Got drugs? The Salem Police Department will be collecting old medications on Saturday, April 27th at the Super Shoes & Goodwill parking lot on West Main St. Turn in your unused or expired medicine for safe disposal from 10 am – 2 pm.

- Submitted by Mike Stevens

Saturday is Thomas Jefferson’s birthday. To mark the occasion, Congressman Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, sends this:

Saturday, April 13 marks the 270th anniversary of the birthday of Thomas Jefferson. In honor of his birth, the Library of Congress invited people to view a display of some items from their collection of original Jefferson documents, the largest such collection in the world.

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) took time out of his busy schedule today to visit the display and see these items. In the attached photo, Griffith is looking at Jefferson’s Manual of Parliamentary Practice, which was written in 1800. Griffith used a copy of this manual extensively when he served as Majority Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates, and has used it on occasion while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Griffith said, “Happy birthday, Mr. Jefferson.”

Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) will host his third annual Virginia Service Academy Day on Saturday, April 20th from 10:00am – 1:00pm at the Paramount Theatre in Charlottesville.   The event will offer students, parents and guidance counselors a comprehensive overview of the United States service academies and their admission processes.

Attendees will have an opportunity to meet with officials from the five federal service academies, as well as representatives from ROTC programs, Virginia Tech, and Virginia Military Institute. Representatives from most Virginia Congressional offices will also be available.

“One of my most rewarding responsibilities as a Senator is nominating Virginia’s exceptional young men and women for admission to our country’s service academies,” Senator Warner said. “I am proud to be able to connect students and their families with these opportunities.”

The Air Force Academy, Merchant Marine Academy, Military Academy, and Naval Academy require a two-tier admission process of highly-qualified individuals; an applicant must meet the rigorous admissions requirements of an academy as well as receive a Congressional nomination to be accepted into an academy.

Registration for Academy day and information on the nomination process for the service academies is available on the Senator’s website www.warner.senate.gov.  You may call the Vienna office at 703-442-0670 with any questions.

Submitted by Carol Ford, Office of Senator Mark Warner

The opening of the Glenvar Branch Library, which was originally scheduled for Monday, May 6, has been postponed due to an unanticipated delay in materials delivery.

As soon as we determine a new opening date, we will communicate it to all involved.

– Submitted by Diana Rosapepe, Director, Roanoke County Public Library

Roanoke County’s Emergency Communication Center (911 Center) is offering the public an opportunity to learn more about dialing 9-1-1 as part of National 9-1-1 Education Month.

National 9-1-1 Education Month is celebrated in April, and in recognition of the national event, Roanoke County’s Emergency Communication Center is urging all educational organizations, parents and caregivers to get involved. Roanoke County’s goal is to educate as many people as possible on 9-1-1 uses, challenges and future capabilities.

The center will have educational information available if organizations would like to utilize it. The center is also offering public presentations. Organizations interested should contact Beverly Orange in the Emergency Communication Center at 540-562-3265 or by email at borange@roanokecountyva.gov.

During fiscal year 2012, the center received approximately 56,611 calls for emergencies on the 9-1-1 lines. Given the increasing number of 9-1-1 calls each year, Roanoke County’s 911 dispatchers want every child and adult to have an understanding of how 9-1-1 works and what type of information is asked from callers.

Some general guidelines for 9-1-1 are:

• 9-1-1 is for police, fire and medical emergencies.
• Know your location. Providing an accurate address is critically important, especially when making a wireless 9-1-1 call.
• If you call 9-1-1, and it was an accident DO NOT HANG UP.
• Do not call 9-1-1 for jokes or prank calls.
• When you call 9-1-1, pay attention to the questions that you are being asked.
• Stay on the line with the 9-1-1 call taker and answer ALL questions. The more information they have, the better they are able to help you.
• Stay calm and speak clearly.

For questions or additional information, contact Roanoke County’s Emergency Communication Center at 540-562-3265 or visit Roanoke County’s website at www.roanokecountyva.gov/ecc.

– Submitted by Teresa Hall

Below is information about a VDOT 11/460 Study meeting that may be of interest to Glenvar residents and businesses.

11/460 Study Citizen Information Meeting
Wednesday, April 10th, at 5 p.m.
Elliston Volunteer Fire Department, 5001 Enterprise Drive, Elliston.

The meeting will be an “Open-House” format with identical presentations at 5:15 p.m. and at 6 p.m. This study will focus on operations, access management and safety between Technology Drive and Exit 118 in Christiansburg. It will also include alternatives and recommendations for transportation improvements based on traffic projections through the year 2035. Input from the community regarding the existing and future traffic conditions, especially from those who travel or live and work in the area, is extremely important to the success of the studies. View the VDOT Study page for more details.

- Submitted by Megan Cronise

Roanoke County Sheriff’s Office Capt. James “Jimmy” Dorton and Sheriff Mike Winston. Photo courtesy of Teresa Hall

Roanoke County Sheriff’s Office Capt. James “Jimmy” Dorton will retire following nearly 30 years of dedicated and loyal service.

Dorton began his career as a deputy sheriff in the Roanoke County jail. During his years of service with the county, he also worked a variety of other jobs including rehabilitation counselor for several years before being promoted to the rank of corrections sergeant in 1994. Dorton also served as a corrections lieutenant and an administrative lieutenant.

In December 2010, Dorton was promoted to the rank of captain over the Corrections Division.

Roanoke County Sheriff Mike Winston says Dorton will be greatly missed by his peers and that his contributions throughout the years will not be forgotten. “Capt. Dorton has had a positive influence on the people that he has worked with and helped our department continually establish new ways to meet not only the needs of our employees but the citizens whom we serve.”

Dorton retired effective March 29. Winston has named Lt. John Bowman as Dorton’s successor.

– Submitted by Teresa Hall, Roanoke County

Erik Rison of the Office of Del. Greg Habeeb shares the following news release from Del. Greg Habeeb:

Prior to the midnight deadline yesterday evening, Gov. Bob McDonnell submitted his amendments to the 2012-2014 Biennial Budget. Among the Governor’s amendments were provisions that fill important judicial vacancies across the commonwealth.

Delegate Greg Habeeb (R-Salem) applauds the Governor’s actions, “I am excited to inform you that Governor Bob McDonnell has provided funding for an open Juvenile & Domestic Relations judgeship and an open Circuit Court judgeship in the Roanoke Valley. These judgeships were originally included in the House of Delegates’ budget based on budget amendments I filed. However, they were cut from the final Conference Report Budget.”

“Since we left Richmond, our delegation has aggressively lobbied the Governor to reinstate funding for these two critical judgeships. We are thrilled that our bipartisan work has resulted in the restoration of funding. As a practicing attorney, I have seen how fundamental access to justice is to the workings of our government.”

“We will be returning to Richmond next week to vote on all of the Governor’s budget amendments as well as his amendments to all other bills. Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you have any comments about any of the Governor’s proposed amendments.”

Delegate Habeeb’s office can be reached at 540-915-2962 or by email at Delghabeeb@house.virginia.gov.

Salem City Manager Kevin Boggess is pleased to announce the hiring of Rosie Jordan as the city’s new Finance Director. Jordan comes to Salem from Bedford City, where she has been a fixture since 1994. She began her professional career there as an accountant, later became the Assistant Director of Finance and in 2001, was named Bedford’s Finance Director.
“I will be forever grateful to the people in Bedford and I truly leave there with mixed feelings,” she says. “Bedford has helped me develop the skills I have today and allowed me to grow, but the job in Salem is an amazing opportunity.”
In Salem, Jordan will oversee a $171 million city and school division budget and take over for a couple of highly respected individuals. She replaces longtime Finance Director Frank Turk, who retired in December 2012 after 45 years of service to Salem and interim director, Diane Hyatt.
“First of all, I want to thank Diane for delaying her own retirement plans a few months and offering her talents and expertise to Salem after Frank Turk’s retirement,” says Kevin Boggess, Salem City Manager. “She stepped in at a critical time for the city and we are very thankful for her leadership and guidance.”
“Following in Frank Turk’s footsteps is not only a daunting task, but also a tremendous honor,” says Jordan. “He set the standard for Finance Directors around the state and I look forward to working with the members of the finance staff he assembled in Salem.”
Jordan is a Vinton native and graduate of William Byrd High School and Virginia Tech, who has nearly 20 years of financial experience on the municipal level. In addition, she is uniquely qualified for the position because like Salem, Bedford has its own Electric and Water Departments.
“Only a handful of localities in Virginia have their own utilities, and certainly her experience in that area will be a plus for us, but Rosie is highly qualified to meet all of the challenges this type of job presents,” says Boggess. “We can’t wait to get her on board.”
“I truly see this as a once in a lifetime opportunity,” she says. “I love challenges and this is an exciting challenge for me both personally and professionally.”
Jordan will officially begin her tenure in Salem on April 29.

Submitted by Mike Stevens, City of Salem