Wristband sales to benefit memorial fund

The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will soon be offering Hokie Nation wristbands to anyone that would like to help support the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund. The wristbands will be embossed with “Hokie Nation-VT - A Nation United” and will be on a maroon or orange band. They will be sold for $2 and all proceeds will go to the memorial fund established by the VT Foundation.

Tech is in the brethren of national tragedies

OKLAHOMA CITY — Mourners on April 19 marked the 12th anniversary of the bombing that killed 168 people here by reaching out to victims of the Virginia Tech shootings and of violence everywhere. Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani told the crowd at the former site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building that the response to the 1995 attack serves as an example to others recovering from violence.

The people of Oklahoma City “became a model of compassion and strength, both, a model that helped us several years later get through Sept. 11 and a model that will help the people of Virginia Tech get through the terrible agonies that they are going through right now,” said Giuliani, who was New York’s mayor during the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Jonesboro shows its support for Blacksburg

Recalling their city’s own shooting tragedy on March 24, 1998, members of the Jonesboro, Ark., City Council signed a letter of support Tuesday night that is being sent to the city council of Blacksburg.

“As a city that has lived through a similar experience, our hearts are heavy and our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Just as we have survived, so too will you,” states the letter, as quoted in The Jonesboro Sun newspaper.

Boys aged 11 and 13, clad in camouflage, killed four middle-school girls and a teacher while injuring 10 others in the March 24, 1998, shooting at Westside Middle School just west of Jonesboro.

N.C. festival free for Tech students, faculty

The Spring Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance in Chatham County, N.C., this weekend is inviting all Virginia Tech students and faculty to come for free.

The festival started April 19 and will end Sunday. The festival will feature a wide variety of bands, including Donna the Buffalo and Squirrel Nut Zippers.

Tech students and faculty need only to show their ID cards at the ticket booth. Camping and parking are also free. For more information, visit www.shakorihills.com.

ACC pays tribute with silence, signage

The Atlantic Coast Conference will pay special recognition to Virginia Tech at its upcoming spring season championships.

The league will conduct a moment of silence prior to the start of the opening day of competition. Also, there will be specially designed signage displayed at the various areas of competition recognizing the conference and schools’ support and unity with Virginia Tech, stating “Today, we are all Hokies.” In addition, all competing student-athletes will be provided black wristbands to wear during competition.

Today, the Virginia Tech flag will be prominently displayed at the Conference Office in Greensboro, N.C., in honor of “Orange and Maroon Effect” day.

Gore, condolence book to be part of Crow concert

Gun control advocate and former Vice President Al Gore will speak out against the gun violence at Virginia Tech at a Sheryl Crow concert Sunday at George Washington University.

Also, before the concert, the public will be asked to sign a Walking Book of Condolences for Virginia Tech victims. Crow is playing at an Anti-Global Warming concert.

Schools to show Hokie spirit

The Roanoke County Career Center in Vinton will make Virginia Tech remembrance buttons and wear them on Friday. They will also sell the buttons for $1 a piece and donate the proceeds to a fund for the families of the victims of the shooting.

Salem to mourn with bells, human chain

Salem has declared Friday a day of mourning. The city has asked people to form a human chain on Main Street at noon and that all city churches ring their bells 32 times. Afterward, there will be a march to the Farmers Mark for song and prayer.

Healing places available at Valley View Mall

Both Valley View Mall and River Ridge Mall in Lynchburg have transformed vacant spaces into serene areas, and dubbed them “A Healing Place.” Anyone is welcome to write messages, offer sympathies and post pictures of loved ones, or take solace in the words of others.

Maroons to show Hokie spirit at field dedication

Roanoke College’s Alumni Weekend will continue this weekend, infused with a bit of Hokie spirit. Today, Roanoke Maroons fans have been encouraged to wear maroon or orange to the dedication and celebration of Roanoke College’s new athletic field and stadium.

Also, a tree planting will take place just prior to Saturday’s lacrosse game as a memorial to Monday’s shooting victims. Antrim Chapel will be open during the weekend for alumni wishing to pray, meditate and sign a book of condolences in support of Virginia Tech.

United Way to donate to "United in Caring" fund

The United Way of Roanoke Valley will donate half the proceeds it receives for its "April in Paris" fundraiser on April 26 to the "United in Caring" fund for victims of the Virginia Tech tragedy.

"There can be no other response for United Way in the face of such loss and need," said Kathy Stockburger, UWRV Board Chair.

The "United in Caring" Fund was set up to help families with funeral expenses, transportation, mental health services and other costs related to the tragedy.

Tickets for "April in Paris," which will be held at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, are $75 per person. Call (540) 777-4200 or e-mail Krista@uwrv.org.

Montgomery Co. schools remain closed this week

Montgomery County public schools will remain closed today and Friday.

Superintendent Tiffany Anderson sent an e-mail Wednesday night to parents and staff saying that law enforcement requested the closing based on "additional safety concerns" related to Monday's shootings at Virginia Tech.

She did not specify what the additional concerns were, and no one could be contacted in her office Wednesday evening.

IRS extends tax deadline six months until Oct. 15

Federal and state governments are granting income tax filing and payment extensions to individuals affected by Monday's shootings.

The Internal Revenue Service announced Tuesday that it has granted a six-month extension for filing 2006 income tax returns, moving the deadline from April 17 to Oct. 15.

The extension is available to shooting victims and their families, emergency responders, Tech students and university employees.

The IRS will not apply penalties for those eligible for the extension if returns and payments are made by Oct. 15.

To claim the relief, eligible taxpayers must call the IRS at (866) 562-5227 and identify themselves before filing or making a payment.

'American Idol' judge claims misinterpretation

LOS ANGELES -- An annoyed look from "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell as a contestant expressed sadness over the Virginia Tech shootings was drastically misinterpreted, Cowell and the show said Wednesday.

Cowell rolled his eyes and raised his eyebrows as contestant Chris Richardson of Chesapeake, Va., followed his performance on Tuesday's show with a comment about the 32 people killed on the campus by a student.

"My hearts and prayers go out to Virginia Tech. I have a lot of friends over there. ... Be strong," Richardson said on stage.

The camera caught Cowell's expression and showed him tapping his hand once on the table in front of him and fellow judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul. In contrast, Abdul could be seen nodding in approval.

A producer said Cowell had not heard what Richardson said.

Instead, he was talking to Abdul about Richardson's contention that he deliberately sang "Mayberry" in a nasal tone, Cowell told "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest on Wednesday.

"I was saying to Paula, 'What does he mean, he sang nasally on purpose? I didn't understand what he was saying.' So I hadn't even heard what he did."

Fox pulls episode of 'Bones'

In wake of Monday's shootings at Virginia Tech, Fox replaced this week's scheduled episode of "Bones."

Wednesday's originally scheduled episode, titled "Player Under Pressure," had the drama's main characters investigating human remains -- identified as a star student-athlete -- found under the bleachers at a college gym.

After Monday's campus shootings, Fox moved quickly to pull the "Bones" episode.

Avalanche players show their support

To pay respects to fallen Virginia Tech students and faculty, Salem Avalanche players will bear a commemorative Virginia Tech logo on their batting helmets and the Avalanche front office team will add a Virginia Tech lapel pin to their uniforms for the remainder of the 2007 season.

Glenvar Elementary makes poster for Tech

Glenvar Elementary School will be making a schoolwide poster to give to Virginia Tech. Also, the entire school will be wearing orange and maroon Friday.

Hollins delivers banner of love to students

Hollins University chaplain the Rev. Jan Fuller has delivered a banner to the Virginia Tech Student Affairs office signed by Hollins students, faculty and staff conveying their love and concern.

Governor declares Friday as day of mourning

Gov. Tim Kaine is asking that Friday be a day of mourning that would involve people taking time for prayer and reflection.

The Virginia Interfaith Center and the Virginia Council of Churches is asking that houses of worship participate in services so that a collective grief and hope for healing can be shared by all Virginians.

The center will be posting announced dates of vigils throughout the state at www.compassion24x7.org.

If you want to have a vigil date posted please feel free to send Ryan Rinn an e-mail at ryan@virginiainterfaithcenter.org.

Counseling services available

•  Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare is setting up a temporary emergency response center at the Courtyard Marriott, 3301 Ordway Drive. Counseling staff will be on site from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. each evening from now through April 24. Hospitality staff will be there from 6 a.m. to midnight each day. Call the emergency center at (540) 266-9201.

•  Veterans and their family members who wish to speak to a counselor can contact the Roanoke Vet Center, 350 Albemarle Ave., at (540) 342-9726.

•  CIGNA Behavioral Health is offering behavioral health professionals for free telephone consultation services to the Virginia Tech community and to Blacksburg residents. The professionals are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling (866) 440-8387.

•  The United Behavioral Health customer service line will be available 24/7 at no charge to Blacksburg and Southwest Virginia residents. The Help Line at (866) 342-6892 is staffed by experienced master's-level counselors.

Salvation Army provides canteen at Va. Tech

The Salvation Army of Roanoke and of the New River Valley have served more than 2,000 meals to students, families of students and law enforcement officials since Monday.

The organization's Disaster Services Canteen has been at the Inn at Virginia Tech's main entrance and is serving food provided by the Army and the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank.

House passes resolution of heartfelt condolences

The House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution offering heartfelt condolences to the families of the 32 victims of Monday's shooting.

The resolution expresses support for Virginia Tech's students, faculty, administration and staff who have been affected.

Additionally, the resolution, H.Res 306, recognizes that Virginia Tech has served as an exemplary institution of teaching, learning and research for well over a century, and that the university's historic and proud traditions will carry on.

Houston Dynamo to sport Hokie colors April 29

The Houston Dynamo professional soccer team will wear uniforms with Virginia Tech's school colors in an April 29 game as a tribute to the victims.

The maroon jerseys will then be auctioned off, and the funds will be donated to the school's Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund.

Oliver Luck, Dynamo president and general manager, is a former West Virginia University quarterback.

Also, the Dynamo will donate $8 of each ticket sold to the game. When ordering tickets at either houstondynamo.com or ticketmaster.com, fans must enter the code "VT" for the donation to be made.

Tech community invited to attend tour for free

Neale Donald Walsch, author of "Conversations with God," and Humanity's Team -- a nonprofit organization to unite and heal people of all faiths, genders, creeds and nationalities -- are inviting Virginia Tech students to attend the Humanity's Team World Tour Atlanta event April 27-29 in Atlanta for free.

The event features Walsch and spiritual leaders. Any student with a Virginia Tech student ID will receive a free pass for the weekend. The group is offering free hotel housing and possibly transportation.

For more information, visit www.htworldtourusa.org.