Roanoke Times & World News back issues from January 2007:
FLOYD CO. MAN FEELS CALLED TO SERVICE
Jan 01, 2007; ... At age 37, Austin Blessard is joining the military -- again. He will leave Jan. 5 for a full-time assignment with an Air ForceReserve unit in Savannah, Ga. Within a year, his unit will be in Iraq. He has been told thatupfront. "They wanted to make sure I was real clear ...
CONSISTENCY NEEDED TO REACH TOP
Jan 01, 2007; ... Consistency remains elusive for the Virginia Tech football team.Not so much year-to-year as week-to-week. Despite three consecutive10-win seasons and 14 straight bowl appearances, you still never knowon any given Saturday what you're going to get from these guys. Trends tick ...
FIRE DAMAGES ROOMS AT MOTEL
Jan 01, 2007; ... A fire broke out at Roanoke's Plaza Court Motel early Sundaymorning, causing an estimated $15,000 in damage, according to theRoanoke Fire-EMS Department. The fire occurred in a back room of the motel at 4511 WilliamsonRoad, said Tiffany Bradbury, the fire department's public ...
OUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS, FOR OTHERS
Jan 01, 2007 ... Outgoing U.S. Sen. George Allen: Never, ever talk while thecameras are rolling. U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode: Always double-check the "To:" field beforesending an incendiary e-mail. Another for Sen. Allen: Learn to discuss your newly discoveredJewish heritage without joking about ...
DEMAND GROWS FOR GREEN CARDS
Jan 01, 2007; ... Joao Setubal was no stranger to the United States when he arrivedat Virginia Tech from Brazil in January 2004. He and his family had two extended stays in the country from 1987to 1992 and from 2000 to 2002 as he studied and worked at theUniversity of Washington. Now 49, ...
ENJOYING FINAL RIDE
Jan 01, 2007; ... Tiki Barber wasn't the easiest guy to spot Saturday night as heran onto the field in the shadow of 6-foot-5, 304-pound reserveoffensive lineman Guy Whimper. Staring down pro football mortality, Barber didn't go out with awhimper. There was so much demand for Barber after the ...
OBIT LATE NOTICE
Jan 01, 2007 ... LYLE, William E., 84, of Roanoke, died Sunday, ...
'WE LET THE SENIORS DOWN'
Jan 01, 2007; ... Two hours after Saturday night's Chick-fil-A Bowl ended, VirginiaTech fans were gathered at a pair of watering holes within walkingdistance of the Georgia Dome. They were trying to forget a stunning second-half collapse infront of a Georgia Dome-record 75,406 fans and a national ...
RAIN DOESN'T DAMPEN VINTON'S ENCHANTED EVE
Jan 01, 2007; ... Sunday's persistent rains may have affected some party plansaround the valley, but Vinton's Enchanted Eve celebration pushedahead full steam. This was the third anniversary of the family-friendly, alcohol-free New Year's Eve event, but it was the first year it followed acruise ...
THE WAR ON CHRISTMAS, AND CHRIST, IS REAL
Jan 01, 2007; ... It's amazing that the rantings of a lunatic can be passed off asgood media. It's even more amazing that the lunatic making therantings claims to be doing it for good or even noble causes. Suchare the rantings of that well-known, or maybe not-so-well-knowneditorial page editor of The ...
POSTS BIG FOR UNC, DUKE
Jan 01, 2007 ... Tyler Hansbrough scored 17 points and Brandan Wright added 16 tolead No. 2 North Carolina past Dayton 81-51 on Sunday. Wayne Ellington scored 15 points for the Tar Heels (12-1), who had11 players score to win for the ninth straight time. Marcus Johnson and Brian Roberts each ...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Jan 01, 2007 ... A draft might be the only way President Bush's statement that "we're not losing the war, butwe're not winning it" doesn't seem to console the family members ofthose who have lost loved ones. To date, we have lost 2,964-plus, and I wonder which tour of dutythey were ...
'POSTDOCS' FIGHT THE CLOCK TO GET U.S. RESIDENCY
Jan 01, 2007; ... The clock is ticking for Katrin Anacker. The 38-year-old postdoctoral associate came to the United Stateson a Fulbright Scholarship in 1997 to study at Ohio State University.After graduating she was able to stay in the country thanks to a one-year fellowship with Virginia Tech's ...
SOME SCHOOLS HESITATE OVER REQUESTS FOR REPORTS Series: Open & Shut
Jan 01, 2007; ... The journey to find a fire inspection report on a Virginia schoolcan take many directions: to the fire department, to the school, tocity hall, to the state fire marshal's office, even to a lawn andgarden store where the volunteer fire chief holds his day job. And there's not ...
FORGOTTEN FIRST HALF
Jan 01, 2007 ... Caption ...
NUCLEAR REGULATORS ESCHEW REGULATING
Jan 01, 2007 ... It isn't every day that an industry asks the government toregulate it. Yet that is just what the nation's nuclear powercompanies recently did, asking the Nuclear Regulatory Commission tospell out how they should protect reactors from catastrophic airattacks. It was an impressive ...
BILLS ON LAND USE GENERATE DEBATE
Jan 01, 2007; ... When he introduced three land-use bills to the General Assembly'stransportation debate last week, Virginia Del. Clifford "Clay" Atheywas trying to kick-start a conversation with local governments. Judging by the response of Western Virginia officials, his ployseems to have ...
ORGANIZERS CANCEL MIDNIGHT ON THE MARKET IN DOWNTOWN ROANOKE
Jan 01, 2007; ... Bad weather on Sunday forced the cancellation of Midnight on theMarket, downtown Roanoke's New Year's Eve celebration. The decision to cancel was made about 11 a.m., said Larry Landolt,executive director of EventZone, the nonprofit group that manages theparty. "We had some ...
NO KICKS FROM '06; THANK HEAVEN IT'S '07
Jan 01, 2007; ... Boy, howdy, as Minnie Pearl used to say in those innocent timesthat will not come again, this year that just passed has been prettywell filled with woe. Which is to say that if you were satisfied with 2006, go somewhereand get some good electric shocks and get back in the world ...
IN THE STARS FOR 2007
Jan 01, 2007; ... We are very lucky to live in Southwest Virginia, surrounded bynatural beauty. At night we are equally fortunate. Our dark countryskies are an envy to stargazers across the Commonwealth. The new year brings many reasons to take a step back from ourdaily routine, relax and gaze ...
CATCHING UP WITH SOME OF THE FOLKS WE MET IN '06
Jan 01, 2007; ... MORRIS STEPHENSON Franklin County photographer and newspaperman THEN: Stephenson has for years served as a Franklin County iconand advocate for canoeing. While working as a reporter andphotographer in the 1970s -- a job that included shooting moonshinestills -- he helped ...
OBIT - BUTLER, ROY R.
Jan 01, 2007 ... Roy R. Butler, 88, of Salem, passed away December 28, 2006. Thefamily will receive friends from 2 to 4 ...
OBIT - DEBORD, IVAN LEWIS
Jan 01, 2007 ... Ivan Lewis Debord, 86, of Salem, died on December 28, 2006. Afuneral service will be 12 noon on Tuesday, ...
OBIT - GARMAN, MARGARET ROBERTSON
Jan 01, 2007 ... Margaret Robertson Garman, 81, of Salem passed away Friday,December 29, 2006. Graveside service 11 ...
OBIT - STEVENS, VICTOR POSY
Jan 01, 2007 ... Victor Posy Stevens, 86, of Roanoke, passed away Saturday,December 30, 2006 ....
OBIT - KIEFFER, H. CLEON JR.
Jan 01, 2007 ... H. Cleon Kieffer, Jr., passed away peacefully in his sleep onFriday, December 29, 2006 at the Veterans Medical Center in Salem,Va. He was born on March 3, 1926 to the late H. Cleon and Edna(Troxell) Kieffer of Hershey, Pa. He served honorably in the U.S.Navy during World War II. He was a ...
OBIT - HAYES, MARY ALICE WOODS
Jan 01, 2007 ... Mary Alice Woods Hayes, 91, of Roanoke, passed away ...
OBIT - MILLIRON, ROBERT EDWARD, (ED)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Robert Edward (Ed) Milliron, 80, of Rocky Mount, passed awaySaturday, December 30, 2006. He was preceded in death by his parents,Robert L. and Evie Milliron, four sisters Thelma Milliron, EvelynMilliron, Frances M. Funkhouser, and Janie Milliron, and threebrothers Jessie, Elbert and ...
OBIT - SPENCE, JAMES EARL
Jan 01, 2007 ... James Earl Spence, 42, of Botetourt County, died Saturday,December 30, 2006. Survivors include his daughter, Brandi Spence; sonDusty Hodgin; granddaughter, Makayla Dunbar; parents, Maynard E. andShirley I. Spence; brothers, Johnny (Brenda) Spence and Billy (April)Spence; special aunt and ...
OBIT - PORTER, THERESA VERNON
Jan 01, 2007 ... Theresa Vernon Porter, 79, of Evington, died Sunday, December 31,2006 in ...
OBIT - BENSON, MARY DELCIE WEBLEY
Jan 01, 2007 ... Mary Delcie Webley Benson, 87, of Roanoke passed away Sunday,December 31, 2006. Graveside service 11 ...
OBIT - WHITTAKER, EDGAR NEWTON JR.
Jan 01, 2007 ... 4/19/1960 - 12/30/2006 Edgar Newton Whittaker, Jr. recently of Alexandria, Virginia,passed away at his home in Fincastle, Virginia on Saturday, December30, 2006. A lifelong resident of Northern Virginia, he was educatedat Annandale High School and Virginia Technical Institute and ...
OBIT - SCHAAL, HERMAN JAMES
Jan 01, 2007 ... Herman James Schaal, 62, of Roanoke, passed away Saturday,December 30, 2006. He was predeceased by his father, Llewellyn E.Schaal. Surviving family include his wife, Phyllis R. Schaal;daughter, Amy L. Buchanan of Roanoke; mother, Ruby M. Schaal ofRoanoke; grandchildren, Bethany E ....
OBIT - PALMERIO, CATHERINE E., (SUE)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Catherine E. (Sue) Palmerio, 90, of Roanoke and formerly of Ohio,went to be with the Lord Sunday, December 31, 2006. She was born inDes Plains Illinois, November 28, 1916, daughter of the late James P.and Elizabeth Collette Meehan. She was the widow of Frank Palmerio.In addition to her ...
OBIT - PAINTER, JOHN GEORGE
Jan 01, 2007 ... John George Painter, 79, of Troutville, went home to be with theLord on Saturday, December 30, 2006. Graveside services will be heldat 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 3, 2007 in Springwood Baptist ...
OBIT - BAKER, GAIL MARLENE ADAMS
Jan 01, 2007 ... Gail Marlene Adams Baker, 66, of Salem, passed away December 30,2006. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9p.m. Wednesday, January 3, 2007. Funeral ...
OBIT - NORMAN, ALYCE WILKE
Jan 01, 2007 ... Alyce Wilke Norman, 85, of Midlothian, Va. died Saturday, December30, 2006. Born on July 17, 1921 in Staten Island, N.Y., she was thedaughter of the late Paul and Anna Wilke. She was preceded in deathby her husband, Jack Hinton Norman, brother Paul Wilke, and sisterEleanor Mazzitelli ....
OBIT - BOCOCK, RUBY
Jan 01, 2007 ... Ruby Bocock, 81, of Roanoke, passed away December ...
OBIT - NAKUTIS, OLGA YACEVICIUTE
Jan 01, 2007 ... Olga Yaceviciute Nakutis, 95, died December 27, 2006. A Mass ofChristian Burial will be held Tuesday, ...
OBIT - WEST, DONALD E.
Jan 01, 2007 ... Donald E. West, 70, of Oakridge Farm, in Moneta since the age ofseven, passed away suddenly on December 28, 2006. He attended GraceMemorial Baptist Church, was a member of AmVets, and was a anemployee of Rubatex Corp. for many years before retiring. He waspredeceased by his father and ...
OBIT - BLEVINS, GOLDIE MINNIEBELLE
Jan 01, 2007 ... Goldie Minniebelle Blevins, 87, of Galax, formerly of Fries,passed away Friday, December ...
OBIT - NORMAN, REAVES JOHN
Jan 01, 2007 ... Reaves John Norman, 82, of Galax, passed away Friday. Funeralservice Monday at 2 p.m ....
OBIT - JONES, JAMES NICHOLAS JR., (NICK)
Jan 01, 2007 ... James Nicholas (Nick) Jones, Jr., 81, beloved husband, father,brother and uncle, of Blacksburg, died Saturday, December 30, 2006 atMontgomery Regional Hospital. He was born in Martinsville, Va. onFebruary 12, 1925 to the late James Nicholas, Sr. and Bessie Lee St.John Jones. He was ...
OBIT - SPARR, TRUDY A.
Jan 01, 2007 ... Trudy A. Sparr, 54, of Decatur, Ill. passed away at 10:03 a.m. onThursday, December 28, 2006 in her residence. Funeral services willbe at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, January 3, 2007, in Dawson & Wikoff WestWood Street Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m.Tuesday, January 2, 2007 at ...
OBIT - EDENS, CHARLES ROBERT JR., (BOB)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Charles (Bob) Robert Edens, Jr., 60, of Pulaski, died Saturday,December 30, 2006. Funeral services will be held at ...
OBIT - MCTHENIA, FREDA G.
Jan 01, 2007 ... Freda G. Mcthenia, of Marion, died Saturday, December 30, 2006.Funeral services will be held at 8 p.m. Tuesday, ...
OBIT - PRILLAMAN, ROGER ALAN
Jan 01, 2007 ... Roger Alan Prillaman, 56, of Newport News, Va., son of Marie S.Waggoner, died Thursday, December ...
OBIT - FRAZIER, RUTH BLEVINS
Jan 01, 2007 ... Ruth Blevins Frazier, 94, of Marion, passed away on Saturday,December 30, 2006. Graveside services will be held at 2 ...
OBIT - WORLEY, THELMA BURTON MOREHEAD
Jan 01, 2007 ... Thelma Burton Morehead Worley, 88, of Galax, Virginia, diedSaturday, December 30, 2006. She was born February 11, 1918, in BlandCounty and was the daughter of the late Charles and Ressie DunniganBurton. Her husband, Sidney, preceded her in death as well as herbrothers and sisters, ...
OBIT - GALLARDO, YOAN GUADALUPE FERNANDEZ
Jan 01, 2007 ... Yoan Guadalupe Fernandez Gallardo, 20, of Woodlawn, formerly ofMexico, died on Friday, December 29, 2006 ....
OBIT - BOBBITT, KENN XAVIER
Jan 01, 2007 ... Kenn Xavier Bobbitt, 21, of Hillsville, passed away on Friday,December 29, 2006. Funeral services ...
OBIT - POWELL, EDWIN EVERETT, (ED)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Edwin (Ed) Everett Powell, 60, of Meadows of Dan, Va., passed awayon December 30, 2006 at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Mr. Powell wasborn in North Carolina on August 2, 1946 to the late, Guy and AdaMarie Everett Powell. Mr. Powell served in the Air Force and was amachinist at Aerial ...
OBIT - GARDNER, DOUGLAS E. JR., (DOUGER)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Douglas E. (Douger) Gardner, Jr., 29, of Chantilly passed awayFriday, December 22, 2006 ....
OBIT - WATSON, MARGARET LOUISE
Jan 01, 2007 ... Margaret Louise Watson, 90, of Bedford, passed away Saturday,December 30, 2006 at her home. She was preceded in death by herhusband Jacob Owen Watson. Born January 8, 1916 in Bedford County,she was a daughter of the late Wyatt Lockett and Margaret SowerbyWatson. She was educated in the ...
OBIT - HOPKINS, REUBEN
Jan 01, 2007 ... Reuben Hopkins, 86, of Stuart, died December 30, 2006. Funeralservices, Tuesday, January 2, ...
OBIT - RANDOLPH, WILLIAM SR., (BILL)
Jan 01, 2007 ... William (Bill) Randolph, Sr., 67, of Martinsville, died Sunday,December 31, 2006. Visitation, ...
OBIT - HARRIS, HARVEY ARNOLD
Jan 01, 2007 ... Harvey Arnold Harris, 78, of Collinsville, died Saturday, December20,2006 ....
OBIT - BECKNER, WINIFRED EDWARD, (WIN)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Winifred Edward (Win) Beckner, 79, of Mebane, N.C., passed away onSaturday, December 30, 2006 after several years of declining health.Born June 30, 1927 in Roanoke, Va., he was the son of the lateWilliam Edward and Gordie Ferrell Beckner. He is survived by his wifeof 58 years, Betty ...
OBIT - EAVES, JAMES DOUGLAS
Jan 01, 2007 ... James Douglas Eaves, 59, of Dublin, died December 29, 2006.Funeral services will be Wednesday, January ...
OBIT - CROUSE, BYRANT KEVIN
Jan 01, 2007 ... Byrant Kevin Crouse, 18, of New River, Va., died Friday, December29, 2006. Funeral services will be Tuesday, ...
OBIT - BARBOUR, LILLIAN DEWITT
Jan 01, 2007 ... Lillian Dewitt Barbour, 84, of 240 Barbour Road, Martinsville,died December 31, 2006 at Trinity Mission Health and Rehab Center inRocky Mount. She was born in Franklin County on February 17, 1922 tothe late Will and Belva Lester Dewitt. In addition to her parents,she was preceded in ...
OBIT - DAY, ALEXANDER DEWEY JR., (ALEX)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Rev. Alexander (Alex) Dewey Day, Jr., 83, of Blacksburg, diedSaturday, December 30, 2006 at Lewis-Gale Medical Center. He was bornin McDowell County, W.Va. on November 12, 1923 to the late AlexanderDewey, Sr. and Pearl Miller Day. He was preceded in death by hiswife, Juanita S. Day. Rev ....
OBIT - HERZIG, RUBY AILEEN
Jan 01, 2007 ... Ruby Aileen Herzig, 84, of Blacksburg, died Sunday, ...
OBIT - WOODSON, ALVIN BURCH
Jan 01, 2007 ... Alvin Burch Woodson, 87, of Lynchburg passed away on Sunday,December 31, 2006 ....
OBIT - TAYLOR, ARTHUR LINWOOD SR., (ART)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Arthur (Art) Linwood Taylor, Sr., 76, of Lynchburg died onSaturday, December 30, ...