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We've asked fans to send us photos of any games involving Salem teams, and Laura Tucker has come through for us in a big way. She's posted 205 photos from Friday night's game, where Salem stomped Lord Botetourt.

Earlier we posted a gallery from Kyle Green of The Roanoke Times -- and we have one other gallery still on the way, so check back later this weekend for that.

Do you have photos from the game -- or any game involving teams or players from Salem or western Roanoke County, for that matter? Doesn't matter of it's varsity, junior varsity, middle school or rec league -- you can share your photos at news@sosalem.com and we'll post 'em here.

What were your thoughts on the game? Click "comment" below.

OTHER RECENT SALEM COVERAGE:

* Aug. 28: Salem sports teams featured in this week's print edition of So Salem
* Aug. 26: Salem volleyball JVs defeat Lord Botetourt
* Aug. 22: 101 photos of Salem High School football scrimmage
* Aug. 20: Photos of Salem fall sports teams

For the most recent coverage of Glenvar (which hasn't started football yet, but has started other fall sports), click here.

For more scores, standings and schedules, see varsity.roanoke.com

We have a photo gallery of 13 photos from Friday night's Salem - Lord Botetourt game, which Salem won 42-20. They include both action shots -- such as the one of Kirk Coles breaking loose for a touchdown here - and scene shots such as the one of the Salem band below.

These photos are by Kyle Green. We'll post another gallery from the game later this weekend, so check back for that.

Do you have photos from the game -- or any game involving teams or players from Salem or western Roanoke County, for that matter? Doesn't matter of it's varsity, junior varsity, middle school or rec league -- you can share your photos at news@sosalem.com and we'll post 'em here.

What were your thoughts on the game? Click "comment" below.

OTHER RECENT SALEM COVERAGE:

* Aug. 28: Salem sports teams featured in this week's print edition of So Salem
* Aug. 26: Salem volleyball JVs defeat Lord Botetourt
* Aug. 22: 101 photos of Salem High School football scrimmage
* Aug. 20: Photos of Salem fall sports teams

For the most recent coverage of Glenvar (which hasn't started football yet, but has started other fall sports), click here.

For more scores, standings and schedules, see varsity.roanoke.com

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Alex Bentley sent this photo in to "your best shot" at Roanoke Times, and we wanted to share it with those on the So Salem blog.

He writes: This is one of my best shots. It is a common garter snake (Thamnophis
sirtalis) that I found and photographed at a pond in salem this summer (6/8/08). Thank you, Alex

We featured Bentley earlier this summer in So Salem, and he shared photos with us once he got back into the states. For a link to the most previous blog, click here. Here's a link to the original story.

How about you? Do you have an interesting hobby? A great photo of the friends or family? Youth sports scores and pictures to share? Send pictures and ideas to us at news@sosalem.com, and we'll put 'em up here on the blog.

Earlier this week, we posted the AYP (adequate yearly progress) reports, better known as No Child Left Behind. Every school in Roanoke County and Salem passed except for Andrew Lewis Middle School. Click here to head back to our earlier post.

Here's a press release from the city of Salem regarding the subject:

All of Salem’s City Schools are and will remain fully accredited under Virginia Department of Education standards. Under “No Child Left Behind,” the targets increase each year as the federal law continues its march toward requiring 100% pass rates by 2014 for all children in all tested grade levels in all schools nationwide.

The Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) numbers are just one variable in a much larger equation when it comes to educating young people. Last year when Salem was one of only 16 school divisions in the entire state to meet all of the federal indicators in all schools and as a division, the city treated the news without any fanfare, and this year as we just miss making the list we see no reason to overreact.

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This Sunday, August 31 a team of 9 people from FCC leave to go to Zambia for evangelistic work, teaching True Love Waits to the teens (abstinence teaching due to the widespread HIV/AIDS epidemic), and training for local pastors. If current trends continue, 1.6 million more people may die from AIDS by 2015 in Zambia.

Our team of 9 returns on September 13th, and the team leader is Tim Rogers.

--Pastor Ken Nienke

Front row, from left: Cheryl Cavanaugh, Bessie Irelan, Ken Nienke, Wayne Sweeney; back row, from left: Robbie Willard, Tim Rogers, Rick Scott, Bob Finck, Chris Nienke

Andrew Lewis Middle School saw its first home volleyball games of the year yesterday (8/28), and while they lost 25-7 in the first match to Franklin County, the Wolverines lessened the difference in the second match at 25-17.

Here's a break-down of their first (away) game at Cave Spring Middle from Coach Bob Palleria:

Unfortunately we lost to Cave Spring in two straight games. We lost the first 26-24, and the second 25-14. We played well, but were too inconsistent in our serving to win the match.

For a gallery of photos from last night's game, click here. Our last post about ALMS was earlier today. Our last post about volleyball was yesterday.

If you have news or photos involving teams or players from Salem or western Roanoke County -- whether varsity, junior varsity, middle school or rec league -- you can share them at news@sosalem.com.

Andrew Lewis Middle School coach Chris King sent us these results from last night's game:

We played Hidden Valley yesterday and beat them 8-6. We are now 2-0 on the season. The team played a tough Hidden Valley team well and a good game was had by both Chad Fisher and Kyle Washington on both sides of the ball. Brandon Hall had an excellent game at noseguard on the defensive side of the ball. Our next game will be next Thursday @ 5pm @ Salem Stadium vs. Northside.

And here's a summary from August 21's game against William Fleming Middle: Andrew Lewis 8, William Fleming 0.

The highlights of the Fleming game would be a touchdown pass from Matt Hill to Jon Repass with 7:30 to go in the game and a 2 point conversion pass from Matt Hill to Clay Peregoy. Chad Fisher had a good game with 2 interceptions on defense and 2 receptions on offense. Kyle Washington also ran the ball well and played a good game at cornerback on the defensive side of the ball.

The one "B" game would be a 38-0 win by AL over Central Academy.

Our last report on Andrew Lewis Middle School sports was August 25.

If you have news or photos about teams or players from Salem or western Roanoke County, you can share them at news@sosalem.com.

We promised to bring you junior varsity scores, and here they are. The sports pages of today's Roanoke Times report that Glenvar's varsity volleyball squad defeated Lord Botetourt on Thursday in a hard-fought battle that went the full five.

Now we can report that the Glenvar JV team won, as well: 25-8, 26-24.

The Glenvar JVs previously defeated Craig County in three games on August 21 and fell to Lynchburg Christian Academy in three games on August 26. Their record is now 2-1.

If anyone wants to add their observations on the game, click "comment" below. If you have photos of this or anything else involving sports in Salem or western Roanoke County, you can share them at news@sosalem.com.

Glenvar's next volleyball game is Tuesday, Sept. 2 -- home against Craig County at 6 p.m. We look forward to bring you a report from that game, as well.

OTHER RECENT GLENVAR COVERAGE

* Aug. 28: Volleyball team hosts dodgeball tournament
* Aug. 25: School opens
* Aug. 22: Golfer Scott Obenshain is medalist in Thursday's match
* Aug. 20: Photos of Glenvar's fall sports teams
* Aug. 15: Photo gallery from junior varsity football scrimmage against Salem

For the most recent Salem coverage, click here.

The roster of the junior varsity volleyball team is below:

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We've just updated our Roanoke Valley crime map with the latest offenses from Salem and Roanoke County -- and Roanoke, as well. The data includes offenses through August 24.

Last week, Salem reported six larcenies, three burglaries and one motor vehicle theft.

In western Roanoke County, there was a report of a single larceny.

Also, the Salem Police Department provides more detailed information than other localities -- so in addition to the Roanoke Valley crime map, we have a more detailed Salem crime map you can search, as well.

Follow the links above and you can see where they were and what they were. Our data delivery editor, Matt Chittum, has more information how you can use the searchable crime maps.

He also has a special question for Salemites. We've noticed fewer people seem interested in the more detailed Salem crime map -- even though it's got more interesting stuff. Matt would like to know why. You can read his post, and leave a comment, right here.

Also on our Datasphere collection of searchable data: Who's selling beer to your kids? Look up which stores have been busted for selling to underage buyers.

Are you ready for some football? We are here at So Salem -- and all the other fall sports, too. In last week’s print edition, we previewed fall sports at Glenvar High School. This week, we look at fall sports at Salem High School.

And that makes now a good time for a few programming notes:

* We want your fall sports photos. If you have photos that involve teams or players from Salem or western Roanoke County, you can share them at news@sosalem.com. We’ll post them here -- and use as many as we can in full color in our weekly print edition, which reaches more than 90 percent of the households in Salem and western Roanoke County. We can’t be everywhere with our cameras, but you’re already there, so send ‘em on! (How do we do that 90 percent thing? See below!)

* Check here for junior varsity and middle school scores. Our cousins in the sports department at The Roanoke Times publish varsity scores, but not lower age levels. We will, and we have. Here are the most recent results. We care about all sports at all age levels. If you’re not seeing your school’s action here, ask ‘em to send it -- or you can send your own report. Rec league, too!

In Friday’s print edition, you’ll see places where we say “see the Notebook” for more. Here’s a guide to where to find those online extras:

* Vote in our poll question of the week: Should the Salem Avalanche change their name?
* Fast Freddy’s says it will reopen, not sure when
* Photo of a bear in broad daylight in Bennett Springs
* More on the Western Virginia Education Classic football game
* More on Ashley Conner winning a model contest through Rack Room Shoes
* Video from the Old Fiddler’s Convention (where a Salem band took fifth place.)
* More photos from Salem After Five. And even more..
* More photos from Salem Star-B-Q
* Who’s selling beer to your kids? See which stores have been busted for selling to underage buyers.

And in sports . . .
* 101 fan photos from the Salem High School scrimmage at JMU. (We said we wanted fan photos, and we really mean it!)
* Photo gallery from the Youth Football Jamboree
* Photos of Salem’s fall sports teams
* Webcast asks: Could Salem face an upset Friday?

Finally, of course, school starts in Salem on Monday. We have Salem bus routes online. And how about taking some first day of school pictures of your kids and sharing them? Just email us at news@sosalem.com.

Same for any other news and photos you want to get in So Salem in full color. For more info, see below.

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