Archive for December, 2009

Walker, Louise Leftwich Louise Leftwich Walker, 81, of Salem, died December 21, 2009. A longtime resident of Salem, she graduated from Jefferson High School in Roanoke in 1946 and retired from Lewis-Gale Medical Center. She was preceded in death by her husband Eddie Walker; sisters Margaret Cromer, Dorothy Rice and Elizabeth Saunders; and... »

Christine Wiley Maske, 81, of Salem died December 20, 2009. She was preceded in death by her husband Jesse Maske; son Steve Allen Maske; sisters Lucille Abbott; brothers Homer, Warren and Burie Wiley. Mrs. Maske was a homemaker and formerly attended Forest Grove Baptist Church in Eagle Rock. She is survived... »

Willard M. Cockerham of Salem died December 26, 2009. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert J. Cockerham and Vella Carr Cockerham and his twin brother, Dillard J. Cockerham. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and retired from Eli Lilly. Willard’s love of the outdoors was evident in his... »

SALEM – In spite of an economic recession, a number of Salem businesses are expanding, building offices and moving. Here’s a closer look at four. Harvey Dentistry After years of serving the general, restorative and cosmetic dental care needs of patients in Salem and the Roanoke Valley, Harvey Dentistry is leaving its 101 S. Colorado St. location... »

Botetourt County experienced perhaps its most unusual 12 months in 2009, at least in the past 25 years. Botetourt has had a growing business community to go along with its residential growth that started in the late 1970s and early 1980s. And that’s been complemented in more recent years by an expanding industrial base. But the... »

Cave Spring’s Top 10 Stories of 2009: A look back at what made the headlines. 10. Record December snowfall During the weekend before Christmas, a snow storm dumped nearly two feet of snow on Southwest County, the heaviest amount in years and the most on record for December. The snow put a damper on travel, caused... »

Top Ten Stories of Vinton – a Look back at 2009 events, stories and celebrations. 10. Russian cop promoted Vinton Police Officer Ana Wootten was born and raised in Russia, but she moved to Virginia with her American husband in 1997. Her Russian origin is why she is known as the “Russian Cop.” Whether she... »

Blue Ridge is one of the few communities to have been honored by having its name on the side of a shipping vessel. In November 1944, the Blue Ridge Victory, named for the community on US 460, was launched at the Bethlehem-Fairfield shipyard in Baltimore. The ship was one of a fleet of Victory ships built... »

One of the main goals of new Craig County Circuit Court Clerk Sharon Braden is to update the office, particularly by making more information available online. Braden, left, officially becomes the new clerk on Jan. 1, succeeding retiring clerk Peggy Bostic,  right in photo. Braden was Bostic’s deputy clerk since 1994, and since 1996 has... »

CAVE SPRING – Lorraine Wheeler keeps her life’s memories in stitches. The Cave Spring resident has recorded her years of volunteering for the Bent Mountain First Aid Crew and the Cave Spring Rescue Squad Auxiliary in quilts she pieced and appliqued, then got several church quilting guilds to quilt. All combined, she has about half a... »