Here’s a roundup of news briefs from around Southwest and Southside. Send yours for possible inclusion to news@cardinalnews.org.
Solar open house planned for Russell County
The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia and Energy Right are hosting a solar open house Dec. 3 for residents of Russell County and surrounding counties.
The event will include a short presentation on community-scale and larger-scale solar projects, and then offer an open house where attendees can get their questions answered.
The event will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Lebanon Recreational Center, 45 Gibson St., Lebanon.
“Southwest Virginia is seeing increased interest from solar companies and utilities thanks to private investments coupled with federal and state initiatives,” Austin Counts, Southwest Virginia solar and electrification projects manager for Appalachian Voices, which is part of the workgroup, said in a news release announcing the event. “Our goal is for community members to get the information they need to understand how solar development could impact the region.”
The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia is a coalition of nonprofits, schools, government agencies and businesses that seeks to help grow a locally rooted solar industry in Virginia’s coalfield counties. Energy Right is a nonprofit that provides education and advocacy on clean energy from a conservative perspective.
Attendees will be able to speak with developers, engineers, nonprofits and more about ground-mounted solar installations. Refreshments will be provided.
The open house is free and open to the public. Participants can RSVP at www.energyrightus.org/russell or by emailing Austin Counts at austin@appvoices.org. This event was originally scheduled for Oct. 1 but was postponed because of Hurricane Helene.
Partnership expands lung cancer screenings in rural Virginia
The University of Virginia Cancer Center, Appalachian Community Cancer Alliance and Buchanan General Hospital have launched the Rural Appalachian Lung Cancer Screening Initiative to increase screening access and improve early detection rates across Southwest Virginia and West Virginia.
According to a news release announcing the initiative, health care providers in Buchanan County and McDowell, West Virginia, and surrounding areas can now easily refer patients for screenings at Buchanan General Hospital. The initiative offers resources including patient education materials and streamlined scheduling for lung cancer scans, with results reviewed by UVa Health radiologists.
Individuals may be eligible for lung cancer screening if they:
- are between ages 50 and 77
- have a history of smoking one pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years or more or two packs a day for 10 years or more
- currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years
To learn more about lung cancer screening eligibility or to refer patients, contact Jessica Roark at yeh3qr@uvahealth.org or 276-685-3951.
Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation announces Kegley awards
The Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation recently announced the winners of this year’s Kegley Preservation Awards, which recognize people, programs and projects that promote good stewardship and preservation of historic resources.
- Cedar Hill Farm: Kegley Preservation Award for Stewardship
- Wheatland Manor: Kegley Preservation Award for Rehabilitation.
- “Burrell Day” Life and Legacy of Dr. Issac Burrell: Kegley Preservation Award for Heritage Education.
- The LEAP Hub: Kegley Preservation Award for Rehabilitation.
- Factory Flats LLC: Kegley Preservation Award for Adaptive Reuse.
- 1947 Carvins Cove water treatment building: Kegley Preservation Award for Stewardship.
- Rupert Cutler: Kegley Preservation Lifetime Achievement Award for Environmental Advocacy.
- Roanoke Civil War Round Table: Kegley Preservation Award for Heritage Education.
- Boones Mill N&W Railway Depot: Kegley Preservation Award for Restoration.
- Thomas Klatka: Kegley Preservation Lifetime Achievement Award for Preservation of Pre-historic, Historic and Cultural Resources.
- Belmont Lofts LLC: Kegley Preservation Award for Adaptive Reuse.
More information about each of the 2024 awardees is available online.