The Blue Ridge Parkway receives more visitors than the Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon national parks combined. But it has had to put off many maintenance projects over the years due to lack of funding.
Ralph Berrier Jr.
Ralph Berrier Jr. is a writer who lives in Roanoke. Contact him at ralph.berrier@gmail.com.
Posted inCulture
Patrick County author Martin Clark: ‘Places are characters in my books’
The retired circuit court judge releases his sixth book, “The Plinko Bounce,” on Tuesday. Like most of his previous novels, it covers familiar ground, unfolding across the foothills of Patrick County and environs.
Posted inPolitics
A debate over a drag show and Juneteenth event threatened the June Bug Center’s funding. Supporters came to its defense.
County supervisors considered cutting funding for the arts nonprofit, then voted to provide the money after all. Here’s a look at some of what was going on behind the scenes.
Posted inSports
You probably don’t know about the Roanoke Black Cardinals. But baseball fans should.
The 1940s baseball team was part of Roanoke’s version of the Negro Leagues. They were remembered at a recent Salem Red Sox game.
Posted inEconomy
Virginia Tech researchers close to developing biodegradable material to reduce medical waste
A Virginia Tech researcher is partnering with a Charlottesville company to create materials that could replace some medical plastics.
Posted inEconomy
The economic impact of FloydFest’s cancellation
The long-running festival brings about $4 million to Floyd and neighboring counties each year, but businesses say tourism is so big in Floyd that its absence won’t hurt much.
Posted inEducation
Virginia Tech once had its own nuclear reactor
If Governor Youngkin succeeds in locating a small nuclear reactor in Southwest Virginia, it won’t be the first. From 1960 to 1985, Virginia Tech operated its own small reactor in Robeson Hall, just off the Drillfield.
Posted inPolitics
Fight erupts over how Republican convention delegates from Appomattox County will be allocated
Three Republicans are seeking the nomination for a House of Delegates seat. One of them, Tom Garrett, says another plans to use a controversial method to guarantee all the delegates from Appomattox vote the same way.
Posted inCulture
Rural Film Festival in Blacksburg showcases stories from rural America
Virginia Tech’s new Center for Rural Education aims to combat systemic inequities faced by rural educators and communities. The center is hosting the free Rural Film Festival on Wednesday.
Posted inEconomy
The owners of two historic Roanoke cemeteries want to give the properties to the city — but the city doesn’t want them
No heirs are interested in running Fair View Cemetery or Cedar Lawn Memorial Park, and efforts to find other buyers have been unsuccessful. But Roanoke officials say the city shouldn’t be in the business of owning cemeteries.