Local Government, Civic Affairs and Education
The demolition of the Ramada Inn and Conference Center has been underway since late August. Roanoke City Leaders have set up a survey for residents to help determine what to put in that space where a building cannot be built again due to it being a flood plain. The survey will be open until at least the end of the month. Click HERE to fill out the survey.
A local community college has partnered with Steel Dynamics to offer a handful of employees the opportunity to earn a degree at no cost. The group will be pursuing classes towards a two-year mechatronics degree. A Dean of the college says the agreement demonstrates investment in employee development in the area. WFIR’s Emma Thomas with more:
Its mission has changed slightly but now Friends of the Blue Ridge – they dropped “Parkway” from from the title – still has to raise money as a non-profit. Now the memory of a legendary traditional music giant will help Friends do that during a “Blue Ridge Jamboree.” WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:
See more information about the Blue Ridge Jamboree here
Stephanie Moon-Reynolds
An independent member of city council — who is not running this November — is endorsing almost every candidate that is in this fall’s race except for the Democrats. WFIR’s Ian Price has more.
Note: retiring Democratic City Council member Bill Bestpitch has also endorsed Preston Tyler.
In a recent interview after the unveiling of an historic highway marker, a Virginia State Delegate talked plans to build a new history museum in Botetourt County. WFIR’s Emma Thomas has that story:
Kianna Price Marshall (L) and Abby Hamilton (C) from United Way of Roanoke Valley. (Ian Price photo)
United Way of Roanoke Valley President and CEO Abby Hamilton was back in studio with us this morning to talk about the 2023 fundraising campaign and to provide an update on several United Way initiatives. Also joining us was Kianna Price Marshall, now the Vice President of Marketing and Communications for United Way. Hear the complete conversation below.
Kroger and Coca-Cola Consolidated teamed up with Straight Street, a local youth outreach ministry on Luck Avenue in Downtown Roanoke, to deliver much needed food items and school supplies to Roanoke children, this morning. Coca-Cola donated 200 backpacks, and Kroger donated non-perishable food items to fill them with. Both companies had representatives travel to the ministry to pack and deliver the backpacks. An Engagement Manager for Coca-Cola Consolidated, Wayne Tyree, says he can personally attest to the importance of programs like these; he also says that this program directly serves one of his company’s values: servant leadership.
New model policies from the Office of Governor Glenn Youngkin take aim at Virginia’s current guidelines regarding the treatment of transgender students in its public schools. WFIR’s Emma Thomas with details: