September 18, 2008Power outage darkens part of Southwest Roanoke CountySome 2,700 Appalachian Power Co. customers in Southwest Roanoke County lost power overnight -- nearly 4,000 throughout the Roanoke Valley. For more on this story, click here. So are you still without power? What effect did the power outage have on you? Click "comment" below to share your story. Update: Power restored. Outage blamed on circuit breaker. September 17, 2008Bent Mountain Rescue Squad presents Mountain FestivalSonja Stump, Rescue Chief at Bent Mountain Rescue Squad wants you to know that the Bent Mountain Rescue Squad will be having their Mountain Festival next week. The Mountain Festival will include a craft show and yard sale on Saturday, September 27th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Crafts for sale by local crafters, the bake sale will be by the Bent Mountain Women's Club. Hot Dogs, chips, and sodas will be sold by the Bent Mountain Rescue Squad Bent Mountain Rescue Squad is located at 9606 Bent Mountain Road. Cost is free, event will be held rain or shine September 12, 2008Roanoke County crime map updated through September 6 We've just updated our Roanoke Valley crime map with the latest offenses from Roanoke County -- and Roanoke and Salem, as well. The data includes offenses through September 6. Last week in Southwest Roanoke County, police reported five larcenies, two burglaries, two motor vehicle thefts, and one aggravated assault. Usually we just see larcenies on the list. Our data delivery editor, Matt Chittum, has more information how you can use the searchable crime map. Also on our Datasphere collection of searchable data: Who's selling beer to your kids? You can look up to see which stores got busted for selling to underage buyers and how big a fine they had a pay. September 11, 2008Photos of Sept. 11 observance at Cave Spring fire stationWe have two photos from this morning's Sept. 11 observance at the Cave Spring fire station -- they're photos 5 and 6 in this photo gallery. If you have photos to share, you can send them to news@swo-co.com September 8, 2008Fuel spill shuts southbound ramp on 220 at Electric Road2:18 p.m. This just in: The southbound ramp to Electric Road from U.S. 220 in Roanoke is closed because of a diesel spill, the Virginia Department of Transportation said. We don't have much more, but when we get more, we'll update things here. UPDATE 4:17 P.M.: The ramp is now open. September 5, 2008Roanoke County crime map updated through August 31We've just updated our Roanoke Valley crime map with the latest offenses from Roanoke County -- and Roanoke and Salem, as well. The data includes offenses through August 31. Last week in Southwest Roanoke County, police reported eight larcenies and one burglary. Our data delivery editor, Matt Chittum, has more information how you can use the searchable crime map. Also on our Datasphere collection of searchable data: Who's selling beer to your kids? You can look up to see which stores got busted for selling to underage buyers and how big a fine they had a pay. August 29, 2008Roanoke County crime map updated through August 24We've just updated our Roanoke Valley crime map with the latest offenses from Roanoke County -- and Roanoke and Salem, as well. The data includes offenses through August 24. Last week in Southwest Roanoke County, police reported four larcenies, three burglaries and one aggravated assault. Our data delivery editor, Matt Chittum, has more information how you can use the searchable crime map. Also on our Datasphere collection of searchable data: Who's selling beer to your kids? You can look up to see which stores got busted for selling to underage buyers and how big a fine they had a pay. August 27, 2008Heavy rainfall on Bent MountainMore than 6 inches of rain have been recorded at Witt's Orchard on Bent Mountain in the past 24 hours -- and more than 4.68 inches on Sugarloaf Mountain. For more rainfall totals, click here. For more weather news, see Kevin Myatt's Weather Journal. So what's the weather looking like in your part of Southwest Roanoke County? You can click "comments" below -- and if you have photos, you can share them at news@swo-co.com August 26, 2008Head-on collision injures two on Garst Mill RoadThe Cave Spring Fire Department sends us this information about an accident just after midnight that injured two people on Garst Mill Road: Rob Fariss August 22, 2008Who's selling beer to your kids?At least seven businesses in and around Southwest Roanoke County have been fined in the past year because they sold beer to under-age buyers. In all, more than 30 businesses in the Roanoke Valley were cited. Want to know who they were? We have a database of ABC violations on the Datasphere, our go-to place for searchable data. You can look up who they were, and what kind of fine they had to pay. Roanoke County crime map updated through August 17We've just updated our Roanoke Valley crime map with the latest offenses from Roanoke County -- and Roanoke and Salem, as well. The data includes offenses through August 17. Last week in Southwest Roanoke County, police report six larcenies and one burglary. Our data delivery editor, Matt Chittum, has more information how you can use the searchable crime map. Also on our Datasphere collection of searchable data: Frank Beamer's coaching record. August 19, 2008Cave Spring Rescue Squad Cookbook now availableThe Volunteer members of the Cave Spring Rescue Squad are celebrating 50 years of service to the community. In honor of this momentous occasion the members of the Cave Spring Rescue Squad Auxiliary have compiled a cookbook consisting of 432 tried and true family favorite recipes. “A Step Back in Time” sells for $10.00 and is available by calling Sharon Campbell @ 815-6803. The cookbook will also be sold at the Auxiliary’s Fall Yard Sale, Saturday, September 6th. The yard sale will be held at the rescue squad building on Brambleton Avenue in SW Roanoke County. The Auxiliary is celebrating 41 years of volunteer service to the crew and community. They hold two Chicken Barbecue dinners as money making projects each year with the proceeds being used to upgrade the crew’s life saving equipment. The Annual Fall Chicken Barbecue will be held on Saturday, October 4th. August 14, 2008Roanoke County crime map updated through August 10We've just updated our Roanoke Valley crime map with the latest offenses from Roanoke County -- and Roanoke and Salem, as well. The data includes offenses through August 10. Last week in Southwest Roanoke County, police report eight larcenies. Our data delivery editor, Matt Chittum, has more information how you can use the searchable crime map. Also on our Datasphere collection of searchable data: Where to find locally-grown food. August 8, 2008Jack Wilkes places second in state golf tournament In early July, Jack Wilkes of Southwest Roanoke County placed second at the Virginia State Golf Association Junior Match Play Championship (ages 14-18) at Birdwood Golf Course in Charlottesville. We now have a photo gallery of Wilkes in action, courtesy of the VSGA. This photo shows him driving the fifth hole. Wilkes attends Cave Spring High School and he's one of three Hunting Hills Country Club golfers who have distinguished themselves in state tournaments this summer. The others are: * Matt Harman places second in VSGA Junior Amateur tournament. Do you have sports photos of teams or players from Southwest Roanoke County? If so, you can share them at news@swo-co.com Roanoke County crime map updated through August 3We've just updated our Roanoke Valley crime map with the latest offenses from Roanoke County -- and Roanoke and Salem, as well. The data includes offenses through July 27. Last week in Southwest Roanoke County, police report three larcenies, three burglaries and one arson. Our data delivery editor, Matt Chittum, has more information how you can use the searchable crime map. Also on our Datasphere collection of searchable data: Where to find locally-grown food. August 7, 2008Bent Mountain fire and rescue crews celebrate anniversaries Aug. 23The Bent Mountain Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Crew celebrate their 50th and 45th anniversaries. Refreshments will be served. The celebration will be held Aug. 23 at the Bent Mountain Public Safety Building, 9606 Bent Mountain Rd., from 4 to 7 p.m. The event is free. CERT training takes place this fall
Debbie Clark sent us this information about emergency training. CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training is designed to provide citizens with information on how to be of assistance to state and local officials in the event of a major emergency such as natural or manmade disaster and incidents of terrorism, when first responders may be overwhelmed. It is also designed to teach citizens how to be better prepared in their homes, businesses and neighborhoods. August 5, 2008Temporary lane closings on 419 in Salem next weekIf 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. For details, see this post on our Salem community news site. August 2, 2008Fire alarm interrupts Friday night movies at Tanglewood
Some movie-goers at Carmike Cinemas at Tanglewood Mall thought “wow, I didn’t know this movie had all these cool 3-d special effects.” It didn’t, actually. Instead, that really was a fire alarm, though it turned out to be more alarm than fire -- and mostly hassle and confusion that messed up more than a few people’s Friday night plans. When the “Hancock” movie-goers -- plus those awaiting the Batman movie, plus all the others showing at the theatre -- finally shuffled out into the hallway, they were greeted by an usher shouting: “False alarm!” But getting the alarm turned off -- and the movies back on -- took more than an hour. What’s the first thing people do in such circumstances? Well, many whipped out their cellphones and started calling or texting friends. Others milled around in the lobby. A girl in pink played air guitar, while others randomly muttered “I don’t know what’s going on!” Ushers chattered about issuing something called “crisis tickets.” Eventually, ushers came around and announced that anyone who wanted refunds could get one -- and most people appeared to take advantage of the offer. Teen-agers waiting on rides, or just looking for something else to do, drifted in clumps up to the Barnes and Noble bookstore. By the time, the early-evening moviegoers had gotten their refunds and left, so had the firefighters -- and the theater was back in operation. By then, it was close to 9 p.m. “Hancock,” by the way, has enough action going on that it doesn’t need any special effects, intended or otherwise. -- Dwayne Yancey For a more formal account of the incident from Roanoke Times reporter Neil Harvey, click here. And if you ever have news to share from Southwest Roanoke County, e-mail us at news@swo-co.com An emergency vehicle remains outside Carmike Cinemas at Tanglewood Mall on Friday night. Photo by Dwayne Yancey July 31, 2008Roanoke County crime map updated through July 27We've just updated our Roanoke Valley crime map with the latest offenses from Roanoke County -- and Roanoke and Salem, as well. The data includes offenses through July 27. Last week in Southwest Roanoke County, police report six larcenies, two motor vehicle thefts, one burglary and one aggravated assault. Our data delivery editor, Matt Chittum, has more information how you can use the searchable crime map. Also on our Datasphere collection of searchable data: A database of the biggest trees in Virginia. July 30, 2008Bears sighted in Southwest Roanoke County We have another report of a bear sighted in Southwest Roanoke County -- three separate sightings this time. Continue reading "Bears sighted in Southwest Roanoke County" » July 21, 2008Waterline Project is underway The Western Virginia Water Authority began a waterline project at the end of June, and travelers up and down the U.S. 220 corridor may have seen the work underway. Workers have been digging and inserting water lines for the project for a few weeks now. The work began at where an existing line stops in Clearbrook and will eventually be completed at Wirtz Plateau Plaza in Franklin County. The waterline is being installed in VDOT's right of way, parallel to the road for 65,000 feet. The project was brought to Western Virginia Water Authority because Franklin County was in need of reliable water for its residents. Sarah Baumgardner with the Wester Virginia Water Authority said that A.J. Conner General Contractor Inc. of Roanoke is working on the waterlines and will also conduct the maintenance of the waterlines. Both Roanoke and Franklin Counties are working in a joint effort to serve their customers better with reliable public drinking water and fire protection. In the future work may be done at night and drivers should expect possible lane closures throughout the project's progress. July 17, 2008Roanoke County crime map updated through July 13We've just updated our Roanoke Valley crime map with the latest offenses from Roanoke County -- and Roanoke and Salem, as well. The data includes offenses through July 13. Last week in Southwest Roanoke County, police report six larcenies. Our data delivery editor, Matt Chittum, has more information how you can use the searchable crime map. Also on our Datasphere collection of searchable data: Frank Beamer's coaching record at Virginia Tech. You can search by opponent, by conference, by weather conditions at gametime, you name it. Fire in Southwest County displaces 4A vehicle fire that broke out about 9 p.m. Wednesday spread to a house in the 4100 block of Woodvale Drive, according to Roanoke County Fire and Rescue. A family of four is temporarily homeless. For more on this story, click here. July 14, 2008Roanoke County crime map updated through July 7We've just updated our Roanoke Valley crime map with the latest offenses from Roanoke County -- and Roanoke and Salem, as well. The data includes offenses through July 7. In the week leading up to that date, Southwest Roanoke County reported four larcenies, two burglaries, one arson and one aggravated assault.Follow the link above and you can see where they were and what they were. Our data delivery editor, Matt Chittum, has more information how you can use the searchable crime map. Also on our Datasphere collection of searchable data: The biggest fish caught in Virginia. July 13, 2008The Cave Spring Rescue Squad celebrates 50 years For Lindsey Arnold, who has been a involved in some way or another with the Cave Spring Rescue Squad for 35 years, celebrating 50 years is a milestone. "I'm glad that we have made it this long. There are other volunteer organizations that have lasted longer. It’s a milestone for us that we have lasted that long. There are other organizations that have not. We are happy we have the interest of enough people that we can continue doing this," he said. He has served as a volunteer, chief, vice president, as well as various other positions in the past, and currently serves as president of the organization. "I enjoy helping other people and you know when we first got into this there wasn’t paid staffing in the county and we wanted this thing to be extended to our family," Arnold said. "So we felt it was good to go out and help someone else." To imagine that the unpaid volunteers at the Cave Spring Rescue Squad are your security in the time of a crisis, is enough to make any Southwest Roanoke County resident pleased and proud that the organization has been serving the area for 50 years.  Cave Spring Rescue held its first organizational meeting in late 1957. The squad was needed in the area because the Salem and Roanoke crews were not close enough. At that time the area was very rural and the organization of the crew was done by a man named Robert L. Monahan. Assisted by Tredway Coleman, the Civil Defense Chief of Roanoke County, and 12 charter members and help from the Cave Spring Fire Department, the Rescue Squad was created. The original members were sworn in on April 24, 1958, by the Civil Defense. The organization's first call was on May 3, 1958, at the Vinton Dogwood Festival. And the first ambulance was a 1951 Cadillac donated by the Army and was housed in a single car garage next to what is now the Coffee Pot Restaurant on Brambleton Avenue. During that first year only 32 calls were run and the crew had set up a formal communications system to dispatch its members to the station. And the way calls used to be dispatched is just one of the things Arnold remembers from his many years of volunteering. "You’d get a call on a local phone number -- there was no 911 -- the phone would ring at someone's house, at the dry cleaning shop, and the hardware store. Whoever got the call would call people and say nothing more than 'crew call'. Then they'd meet at the station, go get the ambulance, and go render aid and assistance to whoever called for help."  Continue reading "The Cave Spring Rescue Squad celebrates 50 years" » July 8, 2008Photos of Tuesday's storm in Southwest Roanoke County A spectacular thunderstorm passed through the Roanoke Valley about 6 p.m. and we have these photos, straight from Kevin Myatt, weather columnist for The Roanoke Times (and a Southwest Roanoke County resident.) At left: The storm clouds over Tanglewood Mall. Below: The storm blows over Clearbrook. This view is looking west. Kevin says: "In weather parlance, this would be called a "gust front" or "outflow boundary" at the leading edge of a short line of thunderstorms. SwoCo was severe thunderstorm-warned for a while, and I encountered a little pea-sized hail down near the Roanoke-Franklin County line." For more on the weather, including another photo of the storm over Southwest Roanoke County, see Kevin's Weather Journal. We also have photos of the storm over Salem on our Salem community news site. So do you have photos to share -- whether of today's storm or any other happenings involving Southwest Roanoke County? If so, you can send them to us at news@swo-co.com
Continue reading "Photos of Tuesday's storm in Southwest Roanoke County" » July 3, 2008Roanoke County crime map updated through June 29We've just updated our Roanoke Valley crime map with the latest offenses from Roanoke County -- and Roanoke and Salem, as well. The data includes offenses through June 29. Normally we do this every week, but this is a two-week update: In Southwest Roanoke County the past two weeks, there were six larcenies, one burglary, one aggravated assault and one arson. Follow the link above and you can see where they were and what they were. Our data delivery editor, Matt Chittum, has more information how you can use the searchable crime map. Also on our Datasphere collection of searchable data: See where you can find locally-grown food. June 20, 2008Roanoke County crime map updated through June 15We've just updated our Roanoke Valley crime map with the latest offenses from Roanoke County -- and Roanoke and Salem, as well. The data includes offenses through June 15. In Southwest Roanoke County last week there were 10 larcenies. Follow the link above and you can see where they were and what they were. Our data delivery editor, Matt Chittum, has more information how you can use the searchable crime map. Also on our Datasphere collection of searchable data: See where you can find locally-grown food. June 13, 2008Roanoke County crime map updated through June 8We've just updated our Roanoke Valley crime map with the latest offenses from Roanoke County -- and Roanoke and Salem, as well. The data includes offenses through June 8. In Southwest Roanoke County last week there were four larcenies and one burglary. Follow the link above and you can see where they were and what they were. Our data delivery editor, Matt Chittum, has more information how you can use the searchable crime map. Also on our Datasphere collection of searchable data: See where you can find locally-grown food. June 9, 2008Video: Car crash on Electric RoadA Roanoke County man was charged following a crash Sunday near Tanglewood Mall that sent two people to the hospital. We have this video from the scene. What are your experiences on that stretch of road? June 6, 2008Roanoke County crime map updated through June 1We've just updated our Roanoke Valley crime map with the latest offenses from Roanoke County -- and Roanoke and Salem, as well. The data includes offenses through June 1. In Southwest Roanoke County last week there were six larcenies, one burglary and one rape. Follow the link above and you can see where they were and what they were. Our data delivery editor, Matt Chittum, has more information how you can use the searchable crime map. Also on our Datasphere collection of searchable data: A map showing the swath of destruction of this week's tornado in Roanoke. All that, a map of bear sightings in the Roanoke Valley, and more . . . May 29, 2008Roanoke County crime map updated through May 25We've just updated our Roanoke Valley crime map with the latest offenses from Roanoke County -- and Roanoke and Salem, as well. The data includes offenses through May 25. In Southwest Roanoke County last week there were six larcenies, two burglaries and one aggravated assault. Follow the link above and you can see where they were and what they were. Our data delivery editor, Matt Chittum, has more information how you can use the searchable crime map. Also on our Datasphere collection of searchable data: An interactive map that show you how Virginia's population ages between now and 2030. All that and more . . . Virginia Law Enforcement Torch Run will pass through Southwest Roanoke Co. June 4 The Virginia Law Enforcement Torch run will pass through Southwest Roanoke County on June 4 at 8 a.m. on Electric Road outside of Tanglewood Mall. The runners will also pass through Brambleton Avenue at 9:30 a.m. and end at the intersection at Spring Road. The torch run benefits the Special Olympics Virginia and will pass through other parts of the Roanoke Valley beginning on Monday, June 2 through Wednesday, June 4 as the runners make their way to Richmond to kick off the Special Olympics Virginia 2008 Summer Games set for June 6 though 7. The run will commence on Route 11 in Radford and will pass Christiansburg High School, the Franklin County Courthouse and Longwood Park, ending at the Lynchburg City Line. May 22, 2008Roanoke County crime map updated through May 18We've just updated our Roanoke Valley crime map with the latest offenses from Roanoke County -- and Roanoke and Salem, as well. The data includes offenses through May 18. In Southwest Roanoke County last week there were four larcenies and one burglary. Follow the link above and you can see where they were and what they were. Our data delivery editor, Matt Chittum, has more information how you can use the searchable crime map. Also on our Datasphere collection of searchable data: Where to find resources on senior care. Who's giving to which political campaign. Who are the state's top polluters. All that and more . . . May 15, 2008Roanoke County crime map updated through May 11We've just updated our Roanoke Valley crime map with the latest offenses from Roanoke County -- and Roanoke and Salem, as well. The data includes offenses through May 11. In Southwest Roanoke County last week there were two larcenies. Follow the link above and you can see where they were and what they were. Our data delivery editor, Matt Chittum, has more information how you can use the searchable crime map. Also on our Datasphere collection of searchable data: Bear sightings in the Roanoke Valley, the state's top pollutors, the biggest fish caught in the state, campaign finance data, and more. |