Benefit for Kendall Bayne

Where: Radford University in Preston Hall

When: February 9th  7-10 p.m.

Admission: 1$ – plus donations

Tonight, in Preston Hall, Radford University students will be rocking out to raise money for 15-year-old Roanoke girl, Kendall Bayne. RU Parks, Recreation and Tourism students are putting on “Battle of the Bands” to raise money for Bayne, who was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer, Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma, last February.

“She lives up the street from me in Roanoke. And I’m up here in Radford. I wanted to get involved some way,” said Senior Ben Perfater, who coordinated this event with the help of his classmates.

“It was the first thing that popped in my mind. Maybe we can do something for this girl,” Perfater said.

The entry fee is only one dollar, but bands will have their own donation buckets. The buckets will be used as the voting process and donations will be accepted throughout the entire concert. At the end of the show, the band with the most donations wins.

A variety of music will fill Preston Hall tonight in honor of Bayne, who will not be present due to another surgery. Eight bands are scheduled to play music from rock to “easy-listening country” and from blue-grass to jam bands. All band members are students at RU.

“All money that we make goes to Kendall,” Senior Sarah Davis said. “Everything.”

If you can’t make it out tonight, there is always a way to help Kendall Bayne and her family at kendallbayne.com

Brad Paisley wants one, Vince Gill wants one, Eric Clapton has one. What is it? a handcrafted guitar from Wayne Henderson of Southwest Virginia. Click here to watch Taylor Faw’s multimedia profile.

Wayne Henderson tries out one of his creations

By Shaina Stockton |  New River Voice correspondent

When “Speed Junkie” first saw roller derby on TV, she knew that it was the sport she wanted to play. Disappointed that she couldn’t find a team close enough to home, she decided to start a group of her own. Since the group formed out of Christiansburg in 2007, the NRV Roller Girls have been whipping through obstacles to compete on a national level.

By Corey Mann / New River Voice correspondent

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Three plays into the game on a windy, chillingly cold Thursday night, the Hokie faithful must have wondered whether it had been worth battling the cold, with heat bags in one hand and hot cocoa in the other.

At 1:18, the Tar Heels were up by 7.

Thursday night games in Blacksburg are a yearly tradition for the Hokies, having beaten Georgia Tech last season on a Thursday night in Blacksburg 28-21. Just two seasons ago, North Carolina came into Blacksburg for a Thursday night game and upset the then No. 14 ranked Hokies, which undoubtedly was a hot topic for tailgaters before the game.

“North Carolina has played tough against good teams this year. They came in here and upset the Hokies two years ago; they can’t sleep on these guys,” said Sean Foley, a Hokie fan and Radford student.

North Carolina won the toss and elected to kick off to start the game and take the ball in the second half. Following a short return by David Wilson, Virginia Tech starting quarterback Logan Thomas was hit from behind on the first play from scrimmage, fumbling the ball.

It was recovered by the Tar Heels. Three plays and 20 yards later, running back Giovanni Bernard scored the first touchdown of the game on a four-yard rush. As if the stinging wind and harsh cold weren’t enough, the Hokies fell behind early as the Tar Heels took advantage of the first turnover of the game.

On Tech’s second offensive possession, short passes to senior Jarrett Boykin led the Hokies down the field. Just out of field goal range, head coach Frank Beamer decided to go for it on fourth down with a short pass to the right side of the field, which fell short.

After the failed conversion, North Carolina drove down the field into the red zone, looking to push the lead to two scores. Just five yards out of the end zone, RB Ryan Houston fumbled on a second down running play.

It was recovered by Virginia Tech, giving the Hokies some momentum going into the second quarter.

The Tar Heels have won six games this season. In all of those, they had not given up a single point in the first quarter. Leading 7-0 over the No. 9 ranked Virginia Tech Hokies after the first wasn’t a good sign.

The second quarter was a different story at Lane Stadium, as the Hokie defense held the Tar Heels to a punt and a missed field goal to end the half. The Hokies began the quarter with a long drive, resulting in an 11 yard touchdown pass to tight end Chris Drager. The game was tied 7-7. Follwoing a North Carolina punt, Logan Thomas led the Hokies down the field once again, and coach Beamer was forced to take a field goal, giving the Hokies a 10-7 lead going into the half.

The Hokies came out strong in the second half, as the defense held the Tar Heels to five plays before having to punt on the first drive. From there, the Hokies offense exploded.

During the next three possessions, the Hokies offense produced two more touchdowns. Thomas pushed ahead with a 23 yard touchdown run and his second touchdown pass of the game, this time to for a four-yard score to D.J. Coles. The Hokies went into the final quarter with a 24-7 lead. The tide had turned; the Hokie faithful were as rowdy as ever.

As the fourth quarter began, students filed out of the stadium, and more fans hurried to their cars to get warm. Most believed the game was over, but the Tar Heels put on the pressure. After missing a field on their first drive, the Tar Heels found the zone on their second drive with a short pass by Quarterback Bryn Renner to Wide Receiver Erik Highsmith.  After another punt by the Hokies, North Carolina scored again, bringing the score to 24-21, with just under three minutes left to play.

After a failed onside kick that didn’t go the required 10 yards, the Hokies played keep away until giving the ball over on downs with five seconds left in the game. An incomplete pass sealed head coach Frank Beamer’s 250th career victory, the most wins of all active head coaches in Division 1 College Football.

The night seals another 10-win season, as the Hokies move to 10-1 overall, and are guaranteed at least a share of the Coastal Division title of the Atlantic Coast Conference, giving them the front seat to the ACC Championship Game and a chance at a BCS Bowl Game.

Virginia Tech finishes the regular season Nov. 26 in Charlottesville against their in-state rival, the University of Virginia Cavaliers. UVA is having a fairly good season, at 7-3, with big wins over Georgia Tech and Miami, and big losses to North Carolina and Southern Miss. If all goes as expected, the Hokies will find themselves in a rematch against Clemson on Dec. 3, in the ACC Championship Game.

By Corey Mann | New River Voice correspondent

Radford University has seen its days in Virginia Tech’s shadow, but the rapidly growing university has found its way into the spotlight, reaching new milestones with this year’s incoming freshman class. The campus has never been so active: More than 9,400 students are attending classes in fall 2011.

More than 2,700 new freshman and transfer students are flooding campus sidewalks. On-campus renovations are ongoing. And don’t forget the 110,000-square-foot, $44 million building for the university’s College of Business and Economics. Undergraduate programs aren’t the only ones growing; the master’s programs have more than 1,100 students enrolled for the fall.

The university was eager to share the news of being named by the Princeton Review as one the top institutions in the southeast for the fourth year in a row. “I love all the accolades that are coming to Radford now. I’ve been here for four years, and it’s very easy to tell how much has changed in the best of ways,” said Michael Keaton, a senior.

But students interviewed around campus shared their frustration and pride in what they see as an overlooked success story. “When you read the news or watch it on TV, you always hear about Virginia Tech and how great it is there. But you never see anything about the students and faculty here at Radford,” said Ryan Coker, a sophomore. “I wish people would just notice what’s going on here.”

Radford has already made major changes by renovating and updating classrooms, renovating dormitories, bringing in new dining options and expanding off-campus with two brand new apartment complexes to address an anticipated demand for student housing.

Jonathan Hale spent his entire day in and out of biology and chemistry labs, but still had the time to share his views: “The faculty and students here work as one huge family, bringing opportunities to everyone. This is where we all belong and where we all want to be.”

By Maria Medina | newrivervoice.com correspondent

FLOYD, Va. – It is time for general elections and the small county of Floyd is seeing big competition in the race to become sheriff.

Three candidates, former police officer Laura Reinhard Sparks, Floyd County resident Paul David Hill, and incumbent Sheriff Shannon Zeman, are making their voices heard and hoping to be elected on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Sparks’ Family History

Candidate Laura Amanda Reinhard Sparks has been living in Floyd since childhood. Work with the police force runs in her family. Her father served 30 years with the New Orleans Police Department, and she knew from a young age that she would continue the line in public safety as an adult.

“I worked with the sheriff’s office (in Floyd) for four years,” said Sparks, who also married a state trooper.

Sparks, 35, graduated from Floyd High School in 1994 and went on to study at Radford University as well as Virginia Western Community College to earn her associate’s degree in Administration of Justice and a bachelor’s of science in Criminal Justice.

In 2002 Sparks attended the New River Criminal Justice Training Academy, finished second in her class, and went on to work for four years with the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office.

Sparks says her campaign has a strong focus on bringing the members of the sheriff’s office together as a whole and offering programs that will boost the department’s confidence. She hopes this will then result in a boost of the county’s confidence as a whole.

Being a woman is unique for the sheriff’s race in Floyd, but Sparks doesn’t let it affect her campaign and says the possibility of becoming the first female sheriff in Floyd is not her motivation.

“I never look at myself as a female, I always look at myself as an officer and I present myself as such … someone who is qualified, someone who can do the job,” Sparks said.

“Building the…. rapport back between themselves and the community by offering more training to them,” is one thing that Sparks pointed out to be of importance. Her goal is “to be a better officer and to become more sufficient in their duties and feel better about themselves.”

Sparks is also an active member in the community. She coaches fourth- and fifth-grade girls basketball and says she enjoys it.

Hill Draws on Faith

Sparks is not the only person contesting the re-election of the current sheriff. Paul David Hill is also running for the position and has a unique motivation.

“I’ve been Christian most of my life and in December of 2009. … God woke me up at 3 o’clock in the morning. I raised up in bed and a loud voice came in the bedroom and it said ‘Paul, it is time to start telling people about this now, and if you work at this I will deliver it to you,’” Hill says. He sees the race as a calling to become sheriff.

Hill, 50, has been married for 10 years and has a stepson, Dustin. He has worked as a mechanic at Joe Bandy and Sons Excavating for 23 years. Although his December 2009 experience weighed heavily on his decision to run this election, his interest in becoming sheriff is not a new one.

Even with religious experience as a motivation, the goals outlined in Hill’s campaign have a focus outside of religion.

“I want to have quarterly meetings at the schools and bring the public behind us,” Hill says. He wants to keep the community informed. “I believe that the people out here would have some good ideas if anyone would listen to them.”

“There used to be a community watch … and some elderly people have been asking me if I could bring that back. They’d feel safer with it,” Hill says.

Although he has less experience in police service than the other candidates, Hill is confident that this should not affect his running or his performance if elected.

“I feel like the good Lord called me to do this, so I feel like if I get in there He will give me the wisdom that I need. Plus, you have to have key people around you, and I think if I have the right key people around me it will go over pretty smooth,” said Hill.

When asked if elected would the rest of Hill’s programs and initiatives as sheriff be influenced by his religious background and experience he replied, “I’ve always been a Christian, but you know, you can’t push religion on anybody. All I can do is set an example and hope people follow. But no, I can’t run it differently just because I am a Christian.”

Zeman Stresses Experience

The competition for the position does not shake the confidence of the incumbent, who is hoping to be elected for his third term.

Sheriff Shannon B. Zeman, 48, operates from the third floor of the Sheriff’s Office on Main Street. His office is adorned with photos of family, in particular his daughter, a Roanoke College graduate, and knickknacks given to him by people who have come into his life.

Zeman has been married 28 years and has been a member of community service organizations in Floyd since adulthood.

“I started here as a dispatcher. … I did civil process and worked the jail. I did a county ordinance job, and I’ve worked the road here. I was chief deputy for eight years and I’ve been the sheriff for eight years,” Zeman said.

What does he offer that he thinks may push him to the top?

“I’ve been serving Floyd county for 30 years, … 15 years in the fire department, three years in the rescue squad, and this is my 23 year with the sheriff’s office,” Zeman said.

“There are five things I do, four that are required by the code. The first thing is to watch over court. … The second thing I do is to serve civil process papers for Floyd County. The third thing is we run a jail. Even though I don’t have a jail here, I am a member of the New River Valley Regional Jail. And the fourth thing I do by code is answer criminal complaints,” Zeman says.

Zeman’s fifth responsibility is what he calls the “24/7 work week.” By this he means that it is his responsibility to keep a watchful eye over the citizens of Floyd and be ready to answer the call at any time.

He sits on several boards he says keep him “always involved” with the community. “I’m vice president of Floyd County Cares, I am president of Medical Charities of Floyd County, I sit on the Carillion Health Foundation Board, I’m a Christian, and I have always been involved in my community. I’ve always been an honest, hard working person,” he says.

Zeman has not considered where else he may take his career if not as sheriff. “My heart is here, … so I haven’t really given much thought to it.”

The Drug Trade

Battling the drug trade is a big part of all candidates’ campaign platforms. Sparks, Hill and Zeman all have ideas on what steps need to be taken to rid the county of methamphetamine being made and sold here.

All three agree on one basic component: Education is critical.

Hill wants to introduce the non-profit outreach organization Mothers Against Methamphetamines, which offers educational and rehabilitation resources to those in need.

Sparks’ approach, which is influenced by personal experience with drug users, places a high priority on the children in the homes where these drugs are produced, as well as educating these minors about the effects of drug use.

“It is a cycle and it is something that needs to be stopped by just getting involved with them … and [educating] them about what is going on, because peer pressure is huge,” said Sparks.

Sparks also wants to better protect children who are in danger inside of homes where drugs are being produced.

Zeman’s approach involves aggressive round-ups of drug users and sellers. He is also working to keep meth out of Floyd by making it harder to produce. He has been in conversations with Acura Pharmaceutical Co., which is in the process of developing and getting approval for a new drug that contains the common decongestant pseudoephedrine, one that would be harder to convert into meth.

“They use an encapsulation process that makes it virtually impossible to remove the ephedrine from the pseudoephedrine. … It is approved by the FDA,” explains Zeman.

Being involved and active in the community is a large part of all three campaigns, and all three candidates see it as the beginning of the solution to any problem in Floyd.

Citizens of Floyd have much to contemplate in their decision this November as Sparks, Hill, and Zeman have all brought their best to the table in this race for sheriff.