Roanoke, Virginia (May 28-31, 2010) – Festival in the Park will celebrate its 41st year during Memorial Day weekend. As always, Festival in the Park is an exciting weekend with tons of stuff to do for any age, but this year will prove to be the best by far! We’ve got a fantastic concert line-up as well as a jammed packed weekend of family friendly activities that are sure to please! We’re bringing back many of the popular activities that people look forward to during Festival weekend like the Fine Arts & Craft Show, the Youth Art Show, the infamous Fireman’s Foam, Honey tree’s inflatables and face painting, Fire Safety House and many fabulous daytime performing artist.

However, we’re excited about the new additions to the line-up this year like Larry’s Tropical Bird Show, Dr. Laura Mann’s “Opera-tunity” Show and the Mega- Extreme Obstacle Course & Bungee Run. All the daytime activities are absolutely free! What a great way to entertain an entire family without having to spend lots of money.

In addition to all of the great activities listed above, Festival in the Park is excited to bring many well-known, national acts to downtown Roanoke. Star Country, WDBJ-7 and Festival in the Park are bringing country star- Rodney Atkins and Big Kenny, from Big and Rich. Rodney Atkins has had over five hit singles that have topped both Country Music Charts as well as Billboard. Rutledge will also be performing on opening night, May 28th; gates open at 5:30pm. On Saturday, May 29th K92, Bud Light and Festival in the Park are bringing international sensation Sister Hazel. Polychrome is a local group who will be opening for the platinum selling group. Star Country and Cox Communications are back at it on Sunday, May 30th with another great concert line-up including Chris Young, The Band Perry and Jaron & The Long Road to Love. All three acts currently have hits on the Country Music Charts and I-tunes top 50. Again, gates open at 5:30pm; music starts around 6:00pm. Join us to celebrate Memorial Day (Monday, May 31st) in style with 1964: The Tribute, presented by Q99, Kroger, Oakey’s and Festival in the Park. This act is always a crowd favorite and we are excited to have them back again for another year!

You can enjoy all four nights of fabulous music for only $32.00 by purchasing a “Festival EZ 4-Pass” at any area Kroger Store or $10.00 per person at the gate. Don’t miss out on this Memorial Day weekend tradition!

                          

The speeding crackdown will focus on Interstates 81 and 95, and will last through the end of Monday, May 24th. Expect to see troopers conducting roaming patrols, along the enitre north-south corridors of each highway.

State Police previously targeted both highways back in March, and results in 7,016 tickets being written.

Troopers also remind drivers to abide by Virginia’s “Move Over Law.“ It requires drivers to change lanes and slow down, or if you cannot change lanes to cautiously pass when police or emergency workers are stopped on the side of the road.

                          

The Royal Comedy Tour features the following comedians:

Sommore, the original “Queen of Comedy” has emerged as one of America’s top comedic performers consistently delivering sharp sarcasm with an amazing presence. The Trenton, New Jersey native has appeared various shows including Russell Simmons’ “Def Comedy Jam”, BET’s “Live From LA”, “Showtime At The Apollo” and featured on “The Oprah Winfrey Show”. Sommore received the prestigious Richard Pryor Award for “Comic Of The Year”. Starring in the ground-breaking Queens of Comedy tour, Sommore was featured on the Showtime special and now has her own successful DVD “The Queen Stands Alone”. Her film appearances include Soul Plane, A Miami Tail, Friday After Next and Something New. Other noteworthy accomplishments include several appearances on the sitcoms “The Hughley’s”, “The Parkers”, and “Politically Incorrect with Bill Mahar”.

Bruce Bruce is a name synonymous with keeping audiences rolling with laughter thanks to his captivating improv skills and larger than life comedic style. Bruce’s steady style of comedy has been showcased across the country, and he has been entertaining audiences young and old, and of all backgrounds, for years. His wit, spontaneity and dazzling personality set him apart from other standup comedians. Although Bruce is known for his adult comedy, he prides himself on not using vulgarity to win a laugh, and is no stranger is winning over new audiences with every appearance he makes. From his role as host for two seasons of BET’s “Comic View” to his many appearances on tv and film, Bruce is clearly a comedian that has found his mark in the business. Bruce recently headlined the 2008 Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, leaving the audiences north of the border in stitches. On the feature film front, Bruce made a cameo in the HBO Films feature Idlewild, and appeared in the Larry the Cable Guy-starrer Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector. He also recently appeared in the comedy Who’s Your Caddy as “Golf Ball Eddie.”

Gary Owen has been entertaining America for over a decade with his side-splitting comedy. Having performed in all of the major comedy rooms across America, including The Laugh Factory Hollywood, The Comedy Store, all of the Improvs, numerous Funny Bones and Punchlines, and Caroline’s in New York, Owen is one of America’s most loved comedians. Owen has also been recognized around the country for his scene stealing role of “Bearcat” in MGM’s film COLLEGE. Owen can be seen as “Zach” the barber on Tyler Perry’s extremely successful HOUSE OF PAYNE, which just got picked up for an additional 46 episodes. Perry met Owen on the Tom Joyner Morning Show (on which Owen is a regular), immediately knew he wanted to work with him, and wrote him into the show. Additionally, Owen has been seen in such films as LITTLE MAN with the Wayans Brothers, REBOUND, and DADDY DAY CARE with Eddie Murphy.

Pierre, the “Light-Skin” comedian, burst into stardom when he wrote, directed and starred in “For Da Love of Money”. Pierre has also appeared alongside Halle Berry in “B.A.P’s”, Bill Bellamy in “How To Be A Player” and Snoop Dogg in “The Wash”. His television’s credits include The Steve Harvey Show, Def Comedy Jam, BET’s Comic View, Showtime at the Apollo as well as music videos featuring Dr. Dre, TuPac, and Lil Flip.

                          

Joshua Warner of Bedford VA has been charged with the death of his infant daughter.

Joshua Warner, 27, is being held without bond in the Blue Ridge Regional Jail.

At 11:21 a.m. Friday, a 911 from a home at 1021 Bowman Lane in Bedford was made and the caller said a 6-week-old infant was unresponsive, according to a news release from the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office.

The child was rushed to Cariliion Bedford Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. “Emergency room staff and investigators quickly noticed injuries to the child that required follow-up investigation,” the news release stated.

Warner was charged with murder. Additional charges may be placed.

An autopsy was to be performed today by the medical examiner in Roanoke VA.

Authorities have not named the victim.

                          

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Felony charges have been filed against John Thomas Nelon Jr.:

1. Manufacturing methamphetamine

2. Possession of red phosphorus and other drugs with the intent of manufacturing methamphetamine

3. Manufacture a controlled substance within 1000 feet of a school

Reports say that the materials they found inside the building on West Madison Avenue are consisten with items used to make meth.