The Wright’s went tubing down the New River. The rapids were a blast!

Submitted by Loren Wright

You can share photos of what your family is doing at news@swo-co.com.

The Athenian Society for the Arts and Sciences will begin a new season with its annual Fall Coffee on Thursday, September 16^th at 10:00 a.m. in the Community Room at WDBJ studios, 2807 Hershberger Road.

Scott Williamson of Opera Roanoke and Rhonda Hale of the Blue Ridge Arts Council are our guest speakers.  We invite you to share in our goal of advancing culture in our community.

Call Barbara Landon (540)774-5020 for more information.

This is CSHS band's new truck. Note: The trailer is undergoing a paint job and was not available for photograph. Emily Flora SWoCo

Last year prior to the Vinton Christmas parade the Cave Spring High School Marching band’s truck and trailer caught on fire. Lucky for those marching knights, their band equipment was not inside the trailer when it caught fire.

This year, the band will have a new shiny truck and trailer to haul their instruments and equipment with.

Thanks goes out to the Band Boosters who purchased the truck and trailer and worked with Shelor Chevrolet on the truck, Proline Trailer Sales and Longwood Graphics on the trailer.

“We are very pleased,” band director Brian Quakenbush said.

Thomas Dunn opens Stand Out Salon in Roanoke. Emily Flora SWoCo

Thomas Dunn‘s dad always told him he could be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond. After experiencing life as both the big fish and the small fish, Dunn has opted for a more quiet life here in Roanoke and opened his own salon, Stand Out Salon.

Duun says that Stand Out Salon is “the new elite salon in Southwest County and Salem.”

Stand Out Salon carries TIGI products and Rusk products.

“I like the product line. It’s pretty true to form and its an amazing product for the cost,” he said. Read more »

It was about 90 degrees on Sunday, but that didn’t stop a group of Blue Ridge Potters Guild member from making it even hotter. The group gets together on a regular basis, this time to build Raku kilns in Becky Carr‘s driveway.

Raku is a a type of Japanese pottery traditionally used in a Japanese tea ceremony. And the kilns they made out of metal trash cans, a special kind of insulation, fire bricks and torches. The kinds of pottery they fired is often considered American Raku.

Jim Privitera, who opened a pottery studio in Vinton called Earthworks Pottery, last year has been making pottery for about 12 years. Carr has always been interested in pottery but took her first class about three years ago, a gift from her daughter, and fell in love. Ruth Pierce has been doing it since 1993 and Doris Patton and Barbara Wise for many years, also.

Although the group met in different ways, they all met and became close friends in the last three years. Read more »

The progress of the SoCo Library. Emily Flora SWoCo

The new South County (SoCo) Library is moving along, somewhat slowly but still moving, according to Michael Meise, Assistant Director, Library Services.

Ground was broken on the new library Oct. 27, 2010 but was originally scheduled to be built in July 2008. Originally the the 55,000 square-foot library was delayed when the plans came up over budget.  The South County Library will be the first new full-service library in over 30 years.

Meise said that the contractors have finished the footers and are putting in the lower walls.  Some of the hold up came while preparing the ground for building.

“They hope to get the library enclosed (under roof as they say) before winter,” Meise said. “Once they do that, construction will speed along on the inside at a pretty fast pace.”

The completion date for the library was scheduled on or before June 2011 but the Meise said it may be pushed back a month or so.

However, one major project is complete, the roundabout on Merriman and Meadowlark which actually created an entrance into the new library.

Plans for the new library began in 2005 after a comprehensive assessment of future needs. The library will cost $9 million and will be 54,000 square feet, including 5,000 square feet for an auditorium or community meeting space.

Attention Members and Golfers: The deadline to register your team has been extended.

Fill out the attached form and fax to 540-387-4110, email to info@s-rcchamber.org or mail to P.O. Box 832 Salem, VA 24153 so it arrives before Noon on Friday September 3, 2010!

New this year:

Sign up for a golf clinic Thursday at noon with Hanging Rock PGA golf pro Chip Sullivan. The fee is only $10 per person.

FALL CLASSIC GOLF TOURNAMENT SEPTEMBER 9TH & 10TH HANGING ROCK GOLF CLUB 1500 RED LANE SALEM, VA 24153 Read more »

Photo 1:  Sean Altice and Cody Hayden, Cowboys U12 After their first win of the season

Photo 2:  Elijah Ruffin, Austin Hayden and Nathaniel LaPrade, Sharks U10 after their first game on Bogle Field

Photo 3:  Wyatt Hayden (age 3) enjoying a Deb’s Lemonade at Bogle Field on Opening Day

Submitted by:  Amy Morrison Hayden

We have a photo gallery from Valley AFC opening here that we posted earlier today. Do you have photos, either from that or other events around Southwest Roanoke County? You can share at news@swo-co.com.

Hidden Valley held their annual Titan Tip-Off on Wednesday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. Titan Tip-Off is an annual event held by HVHS to introduce the coaches and players to the school. Coaches spoke of their intentions for the school year and accomplishments in the past.

Bette Brand spoke about the plan for the new field house which will benefit all student athletes and how they are going to raise $240,ooo. For more information visit here.

Travis Wells, sports broadcaster for WDBJ7, served as MCee for the night.

Athletic Director, Chris Morris spoke about how HVHS finished 2nd in the Wachovia Cup last year which is based on a point system. They finished second out of all Virginia AA schools. Cave Spring High and Salem High were also in the top ten and Blacksburg placed first. All of those schools are in the River-ridge District.

Last year, HVHS athletics took three state championship titles. Those sports were cross country, swimming, and tennis. In swimming, six students also took individual team state championship titles.

Following the event students got to indulge in Homestead Creamery ice cream. Last year the athletic boosters received $600 from commission from the Homestead Creamery.

For about five years, coaches and staff at Hidden Valley High School have been pushing for  a field house, something lacking at HVHS. Since HVHS opened in August 2002, their football team and other athletics have grown and hence, have outgrown their current locker rooms.

Coach Scott Weaver said that he has been working with many of  the players mom’s  to create a plan for the field house for about two years now. During that time plans have been made and drawn up, they’ve been approved and they got a price quote.

“There is an athletic director, Principal and coaches that know their needs to improvements,” Weaver said. Read more »