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News from the Roanoke Times
Updated: 26 min 48 sec ago

Storm drain likely source of Carvin Creek gas leak - roanoke.com

26 min 49 sec ago

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is investigating the source of a gasoline leak that contaminated a small tributary of Carvin Creek in Roanoke County.

Roanoke County Fire and Rescue crews were called about 10 p.m. Thursday after several people reported a strong smell of gasoline, said Allen Linkenhoker, pollution response coordinator for the Roanoke office of the DEQ.

Business is aflutter for leaf collectors this fall - roanoke.com

26 min 49 sec ago
Landscape outfits are raking in profits since Roanoke no longer collects leaves for free.

Roanoke's public works crews no longer suck up leaves piled curbside.

As a result, longstanding leaf collection outfits are raking in piles of new business this year in the city. And competitors are popping up like fall mushrooms.

Roanoke preservation group releases list of endangered historic places - roanoke.com

26 min 49 sec ago
A list of endangered sites in the Roanoke region includes a number of locations that are or have recently been in use.

Psst! Some of your heritage may be vanishing.

That's the message of the annual endangered sites list produced by the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation, a 21-year-old nonprofit organization that labors to protect the structures and landscapes that lend the region its sense of place.

Ex-writer pleads not guilty in court - roanoke.com

26 min 49 sec ago
A former Star-Sentinel writer is accused of illegally obtaining e-mails from the paper.

A former Roanoke Star-Sentinel writer pleaded not guilty Friday in federal court to a misdemeanor charge connected to an apparent attempt to document an election law violation.

Willow Louisa Rosenblatt, 39, of Roanoke is accused of the unauthorized access of a computer system engaged in interstate commerce, an unusual charge rarely seen in Roanoke's federal courts. Translated, the accusation is that after her employment as a freelance sports writer ended in the spring of 2008, she set the Star-Sentinel's e-mail system to forward messages to her at home, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharon Burnham said. Star-Sentinel Publisher Stuart Revercomb had his personal e-mail forwarding to the paper, so that went to Rosenblatt as well, Burnham said.

Coyotes roam Botetourt area - roanoke.com

26 min 49 sec ago
The animals are more of a threat to livestock and pets than they are to humans, but residents are concerned nonetheless.

Coyotes are increasingly on the prowl in the expanding suburban Greenfield community of Botetourt County, but state game officials say there's little they can do but encourage residents to hunt down the animals.

Portion of Mill Lane in Salem to close during rail work - roanoke.com

Sat, 11/21/2009 - 12:16

Editor's note: Mill Lane will be closed Nov. 30 through Dec. 2, officials said. The dates were incorrect in print, and have been fixed in this online version.

Part of Mill Lane in Salem will be closed for three days next week while nearby railroad repairs are made.

Large crowd expected for Palin book signing - roanoke.com

Sat, 11/21/2009 - 12:16
Barnes & Noble managers are bracing for a crowd that could easily top 1,000 people wanting Palin's autograph.

Sarah Palin's visit to Roanoke on Sunday for a book signing comes amid a tidal wave of publicity and national media attention.

Residents beg SCC to reject rate increase - roanoke.com

Sat, 11/21/2009 - 12:16
Appalachian Power has requested a 14.5 percent increase in its electricity rates, but many people think that's too much in tough economic times.

ROCKY MOUNT -- Speaker after speaker passionately, pleadingly or sometimes testily implored the commissioners to take action that current state law is unlikely to allow -- that they fully reject or drastically reduce another rate increase proposed this year by Appalachian Power Co. that would further increase customers' electric bills.

Roanoke children shriek with dinosaur - roanoke.com

Sat, 11/21/2009 - 12:16
An animatronic critter showed up to preview an upcoming civic center show.
Video: A dinosaur at Roanoke's main library

Video by Jordan Fifer | The Roanoke Times

Tupperware crash causes U.S. 220 delays - roanoke.com

Sat, 11/21/2009 - 12:16

A tractor-trailer overturned Thursday on U.S. 220 in Roanoke County and caused significant delays for drivers traveling into Franklin County.

The truck was carrying 19 tons of Tupperware when it rolled on its side near Willow Branch Road just before noon, county police said. No one was injured.

Roanoke Co. school employees may get bonus - roanoke.com

Sat, 11/21/2009 - 12:16
The budget didn't allow raises, but the school board wants to kick in some additional cash.

The Roanoke County School Board was unable to give raises to the school division's employees or to fill some employment vacancies this year because of budget constraints tied to the sour economy.

But with the holidays just around the corner, the board may be able to reward employees with one-time cash bonuses -- $750 for full-time employees and $500 for part-time staff.

Fraud case jury gives mixed verdict - roanoke.com

Sat, 11/21/2009 - 12:16
The complex case drew a guilty verdict, an acquittal and a deadlock.

Yet another facet of a Salem ATM company's struggle against financial sabotage played out in federal court this week with a split jury verdict in the case of a Utah man accused of meddling in Couvrette Building Systems' efforts to recover assets from a former top administrator.

Roanoke starts principal search - roanoke.com

Sat, 11/21/2009 - 12:16
The school board has taken the first steps to find a principal for William Fleming.

Roanoke's superintendent of schools and school board chairman on Thursday said plans are being implemented to have a full-time principal at William Fleming High School by the start of the next school year.

Ferrum shooting suspect still out on bond - roanoke.com

Sat, 11/21/2009 - 12:16
Jason Cloutier has been charged in the death of Ferrum College senior Jessica Goode.

ROCKY MOUNT -- The man charged in the death of a Ferrum College student and the wounding of another remains out on bail. Jason David Cloutier, 31, of Ferrum returned to court Thursday morning after being released Wednesday on $20,000 bond.

Botetourt Co. authorities release image in threat investigation - roanoke.com

Sat, 11/21/2009 - 12:16

Botetourt County authorities are continuing their investigation of telephone threats that led to the evacuations of Eagle Rock Elementary and James River High School on Wednesday afternoon.

Body at Wasena bridge is ID'd; mom points to suicide - roanoke.com

Fri, 11/20/2009 - 12:34

Police have identified the woman whose body was found Tuesday under a Roanoke bridge.

Jennifer Shantelle Adair, 30, of Roanoke was found under the Wasena bridge about 7:30 a.m. A crew on a Norfolk Southern coal train spotted her body near the train tracks and called police.

Ferrum student lived and died for the outdoors - roanoke.com

Fri, 11/20/2009 - 12:34
Loved ones remember the bubbly personality of Ferrum victim Jessica Goode.

UPDATED 10:46 a.m. Nov. 19: Ferrum man charged in death of student remains out on bond

FERRUM -- The rural character of the Ferrum College campus fit Jessica Goode perfectly, those who knew her say.

Palin book signing in Roanoke on schedule - roanoke.com

Fri, 11/20/2009 - 12:34

Former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's book-signing event slated for Sunday in Roanoke has not been canceled by the publisher, despite online and local media reports on Wednesday to the contrary.

H1N1 virus prevention will be on many Santas' wish lists - roanoke.com

Fri, 11/20/2009 - 12:34
Companies that hire the jolly ol' elf are taking precautions that include changing gloves and having sanitizer handy.

You better watch out. Santa Claus doesn't want to catch the H1N1 flu virus.

Some national Santa hiring companies are trying to reduce the risk that this white-bearded man of Christmas -- and the children who sit on his lap -- will not contract the H1N1 virus, commonly referred to as swine flu.