www.newrivervalley.com

We've just updated Radford's searchable crime database with the most recent offenses. In all, Radford police reported 18 offenses from August 2-15. Among them were three burglaries.

You can see a map where the incidents took place - or you can search the database yourself, by date, by location or by offense.

The Radford crime database is part of our Datasphere site of searchable data. Among other things you can find: A database of the state's top high school football recruits.

AYP is the minimum level of improvement in Standards of Learning test scores, attendance and other areas that states, school districts and schools must achieve each year under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Schools which receive Title I federal aid for low-income students and fail to make AYP for two consecutive years must offer parents the option of transferring their children to better-performing schools in the same school district.

The numbers for the most recent school year have been released 13 schools in the New River Valley fall short -- seven in Montgomery County, three in Pulaski County and three in Giles County. All schools in Radford and Floyd met the AYP standards.

You can look up the results yourself in this database on our Datasphere site of searchable data.

Some American Electric Power customers in northeastern Floyd County will be without power Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Affected customers should have received a notice, said Todd Burns, spokesperson for AEP.

Power will be out to do improvement work to a substation that’s part of a larger project, Burns said.

Burns said they hope to have the work completed by noon, but put out a notification that the power would be out all day in case it takes longer.

--Amy Matzke-Fawcett

The international ChemEd 2009 conference is being held in Radford through Thursday. Here's some free events open to the public:

• 4 p.m. today: "Education Innovation" presented by Richard Antcliff, Chief Technologist,
  NASA Langley Research Center
• 7 p.m. Tuesday: "Hey! There are cockroaches in my chocolate ice cream!" by Joe Schwarcz, director of the Office of Science & Society at McGill University and best-selling author
• 11 a.m. Wednesday: “Holy MOL-EE! Chemistry and ‘Direct Instruction’” by Lynda Jones of Sing-Smart CMC
• 4 p.m. Wednesday: "Fireworks, the Art and Science" by Felix Grucci and President/CEO, Pyrotechnique by Grucci

All events are being held in Preston Hall at Radford University. For more information, contact Chris Hermann  at 831-5413 at chermann@radford.edu or visit Radford's Web site.

--Amy Matzke-Fawcett

The town and county of Pulaski's namesake, Count Casimir Pulaski, a Polish citizen who died from wounds sustained while fighting in the American Revolution in 1779, is the subject of a joint resolution conferring honorary citizenship.

If passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the president, Pulaski would be only the sixth person named an honorary American citizen.

Here's the full text of H.J. Res. 26, proclaiming Casimir Pulaski to be an honorary citizen of the United States posthumously, from the Library of Congress.
“Proclaiming Casimir Pulaski to be an honorary citizen of the United States posthumously.
Whereas Casimir Pulaski was a Polish military officer who fought on the side of the American colonists against the British in the American Revolutionary War;
Whereas Benjamin Franklin recommended that General George Washington accept Casimir Pulaski as a volunteer in the American Cavalry and said that Pulaski was `renowned throughout Europe for the courage and bravery he displayed in defense of his country’s freedom’;
Whereas, after arriving in America, Casimir Pulaski wrote to General Washington, `I came here, where freedom is being defended, to serve it, and to live or die for it.’;
Whereas the first military engagement of Casimir Pulaski with the British was on September 11, 1777, at the Battle of Brandywine, and his courageous charge in this engagement averted a disastrous defeat of the American Cavalry and saved the life of George Washington;
Whereas, on September 15, 1777, George Washington elevated Casimir Pulaski to the rank of Brigadier General of the American Cavalry;
Whereas Casimir Pulaski formed the Pulaski Cavalry Legion, and in February 1779, this legion ejected the British occupiers from Charleston, South Carolina;
Whereas, in October 1779, Casimir Pulaski mounted an assault against British forces in Savannah, Georgia;
Whereas, on the morning of October 9, 1779, Casimir Pulaski was mortally wounded and was taken aboard the American ship USS Wasp, where he died at sea on October 11, 1779;
Whereas, before the end of 1779, the Continental Congress resolved that a monument should be erected in honor of Casimir Pulaski;
Whereas, in 1825, General Lafayette laid the cornerstone for the Casimir Pulaski monument in Savannah, Georgia; and
Whereas, in 1929, Congress passed a resolution recognizing October 11 of each year as Pulaski Day in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That Casimir Pulaski is proclaimed to be an honorary citizen of the United States posthumously.”

For more, read Saturday's edition of the New River Valley Current.

--Amy Matzke-Fawcett

Michael Sutphin
Age: 25
Occupation: Writer for Virginia Tech
Why run for office?:
“As a recent Virginia Tech graduate who now calls Blacksburg home, I offer new ideas, positive energy and a unique perspective to the town council race. The new election schedule means that not only will Blacksburg residents now vote for their local and state leaders on the same ballot but also young professionals and students will have a greater say in town matters.
"I hope to reach everyone, whether they are here for four years or their entire lives, with the message that we can move our community forward with smart public policy."
What do you believe are the most important issues facing Blacksburg?:
“We need to take a holistic approach to our downtown area that not only retains and attracts shops and restaurants but also markets our central business district as the place to bring your friends and family for shopping, dining and entertainment.”
“We need smart growth that protects open spaces, prevents sprawl and offers a range of housing opportunities. We need to expand and connect our bikeways and greenways and improve bus service to selected areas in Blacksburg and Christiansburg. And we need to involve all residents in the decision-making process through openness, accountability and better lines of communication. These are all issues that will improve our quality of life and truly make Blacksburg a special place.”

Robert “Tom” Rogers
Age: 58
Occupation: Senior design engineer, electrical engineering, MOOG Components Group.
Why run for office?:
“I believe that we need a council that represents the entire town.”
What do you believe are the most important issues facing Blacksburg?:
“The greatest issue facing the town of Blacksburg is outlined in our comprehensive plan. It states:
'Create a competitive, sustainable economic development approach in order to diversify the community’s fiscal base, attract new employment opportunities and enhance the quality of life in Blacksburg.'"
“In this area, the town has come up short over the past few years. The idea of smart growth has essentially produced no growth. Without a sound fiscal base, the ability of town council to enhance our quality of life will be limited. We need a town council that will work with, not against, companies that provide us with goods, services and jobs. This will also increase our ability to shop locally.”

Cecile Newcomb
Age: 44
Occupation: Full-time job is mother to two teenagers. Also works part time as a Certified HERS (Home Energy Rating System) rater, and the business director of Energy Check.
Why run for office?:
“My experience on the Planning Commission and numerous service committees has given me an education and interest in local government, policy making and issues. I have a desire to serve the town, as well as have a chance to make a difference."
"I have been asked by many citizens over the last 10 years to run for council, and now the timing is right, not only with my family but also by the fact that there are four open seats on the council.
What do you believe are the most important issues facing Blacksburg?:
The two issues that I think are most important are:
* "The local economy and employment opportunities, and the funds available to the town to support our programs, utilities, roads, etc. I know people who have lost their jobs, and I know firsthand how businesses are struggling to bring work in and prevent laying off their employees."
"The state is cutting back on its funding, and the town will be struggling to find the money to balance its budget. With all the strengths that Blacksburg has, we need to work hard to create opportunities to enhance our local economy."
* "The divisiveness that has occurred in the last few years over development decisions in Blacksburg. I believe that I offer a balanced approach, and have a sincere desire to bring a spirit of cooperation so that the town, citizens and business people can work together for common goals, rather than choosing sides against each other. We need to heal and nurture our sense of community and stop pointing fingers."

Frank Lau
Age: 72
Occupation: Retired from Chemical R&D, research chemical sales, and oil pollution control equipment. Also, part-time Blacksburg Transit bus operator and a full-time volunteer.
Why run for office?:
“I have no illusions about the great wisdom of my ideas. Some can just be wrong, but not every one. But when you see a problem and maybe have a solution, three minutes before council twice a month or a 200-word letter to the editor once a month will not work. It needs discussion after a proper presentation. In other words, to get a forum, you need to be in a position to ‘get the microphone.’”
What do you believe are the most important issues facing Blacksburg?:
“The town and Virginia Tech must be partners, as equals and respected as such.
Blacksburg, VT, Montgomery County and Christiansburg should also respect each other and amicably work together.”
“The hourglass shape of Blacksburg needs fixing before we all strangle in our own constant expansions. Revitalizing downtown will never succeed when proposed solutions ignore the fundamental problems of traffic, commerce, north/south communications and VT infrastructure expansions. Consider the ill-advised ‘roundabout’ construction at North Main and Prices Fork Road. Football, move-in, move-out, graduation gridlock will be featured on national TV.”
“Blacksburg is trying to remain its very odd ‘bedroom community.’ We can no longer be one, while VT continues expanding. With students, faculty and families, plus townies, we are about 42,000 residents, not even including those who are so-called staff at VT. Council needs to represent all members of this community, not just the few who now dominate, and work toward servicing all of this community.”
“Students are a large group of people and a financial engine that must be represented. Unfortunately, they really don't know how to do it themselves. As a bus operator, I daily see them and their needs outside of class. I'll be sensitive to those needs, while also reminding them they need to grow themselves. They are the same age as most of my 17 grandchildren. Grandparents can be very sensitive.”

Paul Lancaster
Age: 56
Occupation: Works in public relations at Virginia Tech
Why run for office:
“I had served previously on council from 2004 to 2008 and really enjoyed it. And I thought I was doing some pretty good things for the town and I’d like to continue that effort.”
He also is interested in the town’s planning and growth and wants to see the town follow “our comprehensive plan in getting the kind of growth that we need.”
What do you believe are the most important issues facing Blacksburg?:
“The whole idea of how the town grows is important.”
Also, he would like to see continued enhancements to downtown and to “get a lot of people there who haven’t been there before.”
He also believes it’s important for town officials to continue working with Virginia Tech. “If the university weren’t here, Blacksburg would be a very different place, he said. “I think there are issues that come up from time to time that we need to work on and make it an even better place to live.”