🌱 HS Top Pick Visits VT Prior To Game + VT Juneteenth Event

Hi all. I'm back with your fresh edition of the Blacksburg Patch newsletter, fresh off the presses. Here's all the community news you need to know right now.

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Now, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Cloudy with a thunderstorm. High: 64 Low: 57.
• Thursday: Cloudy with a t-storm or two. High: 68 Low: 62.

Here are the top three stories today in Blacksburg:

1. Prior to a major 7-on-7 tournament held at Virginia Tech, highly-rated high school football prospect Brett Clatterbaugh, a four-star player from Culpeper Eastern View, visited the campus a day in advance. This additional time gave the Top247 recruit the opportunity to familiarize himself with the Hokies' environment, engage in conversations with the coaching staff, and gain further insight into the program before taking the field with his high school team on Saturday. (247Sports)
2. On Sunday at Virginia Tech's Solitude, the oldest structure on campus, a gathering took place to honor the 226 individuals who were once enslaved on the grounds where the university now stands. The names of these individuals were read aloud, and as each name was commemorated, pieces of paper bearing their names were hung on the branches of a weeping cherry tree, known as Tech's wishing tree. The event, organized by Victoria Ferguson, served as a memorial service and was held in conjunction with Juneteenth. (Roanoke Times)
3. A vehicle crash on I-81 in nearby Roanoke County caused traffic delays on Tuesday morning. The accident occurred at the 134.4-mile marker, resulting in the closure of the north right lane and right shoulder. The situation has since been resolved, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. (WSLS 10)

Today and tomorrow in Blacksburg:

Wednesday, June 21

• Ladies Night! At Gourmet Pantry (5:30 PM)
• Market Square Jam At Market Square Park (7:00 PM)

Thursday, June 22

• 97th Annual Virginia FFA State Convention At Commonwealth Ballroom, Squires Student Center - Virginia Tech (10:30 AM)

From my notebook:

• Looking for a home in the Blacksburg area? Discover a five-bed, three-bath home on Crestview Drive listed at $594,750 and a four-bed, two-bath home on Highland Circle listed at $434,000. (Blacksburg Patch)
• The Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad bid farewell to their junior crew members who have graduated high school and are moving on to universities and new adventures. The squad expressed pride in their accomplishments and wished them luck in their future endeavors, highlighting the meaningful relationships they've built during their time of service. (Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad via Facebook)
• Great Road Coffee hosted a ribbon-cutting event yesterday, Jun. 20, and invited everyone in the community to attend. The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce was in attendance to celebrate the grand opening. (Montgomery County VA Chamber of Commerce via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday! I'll be back in your inbox soon with a new 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.