Archive for March, 2011

A short film by Blue Ridge resident and filmmaker Marc Hutchins earned the Audience Choice Award at the fourth annual Virginia Indie Film Festival in Richmond in February. For Hutchins, the award was great, but the audience’s reaction to his family comedy, “Goodbye to Muffy,” was even better. The 12-minute film will be up... »

The Roanoke County School Board has voted to adopt a budget of $131,373,270 for the 2011-12 school year, according to a news release from the school administration. After the past two years of steeply declining state revenue for schools, the General Assembly approved an increase in state funding for public education for 2011-12.  The... »

CAVE SPRING–Every year, six small dogs and six large dogs are invited to the Eastern regional Purina Incredible Dog Challenge for an agility competition. Those dogs and their handlers are deemed some of the best on the East Coast: the fastest, the fittest, and the most accurate. They have to be truly incredible, since... »

Botetourt native John Guillote has the opportunity of a lifetime waiting for your vote. Longtime friend Trevor Frost is in a competition to win a National Geographic Expedition, and if Frost is the winner, Guillote will be his co-leader. Trevor and John are eager to focus world attention on the endangered species in Sumatra... »

VINTON–Since its beginning almost four years ago, the Relay for Life of Vinton has not just met, but exceeded, its fundraising goals every single year. The event has been so successful that last year’s event made the fundraiser the second biggest Relay for Life in the South Atlantic Region, and the biggest in Virginia,... »

SALEM – Eight-year-old McKenna Habeeb is excited about singing “Tomorrow” by herself in a Broadway Revue with other students of all ages on Thursday, March 31, at 7:30 p.m in the Salem High School Auditorium. McKenna’s solo is from the musical “Annie.” Tickets for the review are $5 each and are available at the school... »

Myrtle “Dot” Brizendine, 84, of New Castle went to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 20, 2011. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse Brizendine, and son, Daniel R. Blevins. She is survived by daughter and son-in-law Debbie Tripp and husband Jeff; granddaughter Heather Tripp and fiance Jeremy Howell; great-grandson Nicholas;... »

CATAWBA – When is a greenhouse not a greenhouse? When it’s a hoop house, of course. On March 19, two growers who produce greens despite the weather showed how they use low and high hoop houses or tunnels. Kathy O’Hara of Greens to Go and Betty Bailey, a Catawba resident, both sell their greens... »

CAVE SPRING – A Bent Mountain man died at the scene, and later, a Pilot man died at the hospital after a three-car wreck this morning on Rt. 221 in the Cave Spring area. Roanoke County Police said Steven P. Key, 52, of Bent Mountain was dead at the scene. Pilot resident James M.... »

ROANOKE COUNTY – One person died and several others were injured in a three-car wreck this morning on Rt. 221 in the Cave Spring area. Roanoke County Police have not released the identity of the person who died. The highway near Apple Grove Lane was closed in both directions from 10:20 a.m. when the... »