Archive for April, 2010

SALEM – The almost-full moon was just setting and streaks of sunrise were starting to paint the sky pink when the first 10 customers were welcomed through the doors of the new Salem Lowe’s Friday morning at 6 a.m. Barely two minutes later first customer Connie Plunkett of Salem excitedly waved her sales slip.... »

CAVE SPRING–While the top runner in the Blue Ridge Marathon on Saturday was from Blacksburg, runners from Cave Spring were in the mix as well. The Cave Spring runners were from all walks of life: retired teachers, engineers, and stay-at-home moms. Novice marathoners, and one with more than 50 under his belt. The fastest... »

SALEM – The lights are on, shelves are stocked and employees in red vests and Lowe’s T-shirts are getting their final training. Just about everything is in the long-awaited Lowe’s store in Salem – except the customers. On Friday, they’ll be there, too. The “soft” opening of Lowe’s Home Improvement Store No. 2939 is... »

David Warren Leaman, 63, of Salem died April 24, 2010. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Randolph Jr. and Gladys Leaman. Survivors include brothers Randy Leaman and wife Holly of Windsor, Jonathan Leaman and wife Vanette of Newport News and Timothy Leaman and wife Jayne of Paradise, Utah; and six nieces... »

Lorene Barton Musgrove, 80, of Salem died April 22, 2010. She worked for C & P Telephone Company and retired from G.W. Carver Elementary School as a cafeteria worker after 17 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Jennings Musgrove Sr. Survivors include sons William (Bill) J. Musgrove Jr. and wife,... »

Ruby McDaniel Phlegar, 95, of Roanoke died April 20, 2010. Among those who preceded her in death were her husband of 63 years, Ballard T. Phlegar of Salem. Survivors include her daughter Montra Peerman (John) Clements; son Richard Barry (Wanda) Phlegar; grandchildren Bryan (Laurie) Peerman, Mark (Becky) Peerman, Robert (Carey) Peerman, Lisa (Gregory) Phlegar... »

CRAIG COUNTY – For months, students in Allan W. Saunders’ science classes carefully cared for hundreds of eggs, watched as they hatched into minuscule trout and then evolved into several-inch-long fish. Dozens more from kindergartners at McCleary Elementary through twelfth graders at Craig County High School came by to observe what was happening in... »

SALEM – Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday is now an official holiday for the City of Salem. Even though it had been on the national and state calendars for several years, until Salem City Council’s action April 26 the day had been a “floating holiday” for city employees. In other words, they could take... »

A 17-year-old sprints through a parking lot, trying to catch his teacher. A school building manager walks across a gym floor, swinging his legs as high as he can. An English teacher struggles to hold a medicine ball in the air. These were the sights very early an a recent Friday morning. While the... »

BUCHANAN – Buchanan Mayor Tom Middlecamp may have the end of the town’s water woes in sight. The operative word being “may.” Middlecamp and former Mayor Rex Kelly have been adamant over the years that the town has to upgrade its water distribution system or there would be trouble—serious trouble that could cost town... »