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

Fleming graduate ready to pursue her dream at Harvard - roanoke.com
Supporters have donated more than $1,000 toward Salena Sullivan's expenses.Salena Sullivan was in Target not long ago when a stranger came up to her to say she'd been licking envelopes on her behalf.
Teacher retention swings upward - roanoke.com
The Roanoke school system lost fewer teachers in 2007-08 than it had in recent school years.Fewer teachers left Roanoke classrooms during the 2007-08 school year than in other recent years, according to the city school system. Roanoke lost 155 teachers in the school year that ended in June, roughly 13 percent of its teaching corps. That's fewer than the 235 teachers who left during the 2006-07 school year, but it's still too high for Superintendent Rita Bishop, who aims to be closer to an 8 percent turnover rate. Human resources director Billie Kay Wingfield was more ambitious. "I'd like to get to 5 percent," she said.
Clifton Forge to restrict water usage during plant's upgrade - roanoke.com
Clifton Forge plans to issue mandatory water restrictions, but it has nothing to do with recent drought conditions. Instead, the town will institute the restrictions as a precaution while it upgrades its nearly 50-year-old water treatment plant.
Water main break damages road - roanoke.com
A broken water main closed part of a street and affected water service Thursday in some parts of Northwest Roanoke. Sarah Baumgardner of the Western Virginia Water Authority said the 12-inch main broke during the early afternoon in the 4000 block of Melrose Avenue.
Roanoker's purse taken at gunpoint - roanoke.com
A 21-year-old Roanoke woman was robbed of her purse at gunpoint Wednesday night in Northeast Roanoke, police said. The woman was walking toward an apartment in the 700 block of Drew Avenue about 8:20 p.m. when she was approached by a male who brandished a gun and demanded money, police spokeswoman Aisha Johnson said.
Rockbridge Co. brothers face drug charges - roanoke.com
Two Rockbridge County men face federal drug charges after a hunter found marijuana growing in the George Washington National Forest. Michael J. Shifflett, 46, of Glasgow and his brother Jackson David Shifflett Jr., 51, of Natural Bridge Station are each charged with distributing marijuana and conspiring to distribute marijuana. A grand jury indicted the men Aug. 21, and they were arrested Tuesday. Twenty-two firearms were seized from their residences, a news release issued Thursday by the U.S. attorney's office said.

Daily News-Record

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From Fighting Fires To Painting Hydrants
Look closely at the red fire hydrant in front of a local office building.  The fine detail and color-coded top means more than meets the eye.  For the past 10 years, Woodstock native Daniel Hottel, 82, has made it his business to make sure all of the fire hydrants in town are up to code. Hottel was born and raised in Woodstock
Serco To Merge With SI International
HARRISONBURG - SI International, a Reston-based information technology company with offices in Harrisonburg, is entering into a "definitive merger agreement" with Serco Inc., the U.S. division of the international service company Serco Group. While it is "too premature" to determine how exactly this will affect the Harri

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