News
From the City of Salem: The Salem Fire & EMS Department responded to a structure fire at 425 White St. this morning at approximately 1:27 a.m. Two people were inside the home at the time of the fire, but both escaped without injury. The first units arrived within six minutes of receiving the call and found heavy smoke and fire coming from the building. The fire was brought under control within seven minutes of the arrival of the first engine. The building did sustain fire and smoke damage, but the fire was contained to the kitchen. Approximately 14 personnel from the Salem Fire & EMS Department (Engine 1, Engine 2, Engine 3, Truck1, Battalion 1 & Fire Medic 1) responded to the call. Roanoke Fire & EMS (Engine 4) and Roanoke County Fire & Rescue (Tanker 9) was on standby to cover additional emergency calls for the City of Salem. The Salem Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire was caused by unattended cooking and the damage from the fire is estimated to be approximately $50,000. The residents of the home were displaced and are staying with family.
From Roanoke County Police: On 11/23/2016, at 4:21 PM, a blue 4 door vehicle, possibly a 90’s model Honda Civic, pulled up to the front of the Carter Bank and Trust at the intersection of Plantation Rd. and Hollins Rd. A white male subject wearing a dark colored ski mask, dark jacket, tan/gray pants and white sneakers, exited the front passenger seat of the vehicle. The subject went into the bank carrying a black back pack and removed what appeared to be a semi automatic style firearm. The subject began demanding money from the bank personnel. Personnel gave the subject money and he then exited the bank and got back into the vehicle. The vehicle was last seen traveling on Hollins Rd. towards Botetourt. If anyone has any information about who the subjects are, or the incident in general, they are asked to contact the Roanoke County Police Department at 540-562-3265 This case is still under investigation.
One of the busiest places around this morning is the Roanoke Rescue Mission, where the staff and volunteers are preparing Thanksgiving dinner for a family of about 1,000 men, women and children. And for the mission’s long-time leader, this is a final Thanksgiving there, as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports.
There’s a chance tonight to see live music that benefits Feeding America Southwest. WFIR’s Ian Price has more:
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – The Virginia Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of a man who was sentenced to six months in jail for hanging a black-faced dummy in his front yard. Jack Eugene Turner of Rocky Mount was convicted last year of violating a state law that prohibits hanging a noose to intimidate. His next-door neighbors are black. Turner displayed the dummy the same day nine black churchgoers were massacred in South Carolina. Turner argued on appeal that his action should’ve been protected by the First Amendment’s right to free speech. But the court rejected that argument on Tuesday. The court wrote that the First Amendment “protects Turner’s right to be a racist” but doesn’t “permit him to threaten or intimidate others who do not share his views.” Holland Perdue, Turner’s attorney, said the man has already served his jail sentence. Purdue said he looks forward to appealing to the Virginia Supreme Court.
