RADFORD  ||  Campus' Internet, phone outages fixed

A major router failure shut down Internet and telephone services across Radford University for more than three hours Wednesday morning.

Staff discovered the problem about 6:15 a.m.

The problem was fixed and the services restored by 9:45 a.m., Radford spokesman Jeff Douglas said.

-- Tonia Moxley

WATER TEST  ||  Clinic to test quality of well, spring water

A drinking water clinic for people who use private wells, springs or cisterns and want to learn more about the quality of their water is set for next week.

An informational meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the first-floor multipurpose room of the Montgomery County Government Center in Christiansburg.

Water sample kits and collection instructions will be available. Samples should be returned between 7 and 10 a.m. Wednesday.

The clinic is free, but water analysis will cost $46 per sample.

Reports will be available at the interpretation meeting, set for 6:30 p.m. April 16 in the same location.

Register for the kickoff meeting by contacting the Montgomery County Extension Office at 382-5790 or betnun@vt.edu or stop by the office in Suite 1G of the Montgomery County Government Center.

-- The Roanoke Times

RADFORD  ||  Work could affect water service

Work on the River Street capital improvements program in Radford is expected to continue next week.

Water customers in the area could experience outages while their meter is connected to the new water main, according to a news release from the city.

Outages should not last more than a few hours.

Report problems to or get more information from Dave Wikle at the city's water department at 267-3149.

-- The Roanoke Times

HEALTH  ||  Flu vaccine still available for free

The New River Health District still has H1N1 flu vaccinations available.

"It's not too late to be vaccinated because individual cases of the H1N1 influenza continue to occur. We are remaining vigilant and do not think people should become complacent," Dr. Jody Hershey, director of the New River Health District, said in a news release.

"Vaccination is such an easy step to take, and it is the best protection against this disease that can be serious."

Vaccines are available during local health departments' normal office hours and during regular WIC clinics.

-- The Roanoke Times

HISTORY  ||  Smithfield plans its opening-day events

Historic Smithfield Plantation will open for the season April 3.

During an opening-day event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., admission will be $1 and includes a brief tour of the house and cemetery. Local guilds will be participating with colonial games and crafts, and Easter-themed egg games happen at 11 a.m.

An Easter sunrise service, held in collaboration with Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, is set for 7 a.m. April 4 and will reflect the 18th century Scotch-Irish heritage of the Preston family.

Smithfield is located to Virginia Tech's campus off Duck Pond Drive.

Call 231-3947 or log on to www.smithfieldplantation.org for more information.

-- The Roanoke Times

CHRISTIANSBURG  ||  CHP receives award for energy efficiency

Community Housing Partners has received the 2010 Energy Star award for excellence in energy-efficient affordable housing from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The award is in recognition of the nonprofit's efforts to provide energy-efficient housing for low-income residents, according to a news release.

Community Housing Partners will be recognized today at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Energy Star awards are given to organizations to recognize their contribution to the construction of energy-efficient homes. Award winners are selected from more than 17,000 organizations that participate in the Energy Star program.

Community Housing Partners in Christiansburg is a nonprofit community development corporation.

As part of its minimum "green" design and building standards, all new and refurbished homes have Energy Star appliances, windows, lighting fixtures and heating systems.

-- Sharla Bardin