Makayla Shelton
Reporter
Roanoke, VA
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Makayla recently graduated from Virginia Tech, where she majored in multimedia journalism. She joined the WDBJ7 team in June 2021 as a Southside Bureau reporter.
Makayla is a local from Pittsylvania County and is excited to cover her hometown!
Makayla loves to travel, go shopping, watch movies, and spend time with family and friends.
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Officials picked up shovels and dug into the future casino soil.
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There will be an opening reception to view the new exhibits Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
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Construction has officially begun for the development of three new apartment complexes on Florida Avenue.
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All proceeds from the fundraisers will go to Lynchburg Grows’ CSA Scholarship Fund.
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The projected $50 million worth of revenue from the increase may only be used to fund construction and renovations for Pittsylvania County schools.
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The county received a grant to construct a fiber-to-the-home network for 3,000 residents without any access to internet service.
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Danville Police officers greeted students at every Danville Public School for their first day back to school Monday morning.
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Police officers, administrators and school board members were at each of the schools to greet parents and children Monday morning.
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Music Road Co performed a variety of music at the amphitheater.
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The plan involves improved architecture, filling vacant store fronts, and potentially bringing back the Star Theatre.
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Gleaning for the World is accepting donations at Sam’s Club on Ward’s Road in Lynchburg.
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The library is expanding into what used to be the space for Danville Community College.
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Water levels on the New River and Roanoke River could rapidly rise starting Wednesday and fluctuate throughout the week.
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A man accused of hitting an 8-year-old boy as he got off the school bus appeared in court Wednesday.
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Martinsville Police and members of the community were at the Uptown Martinsville Farmers Market from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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Foresight Health leaders hosted a roundtable Tuesday night at Patrick and Henry Community College to talk with experts and local first responders.
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The survey can be taken online and will be open until September 2.
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The elementary school teachers have more than teaching in the same county in common - They’re also from the same household.
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The winning design will be sold at the annual Community Holiday Light Show at Ballou Park.
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The 52-unit apartment complex will be built beside the Housing Authority headquarters and rent will be income-based.
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Darick Richardson III was shot multiple times in the parking lot of Woodside Village Apartments on Piney Forest Road.
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The Danville Police Department and Animal Control are now placing traps in areas where feral cats may have been reported.
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The Fab Lab includes a universal laser cutter, 3-D printers, and a vinyl cutter for anyone in the community to use for a small fee.
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Deputies with at least three years of continuous service will each receive an increase of $100 per year.
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The space will be used for small business owners and entrepreneurs to operate out of.
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The Appalachian Regional Commission is awarding $1.2 million to Henry County for improvements to Reservoir Road.
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The goal of the program is to assess and improve the cybersecurity of local registrar offices while also educating students.
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Last year, about 40 kids came to the camp. This year, there were more than 70.
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More than 700 tickets were issued by the cameras after June 6 to drivers going at least 10 miles per hour over the speed limit.
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Michael Jarrett’s 3rd annual basketball clinic will be held at the Martinsville YMCA this Monday and Tuesday.
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The owner of Focus Point Mental Health organized the fashion show in an effort to end the stigma behind mental health.
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The county will soon be sending out surveys and hold meetings to receive input from the community on the rezoning.
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The application including expectations will be up the first week of August.
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About 20 horses and a wagon full of people took backroads to downtown Moneta Tuesday.
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Brett Young will perform at Elmwood Park on September 30 at 9 p.m.
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Racquets for Reading is a program that prepares children to read at or above their grade level by third grade.
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The hospital was originally supposed to begin operation by the end of this year, but regulatory factors caused a delay, pushing that date to January.
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Participants picked water guns and foam swords as their weapons of choice this year instead of water balloons.
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Managers at Jake’s Place and Los Amigos say Pirate Days is busier than Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekend.
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Adventure Saturday at Explore Park is an entire day filled with outdoor activities for kids and adults that will continue until 10 p.m.
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The milestone occurred just after a couple months of operation.
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Free food will be distributed at a different public school every Wednesday to accommodate people in all areas of Danville.
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As part of the celebration, Advance Auto Parts donated $2,500 in gift cards to both the Roanoke Police Department and the Roanoke Fire-EMS.
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Barking Beauties had their ribbon cutting ceremony this morning.
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Martinsville Treatment Services opened its doors to patients at the end of April.
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Today marks the start of Uptown Martinsville’s Restaurant Week – a way for members of the community to support local mom and pop restaurants.
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More than 600 works of art from 280-plus local and regional artists will be on display starting this Saturday.
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On the last day of the Salem fair, local restaurant owners are still feeling the impacts.
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Amtrak in Roanoke is getting a second daily roundtrip passenger train.
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Farmers say beans are struggling the most and corn stalks are not growing as tall as usual.