🌱 Beekeeping Basics + Radford Co. Employee Pleads No Contest

Hello all. It's me, Michelle Paul, your host of the Patch newsletter. Here's everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Hazy sun. High: 73 Low: 52.
• Thursday: A couple of showers. High: 71 Low: 50.

Here are the top three stories today in Blacksburg:

1. James Wilson, an apiculturist for the Virginia Cooperative Extension, has advice for people looking to get started with backyard beekeeping. Wilson says yards with lots of sunlight are best for beekeeping, and that a colony of bees can help pollinate owners' plants on top of providing honey. According to Wilson, to get started, you're looking at around $500 for everything you'll need. (WDBJ)
2. A former Radford school resource officer in nearby Roanoke charged with assaulting his wife in January pleaded no contest to the charges brought against him in domestic relations court on Tuesday, May 23. Mark. W. Mills, 52, was charged with two misdemeanors: assault and battery of a family member, and damaging a phone line in order to prevent a 911 call. Following a hearing in Radford Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, where Mills pleaded no contest to the charges, Mills' case was deferred for six months. (Roanoke Times)
3. Blacksburg's boys' tennis team crushed the Halifax County competition in the regional quarterfinals on Monday night, May 22. Halifax County coach David Riddle said, "We knew this was going to be a tough one. Blacksburg has consistently been one of the toughest teams in the state for years now with both team and individual state winners and this team was no different. It would be a surprise to me if they do not end up in states this year." Blacksburg swept Halifax County in a 5-0 game. (YourGV.com)

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Today and tomorrow in and around Blacksburg:

Wednesday, May 24

• Blacksburg Farmers Market At Market Square Park (2:00 PM)

Thursday, May 25

• Recovery Dharma, New River Valley At The Blacksburg Unitarian Universalist Congregation (7:00 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Montgomery County Public Schools wants to remind you that today, Wednesday, May 24, is the last day of school for the 2022-2023 school year! It is a full school day. (Montgomery County Public Schools in Virginia via Facebook)
• The US National Weather Service has an explanation for why it was so hazy and smoky on Sunday: smoke from large wildfires in Canada was carried southeast towards the US Mid-Atlantic region by winds. Atmospheric conditions are not expected to change much in the next few days, so the haziness may continue. (US National Weather Service Blacksburg VA via Facebook)
• Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad is hosting an Open House on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. There will be ambulance tours and personnel on-hand to chat with community members. (Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad via Facebook)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you back in your inbox soon with another update!

— Michelle Paul

About me: Michelle Paul is a Utah-based writer and photographer with a professional background in content management and registered nursing. When not working on projects ranging from photo editing to copywriting, they enjoy traveling, video games, and expanding their skills.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Blacksburg Patch newsletter? Contact me at blacksburg-va@patch.com