NewsBreak Original

ABINGDON, VA - A recently filed lawsuit is shedding light on alleged misconduct and constitutional violations by the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority (SWVRJA). Christopher Coleman, the plaintiff in the case, accuses the SWVRJA and unidentified individuals referred to as SWVRJA Does of detaining him for over five days (105 hours) for a Class 4 Misdemeanor charge that, if he had been found guilty, would not have resulted in jail time.

When I was a child my grandmother told me that a famous singer Shirley WInn was related to us and that our cousin Oscar Patterson who used to live in Blue Ridge had raised her. I never met her, traveled in her circles, or heard her sing. I did hear people say she was considered to be the Shirley Ceasar of the Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Botetourt County areas of Southwest Virginia. This morning her name came to me and I wondered why. When I checked online to find out what she has been doing I found out she had passed on July 4th and was buried this past Saturday, July 15th.

I grew up in Southwest Virginia during the late 1960s and recall many jingles for television commercials. One came to mind today and I asked on Facebook and no one has responded that they remember. There was a product called Tiger Bread and the jingle was similar to the tune of "Head shoulders knees and toes (knees and toes).

The Oxford online dictionary defines Titanas a person or thing of very great strength, intellect, or importance" The luxury linerTitanic is said to have been named so because it was believed to be of great size and strength and unsinkable. The Titan submersible was named after the Titanic and similarities between the vessels themselves, their captains, and their final fate are the topic of discussion in Southwest Virginia and around the nation.

In the aftermath of the news that the people on board the Titan submersible had perished a specific issue is being talked about and disagreed upon in Southwest Virginia. The Coast Guard for 4 days said they had no reason to believe anything had happened to the sub and only revealed the truth after the debris field was located. Some Virginians say this was misleading while others believe there was no other choice.

Southwest Virginians are being warned to drive carefully. Were you aware that Memorial Day begins a period of time where statistics indicate you should be extra careful? Most people in the Commonwealth associate the period between the end of May and Labor Day s the period of summer fun and while that is true there is something else going on at the same time that is not so pleasant.

Normally it is advised that the great outdoors is healthy and beneficial and we should spend as much time in it as possible but for the next few days, there has been a shift in Virginia. The smoke from the Canadian wildfires has settled into the Commonwealth and affecting summer camps and outdoor workers temporarily. In Southwest Virginia, there is a Code Orange warning and residents are told to remain inside as much as possible for the next few days until the smoke lifts.

Canada's wildfire smoke continues moving East. Smoke from the Canadian wildfires is causing hazardous conditions across the East Coast of the US and Southwest Virginia has been under a Code Orange air quality alert since Thursday afternoon. This means it’s unhealthy for sensitive individuals like older adults, children, or anyone with asthma, or heart or lung conditions to be outside. When one of my cousins in Baltimore posted on Facebook a few days ago that the sky was filled with smoke from the wildfires in Canada I had no idea the smoke would continue to travel and eventually affect this area but here we are.

Southside and Southwest Virginia are vast and very different. When you listen to the local news you may have heard the terms Southside Virginia and Southwest Virginia and at times they are spoken of together. These are two neighboring locales are both south of the James River in the Commonwealth that are made up of different cities, and counties. There is also a Southside specific to Richmond as well as Hampton Roads.

Southwest Virginia residents know all too well the unpredictable nature of April weather. While meteorologists attribute this fickle behavior to the movement of low-pressure systems, past generations had their own explanations rooted in myths and folklore. This article will explore some of these myths and explain the scientific reasons behind the April weather fluctuations.

TS Elliot said April is the cruelest month because it plays tricks with the weather and a lot of folks in Southwest Virginia agree. Decades ago before the weather was understood as it is today there was a lot of folklore in this area that had to do with the month of April. Meteorologists today say that low-pressure moving around is the culprit for weather changes but people of previous generations gave their own explanations.

April Fool's Day was a highlight when I was growing up in Southwest Virginia and adults, as well as children, would get the better of each other with practical jokes on this date. One might be told their shoes were untied or there was a spider on their shirt and when they looked to see they heard "April Fool."

Governor Glen Younkin just signed a bill to highlight the historic Green Book sites from years gone by. These were businesses, hotels, and locations in Virginia that were considered to be African American friendly. This was a travel guide and a way locals could tell Black visitors where they would be welcome and which places to avoid because of possible danger.

Blockbuster Video was the home away from home for many people in this area and just thinking about it brings back many warm memories. There were several locations to choose from in the Roanoke-Salem area and throughout the Commonwealth. There is a rumor that this once giant in the world of video entertainment might make a comeback but it's not sure if this is real or a gag. Polygon is reporting that the chain's website has a message that appeared in November that has sparked interest in a possible renewal. In big letters,

For many generations, a lot of southern families had a meal featuring ham on Easter Sunday after church. This was expected and was as normal as turkey on Thanksgiving in Southwest Virginia. The Easter menu would have no chicken, beef, or turkey but ham only. Today churchgoers often have an Easter Sunday brunch or eat out at a restaurant after Sunday service and do not uphold the traditions of parents and grandparents.

There are some telephone numbers that are etched into our psyche because they have been utilized over and over through the years. Everyone by now should be aware of dialing 911 in an emergency to be connected with local authorities. You can gain local information related to your locality by dialing 211 Virginia and you can still call 540-3429011 to obtain the time and weather in the Roanoke Valley. There is also a beneficial service that is available by dialing 988 from anywhere in the US and these 3 digits are proving to be beneficial to residents of Southwest Virginia.

There are reasons your allergies may be affecting you year-round. If you feel that you are plagued with allergies throughout the year as opposed to a designated season it's not your imagination. Ever since around 2019, I have been hearing two common themes in Southwest Virginia related to allergies. There have been people saying they had gone their entire lives without being bothered by allergens until recently.

The third month of the year is one of transition from Winter to Spring which is why March weather can be so fickle. You might leave home wearing a sweater because it is warm and by the time you return, you might need an umbrella because it began to rain or wish you had on a heavier jacket because the temperature dropped. This transition is largely responsible for what is referred to as March winds which used to be regular in this neck of the woods and oh-so-strong.

Family-friendly programming is available in Southwest Virginia. When Cox Cable went digital there were many residents in Southwest Virginia who felt they had been left behind. One of the casualties for older adults was the loss of family-friendly television and programming from the past. A converter box and even a Roku box do not allow for many channels that people were used to before the change. There is also an overflow with the converter box with QVC networks and infomercials which is not quality TV. If you no longer have cable or are thinking about getting rid of it and you have a smart TV there is an option you might want to consider which is Frndly TV streaming service.