Gene Marrano

The Excel Center Adult High School at Melrose Plaza is expanding, adding new teachers and growing its student population. The Excel Center debuted one year ago with around 50 students returning to earn their high school diplomas, and in addition certifications that – together with their newly-minted diploma that meets all state standards – will help them land a better job. This week several educators hired to teach electives classes are in training. Goodwill Industries of the Valleys operates the Excel Center. The Excel Center will expand to accommodate 75 students this fall, a 50 percent increase. There are 11 classrooms at its Melrose Plaza campus with room to grow, with local businesses “sponsoring” those spaces, to 300 students but that depends on funding; the Center is a line item this year in the Commonwealth’s new two year biennial budget.

Roanoke College has teamed up with Google – yes, Google – for its AI Education Accelerator Program, which launched on Tuesday and will be in place when students return to the Salem campus next week. The free AI training is designed to allow newly-minted Maroon alums to have a leg up on career opportunities when they start job searching. Google artificial intelligence training and Google Career Certificates – and AI training for faculty and staff at Roanoke College – all free courtesy of Google, which has been in the news locally as the tech giant looks to build data centers in Botetourt County. As for students, the goal is to have them graduate from Roanoke College with an AI “aptitude” that will enable them to adapt to the next newest AI breakthrough – and the one after that.

The Andy Layne Trail off Catawba Road in Botetourt County that is a steep but popular shortcut to Tinker Cliffs has a new trailhead with more than twice the parking spaces, along with one mile of new trail and a footbridge over Tinker Creek. The relocation was necessary because Roanoke Cement – which owns that property – needed to expand its operations to the area where the old Andy Layne trailhead was. Roanoke Cement/Titan America covered all the costs for moving the trailhead, building a footbridge, the one mile of new trail and the expanded parking lot, all less than a mile from the former Andy Layne Trail starting point. The trail is a popular way for hikers to reach Tinker Cliffs along the Appalachian Trail. The late Andy Layne was a longtime, devoted trail maintainer in the valley. Linda Mulheren with the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club took part in a ribbon cutting ceremony this morning:

It was twenty years in the making – that’s how far back some Roanoke City Council members recall the need for an updated, covered bus shelter at the busy Valley View Walmart. They finally cut a ribbon today and on Monday the new Valley Metro bus stop, featuring two covered shelters and benches, lean rails and direct access to Walmart will be in operation. Walmart, the City of Roanoke and Valley Metro worked together to make the new bus shelter finally happen. A previous attempt to place one on the old Sears property across the street hit a snag over an easement the city needed to make that happen. Mayor Job Cobb this morning:

The Crumbl cookie chain has arrived in southwest Roanoke County, on Starkey Road. The line was out the door early this morning, with patrons looking to try the Crumbl chocolate chip cookie and other sweet treats. Crumbl Cookies has around 1100 locations in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. The first 100 people through the door today also took home a free Crumbl T shirt. This is the third franchise for Patrick Gardner, he owns two other Crumbls in Lynchburg and Blacksburg. How does Crumbl Cookies keep patrons coming back? Gardner also says Crumbl corporate sends out new recipes every week.

The new RAM House Day Shelter on Elm Avenue that’s not quite fully operational yet has reached its previously announced capital campaign goal of four million dollars – but the executive director says they’re not quite done raising money yet. Melissa Woodson says they goal she set out at news conference outside the old RAM House location on Campbell Avenue of 4 million dollars was reached after the City of Roanoke chipped in some COVID era money they hadn’t used yet. But says Woodson, who expects to welcome day shelter guests to the Elm Avenue location within the next few weeks, inflation wrecked havoc with the original construction budget – so RAM House is looking to raise another 1.2 million dollars from donors large and small. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:

Roanoke College alums, and those that are just fans of the Maroons Division 3 football team beginning its second official season next month, will have another school team to cheer on the gridiron in 2028. Women’s flag football is on its way, as an “Emerging NCAA sport.” lag football – NFL stars have played the sport at recent Pro Bowls – will feature 7-on-7 action, on a field 40 by 80 yards in size – as opposed to a men’s 53 by 100 yards field. Roanoke College Director of Athletics Curtis Campbell says six teams in the ODAC conference will have varsity teams in 2028, meaning there will be an Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship. Virginia high schools are already on board, helping the Maroons can recruit to fill out rosters that will feature 20 to 25 players. Women’s flag football will debut as an Olympic sport in 2028, giving it even higher visibility. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:

Salem city council member John Saunders died Saturday afternoon at the age of 66. Saunders was first elected to Salem City Council in 2018, and after losing a reelection bid in 2022 returned to Council after regaining his seat in the 2024 election. Saunders spent 34 years working at the Salem Civic Center complex, completing his career there as Director of Facilities. Saunders’ current term on City runs through 2028; Salem City Council will most likely appoint a replacement, and then call for a special election. Carey Harveycutter, now the Director of Tourism in Salem, was his boss for many years; Harveycutter told WFIR news this morning that complications from diabetes led to the death of someone he said was his “best friend.” Harveycutter will eulogize John Saunders at a memorial service on Thursday.

More than 400 Roanoke College freshman are involved this week in what is part of the orientation process every year, the R-House build with the local Habitat for Humanity chapter. But the 21st annual R-House is different in several ways this year. Its the first Habitat for Humanity house constructed in Salem since 2014 – and the first Roanoke College build that didn’t start as module units put together on campus, then shipped to the home site. The two-story, three bedroom house is being built for a single mother and child. Habitat-Roanoke is also celebrating its 40th anniversary this year; the Salem build on Chapman Street will be house number 301 – when completed it will be turned over to the new owner – who will pay a mortgage – its not a donation to them. The owner will also have to put in 250 hours of sweat equity on the R-House build., as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:

Its the second and last weekend at the Bear Theatre in downtown Roanoke for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, this Friday through Sunday, the Tennessee Williams classic play about a simmering family feud with domineering patriarch “Big Daddy” in failing health, and his children hoping to gain his favor when it comes to what he leaves behind. The 2026-27 season at Jefferson Center in downtown Roanoke kicks off this Thursday. Roanoke Ballet Theatre has announced its 2026-27 season. And the new Exchange Music Hall in downtown Roanoke operated by the people behind FloydFest have announced a slate of shows for this Fall. Hear much more in link below: