Former Alleghany Co. Chief Deputy blew 0.11 following DUI arrest, according to court records
Former Alleghany County Chief Deputy, Matthew Bowser blew a 0.11 after he was arrested for a DUI over the weekend.
![Local law enforcement, state police to retire K9s as marijuana becomes legal in Virginia](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/6XmqB_dehEXArLyzX56nBN5YlHs=/800x450/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/6QMXFJYT45FD5EHWXWJHRH5X5E.png)
Local law enforcement, state police to retire K9s as marijuana becomes legal in Virginia
In three weeks, a big change is coming to the Commonwealth as Virginiaโs new law to legalize recreational use of marijuana will take effect. The change impacts police departments across the state and their K9 officers.
![Online sports betting in Virginia nearing its debut](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/DWOGoAoWbu0NbNb3gGlrKS7ptVs=/1600x1200/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/PQMFA7KKWFFHJKRJW27UVK545Q.jpg)
Online sports betting in Virginia nearing its debut
The Virginia Lottery is expected to give the go-ahead next month to what will likely be more than a dozen betting sites to take wagers from Virginians on numerous types of sports. Virginia Lottery Director Kevin Hall said the state has received 25 applications from would-be players in the industry. Virginia and Tennessee are the only two states that have adopted a strictly online approach. States also tax gambling at very different rates, from 6.75% all the way up to 50%. While lottery proceeds in Virginia are dedicated to education, tax revenue from sports gambling will go to the stateโs general fund.
![20 arrested, two still wanted on drug charges in โOperation Unmaskedโ](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/6fcTd_8GRZ_nRrv2W7m1Y59IACs=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/G7UMSDMIS5HA3B7NFITYISJS4Y.jpg)
20 arrested, two still wanted on drug charges in โOperation Unmaskedโ
ALLEGHANY COUNTY, Va. โ An operation involving law enforcement from several local and state agencies resulted in an Alleghany County grand jury indicting 22 people on 59 mostly drug-related charges. On July 23, officers started arresting those indicted, and as of Thursday, all but two people indicted as a result of โOperation Unmaskedโ had been arrested, according to Alleghany County Sheriff Kevin Hall. The two people who are still wanted are Regina Angle and Micahel Brewster Jr., who are both from Covington, according to the Alleghany County Sheriffโs Office. Officers from the Craig County Sheriffโs Office, Rockbridge County Sheriffโs Office, Clifton Forge Police Department and Covington Police Department assisted the task force in this effort. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Angle and Brewster Jr. is asked to call the Alleghany County Sheriffโs Office at 540-965-1770 or the Drug Task Force at 540-965-6308.
![Roanoke seeing a jump in people hurt by gunfire](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/iPxHdT4Z-grMouEtceNvrbV-LVk=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/07-29-2020/t_10ba092727df4f94ab779a7239a547d5_name_image.jpg)
Roanoke seeing a jump in people hurt by gunfire
ROANOKE, Va. While most of 2020 has been spent under some form of stay at home order in Virginia, gun violence is on the rise in Roanoke. Eleven more people have been injured from gunfire so far this year compared to this same time in 2019, according to data from the Roanoke Police Department. Gun violence has become too common in the Star City within the last few weeks, city officials say. The increase of incidents as of late, I think, are so dramatic, in part, because there have been so many consecutively, but also because for a long period of time there was no activity, said Roanoke City Councilman Joe Cobb. [READ MORE: Its just terrible: Four shootings hurt three people, damage Roanoke business]While the number of those killed by gunfire to date is comparable with 2019, the number of people hurt by gunfire has nearly doubled.
![Alleghany Countyโs M3 Militia distributes meals to most at risk](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/NLUjaQB6wo5wAjEgNyo7k8xOM0s=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/03-26-2020/t_05064288163d40d69526bb476b7be6d9_name_image.jpg)
Alleghany Countyโs M3 Militia distributes meals to most at risk
This week, the Alleghany Highlands is getting some extra attention from a group of dedicated people as people stay inside. In the face of the COVID-19 stay home order, more than 200 people are getting hand-delivered meals. M3 Militia formed in response to the second amendment controversy, but group president Corey Clark said community service rises above. Criss-crossing Alleghany County, the group called upon the Salvation Army, local food joints and Sheriff Kevin Hall to help. The Salvation Army is getting ready to give more aid in the coming days, leading the switch from daily meals to a more sustainable canned food program.
![Alleghany Humane Society needs help after taking in nearly 20 โextremely underweightโ dogs](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/tjtmnJ70NIL7CCZ1IfLRiNJqLaw=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/HSFMOP7KGFA45HUIGZ6KWKTWYI.jpg)
Alleghany Humane Society needs help after taking in nearly 20 โextremely underweightโ dogs
ALLEGHANY COUNTY, Va. โ A local animal shelter is at capacity and in need of donations after taking in 18 malnourished dogs. Hall said some were taken to a veterinarian before arriving at the Alleghany Humane Society. The Humane Society stopped all dog intake temporarily as they search for homes for the 20 dogs they currently have available. The Humane Societyโs operations manager, Missy Lawrence, said theyโve never had this many dogs and are at 95% capacity for dogs. She described the dogs as โextremely underweight.โYou can help the dogs by adopting or donating money or dog food, specifically Purine Puppy Chow Tender and Crunchy and Purina Puppy Chow Complete.
![Church celebrates police, firefighters and first responders during Sunday service](https://media.wsls.com/photo/2019/11/03/Church_honors_local_first_responders___1572824099047_22438720_ver1.0_1280_720.jpg)
Church celebrates police, firefighters and first responders during Sunday service
CLIFTON FORGE, Va. - The Lord always comes first during Sunday service, but the First Assembly of God Church in Clifton Forge spent part of this Sunday's ceremony honoring someone else. First Assembly of God organized a special service to celebrate first responders in and around Alleghany County. "This church honors you, not because you carry a Taser or a gun, but because of what you do to protect us," said First Assembly of God Pastor Teddy Joe Bias. Several first responders showed up to the service, such as Alleghany County Sheriff Kevin Hall and an assortment of Clifton Forge firefighters, including James Smith. The church has organized a service honoring first responders every year for the past six years.
![23-year-old woman charged in deadly Roanoke County motorcycle crash](https://media.wsls.com/photo/2018/09/03/Car%20Smashed%20Glass%20Crime%20Car%20Crash%20Auto%20Accident%20Broken%20Window%20Broken%20Windshield_1535996700104.jpg_12595174_ver1.0_1280_720.jpg)
23-year-old woman charged in deadly Roanoke County motorcycle crash
ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. - A 23-year-old woman faces two charges after a deadly motorcycle crash in April. The Roanoke County Police Department announced Tuesday that Sierra Renee Meador, of Roanoke, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless driving after the April 25 crash that killed Kevin Hall. Meador was driving the sedan that police say rear-ended an SUV that was pushed into oncoming traffic and hit the motorcycle Hall was driving. It happened around 5:15 p.m.Thursday on West Main Street at the intersection of Campbell Drive in Roanoke County. According to Roanoke County police, a sedan was headed east when it rear-ended an SUV.