What's News Today for Friday, June 10, 2016

(WSLS 10) -      Former Virginia Tech President T. Marshall Hahn Junior will be remembered today at a viewing from 3-6 p.m. at McCoy Funeral Home in Blacksburg. He transformed what was primarily a white, male military college into the comprehensive university now known as Virginia Tech. He died last month at the age of 89.

Hahn was president for nearly thirteen years starting in 1962.  Hahn added 30 undergraduate degree programs, such as art, German, history, marketing, management, philosophy, sociology, and psychology. No less than 20 graduate programs were added. He also created colleges of architecture, arts and sciences, and education.

Roanoke Parks and Recreation Director, Steve Buschor, will be remembered today during a Funeral Mass at noon at St. Andrews Catholic Church. A Celebration of Life follows at Elmwood Park from 2 to 4 p.m. He started his position with the city in 2002. His pride and joy was the newly redesigned Elmwood Park, and he was involved in every aspect of its planning, renovation, and operation.

Fight summer "brain drain" and earn prizes by participating in a Roanoke County Public Library Summer Reading Program. To kick off the summer fun the South County Library is having a party with a petting zoo, live music, pizza, a rock climbing wall, and you can register for the Summer Reading Program. The party is from 6:00-8:00pm. This year, everyone that registers will receive a keychain that will get you into local businesses at a free or discounted rate including Mill Mountain Zoo , Splash Valley, Dairy Queen and more.

Seven state police and highway patrol agencies are part of Operation Border to Border again this year. The initiative targets nearly 800 miles of U.S. Route 15 from South Carolina to New York... And more than 300 miles of U.S. Route 17 through Florida. Both corridors are heavily-traveled thoroughfares for summer vacationers and for those attempting to avoid congested interstates serving all seven states. The idea is prevent traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities. You'll see more officers on the roads through Sunday.

Children in our area will be the only students in the U.S. to have a unique learning opportunity. The "e-base" classroom opens today at Apple Ridge farm. It is completely off the grid and powered by solar panels and wind. There are currently only 3 other classrooms like it in the world. Two in India, one in Antartica and now one at apple ridge farm in Floyd County.   Robert Swan who pioneered the concept and is the first person to walk both the north and south poles will be there.

Martinsville and Henry County kicks off Relay for Life. The American Cancer Society's annual Relay For Life is at Bassett High School  The event kicks off with the Opening Ceremony at 6:00pm, and will be followed by a Survivor and Caregiver Lap to officially start the six hour relay. Money raised supports local services for cancer patients and their families. More than 41 teams have raised more than $68,000 so far.

The Crooked Road's second annual Mountains of Music Homecoming starts Friday.  This 9-day region-wide celebration allows communities to showcase and celebrate those community assets they are most proud of and want to share with visitors, such as traditional music, crafts, history, and outdoor recreation offerings.  You can see Crooked Road concerts celebrating old time, bluegrass, gospel, traditional ballad singing, and many other styles will be presented in over 20 different communities where this musical heritage lives and breathes.


About the Author:

You can see Jenna weekday mornings at the anchor desk on WSLS 10 Today from 5-7 a.m. She also leads our monthly Solutionaries Series, where we highlight the creative thinkers and doers working to make the world a better place.