What happened at Salem City Council last night?Posted Aug26, 2008 at 02:09 PMRead reporter Pete Dybdahl's story by clicking here. Elliston chosen for intermodal sitePosted Aug19, 2008 at 12:38 PMThis just in: State Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer will announce at 2 p.m. today that Elliston will be the site of the Roanoke Regional Intermodal Facility. Three sites were recently in contention: Elliston, favored by Norfolk Southern Corp. and supported by a state study; Salem, where officials said they would welcome the project; and Roanoke County, where officials did not welcome the project. For more on this developing story, click here. To comment on what this means, or doesn't mean, for Salem and western Roanoke County, click "comment" below. Salem City Sheriff's Office announces promotionsPosted Aug09, 2008 at 01:43 PM
Two members of the Sheriff's Office took higher positions on Friday, August 8. Sergeant Mike Huffman was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and Master Deputy April M. Staton is now a sergeant. "I came to Salem as an orphan," at the Virginia Baptist Children's home, Huffman said. He's since served 13 years with the Sheriff's Office. Staton is the first female employee in either of Salem's uniformed law enforcement agencies to supervise front-line employees. Photo, top: from left, Sergeant April Staton, Sheriff Ric Atkins, and Lieutenant Mike Huffman. 
In other news, former administrative assistant Mary Crowder protested outside the ceremony. She claims that she didn't quit, while the Sheriff's Office isn't divulging details yet. For more, check out reporter Pete Dybdahl's story here. Temporary lane closings on 419 in Salem next weekPosted Aug05, 2008 at 04:28 PMIf you travel on route 419 between Lynchburg Turnpike and Roanoke Boulevard, plan on finding an alternate route next week unless you've got time for delays. Here's the complete release from the city of Salem: The passing lanes on both the northbound and southbound sides of Route 419 between Lynchburg Turnpike and Roanoke Blvd. will be closed Monday, August 11th through Friday, August 15th. This will reduce the traffic flow in that area from four lanes to two. City Street crews will be working on the median area in front of Fire Station #2 in order to extend the turning lane. This construction will provide better access for rescue personnel vehicles that access the station on a daily basis. Salem opens door for big-box developmentPosted Jul29, 2008 at 09:55 AMA group of developers planning to bring a big-box retailer to a rundown Salem shopping center will collect an anticipated $3 million in tax incentives for the project. The Salem City Council approved the incentive deal with BET Wilkinson Salem Venture LLC by a 4-0 vote Monday evening. However, the name of the new store slated to replace the West Salem Plaza has not been officially released. Reporter Pete Dybdahl has the latest here. So what do you think of the development? Feel free to click "comment" below. Meet Salem's newest police officersPosted Jul15, 2008 at 01:32 PM Meet the newest members of the Salem Police Department: from left, officers Josh Shelor, Philip Weddle, Mark Adkins, and Danny Crouse. They attended the July 14 city council meeting as part of their field training for the patrol division to understand how that facet of the city government works. Items on the agenda included the selection of bids for the Electric Department's new data office and the 2008-09 Street Paving Project. Erosion and sediment control bonds were set for the Ross Street Townhomes and the Christian Life Church International (off of Boulevard) projects. Appointments to various city boards included: Salem Sheriff's Office pins a new Chief Deputy, names a new CaptainPosted Jul01, 2008 at 03:57 PM  Lieutenant J. David Rorer was appointed Chief Deputy and Keith Mucha was promoted to Captain of the Salem City Sheriff’s Office July 1. First photo: Rorer is congradulated by his wife, Cheryl, and his mother, Shirley. Continue reading "Salem Sheriff's Office pins a new Chief Deputy, names a new Captain" » Randy Foley elected mayorPosted Jul01, 2008 at 10:34 AM Seats were scarce in Council Chambers as council elected Randy Foley as Salem’s new mayor this morning. “It’s definitely an honor, a privilege to be in this position. I’ll have to learn…but I’m confident in my abilities,” Foley said. John Givens was reelected to his second term as vice mayor. “We’ve got new members, two brand new members. I think it’s time that they went to take over to lead the city on…It’s an honor to be a part of this ‘youth movement’” Givens said. He has served with council for 13 years. “The five people that sit up here on council are quote unquote figureheads…” Givens added that Salem City’s employees and “Our citizens are what make this community great.” Foley, 38, studied government at the University of Virginia, and then went on to earn a master’s degree in public administration. He spent time as a teacher and a coach in Orange County, Virginia, then served nine years as an officer in the Air Force. Upon moving back to Salem, “I had always had the desire to serve in local government, and there was an opportunity, so I ran” in 2006. For more details, click here. Salemite goes green the old-fashioned way with a garden and a clutch of her ownPosted Jun25, 2008 at 02:17 PM It all started with finding little ways to save money, like making homemade laundry detergent and cooking meals from scratch. Then Carrie Cox, founder of the environmental group Big Lick Green Drinks, decided that she wanted to be organic. She had some experience by working at the Natural Foods Co-op on Grandin Road, but the prices for natural and organic food were still out of reach. “Once you see the effects of how your food is raised … you can’t unsee it” she said. “I started thinking, what did our grandparents and great-grandparents do during the Depression…they obviously did something to get by, they obviously didn’t die off, so what did they do and how did they do it?” Cox said. She’s got deep enough roots in Salem’s history to know. Her great grandmother Carrie Brown-Taney, she said, used to live where Roanoke College’s Fintel Library stands now. “She gardened all the way down the hill and across Thompson Memorial, which wasn’t there then…I think you can still see the outline of the chicken coop,” she remembered. Her ancestor later moved into the family house on Academy Street where Cox lives now. While Brown-Taney didn’t take chickens to the new house, she did garden in the lot out back. “There used to be horses in the field behind her house,” Cox said. Her eco-friendly approach to natural foods falls in line with an old-fashioned way of thinking, when neighbors dropped off vegetables, eggs, and baked goods off on one another’s porches and when a family didn’t buy something at the store when they could make it at home. Continue reading "Salemite goes green the old-fashioned way with a garden and a clutch of her own" » Mike Stevens leaving Channel 7 to work for SalemPosted Jun11, 2008 at 03:47 PMThis just in: Mike Stevens is leaving his job at WDBJ-TV (Channel 7) to become director of communications for the city of Salem. For more details, click here. Salem examines waterline problems, teacher raises, and taxesPosted Jun10, 2008 at 05:36 PM
Just in case you missed it in today's (June 10) Virginia section, here's a link to reporter Marquita Brown's article on Monday night's Salem City Council meeting. Former Salem man serves coffee to McCain in RichmondPosted Jun10, 2008 at 12:49 PMJohn McCain traveled through Virginia yesterday, and he made a stop at Shockoe Espresso and Roastery, the Richmond counterpart to Roanoke's Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea. Robert "Bob" Basham, manager of Shockoe Espresso, served McCain coffee in the standard trucker mug. He even sat down for a brief conversation with the presidential hopeful. Regulars of Salem's MMC&T might recognize Basham -- he managed the store and also attended Roanoke College. Click here for a link to The Richmond Times-Dispatch's report. Click on the "Video" tab on the left side of the page to see the snapshot of Basham and McCain. Salem's Steve Agee confirmed as a federal judgePosted May20, 2008 at 05:34 PMThis just in: Steve Agee of Salem is now a federal judge. The U.S. Senate has just confirmed his nomination to the federal appeals court. Until now, he's been on the Virginia Supreme Court -- and once represented Salem and parts of Roanoke County in the House of Delegates. For more on this story, click here. Our previous post on Agee's nomination was May 1. Colorado Street Bridge construction to begin in JunePosted May15, 2008 at 03:49 PM
Last night, an informational meeting about the construction on the Colorado Street Bridge was held at the Salem Civic Center. In case you missed it, here's a link to reporter Marquita Brown's article. Picture: Jay Taliaferro explains why the bridge needed repair, what traffic adjustments will be made, and how the city will try to ease the transition for the long-term project. Public meeting about the Colorado Street Bridge ConstructionPosted May13, 2008 at 10:55 AMThere will be a public meeting about the upcoming project tomorrow, Wednesday, May 14, at 6 p.m. in the Salem Civic Center Community Room. The City of Salem wants to talk to residents and businesses, especially those closest to the bridge, about plans to develop alternate routes and traffic to local businesses. Both the east and west-bound lanes will stay open more often in the beginning phase, according to Melinda Payne, planning and development director. Construction will begin this June and end tentatively in May 2010. For additional information call 375-4112. Salem election results: Johnson, Jones, Garst winPosted May06, 2008 at 07:23 PMSalem voters today re-elected Jane Johnson and elected Bill Jones and Lisa Garst to join her on council. With all 11 precincts reporting, the results are: Jane Johnson 2,553 The top three vote-getters win. Clemens dropped out of the race after he was named to a judgeship, but his name remained on the ballot. We also have Salem results by precinct and a story on the election by Marquita Brown. Continue reading "Salem election results: Johnson, Jones, Garst win" » Today is election day in SalemPosted May06, 2008 at 10:26 AMIt's a beautiful spring day, but Virginia believes in holding most municipal elections in May, so today is also election day in Salem. Voters go to the polls to fill three seats on City Council. The polls are open until 7 p.m. For background on the race, or to find out where your polling place is, click here. To find out who won, come back to The Notebook on So Salem tonight and we'll post the results as they come in. What voters need to know about Tuesday's Salem electionsPosted May01, 2008 at 06:32 PMOn Tuesday, Salem voters will fill three seats on city council. Who's running? We have profiles of all the candidates. These were also in last week's print editions of So Salem. Is Clemens in or out? Last week, incumbent Chris Clemens was named to a judgeship, so he has withdrawn from the race -- but it's too late to take his name off the ballot. We had stories April 23 and April 30 about the situation. Where do the candidates stand on the issues? We have their answers to key questions facing Salem in this Friday's print edition of So Salem. Here's where to get a copy. When are polls open? They open 6 a.m., close at 7 p.m. Where do I vote? Click here to enter your address, and our database will tell you where your polling place is. Where can I find the results on Tuesday night? Right here on The Notebook on So Salem. Sen. Webb recommends Steve Agee to U.S. SenatePosted May01, 2008 at 04:37 PMIt's not often we deal with Washington news on this Salem community news blog. But today, Washington news and Salem news coincide. As you may know, Virginia Supreme Court Justice Steve Agee -- who lives in Salem -- is up for an appointment to a federal judgeship on the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. Today in Washington, U.S. Senator Jim Webb introduced Agee to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is handling Agee's nomination. Here's the text of Webb's remarks in support of putting a Salem man on the federal bench:
Continue reading "Sen. Webb recommends Steve Agee to U.S. Senate" » Salem city councilman named to judgeshipPosted Apr25, 2008 at 04:26 PM
Clemens, a Salem attorney and city councilman, said he learned today that circuit court judges in the 23rd division chose him over his chief competitor for the job, Roanoke Commonwealth's Attorney Donald Caldwell. This obviously will have implications for the May 6 city council elections in Salem, since Clemens was one of the candidates. For more on this developing story, click here. Intermodal site conference doesn't produce consensusPosted Apr25, 2008 at 03:42 PMLocal officials from ten localities met today in Salem to talk with Gov. Tim Kaine about the proposed Norfolk Southern railyard planned for Elliston, but it didn't produce a consensus. Tim Thornton has the latest developments. Want to join the conversation? You can post comments below by clicking on the "comments" tag, or you can post on our message board. We had a previous post about the intermodal site on April 7. Here's a sampling of comments about the proposal, both pro and con, that appeared in today's print editions of So Salem, the new community newspaper for Salem, Glenvar and western Roanoke County. Tax break doesn't sound likelyPosted Apr23, 2008 at 09:59 AMIn case you missed it, here's a story on the candidates forum the Salem Kiwanis hosted last night for candidates for Salem City Council. The big news: Salem residents apparently won't get a break in their real estate taxes anytime soon -- not without giving up some of the services the city provides. That seemed to be the consensus Tuesday. The election is Tuesday, May 6. We'll have the first of a two-part election preview in our debut print edition of So Salem, which comes out Friday. For more on our upcoming print edition, click here. Intermodal site goes to Elliston, not SalemPosted Apr07, 2008 at 11:37 AMThis just in: State officials have announced that Norfolk Southern's intermodal facility will go in Elliston, not Salem. For the details, see our breaking news story. You can weigh in with your opinions on our message board devoted to the topic. Got hazardous waste?Posted Mar24, 2008 at 05:26 PMSalem City is holding its bi-annual Household Hazardous Waste Day and Latex Paint-Swap on Saturday, April 5. Shred-It of Virginia will also be there to destroy Salem City residents' documents. It will take place at the Salem Transfer Station, 1300 Indiana Street. Here’s a list of accepted items. Roanoke College upcoming events open to the public:Posted Mar21, 2008 at 12:36 PMLate March to early April RC events: March 27 at 4:45 p.m.: A lecture by 2007 Pulitzer Prize winner, Hank Klibanoff, no charge March 29 at 6:30 p.m.: A senior voice recital by Rose Stephens-Booker April 1 at 7:30 p.m.: A reading of his short story "Boone: A Biography" by Robert Morgan, no charge. This is Morgan's latest book; it was placed on The Washington Post's "Best Books of 2007" list. April 3 at 7:30 p.m.: A lecture by Sandra Harding “Gender and Science: New Issues”, no charge April 5 at 8:00 p.m.: A swing dance with Martha and the Moodswingers in Alumni Gym, $5 (lessons at 1:00 and 2:15, $5 per person per session) April 7 at 7:30 p.m.: A lecture by Joseph Cummins “Anything for a Vote: Mudslinging…”, no charge April 12 at 8:00 p.m.: Kandinsky’s Trio Concert: 20th Anniversary Season Finale, $15 for general public, $10 for senior citizens and students April 13 at 3:00 p.m.: Roanoke College's Children's Choir: "A Little Spring Music", $17 for general public, $14 for senior citizens, $11 for children 12 and under, at The Jefferson Center. April 15 at 7:30 p.m.: A lecture by Alan Dershowitz, a continuation of RC's series "Exploration and Discovery" April 17 at 7:30 p.m.: The Roanoke College Wind and Jazz ensembles will present a joint concert in Olin Theatre, no charge Roanoke College News and Public Calendar More Interested in Collegiate Lacrosse, Baseball, Softball, Track, Tennis, or Golf??? |
About this blog
Welcome to The Notebook, the community gathering place for news and tidbits from So Salem, by community journalist Miranda Adkins (that's Miranda on the left). You'll be able to find the most up-to-date news, events and stories in Salem, Glenvar and western Roanoke County here at this blog. And please join in! You can share your comments, stories, links and ideas here, too. This is your community conversation. .....Advertisement.....
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