We don't often think of cows in the woods, and apparently neither did the black bear. This photo, sent in by Kevin Light, was taken by Jake Walters.

What do you get when you combine a superhero and advanced manufacturing technology?  New River Community College student Corey Ludwig got a fully functioning miniature steam engine and an “A” grade for a final project in his Precision Machining Techniques class. Ludwig chose Batman as the theme of his project and used high-tech equipment in the college’s machine technology lab to create it.

Shelor Motor Mile Jeep is partnering with Motor Mile Speedway and the New River Valley Jeep Club to support local armed forces and the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program on Saturday, May 19. From now through May 19, any member or veteran of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserve can bring his/her military id and receive 1 free admission to Motor Mile Speedway, 1 hot dog or chili dog and 1 soft drink for the Late Model Stock Car Speedway race at 7:00 pm that evening.

Forty students in the 2012 associate degree nursing class at New River Community College received their NRCC nursing pins and their associate degrees at a recent ceremony at the college. This is the eighth graduating class of associate degree nurses at NRCC and the graduates are now eligible to take their registered nurse licensing exam.

New River Community College’s (NRCC) eighth annual Youth Theater Camp will be held this summer from Monday, July 16 to Friday, July 27, in Rooker Hall at NRCC in Dublin.

The Route 674 (Craig Mountain Road) bridge over Elliott Creek in Montgomery County will be closed to through traffic on Friday, May 18 and Saturday, May 19. The bridge is located about four miles east of Route 615 (Pilot Road). Weather permitting, the bridge is expected to remain closed for approximately 12 hours each day from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. Drivers should plan accordingly for the closure. These dates are tentative and could be adjusted depending on weather and work schedule.

Historical/Cultural event: Friday, June 15th at 7pm, at First Baptist Church, Radford. Picnic Celebration: Saturday, June 16th at 11am-4pm, at Rosa Peters Playground, Christiansburg. For more information call 382-6751. All are welcome.

The Montgomery County-Radford City-Floyd County Branch of the NAACP will hold its next General Body meeting on Sunday, May 20th from 3:30-5pm at the Christiansburg Community Center at 570 High Street. (Note the change of date to avoid Memorial Day weekend.) For more information call 382-6751. All are welcome.

Four local hospitals have been honored by the Virginia Community College System with a 2012 Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. Carilion Giles Community Hospital, Carilion New River Valley Medical Center, LewisGale Hospital Montgomery and LewisGale Hospital Pulaski were nominated for the award by New River Community College. Representatives from the hospitals were recognized at a recent luncheon ceremony at the Country Club of Virginia in Richmond.

Kevin Light of Riner has a knack for catching local wildlife on camera. These two photos of bobcats are reminders that we share this rural area with a few creatures who can be dangerous.