What's News Today for Monday, January 1, 2018

News and events happening today

ROANOKE – It's the last day on the job for Danville Police Chief Philip Broadfoot. It ends a 44-year career in law enforcement that included 13 years as chief of police in Waynesboro and 14 years as chief of police in Danville.

There's a new acting chief in Lynchburg as Fire Chief Brad Ferguson retires after 41 years of service in Lynchburg and 12 years as Fire Chief. Deputy Chief of Operations Greg Wormser will be acting chief until a permanent replacement is named. 30 candidates interviewed for the position and a smaller number will return to Lynchburg this month for more interviews.

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More than 3,000 people in VA are waiting on a lifesaving organ transplant. A local runner is being remembered after her organ donation saved four other people. Grace Lovegrove will be featured in the Tournament of Roses parade. The 18-year old was running at Christopher Newport University when she went into cardiac arrest in 2005. Her kidneys, liver and pancreas went to others in need. She will be remembered on a float and her family will be in California. You can see the parade right here on WSLS 10.

If you want to get a jump start on your new year's resolutions... Hike, run or walk up to the Mill Mountain Star. The Star City Striders annually invite everyone to the top... For a group photo at 9 a.m. Refreshments will be there and many gather for breakfast after.  Everyone is welcome.

Two new Wythe County Board of Supervisors members take office today. Brian Vaught and Ryan Lawson start today. Vaught was previously elected to the Rural Retreat Town Council and said he is excited to begin working in this new capacity. Lawson is the first woman elected to the Board in nearly a decade. She has children in Wythe County Schools and education will be her top priority.

Virginia State Parks will offer free parking today, giving you the opportunity to enjoy special hikes or self-guided hikes on more than 500 miles of trails across 37 state parks. For added fun, Virginia State Parks will hold the First Day Hikes Photo Contest and the New Year Challenge. Each contest has a $500 gift certificate as the top prize, as well as other prizes. Some of the more unique hikes include Grayson Highlands State Park, with the possibility of seeing wild ponies. Guaranteed to be colder than other parks, hikers flock to the park for the challenge, the view of snow-topped mountains and the ponies. New River Trail State Park will feature a hike and bike on the new mountain biking trail. At False Cape State Park, hikers will take the Terragator, the beach transport vehicle, down the beach and then hike to the North Carolina border. Hikers can see bison at Wilderness Road State Park and amazing geological formations at Natural Tunnel and Natural Bridge state parks.


About the Author:

You can see Jenna weekday mornings at the anchor desk on WSLS 10 Today from 5-7 a.m. She also leads our monthly Solutionaries Series, where we highlight the creative thinkers and doers working to make the world a better place.