‘It’s a blessing to be a blessing’: Former basketball star building up youth in the Star City
No matter how much we may wish otherwise, we will never have complete control over how life unfolds. While we can be intentional with bettering ourselves, life will always continue to flow in the way that it chooses to, throwing challenges or even blessings our way that we hadn’t anticipated.
Around the Way with EJ: Stay fly with Flycodes owner Champ Hubbard
"We get so caught up in trying to outdo the next person, out talk the next person and out-accomplish the next person, that we forgot to help out this community and make these kids understand that there's other things to do other than the foolishness that they choose to do."
Making the grade: Colonels, Eagles reaping benefits from textbooks and playbooks
Our week 6 1st and 10 Game of the Week matchup features two Blue Ridge District teams in William Fleming and Franklin County--two programs that have let the success in the classroom guide them in the right direction on the field.
Fleming’s coaching duo: Teaching the game of life through the skills of basketball
ROANOKE, Va. – He’s been a fixture at William Fleming High School for nearly three decades, with the title of ‘Top Colonel’ for 18 years. Boys basketball head coach, Jeffrey “Mickey” Hardy has passed on his passion for the game to some of the best talent to come from the Star City with one goal in mind. Just as Michael Jordan had Scotty Pippen, Mickey Hardy has his own right-hand man, in assistant coach Marshall Ashford. That’s when he learned more about this standout JUCO player, Jeff “Mickey” Hardy. One on one with Mickey Hardy
William Fleming High School to close after two staff members test positive for coronavirus
ROANOKE, Va. – William Fleming High School in Roanoke City is closing for two weeks after two staff members tested positive for coronavirus. According to the district’s announcement on Twitter, officials consulted with the Virginia Dept. of Health and decided it was best to close William Fleming for two weeks. All grab and go tech support and meal pick-up services will move to Breckenridge Middle School.
Fleming’s Shak Anderson makes verbal commitment to Gardner-Webb
ROANOKE, Va. – A game changer, a defense’s worst nightmare and a physical presence inside and outside the paint-- Shakara Anderson AKA “Shak” is truly a student of the game. Her quiet demeanor off the court is no where to be found inside the lines, where her game is loud and clear. “I’ve been pushing myself to further my education and my skills in basketball,” Anderson said. Her talents have afforded her the opportunity to play at Gardner-Webb University, fulfilling a lifelong dream of playing college basketball. “Work ethic and learning how to maintain my school work,” Anderson said.
State Farm agents donate 10,000 water bottles to Roanoke City schools
ROANOKE, Va. – The water fountains within Roanoke City Schools will remain dry this year, but students will have no issues finding water thanks to an ocean-sized donation. State Farm unloaded a moving van full of 10,000 water bottles at William Fleming High School on Thursday morning. State Farm agent Betsy Thomas said she wanted to ensure children would not have to look far to find water. “If the kids are having recess, if they’re doing sports or are in the band, or if they don’t have water of their own, we’ve got to provide it or the school has got to provide it,” Thomas said. “We just wanted to do our part.”The schools’ water fountains will be shut off this year because of social distancing; however, Roanoke City Public Schools will hand out water to students during both breakfast and lunch.
A song of social distancing: Band camps resume under new precautions
ROANOKE, Va. As school districts hammer out plans on how to reopen, some students in the Star City are already getting back into the swing of things at band camp. Students in William Fleming High Schools marching band are marching to the beat of a different drum this year, thanks to the coronavirus. Its a little inconvenient but you know, its what we have to do to keep safe, said Bryan Moctezuma, a rising senior at William Fleming High School. Each Roanoke city high school has its own plan, in line with guidance from VDH and the CDC and approved by the district. The band is practicing for performances that may never happen, with the fate of fall sports still up in the air.
Feeding America to hold pop-up food distribution in Roanoke
ROANOKE, Va. Families in Roanoke who have been hit hard by coronavirus can get some relief Friday afternoon. Feeding American Southwest Virginia will be holding a pop-up food distribution in the parking lot of William Fleming High School on Ferncliff Avenue from 1 to 3 p.m.Food boxes with enough food to feed a family of four for four days will be distributed. No pre-registration is required. Pop-up food distributions started in March as a response to coronavirus and have happened in Botetourt, Montgomery, Franklin, Galax, Pittsylvania, Patrick, Wise and Grayson counties as well as Bristol.
Feeding Southwest Virginia puts out urgent call for volunteers
ROANOKE, Va. – Feeding Southwest Virginia needs at least a dozen people to help assemble hundreds of food boxes for families in need. A volunteer works at the Feeding Southwest Virginia Salem Distribution Center. Feeding Southwest Virginia said that it’s getting more and more donations, but with summer on the way, the need for food will only go up. It makes such a difference,” said Pamela Irvine, the president and CEO of Feeding Southwest Virginia. To learn about volunteer opportunities with Feeding Southwest Virginia, click here.
Whats News Today: graduation, COVID testing
The school system will hold an online graduation today for Patrick Henry High School at 10 a.m. and William Fleming High School at 2 p.m. The New River Health District will have a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site in Montgomery County today. The testing site will be open from noon to 2 p.m. at Blacksburg High School. The Danville Community Colleges Evaluation Subcommittee will meet today in executive session. The Wytheville Community College Board will meet today.
William Fleming Class of 2020 receives diplomas in nontraditional manner
ROANOKE, Va. Graduation week has arrived for the Class of 2020 and it certainly looks different. On Monday, 10 News stopped by William Fleming High School where students were given their diplomas ahead of a virtual graduation ceremony scheduled for later this week. Donning their caps, gowns and new this year, masks, one by one, graduates were handed their diplomas in the Dickinson Auditorium. Were celebrating with our students and it has been excellent, said Archie Ferrman, the principal of William Fleming High School. William Flemings virtual graduation ceremony will take place on Thursday at 2 p.m.
Deaquan Nichols setting the standard for the neWFleming at the home of the Colonels
ROANOKE, Va. Deaquan Nichols has been a difference-maker for William Fleming, in more ways than one. One of the things we had to figure out was where to put him, said William Fleming head football coach, Jamar Lovelace. So I wanted to be the best student and the best athlete, Nichols said. Im just a kid from Roanoke City, William Fleming High School. This school is always talked bad about but yet I can go to Princeton, Harvard, go to all these great schools.
Parents celebrate Roanoke City Schools graduates during drive-thru cap and gown pickup
Seniors from Patrick Henry High School and William Fleming High School picked up their graduation garb during a drive-thru ceremony on Thursday. William Fleming Principal Archie Freeman said this was the first time many seniors have returned to school grounds since remote learning took effect. "We have to instill that motivation in them.”At Patrick Henry, parents lined the entrance to the school to cheer on the graduates. Lori Fitchett, whose daughter is a senior at Patrick Henry, said the class of 2020 deserves to hear how proud their parents are of them. They’re coming through PH maybe for the last time.”Roanoke City Schools has planned virtual graduations for Patrick Henry and William Fleming students on June 4.
Hundreds of athletes hit the track for Special Olympics Big Feet Meet
ROANOKE, Va. - More than 400 athletes came together on an equal playing field Tuesday for the Special Olympics Big Feet Meet. The annual track and field event brought middle and high school students and adult athletes from 35 schools and community programs to William Fleming High School. "They are the protagonists of this event and it makes them feel very special so it means the world for them and for us as parents," said Surmy Rojas, a student athlete's mother. "It shows that we're all champions in our own ways regardless of our differences," said Kylee Mycock, an adaptive special education teacher at William Fleming High School. William Fleming High School also received national recognition for excellence in creating an inclusive school community.
What's News Today: September 24, 2019
Here's a look at some of the stories we'll be following today as they make headlines across the country and Southwest Virginia. Students and faculty from the school will receive recognition as a National Unified Champion Banner School. From 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., Crews will pave the turn lanes from Route 220 onto Wirtz Road. You can get to Wirtz Road by using Bonbrook Mill Road. Road work in Lynchburg could impact your commute.
Roanoke Remembers searches for solutions to gun violence
ROANOKE, Va. - William Fleming High School's auditorium filled to the brim with people who want to see peace in Roanoke. The Roanoke Gun Violence Task Force organized Roanoke Remembers to allow gun violence survivors to share their stories while brainstorming for ways to stop more shootings from happening. The event features songs, poetry, and a memorial wall honoring the people who have been shot and killed in the Roanoke Valley. Othes who lost ones to gun violence came to talk about their pain and talk about what should be done next. Additionally, the people who came received a list of mental health and counseling resources to help deal with their traumas.