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The Booker T. Washington National Monument has some fun learning opportunities for area children this summer. In July, the park is offering Eco Camp and Junior Ranger Month. Eco Camp focuses on the environment and Junior Ranger activities are geared to history. WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has the story:
Rep. Bob Goodlatte
Roanoke Congressman Bob Goodlatte says it’s about time a prominent FBI agent is agreeing to testify before the House Judiciary Committee that he chairs. Congressional Republicans say e-mails Peter Strzok sent to another agent show extreme bias in the FBI’s handling of both the Hillary Clinton e-mail server investigation, and that into alleged collusion between Russian and the Trump campaign.WFIR Intern Reporter Brandon Wells has more:
The Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety began its 16th annual Summer Leadership Retreat Monday. Teens from 37 middle and high schools are training to become youth traffic safety advocates. The event is being held at James Madison University and will run through Thursday. WFIR Intern Reporter Brandon Wells has more:
Corie Franklin (RCS photo)
News release: The Roanoke County School Board has named Dr. Corie Franklin as the new principal at Glenvar High School, effective July 1. Dr. Franklin replaces Jamie Soltis who was named the new Director of Secondary Instruction.
Dr. Franklin first joined Roanoke County Public Schools (RCPS) in 2000 as a teacher at William Byrd High School. In 2003, she left Roanoke County Public Schools to serve as a principal in Montgomery County. Dr. Franklin returned to RCPS in 2006 as an assistant principal at Northside High School. She became the assistant principal at Glenvar Middle School in 2011 and was named the assistant principal at Glenvar High School in 2017.
Dr. Franklin holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Virginia Tech, a Master’s Degree in curriculum and instruction from Virginia Tech and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Liberty University.
“Dr. Franklin has shown incredible leadership for many years and I’m very pleased she will continue that leadership as the principal at Glenvar High School,” said Dr. Greg Killough, Superintendent of RCPS. “Dr. Franklin will continue the tradition of educational excellence at Glenvar,” Dr. Killough said.
News release: The Roanoke County School Board has selected new assistant principals for six schools in Roanoke County, effective July 1.
The board has named Paulus Alan Moore as a new assistant principal for William Byrd High School. Moore first joined Roanoke County Public Schools (RCPS) in 2011 as a teacher at Cave Spring High School. In 2017, he moved to William Byrd High School as a teacher. Moore holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Roanoke College and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Radford University.
Melanie Fisher will become the new assistant principal for the Burton Center for Arts & Technology. Fisher began with RCPS as an instructional assistant at Hidden Valley Middle School. In 2001, she moved to William Byrd Middle School as a teacher. She left RCPS in 2006 and returned in 2013 to serve as an instructor at the Western Virginia Regional Jail, where she teaches today. Fisher holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Virginia Tech, a Master’s Degree in special education from Radford University and a second Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Radford University.
The board has selected Elizabeth Vaught-Jenkins as the new assistant principal for Penn Forest Elementary School. Vaught-Jenkins joined RCPS in 1994 as a teacher at Burlington Elementary School. She moved to Penn Forest in 1999 and has served as a teacher there since. Vaught-Jenkins holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Tennessee Tech, a Master’s Degree in Music from Arizona State University and an Educational Specialist’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Tech.
Theresa Kabath has been named the new assistant principal at Herman L. Horn Elementary School. Prior to joining RCPS, she worked in Pulaski County and Roanoke City for ten years and also has worked at Virginia Western Community College. In 2017, she became a school counselor for Fort Lewis and Masons Cove elementary schools. Kabath holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Radford University and a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Human Development from Radford University. Additionally, she is certified in Educational Leadership.
The board has selected Jennifer Gravely as the new assistant principal for Oak Grove Elementary School. Gravely is new to Roanoke County Public Schools. She has served as a teacher and instructional coach in Franklin County. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Concord University and a Master’s Degree in administration and supervision from Averett University.
Close, who has served as a teacher at South Salem Elementary School since 2006, holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Radford University and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Radford University.
“I’m very pleased that we have a new group of leaders coming to our schools,” said Roanoke County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Greg Killough. “These individuals have a wealth of expertise to bring to their respective schools and I know they will be welcome additions to the staff at each school,” Dr. Killough said.
Photo: Big Island VFD
From State Police: BEDFORD CO, Va. – Virginia State Police Senior Trooper M.D. Mayhew is investigating amotor vehicle crash which resulted in a fatality. The crash occurred Saturday (Jun 9) at 9:20 a.m. on Route 122 near Red Hill Road just west of Big Island in Bedford County. A 1998 Ford Explorer was traveling north on Route 122, when it crossed the center line and struck a 2001 Ford Explorer, head-on.
The 2001 Ford Explorer was driven by Jennifer Downey Vasser, 53, of Big Island, Va. Ms. Vasser was wearing her seatbelt and was transported to Bedford Memorial Hospital, where she later died. More information will follow on the driver of the 1998 Ford Explorer. Charges are pending.The crash remains under investigation.
UPDATE from Roanoke County Fire & EMS: Jacob Daniel Seymour was taken into custody this morning and charged with “burning or destroying any building or structure.” Seymour is 28 years of age and his address was listed as transient.
PREVIOUS: (Roanoke County, VA—June 7, 2018) Roanoke County Fire and Rescue responded at about 7:20 p.m., on Thursday, June 7, 2018, to the 6700 block of Split Oak Road in the Back Creek area of Roanoke County for the report of a structure fire. Initial calls were for a large plume of black smoke in the area. First arriving crews did find a structure that was fully involved in fire. This was a vacant house that had not been lived in for over 15 years. The house sits at the end of a long, gravel road at the top of a hill in a rural area of Roanoke County where there are no fire hydrants. This presented crews some challenges with access and water supply. The house is a total loss. There were no injuries. Crews from Back Creek, Cave Spring, Bent Mountain, and Mount Pleasant responded to the fire. The fire marshal’s office is on scene to investigate a cause.
Emma Kennedy
Carl Ray Kennedy
UPDATE — FBI news release: Seven-month-old Emma Grace Kennedy has been found safe, and her father, Carl Ray Kennedy, has been arrested. Danville Police, FBI, Randloph County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Secret Service arrested Kennedy in Randleman, N.C. He is in custody in North Carolina. Emma Grace Kennedy appears to be in good health and is being evaluated at a local hospital. The mother of the child has been notified. An Amber Alert was issued for Emma Grace Kennedy, but it has since been canceled.
PREVIOUS: The Virginia State Police and the Virginia Missing Children Clearinghouse has issued an AMBER Alert on behalf of the City of Danville, VA for a child abduction that occurred on June 3, 2018. The child is believed to be in extreme danger and was last seen at the Kwik stop on Riverside Drive, Danville, VA on June 3, 2018 at 7:55 pm.
Abducted is Emma Grace Kennedy, White, Female, Blond hair, Blue eyes, 7 Months Old, 2 foot 2 inches tall, weighing 18 lbs, Last seen wearing a light blue onesie.
The child is believed to have been abducted by Carl Ray Kennedy, White, Male, Gray hair, Green eyes, 5 foot 8 inches, weighing 170 lbs, Last Seen wearing a brown short sleeve shirt with gray shorts and black and white sketchers. He has a Tattoo of a skull on his Left forearm. Tattoo of a Skull with bandanna over the mouth on right forearm. An eye tattoo on the back of his right hand. Upper right arm pitbull with american bulldog written under it and a wizard on his left upper arm.
Last seen driving a gold four door Suzuki, with NC tag FAA-1873
For further information contact the Danville City Police Department at 434-799-5111or visit /www.
Jason Scott Borders
UPDATE: Jason S. Borders is now in police custody. He was taken into custody a short while ago in Hawkins County, Tenn., and will be held in Hawkins County until extradition back to Virginia. The investigation into the suspicious death of Jason Borders’ wife, Eva M. Borders, 40, of Weber City, Va., remains ongoing at this time.
Memories by Midora Firebaugh
From Press Release: Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) announced today that Midora Firebaugh, a rising 11th Grade student at North Cross School in Roanoke, is the winner of the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia’s 2018 Congressional Art Competition. Her pencil drawing, Memories, will be featured in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol for one year as part of a display of artwork by high school artists from across the nation. Midora resides in Roanoke and is the daughter of Wayne and Lisa Firebaugh. Her art teacher at North Cross School is Amy Jackson.
Goodlatte: “Throughout my time serving the Sixth District, the Congressional Art Competition has been something I’ve looked forward to each year. I am always impressed by the talent and creativity of student artists in our area, and this year is no exception. I am pleased to announce that Midora Firebaugh, a student at North Cross School in Roanoke, is the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia’s 2018 Congressional Art Competition winner! Midora’s artwork represents her late grandfather by capturing each object he loved most. Congratulations, Midora! I look forward to this thoughtful drawing representing our part of Virginia in the U.S. Capitol for many to see. Thank you to every student who participated in the Congressional Art Competition as well as the teachers and parents for encouraging them to learn more about art and test out their own talents.”