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Two employees of Roanoke County's Fire and Rescue Department have received awards from the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).
The Fincastle Resolutions Chapter of SAR awarded the Fire Safety Commendation Award to Public Education Specialist Brian Clingenpeel and the Emergency Medical Services Award to Paramedic/Firefighter Lieutenant Jon Blank. "These awards are part of our Chapter's efforts to recognize and reward those public servants who provide outstanding contributions to our Community;" said Dr. Reverdy Wright, Chapter President.
As Public Education Specialist, Clingenpeel has created and presented fire and life safety messages for all ages. He has delivered his informative and effective messages to daycare centers, elementary schools, senior centers, and civic groups. He uses a Fire and Severe Weather Safety Trailer to demonstrate dangers and to teach people how to protect themselves from these dangers. Clingenpeel also implements the Department's exclusive Character Academy that teaches youth 10-14 years of age about fire and life safety. The kids also learn about the six pillars of character: respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring and citizenship. Overall, Clingenpeel's extensive educational efforts have helped to prevent injuries and casualties
due to fire and other tragic events.    '
Paramedic/Firefighter lieutenant Jon Blank has made outstanding contributions to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) by organizing and implementing the Department's EMS training over the past several years. He spearheaded the Department's on-line learning program that teaches new EMS techniques and provides information to members while also providing meaningful learning interaction with other members of the Department. The on-line training program is essential because it allows the required training to take place while keeping staff in the Fire Stations for call availability. He created study guides and practice tests to help personnel become certified at the Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate (EMT-l) level by passing Commonwealth of Virginia tests.
"The SAR and our Fincastle Resolutions Chapter is honored to recognize and express its grateful appreciation to these two outstanding public servants for their critical work that affects all of us in the Roanoke area," said President Wright.
The Sons of the American Revolution was organized in 1889 as a historical, educational, and patriotic organization to perpetuate the ideals of the war for American independence. It seeks to maintain and expand the meaning of patriotism, respect for our National symbols, and the values of American citizenship. Its work is carried out through State Societies such as the Virginia Society, SAR, and local chapters such as the Fincastle Resolutions Chapter.

Submitted by Jennifer Conley Sexton.

Roanoke County police have issued the following statement about an armed robbery at the Walgreens on Brambleton Avenue:

Armed Robbery

• Incident: Armed Robbery

• Date of Incident: 10/27/09 Time of Incident: 2:19 A.M.

• Location of Incident: 4049 Brambleton Ave

• Investigating Officer: Det. N. D. Gardner

• Victim Name(s): Walgreens

• Suspect Name(s):

• Charges if Applicable:

• Arrests Information: There have been no arrests made at this time.

• Anyone with information is asked to call the Roanoke County Police Department, Criminal Investigations Division (540) 777-8623

• Additional Remarks: On 10/27/09 at approximately 2:19 A.M. Roanoke County Police responded to the Walgreens located at 4049 Brambleton Avenue, in reference to an Armed Robbery. Police met with an employee of the store. Police were advised that a white female entered the store and gave the pharmacist a note demanding a number of prescription drugs. The suspect advised the pharmacist that she had a weapon, but no weapon was displayed. The suspect did receive a number of prescription drugs and other various items. The suspect is described as a white female in her late 20's to early 30's, approximately 5'5 140 pounds with strawberry blonde hair. The suspect was believed to have been wearing a multi-colored hooded sweat shirt. The suspect was also wearing a black sun visor and black apron. The suspect fled the scene on foot. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Roanoke County Police Department.

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Roanoke County Fire & Rescue sends the following release:

Roanoke County Fire & Rescue was dispatched
to the 3500 block of Farmington Drive just after 10 p.m. last night for a reported structure
fire. When firefighters arrived they found heavy flames coming from the back of the two-story
house.
Fire crews attempted to battle the fire from inside the home until the second floor partially
collapsed and they had to evacuate. It took volunteer and career crews from the Cave Spring,
Back Creek, and Clearbrook stations about three hours to get the flames under control. The
home is most likely a complete loss.
The home was reportedly in foreclosure and vacant. A neighbor called 9-1-1 to report that
flames were coming out of the window of this house.
Investigators are on scene.
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The County of Roanoke will hold a public hearing to discuss plans on proposed improvements to Route 613, Merriman Road, at the intersection with Meadowlark Road.  The proposed project involves the construction of a roundabout, the realignment of Merriman Road, and connections to Meadowlark Road, the new South County Library entrance, and Penn Forest Elementary School/Darrell Shell Park (Project #0613-080-773; UPC 94796).

The public hearing will be held on Monday, November 9, 2009, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Penn Forest Elementary School Cafeteria located at 6328 Merriman Road.  The hearing will start at 7:00 p.m. with a presentation reviewing the proposed improvements, the estimated construction schedule, and the temporary road closure.  Detailed drawings will be on display at the meeting.  Roanoke County and Virginia Department of Transportation staff will be available to discuss the project and to answer questions during the public hearing.

Written comments about the project may be submitted at the meeting or until November 23, 2009, by mail to Mr. George Simpson, P. E., Roanoke County Department of Community Development, P.O. Box 29800, Roanoke, VA  24018.  Email comments can be sent to planning@roanokecountyva.gov.  Please reference “Merriman Road Improvements” in the subject heading.

If you have any questions or need special assistance to attend and participate in this hearing, please contact David Holladay or George Simpson in the Roanoke County Department of Community Development at (540) 772-2080.

Submitted by Teresa Hamilton Hall.

The Roanoke County School Board meets tonight. Here's the agenda.

Roanoke County fire officials have released the following in regard to the house fire on Circle Creek Drive off U.S. 220 (see our original post on the fire here):

Combustibles Stored Too Close to a Water Heater Cause Fire
October 21, 2009 Investigators have determined that combustibles
stored too close to a gas water heater caused a fire that displaced a Roanoke County woman
early this morning.
The fire damage was mostly contained to the one room where the fire started. The fire then
spread to the ceiling and through the roof. The rest of the home received significant smoke
damage.
Roanoke County Fire & Rescue was dispatched to the 6700 block of Circle Creek Drive at
3:20 a.m. for a reported structure fire. When firefighters arrived they found flames coming
through the roof of a single story wood framed home.
It took fire crews from Clearbrook, Cave Spring and Mount Pleasant about 45 minutes to get
the flames under control. Boones Mill assisted with fire suppression efforts. Crews had to
shuttle water from the nearest hydrant which was across Route 220.
The woman who lived in the house heard her smoke detector sounding, went to investigate
and saw smoke filling her home. She called 9-1-1 and escaped without injury. She will be
displaced for some time while repairs are made to her home. Red Cross has been contacted
for assistance.
A damage estimate has not been determined as of yet.
The Fire Marshal’s office would like to remind citizens to keep all combustible materials at
least 36 inches away from any ignition source.

The Prevention Council of Roanoke County and Cave Spring Middle and High School PTA's invited parents and students to attend a Panel Discussion about Prevention on Monday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Cave Spring Middle School.

Parents that attended the event learned how to break down the communication barriers with their children, hot to help children avoid risky behavior, and make healthy choices.

Speakers for the night included, The Honorable Phillip Trompeter, Marian Kelley, Chief Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney for Roanoke County, the Prevention Council of Roanoke County, Officer Dan Walters from Cave Spring Middle Schoo, Caroline Overfelt, e-Learning Coordinator, Student Assistance Program Coordinator's amd Middle and High School youth.

Foodies provided refreshments.

Statistics from the event (Prevention Council said that numbers were relatively equivalent to HVMS and HVHS):

CSMS          CSHS

13.8%         20.3%  of students report sending intimidating or threatening text messages.

22.1%         28.1% of students receive intimidating or threatening text messages.

29.2%         25.6% of students said their parents would be nervous to learn what they do on the Internet.

21.2%         62.8% of students have tried alcohol.

10.4%         38.0% of students drank alcohol in the past 30 days.

50.9%         26.7% of students have obtained alcohol from home.

46.2%         79.4% of students say alcohol is easy to obtain.

13.8%        16.3% of students have used inhalants to get high.

4.8%          18.8% of students have taken prescription drugs to get high.

9.5%          34.8% have used marijuana one or more times.

8.6% of CSHS students have used cocaine in the past 30 days.

9.5% of CSHS students have ever tried heroine.

The Prevention Council of Roanoke County said that it will take an entire community to change these statistics in Roanoke County and that parents are the first line of defence.

They encouraged parents to engage in their child's life and be role models.

Parents must talk and communication with their children, set rules and expect them to be followed, monitor and know their friends and their friend's parents, maintain rituals like family dinners, incorporate a faith life, know resources in the community and engage the community to keep the environment safe and healthy.

We've just updated our Roanoke Valley crime map with the latest offenses from Roanoke County -- and Roanoke and Salem, as well. The latest data covers three weeks of offenses through Oct. 10.

From Sept. 25 to Oct. 10, police reported two robberies, six burglaries, 14 larcenies, one motor vehicle theft and one arson in Southwest Roanoke County.

You can see a map of those incidents here or you can search the map yourself, by date, location or offense.

Our data delivery editor, Matt Chittum, has more information how you can use the searchable crime map.

Also on our Datasphere collection of searchable data: Graduation rates for every high school in the state.

An early morning fire displaced a woman from her South Roanoke County house.

The resident woke up smelling smoke at her home in the 6700 block of Circle Creek Drive off of U.S. 220 and called for help about 3:20 a.m., Roanoke County Fire and Rescue spokeswoman Jennifer Conley Sexton said. She was able to escape without injury.

Reporter Amanda Codispoti has more on this story.

North Cross held its homecoming Saturday and yes, our paparazzi photo crew was there.

You can see photos of everyone who stepped onto the red carpet in the slideshow above or in this gallery format.

Do you have homecoming photos? You can share at news@swo-co.com.

We also have paparazzi photos from the Cave Spring and Hidden Valley homecomings.