Boones Mill Elementary principal, officer take pie to the face after successful food drive challenge
Leaders at Boones Mill Elementary gave their students a challenge before Thanksgiving: bring in at least 500 items for the food drive, and you can throw pies at Mrs. Shaver and Sergeant Grantham in front of the entire student body.
![โA nightmareโ: Franklin County family loses everything in fire just days before Christmas](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/piLFW884cYFMKPvdSyxdijjFqEA=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/12-21-2020/t_af1f626b6b6c4b5980d3b3d8d24ce2d8_name_image.jpg)
โA nightmareโ: Franklin County family loses everything in fire just days before Christmas
BOONES MILL, Va. โ A family in Franklin County is picking up the pieces after a massive house fire took everything they own over the weekend. Just days before Christmas, the Richards family lost 30 years worth of memories. Everyone in the family was at their home on Webb Mountain Road in Franklin County when the fire broke out over the weekend. But it was like a nightmare and then when it was all said and done, I came up here to look at it and it was all gone,โ Anna Richards said. 2020 has already been a tough year for Anna Richards, who lost her husband over the summer.
![Retired teacher now tutoring to make sure Franklin County students donโt fall behind](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/EXE5V58gLDHpouPv5G_YtvdhW6E=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/11-11-2020/t_8371d6c1b4df4d5982f52785154d43a6_name_image.jpg)
Retired teacher now tutoring to make sure Franklin County students donโt fall behind
BOONES MILL, Va. โ A dozen retired teachers in Franklin County are lending a hand during this pandemic by helping one child at a time. After teaching special education for 33 years, Janet Osborne now tutors six students at Boones Mill Elementary School. Between a local teacher shortage and the fear of students being left behind, she tells us she didnโt hesitate to step up especially when it comes to helping kids overcome virtual learning challenges. โWe know itโs a bad time right now and some of the kids are falling through the cracks,โ Osborne said. โWe are just trying to give them some extra help so that they can get what they need so they can keep on going.โOsborne said she started tutoring in October but will continue her service as needed.
![New water tower goes up along US-220 in Franklin County](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/dZfe5uQPnyvhxnmU8I3bkRo7eKM=/521x294/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/45RPPP3NFNFCZPNMWHQCJTMU34.jpg)
New water tower goes up along US-220 in Franklin County
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. โ If youโre driving down US-220 in Franklin County, youโll notice a new greeting. Visit Virginiaโs Blue Ridge has partnered with the county on the new water tank, which is in between Rocky Mount and Boones Mill. Residents and local businesses will benefit from the extra water supply, water pressure and additional fire protection. Officials say the tank holds 500,000 gallons of water and is made to match the color of the surrounding landscape.
![Franklin County honors first responders with new memorial](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/GA_qiGp_Z1rnlewNYe1IJg9CSUA=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/09-12-2020/t_3d73080700ad404eac2a3ada50a67882_name_image.jpg)
Franklin County honors first responders with new memorial
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. โ This memorial was 10 years in the making. Saturday in Franklin County, the community gathered to unveil a memorial to remember fallen first responders. Over the past decade, the Rocky Mount-Franklin County First Responders Commission have been busy fundraising and designing the memorial. The Franklin County Sheriff, mayors of Boones Mill and Rocky Mount, members of the commission and families of first responders gave remarks during the dedication Saturday. Our gratitude and our thanks is what we need to remember and pass on,โ said Ronnie Thompson, vice chairman of Franklin County Board of Supervisors.
![Healing Strides sees increased need for therapy services during pandemic](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/lcd8ruoCzBNiF8rk2oKRgAwdfP8=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/07-21-2020/t_dcdd6d4a3ea242e1be55f31db82c2d0c_name_image.jpg)
Healing Strides sees increased need for therapy services during pandemic
Thats never been more true than right now for Healing Strides of Virginia. The horse is totally accepting, said Carol Young, Healing Strides CEO. I think these are just completely unprecedented times in the mental health field, said Kyle Calhoun, Healing Strides Clinical Director. With an increase in people turning to equine therapy, the nonprofit just hired Calhoun, a mental health specialist. If youre interested in donating to Healing Strides of Virginia, click here.
![Healing Strides hosts Horse Safaris" to keep people, animals connected](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/780JVRVuSvOOkdBQFZHTyFbCbLg=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/06-08-2020/t_f22a24799fca4e6c89343682743f5724_name_image.jpg)
Healing Strides hosts Horse Safaris" to keep people, animals connected
BOONES MILL, Va. Many right now are looking for something pleasant to escape to and thats where Healing Strides comes in. Healing Strides of Virginia is used to helping hundreds of people who face personal challenges. Right now pretty much everyone pretty much has a personal challenge, I havent met anybody that doesnt," Young said. During this tense time, Healing Strides is hosting Horse Safaris. Shari Winebarger's daughter Maci has been coming to Healing Strides for the past eight years.
![Lightning strike causes barn fire in Boones Mill](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/iX-hb4Z_AYozpAWovvcSH4UO8Jc=/720x405/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/IDH742M6IRGTDAFXMIIF5MQMG4.jpg)
Lightning strike causes barn fire in Boones Mill
BOONES MILL, Va. Fire crews responded to a barn fire in Boones Mill on Thursday night. A barn was struck by lightning with multiple hay bales and tractor-trailers full of lumber inside. Several fire crews around the area responded to this fire. Authorities did not release a damage estimate on Thursday night.
![Crews fighting wildfire in Boones Mill](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/pYkpS-vr7I9IlX4GpzrKDwUhMdo=/1600x1059/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/MQP5HC5WCNHMVC675YEFZE4LUM.jpg)
Crews fighting wildfire in Boones Mill
BOONES MILL, Va. โ Crews are on the scene of a fire in Boones Mill working to contain the blaze. The first call came in after 12:15 Sunday afternoon for a woods fire off Dillionโs Mill Road. Crews could only get to the first on foot and ATVs. Multiple crews from other localities and the Virginia Department of Forestry were called in. It took about two and half hours to get the fire under control.
![Local woman caring for 5 grandchildren gets unexpected help from 10 News viewer](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/P0b0t9lSBlPnuN95F7ZUDC9Pvwo=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/12-06-2019/t_dae87f7e97bb40f5ab22df8b0ee56066_name_image.jpg)
Local woman caring for 5 grandchildren gets unexpected help from 10 News viewer
BOONES MILL, Va. โ The southwest Virginia community is full of wonderful caring people, and this story proves that. This summer, 10 News featured His Cupboard in Boones Mill, a small town effort to give food and clothing to hundreds of local families in need. Faye Meador, a retired woman on a fixed income whoโs responsible for raising her five grandchildren, was featured in that story. โI donโt know if I could make it without them being there," said Meador. Itโs an act of kindness from a stranger, that touched her family and His Cupboard volunteers.
![Food, clothing pantry helps more than 200 families in first days of opening](https://media.wsls.com/photo/2019/10/03/70431313_130317538330752_2519923923210993664_n_1570114838909_22355153_ver1.0_1280_720.jpg)
Food, clothing pantry helps more than 200 families in first days of opening
"We turn no one away," said director of His Cupboard Denise Stott. Through the help of Boones Mill churches and community donations, the Stotts have organized the clothing and food pantry in a building located behind the Boones Mill train depot. There, those in need- need only ask. We are helping families that are just falling in between the cracks," Denise Stott said. We have served over 207 families already," Denise Stott said.
![Thousands expected for Boones Mill Apple Festival](https://media.wsls.com/photo/2019/09/27/42nd_annual_Boones_Mill_Apple_Festival_1569632476017_22337539_ver1.0_1280_720.jpg)
Thousands expected for Boones Mill Apple Festival
BOONES MILL, Va. - There will be apples as far as the eye can see Saturday in one Franklin County town. A few streets in downtown Boones Mill, just off Route 220, will be the site of the 42nd Boones Mill Apple Festival. There will be, of course, apples, and also: apple butter, apple fritters, candy apples, apple magnets, T-shirts and more, including live music throughout the day. The event used to be a time for local apple producers to bring their harvest to town. Money raised will go to a college scholarship fund for a Franklin County High School senior.
![Two die in Franklin County motorcycle crash](https://media.wsls.com/photo/2019/08/01/Generic%20crash_1564680191659.jpg_22145809_ver1.0_1280_720.jpg)
Two die in Franklin County motorcycle crash
BOONES MILL, Va. - Two people are dead after a motorcycle ran off the road and caught fire, according to the Boones Mill Volunteer Fire Department. Volunteers responded to a vehicle fire Sunday night about 10:30 p.m. on Bethlehem Road near Saul Lane, about 5 miles southwest of the town of Boones Mill. When volunteers arrived, they found that the motorcycle had run off the right side of the road, hit a ditch and caught fire, according to the department. The Virginia State Police is investigating the crash. The names of the victims have not yet been releasedCopyright 2019 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.
![New food, clothing pantry opens in Boones Mill](https://media.wsls.com/photo/2019/08/13/new%20boones%20mill%20food%20pantry_1565722111694.jpg_22171944_ver1.0_1280_720.jpg)
New food, clothing pantry opens in Boones Mill
BOONES MILL, Va. - There's a new food and clothing pantry to help local families in need. His Cupboard Food and Clothing Pantry opened Tuesday in Boones Mill. The pantry is an expansion of the food and clothing giveaway at Boones Mill Baptist Church. People have been so grateful and so thankful," pantry director Denise Stott said. For more information about the pantry or to donate, visit the pantry's website or Facebook page.