MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Christiansburg workers repair a broken 8-inch water piper under a turn lane on U.S. 460. The road was temporarily closed so a crew could access the problem with heavy equipment.

CHRISTIANSBURG

Sinkhole closes U.S. 460, causes detour

Eastbound and westbound lanes of U.S. 460 in Christiansburg were blocked Monday by a large sinkhole caused by a break in an 8-inch water pipe, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

The break occurred in a turning lane for local business Rugs & Stuff.

Traffic was detoured onto Wayside Drive until the road was repaired late Monday.

It is unclear when the break occurred because water did not come to the surface, said Christiansburg Town Manager Lance Terpenny.

The town was alerted to the break when residents started calling from the Shawsville area saying they did not have water, Terpenny said.

The broken pipe feeds a nearby water tank that had run out of water after the break, he said.

Crews were dispatched to find the source of the problem and discovered the sinkhole.

Water leaking from the pipe eroded the dirt underneath the road until it finally collapsed sometime late Sunday or early Monday, Terpenny said.

It's not unusual for a pipe to break during the first freeze or thaw event of the winter, but it is unusual for it to do undetected, Terpenny said.

About 2 a.m., Charles King, who lives next to Rugs & Stuff, saw flashing lights outside his house as crews responded to the break.

Water was cut off to his home because of the break.

King, who is retired, braved the cold to watch crews work.

"Well, I've got something to watch," he said. "It's something unusual."

-- Amy Matzke-Fawcett

Snow

Winter weather postpones 2 events

The Radford Christmas parade and the Holidays at Smithfield events have been rescheduled for Saturday.

The Radford Kiwanis Christmas Parade was postponed this past Saturday until 1 p.m. this Saturday.

The makeup date for Holidays at Smithfield: Musical Memories has been rescheduled for this Saturday as well.

The museum store opens at 10 a.m., and house tours and tea begin at 1 p.m.

-- The Roanoke Times

RADFORD

University centennial calendars for sale

The Radford Heritage Foundation has released its 2010 calendar, "Celebrating the Century."

The calendar commemorates Radford University's centennial anniversary. Proceeds from the calendar benefit the nonprofit Heritage Foundation.

"Celebrating the Century" is available for $10 from the following Radford merchants: Studio C, Taylor Office Supplies, Meg's, Radford Bike and Paddle, Chrysalis, the Book Exchange, Uptown Nails, the Medicine Shoppe, Good Looks Salon, the on-campus bookstore or ordered through the alumni office by calling 831-5248 or e-mailing alumni@radford.edu.

Shipping for mailed orders is an additional $3.

-- Amy Matzke-Fawcett

COURT

Bank robbery nets 7-month sentence

A former Blacksburg man will spend seven years in prison for robbing a bank this summer.

Ernest Erin Wagner, 29, of Lindside, W.Va., pleaded guilty Monday in Montgomery County Circuit Court to one count of robbery.

Wagner walked into the BB&T bank on Prices Fork Road in Blacksburg about 9:40 a.m. June 27 and handed a cashier a note demanding money, Chief Deputy Montgomery County Commonwealth's Attorney Mary Pettitt said.

When asked later why he had robbed the bank, he showed police needle marks on his arms, she said.

Circuit Court Judge Bobby Turk sentenced Wagner to 30 years in prison, with all but seven suspended. He will be on probation for 10 years after his release and must repay the $2,100 he got from the bank.

When asked by the judge whether he wanted to say anything, Wagner apologized to the court and to his family.

-- Shawna Morrison

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

County launches redesigned Web site

Montgomery County officials announced Monday the launch of the county's redesigned Web site, www. montgomerycountyva.gov.

The redesign is the first since the site was launched in 2001.

Some of the features on the redesigned site include the ability to view board of supervisors' meetings through video on demand; latest news and calendar information on the home page; and e-mail subscription lists.

County officials said a goal is to continue to expand the Web site with more information and features in the coming months.

-- Sharla Bardin