WEATHER ALERT
10 killed in eight fatal crashes over Labor Day Holiday period, VSP says
Read full article: 10 killed in eight fatal crashes over Labor Day Holiday period, VSP saysThe final summer holiday ended on a somber note as preliminary data shows that law enforcement investigated 10 fatalities over the Labor Day holiday period, VSP said.
Southwest Virginia celebrates NASCAR Legend and launches Mountain Spirit: Virginia’s Moonshine Heritage Trail
Read full article: Southwest Virginia celebrates NASCAR Legend and launches Mountain Spirit: Virginia’s Moonshine Heritage TrailIn Southwest Virginia, NASCAR and moonshine are more than pastimes—they are central to the region’s spirited heritage. On Saturday, the community came together to celebrate both with a special event honoring NASCAR icon Curtis Turner and the launch of a new historic trail.
Free concerts return for Floyd Small Town Summer series
Read full article: Free concerts return for Floyd Small Town Summer seriesFree music in the park returns this Thursday as part of the 7th annual Floyd Small Town Summer. Small Town Summer is a series of free events and concerts in downtown Floyd held every other Thursday in the Warren G. Lineberry Park.
POWER OUTAGES: Hundreds in Central, Southwest Virginia without power due to strong winds
Read full article: POWER OUTAGES: Hundreds in Central, Southwest Virginia without power due to strong windsHundreds of residents across Southwest Virginia are without power Tuesday morning as strong winds continue to move through the state.
March and Williams face off in GOP Primary for House of Delegates
Read full article: March and Williams face off in GOP Primary for House of DelegatesTwo candidates who battled each other in court are battling for your votes for the 47th House of Delegates seat which represents Carroll, Floyd, Henry, and Patrick counties and the City of Galax.
‘Bittersweet’: FloydFest co-founder parts ways with event
Read full article: ‘Bittersweet’: FloydFest co-founder parts ways with eventA co-founder of FloydFest is parting ways with the event after more than two decades of working together, according to Sam Calhoun with Across-the-Way Productions Incorporated.
🌧️Share your weather pics with us through Pin It for a chance to be featured on TV
Read full article: 🌧️Share your weather pics with us through Pin It for a chance to be featured on TVThe unofficial start of the summer is looking pretty dreary, with widespread showers rolling across much of our region this Memorial Day.
The Deep Blue Ridge: Floyd woman’s love for hermit crabs makes waves in science community
Read full article: The Deep Blue Ridge: Floyd woman’s love for hermit crabs makes waves in science communityA Floyd woman has worked decades to figure out her life, but little did she know it would be a hermit crab that would help her claw her way to her purpose.
1st and 10 Camp Tour: Floyd County ready to show experience and intensity in 2022
Read full article: 1st and 10 Camp Tour: Floyd County ready to show experience and intensity in 2022Our 1st and 10 Camp Tour rolls on to Floyd County where Winfred Beale is entering his 42nd season as head coach. The Buffaloes went 6-5 in the fall, with the senior class having played 18 weeks of games in 2021. They used a complete offseason to their advantage, and are ready to show that hard work pays off this fall.
58-year-old Roanoke man dies after motorcycle crash on Blue Ridge Parkway
Read full article: 58-year-old Roanoke man dies after motorcycle crash on Blue Ridge ParkwayA Roanoke man died in a crash on the Blue Ridge Parkway near the county line between Floyd and Patrick counties on Saturday, according to the National Park Service.
Flatfooting back in action as Friday Night Jamboree returns inside the Floyd Country Store
Read full article: Flatfooting back in action as Friday Night Jamboree returns inside the Floyd Country StoreDowntown Floyd felt normal for the first time in a long time Friday night with the return of the Friday Night Jamboree.
FloydFest announces new musical lineup, COVID-19 safety plan
Read full article: FloydFest announces new musical lineup, COVID-19 safety planFloydFest tweeted the news on Thursday saying that Sturgill Simpson had a different opportunity he couldn’t get out of. They also said they’re excited to welcome Billy Strings to the lineup. “We’ve all been away from live music experiences now for well over a year. And if we can do that and we’re going to do that, that’s going to be the marquee,” said Sam Calhoun, the COO of Across-the-Way Productions and FloydFest. AdFloydFest also posted its COVID-19 safety plan, which includes temperature screenings at each entrance, sanitizing surfaces, mask-wearing, social distancing and more.
Billy Strings replaces Sturgill Simpson for FloydFest lineup
Read full article: Billy Strings replaces Sturgill Simpson for FloydFest lineup“When one door closes, another swings wide open...”That’s what FloydFest organizers said about a change to the upcoming festival lineup, with Billy Strings replacing Sturgill Simpson. Here’s a statement from Simpson:“Unfortunately we are no longer going to be able to perform this year at FloydFest due to unexpected and unforeseen circumstances. FloydFest is a great independent festival and we highly encourage everyone to attend even though we cannot be there with you. See you on and down the road very soon.”Billy Strings won this year’s Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album and was Billboard’s top artist of 2020 for both bluegrass categories. FloydFest 21 ~Odyssey is set for July 21 through 25, and tickets are available now.
Thousands without power across southwest, central Virginia
Read full article: Thousands without power across southwest, central VirginiaAppalachian Power customers out of power on Feb. 16Thousands are still without power across southwest and central Virginia as the region braces for more winter weather Thursday. Below is a breakdown of local counties covered by Appalachian Power and the number of outages they’re experiencing:Bedford: 93Campbell: 437Floyd: 2,163Franklin: 2,887Henry: 1,114Patrick: 208Pittsylvania: 658Roanoke: 626Below is a breakdown of local counties covered by Mecklenburg Electric:Halifax: 2,602Pittsylvania: 2,070Danville Utilities is reporting 4,699 outages.
Floyd County experiences snow, freezing temperatures from winter storm
Read full article: Floyd County experiences snow, freezing temperatures from winter stormFLOYD, Va. – A snowstorm blanketed the New River Valley Wednesday night, and Floyd County experienced every aspect of winter’s wrath. Some sections of Floyd County received up to five inches of snow, and blowing snow caused a problem on some roads the day after the storm. The area is in the crosshairs of another projected winter storm set to hover over Virginia on Sunday. He said he does not mind the snow as much as others, but he is already looking forward to the end of winter. “When winter first hits, we’re always really excited for the snow, but as time goes on, we also get ready for the spring,” Ryker said.
Tasty Tuesday: Cocoa Mia brings homemade, international treats to Floyd County
Read full article: Tasty Tuesday: Cocoa Mia brings homemade, international treats to Floyd CountyFLOYD, Va. – At Cocoa Mia , experience is everything. Jennifer explains that, “It’s very dependent on temperature and humidity.”It’s the technique, expertise and finesse that helpline this Floyd County shop with truffles, bars and homemade mixes . It’s a chocolate mint that we get out of our garden,” says Gray. This time happens to be the best time of year to get chocolate since Valentine’s Day isn’t far away. The couple says they’ll be selling, “Little packages for truffles and candy bars that we make.”
New year, new goals: Learn to play traditional music of the region
Read full article: New year, new goals: Learn to play traditional music of the regionHandmade Music School, located inside Floyd Country Store, believes with more time at home what better time to pick up a new instrument. The school usually sees an uptick in interest in lessons and workshops at the start of the year. From the fiddle to the banjo and even the mandolin, Handmade Music School teaches the region’s traditional music, oftentimes on locally handmade instruments. Continuing lessons and workshops amidst a pandemic is special to Handmade Musical School because it’s supporting musicians. Learning to play a new instrument can be a little intimidating but Small doesn’t want that to stop anyone interested.
Floyd Little, Syracuse and Broncos great, dies at 78
Read full article: Floyd Little, Syracuse and Broncos great, dies at 78FILE - In this Sept.1969 file photo, Denver Broncos' Floyd Little avoids the tackle of New York Jets' Steve O'Neal (20) during a football game in Denver. Little, the Hall of Fame running back who starred at Syracuse and for the Denver Broncos, has died. (AP Photo/File)DENVER – Floyd Little, the versatile running back who starred at Syracuse and for the Denver Broncos, has died after a long bout with cancer. “So, I supposedly saved the franchise.”Little was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010. “Floyd Little was a true hero of the game," said David Baker, president and CEO of the pro hall.
Floyd County woman buys bulletproof vests for Montgomery County K-9s
Read full article: Floyd County woman buys bulletproof vests for Montgomery County K-9sLaurel Gellazuski, of Floyd, bought two bulletproof vests for the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. – Two K-9s keeping us safe are now a bit safer themselves. On Tuesday, Laurel Galaszewski and her husband, Barry Turner, of Pilot, donated two bulletproof vests to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Maxx, who is 2 years old, and Archin, who is 3 ½ years old, will receive the vests, which are made to stop 9mm rounds, as well as .357 Magnum bullets. The cost of both vests was $2,067.
Floyd County head football coach honored with a field in his name
Read full article: Floyd County head football coach honored with a field in his nameFLOYD, Va. – In July, Floyd County’s school board met to honor two longtime coaches at the high school by renaming their respective “offices.”Winfred Beale, the head coach for Floyd County High School’s football team, is entering is 39th year at the school. And what a better way to celebrate nearly four decades at a school than having your home turf named after you? The field will be renamed to Coach Beale Field, which the coach said surprised him. “Humbly happy, surprised, just grateful. The fans, parents, really good peoples well as their businesses, I’m just really glad to be in a place like Floyd, Virginia.”
The stores having a hard time: Group hopes to raise $60,000 for Floyd Country Store
Read full article: The stores having a hard time: Group hopes to raise $60,000 for Floyd Country StoreFLOYD, Va. The banjos and fiddles are quiet at the Floyd Country Store this summer. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the famous Friday Night Jamborees are on hold. And thats what the store depends on, is the shopping and the restaurant sales, to be able to keep it going. So in the absence of that, the stores having a hard time, said Lydeana Martin with Friends of the Floyd Country Store. Martin said sales were down about 80% for the first two months after the COVID-19 pandemic prompted lockdowns and stay-at-home orders.
Remains found in Virginia landfill in 1986 identified as woman who could have local ties
Read full article: Remains found in Virginia landfill in 1986 identified as woman who could have local tiesHuman remains that were found in a Virginia landfill in 1986 were identified this week as a woman who may have ties to a local area. Chesterfield County Police announced on Wednesday the remains belong to Christy Lynn Floyd, who was 16 and living in Richmond when she disappeared. Chesterfield County Police worked with OCME and the Virginia Department of Forensic Science to identify the woman. Part of the womans remains were sent to a private forensic lab in Florida, which developed a DNA profile of the woman. Police said the company created a composite that depicted what the unknown woman may have looked like at 25 years old.
Ex-cop's video captures crowd's horror during Floyd arrest
Read full article: Ex-cop's video captures crowd's horror during Floyd arrestMINNEAPOLIS Newly released body-camera video from a third officer involved in George Floyds arrest captures for the first time the growing horror of onlookers who repeatedly pleaded with the officers to get off Floyd. The video made available Thursday comes from fired Officer Tou Thao, one of four former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of Floyd, a handcuffed Black man. Floyd died after a white officer, Derek Chauvin, pressed his knee against Floyd's neck for nearly eight minutes on a south Minneapolis street May 25 as Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe. That footage, along with Thao's video, shows Floyd pleading with the officers as they struggle to place him in the squad car in the moments before his death. Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe and called out for his mother before passing out.
Barr to condemn rioting at much-anticipated House hearing
Read full article: Barr to condemn rioting at much-anticipated House hearingFILE - In this March 23, 2020, file photo Attorney General William Barr speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Briefing Room in Washington. Barr is scheduled to appear for the first time before the House Judiciary Committeeon Tuesday, July 28. Massive but peaceful demonstrations had followed Floyd's death in May. But he will also condemn Americans who he says have responded inappropriately to Floyd's death through what he said was rioting and anarchy. Barr also pushed for a more lenient sentence for another Trump ally, Roger Stone, prompting the entire trial team's departure.
Virginia lawmakers press law enforcement officials on police reform, accountability
Read full article: Virginia lawmakers press law enforcement officials on police reform, accountabilityROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – Ahead of a special Virginia General Assembly session in August on police reform, the first of three joint House committee meetings were held Wednesday. During the Joint Meeting of Courts of Justice and Public Safety Committees on Wednesday morning, lawmakers pushed for transparency and accountability when it comes to citizen complaints and misconduct investigations. Law enforcement talked about the importance of accreditation, training and body-worn cameras. As lawmakers put lead law enforcement officials in the hot seat looking to make change, Hall said that those changes have to be specific and actionable. “I think we have to be very careful in trying to understand what we’re trying to accomplish,” said Hall.
Giants manager Gabe Kapler, players kneel during anthem
Read full article: Giants manager Gabe Kapler, players kneel during anthemSan Francisco Giants' manager Gabe Kapler kneels during the national anthem prior to an exhibition baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Monday, July 20, 2020, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)OAKLAND, Calif. San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler and several of his players knelt during the national anthem before Monday night's exhibition game against the Oakland Athletics. Kapler, beginning his first season managing the Giants after two disappointing years guiding the Phillies, didn't discuss his plans to kneel in a pregame session with media members. Kapler has been outspoken about social injustice and racial issues and athletes' roles in helping spur positive change. Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started taking a knee during the national anthem in 2016 to protest racial inequality and police mistreatment of minorities. Former A's catcher Bruce Maxwell in 2017 became the first major leaguer to kneel for the anthem since Kaepernick began his silent protest.
Backpacking with Brooke: Buffalo Mountain
Read full article: Backpacking with Brooke: Buffalo MountainWILLIS, Va. Buffalo Mountain is a 2.2 mile loop just outside of Floyd that offers gorgeous 360 degree views from its peak. Youll park in the lot for Buffalo Mountain Nature Preserve. After about 15 minutes youll start to see a little ridge through the trees. At about half a mile youll hit the first traverse. On the way back, we took the Ridge Trail, which loops back to the parking area.
Betts: Baseball didn't do good job with response to Floyd
Read full article: Betts: Baseball didn't do good job with response to FloydLos Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts, center, and center fielder Cody Bellinger, right, chat during the restart of baseball spring training Saturday, July 4, 2020, in Los Angeles. MLB was the last of the major pro sports leagues that either responded to Floyd's death or condemned racism. I think baseball did not do a good job with that, but voices were heard, Betts said Monday on a video conference call with reporters. Obviously, MLB can help, Betts said, but I think its on us, as in the Black players, and kind of make baseball cool because I think thats where the disconnect is. I just don't want us to lose the traction, the momentum, the conversations that we've had over the last month.
Two banjo lengths apart: Floyd Country Store moves famous Jamboree outside
Read full article: Two banjo lengths apart: Floyd Country Store moves famous Jamboree outsideFLOYD, VA. – It wouldn’t be a summer in Floyd with the famous Friday Night Jamboree, but hundreds of people packed inside the Floyd Country Store just isn’t possible right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So after moving the show online, they’ve changed things up again to try to get people back to the music. There’s pickin’ and dancing and a whole lot of fun in downtown Floyd on Friday. Even if things looked a little different than they usually do, Floyd Country Store owner Dylan Locke said the show must go on. The weekly Friday Night Jamboree is usually inside, but Locke had to cancel it due to the pandemic.
Million-dollar lottery ticket sold in Floyd
Read full article: Million-dollar lottery ticket sold in FloydFLOYD COUNTY, Va. Check your glove compartments a ticket from Tuesdays Mega Millions drawing was purchased in Floyd, and is worth $1 million. According to lottery officials, the winning ticket was bought at the Food Lion at 350 West Main Street in Floyd with the winning numbers 6-20-37-40-48. The only number they missed was the mega ball number, which was 15. The ticket was reportedly the only one nationwide to match the first five numbers in Tuesday nights drawing. No ticket in Virginia or anywhere else across the country matched all six numbers, so the jackpot grows to around $44 million for Friday nights drawing.
Backpacking with Brooke: Rocky Knob Trail
Read full article: Backpacking with Brooke: Rocky Knob TrailFLOYD, Va. – Rocky Knob Trail is a 2.3 out and back located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. We parked at the Rocky Knob campground area, which is closed, so we pulled onto the grass. You’ll head through the fat man squeeze and lock the gate back behind you. The sign will direct you right to the Rocky Knob Overlook, and we started on our way. he first fork in the trail you’ll head right, and a few meters later, there’s another one where you’ll go left.
AP changes writing style to capitalize b'' in Black
Read full article: AP changes writing style to capitalize b'' in BlackThe Associated Press changed its writing style guide Friday to capitalize the b in the term Black when referring to people in a racial, ethnic or cultural context, weighing in on a hotly debated issue. He said the decision followed more than two years of research and debate among AP journalists and outside groups and thinkers. The AP said it expects to make a decision within a month on whether to capitalize the term white. The Seattle Times and Boston Globe both changed their practices to capitalize Black late last year. Lanham, who spearheaded an internal process to capitalize Black at Brookings last year, said he expects AP's shift will lead many other news organizations and other groups to make a similar change.