's Siegel Center today, advancing to the state championship game.

DANVILLE — A Martinsville man was sentenced Monday to more than 19 years in prison for distributing cocaine and other charges in connection with incidents in the Martinsville-Henry County area in 2008.

A jury in December found Carlos Santana Morris, 33, guilty of four counts of distributing cocaine, one count of using a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime and one count of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Henry County Board of Supervisors Chairman Debra Buchanan is known for her long hair that she always wears in a braid atop her head. Recently, however, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. In anticipation of losing her hair during treatments, she decided to cut it on Monday.

Lois Christensen will retire as executive director of Gateway Streetscape on March 31, but she plans to continue volunteering in the community.

“I’m going to work on my own yard for a while,” she said Monday.

Although Christensen said she is unsure exactly what she will do after retiring from Gateway, she hopes to continue environmental projects and working with people in the community, possibly teaching pruning and horticultural skills, she said.

A loitering problem at J. Russell Mason Memorial Park seems to have ended, Martinsville officials said on Monday.

According to officials, large crowds that seemed to be comprised mostly of Hispanics frequently gathered for soccer games at the park on Ainsley Street across from the Clearview Early Childhood Center.

But the problem recently has gone away. Officials said they understand the soccer matches now are being held elsewhere.