Local news from the New River Valley

The NRV Diamonds Fastpitch Softball team finished fourth in the state out of 121 teams. In the photo:

Row 1: (From left) Katie Saylors, Alanha Flad, Tiffany Brown, Maddison Shumaker, Gabby Meek and Cheyenne Houff

Are you looking for something different to do for this year's Halloween. A variety of events are planned for Oct. 30-31 in the New River Valley -- everything from "safe" parties for the little ones, trick-or-treating, haunted tours and festivities suitable for adults only. So get your costume ready and check out one of these events:

Of those 756 students, 156 did not graduate by 2009.

The Brew Do festival will be at the First & Main shopping center from noon to 6 p.m.

Each Friday, they're listening and watching as local artist Jane Vance illustrates the history of the community's school on pieces of linen.

• Police seek help from hunters, hikers
• Task force continues to get tips on killings
• Reward in killings increases to $50,000
• Task force to probe students' killings
• Hundreds mourn slain Lynchburg teens
• Police still chasing leads about Va. Tech student shootings
• Virginia Tech announces $10,000 reward for information about killings
• Funerals for Tech students set for Monday afternoon
• Police still seek leads in deaths of Tech students
• Few clues, many tears in deaths of Tech students
• Caldwell Fields neighbors did not hear shots
• Dan Casey: Neighbors shaken after meadow becomes killing field
• Police seek suspects in Virginia Tech students' killings

• Heidi Lynn Childs
• David Lee Metzler

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Updated at 4:11 p.m. Oct. 20: Police ask Metallica fans to check video, photos for missing Tech student

An AARP forum for Blacksburg Town Council candidates will take place today.

The program begins at noon at the Blacksburg Community Center at 725 Patrick Henry Drive.

Four at-large seats are up for grabs with 10 candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Montgomery County

What: School board

When: 7:30 tonight

Where: 200 Junkin St., Christiansburg

On the agenda: Naming new Elliston/Shawsville elementary school, setting legislative priorities and addition of new algebra course

Catherine Webb, a speech pathologist and special education teacher at Narrows Elementary/Middle School, will now vie for the National Teacher of the Year title. Officials with the Virginia Department of Education announced the state-level award Friday at a ceremony in Richmond.

Warner Baker of Pearisburg opened his Old Towne Shoe Repair store for the first time Saturday on Winona Avenue, across from the iconic Giles County Courthouse.

BLACKSBURG -- In the future, the town could have more affordable housing, developments that combine residential and commercial uses, enhanced trails and transit services and more retail options for shoppers.

Age: 4 months

History: Shrek was saved and is now neutered. He and his sister, Fiona, make a perfect pair.

Characteristics: Playful, sweet, curious and gentle. He loves to play with his sister.

Lisa Toler was indicted in December after police said they found marijuana plants, heat lamps and a book about growing marijuana in her Radford home. At the time, Toler was a seventh-grade teacher at Dublin Middle School.

CHRISTIANSBURG -- Oral arguments in two $10 million civil lawsuits brought by families of two women killed in the April 16, 2007, Virginia Tech shootings are scheduled for Dec. 14.

BLACKSBURG -- Bandit, Sgt. Boris, Bodi, Iron, Faro and Ingo were shot and killed while pursuing suspects.

Baron was beaten to death by an escaped inmate; Lobo was struck by a vehicle while in pursuit.

| Amy Matzke-Fawcett

amy.matzke-fawcett@roanoke.com, 381-1674

BLACKSBURG -- One young Blacksburg dancer has a chance to fulfill her dreams.

Floyd County school officials have taken disciplinary action against two students they say are responsible for at least two of four bomb threats made since Oct. 7.

Neither student will return to school on Monday, Superintendent Terry Arbogast said Friday, and the school board will have a special session to discuss their enrollment status within 10 days. No charges have been filed, according to the sheriff's office.

The building is at West Campus Drive and Perry Street. Speakers will including Tech President Charles Steger, former Provost Dave Roselle and former Norfolk Southern CEO David Goode, according to a news release from the university.

Police dogs that were killed in the line of duty across the state will be memorialized at a public ceremony today at Virginia Tech.

The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on the campus of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.