Bienvenidos, bienvenue and welcome to the first edition of the New River Valley field notes, a collection of weekly short news updates and future events to look out for, and arriving to your inbox as part of our NRV newsletter on Mondays.
As your New River Valley reporter, I primarily cover Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Radford but aim to make my reach expand throughout the several counties, cities and towns that comprise a bustling valley.
I aim to inform and meet people where they are at, but the valley is vast so if you have thoughts on a developing story or ideas on how I can get to know your community better, you can reach me at erick@cardinalnews.org.
All 5 Montgomery County sheriff candidates to appear at forum
A bipartisan town hall for Montgomery County sheriff will be held Friday at the County Government Center.
All five candidates — three Democrats and two Republicans — will participate in the public event and speak on topics varying from public safety, deescalation training and accountability.
The current sheriff, Robert Page, filled the role in April after former Sheriff Hank Partin, a Republican, announced his retirement in March. Page and former county sheriff’s office Lt. Tim Shepherd are running as Republicans. The Democrats are retired county sheriff’s office Capt. Ed Herling, Christiansburg police Lt. Tim Brown and former county sheriff’s office Lt. Greg Warden.
“I’ve been told this is unprecedented,” said Lora Brown, the lead organizer of the town hall. “By having all five perspectives presented at once, you know, one right after the other, I think, gives voters a clearer choice.” The Montgomery County Republican Committee, Montgomery County Democratic Committee and the New River Valley Greens Party reserved the board room for the event.
The town hall is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Candidates will answer five topic questions, with each one given an opportunity to speak first. Questions from the audience will also be heard before candidates provide closing remarks. The government center is located at 755 Roanoke St. in Christiansburg.
A firehouse primary for the Republican candidates will be held on June 20 at the government center, from at 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., while the county-wide primary for the Democratic nominee will be held on Aug 4. The general election is Nov. 3.
Blacksburg Transit receives inaugural state award
Blacksburg Transit is the first recipient of the state’s Hill Spencer Ridership Award in recognition of the agency’s increased ridership figures.
The Virginia Transit Association reviews transit agencies across the state, assesses their ridership data and recognizes agencies with the highest year-over-year ridership increase through four different categories based on ridership population. According to Blacksburg Transit, ridership increased to 4.7 million — a 26% increase during fiscal year 2025.
New service loops were opened in August of 2024, which included a new on-campus Virginia Tech hub. “That really kind of revamped how Blacksburg Transit operated,” said Susan Winfrey, the transit company’s spokesperson.
Blacksburg Transit ranks fourth in largest proportional increase in ridership by a Virginia public transit provider between fiscal years 2024 and 2025, according to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. It is also ranked the sixth-largest transit provider in the state.
“We always run into full buses, specifically at the beginning of the semesters,” said Winfrey, “when students are getting their schedule set, we’re not lacking for ridership.”
There are 40 different public transit agencies across Virginia, providing, in total, more than 144 million trips, a 14% increase from the previous fiscal year. The inaugural ridership award is named in honor of Robert Hill and Turner Spencer, the inaugural presidents of the Virginia Public Transit Officials Association and the Virginia Transit Association, respectively.
Montgomery County summer nutrition program details announced
Montgomery County Public Schools announced it will work with partnering organizations to provide children access to nutritional programs, including free meals, meal kits and food assistance.
For students participating in summer programs, free school meals will first be provided at Montgomery Central June 2 to June 25, followed by Auburn High School, Eastern Montgomery Elementary School, Falling Branch Elementary School, Kipps Elementary School, Belview Elementary School and Christiansburg Middle from June 8 to June 17, according to a school system news release.
For 18-year-olds or younger, free summer breakfast and lunch meals will be provided at Eastern Montgomery Elementary School, Falling Branch Elementary School, Belview Elementary School and Christiansburg Middle School from June 8 to June 17, according to the release.
Partnering organization Summer Food Service Program will provide breakfast and lunch meal kits for children while Feeding Southwest Virginia is working with the No Kid Hungry organization and Amazon to provide children’s summer food boxes for eligible families living in ZIP codes 24087 (Elliston), 24138 (Pilot), 24149 (Riner) or 24162 (Shawsville).
For more information: www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/summer-food-service-program.