Virginia's community colleges offer a good education at an affordable price. No wonder, then, that in a sluggish economy the two-year schools are experiencing a boost in enrollment. Virginia Western Community College, for the first time, has seen its fall enrollment exceed 10,000 students.

By David Harrison david.harrison@roanoke.com 777-3523 The Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation has broken the $100,000 threshold in available scholarships. Just in time, too.

Community colleges play an invaluable role in serving students who, for reasons of time or money, need a nearby alternative to four- year institutions.

By Ruth L. Tisdale, The Roanoke Times, Va. Jan. 1--NEW CASTLE -- The Craig County library in New Castle is just like any other library in the Roanoke Valley. It has sufficient funding from county and state agencies to buy books and supplies.

By REX BOWMAN Fifty-nine former and current nursing students at Virginia Western Community College sued the school for nearly $21 million yesterday, claiming it failed to tell them its nursing program had lost its national accreditation.