Roanoke College food truck hits the ground running

Roanoke College food truck hits the ground running

Didn’t know Roanoke College had its own food truck – helping to bring the Maroons brand to the streets? Its all new this year, with another appearance scheduled today, as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:   The post Roanoke College food truck hits the ground running first appeared on News/Talk 960-AM & FM-107.3 WFIR.Continue Reading

Franklin County has a plan for 80+ acres of new housing

Franklin County has a plan for 80+ acres of new housing

Franklin County hopes to encourage more business development — and help address a county-wide housing shortage — by transforming more than 80 acres of county-owned land into residential development. County officials say there are no homes listed anywhere in Franklin County right now for under $100,000 and just seven homes between $100,000 and $200,000. With…Continue Reading

611 Steam Excursions will return to Virginia this fall

611 Steam Excursions will return to Virginia this fall

NEWS RELEASE: August 2, 2023 — The Virginia Museum of Transportation, Inc. (VMT) and the Virginia Scenic Railway (VSR) are excited to jointly announce that the Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 steam passenger locomotive will be operating a series of specially scheduled passenger excursions later this fall within the Commonwealth of Virginia. The…Continue Reading

Why Virginia’s GOP now fully embraces early voting

Why Virginia’s GOP now fully embraces early voting

For the first time in Virginia, both political parties are fully embracing early voting as a major part of their campaign efforts. At stake this fall is which party controls the General Assembly. Former Virginia Tech Professor and WFIR Political Analyst Bob Denton says both Democrats and Republicans realize that early voting is essential to…Continue Reading

As teachers return, school systems seek ways to close learning gap

As teachers return, school systems seek ways to close learning gap

All teachers in at least four Roanoke-area school systems are back at work today — Roanoke, Franklin, Botetourt and Craig Counties — preparing for the resumption of classes next week. As they do, one main goal across the region is closing the learning gap that developed during the pandemic.  State and national student tests scores…Continue Reading

Botetourt library practices to remain despite some residents’ objections

Botetourt library practices to remain despite some residents’ objections

Botetourt  County Supervisors will continue leaving it to library staffers to determine what books should be available. Teens can visit and make choices without a parent, but children under 13 must still have a parent present. That continues current policies and practices, but in recent months, some opponents have been urging Botetourt County to restrict…Continue Reading

Walrond Park adds new Pickleball courts

Walrond Park adds new Pickleball courts

Six new outdoor Pickleball courts painted in bright colors at Walrond Park in northeast Roanoke County made their official debut with a ribbon cutting this morning.  An app being used to help schedule local Pickleball games – usually played in a doubles format – now has close to 2000 members on it. Walrond park has…Continue Reading