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The Salem VA Health Care System is inviting all area veterans to come out Saturday for the VetFest Veteran Enrollment Fair.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more.

The Salem V-A wants to make it easy for veterans to get the healthcare and benefits they have earned through their service to the country.  So, Evan Hinkley, Salem VA Public Affairs Officer, says they’ve created a one stop shop.

“Veterans who are looking to enroll should bring their DD214, a valid photo ID, and any pertinent insurance information along and that will help us with the enrollment process,” continued Hinkley.

Hinkley encourages all veterans to come even if they are missing some of that documentation.  He says there are other ways to determine their eligibility, it just may take a little longer.

In addition to enrolling, Hinkley says some services will also be provided.

“The goal of this event and having it on a Saturday, though, is to really be accessible to a lot of veterans who maybe work the 9 to 5 or are busy throughout the day. And also in terms of a one-stop shop, that it won’t just be enrollment, but also the same day appointment, the benefit, and a number of other services, which include a toxic exposure screening for veterans who are enrolled, one-on-one private mental health care, homeless care teams, suicide prevention, women’s health.”

Hinkley says the Veterans Benefits Administration will also be on hand to handle claims and answer questions.  VetFest Veteran Enrollment Fair is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday at the Salem VA Medical Center. Denise Allen Membreno WFIR News.

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The Salem V-A Medical Center wants to make is easy for veterans in Southwest Virginia to enroll for healthcare and other benefits.  So it is hosting The VetFest Enrollment Fair.  Denise Allen Membreno reports.

This Saturday veterans can enroll in V-A health care and then that day they can receive an initial Primary Care appointment with a V-A Doctor. Veterans should bring their DD-214, a valid photo ID, and any insurance information.  There will also be toxic exposure screenings, one-on-one private mental health support, Women’s Health, Homeless care, Suicide Prevention, and Caregiver Support.

“The goal of this is to truly be a one-stop shop to connect veterans across the Roanoke Valley, across Southwest Virginia to the VA care and benefits that they’ve earned for serving and to have these services offered all in one day in one convenient location.”

Hinkley says if you have been denied before come apply again as the requirements have changed and you may be eligible. The Veterans Benefits Administration will also be on hand to handle claims and answer questions. Hinkley adds they are always looking for help.

“One important booth at the event will be a volunteering booth where anyone in the community is open and welcome to sign up and learn more about volunteering opportunities at the VA,” said Hinkley. We always need more people to help veterans with various items that are here at the VA, whether they’re inpatient, outpatient, or maybe even drivers who can help drive veterans to and from appointments.”

There will be summer picnic food and snacks. VetFest Veteran Enrollment Fair is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday at the Salem VA Medical Center. Denise Allen Membreno WFIR News.

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A Roanoke City council candidate is continuing to call for the removal of Flock license plate reading cameras. All this while the Town of Christiansburg has cut ties with FLOCK. Details from WFIR’s Clark Palmer

More than 400 Roanoke College freshman are involved this week in what is part of the orientation process every year, the R-House build with the local Habitat for Humanity chapter. But the 21st annual R-House is different in several ways this year. Its the first Habitat for Humanity house constructed in Salem since 2014 – and the first Roanoke College build that didn’t start as module units put together on campus, then shipped to the home site.  The two-story, three bedroom house is being built for a single mother and child.  Habitat-Roanoke is also celebrating its 40th anniversary this year; the Salem build on Chapman Street will be house number 301 – when completed it will be turned over to the new owner – who will pay a mortgage – its not a donation to them. The owner will also have to put in 250 hours of sweat equity on the R-House build. , as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:

The new RAM House Day Shelter on Elm Avenue that’s not quite fully operational yet has reached its previously announced capital campaign goal of four million dollars – but the executive director says they’re not quite done raising money yet. Melissa Woodson says they goal she set out at news conference outside the old RAM House location on Campbell Avenue of 4 million dollars was reached after the City of Roanoke chipped in some COVID era money they hadn’t used yet. But says Woodson, who expects to welcome day shelter guests to the Elm Avenue location within the next few weeks, inflation wrecked havoc with the original construction budget – so RAM House is looking to raise another 1.2 million dollars from donors large and small. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:

It was twenty years in the making – that’s how far back some Roanoke City Council members recall the need for an updated, covered bus shelter at the busy Valley View Walmart. They finally cut a ribbon today and on Monday the new Valley Metro bus stop, featuring two covered shelters and benches, lean rails and direct access to Walmart will be in operation.  Walmart, the City of Roanoke and Valley Metro worked together to make the new bus shelter finally happen. A previous attempt to place one on the old Sears property across the street hit a snag over an easement the city needed to make that happen. Mayor Job Cobb this morning:

Roanoke College has teamed up with Google – yes, Google – for its AI Education Accelerator Program, which launched on Tuesday and will be in place when students return to the Salem campus next week. The free AI training is designed to allow newly-minted Maroon alums to have a leg up on career opportunities when they start job searching. Google artificial intelligence training and Google Career Certificates – and AI training for faculty and staff at Roanoke College – all free courtesy of Google, which has been in the news locally as the tech giant looks to build data centers in Botetourt County. As for students, the goal is to have them graduate from Roanoke College with an AI “aptitude” that will enable them to adapt to the next newest AI breakthrough – and the one after that.

The Excel Center Adult High School at Melrose Plaza is expanding, adding new teachers and growing its student population. The Excel Center debuted one year ago with around 50 students returning to earn their high school diplomas, and in addition certifications that – together with their newly-minted diploma that meets all state standards – will help them land a better job. This week several educators hired to teach electives classes are in training. Goodwill Industries of the Valleys operates the Excel Center. The Excel Center will expand to accommodate 75 students this fall, a 50 percent increase. There are 11 classrooms at its Melrose Plaza campus with room to grow, with local businesses “sponsoring” those spaces, to 300 students but that depends on funding; the Center is a line item this year in the Commonwealth’s new two year biennial budget.

Many areas of the country are experiencing drought right now – including southwest Virginia, where the Town of Pulaski recently put mandatory restrictions in place. With the Roanoke Valley looking to grow its business and residential population, eventually additional water supply planning will be needed. The public has the chance to get a sneak peek at that process during an Open House meeting on August 25. Water has been on a lot of people’s minds in the area recently, especially with the proposal from Google to build three data centers on a campus in Botetourt County that could require as much as six million gallons a day to cool the chips that power artificial intelligence functions. Laura Schirmer, the public relations program manager for the Western Virginia Water Authority, says right now the current storage and distribution should be adequate until at least 2060. WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:

A two year, 27 million dollar project at Glen Cove Elementary School in western Roanoke County celebrated its completion today with a ribbon cutting – one day before the students will be back in class – which are now all enclosed in separate, walled in rooms – replacing the outdated “open classroom” concept from the 1970’s. A new administrative wing was added as well.  Roanoke County School Board vice chair Brent Hudson lauded all involved for juggling three construction projects over the past two years – including a similar upgrade at W.E. Cundiff Elementary and the new CTE Center that will open soon.

Glen Cove and WE Cundiff Elementary – where a similar upgrade was completed in 2025 – and the new CTE center under construction along Peters Creek Road were all part of a 130 million dollar capital projects plan approved by the school board several years ago. Principal April Brubaker saluted the patience demonstrated by students and staff during the upgrade process:

Amanda Marko is looking to be elected to Roanoke City Council this Fall when three seats are up for grabs – the economic development specialist and chair of the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission would become just the second Republican elected to Council in two decades. Marko says that GOP label shouldn’t stop some voters from considering her credentials – or her stance on bread-and-butter issues like parking.  Hear much more from Roanoke City Council candidate Amanda Marko about housing, economic development and other key points by clicking the link to this Longer Listen below: