John Wimmer shares this photo gallery from Monday’s swim meet between Stonegate and Hunting Hills.

Stonegate won, 1494-1190. We’re told this is the first time Stonegate has defeated Hunting Hills in nine years.

Do you have news or photos from around Salem or western Roanoke County? You can share at news@sosalem.com or use the “share” tool at right to upload 10 at a time.

Here are the awards presented to Salem High School seniors before the conclusion of the recent school year: Read more »

It is almost time for our first performance for our Second Annual “Summer Stock Dinner Theater” with Shakespearean performances of “Twelfth Night” and a traditional Elizabethan meal. The first performance takes place on Saturday July 16 at AmRhein’s Wine Cellars (9243 Patterson Drive, Bent Mountain, VA 24059) The second performance at Camp Roanoke (6498 Dry Hollow Road, Salem, VA 24153) is on Saturday August 20. Doors open at 6PM, and performances will begin at 7PM outdoors under a lovely night sky. So bring your own lawn chairs or blankets and sit back and enjoy a great performance and a fabulous night!

This true Shakespearean classic, “Twelfth Night” is filled with catchy songs, dozens of colorful characters, and some of Shakespeare’s most beautiful poetry. It is guaranteed to put a song in your heart and tickle your funny bone. This show will be performed by Tailgate Shakespeare. This Troupe travels around Virginia offering exceptional Shakespearean performances with no set, minimal props and live music, as Shakespeare’s original actors would have done.

A traditional Elizabethan meal will also be available at each performance. The menu choices are Chicken Pie or Poached Salmon both with Bread, Compound Sallet (salad), and Rice Pudding. Additional beverages will also be available for sale at the AmRhein’s Wine Cellars.

The show plus the catered meal will be available for $17 per person, or $7 for admission only, in which case you may bring your own picnic dinner. Children under five years of age are admitted free. Dinner reservations must be made by the Monday proceeding the performance date however theater only tickets will also be available at the door. For more information or reservations please visit us on our website at www.RoanokeCountyParks.com or call 540-387-6078 ext 251. “Summer Stock Dinner Theater” is an event of Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

Submitted by Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism

An excerpt from Annie Lin-

I can’t wait to see Irene Jones’ new baby girl. Irene works in Dietary. She is here. An 8 pounds baby girl is at Eastwood dining room. One told one, employee and they passed the word. Residents came to dining room to see the baby girl. Wow! What a beautiful, cute, loving, and adorable baby, Ciera Ivanna Jones. She was born at 5:15 p.m. on June 17, 2011, through her mother’s 16 hour labor at Lewis Gail Hospital. Looking at her black shining hair, she looks like her mother.

I was so excited to have a baby girl’s pictures taken that included Ciera’s mother, father, and grandmother. Of course, I included myself.

Everyone said, “Come back, Ciera” when they were ready to leave dining room.

Please enjoy the new baby girl’s pictures. She was just born five days before. I can’t wait to see, hear, and listen as she grows. Ciera, I love you!

view photos here.

submitted by Annie Lin

An excerpt from Annie Lin-

On Saturday, June 18, 2011, I brought my son, Jerry to my work place for picnic at 1:30 p.m. There were hamburgers, hot dogs, all kinds of cakes, drinks, snow cones, and pop corns. Jerry likes to eat, he made his cheeseburgers and topping on hot dogs. He put the food in his mouth, enjoyed the taste and said, “mm mm”. After the first plate, he fixed a second plate, and said, “take it home”. Marolyn heard him and laughed. Me, too!

I had to work, so we did not stay there for the activities. Tom and Marolyn helped me by driving Jerry home.

Even though we did not stay there for the children’s activities, or wait to win a prize drawing, or to play bingo, Jerry really enjoyed the picnic and looks forward to next year.

view photos here.

submitted by Annie Lin of Salem

Here are a few photos of the Salem Fair setting up this morning. Quite a few of them are taken from the bird’s eye view of the Salem Red Sox stadium.

We also posted a story about the new Firefighter Training attraction, and here’s a link to where we’ve got a summary of the schedule.

For more, visit www.salemfair.com

Laura Tucker shares this photo gallery from the first day of Roanoke College soccer camp for 5-10 year olds.

Thanks Laura!

Do you have news or photos from around Salem or western Roanoke County? You can share at news@sosalem.com or use the “share” tool at right to upload 10 at a time.

Tom Turner

Tom Turner is the face of safety at Roanoke College.

He took the helm as director of the college’s campus safety department in 1983, soon after he graduated from Roanoke as an adult student with a criminal justice major.

Since then, the Botetourt County native and former Roanoke City police officer has become known as an expert in his field, not only in the region but statewide. Turner was one of four Virginia college law enforcement administrators appointed to a governor’s commission to review safety procedures in the months following the 2007 fatal shootings at Virginia Tech. The tragedy put a spotlight on the role of campus safety officers nationwide.

Turner also has helped write standards for the state’s campus safety personnel, including a mandate that all become certified through specified training. He teaches some of those courses.

This month, Turner won praise for his 28 years of safety work. He received the Robert C. Dillard Outstanding Contribution to Campus Law Enforcement Award. This is the highest honor given by the Virginia Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, a professional group that represents the state’s private and public colleges and universities.

The award, named for the retired police chief at the University of Richmond and one of Turner’s mentors, recognizes a collegiate law enforcement leader for contributions to the field statewide.

“Tom is someone that everyone looks to for advice on the things of our business,” said Michael Young, director of public safety at Washington & Lee University who nominated Turner for the award. “We don’t reinvent the wheel every day. Most of us have the same basic problems. Tom is always a good source of information.”

Turner’s list of contributions to Virginia’s campus safety landscape also includes helping to craft a statewide guide for 27 best safety practices for colleges and universities. But significant national events in the past 10 years, from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to the Virginia Tech shootings, have altered the way that Turner and campus law enforcement across the country do business. Safety standards are tighter and new responses are in place, from changes in ways that Roanoke College identifies and helps students in emotional distress to the creation of Maroon Alerts, a text-messaging system.

Turner has been at the forefront of much of this evolution.

“I’ve tried to serve where I could,” he said.

Roanoke College, a classic liberal arts college in Salem, Virginia, combines firsthand learning with valuable personal connections in a stunning undergraduate setting. Roanoke is one of just 276 colleges nationwide with a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. The Princeton Review names Roanoke as one of the “best in the Southeast” and U.S. News & World Report includes Roanoke on its “Up-and-coming National Liberal Arts Colleges” list.

For additional information, call the Roanoke College Public Relations Office at (540) 375-2282.

Have you heard of NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) before? I don’t know it very well either, but I went to the Roanoke Branch NAACP 2011, 13th Annual Citizen of the Year Awards Program on Friday, June 24th, 2011 at Holiday Inn, Tanglewood in Roanoke. After I learned what NAACP means, I had many reasons to really want to go to the event.

First, I knew The Roanoke Time’s Paparazzi would be there. I like to have a picture taken by Paparazzi even if my picture does not get printed in the newspaper. I like Paparazzi background scenery in my own pictures.

Second, Pearl Fu would be a speaker, and I have known her for a long time. She is a friendly, humorous, and knowledgeable lady. I always like the smile on her face. She is my American Idol.

Third, Jerry likes to eat. Even though I had to buy two tickets for dinner, I was happy to support the program.

We went there early to have Paparazzi pictures taken. The photographer said “Hi Annie”, she knew my name, after she had done Jerry’s and my pictures. I said “Thank You”, and “I look forward to seeing it in The Roanoke Times”.

I met Brenda L. Hale, President of the Roanoke Branch NAACP. I had called her to reserve seats and tickets. When I arrived at the Roanoke Holiday Inn, she said “Annie, I talked to you by phone”. Throughout the dinner she greeted everyone from table to table, and there were almost 40 tables. Look at my picture where Jerry had a smile on his face to match hers.

When Pearl Fu spoke at the event, I gave her a gift. She has really done a wonderful job for Local Colors. The Mayor of Roanoke, David Bowers, said “She could be an Empress,” and everyone laughed.

I met Brenda and Joyce who were seated at my table. We exchanged e-mail addresses to keep in touch. When I gave my own personal card to Brenda, she said “Wow, you are a nurse.”

There were 12 recipients of awards. Even though I did not know anyone but Pearl, after they spoke, everyone including me congratulated them.

The last part was a line dance party. I only enjoyed 5 minutes of line dancing because I needed to get back to work on the 11-7 shift. I had traded the 3-11 shift with my co-worker. You will see mayor David Bowers in same of my pictures. He was in a dance group. Here is a link to watch a video from the event at Holiday Inn Tanglewood: http://www.facebook.com/video/editvideo.phpv=133269086751942#!/profile.php?id=100002065549505

Jerry and I really enjoyed the event. Please let me share my pictures with you, and we should say “Thanks to all of those who make our community stronger”.

Submitted by Annie Lin.