Virginia Tech police are trying to figure out who is painting the Hokie stone on campus buildings.

Since Feb. 19, vandals armed with paint have hit 20 campus buildings, covering from one to six of the limestone blocks on each building, usually in one solid color, Lt. Wendell Flinchum said.

In addition, someone stenciled "all gods are dead except the god of war" on four campus buildings. The quote is attributed to Eldridge Cleaver, a Black Panther activist who died in 1998.

On Wednesday, someone painted "C.T.O.B." on Newman Hall and "Huck Fummmer" on Hancock Hall.

Flinchum said he does not know if the incidents are related or who is to blame. But he said the damage is expensive to fix.

When the graffiti and paint are discovered, grounds crews are sent out to scrub it from the stone.

Damage since Feb. 19 has cost more than $2,500 to fix, Flinchum said.

The problem comes less than a month after someone painted derogatory terms for blacks, women and homosexuals in a stairway inside Lee Hall.

-- Joe Eaton

Blacksburg candidates trickle onto ballot

Three days before the deadline to register for Blacksburg's May election, town council candidates were still trickling onto the ballot.

Montgomery County Registrar Randy Wertz confirmed Friday that seven hopefuls have officially filed to run for four open council seats, including the mayor's chair.

Roger Hedgepeth has said he would step down as mayor after 24 years. Soon after, councilmen Ron Rordam and Don Langrehr announced they would compete for the post.

Longtime councilwoman Joyce Lewis also said she would retire this year. Five others -- Wendell Hensley, a member of Blacksburg's Telecommunications Advisory Committee since 1994; Montgomery County Planning Commissioner Frank Lau; Blacksburg Planning Commissioner Mary Holliman; and incumbent councilmen Tom Sherman and Al Leighton -- will vie for the other three open council seats.

Other would-be candidates have until 7 p.m. Tuesday to register to get on the ballot.

-- Tonia Moxley

Building code changes may cost homeowners

Strong new building codes may bolster safety but they may also increase the cost of some homes in the New River Valley, a trade association said.

The Virginia General Assembly adopted revised building codes for homes late in 2005. Included in the revisions are stricter regulations for the decks and foundation walls for residential buildings.

Deck regulations were tightened in response to balcony and deck failures that caused injuries in Blacksburg and Charlottesville, New River Valley Homebuilders Association President James Oliver said.

Cook said her department found four unsafe foundation walls in Blacksburg this past year and the new regulations will ensure the problems don't continue.

They will also mean new inspections added to several the town's two inspectors already conduct. The cost of those inspections and the extra work to meet the codes often get passed on to homeowners, Oliver said.

He estimated that the new regulations will add about $1,000 to the cost of a new home. Cook agreed that figure was probably accurate.

In the past, changes in the codes have added as much as $2,500 to home prices, Oliver said, and he's worried that over-regulation may not be far away.

Too many regulations might make it hard for Virginia families to afford to own a home, which "would defeat the whole purpose," Oliver said.

-- Tonia Moxley

Loan will improve Wythe water systems

A $1.5 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will help Wythe County improve water service by connecting the water systems of Wytheville and Fort Chiswell.

About 14,000 feet of 20-inch water line will be installed in two sections of Wythe County to connect the two water systems.

In addition, the funding will establish 10 new connections for area homes and businesses and install 12 new fire hydrants. Construction on the improvement project is expected to begin March 13 and is scheduled to be completed by December.

-- Chris Winston

Floyd series features work of four authors

As part of Floyd County's 175th anniversary celebration, Friends of the Jessie Peterman Library will offer a meet-the-author series, "Celebrate the Past -- Look to the Future," beginning this month. Four authors are participating in the series, which features readings, discussions and book signings.

n Robert Morgan, a poet and best-selling author of "Gap Creek," will discuss on Thursday his latest novel, "Brave Enemies: A Novel of the American Revolution." Set in the 1780s, the novel depicts the Battle of Cowpens and includes actual historical figures and events.

n Lee Smith's latest book, "The Last Girls," is described by Publisher's Weekly as "The Big Chill meets Huckleberry Finn." Smith, who also wrote "Fair and Tender Ladies," will discuss the work, inspired by a real-life episode, in a March 23 program called "What Have We Been? What Are We Now?"

n Sharyn McCrumb will present on April 6 "Civil War in Appalachia: Hatred Has a Half-Life," based on her historical Appalachian novel, "Ghost Riders."

n Poet and author Ron Rash on May will discuss "Who Are the Saints When Environmental Protection Conflicts with Individual Rights?" The program will include reference to his latest novel, "The World Made Straight," set for release in April. Rash also wrote the best-sellers "One Foot in Eden" and "Saints at the River," about life in Appalachia.

All of the programs begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church of Floyd, 169 Newtown Road. Admission is free but donations will be accepted.

The series is possible through a matching grant awarded to Friends of the Jessie Peterman Library through the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities.

-- Donna Alvis-Banks