Lillian Boyd
Nineteen firefighters from four local agencies deployed last night to assist residents and first responders in Texas after Hurricane Harvey devastated the area. According to a news release, the team members have expertise in swift water rescue. Firefighters from City of Roanoke and Salem Fire-EMS, Roanoke County Fire and Rescue, and Franklin County Department of Public Safety plan to be on the ground in Texas for 8 days.
BB Gun
Real Gun
Roanoke Police say an officer came across a fight in the middle of a street Monday afternoon, one of the men involved holding what appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun. It happened along the 600 block of 11th Street Northwest. Police say the gun was dropped when the officer demanded it, and both men were arrested. Both face assault charges. The gun turned out to be what police describe as a realistic-looking BB-gun.
Two Roanoke men were charged with robbery after a store clerk in northeast Roanoke alleged being robbed over the weekend at gunpoint. Roanoke police say that two men entered the A&M Mart on Hollins Road with one carrying a revolver and demanding money. Less than 10 minutes before, officers received a call that a man was robbed while he sat in his car in the store’s parking lot. 27-year-old Donald Paul and 25-year-old Schneider Fleury were arrested and charged with robbery.
About 10 people are demonstrating outside the Target store in Christiansburg today. Some of them work at the store, and others are supporters. Organizers allege the general manager creates a hostile work environment, among accusations of sexual harassment and racist comments, and they are demanding his immediate termination.
A store manager says Target respects all employees and referred questions to the corporate office in Minnesota.
(Continue reading for the the news release from NRVStrike.org)
Roanoke City Council decided to delay action on the proposed sale of the “caretaker’s cottage” in Fishburn Park. Some council members said they want more time to gather information and go over the contract. The buyer Lora Katz is a member of the Roanoke Planning Commission. Under the contract, Katz would buy the house and 1.4 acres of land for 10 dollars… but be required to invest 135-thousand dollars in renovations. The council plans to revisit the issue again next month.
Roanoke City Council voted unanimously yesterday to approve use of eminent domain in order to acquire a piece of land needed to complete the Roanoke River Greenway. Walker Machine and Foundry owns a parcel of land the city would need and officials say if they do not begin work on the trail soon, they will lose the grant money from VDOT. Council members say they will only implement eminent domain if all other options to work with Walker fail.
Roanoke County firefighters put out a fire in a large commercial building on the 5600 block of Airport Road. Crews found a wall fire last night within a building currently undergoing renovation. The cause is under investigation.
Roanoke County Police say a suspect is in custody for breaking into a motel room, robbing the victim of an iPad and money. It happened early yesterday on the 8100 block of Plantation Road by Interstate 81. Police say 53-year-old Luis Lugo also broke into a car there and stole a wallet and credit cards.