Looking back: June 10, 2013

1988 (25 years ago)

• “Roanoke has renewed its effort to acquire the Blue Hills Golf Course to expand the Centre for Industry and Technology, a 300-acre industrial park that is almost full.”

• “Cherie Shindell is not your average Virginia Western Community College graduate. … Shindell, a widow, graduated from high school 62 years ago. And she runs a commercial vineyard. By herself.”

• “When Thomas Wesley Zorn walked across the North Cross School stage shortly after noon Friday to receive his high school diploma, the walk completed a milestone in the history of the institution. Zorn is the 800th graduate … and this was the school’s 25th commencement.”

• “Virginia Republicans made history Saturday by nominating a conservative minister, the Rev. Maurice Dawkins, as the state’s first black candidate for the U.S. Senate in modern times.”

• “For the third time in nine years, Roanoke has won All-America City honors.”

• “It’s not every day that you see the orchestra conductor and the concertmaster get so carried away that they get up and boogie in the middle of a piece, but it happened at the Roanoke Symphony pops concert Sunday afternoon.”

1963 (50 years ago)

• "Roanoke Rock Wool Co., Inc., manufacturers of building insulation, is expanding both production and sale facilities.”

• “Vice Mayor Robert Garland’s plan to suggest to city council Monday that it consider a law providing for registration of firearms and other weapons is meeting with protest from local gun and hunting club members.”

• “The YWCA of Roanoke Valley has acquired its own camp on a 110-acre site in Craig County.”

• “Just what should be done to improve recreational facilities at Carvins Cove is a question that brings varied answers, but most outdoor enthusiasts agree about one thing – something should be done.”

• “Monday was an egg-frying day. But if no one tried cooking eggs on Roanoke City sidewalks it was probably because the eggs hatched first. It was just plain hot.”

• “The outstanding high school football back in the Roanoke area last fall has chosen Michigan State as his college. Charles (Big Dog) Thornhill of Addison, first Negro ever to win the Roanoke Touchdown Club’s outstanding back award, signed a grant-in-aid with the Spartans of the football powerful Big Ten.”

1938 (75 years ago)

• “Some 782 6-year-olds will enter the first grade in the city schools in September. … The figure is more than a hundred greater than usual, because the entrance age has been lowered from seven years to six.”

• “Two new positive children’s cases of tuberculosis, one a 12-year-old negro boy who cannot be given sanatorium care because there are no sanatoria provisions for negro children in the state, were discovered through X-ray readings taken yesterday.”

• “The Real Tailors establishment wishes to know if anyone lost a racing pigeon.”

• “An eight-mile chase during which police estimated that between 25 and 50 cars were forced into the ditch, ended late yesterday afternoon on U.S. route 11, several miles north of Roanoke, with the arrest of Frank Mauk, of North Carolina, on multiple charges.”

• “While Roanoke city is devoid of a political contest today even though there is an election to name three city councilmen, the voters of Salem and Vinton are finding some space in their balloting on candidates for their respective town council.”

• “Salem began donning its centennial dress yesterday afternoon in preparation for the Roanoke County centennial celebration.”

• “Enlivened by a hearty fight between two of the participants, National Business college took a weird, exciting 10-inning A league softball game from Bush-Hancock last night at Maher field, 11 to 9.”

1913 (100 years ago)

• “This afternoon at 4 o’clock the Roanoke Champion Tigers will raise the pennant which they won last season after one of the most exciting finishes that has ever been witnessed in baseball.”

• “In a message from Mayor Moomaw to the city council read last night before that body, … the mayor calls attention to council that the strictest economy must be used this year in making appropriations.”

• “A bond issue of $50,000 was voted on town improvements yesterday at Vinton by the free-hold citizens of the town.”

• “A fine crowd was out to see the Tigers tackle the Goobers despite the chilly climes but the game turned out to be frostier than the weather. It was one of those ball games that’s in the schedule, it’s been played and the least said about it will be most pleasing to everyone.”

• “The older citizens say that this present cold spell reminds them of thirty years ago when in this vicinity [Vinton] the men harvested the wheat wearing their coats, at noonday, and at evening sat by a blazing log fire.”

• “Mr. J.H.B. Croaff, a Roanoke man … has recently organized an amusement company known as the Croaff Amusement Company. The company will be the only company of its kind to produce motion pictures, vaudeville and musical comedy under canvas.”

• “The Chamber of Commerce of this city is advertising today for 200 men and 500 women and girls willing to work in a textile factory which wants to bring its plant to this city.”

• “After negotiations covering a period of ninety days, … the trustees of the Young Men’s Christian Association yesterday closed a deal for the purchase of the property at the northeast corner of Commerce street and Church avenue. … The price was $85,000.”

• “Two fights between George Jack, a reporter for the ‘Square Deal,’ and members of the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency occurred in Goad’s store on Campbell avenue last night.”

Weather Journal

9 hours ago

1. 41-vehicle wreck ties up traffic Sunday on I-81 in Rockbridge County 

2. Virginia Tech football roster has holes on picture day

3. Arrest made in case of missing Nelson County teen

4. Medicare penalties hit hospitals in Roanoke, New River Valleys

5. McFarling: 2 little numbers are a big hurdle for Virginia Tech football 

6. WOYM: Fewer stinkbugs? You may have wasps to thank

7. Microfestivus beer event gets downtown Roanoke hopping 

8. DAN CASEY: Copter cost still stirring up dust

9. CB Manning opts to transfer from Virginia Tech

10. Virginia attorney general's office grows under Ken Cuccinelli