Web Staff
Posted: Mon., 3/24/14 6:15 a.m.:
The northbound and southbound lanes of Williamson Road are closed between Huntington Blvd. and Burton Ave. The Roanoke Police Department says crews are repairing a utility pole and traffic control light. Traffic may detour from Burton Ave. to Roundhill Ave. to Huntington Blvd. traveling northbound and reverse traveling southbound. Repairs may take several hours before traffic flow returns to normal.
Lucas Ezra Silas Guinn
Jimmy Donald Guinn
UPDATED Fri., 3/21/14 9:59 a.m.: Virginia State Police has cancelled this Amber Alert. Police say the child has been located in Bristol.
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Edward Allen (Mont. Co. Sheriff’s photo)
From the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office: On March 19, 2014, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on a residence located at 4737 Calloway Street Lot 4 in the Elliston area of Montgomery County. Pursuant to the search warrant, Deputies seized several items associated with the manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, and the distribution of methamphetamine. A variety of firearms were also seized as a result of the search.
The incident resulted in the arrest of Edward Eugene Allen.
(Continue reading for the remainder of the news release.)
North Cross School says one of its students has been diagnosed with whooping cough. A letter was sent home yesterday to all parents; it says the student attends the lower school, and health departments in Roanoke City, Roanoke County and Franklin County have all been notified. Whooping cough, or pertussis, is spread through the air and can be highly contagious unless you are immunized.
Roanoke Fire-EMS
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UPDATE: Roanoke fire officials say last night’s blaze at the Valley View Village apartments was caused by a kitchen grease fire, and the dollar loss is set at $375,000. Click here to read the full Roanoke Fire-EMS news release
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Roanoke Fire-EMS says crews rescued five people from an apartment fire Tuesday night and two went to the hospital with critical injuries. The fire happened in the 4800 block of Rutgers Street, in the Crossroads Mall area, around 10:30 p.m. Crews found people hanging out of third floor windows. All five rescued were injured, with two going to the hospital for smoke inhalation. The fire displaced 34 people from 12 damaged apartments. The American Red Cross is assisting 18 residents. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Velvet Hall has details:
From the Greenbrier Resort:
THE GREENBRIER TO HOST THE 2014 TRAINING CAMP FOR THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
White Sulphur Springs, WV – March 13, 2014: The Greenbrier, the historic American resort in West Virginia’s Allegheny Mountains, announced today that it will be the home of the 2014 Training Camp for the New Orleans Saints in late July and early August 2014. The Greenbrier owner, Jim Justice, has committed to building three practice fields on property at the resort (two natural turf and one synthetic grass), along with a 55,000-square-foot multi-purpose building equipped with meeting rooms, weight rooms, locker rooms, training and physical therapy accommodations, and kitchen and dining facilities.
(Continue reading for the rest of the Greenbrier statement.)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ A former assistant attorney general is appealing the dismissal of her lawsuit claiming she was improperly fired after being accused of posting derogatory comments about her boss on a newspaper’s website. Samantha Vanterpool’s notice of appeal was transmitted to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday.
The lawsuit names former Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and his former chief deputy, Charles James Jr., as defendants. According to the complaint, Vanterpool was fired over comments posted in response to a Washington Post article. The anonymous reader called Cuccinelli an “egomaniac” who used his position for self-promotion. Vanterpool claims she was fired in retaliation for exercising her First Amendment rights.
U.S. District Judge James Spencer ruled last month that Vanterpool could be fired for political reasons without violating the Constitution.
COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. (AP) _ Virginia House Republican leaders say the momentum is in their favor in the current battle with Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Democratic lawmakers over whether to expand Medicaid eligibility. House Republicans held a rally and a town hall Wednesday in Colonial Heights to reiterate their position that the General Assembly should pass a budget before debating possible Medicaid expansion.
McAuliffe and Democratic lawmakers want a budget that includes accepting federal Medicaid funds in exchange for expanding the state’s eligibility requirements to qualify for publicly financed health insurance to as many as 400,000 additional residents.
House Majority Leader Kirk Cox said delaying passage of a state budget could hurt local governments and state universities.
House Democrats Wednesday accused Republicans of putting their “tea party” ideology above the interests of the commonwealth.
From Roanoke County Fire & Rescue:
Roanoke County Fire & Rescue crews were dispatched to a reported residential structure fire in the 4500 block of Rosecrest Road at about 3:15 this afternoon. When crews first arrived, they reported heavy flames coming from the side of a single story house. Firefighters from the Cave Spring and Back Creek stations had the fire under control in about 30 minutes. The fire was contained to a sun-room added to the side of the house. There is heat and smoke damage to the rest of the first floor and water damage to the basement floor. A family of three lived in the home. One male was transported to a local hospital with what are believed to be non-life threatening injuries. The Red Cross was called upon to assist the family. A dog and cat were found dead in the house. Another dog was rescued and taken to the veterinarian. No fire service injuries reported.