Local Government, Civic Affairs and Education
Thomas McCracken
Thomas McCracken, the pastor at CommUNITY Church in Salem and a former school board member, has formally announced his bid for the Republican nomination for the Catawba seat on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors. Martha Hooker is the Republican two-term incumbent. School construction projects, creating more new jobs in the county and more public input on what might go into the Woodhaven industrial park – near his home – are on McCracken’s agenda. Local Republicans have scheduled a June 20th primary. Three county school board members – chair Brent Hudson, Tim Greenway and Cheryl Faciani, have endorsed McCracken and were on hand today for the formal announcement that we reported on last week.
Martha Hooker
( Courtesy of Roanoke Board of Supervisors)
All five Roanoke County Supervisors were on hand this morning to announce a 130-million dollar budget proposal that would fund a new career and technical education center, and renovate Glen Cove and W.E. Cundiff Elementary Schools. The County school board must approve the proposal first; the funds would be available in the Spring of 2024 to start planning and construction. Martha Hooker from the Catawba District is the Supervisors Board Chair:
A pro-life speaking engagement at one of the Commonwealth’s universities is attracting national attention after a protest leads to its shutdown. WFIR’s Emma Thomas has that story:
Skills training, certifications and job searches are services that Goodwill Industries of the Valleys are well known for at its physical locations in Roanoke, Lynchburg and elsewhere. Now those career development offerings are online, as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports.
Bob Cowell in studio (L) I Price photo
We were once again joined live in studio this morning by Roanoke City Manager Bob Cowell, for an update on what’s been happening in the Star City recently. Housing, Evans Spring and a proposed curfew were among the issues discussed. Hear the complete conversation below or watch it on Facebook.
The Town of Vinton says the July 2nd fire that destroyed D R Music has claimed more buildings. Since the fire, nearby buildings have been looked at to see if they are sound. Today, town officials say it has been determined that four additional buildings are a total loss and must be torn down. Officials say throughout the last eight-plus months, the Town has been providing assistance to the owners where possible with resources for relocation, design services for a future rebuild, and debris disposal services.
The TSA is hiring at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport. TSA officials will be at the Williamson Road Library from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Thursday to help accelerate the hiring process for women and men in preparation for the busy spring and summer travel seasons. Both full and part-time employment is being offered. All new hires will receive a thousand-dollar bonus.
G Marrano photos
He didn’t have much to say as a long tribute got underway but Valley Metro bus driver Charles Saunders was honored today for being on the job for 50 years. Its estimated that since he joined Roanoke’s transit company in 1973 that Saunders has given rides to more than 2 million passengers. A key to the City of Roanoke was presented this afternoon to Saunders – who has driven a bus for Valley Metro since March 1973. Mayor Sherman Lea made the presentation. Valley Metro General manager Kevin Price spoke at the new 3rd Street depot still under construction: