roanoke.com - Local news from the New River Valley
Radford council splits over plan to build road - roanoke.com
| Amy Matzke-Fawcett
amy.matzke-fawcett@roanoke.com, 381-1674
RADFORD -- The city council voted down a resolution Monday night to acquire a quarter-acre for a proposed connector road, leaving the future of proposed 208-acre development in question.
Montgomery Co. residents criticize proposed tax rate increase - roanoke.com
| Sharla Bardin
sharla.bardin@roanoke.com, 381-1669
CHRISTIANSBURG -- Three residents told Montgomery County supervisors Monday night that people are hurting financially now and increasing the real estate tax rate by 4 cents will only cause more hardship.
2nd-graders raise money for Haiti - roanoke.com
| Anna L. Mallory
anna.mallory@roanoke.com, 381-8627
A group of second-graders at Gilbert Linkous Elementary School put some of their winter recess time to good use this school year.
Public pulse: NRV government meetings - roanoke.com
Radford
What: School board
When: 6 p.m. today
Where: 1612 Wadsworth St.
On the agenda: Continuing budget discussions
Blacksburg
What: Town council
New restaurant, wine bar set to open in Blacksburg - roanoke.com
BLACKSBURG -- A landmark building that has been closed for nearly a year is scheduled to reopen next month as a new restaurant and wine bar.
The restaurant will be called 622 North after the building's North Main Street address. The space last housed Bogen's Steakhouse, which operated there from 1982 until May when it closed because of declining sales.
Pearisburg police seek witnesses to hit-and-run - roanoke.com
The Pearisburg Police Department is asking for help in finding the driver of a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run that seriously injured a woman last week.
Two vehicles crashed at 6:38 a.m. March 3 at the intersection of U.S. 460 and Thomas Drive, police said in a news release.
Cross-country skiers spending 'a secret winter's day' in the snow [with video] - roanoke.com
| Katie Mawyer
katie.mawyer@roanoke.com, 381-1677
While this winter's abundant snowfall has persuaded many to stay indoors, local cross-country skiers have given the unusual weather a warm welcome.
Gay protections not authorized, Cuccinelli says - roanoke.com
A policy banning discrimination based on sexual orientation remains in effect for now at Virginia Tech, despite a directive from the state attorney general that public colleges and universities rescind such protections.
Moneta man convicted in Pulaski 21 years after the fact - roanoke.com
PULASKI -- Mark Reed Nelson was 25 in 1989 when he was first charged with the carnal knowledge of a 13-year-old girl he met while shooting pool at a game room in Pulaski County.
The charge was soon dropped, however, after the victim refused to testify.
Public pulse: NRV government meetings - roanoke.com
Montgomery County
What: Board of supervisors
When: 7:15 p.m. Monday
Where: Montgomery County Government Center, 755 Roanoke St., Christiansburg
On the agenda: The proposed county budget for 2010-11.
Around the NRV: Children's play today; bridge inspections; Blacksburg citizens course - roanoke.com
RADFORD
Children's play to be staged today
Audiences are invited to watch "Jack and the Beanstalk" today. The production is being put on by Missoula Children's Theatre and more than 60 local students.
Gym collapse update: BHS teachers, staff working through issues - roanoke.com
BLACKSBURG -- Nine days in, knots in the new schedule at Blacksburg Middle School -- the hub for about 2,100 middle and high school students daily -- are slowly being unraveled.
Blacksburg's older students attend classes at the middle school beginning at 2 p.m., after the middle-schoolers have left for the day.
The official 'count' is on - roanoke.com
For more than a year, U.S. Census Bureau officials have been working to develop partnerships with local government, businesses and grass-roots organizations to publicize the count.
The bureau launched a road tour Jan. 4 that involved 13 vehicles traveling across the country to educate the general public on the importance of the census.
Radford group pleased with candidate turnout - roanoke.com
RADFORD -- A group made up of four the city's constitutional officers may not have recruited any of the five candidates vying for two open seats on the city council, but one of its members said its bigger goal has been accomplished.
"The idea behind the group was to get people interested in running," Commissioner of Revenue Cathy Flinchum said Wednesday, the day after the filing deadline for the May 4 election.
Man gets jail time in child porn case - roanoke.com
CHRISTIANSBURG -- A recent Virginia Tech graduate will spend 3 12 years in prison for possessing child pornography and having inappropriate contact with a teenage girl, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Samuel Fenton Denning, 26, had been charged with two counts of producing child pornography and 50 counts of possessing it, all felonies. But at a hearing in Montgomery County Circuit Court, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Dean Manor dropped nine counts of possession. He amended three charges, including the two producing charges, to sexual battery and 28 to contributing to the delinquency of a minor, all misdemeanors.
Portions of aquatics center 'essentially complete' - roanoke.com
CHRISTIANSBURG -- Project representatives for the new aquatics center say they are comfortable with the progress made on the building now, such as an upstairs that is virtually complete and two pools that are ready for water in upcoming weeks.
But there is a holdup that is out of their hands: the winter weather.
Early release canceled at Blacksburg schools - roanoke.com
Students in Blacksburg's five elementary schools will not be released early as planned March 10 because of transportation issues that result from Blacksburg High School's new schedule. The date is a countywide elementary school collaborative planning day.
The show must go on - roanoke.com
BLACKSBURG -- When volunteers with New River Stage decided to perform "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," they didn't know there would be adventures offstage, too.
The community theater group's play had been scheduled to open Friday at Blacksburg High School. But when the school's gym roof collapsed Feb. 13, producers and directors had to scramble to find a new venue.
Longtime mayors draw challengers for May election - roanoke.com
Longtime mayors in Radford and Christiansburg have drawn opponents for the May 4 election and challengers say part of their reason for running is to give residents a choice.
In Christiansburg, Mayor Richard Ballengee said he welcomes a challenge from political newcomer Meghan Dorsett, a planning consultant and owner of Dorsett Publications LLC.
Date changed for hearing on Montgomery County tax rate - roanoke.com
The proposed budget and tax rate for Montgomery County will be discussed at Monday's board of supervisors meeting and during a public hearing later this month.
County officials will discuss the budget Monday, and residents can speak about the topic during the public address portion of the meeting.
