Roanoke Times & World News back issues from October 2008:
RADFORD, GROUPS CLASH OVER VOTER REGISTRATION
Oct 01, 2008; ... Tracy Howard, Radford's registrar, is paying special attention tovoter registration applications that cite a Radford University dormroom as a potential voter's address, but a student organization andthe ACLU of Virginia say that's illegal. Howard says he's following Virginia law ...
ON THE EDGE THOUGHTS ON ...
Oct 01, 2008; ... Do the names Cynthia Ann McKinney or Rosa Alicia Clemente ring abell? Probably not. That's because the women, who are on the GreenParty's presidential and vice presidential ticket, respectively,haven't been getting much airtime. The media never fully coverthird parties, such as the ...
VA. JOBLESS RATE HIGHEST SINCE '97
Oct 01, 2008; ... Virginia's jobless rate rose in August to the highest rate inmore than 11 years. And the Virginia Employment Commission predicts unemployment willkeep rising "for at least the next several months" because offallout from the national financial crisis, a sluggish economy ...
EITHER WAY, AMERICANS LOSE
Oct 01, 2008; ... Well, so much for the first presidential debate. Despite JohnMcCain's early declaration of victory in the debate in the nextmorning's Wall Street Journal, it was no clear cut victory foreither candidate. What was most noticeable from the beginning was the greatdifference in the ...
ARCHITECTS FINALIZING DESIGN FOR COURTHOUSE
Oct 01, 2008; ... Architects have unveiled design plans for the new MontgomeryCounty Courthouse as they continue aiming for a 2011 completiondate. At the last Christiansburg Town Council meeting, Jack Murphy,project manager and associate at Thompson & Litton engineering andarchitectural firm, gave ...
SECOND CITY TO BRING ITS HUMOR TO BLACKSBURG
Oct 01, 2008; ... Jim Belushi. Stephen Colbert. Steve Carell. Bill Murray. TinaFey. Dan Aykroyd. All are alumni of the Second City Touring Company,which is scheduled to perform Friday in Blacksburg. Second City is a Chicago-based sketch and improvisation comedygroup with two resident comedy troupes ...
ROANOKE WRECK REPORTS GO ONLINE
Oct 01, 2008; ... Beginning today, people involved in traffic accidents in Roanokecan go online to access accident reports, saving them a trip to thepolice department. The reports also will be available to lawyers and insurancecompanies. The reports are scanned into a computer at the police ...
CORNER SHOT
Oct 01, 2008; ... Here's the key to getting a big crowd to turn out for your eventin Roanoke -- advertise it as "family-friendly." That's my theory, anyway, because I just saw it work for the BigLick Conspiracy, the homegrown comedy improv troupe that performsonce a month at Mill Mountain ...
ROANOKE COUNCIL CLEANS UP SOME LINGERING CONFLICTS
Oct 01, 2008; ... The Roanoke City Council spent Tuesday informally hashing overprocedural issues and resolving conflicts left over from acontentious meeting last month. The council retreat, held at the Roanoke Police Department,produced a number of changes in how meetings will be run: n ...
WARNING: COUNCIL MEETING CAN CAUSE BRAIN PAIN
Oct 01, 2008; ... Since 1996, Roanoke has commissioned 12 studies on amphitheatersfor a total cost of $700,000 to $800,000. This is the Roanoke I knowand love. We think something is a good idea. We as a communitybecome passionate about it, Roanoke City Council members ride thewave into office because ...
STUDY: HEALTH CARE EATING MORE INTO WAGES
Oct 01, 2008; ... Escalating health insurance premiums for Virginia workers areoutpacing wage increases and threatening to leave more familiesunderinsured, according to a consumer health advocacy group. Virginia workers saw family health insurance premiums increase82.5 percent from 2000 to 2007, ...
MARKET BUILDING READIES TO REOPEN
Oct 01, 2008; ... Officials said Tuesday they're working to reopen the Roanoke CityMarket building as soon as possible, but members of the city councilare discussing a plan that could close the downtown anchor by asearly as March for more extensive renovations. Roanoke City Manager Darlene Burcham ...
KEY ISSUES
Oct 01, 2008; ... The presidency is no easy task. The United States is on the brink of recession, in the midst offighting wars, and along with the rest of the world, is experiencinga climate crisis. Regardless of whether the next president is a Democrat orRepublican, one thing is for sure: ...
VA. TECH TO TEST ITS ALERT SYSTEMS
Oct 01, 2008; ... Virginia Tech will test several elements of its emergencynotification system Oct. 8, including the electronic message boardsrecently installed in all general purpose classrooms on campus. Other notification systems that will be tested include theoutdoor siren system, the broadcast ...
BOYKIN QUITE THE GRAB
Oct 01, 2008; ... At 6 feet 2, 204 pounds, Jarrett Boykin is far from the tallestor heaviest player on Virginia Tech's football roster. But when it comes to paws' size, there's not another dude in thelocker room who can touch the freshman split end. The biggest hands on the squad? It's Boykins, ...
ODDS AND ENDS FROM YOUR SCHOOLS
Oct 01, 2008 ... Late registrations for the Oct. 25 ACT test will be accepted withan additional fee through Friday. ACT scores are accepted by allfour-year colleges and universities in the United States. The traditional test costs $31 and the ACT Plus Writing test is$46. Students can register ...
VIRGINIA PROSTHETICS NAMED YEAR'S TOP SMALL BUSINESS
Oct 01, 2008; ... The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce has named VirginiaProsthetics the 2008 Small Business of the Year. The provider of prostheses and artificial limbs was scheduled tobe recognized at the chamber's 22nd annual Small Business Awardsdinner held Tuesday night at the Hotel Roanoke ...
CHASE LEADERS WARY OF TALLADEGA
Oct 01, 2008; ... Only once in the past four years has the points leader enteringthe Talladega fall race left the track in the same spot. So how will Jimmie Johnson, who leads Carl Edwards by 10 pointsentering Sunday's race, avoid repeating history? "I don't know," Johnson said. "I ...
RUFFNER GETS GRANT TO TUTOR STUDENTS
Oct 01, 2008; ... William Ruffner Middle School in Roanoke is getting a $184,455grant from the Virginia Department of Education to provide academictutoring to struggling students. The grants, known as 21st Century grants, will be used to createafter-school programs, mentoring and homework help to ...
PHOTO - SHARING A MEAL
Oct 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 ...
STUMPER PITCHES PLAN TO VOTERS
Oct 01, 2008; ... Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffestumped for Barack Obama in Roanoke on Tuesday but stayed mum on hisown gubernatorial ambitions. McAuliffe told a crowd of about 30 that Obama, the Democratic presidential candidate, would expand health insurance coverage ...
A TASTE OF SPAIN IN SALEM
Oct 01, 2008; ... The celebrity chefs of mid-1980s San Francisco had no interest ina tall, lanky kid without a culinary degree or an impressive resume. But the word "no" only fired up Michael Wright; he called thechefs or showed up on their doorsteps on a daily basis for weeksuntil they were finally ...
NEGATIVITY TALK ON HOLD
Oct 01, 2008; ... For the first time in his last four meetings with the media,Virginia football coach Al Groh did not use the word "negativity"Tuesday. Groh's mission has been to avoid the negative vibes that havefrom resulted three losses in the first four games. While the media generally ...
SCULPTURE'S DEDICATION TODAY WILL KICK OFF ROANOKE ARTS FESTIVAL
Oct 01, 2008; ... Mayor David Bowers will speak, Roanoke Symphony Orchestramusicians will play and many others are expected to attend today'sdedication of Roanoke's newest sculpture, "In My Hands," byBaltimore's Rodney Carroll. The public is invited to the 5 p.m. dedication of the 30-foot-tall ...
POLITICAL QUIZ
Oct 01, 2008 ... A. Should we continue fighting in Iraq? 1. No, we've been fighting long enough. Bring our troops home! 3. This issue is not important to me. 5. Yes, until there is a stable democracy in the region. B. Abortion is: 1. A woman's choice. 3. This issue ...
MAN GUILTY OF HITTING WOMAN WITH SUV
Oct 01, 2008; ... When the ambulance brought Daryn Beck to the hospital aftermidnight, she had a hip pulled out of its socket, broken ribs, abroken knee, a broken wrist, gaping wounds across her back, a tornliver, a bruised lung, a torn esophagus and cuts across her scalp. Neither prosecution nor ...
VDOT TRUCKS HAUL IN TRANSPORTATION LESSONS FOR STUDENTS
Oct 01, 2008; ... Students at Falling Branch Elementary in Christiansburg arelearning about transportation this week in a schoolwide series oflessons on the subject. To kick off the unit, maintenance workers from the VirginiaDepartment of Transportation visited the school with four ...
STATE LOOKS AT HIGH GAS PRICES
Oct 01, 2008; ... State price-gouging investigators are evaluating nearly 200complaints from residents of Western Virginia who believe theyoverpaid for fuel during the recent period of hurricane activity, astate official said Tuesday. Virginia officials received 2,300 to 2,500 calls about the ...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Oct 01, 2008 ... Our grandkids will have to pay for our ethical lapses Bad credit, no problem; no credit, no problem: We will pay offthe money you owe on your trade-in; we own the finance company! Now there's a company in which I would like to place myretirement funds for future growth. I ...
ROANOKE MAN FACES NEW CHARGES IN SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE
Oct 01, 2008; ... Salem police have amended some charges and added new ones againsta Roanoke man who was arrested in July and accused of sexuallyassaulting an 11-year-old girl. Lt. Mike Green said police in June received a complaint from a 15-year-old girl regarding assaults committed against her by ...
RADFORD TAKES THREE RIVERS
Oct 01, 2008; ... Radford's golf team had just enough Tuesday to edge Three RiversDistrict regular-season champion Giles, winning the district tournament by one stroke and earning a spot in next week's Region Cgolf tournament. The Bobcats' Zeke Schaffer and the Spartans' Tanner Carbaugh setthe ...
GOODE'S AD SHOULD GO
Oct 01, 2008 ... Rep. Virgil Goode's latest foray into the politics of fear goestoo far. Granted, distorting opponents' views in political campaigns is socommonplace that the practice barely garners a public shrug. Arecent Goode TV attack ad is something different, though, andwarrants voter ...
FREE RELIGIONS OF THEIR EXEMPTIONS
Oct 01, 2008 ... Thirty-three American pastors who want to endorse politicalcandidates from their pulpits went to church Sunday to break therules, defying the Internal Revenue Service to take away theirchurches' tax exempt status. The IRS should do it -- and not just for the 33, but allchurches; ...
SOUNDS OF SUCCESS STONEWALL JACKSON MIDDLE SCHOOL
Oct 01, 2008; ... About 3 p.m. Friday at Stonewall Jackson Middle School inRoanoke, Bill Poston lay in the middle of the gymnasium with two 4-inch cinder blocks on his stomach. With a crack that echoed through the stunned silence, RogerFinley swung a sledge hammer straight at Poston's belly. Twice ....
GET OUT: LULU ROMAN
Oct 01, 2008; ... Fans of gospel music and cornpone humor won't want to missSaturday's performance by LuLu Roman and friends at Life Church offPeters Creek Road. The formerly plus-sized star of "Hee Haw" will be joined by ex-Statler Brother Jimmy Fortune, "The Waltons" creator Earl Hamner Jr.and ...
2008 POLITICAL TIMELINE
Oct 01, 2008; ... January 1 and 2 MySpace held the first presidential "primary." More than 153,000MySpace users voted. February 2 Will.I.Am, a former member of the Black Eyed Peas, released apolitical music video in support of Obama, which includedcelebrities such as Nick Cannon and ...
GOODLATTE DEFENDS HIS VOTE AGAINST BAILOUT PLAN
Oct 01, 2008; ... U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte defended his vote against a Wall Streetrescue plan Tuesday, saying lawmakers have better options. "My concern is to do the right thing for the taxpayers of thecountry and also for the investors of the country to make sure westabilize these financial markets ...
DROUGHT LIKELY NARROWED WINDOW OF AUTUMN HUES
Oct 01, 2008; ... Each fall, I get questions about what kind of fall foliage we'regoing to have. I know quite a bit about weather, but much less about the biologyof leaves. I need some expert help. To that end, I found some information on the Internet from NorthCarolina State University ...
MUSIC LAB'S SOUND TRAVELS
Oct 01, 2008; ... In a lot of ways, things are normal for the Downtown Music Lab. The music incubator, a nonprofit, after-school learning space forstudents in grades six through 12, is a hub of activity. Some of the200 or so Roanoke-area lab members recently finished a CD projectand are getting ...
'HUNGRY FOR CHANGE' AND DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT
Oct 01, 2008; ... They don't agree on much, but Virginia Tech student supporters ofJohn McCain and Barack Obama can find common ground on one thing: Inthis election year, they are important. With polls predicting a close race nationally and an even closerone in Virginia, students on both sides talk ...
'MTV-STYLE' CAMPAIGN SNAGS TEENS
Oct 01, 2008; ... From YouTube videos of Paris Hilton running for president tocampaign updates being text messaged to supporters' cellphones, thiselection might feel more like the next "American Idol" contest thana vote for the next commander in chief. At the third annual Values Voter Summit in ...
OBIT - BURRELL, RALPH
Oct 01, 2008 ... Ralph Burrell, formerly of Fincastle, Va., and Bridgeport, Conn.,died on Tuesday, September 23, 2008. A ...
OBIT - COVINGTON, ELEANOR BOWLING
Oct 01, 2008 ... Eleanor Bowling Covington, 87, of Roanoke, Va., passed awaySunday, September 28, 2008 ....
OBIT - FERGUSON, RUBY ANN
Oct 01, 2008 ... Ruby Ann Ferguson, 61, of Boones Mill, Va., died Saturday,September 27, 2008. Funeral ...
OBIT - POTTER, MARY HASELTINE ALDERSON (TEEN)
Oct 01, 2008 ... Mary Haseltine (Teen) Alderson Potter, 93, of Troutville, Va.,died on Sunday, September 28, 2008. Funeral service ...
OBIT - WIERZBIC, GENEVIEVE LOUISE BOROWSKI
Oct 01, 2008 ... Genevieve Louise Borowski Wierzbic, 87, of Troutville, Virginia,passed away peacefully in her sleep September 27, 2008, at her homein Troutville Virginia. She was born in Buffalo, N.Y. and moved toTroutville, Va. in 1977. Preceding Mrs. Wierzbic in death was herhusband, Theodore Michael ...
OBIT - HOBSON, DERRICK PATRICK
Oct 01, 2008 ... Derrick Patrick Hobson, 20, of Roanoke, Va., died on Thursday,September 25, 2008. Funeral ...
OBIT - RANDOLPH, LACY SAMUEL JR. (DR. TUNE)
Oct 01, 2008 ... Lacy Samuel (Dr. Tune) Randolph Jr., 69, of Roanoke, Va., passedaway Friday, September 26, 2008. He was born July 31, 1939. He wasemployed at Roanoke City School as a Crossing Guard until his death.Lacy was a veteran of the United States Army. He was preceded indeath by his parents, Lacy ...
OBIT - PATTERSON, ROBERT E. (BOB)
Oct 01, 2008 ... Robert E. (Bob) Patterson, 80, of Roanoke, Va., died Mondayafternoon, September 29, 2008. Bob served in the United States Armyduring World War II and was preceded in death by his wife, OraleenTaylor Patterson. Surviving are his nephews, Richard B. Rader andwife, Carolyn, Sonny ...
OBIT - WAGNER, HELENE CARMAL
Oct 01, 2008 ... Infant Helene Carmal Wagner, of Vinton, Va., was called to bewith Jesus on Monday, September 29, 2008. She was preceded in deathby her maternal grandparents, Carmal and William Fred Brown Jr.Surviving are her mother, Christie Leigh Brown; and father, DanielR. Wagner; two brothers, Seth ...
OBIT - SPRADLIN, RICHARD EUGENE (GENE)
Oct 01, 2008 ... Richard Eugene (Gene) Spradlin, 66, of Bedford, Va., passed awayon Monday, September 29, 2008, in Lynchburg General Hospitalsurrounded by his family. He fought a short but courageous battlewith cancer. Eugene was born on May 4, 1942, in Roanoke, Va., a sonof Catherine Dooley Spradlin of ...
OBIT - GERALD, SHAWN BRENT
Oct 01, 2008 ... Shawn Brent Gerald, 28, of Pulaski, Va., and formerly of IndianValley, Va., passed away on Sunday, September 28, 2008. He was bornFebruary 21, 1980, in Radford, Va. Brent was such an outgoing,lovable, fun person who loved his family and friends very dearly.Brent was survived by his ...
OBIT - WHEELER, JANIE POLLARD
Oct 01, 2008 ... Janie Pollard Wheeler, 77, of Roanoke, Va., passed away onTuesday, ...
OBIT - JORDAN, RAY WESLEY
Oct 01, 2008 ... Ray Wesley Jordan, 71, of Roanoke, Va., passed away on ...
OBIT - MORGAN, STEPHANIE KIDD
Oct 01, 2008 ... Stephanie Kidd Morgan, 33, of Salem, Va., passed away ...
OBIT - RUFFNER, CHARLES EDWARD SR.
Oct 01, 2008 ... Charles Edward Ruffner Sr., 63, of Roanoke, Va., died on ...
OBIT - WILLIAMSON, ARTHUR C.
Oct 01, 2008 ... Arthur C. Williamson, 85, of Fincastle, Va., died on Tuesday,September 30, ...
OBIT - COX, OSSIE MARIE PETTRY
Oct 01, 2008 ... Ossie Marie Pettry Cox, 82, of Indian Valley, Va., passed away onMonday, September 29, 2008. She was a homemaker and enjoyedgardening, canning and taking care of her family. She was well knownfor her homemade fried apple pies. She was married to Cline Cox whopreceded her in death in ...
OBIT - WRIGHT, BRENDA AYERS
Oct 01, 2008 ... Brenda Ayers Wright, 56, of Rocky Mount, Va., died ...
OBIT - KIDD, EARL NELSON
Oct 01, 2008 ... Earl Nelson Kidd, 37, of Goodview, Va., died September 29, 2008.Visitation on Wednesday, October 1, 2008, from 4 to ...
OBIT - CLARK, GEORGE B.
Oct 01, 2008 ... George B. Clark, 76, of Penhook, formerly of Covel, W.Va., diedTuesday, September 30, 2008. He was a veteran of the United StatesAir Force, worked in coal mines for 36 years and owned and operatedPenhook Boat Dock for 27 years. Mr. Clark was born September 17,1932, a son of the late ...
OBIT - AMSTUTZ, KENNETH DALE
Oct 01, 2008 ... Rev. Kenneth Dale Amstutz, 82, of Roanoke, Va., passed away onTuesday, ...
OBIT - KIENZLE, NATALIE FRANCESCA
Oct 01, 2008 ... Natalie Francesca Kienzle, 48, of Christiansburg, Va., passedaway on Monday, September 29, 2008. Natalie was employed by theChristiansburg School District. She enjoyed her daily interactionwith all the special children she helped to instruct atChristiansburg Middle School. Natalie is ...
OBIT - QUIST, JOHN ALFRED
Oct 01, 2008 ... John Alfred Quist, 87, of Lexington, Va., died Sunday, September28, 2008. He was born April 12, 1921, in New York, N.Y., a son ofthe late Carl and Dorothy Quist. In addition to his parents, he waspreceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Eva Quist; and hisbrothers, Oliver and Larry ...
OBIT - RICHARDSON, JOEY CONWAY
Oct 01, 2008 ... Joey Conway Richardson, 52, of Blacksburg, Va., died on Sunday,September 28, 2008. Funeral services ...