Here’s a round-up of news briefs from around Southwest and Southside. Send yours for possible inclusion to news@cardinalnews.org.
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Feel Good Tour sets instrument giveaway
The Feel Good Tour will be having its 8th Annual Music for Christmas giveaway program for kids whose families cannot afford a musical instrument. The group will be at its warehouse, Rent-A-Space, 4221 Valley Ave, Roanoke, VA. 24018, on December 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th and 18th, from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. One instrument per family.
The tour was founded in 2005 by Roanoke musician Bill Hudson and his friend Guy Nouri during Hurricane Katrina to give give donated new or used instruments to schools and children in need. To date the group have given over 800 musical instruments to four Gulf Coast Schools, two schools in West Virginia, one in Roanoke and a Franklin County program called In Our Own Backyard.
How it works: If you have instruments you would like to donate, e-mail Hudson at at liberty1street@gmail.com. When the group accumulates enough instruments, it then take them personally to schools where there is need. The group has also delivered instruments to individuals. The group advises: “Please donate only instruments in working condition. As yet we don’t have the funds to make repairs on those that need work.”
See our background story on the Feel Good Tour.
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Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex in Chatham names new executive director
The Board of Directors for the Olde Dominion Agricultural Foundation has named David Cross as the new executive director for the Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex (ODAC) in Chatham, effective December 1, 2022. Cross has been serving in an interim capacity since September.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have someone of David’s caliber join our team full-time at ODAC,” said Dr. Lisa Shorter, chair of the board of directors for the Olde Dominion Agricultural Foundation, in a statement. “His background in managing large-scale events with the Atlanta Braves Professional Baseball Club in Danville and Rome, Georgia will help the facility continue to grow and become the premier destination for agricultural events in the mid-Atlantic region.”
Cross spent over 20 years with the Atlanta Braves Professional Baseball Club working for affiliates in Richmond, Danville and Rome. He most recently served as vice-president and general manager of the Rome Braves after spending 19 years in Danville.
As executive director, Cross will oversee the day-to-day operations of the facility and staff while serving as the main liaison for the foundation board and community partners.
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Griffith announces winners of congressional app challenge
Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, has announced that Ian Rhudy of Tazewell High School won the Congressional App Competition in Virginia’s Ninth Congressional District. His app is entitled Launch Log.
Victoria Price and Jade Turpin of Floyd County High School earned second place with Invased States, and Milo Tao-Lin of Blacksburg Middle School earned third place with Star of the Day.
A demonstration of the individual apps can be viewed by clicking on the links below: