Good News

Art can offer an escape, or a moment of reflection during challenging times. That's the hope of one local artist and the health department employees who have made a special connection.

Ian Ostlund and his dog, Reese, have only been on duty together for a month or so, one of five teams that just graduated from training. That gives the department a total of nine teams, allowing them to properly cover the entire state now.

Ashley Grace Bridal in Forest, Virginia is participating in "Brides Across America" for the third year, and this year, COVID-19 first responders can participate.

K9 Remi has been with the Roanoke County Police Department since 2018 and is trained for explosives detection and tracking.

James Bryant, Sr. started driving buses for Bedford County Public Schools in 1959.

Four cheetah cubs born last October have been out of public view because of the COVID closing of the Safari Village.

The money was raised solely from face mask sales.

Patrick Henry High School and William Fleming High School students graduated virtually Thursday. Both graduations were streamed live on Facebook for family members and friends to listen in and watch their favorite grads big day.

She spent over 50 hours making improvements to one park.

Customers have been paying it forward to those workers by buying coffee for them ahead of time.

They say the effort was the collaboration of a few local businesses.

A new, light thought every day, written on a chalkboard and put in front of their house.

Nathan Lovell was watching LIVE with Kelly and Ryan and saw CJ Baucom, a 9-year-old who ran 100 miles in 30 days to raise money for COVID-19. Nathan immediately knew he wanted to do the same thing.

A major new playground, for a neighborhood that needs it, is now under construction in the city of Roanoke. On Tuesday morning, the Roanoke Kiwanis Club and its partners broke ground on the project, located between the Melrose Library and Forest Park Academy.

The pair says they have come up with a creative costume for their nightly walks for 53 days in a row.

Families reunited from afar after months of separation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Each one of the 16 seniors at Faith Christian was hand delivered a cap and gown and a personalized sign for the front yard.

They had teachers stay in their cars for social distancing while they brought them a Chick-fil-A lunch.

Mothers' Day is Sunday! To celebrate, Friendship Manor in Roanoke held a "Mother's Day Parade" Friday for its residents to help lift their spirits.

BeammeupBBQ had the officers helping them out when they delivered some barbeque with sides to the department for the police to enjoy.

The school arranged for a box lunch, along with some goodies and door prizes provided by local businesses to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week.

Each one of the teachers gets a pizza, soda and a goodie bag, thanks to some financial help from the Highlands Community Bank and Alcova Mortgage.

A couple horses and a chicken did some meet-and-greets throughout the community on Wednesday.

As we spend more time at home, it's likely you've been trying to learn or perfect a skill. If you're wanting to learn some new recipes, one college chef from our hometown has you covered.

She had an emergency appendectomy, and they wanted to wish her well in a safe way during social distancing by driving by her Lexington home.

They want to keep literacy and entertainment up while school is closed.

Ryland Clark spent hours digging for red Christmas lights to put on his home in support of first responders and front line workers battling the coronavirus outbreak.

The talk of coronavirus and its impact is everywhere, and life seems to be changing every day. If you're looking for hope, or how to give it, here's a story out of Roanoke that might help.

An Elementary School in one of our hometowns is doing its part to spread joy.

A Bedford County man celebrated his mom's birthday, but did so through her window at her nursing home.