🌱 Blacksburg Town Council Votes On New Community + New Bell Schedule

Hello and happy Friday. I'm back in your inbox this morning with everything you need to know about what's happening these days in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Mostly cloudy. High: 80 Low: 60.
• Saturday: A t-storm around in the p.m. High: 77 Low: 60.

Are you a real estate agent in Blacksburg struggling to get leads in the current housing market? It's tough out there, but there is a way to stand out from the crowd and attract new clients. Our exclusive sponsorship in the Blacksburg newsletter can help you do just that. Click here to learn more and discover how you can take your business to the next level today.

Here are the top three stories in Blacksburg today:

1. Liberty and Virginia Tech's men's lacrosse teams are both one win away from playing each other in the MCLA national championship. Virginia Tech, ranked No. 1 in the Division One tournament, has had decisive victories in their previous matches. Liberty, the No. 3 seed, secured wins against UC-Santa Barbara and Georgia, with Cooper Branham scoring a buzzer-beating game-winning goal. If both teams win their upcoming matches, they will face each other in the finals on Saturday. (WSET)
2. The Blacksburg Town Council has voted on a controversial housing development called Glade Spring Crossing, located beside The Village at Tom's Creek. The proposed plan includes 176 non-student homes of affordable and market-price housing. Despite pushback from neighbors concerned about the safety and environmental impacts, the council approved the development agreement and authorized the town manager to sign it. The planning commission had previously voted against recommending rezoning the land for the development. (WSLS 10)
3. The Radford City School Board has approved a new bell schedule for the upcoming school year. The high school and middle school will transition to a 7-block schedule with designated planning time for teachers. The elementary schools will have a regular schedule on most days but will dismiss early on Thursdays to allow for teacher planning time. The schedule changes were implemented to address teachers' need for more planning time. The school board unanimously approved the new schedule. (WSLS 10)

Today and tomorrow in and around Blacksburg:

Friday, May 12

• West End Weekend @ Glencoe Mansion Museum & Gallery, Christiansburg (5:30 PM)
• Cinémathèque @ The Milk Parlor (9:00 PM)

Saturday, May 13

• Blacksburg Farmers Market @ Town of Blacksburg (8:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• A Virginia Tech student designed a personalized prosthetic hand for her sister, who experienced a partial hand amputation. The student collaborated with the TREC Lab at Virginia Tech College of Engineering to create the robotic hand. The heartwarming story gained attention and support from viewers. Watch the video now! (Virginia Tech via Facebook)
• Congratulations to Blacksburg High School's students going into the military, the medical field, welding, teaching, cybersecurity, engineering, business, marketing, culinary arts, and cosmetology. The school community celebrated their future plans at a Career Technical Education event. (Blacksburg High School via Facebook)
• Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help in locating a truck and its driver involved in a hit-and-run incident on Brookfield Road in the 1800 block at approximately 1:45 pm on May 10th. The truck is described as a GMC Sierra or Chevrolet Silverado with a black toolbox in the bed. Anyone with information about the vehicle or who recognizes it is urged to contact NRV 911 at 540-382-4343 or email Deputy E.D. Harless at harlessed@vamcso.org. (Montgomery County Sheriff's Office via Facebook)

You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you around!

— 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.