Looking back: June 17, 2013 

1988 (25 years ago)

• "Spurred by the need to increase nationwide marketing of the Roanoke Valley, The Regional Partnership of Roanoke Valley has almost tripled its budget for the upcoming year."
• "Clip-clop. Clip-clop. Clip-clop. Clip-clop. That's the sound of money pouring into the Roanoke Valley economy. Now in its 17th year, the Roanoke Valley Horse Show has grown to be one of the biggest income-producing events in the area, pumping more than $2 million into the economy."
• "For the people of South Roanoke, this story should be on the obituary page. A part of their neighborhood died Saturday afternoon at 3, when Cleo Vanness scooped the last scoop of butter pecan for the last ice cream cone served at the Lipes Pharmacy soda fountain on Crystal Spring Avenue."
• "High winds snapped timbers and blew over two big-top tents Monday afternoon as a freak storm buffeted and soaked the Roanoke Valley Horse Show."

1963 (50 years ago)

• "Symptoms of Soap Box Derby fever, a malady that turns up every summer in Roanoke, have been detected already, John A. Kelly reported Saturday."
• "Bill Dickerson, a former Roanoke resident, is the first Negro recruited for the University of Maryland track team and may become the first to compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference in that sport."
• "Eleven Roanoke area girls won baton-twirling awards Saturday at the Virginia State Championship of the World Twirling Association contest."
• "Air Force man Bill Thompson took flight from two eagles on the course where he grew up Sunday and became the surprising winner of the 15th annual City-County golf tournament."
• "Roanoke City Council Monday moved to place its sanction behind the Human Relations Subcommittee of the Citizens Committee for Greater Roanoke rather than appoint a biracial committee itself."
• "Take 34 beautiful girls, five bands, and five groups of pint-sized baton-twirlers...Mix well with Miss Virginia Pageant officials, Shriner clowns from Kazim Temple, and assorted floats. Result: A tasty
  dish - the 1963 Miss Virginia Pageant Parade."
• "The Hunton Life Saving and First Aid Crew will begin a campaign today for $16,000 to buy the Colonial Ice Co. building at 930 Moorman Road, N.W., and renovate it to serve as the crew's first permanent headquarters."
• "Hammerin' Hank Sauer, who from 1941 to 1959 hammered National League pitchers unmercifully, is hammering the techniques of hitting into the heads of young Salem Rebels."
• "Johnny Weissmuller, star of 19 Tarzan movies, will greet customers at two Roanoke County restaurants next week during a personal appearance tour."
• "Every once in a while you come across a play whose chief charm is its artificiality.'Ring Round the Moon,' Showtimers' second offering of the season is like that. It is 25-carat plastic and utterly delightful."

1938 (75 years ago)

• "The Fat Men, newly organized team of beef from Roanoke, showed here [Bedford] today and downed the local W.O.W., 12 to 10, in a game marked by the thudding steps of the visiting hefties."
• From the "Strange As It Seems," feature: "L. E. Lookabill, Roanoke, Va., visited a sick friend 10 minutes a day for 1915 successive days then was a pallbearer at his funeral."
• "More than 120 of the approximately 140 retail establishments in the downtown area yesterday began the observance of early summer closing hours."
• "Coming out of the northeast with terrific force, a rain, wind and electric storm struck the Roanoke area just before 6 o'clock last night, interrupting telephone and electric service and putting WDBJ, The Times and World-News station off the air."
• "For the second successive day, Roanoke yesterday afternoon was struck by a severe electric and rainstorm causing considerable damage, but the wind did not attain as high velocity as on Thursday."
• "Baseball on the big hoof and by the ton-load will be dumped ceremoniously into the Fairgrounds this afternoon at 4:30 when the self-styled Fat men, in name and fact, take on the Roanoke policemen in what is hoped to be a nine-inning tussle."
• "The citizenry of Roanoke county and city, young and old, great and small, will join today in a whole-hearted and spirited week of celebration as the spectacular program commemorating the centennial anniversary of the county officially opens with a thanksgiving service at the college field in Salem."
• "William F. (Sap) Griffin, sports expert and seer, will megaphone the Joe Louis-Max Schmeling fight Wednesday night at 8:30 from the Times-World second floor."

1913 (100 years ago)

• "The Elmwood Public Playgrounds was formally opened yesterday afternoon... with probably 250 children in attendance."
• "The Vinton post office is undergoing a thorough renovating, and spring cleaning with paint and varnish etc."
• "Except chickens and eggs, supplies of produce and green goods on the market this morning were
  discouragingly low, from the consumer's standpoint."
• "The committee with authority to act have decided to locate the Fairview new graded school on the northeast corner of W. L. Andrews's land, near the Country Club on the public road running through the golf links."
• "In a free hitting contest this afternoon, Roanoke defeated Richmond 8 to 4. The Jungaleers got their hits together and fielded sensationally behind Efird. The Colts played listlessly and their errors of omission were abundant."
• "When the polls closed yesterday afternoon at sundown 3,050 democratic voters had exercised their right of suffrage, making the largest vote ever polled in the city of Roanoke."
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Weather Journal

2 hours ago

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2. One person injured in Friday night shooting in Roanoke

3. William Byrd stuns Salem in football win

4. Lowe's tapes may hold clues to Roanoke woman's death

5. Britney Spears spotted at Lynchburg restaurant

6. East Carolina poses new challenge for Virginia Tech football 

7. Concert review: Timeless Willie Nelson plays to appreciative crowd

8. Blacksburg lawyer Painter’s bond revoked

9. History says this one will matter for Virginia Tech

10. Principal who guided Patrick Henry through integration dies