Local Government, Civic Affairs and Education
Its actually been opened for about 8 months but the COVID-19 delayed ribbon cutting for the renovated volunteer training room at Feeding Southwest Virginia in Salem took place this morning. The “Kroger Volunteer Center” was renovated with new wall graphics and seating areas, with help from a $35,000 grant from the grocery chain’s mid-Atlantic division. President and CEO Pamela Irvine says its important to treat volunteers well – they are crucial to the non-profit food bank’s operation:
Photo: City of Salem
Salem native Rob Light has been named Assistant City Manager. He succeeds Jay Taliaferro, who moved up to City Manager last December. Light has worked most recently as Director of Roanoke County’s General Services Director.
NEWS RELEASE: Rob Light has been named Assistant City Manager for the City of Salem, effective September 21. Salem City Council members met at the Salem Civic Center on Monday night and emerged from their closed session discussions to announce that Light had been selected from a pool of 39 candidates. “I appreciate Council having faith in my abilities and I am honored by my appointment as Assistant City Manager for the City of Salem,” says Light. “I look forward to serving the citizens and business community both directly and through collaborations with our employees.” The 1989 Salem High School graduate returns to Salem with a wealth of experience in both local government and the private business sector. After graduating from the College of William and Mary in 1993, Light filled a number managerial and leadership roles for Double Envelope in Roanoke and Louisville, Kentucky and with Church Hill Homes in Charlottesville. “I have always enjoyed the process of working through projects with different stakeholders and effectively engaging them to reach goals,” he says. In 2008, Light returned to the valley, left the business world,and began his career in public service for Roanoke County. Light was the county’s Purchasing Manager from 2008-2014 and later moved to General Services where he has operated as that department’s Director since 2015. His many responsibilities include overseeing capital projects and budgets and since March he has led the county’s logistical operations, related to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Salem is very pleased that so many highly-qualified applicants were interested in the position,” says Salem Mayor Renee Turk. “We had a very strong pool of candidates, but Mr. Light’s experiences in Roanoke County set him apart. His strategic and forward thinking are what we need to move Salem forward.” Light’s Bachelor of Arts degree from William and Mary is in Government and while in Williamsburg he also starred as an offensive lineman for the Tribe from 1989-1993. At Salem High School, Light played under Head Coach Willis White and his position coach on the offensive line was Billy Miles. During his senior year, he was named one of the Commonwealth’s 25 top college prospects .“The life lessons learned in sports have allowed me to feel comfortable communicating and working with staff throughout an organization,” he says. “I recognize the important role that every employee plays in creating and maintaining a successful team.” Light and his wife, Cielita, have two teenage children.
Sherman Lea, Sr.
Two days before delivering his virtual “State of the City Address,” Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea Sr. discusses an uptick in gun violence, the proposed bus station roadblock, removing the Lee Monument and business recovery from COVID-19. Lea spoke with WFIR’s Gene Marrano – and here is a “Longer Listen.”
Kim Smith- Ft. Lewis Elementary School principal – G Marrano photo
For Roanoke County public school students – and parents – a new reality in the era of COVID-19 begins this morning – some of it on-campus. A local principal weighs in. More details from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
According to the latest numbers released this morning from the Virginia Department of Health there are 27 new probable or confirmed coronavirus cases being attributed to the Roanoke Valley. State health officials report 20 cases in Roanoke City, 3 cases in Roanoke County, and 4 new cases in Salem.
Kimberly Whiter (L) – Margaret Sue Turner Wright
August is “Breast Month” and a local organization formed last year to empower and educate young mothers is holding an on-line auction this weekend – while also paying tribute to the female form, and breastfeeding. The story from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
A unanimous vote from Roanoke City Council last night ensures that the broken Robert E. Lee memorial won’t return to Lee Plaza in downtown Roanoke. WFIR’s Ian Price has details:
By a 7-0 vote, Roanoke City Council voted tonight to remove the monument to General Robert E Lee – erected in 1960 – from Lee Plaza downtown. Under a new state law that gave municipalities the right to decide the fate of monuments and statures honoring the Confederacy, museums, battlefields and other historical venues can petition to take the Lee Monument over the next 30days. All that remains in the plaza is the base; the rest of it was hauled away and placed in storage after a resident knocked it down. “We did it the right way,” said Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea about the process, which happened after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
