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Former Salem girls volleyball coach faces new videotaping charges

Evan Jones — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:05:56 +0000

Dewayne Barger (Salem Police photo)

A former Salem girls’ volleyball coach faces additional charges of covertly videotaping players changing clothes — this time at a church. Dewayne Barger was already charged with secretly videotaping girls in his apartment bathroom. Now a grand jury charges him with videotaping girls with his travel volleyball club changing clothes last October without their consent at a Salem church. Police do not name the church, but they say Barger had permission to use it for team functions. Barger turned himself in this morning and was then released under his existing $50,000 bond.

(Continue reading for the full Salem Police news release.)

Salem Police news release

On May 23, Dewayne Barger surrendered himself at the Salem Police Department and was arrested and charged with 17 counts of Unlawfully Videotaping Person(s) under the age of 18 without Consent. These charges are the result of the ongoing investigation into Barger, who was initially charged in March of this year with Producing Child Pornography and Child Pornography Possession.
On May 17, a Salem Grand Jury was presented with the facts of the investigation that allege on October 14, 2012, Barger placed a covert camera in a room where juvenile females associated with his travel volleyball club were changing clothes. The investigation revealed that the recording occurred at a Salem church that Barger had been given permission to use for team functions.
Barger was taken into custody this morning without incident and released on an existing $50,000 bond.

Advance Auto 1st quarter earnings fall almost 8%

Evan Jones — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:56:24 +0000

Advance Auto Parts reports first quarter earnings dropped almost 8% from last year, and the Roanoke-based company calls the outlook for the rest of the year “guarded”. The company cites prolonged winter weather this year, the payroll tax increase that took effect in January and continued high unemployment as major reasons. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.

05-23 Advance Earnings Wrap_WEB

Click here for the full Advance Auto news release.

Disaster response exercise in Roanoke today — for pets

Evan Jones — Thu, 23 May 2013 09:01:50 +0000

Roanoke Emergency Management officials are planning a disaster response exercise today — for pets. It is mandated under a federal law passed after Hurricane Katrina, one requiring communities to have plans in place to shelter and care for domestic pets after natural disasters. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.

05-24 Pet Shelters Wrap1-WEB

Roanoke College poll: Virginia consumer sentiment on the rise

Web Staff — Thu, 23 May 2013 09:00:02 +0000

Unemployment is dropping in the Commonwealth, and that means consumer sentiment is rising. A new Roanoke College poll shows consumer sentiment is at 80.9% this month — up 12 points from the first quarter of this year. WFIR’s Jay King has the story.

RC Poll Wrap 1-WEB

Click here for full poll results and methodology.

Report: Cuccinelli initiates probe of McDonnell financial statements

Evan Jones — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:59:25 +0000

Gov. Bob McDonnell

Governor Bob McDonnell is under investigation over financial statements he has filed — a probe initiated by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. The Richmond Times Dispatch says the process started last November but has just become public. Cuccinelli appointed a special prosecutor to examine the governor’s statements. Under Virginia law, elected officials are required to account for all gifts of more than $50. The investigation follows disclosures surrounding the governor and first lady Maureen McDonnell’s relationship with Jonnie Williams Sr. He is the CEO of Richmond area dietary supplement maker Star Scientific.

Click here for the full Richmond Times-Dispatch story

Norfolk Southern says Roanoke yard closing has improved railroad’s efficiency

Evan Jones — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:45:23 +0000

A high-ranking Norfolk Southern executive says the railroad’s recent closing of the Roanoke hump yard is already producing the desired financial results. A railroad senior vice-president told an investors conference the move has resulted in “solid cost savings” with no disruptions to service. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.

05-22 Roanoke Yard Wrap1-WEB

Southwest Virginia not immune to tornadoes

Timothy Martin — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:03:06 +0000

While an EF5 Tornado like the one that touched down in Oklahoma is unlikely here, twisters can still do lots of damage in our region. WFIR’s Timothy Martin explains.

Tornado-Threat-Wrap 2-WEB

Virginians mobilize to help Oklahoma tornado victims

Evan Jones — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:01:19 +0000

Virginians are quickly responding and mobilizing to help tornado victims in Oklahoma. One of the most active organizations is Danville-based God’s Pit Crew, which is sending trucks filled with water, Gatorade and personal hygiene products. They work with local faith-based organizations to distribute their “Blessing Buckets”. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.

05-22 GodsPitCrew Wrap1-WEB

Click here for the God’s Pit Crew website.

There is a collection site today and tomorrow at the Bonsack Walmart.

Radio station asks listeners for bottled water donations; response stacks up

Evan Jones — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:26:35 +0000

A steady procession of cars and vans is delivering donated bottled water for delivery to Oklahoma tornado victims. Our sister station K92 is asking listeners to bring cases of bottled water to the station, and the response has been virtually non-stop all day. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.

05-21 K92 Water Wrap_WEB

Roanoke Valley Red Cross prepares to send disaster relief volunteers to Oklahoma

Evan Jones — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:47:43 +0000

The Red Cross Roanoke Valley Chapter is preparing to send volunteers to hard-hit areas of Oklahoma. Some are trained to operate a mobile kitchen, others are prepared to set up or operate shelters for tornado victims, and some are prepared to provide mental health counseling. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.

05-21 Red Cross Wrap_WEB

Click here for information on making donations to the Red Cross

Analyst: Cuccinelli campaign likely to “confound” many, take populist tone

Evan Jones — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:01:41 +0000

A noted Richmond political expert expects the Ken Cuccinelli campaign for governor to take a direction that may “confound” many people. Bob Holsworth expects Cuccinelli’s Republican campaign to adopt a populist theme, one more typically associated with Democratic candidates. Holsworth says Cuccinelli needs to go beyond attacks on federal government overreach and address concrete state issues to be successful. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.

05-21 Cuccinelli Campaign Wrap-WEB

Area police kick off Click it or Ticket campaign

Timothy Martin — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:59:32 +0000

Police departments from all over the area gathered yesterday on the Blue Ridge Parkway to kick off the Regional Click it or Ticket campaign. WFIR’s Timothy Martin says police will be out in force over the next two weeks.

Click-Tick Wrap 2-WEB

Cuccinelli, Jackson, Obenshain bring initial statewide GOP campaign swing to Roanoke

Evan Jones — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:47:36 +0000

The freshly-nominated statewide Republican ticket touched down in Roanoke today as part of a three-day fly-around tour of Virginia. GOP convention delegates selected Ken Cuccinelli, E.W. Jackson, and Mark Obenshain as the party nominees for Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General over the weekend. WFIR’s Evan Jones reports on their Roanoke visit.

05–20 GOP Ticket Wrap-WEB

VDOT: new highway funding speeds safety improvements for foggy Fancy Gap mountain

Evan Jones — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:01:34 +0000

Virginia’s new transportation funding bill appears ready to speed up VDOT plans for new safety measures on Fancy Gap Mountain on Interstate 77, where heavy fog sometimes leads to big pileups. VDOT wants to install a variable speed limit system to slow traffic when fog moves in, but it never had the funding. Now, pending final approval next month, VDOT will be able to advertise bids for such a system by June of next year. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.

05-20 Facy Gap Wrap1-WEB

More people took advantage of free tax preparation service this year

Timothy Martin — Mon, 20 May 2013 08:58:18 +0000

The Virginia Community Action Partnership says more people benefited from free tax preparations services this year, but there are still lots that didn’t. WFIR’s Timothy Martin reports.

Tx Service Wrap 1-WEB

Car plows into parade crowd in Damascus, VA

AP — Sun, 19 May 2013 12:10:44 +0000

DAMASCUS, Va. (AP) _ Witnesses described a frantic scene and close calls after an elderly driver plowed into dozens of hikers marching in a small Virginia mountain town’s parade.

Investigators say they are looking into whether the man had suffered a medical emergency before the accident. The driver was being treated and hasn’t been identified.

About 50 to 60 people suffered injuries ranging from critical to superficial, but no fatalities were reported. Three of the worst injured were flown by helicopter to area hospitals.

It happened during the Hikers Parade at the Trail Days festival, an annual celebration of the Appalachian Trail in Damascus, near the Tennessee state line.

VA GOP candidates on statewide campaign swing

Web Staff — Sun, 19 May 2013 12:06:43 +0000

Photo credit: rpv.org

The Republican candidates for Virginia governor, lieutenant Governor and attorney general will campaign together in a statewide fly-around Sunday through Tuesday. Ken Cuccinelli, Mark Obenshain and E.W. Jackson will visit ten cities in those three days. It is their first series of first joint campaign appearances since their nominations Saturday at the Virginia GOP convention in Richmond. The events include a 10:30 a.m. appearance in Roanoke at Landmark Aviation’s outdoor courtyard at Roanoke Regional Airport, and an 8:45 a.m. Tuesday appearance at the Lynchburg airport general aviation terminal.

VA Republicans choose E.W. Jackson for Lt. Gov. nomination

AP — Sun, 19 May 2013 11:44:54 +0000

Rev. E.W. Jackson

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia Republicans have chosen firebrand conservative minister E.W. Jackson’s for lieutenant governor, the first black candidate the party has nominated for statewide office since 1988.

Jackson provoked the loudest ovation of the day at from the tea party-dominated Republican Party convention in Richmond on Saturday, declaring in an impassioned speech, “I am not an African-American, I am an American!”

He won the nomination on the fourth ballot over six rivals. As the only black candidate, he becomes the first black Republican nominee since the party nominated Maurice Dawkins in 1988.

Jackson heads a nondenominational church in Chesapeake and credits his religious background for his shift from the Democratic Party. His first GOP bid for office came last year when he lost the U.S. Senate nomination to former Sen. George Allen.

Obenshain wins GOP nomination for VA Attorney General

AP — Sun, 19 May 2013 11:42:11 +0000

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ State Sen. Mark Obenshain has won the Republican nomination for attorney general in Virginia 35 years after his father won the party’s U.S. Senate nomination.

Obenshain was nominated by acclamation on a voice vote after his rival, Del. Rob Bell, conceded defeat after the first ballot at the Virginia Republican Convention on Saturday.

Obenshain’s father, Richard Obenshain, won the party’s U.S. Senate nomination in the same building in 1978, but was killed in August of that year when a small plane carrying him home from a campaign event crashed when Mark Obenshain was 16. John W. Warner took his place on the ballot and won the first of five U.S. Senate terms.

Onstage with Obenshain when he accepted the nomination was his mother and Richard Obenshain’s widow, Helen Obenshain.

Cuccinelli nominated by acclamation

AP — Sun, 19 May 2013 11:37:21 +0000

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia’s conservative activist attorney general, Ken Cuccinelli, has been nominated by acclamation for governor at a statewide Republican convention dominated for the first time by the tea party.

Cuccinelli was unopposed for the nomination. Several thousand delegates to the convention will also choose their nominees for lieutenant governor from seven candidates, and choose between Del. Rob Bell of Albemarle and state Sen. Mark Obenshain of Harrisonburg.

In remarks to the convention Saturday, Cuccinelli tacked to the center in a speech that stressed mainstream themes and fought back against Democratic attacks portraying him as a right-wing extremist.

He made scant mention of his support for abortion restrictions and instead noted his crackdowns on Internet predators and human traffickers, to exonerate the wrongly convicted and aid the intellectually disabled.

Mega Millions winning ticket sold in Farmville

AP — Sun, 19 May 2013 03:45:07 +0000

FARMVILLE, Va. (AP) _ A Mega Millions ticket sold in Farmville has matched all six numbers in the latest drawing and will split the estimated $190 million jackpot with the holder of another winning ticket bought in New Jersey.

Virginia Lottery officials said Saturday that one of the winning tickets from Friday night’s drawing was bought at the Farmville Food Lion. The winner has yet to claim the ticket, which is worth $95 million.

The numbers drawn were 11, 15, 35, 43, 49. The Mega Ball was 41.

The Virginia winner has 180 days to claim the prize and can choose to take the $95 million in 26 annual payments or a one-time cash option of $70.3 million before taxes.

It’s the eighth time there has been a Mega Millions jackpot winner in Virginia.

Dollar General wants to hire 10,000 people; career fairs Saturday include one in Roanoke

Evan Jones — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:48:04 +0000

Dollar General stores are looking for new employees for its stores in the Roanoke area and across the country. A career fair in Roanoke tomorrow is one of 170 they’ll hold in 40 states as the growing chain seeks to hire 10,000 new employees this month. The local career fair runs from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm at the Dollar General at Orange Avenue and Gus Nicks Boulevard. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.

05-17 Dollar General Wrap-WEB

Click here for more Dollar General Career Fair information

Almost two years and $30 million later, Center in the Square reopens Saturday

Evan Jones — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:01:04 +0000

Center in the Square re-opens its doors tomorrow after a $30 million renovation that took almost two years. The building may be the same, but what’s inside looks a lot different. The center will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9:30, then the doors open at 10:00. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.

05-17 Center Preview Wrap1-WEB

Click here for full Center in the Square reopening information.

(Continue reading to see photographs taken Thursday.)

Lottery frenzy with two big jackpots

Timothy Martin — Fri, 17 May 2013 08:58:29 +0000

Lottery players have lots of options over the next two days. Powerball is now $550-million, but that’s not the only big prize. WFIR’s Timothy Martin reports.

Big-Jackpots Wrap 1-WEB

Poll shows McAuliffe with narrow lead over Cuccinelli

Evan Jones — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:17:39 +0000

Terry McAuliffe has a narrow lead over Ken Cuccinelli in the latest statewide poll, but the governor’s race remains close. The Quinnipiac University poll has Democrat McAuliffe with 43% right now and Republican Cuccinelli with 38%. Previous Quinnipiac Polls found the governor’s race to be a virtual tie. 17% of those questioned say they are undecided at the moment, and if it comes down to Independents in November, that’s pretty much a dead heat at present with 38% for Cuccinelli and 37% favoring McAuliffe.

Click here for full poll results and methodology.

Salem merchants collect new bedsheets for Afghanistan MASH unit

Evan Jones — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:30:58 +0000

Merchants and businesses at a Salem shopping center are asking for unusual donations this weekend for a military field hospital in Afghanistan. Spartan Square is holding “Armed Forces Appreciation Day” Saturday from 10:00 until 1:00, and along with all the events, they will announce regular requests for donations of twin-size sheet sets in darker colors. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.

05-16 Army Sheets Wrap-WEB-WEB

Click here for full event information

Liberty University’s legal challenge to president’s health care overhaul to be heard today

Evan Jones — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:01:21 +0000

Liberty University leads a legal challenge today to President Obama’s health care overhaul when a federal appeals court in Richmond considers the university’s lawsuit. Liberty claims religious employers should not be required to pay for abortion coverage, but in much larger terms, it is challenging the entire employer mandate. Obama Administration lawyers say Liberty’s case is without merit. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.

05-16 LU Lawsuit Wrap1-WEB

Roanoke job fair targets college grads

Timothy Martin — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:58:11 +0000

Roanoke’s Career, Lifestyle and Financial Fitness Fair starts at 8:30 this morning at the Roanoke Civic Center’s Special Events Center. WFIR’s Timothy Martin says the focus is college graduates.

Career-Fair Wrap 2-WEB

Botetourt County emergency services director resigns — one year after starting

Evan Jones — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:24:24 +0000

Botetourt County’s emergency services director has resigned, just over a year after taking the job. Carr Boyd submitted his resignation this week; he will stay through the end of the month. Boyd came to Botetourt County from Charlotte, North Carolina in May of last year as the first person to direct the county’s new Department of Emergency Services. No reason is given to us for his resignation, but Boyd has been at odds with some volunteer fire department chiefs over their emergency response roles and command structures.

Poll shows slip in McDonnell approval rating; recent allegations do not appear to factor in the decline

Evan Jones — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:14:59 +0000

A new statewide poll shows Governor McDonnell’s approval rating falling to its lowest level in two years — but pollsters say recent allegations involving the governor do not seem to play a role in the decline. The Quinnipiac University poll shows the governor’s job approval rating at 49% to 28%. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.

05-15 Quinnipiac Wrap-WEB

Click here for full poll results and methodology.