BLACKSBURG

Police, DEA focus on pill abuse with event

Blacksburg's police department plans to crack down on prescription drug abuse as part of a nationwide initiative in which it will partner with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The "Take-Back" initiative event on Sept. 25 will focus on preventing pill abuse and theft. Members of the DEA and the police department will be at the Blacksburg Community Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. collecting prescription drugs to prevent abuse.

This initiative targets a growing problem that organizers call a "vital public safety and public health issue."

For more information, call the police department at 961-1811, or visit www.deadiversion. usdoj.gov/takeback.

-- Lerone Graham

BLACKSBURG

Free composed leaves available

Slightly composted leaves are available for free Oct. 2 at Virginia Tech's Toms Creek Basin site.

People can load vehicles with leaves between 8 a.m. and noon. The leaves can be used as a soil additive for gardens among other things.

For more information, call 961-1806 or e-mail recycle@blacksburg.gov.

-- Lerone Graham

FLOYD

Film features instrument maker

Stanley Lorton, a 90-something Willis instrument maker, may attend the Floyd showing of a documentary about his work Sunday.

The 20-minute film "Stanley: Words & Music" will be shown at 2 p.m. at the Jessie Peterman Memorial Library in Floyd as part of the library's oral history program series. Admission is free.

The film, by Floyd historian Kathleen Ingoldsby and photographer Catherine Pauley, follows Lorton for 10 years as he crafts a mountain dulcimer.

The soundtrack is set to Lorton's accompaniments. His wife, Ruby, who died last month, also appears in the film.

-- Katelyn Polantz