INSIDER
Wythe, Bland County authorities searching for breaking and entering suspect
Read full article: Wythe, Bland County authorities searching for breaking and entering suspectAuthorities are seeking public assistance in locating a breaking-and-entering suspect who has broken into several home from Pulaski County to Bland County.
2020 Bland County murder investigation ongoing, VSP asking for tips
Read full article: 2020 Bland County murder investigation ongoing, VSP asking for tipsMay 23, 2023 marked three years since the day a Pennsylvania man was found stabbed to death near Interstate 77 in Bland County, according to Virginia State Police.
U.S. House of Representatives District 9 general election results on Nov. 8, 2022
Read full article: U.S. House of Representatives District 9 general election results on Nov. 8, 2022Incumbent Morgan Griffith (R) and Taysha Devaughan (D) are vying for Virginiaโs 9th congressional district the U.S. House of Representatives.
Southwest Virginia man sentenced to 50 years in prison for filming videos of himself having sex with minors
Read full article: Southwest Virginia man sentenced to 50 years in prison for filming videos of himself having sex with minorsA 42-year-old man will likely spend the rest of his life in prison for engaging in and filming his sexual activity with two minors.
Bland County man pleads guilty to producing child porn, faces up to 50 years in federal prison
Read full article: Bland County man pleads guilty to producing child porn, faces up to 50 years in federal prisonA Bland County faces up to 50 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to producing child pornography on Monday, according to the U.S. Dept. of Justice.
Thousands without power as winter weather hits Southwest, Central Virginia
Read full article: Thousands without power as winter weather hits Southwest, Central VirginiaAEP outages as of 5 p.m.Thousands are without power as Southwest and Central Virginia are experiencing wintry weather. Below are the worst outage areas among the 2,724 Appalachian Power customers in Virginia without power:County/City Customer Outages Pulaski County 1,347 Montgomery County 500 Wythe County 162 Roanoke County 148 Giles County 144 Pittsylvania County 94 Carroll County 28 Smyth County 20 Franklin County 41 Grayson County Fewer than 5Hereโs a breakdown of the Dominion Energy customers in our region without power:Charlotte County: 44Halifax County: 169Alleghany County: 36Danville officials say that 1,200 customers on Memorial Drive, Lanier Avenue, Park Avenue, Bishop Road and across the river on Piedmont Drive are without power. Hereโs a breakdown of the Mecklenburg Electric customers in our region without power:Halifax County: 608Pittsylvania County: 459Hereโs a breakdown of the BARC Electric Cooperative customers in our region without power:AdHighland County: 109Hereโs a breakdown of the Southside Electric Cooperative customers in our region without power:
More than 31,000 without power across Southwest, Central Virginia
Read full article: More than 31,000 without power across Southwest, Central VirginiaTree down in DanvilleROANOKE, Va. โ Saturdayโs winter weather continues to cause thousands to lose power. As of 10:15 p.m. Monday, Appalachian Power is reporting 9,011 customers without power in Virginia. Hereโs a county-by-county breakdown:2,895 customers in Halifax County1,541 customers in Charlotte County1,138 customers in Pittsylvania County665 customers in Campbell County420 customers in Appomattox CountyAs of 10:20 p.m. Monday, Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative is reporting 5,388 customers without power in our region. Hereโs a county-by-county breakdown:2,751 members in Halifax County2,441 members in Pittsylvania County196 members in Charlotte CountyAs of 10:20 p.m. Monday, Southside Electric Cooperative is reporting โฌ8,994 customers without power in our region. Hereโs a county-by-county breakdown:3,405 members in Charlotte County3,039 members in Campbell County1,469 members in Bedford County866 members in Pittsylvania County215 members in Appomattox CountyAs of 10:24 p.m. Monday, Danville Utilities reports 1,556 customers are without power.
Power outages still impacting thousands across southwest Virginia
Read full article: Power outages still impacting thousands across southwest VirginiaAround 11,000 without power due to winter weather moving through the area overnightAround 8,700 people are in the dark after winter weather made its way into Southwest Virginia overnight. Hereโs a breakdown of the top areas with outages across our region as of 4:14 p.m.:Carroll County: 2,497Wythe County: 1,986Grayson County: 1.323Bland County: 761Giles County: 557Floyd County: 410Smyth County: 231Montgomery County: 161Galax: 146Patrick County: 119Henry County: 28Franklin County: 18Pulaski County: 12Click here for the latest information from Appalachian Power.
Power outages affecting hundreds across Southwest Virginia on Christmas Eve
Read full article: Power outages affecting hundreds across Southwest Virginia on Christmas EveThousands of Appalachian Power customers saw power outages on Thursday evening. Hundreds of Appalachian Power customers saw power outages on Thursday evening. Crews are still assessing many of the outages so itโs not clear when power will be restored. Here is a breakdown of customer outages, from Appalachian Power, as of 10:29 p.m.:Pulaski County - 190Grayson County - 127Franklin County - 110Wythe County - 90Roanoke County - 61Montgomery County - 57Roanoke City - 53Giles County - 33Bland County - 22Buchanan - 19Carroll County - 19Galax - 9Floyd County - 6This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Authorities identify woman found dead near Bland County gas station
Read full article: Authorities identify woman found dead near Bland County gas stationBLAND COUNTY, Va. โ Authorities have identified the woman who police say was found dead near a Bland County gas station earlier this month. According to Virginia State Police, the woman has been identified as Janice Poole, 56, of Griffin, Georgia. A BP gas station is at the intersection of those two roads. Police say Pooleโs remains were found at the edge of a gravel lot next to the BP gas station. Anyone who has any information on this incident is asked to call Virginia State Police at 276-228-3131.
Man arrested, charged with murder, hit-and-run in connection with body found near Bland County gas station
Read full article: Man arrested, charged with murder, hit-and-run in connection with body found near Bland County gas stationBLAND COUNTY, Va. โ Authorities have arrested the man they believe is responsible for killing a woman in Bland County. Gilbert Lee Riggs, 58, of Bluefield, West Virginia, is being held in West Virginia, pending extradition to Virginia, on one felony count of second-degree murder and one felony count of hit-and-run. Riggs was arrested without incident Thursday night by West Virginia State Police at his residence, according to Virginia State Police. ORIGINAL STORYPhoto taken by Virginia State Police investigators at the scene of the lot where the body was located. (Virginia State Police)Virginia State Police are investigating after a womanโs body was found near an Interstate 77 exit.
Womanโs body found near Bland County gas station
Read full article: Womanโs body found near Bland County gas stationBLAND COUNTY, Va. โ Virginia State Police are investigating after a womanโs body was found near an Interstate 77 exit. A BP gas station is at the intersection of those two roads. The remains, which appear to be that of a woman, were found at the edge of a gravel lot adjacent to the BP Station, according to police. The body has been transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Roanoke for examination, autopsy and positive identification. Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the immediate area or has any information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Virginia State Police at 276-228-3131 or by email at questions@vsp.virginia.gov.
Virginia General Election Results for Bland County on Nov. 3, 2020
Read full article: Virginia General Election Results for Bland County on Nov. 3, 2020The 2020 General Election will be held on November 3. You can find results for Bland County here. This includes how the county voted in the U.S. Presidential, U.S. Senate and any U.S. House races or locally-contested races. Use the picker below to find them:Find Race ResultsOnly care how other counties and cities in the area voted? Youโll find all those options in this picker:How cities, counties in our region votedGet the latest Virginia election news here
Riding for hope: How a bike ride is giving back to the NRV
Read full article: Riding for hope: How a bike ride is giving back to the NRVWYTHEVILLE, Va. โ HOPE Inc. in Wytheville is asking you to grab your bike out of the garage or hop on an exercise bike to ride the distance and give back along the way. Friday, Oct. 16 is the first day of The Fast and the Fiorini 17th annual charity ride. The ride was created in 2004 and was originally named The Big Walker Ride, but was renamed after Ian Fiorini who was instrumental in starting the first ride. Before the pandemic, HOPE was housing one to two people in motels but since the COVID-19 outbreak, they hit a peak of 44 people a night. So know when you register to ride that fee will help fund hope when people need it the most.
5 ways to spend a perfect day in Bland County
Read full article: 5 ways to spend a perfect day in Bland CountyThere is nothing bland at all about Bland County in the fall. Here are five suggestions to spend an unforgettable day in Bland County. Bland County is one of the many communities that sits along the Appalachian Trail. Try the Federico Morini Signature Road Cycling Trail. The Federico Morini Signature Road Cycling Trail can be a paradise for both serious and casual cyclists alike.
Mother, son indicted, one on murder charge, after missing Virginia man found dead
Read full article: Mother, son indicted, one on murder charge, after missing Virginia man found deadBLAND COUNTY, Va. โ What started out as a search for a missing person has ended in a murder case, according to authorities in Bland County. A grand jury indicted two people on Monday in connection with the murder of David Hayes, of Tazewell. On Monday, Justin Hackler was indicted on charges of second-degree murder, concealing a dead body, conspiracy to conceal a dead body and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Leslie Hackler, his mother, was indicted on charges of conspiracy to conceal a dead body and concealing a dead body. The Bland County Sheriffโs Office and Tazewell County Sheriffโs Office both presented evidence to the grand jury in Bland County Circuit Court on Monday.
Man breaks into Southwest Virginia store and steals thousands of dollars worth of Halloween decorations
Read full article: Man breaks into Southwest Virginia store and steals thousands of dollars worth of Halloween decorationsBLAND COUNTY, Va. โ Authorities are searching for this man who they say broke into a store on Thursday night and stole thousands of dollars worth of Halloween decorations. The Bland County Sheriffโs Office posted the above photos to its Facebook page, saying this man broke into a store in the Rocky Gap area of the county and stole the decorations. Anyone with information about what happened is asked to call the Bland County Sheriffโs Office at 276-688-4311 or Virginia State Police at 276-228-3131.
Every Virginia city, county has now had a coronavirus case
Read full article: Every Virginia city, county has now had a coronavirus caseROANOKE, Va. โ It took a day over four months, but now, the coronavirus has spread to all 133 counties and cities in Virginia. Bath County held out for a while, 123 days to be exact, but on Wednesday, VDH data show there is one COVID-19 case in the county. Only about 4,400 people live in Bath County, making it Virginiaโs second-least populated city or county. Watch the daily spread of COVID-19 in Virginia:It had been the lone county without a case since June 19, when Bland County reported its first case. Below is an interactive look at how the coronavirus has spread day-to-day since Virginiaโs first reported case on March 7.
Virginia sees 650 new coronavirus cases, now reporting 57,443 statewide
Read full article: Virginia sees 650 new coronavirus cases, now reporting 57,443 statewideRICHMOND, Va. There are now 57,443 cases of the coronavirus in Virginia as of June 20. [Where are Virginias coronavirus cases? The latest from the health department]Saturdays total of 57,443 marks increase from Fridays total of 56,793 cases. Bland County reported its first case on Friday, leaving Bath County as the only one of Virginias 133 counties and cities without a single reported coronavirus case. of Health reports there have been 588,652 total testing encounters.
Bath County is Virginiaโs lone locality with 0 reported coronavirus cases
Read full article: Bath County is Virginiaโs lone locality with 0 reported coronavirus casesROANOKE, Va. โ After more than three months, only one Virginia locality has yet to report a case of the coronavirus. While 132 of 133 Virginia cities and counties have reported at least one case of COVID-19, the number for Bath County remains at 0. Only about 4,400 people live in Bath County, making it Virginiaโs second-least populated city or county. On Friday, Bland County reported its first case, while on Tuesday, Dickenson County reported its first case. Below is an interactive look at how the coronavirus has spread day-to-day since Virginiaโs first reported case on March 7.
State police asking for tips in connection with Bland County homicide
Read full article: State police asking for tips in connection with Bland County homicideBLAND COUNTY, Va. โ State police continue to investigate after a man was found dead on Saturday in Bland County. The body of 57-year-old Bruce Ritchie, of Pennsylvania, was found in a ditch along Wilderness Road, according to Virginia State Police. Authorities were notified just before 12:30 p.m.Ritchie had been stabbed outside his vehicle, according to state police. Wilderness Road is Route 606 and is Exit 62 off I-77 in the South Gap community of Bland County. Anyone with information is asked to call the Virginia State Police Wytheville Division at 276-228-3131 or send an email to questions@vsp.virginia.gov.
List of Second Amendment sanctuaries in Virginia and where itโs being discussed
Read full article: List of Second Amendment sanctuaries in Virginia and where itโs being discussedROANOKE, Va. โ As more and more counties vote to become Second Amendment sanctuaries, weโve compiled a list to help you keep track. 10 News talked with a Constitutional law professor to learn more about what it means to become a Second Amendment sanctuary. To read the bills related to weapons, including guns, that will be discussed during Virginiaโs 2020 legislative session, click here. Counties/Cities Adopted:Accomack County - Adopted on Dec. 18. Email jwilliamson@wsls.com
'Heโs real luckyโ: Man recovering after being shot on I-77 by suspect who is still at large
Read full article: 'Heโs real luckyโ: Man recovering after being shot on I-77 by suspect who is still at largeBLAND COUNTY, Va. โ A man is recovering after a shocking crime along I-77 on Friday morning. State police are still looking for the person who opened fire on the interstate, shooting a man as he drove through Bland County. โThey said the man had been shot in the shoulder and ... knicked him on top of the head,โ said Akers. As a precaution, all Bland County schools were closed on Friday, which was supposed to be the first day back after winter break. State police continue to search for a suspect, and some in Bland County are still on edge after the shocking crime.
Local cities, counties lift burn bans while other areas remain under ban
Read full article: Local cities, counties lift burn bans while other areas remain under baniStock/klikkROANOKE, Va. - Several local cities and counties are lifting burn bans after dry conditions across the region and drought in some areas increased fire hazards. On Thursday, Rockbridge County announced that its burn ban has been lifted. On Wednesday, Montgomery County announced that its burn ban would be lifted at noon. On Tuesday, Botetourt, Franklin and Wythe counties announced that their burn bans had been lifted. On Monday, Pittsylvania County and Danville city officials announced that the citywide burn ban has been lifted.