The Pulaski Fire Department's robotic firefighter now has a name: Safe T. Sam.

The department, which bought the $8,700 robot in March, held a contest for which classes at the town's two elementary schools submitted potential names.

"We had 47 entries in the contest," Fire Marshal Chip Hutchinson said, "and it was the hardest job we have had trying to pick a name from the entries."

Hutchinson said he was impressed with all the names the classes submitted, including Ricky Rescue, Spike and Hot Tamale.

Kathy Hale's kindergarten class at Critzer Elementary came up with the winning name. They were awarded a certificate of appreciation and a Friday pizza party with Safe T. Sam and human firefighters Fire Chief Bill Webb, Deputy Fire Marshal Todd Garwood and Hutchinson.

According to the class, Hutchinson said, Safe T. Sam's middle initial stands for Teacher because he teaches children about fire safety.

-- Shawna Morrison

Police give honor to Christiansburg man

The Christiansburg Police Department has awarded a Saved By The Belt & Bag award to a Christiansburg man involved in a crash that destroyed his car last month.

Henry Slaughter was driving on Roanoke Street on May 11 when his Oldsmobile Cutlass was struck from behind on Interstate 81 by a vehicle getting off the ramp at exit 118c, Maj. Dalton Reid said.

Reid said Officer Randall Womack nominated Slaughter for the award, saying that if Slaughter hadn't been wearing his seat belt, he could have been seriously hurt.

-- Shawna Morrison