Arts, Leisure and Sports
Virginia Tech quarterback Josh Jackson fractured his left fibula Saturday and has surgery scheduled for today. And the second highest-rated female raquetball player in the country can be found right here in Roanoke:
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Virginia Tech has dismissed junior defensive end Trevon Hill from the football team. Coach Justin Fuente made the announcement Sunday, saying Hill has failed to uphold “the high standards that we have for our student-athletes.”
Hill had 11 tackles in three games for the Hokies (2-1), including six tackles and 1½ sacks on Saturday night in their 49-35 loss at Old Dominion. Hill is the third defensive stalwart dismissed from the program since last season, joining defensive backs Adonis Alexander (academics) and Mook Reynolds (team rules violation).
Virginia Tech plays at Duke on Saturday.
Cabin, Yurt and RV camping is coming to Explore Park in November. Roanoke County tourism officials say reservations are now being taken for the overnight lodging. It is another step in county plans to develop the park into a tourism and outdoor recreation destination. Click here for full information.
News release: Roanoke County is pleased to announce the opening of new overnight accommodations at Explore Park beginning Friday, November 9. Advance booking is now available for new Pod Cabins, Yurts and RV camping spaces operated by Don’s Cab-Inns. A bathhouse on site will serve these rental units, as well as guests staying in existing tent and primitive campsites throughout the park.
Don’s Cab-Inns is a local company operated by husband and wife team Don and Melody Harrison. Their business developed from a hobby, constructing small wooden homes in the European style of tiny cabins with a loft. Their campground will showcase several of these hand-built structures. Within the next two years the Harrisons plan to open 18 overnight rental units including a mix of cabins and yurts. Roanoke County officials will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, November 9 at 2:00 P.M. at Don’s Cab-Inns Campground located within the park at 55 Chestnut Ridge Road, Roanoke, VA 24014.
“We’re excited to be on the ground floor as one of the first vendors, and able to participate in the planning stages of this fantastic project,” says Don. “We can envision a great future for Explore Park and we want to be part of it.”
Overnight accommodations are a key amenity identified in the Explore Park Adventure Plan, adopted by the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors in August 2016. These new camping areas will be enhanced by other new recreation attractions such as the Mayflower Hills Disc Golf Course, Niagara Ranch equestrian services and a future aerial adventure course.
Ice Hockey is making a resurgence in the Roanoke Valley. Saturday Virginia Tech open its home season at the on the new ice at the Lancerlot in Vinton. WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more.
The town of Vinton is planning for its annual Fall Festival is in full swing. It’s an event that people all around the Roanoke Valley look forward to each year, and because of its size, lots of volunteers at are need to help make the festival a success. More on this story from WFIR’s Bob Clark.
The Salem Half Marathon is exactly one month away. Two nights ago a brand new finisher’s medal was revealed at Olde Salem Brewery. Race director Molly Bullington says everyone who runs the half marathon, the 8-K race or the kid’s fun run will get some version of the colorful and larger medal.Bullington says they hope to see about 600 runners and walkers turn out for the 3rd annual race day on October 13th. Register on-line at salemhalfmarathon.com
(Salem Sox release) The Salem Red Sox have announced that third baseman Bobby Dalbec was dubbed the Carolina League’s 2018 Most Valuable Player and a Year-End All-Star. Dalbec, 23, is the first Salem player in the Red Sox era (2009-present) to win MVP honors. He more than backed up those accolades, hitting a Red Sox-era record 26 homers, which was three more than any other Carolina Leaguer.
Over his final 35 games with Salem, Dalbec batted .323 with 12 homers, 37 RBI and a staggering 1.154 OPS. His July was tremendous, as he racked up 10 homers and 28 RBI in 26 games. Boston promoted Dalbec to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs on August 3. Dalbec finished 2018 atop the Carolina League in a number of categories, including homers (26), RBI (85), extra-base hits (55), slugging percentage (.573), and on-base plus slugging percentage, or OPS (.945).
(Christina Carillo photo)