Nakia Wimberly Photography has this photo gallery from Hidden Valley’s homecoming game against Bassett.

Our paparazzi photo crew will be at the dance Saturday, or you can share your own photos at news@swo-co.com, or use the “share” tool to upload 10 at a time.

We also have:
* Photos from the homecoming parade (from Loren Wright)
* Photos from the JV game (from Nakia Wimberly Photography)

Loren Wright shares this photo gallery from Hidden Valley’s homecoming parade and halftime ceremonies on Friday.

Our paparazzi photo crew will be at the dance Saturday, or you can share your own photos at news@swo-co.com, or use the “share” tool to upload 10 at a time.

Nakia Wimberly Photography has this photo gallery from Hidden Valley’s JV game vs. Bassett.

You can share your own photos at news@swo-co.com, or use the “share” tool to upload 10 at a time.

CSHS Band Pillows! A unique gift for any senior or CS Knights fan. A handsome addition to a family room, bedroom, or dorm room. Pillows will be available at the October 5th and Homecoming October 19th football games for a $50.00 donation. Online orders at – tinyurl.com/bandpillow These handsome pillows are made from retired CSHS Marching Knights uniforms. Each pillow is hand-crafted, 100% wool featuring distinctive black and red embellishments. All proceeds from the pillow sales will benefit the CSHS Band Program and are designated toward the purchase of instruments and equipment. Limited quantity available. Designs will vary.

Submitted by Margo Vitello

I am pleased to announce that the Hidden Valley Youth Wrestling is about to begin. I have coached youth wrestling in this area for many years and would like to give your child the opportunity to participate in this sport.  We have a very good group of coaches who work well with the wrestlers on the fundamentals of folk style wrestling to more advance wrestling techniques as they develop.  Past wrestlers have gone on to compete at the state and national level during their youth wrestling experience.  The youth wrestling program provides a good foundation and technique for kids who will continue to wrestle.

Hidden Valley Youth Wrestling practices will begin on Monday November 5, 2012. Practices will be on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at the Hidden Valley High School wrestling room from 6:00 – 7:30 PM.  If you would like to participate you can go to HVYSA.COM  to signup.    If you do not have a youth wrestling program in your area you are welcome to join.  We are accepting ages 6 –13 year olds. If you have any questions you can call Jim King 989-6318 (H) or Greg Winston 520-0160 for information.

Submitted by Jim King

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

Wendell Jones has this photo gallery from Hidden Valley volleyball vs. Blacksburg on Tuesday.

Do you have photos from around Southwest Roanoke County? You can share at news@swo-co.com or use the “share” tool to upload 10 at a time.

On Monday, Oct. 1, traffic on southbound Route 220 in Roanoke County will be reduced to one lane for survey work near the bridge over Back Creek at Red Hill Church. Drivers should expect alternating lane closures.

The work will take place from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

For traffic information and updates, visit www.511Virginia.org.

Submitted by Virginia Department of Transportation

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, Roanoke County Schools

Weather journalist Kevin Myatt

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:

Looks like it’s going to rain on somebody’s (homecoming) parade — or at least a game.

Weather journalist Kevin Myatt has issued this updated forecast for tonight’s Hidden Valley homecoming game (Cave Spring has a bye this week):

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.

As noted earlier, we’ll have photos from the game, rain or no rain, and our paparazzi photo crew will be at the dance on Saturday — or you can share yours at news@swo-co.com, or use the “share” tool to upload 10 at a time.

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