Roanoke Times & World News back issues from March 2008:
DON'T SHORTCUT THROUGH THE BASICS OF GARDENING
Mar 01, 2008; ... My son's academic career as an undergraduate at University ofGeorgia was less than stellar. In his 30s, he went back to schoolfor his master's degree. When he finished last summer he called toreport on his final grades. I gushed over his outstanding performance and he said, "You ...
TYMINSKI DELIVERS BLUEGRASS AND LAUGHS
Mar 01, 2008; ... There's something about musicians and comedians. Musicians alwayswant to be comics, and vice versa. Musicians have the advantage, because they have microphones, anddead time for tuning between songs. Adam Steffey knows just how toget the most of his jamming and funny time. So ...
JUDGE DEFERS DECISION IN ONLINE SEX CASE AGAINST TECH STUDENT
Mar 01, 2008; ... A recent Virginia Tech graduate will have another year toconvince a judge that he shouldn't be convicted of five felonies. James Parker Keen, 24, of Abingdon lived in Blacksburg in June2006 when he was charged as part of a Virginia State Police effortto crack down on online ...
ROOMS TO GROW
Mar 01, 2008; ... After nearly 10 months of sitting dormant, a hotel site that willborder a significant medical business park in Roanoke may be back ontrack. Last year, crews began to lay foundation at a 6-acre site where a127-room Cambria Suites hotel is planned. The property abuts one end of ...
VA. SUPREME COURT TO HEAR GLEBE CASE
Mar 01, 2008; ... A Botetourt County retirement facility found out Friday thatthere's plenty of life left in its fight to regain its tax-exemptstatus. The Supreme Court of Virginia announced that it will hear anappeal by The Glebe, a retirement community on U.S. 220 inDaleville, over its status ...
TECH WOMEN LEAD ACC TRACK
Mar 01, 2008; ... CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Virginia Tech freshman Kelly Phillips helpedthe Hokies get off to a strong start in the ACC Indoor Track andField Championships by overwhelming the competition in the polevault on Friday. Phillips' vault of 12 feet, 9 1/2 inches helped Tech earn 42points ...
PHOTO - IN TRAINING
Mar 01, 2008 ... GIVE US YOUR BEST SHOTS. Send us photos featuring the people ofthe New River Valley. Photos must have been taken within the pastmonth and include subjects' names, location, date and contactinformation for the photographer. Photos will not be ...
TECH WOMEN LEAD ACC TRACK
Mar 01, 2008; ... CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Virginia Tech freshman Kelly Phillips helpedthe Hokies get off to a strong start in the ACC Indoor Track andField Championships by overwhelming the competition in the polevault on Friday. Phillips' vault of 12 feet, 9 1/2 inches helped Tech earn 42points ...
MAROONS TOP W&L TO ADVANCE
Mar 01, 2008; ... February had already been bad enough for the Roanoke Collegemen's basketball team. It took only 31 seconds into Friday's ODACtournament quarterfinal against Washington and Lee for matters toget worse for the Maroons. "That's not the way we drew it up, not at all," Roanoke ...
CORNERSHOT
Mar 01, 2008; ... Whose campaign speech is this, anyway? "If elected, I pledge to all of you that I will do everything inmy power to heal the growing divisions among us ..." Sounds like Barack Obama, so far. " ... to restore economic vitality ....so that more people canenter the middle ...
FOR THE RECORD
Mar 01, 2008 ... Correction The seats held by Blacksburg Town Council members Mary Holliman,Paul Lancaster ...
SALEM APPLAUDS RETIRING MANAGER
Mar 01, 2008; ... Forest Jones didn't sleep well Thursday night, restless withrealizing the next day would be his last as Salem's city manager. That may explain the state of his office Friday morning: awardsand family portraits still neatly arranged on his desk and table,and a Negro Leagues ...
IMAGING SERVICES MAY GROW
Mar 01, 2008; ... Lewis-Gale Medical Center is looking to open a new outpatientimaging center in Roanoke for patients seeking CT scans and MRIswithout having to make a trip to the hospital. Another independent imaging company, the Center for AdvancedImaging, also plans to expand its diagnostic ...
EEOC FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST ADVANCE AUTO
Mar 01, 2008; ... The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuitthis week against Advance Auto Parts, charging that it violated adisability discrimination law by refusing to hire a male jobapplicant because he had cerebral palsy. The EEOC claimed in a release that the ...
HIDDEN VALLEY TO DEDICATE REBUILT BATTING BUILDING
Mar 01, 2008; ... The reincarnation of Hidden Valley High School's new practicebuilding for baseball and softball is scheduled for dedicationtoday -- five months after the first version of the facilitycollapsed near the completion of its construction. Dennis Layman, athletic director at the ...
TWICE FOR THE TITANS
Mar 01, 2008; ... Basketball players are not on high school payrolls. Good thing for the budgets at Hidden Valley and Blacksburg, wheretheir boys have been working overtime. The two Timesland teams went beyond regulation for the secondtime in eight days Friday night as Hidden Valley followed ...
MARCH POUNCES IN LIKE A LION
Mar 01, 2008; ... If you want a calm, mild March so we can gently drift intospring, you're probably going to be disappointed. March is about to go bonkers with big storm systems, large up anddown shifts in the jet stream resulting in temperatures fluctuatingbetween extremes, and quite likely a lot ...
RAIDERS REACH VIS FINALS
Mar 01, 2008; ... With leading scorer A.D. Banks kept under control and held toonly three points, the North Cross boys' basketball team called onfreshman Fuller Clark not once, but twice with a trip to the VISDivision III championship on the line Friday. Clark delivered on both accounts, first ...
APPLAUSE
Mar 01, 2008 ... n The Blacksburg Rotary Club has pledged $20,000 to theBlacksburg High School Stadium Fundraising Campaign. A new stadiumis under construction behind the Blacksburg Middle School on PricesFork Road for use by all levels of football, soccer, marching bandand, in the future, lacrosse ....
OLD MIDDLE SCHOOL CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE
Mar 01, 2008; ... BLACKSBURG -- A decision on the future of the old BlacksburgMiddle School property is more than a year off. Meanwhile, thenearly empty, 50-year-old building continues to decay. The roof, hit hard by weather this winter, needs replaced. Leaksfrom it have essentially ruined the ...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Mar 01, 2008 ... One credit card abuser hardly calls for a full review by the city One might think that there is nothing going on in Roanoke worthyof commentary. At least, one might draw that conclusion afterreading the Feb. 26 editorial "What's in their wallets?" One person in 700 abused the ...
SHOTS END CHASE
Mar 01, 2008; ... An early morning police chase in South Roanoke County ended earlyFriday morning when the driver opened fire on officers with anassault rifle. The driver, identified by police as Micah B. Sword, 24, ofRoanoke County, was then shot by the officers and is nowhospitalized with ...
BILL PASSED TO LIMIT HIGHWAY TOLLS BY PRIVATE FIRMS
Mar 01, 2008; ... RICHMOND -- The General Assembly has passed legislation thatwould prohibit private entities from imposing tolls on Interstate 81without approval from state lawmakers. The House of Delegates on Friday put the finishing touches onHouse Bill 1516, which was filed in response to a ...
HUMOR AND VIOLENCE FOUND IN 'BRUGES'
Mar 01, 2008; ... It seems strange to call a blood-smeared movie about stone-coldkillers charming. Yet that's what "In Bruges" is for much of thetime. Irish playwright and first-time director Martin McDonaghdemonstrates a knack for infusing humor and poignancy into a storythat builds inexorably to a final ...
WSLS BIDS FAREWELL TO FAMILIAR FACES
Mar 01, 2008; ... At WSLS (Channel 10), a list of changes to the station's on-airstaff is bringing different faces to many newscasts. Two familiar names have already said goodbye, and viewers canexpect two new reporters soon. Meanwhile, the Storm Team hasshuffled its staff again. Juliet ...
NEW BANK APPOINTS ITS BOARD
Mar 01, 2008; ... New details emerged Friday about StellarOne Corp., formed fromthe combination of Christiansburg-based FNB Corp. and the same-sized Virginia Financial Group in central Virginia. As the deal was signed Thursday, all nine former FNB boardmembers who supported the unification gained ...
SHOOTING STOPS AMERICAN DREAM
Mar 01, 2008; ... For years, Jayeshkumar Brahmbhatt saved the money he earned asmanager of a Roanoke convenience store so he and his wife could buya house. Since moving to Roanoke from India in 2001, the couple and theirtwo daughters had been living in an apartment, his nephew said. Last fall, ...
BEDFORD WOMAN DIES AFTER ACCIDENT
Mar 01, 2008; ... A Bedford woman died early Friday morning following a single-vehicle accident near Body Camp in Bedford County, Virginia StatePolice said. According to a state police dispatcher, a 1997 Plymouth Voyagerran off the left side of Virginia 24 about 11 p.m. Thursday,approximately ...
'FOREIGNER' IS LIKE SEEING AN OLD FRIEND
Mar 01, 2008; ... Larry Shue's "The Foreigner" is the play that will not die. Critical response has generally ranged from hostility toindifference, but audiences love it. After its Milwaukee debut in1983, the two-act comedy ran for nearly 700 performances at theAstor Place Theatre in New York, ...
GLENVAR'S CROTTS RESIGNS HIS POST [Corrected 03/04/08]
Mar 01, 2008; ... Rick Crotts has been involved with basketball for most of hislife. Late in the 2007-08 season he took a deep breath and realized hewas 53 years old. This week, Crotts submitted his resignation as the boys headbasketball coach at Glenvar and it became official ...
MAROONS, KNIGHTS REACH FINAL
Mar 01, 2008; ... Sleep may have come mercifully easy to the winners in theDivision 2 Region C boys basketball semifinals Friday. At least it better have. After a long and arduous night ofbasketball, George Wythe and James River will be right back at LordBotetourt High School to settle the ...
FERRELL SHOOTS A BRICK IN 'SEMI-PRO'
Mar 01, 2008; ... Will Ferrell was a clueless race driver in "Talladega Nights" anda clueless ice skater in "Blades of Glory." In "Semi-Pro," hislatest comedy, he's a clueless basketball player. Since Ferrell hasshown that he can handle less predictable fare, it's a littledisappointing to see him repeat ...
CONGO'S SILENT SCREAM
Mar 01, 2008; ... Not long after she arrived, she woke to the sound of a woman'sscreams. It was 1 or 2 in the morning, and the shrieks reached into herroom in the guarded guest house at Panzi Hospital. Melanie Blanding didn't know what was happening. She imaginedthat someone outside the ...
TWICE FOR THE TITANS
Mar 01, 2008; ... Dire news for the rest of the girls playing Group AA basketball:Hidden Valley is getting better. The Titans, defending state champions, switched seamlessly to a 2-3 zone on Friday night and destroyed Bassett 59-38 in the title gameof the Region IV tournament. "We've had some ...
THURSDAY'S OTHER ODAC GAMES
Mar 01, 2008; ... Kaase leads Hampden-Sydney over Randolph-Macon Former Cave Spring standout Troy Kaase scored on a stickback with3.4 seconds left to lift Hampden-Sydney to a pulsating 69-67 victoryover Randolph-Macon in Friday's quarterfinals of the ODAC men'sbasketball tournament at Salem Civic ...
LET THE PEOPLE HEAR, AND BE HEARD
Mar 01, 2008; ... A short definition of the word "trust" is the word "confidence."Some recent events have caused me to ask myself, "Who in governmentdo I trust?" I do not live in the city but I have worked in the city for sixyears. I am interested in Roanoke, not only its past, but itspresent and ...
TEEN TO SERVE 36 YEARS IN PRISON
Mar 01, 2008; ... COVINGTON -- Two strikingly different portraits of 19-year-oldAndrew Michael Washburn emerged during the hearing to determine hispunishment for abducting a Clifton Forge woman in broad daylight andbeating, raping and robbing her. His family portrayed him as a humble, good-natured ...
RICHMOND, WE HAVE A PROBLEM
Mar 01, 2008 ... Now what? Last year's hard-won transportation compromise wasgutted Friday when the state Supreme Court ruled that the GeneralAssembly overstepped its constitutional bounds by granting taxingauthority to unelected regional transportation authorities. That major component of the ...
RAGSDALE RESIGNS AT GILES
Mar 01, 2008; ... There was no announcement. No farewell tour. Not even a hint toanyone outside of his closest friends. The winningest active football coach in Timesland and the masterof the single-wing offense kept it quiet. He wasn't even sure himself until he got his intent form from ...
FOR THE RECORD
Mar 01, 2008 ... Correction The Web site to register for the American Association ofUniversity Women's Sister to Sister Summit is http://members.cox.net/aauwva/sisreg08.pdf. The Web site was incorrect inthe Community Events calendar in the Neighbors sections during themonth of ...
SHORT TAKES
Mar 01, 2008 ... You have to play to win Roanoke Republicans didn't bother to advance a slate ofcandidates for mayor and three city council positions when they hadthe luxury of time to plot a strategy. Yet now, their chairman, AdamBoitnott, feels Republicans are shut out of the possibility ...
OBIT - LIPPS, NEWTON NORMAN
Mar 01, 2008 ... Mr. Newton Norman Lipps, 86, of Salem, passed away Sunday,February 24, 2008. A memorial ...
OBIT - HANNABASS, JOHN HUNTER
Mar 01, 2008 ... John Hunter Hannabass, 76, of Roanoke, died Tuesday, February 26,2008. Funeral ...
OBIT - ROSBOROUGH, HENRY THOMAS JR.
Mar 01, 2008 ... Mr. Henry Thomas Rosborough Jr., 84, of Roanoke, passed awayTuesday, February 26, 2008. Funeral services ...
OBIT - FURR, JUDITH ANN GORDON (JUDY)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Judith (Judy) Ann Gordon Furr, 70, of Pulaski County, formerly ofRoanoke, Va., died Monday, January 28, ...
OBIT - THOMPSON, GLADYS MURRAY (POOCHIE)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Gladys (Poochie) Murray Thompson of Roanoke, died February 27,2008. Memorial service 12 noon Saturday, ...
OBIT - WISNIEWSKI, MARGARET (MOM MOM)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Margaret (Mom Mom) Wisniewski, 90, of Roanoke, formerly of EastBrunswick, N.J., passed away Thursday, February 28, 2008. Mrs.Wisniewski lived a full and rich life and was a devoted wife,mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother.She owned and operated an A&W Root ...
OBIT - HANCOCK, BEULAH DARE
Mar 01, 2008 ... Beulah Dare Hancock, 82, died peacefully Wednesday, February 27,2008. She lived most of her life in Roanoke and was most recently aresident at Our Lady of the Valley in Roanoke. Beulah was born nearMount Hope, W.Va. She had worked previously at the Salem VA MedicalCenter and at Greenvale ...
OBIT - GRAVES, GEORGE WASHINGTON
Mar 01, 2008 ... Mr. George Washington Graves, 76, of Roanoke, passed awayTuesday, February 26, 2008. Funeral services will be held ...
OBIT - LEE, LLOYD CARLTON
Mar 01, 2008 ... Lloyd Carlton Lee, 85, of Salem, passed away Thursday, February28, 2008. He was born March 28, 1922, and was a World War IIveteran, retired businessman and avid carpenter. He served on theUSCG Cutter Mojave in the North Atlantic. He was predeceased by hisparents, Ella and William Lee; ...
OBIT - BURKS, OWEN LEE
Mar 01, 2008 ... Owen Lee Burks, 73, of Roanoke, died Friday morning, February 29,2008, at his home after a lengthy illness. Owen was the son of thelate Robert L. Burks and Grace Kessler Burks of Madison Heights, Va.He was a member of Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church. Mr. Burksserved 27 years in ...
OBIT - BRAHMBHATT, JAYESH
Mar 01, 2008 ... Jayesh Brahmbhatt, 52, of Roanoke, passed away Thursday, February28, 2008. Funeral services ...
OBIT - PROSS, AUGUST ADOLPH (GUS)
Mar 01, 2008 ... August Adolph (Gus) Pross, 80, of 304 Trent Street in Princeton,W. Va., and formerly of Roanoke, Va., died Wednesday, February 27,2008, at his residence. Born June 3, 1927, in Philadelphia, Pa., hewas the son of the late Adolph and Emma Raabe Pross. He was agraduate of Olney High School ...
OBIT - RICHARDS, RAYMOND E. (PETE)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Raymond E. (Pete) Richards, 74, of Vinton, passed away Thursday,February 28, 2008. He is survived by his wife, Nancy WilliamsRichards; five daughters, Shelia Crosswhite and husband, David,Sandra Duncan, Linda Nester and husband, Raymond, Deborah Sanson andKathy Dunbar and husband, Larry; ...
OBIT - STEWART, EMMA JUNE
Mar 01, 2008 ... Emma June Stewart, 89, of Roanoke, passed away Friday, ...
OBIT - WALLACE, MAXINE BERNICE
Mar 01, 2008 ... Maxine Bernice Wallace, 88, of Roanoke, passed away on ...
OBIT - BRINKER, OSCAR ANDY (PETE)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Oscar Andy (Pete) Brinker, 86, of Roanoke, passed away on ...
OBIT - CROWDER, JUNIE B.
Mar 01, 2008 ... Junie B. Crowder, 89, of Fincastle, passed away Friday, ...
OBIT - PHILLIPS, CHARLOTTE MARIE
Mar 01, 2008 ... Charlotte Marie Phillips, nee Hill, born May 16, 1934, inRadford, Va., was called to her maker on February 24, ...
OBIT - BOOTH, CLARA EVELYN
Mar 01, 2008 ... Clara Evelyn Booth, 80, residing in Dayton, Ohio, formerly ofDublin, Va., was called home on February 23, 2008. She was bornApril 28, 1927, to Rosa and George Morrison of Dublin, Va. Shereceived her education at The West Dublin Elementary School andgraduated from Christiansburg Institute ...
OBIT - BROWN, LENORA CREASY
Mar 01, 2008 ... Lenora Creasy Brown, 78, of Willis, passed away Tuesday, February26, 2008. Memorial service will be held at 11 ...
OBIT - SLAYTON, ELIZABETH SHEPHERD
Mar 01, 2008 ... Elizabeth (Betty Jo) Shepherd Slayton, 69, of Lexington, diedMonday, February 25, 2008. Funeral ...
OBIT - FERGUSON, RUTH IRENE
Mar 01, 2008 ... Ruth Irene Ferguson, 93, of Blacksburg, died Wednesday, February27, 2008. Memorial services will be held ...
OBIT - TATEM, LAURIE WOOD
Mar 01, 2008 ... Laurie Wood Tatem, 57, of Bedford, passed away Friday, February22, 2008. Memorial ...
OBIT - IRVIN, ESTER VIVIAN BENNINGTON
Mar 01, 2008 ... Ester Vivian Bennington Irvin, 87, of Wytheville, died MondayFebruary 25, 2008. Memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday,March 3, ...