John Carlinโs Outdoors: E-Bikes test
E-Bikes are the fastest growing segment of the bike industry. John Carlin set out to see why they are so popular, by putting one to the test around town and on the steep, rocky trails of Roanoke's Mill Mountain.
![Roanokeโs Blue Ridge Land Conservancy celebrates 25 years of nature protection](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/GathvzwPJ-aMThFgX6BowzSSiHc=/800x450/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/R2P4ZOF2DRAJ7MODBASA3D3NAI.jpg)
Roanokeโs Blue Ridge Land Conservancy celebrates 25 years of nature protection
Blue Ridge Land Conservancy celebrated 25 years of natural preservation with a dinner celebration on top of Mill Mountain on Sunday.
![Runners take on Mill Mountain for New Yearโs Day tradition](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/xqfGClyeMfG9SXsYv4pw8m4ZgyM=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/01-01-2021/t_e29d318df7f54b3cb6e50ac6bf9dee4a_name_image.jpg)
Runners take on Mill Mountain for New Yearโs Day tradition
ROANOKE, Va. โ The Roanoke Star was the finish line for some runners Friday morning who were looking to fulfill a more than 30-year-old tradition. Every New Yearโs Day, Star City Striders, a running group in the Roanoke Valley, hosts a run to the star. To ring in 2020, 200 people did the run; however, due to COVID-19 and the restrictions on gatherings, the official run couldnโt happen this year. Even though it wasnโt official, runners and walkers still laced up their shoes and started the year started on a healthy note. Star City Striders plans to start its tradition back up on New Yearโs Day 2022.
![71 years later, Roanokeโs Mill Mountain Star continues to shine](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/-mM_djEv61DVWKyL8SfQPQpnGw8=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/11-23-2020/t_a728808cbf8b44a4a1bdd9f21acda25f_name_image.jpg)
71 years later, Roanokeโs Mill Mountain Star continues to shine
ROANOKE, Va. โ The iconic landmark that gave the Star City its nickname celebrated its 71st birthday on Monday. The Mill Mountain Star was first illuminated on Nov. 23, 1949. The 88-foot tall structure is the largest free-standing man-made star in the world. It was originally meant to be only a temporary fixture to ring in the holiday season, but people loved it so much, it stuck around. Allie said visitors to Roanoke ask about the Mill Mountain Star more than anything else.
![Backpacking with Brooke: Mill Mountain](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/qHmQHYbPp6qCAqonxvPkvxZVFq8=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/05-18-2020/t_4e0cf6ef9dd2444585781733ea94e20a_name_image.jpg)
Backpacking with Brooke: Mill Mountain
You will see a path that leads to the start of the monument trail. The monument trail is marked with yellow blazes. A quarter mile later, you will be met with the intersection to continue the monument trail to the bottom of the mountain, or take the star trail up to the top. We sat on the bench for a minute and drank some water, then took the star trail to the top. This part of the trail is a little steeper as it starts to traverse up the mountain.
![Blue Star Memorial marker dedicated on Mill Mountain](https://media.wsls.com/photo/2019/11/11/Blue_Star_Memorial_marker_added_to_Mill_Mountain_in_Roanoke_1573511281174_22454520_ver1.0_1280_720.jpg)
Blue Star Memorial marker dedicated on Mill Mountain
ROANOKE, Va. - The Westchester Garden Club, in cooperation with the Roanoke Department of Parks and Recreation and the city of Roanoke, unveiled a Blue Star Memorial marker. The marker is at the top of Mill Mountain. The dedication ceremony was in honor of military members of the past, present and future. The memorial marker project was three years in the making. The dedication included a tribute of flowers and music from the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra.
![Decorate with history using Roanoke landmark ornaments](https://media.wsls.com/photo/2019/11/06/Decorate_with_history_using_Roanoke_landmark_ornaments_1573066273415_22444591_ver1.0_1280_720.jpg)
Decorate with history using Roanoke landmark ornaments
The Daytime Blue Ridge Tree started off pretty bare, but thanks to the Roanoke landmark ornaments from the Virginia Ornament Company, that didn't last long. These ornaments are available locally at Two and a Half Sisters on Colonial Avenue across from Towers Shopping Center. You can also order yours online right now by visiting the Virginia Ornament Company website. On Wednesday, Bridget and Lindsey put the Hotel Roanoke ornament on the tree! What's cool is that each of these ornaments has a little history lesson on a small card that comes with them.
![Mill Mountain Zoo euthanizes resident cougar, 'Nina'](https://media.wsls.com/photo/2019/09/11/Nina_the_mountain_lion_euthanized_1568201466407_22266674_ver1.0_1280_720.jpg)
Mill Mountain Zoo euthanizes resident cougar, 'Nina'
ROANOKE, Va. - One of the longest-tenured animals at Mill Mountain Zoo has been euthanized after getting sick. Nina the mountain lion was 14 years old. She spent the first year of her life with celebrity zookeeper Jack Hannah. He donated her to Mill Mountain, where's she been for the past 13 years. Zoo staff said Nina had a non-regenerative bone marrow disease, and that she truly was a "special cougar."