News
Roanoke’s new “Task force to reduce gun violence” and comments this week from Commonwealth’s Attorney Don Caldwell both focus in some ways on changing a culture. In northwest Roanoke it also starts with healing the community. WFIR’s Gene Marrano with more on a free event tomorrow night:
2019 winner Brianna Hodge (Photo: afterpromgrandfinale.org
The organization that gives away a new car to a high school student each year needs a new funding source to continue the program — and it needs on-line votes in efforts to obtain a $25,000 grant. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
Becky Parr with YOVASO joined the Roanoke Valley’s Morning News Wednesday to talk about the program and the on-line voting. Here is the full conversation:
Click here to vote for this program. You may do so up to 10 times a day, and the deadline to do so is midnight August 23.
A Roanoke woman is now charged with involuntary manslaughter for an April chain reaction accident that killed a Christiansburg motorcyclist. Roanoke County Police say 23-year-old Sierra Meador was driving a car on US 11/460 between Glenvar and Ellison that rear-ended an SUV, one that in turn rear-ended a motorcycle operated by 54-year-old Kevin Hall, who died in the accident.
Peace, diversity and unity is how organizers bill it but Saturday’s 12th annual Festival of India at Elmwood Park is also about food, music and more. WFIR’s Gene Marrano spoke with one of the organizers:
Photo: Madison Keaton Facebook
State Police say a Hardy woman was killed last night when her car was struck buy an SUV at Hardy Road and Route 122 a few miles west of Smith Mountain Lake. Troopers say 24-year-old Madison Keaton failed to yield the right of way at the intersection. There is no information on the other driver.
NEWS RELEASE: Virginia State Police Senior Trooper S.A. Richardson is investigating a two vehicle crash which resulted in a fatality. The crash occurred Tuesday (Aug 13) at 7:39 p.m. on Route 122, at the intersection with Hardy Road in Franklin County. A 2001 Nissan Sentra was traveling east on Hardy Road and failed to yield the right of way at the intersection with Route 122, and was struck by a 1996 Jeep Cherokee. The driver of the Nissan was identified as Madison Shyanne Keaton, 24, of Hardy, Va. Ms. Keaton was wearing her seatbelt and died at the scene. At this time there is no other information regarding the driver of the Jeep. The driver was injured and was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. The Virginia State Police Crash Reconstruction Team was called to assist with the crash. The crash remains under investigation.
Roanoke County Police have charged one of their officers with falsely padding pay sheets over a two-year period. 33-year-old Steven McChesney faces three separate counts. Police say McChesney recorded time on department time sheets that was not actually worked.
NEWS RELEASE: Roanoke County Police Officer Steven W. McChesney, 33, of Roanoke has been charged with one count of obtaining money by false pretense, in excess of $200, and two counts of obtaining money by false pretense, in excess of $500. The arrest warrant was served Tuesday afternoon and McChesney was released on a $2,500 unsecured bond. An internal investigation revealed recorded time on department time sheets that had not been worked over a two-year period. The discovery was made in June and McChesney was placed on paid administrative leave. McChesney was employed with the Roanoke County Police Department from 2013-2015, left briefly, and returned in 2016. Commonwealth’s Attorney Bethany Harrison from the City of Lynchburg has been assigned as the special prosecutor in this case, and the investigation is ongoing. There is no further information to release at this time.
Attorney General Mark Herring has filed suit to block the Environmental Protection Agency’s Affordable Clean Energy rule. Herring calls it the Dirty Power rule as WFIR’s Ian Price reports:
2019 winner Brianna Hodge (Photo: afterpromgrandfinale.org)
The organization that administers the “After Prom Grand Finale” in southwest Virginia is asking for your on-line votes to receive a $25,000 grant that can help it continue the program in the future. YOVASO — Youth in Virginia Speaking Out — now administers the program that encourages alcohol-free after-prom nights in high schools across southwest Virginia, but its original funding source to administer the program no longer exists. After-Prom Grand Finale Coordinator Becky Parr joined us live in studio for a conversation about the event — and how your votes can help fund its continued existence:
Click here to vote for this program. You may do so up to 10 times a day, and the deadline to do so is midnight August 23.