Laura Tucker has this photo gallery from the Salem vs. William Fleming football game.

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

Looking for other Salem football photos? We have:

* Salem vs. Lord Botetourt (from Quigg Lawrence)
* Photos of Salem fans at the Lord Botetourt game (from Avery Eliades)
* Salem vs. Franklin County (from Laura Tucker)
*Salem vs. William Byrd — photos by Kyle Green of The Roanoke Times and Laura Tucker
* Salem vs. Northside — photos by Kyle Green of The Roanoke Times, Quigg Lawrence and Barbara Krzysko

On the day before a big game, most football teams are strategizing and watching clips of their opponent to determine the weak links on the field. For Virginia Tech Hokie Seniors, a quick trip to visit Veterans at the Salem VA Medical Center turned out to be the best strategy of all.

Arriving on a Friday afternoon in September, Coach Frank Beamer led his VT seniors to a different playing field where the scars of past battles are still being addressed and the “players” are Veterans from WWII through the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Virginia Tech was set to play Bowling Green on the following Saturday during a special Military Appreciation Day on the Hokies’ home field. What better way to kick off the weekend than to pay a visit to Salem and thank those who have worn the uniform to protect our freedoms?

Residents and staff of the Community Living Center (CLC) were thrilled to meet Coach Beamer and the players. Entering the room to an audible gasp, VT players smiled, posed for photographs, autographed flags and introduced themselves to the crowd.

“We just wanted to take a little time to come down and personally thank the men and women who have served our country,” stated Beamer.  He busily went around the room and shook every hand there and thanked Veterans for protecting our country.

One bedridden Veteran, a huge Hokie fan, shook the Coach’s hand and said he just couldn’t believe after all these years he had actually met him in person.

“I watch every game I can but you have no idea how special this day is for me,” he said. The other Veterans in the room were very much in agreement as players worked their way through and spoke with everyone gathered for the special Hokie welcome.

CLC is back to normal now but they have an autographed flag that will hang proudly in their new football sports den.

And the Hokies?  They went on to win against Bowling Green, 37-0. The game was televised on ESPN-U and photos from the prior day’s visit were shown throughout the game. It may have been that extra strategy they picked up from the Salem VAMC Veterans to inspire them to win the game along with Coach Beamer’s winning style – at least we like to think so.

Thanks, Coach – you’ll never know how special this visit was to Salem. Go Hokies! We’ll be cheering you on!

Submitted by Ann Benois, Salem VA Medical Center.

Salem, Va.—After 25 years of success on the international stage, Anonymous 4, a women’s vocal group, is bringing its talents stateside.
This internationally-acclaimed women’s ensemble will perform at Roanoke College’s Olin Theater on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. This will be their only Virginia performance this season.

In recognition of their 25 years together, Anonymous 4 has created a unique concert program, “Anthology 25.” This greatest-hits album will include songs from the group’s 19 chart-topping albums.

Anonymous 4 has performed a wide range of historical pieces from England, France and Spain. Their programs include songs which span from as early as the year 1000 to newly written works. Some of the newer pieces include a song by the celebrated New York composer David Lang and Richard Einhorn, the composer of “Voices of Light.”

The group’s music is recognized for combining “historical scholarship with contemporary performance,” states the Anonymous 4 website.

Tickets are $12 for the general public and $8 for Roanoke College students and seniors 55 and older. Tickets for groups of eight or more are $5 per person.

Roanoke College, a classic liberal arts college in Salem, Virginia, combines firsthand learning with valuable personal connections in a beautiful, undergraduate setting. Roanoke is one of just seven percent of colleges nationwide with a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. The Princeton Review lists Roanoke as the 18th most beautiful campus in its “Best 376 Colleges” 2012 guidebook.

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

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Submitted by Roanoke College

ROANOKE – Alumni are invited to Burton Center for Arts and Technology Open House and 50th anniversary celebration on Thursday October 18th.   The campus and classrooms will be open and tours will be offered in celebration from 4:30-7:30 p.m. A Silent Auction will be conducted in support of the programs and refreshments will be served.  Media are invited to attend.

This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the many programs currently offered and about the new Governor’s STEM Academy for Roanoke County Public Schools located at Burton.

The Burton Center for Arts & Technology is located at 1760 Boulevard in Salem.

Founded in September, 1962, the Burton Center for Arts and Technology began as the Roanoke County Education Center (RCEC), and was housed in the Roanoke County Schools Administration Building in Salem.  Students enrolled in Auto Mechanics, Cosmetology, Drafting, and Electronics.

In 1964, with the Administration Building becoming too small to house RCEC classes, the center moved to the current location on Boulevard in Salem across from East Salem Elementary School.  At the time, the center consisted of a single building (currently Building C).   Building A was constructed in 1966 and academic courses were added alongside the vocational classes.  In 1978, RCEC was renamed the Roanoke County Vocational-Technical School or Vo-Tech, for short.  A year later the current Building B was constructed

The school has undergone three more name changes: Arnold R. Burton Vocational-Technical School (Vo-Tech) in 1980, Arnold R. Burton Technology Center (ARBTC) in 1989, and Burton Center for Arts & Technology (BCAT) in 2008.  In 2012, the Governor’s STEM Academy was established at BCAT.

In 1962, the school began with 75 students, all 11th and 12th graders.  In 1990, student enrollment was 352; today BCAT’s enrollment is about 850 consisting of students from 9th – 12th grades.

Students today take classes in Auto Service Technology, Building Trades, Computer Information Technology, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Early Childhood Education, Floral Design and Landscaping, Game Design, Masonry, Mechatronics, Motorsports, and Welding.  Four Specialty Centers offer students classes in Engineering, Mass Communications, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts.

Submitted by Chuck Lionberger

Now through December, the family track hours at Green Ridge Recreation Center have been extended. Children ages 6 to 9 may use the track with a parent Mon-Fri. 11:30am to 4pm and weekends from 11:30am to 1pm and 4pm to 6pm. Strollers may also be used during these times.

Submitted by Roanoke County

Submitted by Laura Reilly

My sweet great niece, Taylynn, will be 4 mons old next week. She has developed a most engaging personalty and smiles and laughs. Her parents are Tony and April Donner.

Submitted by Barbara Krzysko

A Christiansburg man has been indicted on involuntary manslaughter charges in a crash that killed three passengers in a car he was driving.

Among those killed in the July accident was 20-year-old Chelsea Leah-Jordan Altice of Salem.

The Roanoke Times has more on this story.

Weather journalist Kevin Myatt

Weather journalist Kevin Myatt has issued this updated forecast for tonight’s high school football games (Salem is at William Fleming, Glenvar is at William Byrd):

UPDATED, 5: 15 p.m.:

Most of the rain has gone north of Southwest Virginia today, and storms have developed mostly to the south and east. Radar does show a few showers and patches of rain that might move through, so rain gear would still be wise, but many games will probably get in dry tonight.

This is a revision from this morning’s update:

Rain chances have increased for tonight. A cold front has not made as much progress eastward as earlier projected, and clusters of showers and storms from Kentucky will move through Southwest Virginia later today, possibly lingering into this evening. So definitely take those ponchos and umbrellas to high school football games.

For more weather news, see Kevin’s Weather Journal.

The Green Hill Medieval Faire returns to for its 11th year in the Roanoke Valley this Saturday and Sunday. New this year, you can get in FREE by wearing medieval garb! Regular admission $5 . A detailed schedule and photos are now available online.

Submitted by Roanoke County