The Commonwealth of Virginia (named after Queen Elizabeth I of England, who was known as the Virgin Queen) is one of the original thirteen states of the United States that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution. It is located in the Southern United States but is sometimes included, geographically, in the Mid-Atlantic States. It is one of four states that use the name commonwealth. Virginia was the first part of the Americas to be colonized permanently by England.

Virginia is known as the "Mother of Presidents", because it is the birthplace of eight U.S. presidents (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, Woodrow Wilson, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler and Zachary Taylor), more than any other state. Four of the first five presidents were from Virginia, and seven of the first twelve. The most recent Virginian president was Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president. Virginia has also been known as the "Mother of States", because portions of the original Colony subsequently became Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and West Virginia as well as some portions of Ohio.

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The Roanoke Times: Local news

Business is aflutter for leaf collectors this fall - roanoke.com
Landscape outfits are raking in profits since Roanoke no longer collects leaves for free.Roanoke's public works crews no longer suck up leaves piled curbside. As a result, longstanding leaf collection outfits are raking in piles of new business this year in the city. And competitors are popping up like fall mushrooms.
endangered HISTORIC SPACES - roanoke.com
A list of endangered sites in the Roanoke region includes a number of locations that are or have recently been in use.Psst! Some of your heritage may be vanishing. That's the message of the annual endangered sites list produced by the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation, a 21-year-old nonprofit organization that labors to protect the structures and landscapes that lend the region its sense of place.
Ex-writer pleads not guilty in court - roanoke.com
A former Star-Sentinel writer is accused of illegally obtaining e-mails from the paper.A former Roanoke Star-Sentinel writer pleaded not guilty Friday in federal court to a misdemeanor charge connected to an apparent attempt to document an election law violation. Willow Louisa Rosenblatt, 39, of Roanoke is accused of the unauthorized access of a computer system engaged in interstate commerce, an unusual charge rarely seen in Roanoke's federal courts. Translated, the accusation is that after her employment as a freelance sports writer ended in the spring of 2008, she set the Star-Sentinel's e-mail system to forward messages to her at home, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharon Burnham said. Star-Sentinel Publisher Stuart Revercomb had his personal e-mail forwarding to the paper, so that went to Rosenblatt as well, Burnham said.
Coyotes roam Botetourt area - roanoke.com
The animals are more of a threat to livestock and pets than they are to humans, but residents are concerned nonetheless.Coyotes are increasingly on the prowl in the expanding suburban Greenfield community of Botetourt County, but state game officials say there's little they can do but encourage residents to hunt down the animals.

Daily News-Record

Local Veterans Take Center Stage At Elkton Ceremony
Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600
ELKTON — It was a cold day but the sentiments were warm, even emotional. As a light rain fell outside the Monger Shelter in Elkton’s Stonewall Memorial Park, the Veterans Day ceremony, arranged by Haze Crider and the Elkton Neighborhood Watch, honored all American veterans, and in particular fallen Marine Lance Cpl. Jordan Chrobot, w
Headstone And Bench Finally Rest With Local Soldier Thomas Wilson's Grave
Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600
On Aug. 27, 2007, local soldier Thomas Wilson of Maurertown was killed during active duty in Afghanistan. His mother, Julie Hepner, and three siblings, Chloe, Chelsea and Ethan, learned of the news the next day. Wilson had decided to join the Army a year earlier and was two weeks away from his return home. He had dreams of returning to W
Try A Shopping Alternative
Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600
Black Friday: The day after Thanksgiving that kicks off the Christmas shopping season with door-buster specials and mega sales. When aisles are stuffed with irate people and roads are full of even angrier drivers. When genteel women turn into wildebeests for a $5 slow cooker or men lose their religion over an underpriced HDTV.

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