Roanoke Times & World News back issues from May 2008:
A GAS TAX HOLIDAY WON'T HELP
May 01, 2008 ... The price at the pump could top $4 per gallon in time for thesummer driving season. Yet two of the three major candidates forpresident prefer pandering to addressing the petroleum crisisdirectly. Sens. John McCain and Hillary Clinton would give motorists abreak from the federal ...
FLOYD COUNTY SENIOR NEEDS THE SPOTLIGHT
May 01, 2008; ... Samantha Morris has been from one end of the soccer pitch to theother in senses both literal and figurative. Just getting to know her team, first-year Floyd County HighSchool coach Liesl Narrow was moving her girls around early thisseason, just seeing who could do what where, when ...
BOTETOURT COUNTY OFFICIAL RETIRING
May 01, 2008; ... Longtime Botetourt County governmental mainstay Ned McElwaine hasannounced plans to retire July 1 after nearly three decades ofservice. McElwaine, 58, was hired as Botetourt's first county planner in1981. As part of a 27-year career in the county, he went on tobecome one of two ...
ELECTION NOTEBOOK
May 01, 2008; ... OBAMA Gap has been closing in superdelegates tally WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama is closing in on Democraticpresidential rival Hillary Clinton's advantage among superdelegates,building on his lead in the primary race even as he faces troubledtimes. Party leaders are ...
D-DAY MEMORIAL HOPES FOR A BUMPER CROP FROM DMV
May 01, 2008; ... Supporters of the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford hope torally the troops for a new effort. Ron Melancon, a Richmond man who designed the Virginia plate thatcommemorates Sept. 11, 2001, has designed a plate to memorializeOperation Overlord -- the mission undertaken by Allied ...
HEALTH CALENDAR
May 01, 2008 ... Parkinson's disease Young at Heart Support Group Where: Ronald McDonald House, 2224 S. Jefferson St., Roanoke When: Third Tuesdays; 2 to 4 p.m. What: Parkinson's patients of all ages and stages of the diseaseand caregivers Cost: Free Contact: Eric, ...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
May 01, 2008 ... Bring Bowers back as mayor of all Roanokers David Bowers would be the only choice for Roanoke mayor with hispast 16 years experience as mayor and on city council. Bowers'common-sense approach and leadership ability would be a much-neededchange to the leadership of the Roanoke ...
HEALTH CARE ISN'T DOUGHNUTS
May 01, 2008; ... Albert Fuchs, a Beverly Hills internist, wrote in The RoanokeTimes Commentary section that insurance companies force highermedical charges and reduced patient care ("Dollars to doughnutsdiagnosis," April 21 commentary). The solution, he states, is aphysician practice with fewer ...
HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP
May 01, 2008 ... Baseball River Ridge District Salem 10, Cave Spring 0, 5 innings Jonathan Clemo hit a solo homer as the Spartans won their thirdstraight River Ridge District contest. Brett Demole allowed two hits while striking out seven for Salem(6-8, 3-2). Joshua Lawrence was ...
POLICE: TENSIONS CRESTED IN SHOOTING
May 01, 2008; ... The fatal shooting Tuesday at a Salem grocery store was theculmination of tensions -- between two men over a woman -- thatdate at least to last summer, authorities said. Brian S. Sheppard, 38, of Christiansburg, is accused of shootingJames R. Fleshman Jr. at least 12 times near ...
RADFORD CLUB RUGBY TEAM EYES CROWN
May 01, 2008; ... For most Radford University athletic teams, victories overVirginia and Virginia Tech in the same season would be reason enoughfor celebration. Mick Turk, coach of the Highlanders' club rugby team, has loftiergoals in mind. Radford is headed to Palo Alto, Calif., where it ...
CANDIDATE Q & A: TOWN OF PULASKI
May 01, 2008; ... Rhonda Hodge of Pulaski asks: "What will you do to help theeconomy in Pulaski and bring in more tourism and business?" Glenn Baublitz: As far as the economy goes, there's a lot goingon with agriculture in the state of Virginia. It's our largestindustry here. Our current economic ...
PARENTS CLAMOR TO SAVE SCHOOLS
May 01, 2008; ... Angry Forest Park parents denounced school officials Wednesdayevening for a proposal to close the Northwest Roanoke elementaryschool next year and open an alternative academy in its place. Many in the crowd of slightly more than 100 people at the hearingat Lucy Addison Middle ...
IRISH QUARTET TO PERFORM AT TECH
May 01, 2008; ... After playing a concert in London, Blacksburg resident andviolinist David Ehrlich had an audience member run to him, give hima hug and say, "Oh, thank you, thank you!" "I thought, 'Who is this person?' " Ehrlich said. "I guess hemust have been very moved by my playing." The ...
MOVING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT
May 01, 2008; ... One thing I've enjoyed about column writing is getting in touchwith some old friends. Folks I haven't seen in years will run acrossa column, usually online, and drop me a message. So I was delightedto get Mary's e-mail a few weeks ago. Mary and I went to high school together back ...
VIRGINIA'S PLAY-BY-PLAY MAN RESIGNS
May 01, 2008; ... Mac McDonald's second tour as the radio voice of Virginia'sathletic program has come to a close after 12 years. The parent company for UVa's radio network announced Wednesdaythat McDonald resigned Tuesday. A news release distributed by CBS Collegiate Sports Propertiessaid ...
A WELCOME CENTER
May 01, 2008; ... Those who want to improve their physical health have a wide rangeof choices to help them achieve their goals -- gym memberships,recreation club sports and even groups that meet to walk the malls. For those who would like to improve their mental health, the opportunities are more ...
STELLARONE MARKS QUARTERLY PROFIT AMID MERGER COSTS
May 01, 2008; ... A new bank created from the combination of FNB Corp. ofChristiansburg and Virginia Financial Group in Culpeper is startingout profitably but has had to cover significant merger-relatedexpenses, a company financial report said Wednesday. StellarOne Corp. said it earned $2.1 ...
TRAVEL PAYOFF
May 01, 2008; ... On Wednesday at 3:30 a.m., a carpool of five from Richmondarrived at a soon-to-open Chick-fil-A in Roanoke. By 6 a.m., they had staked out their spot in the parking lot ofRoanoke's new Chick-fil-A on Southern Hills Drive. It wasn't going to open for 24 hours -- until 6 a.m ....
FISHING REPORT
May 01, 2008; ... Overview Many anglers' eyes are on Smith Mountain Lake heading into a bigtournament weekend at the lake. Not only is the 20,000-acrereservoir hosting the 40th annual Cave Spring Optimists Tournamenton Friday through Sunday, but the David Fritt's Outdoors TeamTournament Trail ...
SPECIAL ELECTION SET FOR SEAT ON SCHOOL BOARD
May 01, 2008; ... In November, voters will get to choose who fills the District Aseat on the Montgomery County School Board. Phyllis Albritton was appointed to the slot left open when AmyLythgoe resigned in July. Albritton, a financial adviser who livesin Blacksburg, took her seat Sept ....
TECH PONDERS TUITION INCREASE
May 01, 2008; ... The executive committee of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitorsplans to vote Monday on the largest tuition increases at the schoolsince the state budget crisis five years ago. The proposal would raise tuition and fees at Tech 10.8 percentfor in-state undergraduate students -- from ...
TALK OF THE DAY
May 01, 2008; ... 'AMERICAN IDOL' FIELD IS REDUCED TO FINAL FOUR CONTESTANTS; WHITEOUT NEW YORK -- Diamond wasn't Brooke White's best friend Wednesdaynight on "American Idol." The tearful 24-year-old folkster from Mesa, Ariz., was eliminatedas the Fox show trimmed the competition to the top four ...
IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE MUSTACHE
May 01, 2008; ... The season opened with four straight rough outings for SalemAvalanche starter David Qualben. The left-hander, who had been the Lexington Legends' wins leaderlast season, started this year 0-3. After allowing six runs in threeinnings last Thursday in Myrtle Beach, his earned run ...
DRIVER IN DUI CRASH GUILTY OF MAIMING
May 01, 2008; ... The horseshoe-shaped scar on the back of James Satterwhite III'shead, the small scars that branch out on the back of Larry Elkins'calves and the loss of movement in Ashley McDaniel's right shoulderwere enough Wednesday for a judge to find the woman who drove hersport utility vehicle into ...
GOT A RUMBLY IN YOUR TUMBLY?
May 01, 2008; ... 13th Annual Kiwanis Pancake and Auction Day Munch factor: All-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage and drinks. Benefits: The Kiwanis Club of Roanoke's local charities thatcater to children and senior citizens. When: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday Where: Roanoke Civic Center ...
RELISH THE PROM; JUST DON'T REGRET IT
May 01, 2008; ... Dear promgoers: Elsewhere in this paper is the tragic, life-changing story of ayoung, underage drunken driver. Kids and booze. Booze and kids. They don't mix. Oh gawd, how manytimes have you had to listen to that? But just hear me out, particularly as many of you kick ...
PHOTO - YOUR BEST SHOT
May 01, 2008 ... Caption ...
AROUND THE NATION
May 01, 2008; ... Hawaii Native group locks gates at historic palace HONOLULU -- A Native Hawaiian group that advocates sovereigntylocked the gates of a historic palace in downtown Honolulu onWednesday, saying it would carry out the business of what itconsiders the legitimate government of ...
BLAZE GUTS FARMHOUSE; THREE DOGS LIKELY DEAD
May 01, 2008; ... Fire destroyed a decades-old farmhouse near Rocky Mount onWednesday afternoon, and it's believed to have taken the life ofthree dogs, officials said. Franklin County Fire Marshal Bennie Russell said the blaze wasreported at a home on Foggy Ridge Road about 1:30 p.m. andresponded ...
BITTERNESS LINGERS FOR GOOD REASON
May 01, 2008; ... I have been thinking about why the media seem so engrossed withthe clips of a black minister talking negatively about the UnitedStates government. I think about why he made the statements he madeand why the media continue to play them with such demolishingcomments. Then I ...
ROANOKE FIGHT PROMOTER SETS UP PRO CARD FOR SALEM
May 01, 2008; ... The last time professional boxing was seen in the Roanoke Valley,Thomas Hearns was in the ring at Roanoke Civic Center. That was1996. The next time will be Aug. 9 at the Salem Civic Center. Rick Hawkins of Promotion Sports in Roanoke and Scott Farmer ofLeft Hook Boxing in ...
POLITICAL NOTEBOOK
May 01, 2008; ... Education Senate passes legislation regarding student loans WASHINGTON -- The Senate unanimously approved legislationWednesday to ensure that tight credit markets don't impede students'ability to get college loans. Like a bill that previously passed the House, the ...
TALKING POINT
May 01, 2008 ... "It will make things look better than they are for a few months,but it doesn't change the fundamentals. The underlying circumstancesare ...
LA OTRA CARA DE LA INMIGRACIN
May 01, 2008; ... Summary: Undocumented workers face difficulties obtaining medicalcare, education, driver's licenses and even help during disasters. A lo largo del pas, las comunidades latinas continan sintiendo elimpacto de medidas polticas desfavorables. Algunas de ellas hanaumentado como ...
FOR THE RECORD
May 01, 2008 ... Corrections Virginia Tech's Angela Tincher struck out 15 batters Tuesday andnow has 2,002 strikeouts in her career. The totals were incorrect inan article in Wednesday's Sports section. A story on Tuesday's front page listed the wrong punishments forinvoluntary manslaughter, ...
PHOTO - FULL, WHITE BLOSSOMS
May 01, 2008 ... GIVE US YOUR BEST SHOTS. Send us candid (not posed) photosfeaturing the people of the New River Valley. Photos must have beentaken within the past month and include subjects' names, location,date and photographer's contact information. Photos will not ...
OBAMA'S LEAD SHRINKS IN N.C.
May 01, 2008; ... North Carolina's Democratic presidential primary is tightening,with Sen. Barack Obama's struggles in distancing himself from hiscontroversial former pastor apparently eroding his once formidablelead here. The Tar Heel state was once seen as Obama's to lose. But threepublic ...
AROUND THE WORLD
May 01, 2008; ... Israel Temporary truce meant to ease border tension JERUSALEM -- Several Palestinian militant groups signed offWednesday on a Hamas-sponsored temporary truce proposal that theIslamist movement says could bring calm to Israel's southern borderwith the Gaza Strip and ease the ...
AN UPDATE FOR GI BILL IS LONG OVERDUE
May 01, 2008 ... President Bush wants $108 billion more so he can keep sendingAmerican troops into harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet, hewarned Tuesday if Congress tacks on funds in the war spending billto reward returning soldiers with additional money for collegetuition, he'll veto it. At ...
TOWN BEGINS WORK ON $41 MILLION BUDGET
May 01, 2008; ... The town council will take a hard look this month at the budgetfor its upcoming fiscal year, but the process of approving a planshould be more transparent than in the past. Ten residents attended Tuesday's finance committee meeting, thefirst that has been open to the public since ...
MOVE THAT BIG FAT BOOTY - TOP TICKETS SOME OF THE WEEK'S BEST LIVE MUSIC
May 01, 2008; ... Friday and Saturday Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band The Onion selected the Booty Bandamong its 2007 worst-named groups of the year. If Onion staffers hadbeen listening to the group, they would've been too busy dancing toput fingers to keyboards. In other words, the band's horn-funk ...
OBIT - LATE NOTICE
May 01, 2008 ... TURNER, Peggy Thomas, 64, of Daleville died ...
SHOOTING BY OFFICERS DEEMED 'JUSTIFIABLE'
May 01, 2008; ... Roanoke County's top prosecutor has concluded that three officersreacted properly when they fatally shot Micah Brentford Sword in aconfrontation on U.S. 220 in February. Yet questions as to why the 24-year-old Air Force veteran led lawenforcement from Roanoke and Franklin counties ...
THE COMMUTE STILL MAKES SENSE
May 01, 2008; ... Coming to yet another "End Construction" notice on Interstate 81one day -- a sign many of us daily commuters view as a plea to stopwork instead of permission to speed up -- I decided to ignore theinvitation. I kept my foot off the gas, set the cruise control for55 and wondered just how ...
IRAQ NOTEBOOK
May 01, 2008; ... Troops Change may encourage post-combat treatment WASHINGTON -- Officials say the Pentagon is ready to announce anew policy that could encourage more troops to get treatment forpost-combat mental health problems. Under the change, troops won't have to reveal all their ...
GRAND ARRANGEMENT
May 01, 2008; ... Janet Cassill fans the playing cards in her left hand, puffs hercheeks and sighs. Good thing this isn't poker. Her grandson, Landon, studies his cards, narrows his eyes andglances at the players around the table. The friendly game of Russian Rummy against a pair of ...
OBIT - BROWN, SOPHRONIA MAE
May 01, 2008 ... Sophronia Mae Brown, 76, of Roanoke, went to be with her Lord andSaviour on Thursday, April 24, 2008. She was born February 14, 1932,to the late Albert and Girlie Childress. She was educated at CarverHigh School, Roanoke County School System. Mother Brown acceptedChrist at an early age ...
OBIT - BONO, PETER ANDREW
May 01, 2008 ... Peter Andrew Bono, 81, of Catawba, formerly of Detroit, Mich.,passed ...
OBIT - WILLIAMS, ERIC S.
May 01, 2008 ... Eric S. Williams, 36, of Roanoke, Va., joined his lovinggrandmother, Sarah J. Williams in Heaven on Thursday, April 24,2008. Those left to cherish his memory are his loving mother,Constance Morris; father, Phoenix Brown; children, Terrell, LaMonta,Dayon, Monica, Eric Jr. and Jamek; ...
OBIT - THOMASON, EMANUEL JR. (IVAN)
May 01, 2008 ... Emanuel (Ivan) Thomason Jr., of Roanoke, passed away Sunday,April 27, 2008. Funeral ...
OBIT - DEANER, CHARLES WALKER (CHARLIE)
May 01, 2008 ... Charles Walker (Charlie) Deaner, 59, of Wirtz, died on Sunday,April 27, 2008. Services ...
OBIT - WRIGHT, RUTH ETTA
May 01, 2008 ... Ruth Etta Wright, 62, of Roanoke, Va., passed away Saturday,April 26, 2008. Funeral ...
OBIT - STALNAKER, LUCY COFER
May 01, 2008 ... Lucy Cofer Stalnaker, 90, of Roanoke, passed away Monday, April28, 2008. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lewis M. andAnna Turner Cofer, and her husband, Ernest Orin Stalnaker. She was amember of Lakeside Baptist Church. Surviving are her daughter,Shirley Morck Williams and ...
OBIT - HUTCHINSON, RYAN JEFFREY
May 01, 2008 ... Ryan Jeffrey Hutchinson, 11, of Salem, Va., after a long andcourageous battle with cancer went to be with the Lord on Tuesday,April 29, 2008. Ryan was a special, brave and courageous boy whoinspired others with his courage, strength, faith and love of hisfamily. Ryan's passions were ...
OBIT - FRAME, CECIL EUGENE
May 01, 2008 ... Cecil Eugene Frame, 78, of Rocky Mount, died Tuesday, April 29,2008. Funeral services will be ...
OBIT - LIM, KEAN CHENG (K.C.)
May 01, 2008 ... Kean Cheng (K. C.) Lim, 96, of Troutville, died Monday, April 28,2008 at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, Virginia. Hewas born on September 15, 1911 in Penang, Malaysia and was anElectrical Engineer with the Burma Railways in Rangoon, Burma. Heimmigrated with his family in ...
OBIT - TACKETT, WILLIAM GOBLE SR.
May 01, 2008 ... William Goble Tackett, Sr., 83, of Troutville, died Sunday, April27, 2008. He was born on February 26, 1925 in Wales, Pike County,Kentucky and was preceded in death by three brothers, James NobleTackett, Hiram Tackett, Hassell Eugene Tackett, and one sister, ElmaTackett Bryant. He was a ...
OBIT - HUGHES, KASPER SIMON
May 01, 2008 ... 9/3/1971 4/24/2008 Kasper Simon Hughes, 36, of Roanoke, Va., andformerly of Manchester England, passed away on Thursday, April 24,2008. Missed by a loving family and too many friends to mention.All of whom are invited to celebrate ...
OBIT - SMITH, DONALD JAMES
May 01, 2008 ... Donald James Smith, 54, of Roanoke, passed away Monday, April ...
OBIT - LUCAS, RICHARD EUSTACE (RICK)
May 01, 2008 ... Richard Eustace Lucas (Rick) of Roanoke, passed away April 29,2008, at the age of 78. Rick was a 1948 graduate of Fork UnionMilitary Academy and served his country in the United States Army asa cryptographer at the Pentagon. Following his Army service, heenjoyed a 30-year career at ...
OBIT - SCOTT, WILLIAM (LARRY)
May 01, 2008 ... William (Larry) Scott, 55, of Roanoke, went home to be with theLord on Wednesday, April 30, 2008. He was preceded in death by aninfant sister, Linda Scott and a sister-in-law, Lisa Ratliff. Larrywas a 1974 graduate of Virginia Tech and the founder of Larry Scottand Associates, a company ...
OBIT - EPPERLY, LOIS JANE SMITH (JANEY)
May 01, 2008 ... Lois Jane (Janey) Epperly, 80, of Roanoke, went to be with herLORD on Wednesday, April 30, 2008. Janey was born in Salem on August13, 1927, a daughter of the late Samuel G. and Merle Saunders Smith.Janey was married to William Otis Epperly Sr. for 56 years. Hepreceded her in death on ...
OBIT - BROWN, VIRGINIA ELIZABETH WRAY
May 01, 2008 ... Virginia Elizabeth Wray Brown, 78, of Roanoke, passed away onTuesday, April 29, 2008. Preceding Virginia in death were herhusband, Howard Wayne Brown; grandson, Joshua Shell; son-in-law,Gary Wilson; parents, Edgar Lacy and Mary Spencer Wray; sister,Edith Holland; and brother, George ...
OBIT - WILLIAMS, STEPHEN GRAY
May 01, 2008 ... Stephen Gray Williams of New Castle, passed away on ...