Ian Price
Salem City Council unanimously voted yesterday to appoint James L. Chisom as Salem’s newest council member. Chisom will fill the position vacated by Lisa Garst and serve out the remainder of her term, which expires on June 30, 2016. Officials say council members considered a number of candidates before selecting Chisom during the closed session portion of yesterday’s meeting. Chisom was born and raised in Salem and is a graduate of both Salem High School and Roanoke College. From 2000 to 2008 he served three terms on the Salem City School Board. Before last night’s meeting, Garst was given a key to the city by her fellow members on Council. She was first elected to the city’s governing body in 2008 and served seven years with her tenure officially coming to an end yesterday. She will take over as the Director of Livable Roanoke Valley on January 4, 2016.
UPDATE: Chesterfield County- Virginia State Police are still investigating Sunday night’s crash of a charter bus in North Chesterfield County. At this stage of the investigation, the trooper has determined that speed was a factor in the cause of the crash. State police has also been in contact with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concerning the crash.
Earlier: Virginia State Police are investigating an overturned bus crash that occurred around 7:15 p.m., on November 29th in North Chesterfield County. A charter bus was traveling south on the Powhite Parkway/Route 76 when it took the ramp to Chippenham Parkway/Route 150 south. As the bus came through the curve of the ramp, the driver lost control and the bus overturned onto its side. The bus, operated by Abbott Bus Lines of Roanoke, had 50 passengers and a driver on board at the time of the crash. Approximately 34 of the passengers and the driver were transported to six Metro-Richmond hospitals for treatment of minor injuries. One passenger is being treated for serious injuries. The passengers are students returning to the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and Radford University. The bus picked the students up at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond and was initially headed to the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. The bus driver, 58-year-old Thomas Chidester of Salem, is charged with reckless driving.
Alexander (left) and Jones (right)
Roanoke Police are searching for two men in connection to a Saturday morning shooting at the corner of 35th street and Melrose Avenue. Authorities say the victim 26-year-old Johnathan Faulks of Roanoke came into the emergency room at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital before noon with non-life threatening injuries. 44-year-old Bernard Alexander is charged with malicious wounding and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. 32-year-old Rahmyene Jones is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Police are still searching for Alexander and Jones, both of Roanoke. Anyone who knows any information leading to their whereabouts can call 911, make an anonymous phone call to 540-344-8500 or send an anonymous text starting with the keyword RoanokePD: to CRIMES (274637).
Derick Whorley
Roanoke City police are investigating two unrelated Friday night shootings. Authorities say two males arrived at the hospital after they were shot in the 300 block of Gilmer Avenue. The victims are 23-year-old Kevine Johnson and 22-year-old Nelson Sanders both of Roanoke and Police have identified Roanoke man Derick Whorley as a suspect in the shooting. Whorley has been charged with two counts of malicious wounding. The warrants have not been served, which means officers are looking for him. Anyone who knows his immediate whereabouts should call 911. Anyone with any information leading to his whereabouts can make an anonymous phone call to 540-344-8500 or send an anonymous text starting with the keyword RoanokePD: to CRIMES (274637). The second incident happened about one hour later when police say 24-year-old Erica Rowell of Roanoke was found suffering from a gunshot wound in the 1100 block of Pilot Street. Saturday officers arrested 30-year-old Roanoke man Christopher Payne on one count of malicious wounding in connection to the shooting.
Previously the state denied allowing a passenger platform in Bedford, but after further research the Bedford/Franklin Regional Rail Initiative asked the town council last night for an Amtrak stop. More from WFIR’s Ian Price.
A Montgomery County jury convicted Amanda Taylor yesterday of 1st degree murder after her ex-father-in-law was found stabbed to death. She received the maximum sentence of life in prison. More from WFIR’s Ian Price.
Advance Auto Parts announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed President George Sherman to the additional role of interim Chief Executive Officer, effective January 3, 2016, the beginning of the Company’s next fiscal year. Sherman will succeed Darren Jackson who will retire as CEO and step down from the Board on January 2, 2016, after more than 11 years with the Company, including the last eight years as CEO. The company also announced that effective immediately current Board Chairman John Brouillard will become Executive Chairman and Board Member John Ferraro will take on the role of Lead Independent Director.
Virginia State Police are investigating a two-vehicle crash that resulted in the death of a Franklin County teacher. Dona Minnick, a third grade teacher at Rocky Mount Elementary school, was driving north on Route 220 just south of Route 919 when a southbound car operated by Lesley Wildasin crossed the median and struck her head-on. Minnick died at the scene. Wildasin was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries and is charged with reckless driving.