MLILY Mattresses in Roanoke, VA

ROANOKE, Va. – Southwest Virginia has seen a spike in respiratory illnesses. The flu, COVID-19, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) reached widespread levels this winter.

“There’s no doubt COVID and influenza are circulating at high levels in our communities and people really need to do what they can do to protect themselves,” said Dr. Cynthia Morrow, the director of the Roanoke City & Alleghany Health District.

She said there is some good news.

“RSV has been slowly decreasing over the last several weeks,” said Morrow.

However, an uptick in flu and COVID cases means an uptick in hospitalizations. Last week, the Virginia Department of Health reported its first pediatric flu death of the season.

“Any death of a child is just heartbreaking,” said Morrow.

Carilion Children’s Interim Chair of Pediatrics Dr. Christopher Pierce said while the RSV peak may be in the past, it’s a different story for COVID and the flu.

“Flu, I would say I think we’re still on an uphill climb of that,” said Pierce. “I think there’s probably at least a couple more weeks where we may see that before it peaks.”

He said that caregivers should know the symptoms — fever, cough, sore throat, running/stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, and some people may have vomiting and diarrhea.

“Differentiating between the various respiratory illnesses is pretty darn tricky because any one of them can mask just like any of the others,” said Pierce.

Most importantly, be on the lookout for worsening symptoms.

“Any time the fever seems to get really prolonged or you feel like the child is getting better and all of a sudden they seem to be getting worse, those are a little bit of red flags to reach out to your primary care provider,” said Pierce.

Both doctors prioritize prevention. They recommend you wash your hands, stay home when you’re sick, and get vaccinated.

“It’s never too late to get vaccinated,” said Morrow.

Copyright 2024 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - Two men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a narcotics distribution case.

Ronnie Niday and Shawn McCraw faced indictments that resulted from a distribution investigation that led to a search warrant being served at 1508 Riverside Terrace March 16, 2023, according to the Roanoke Commonwealth’s Attorney. The warrant led to the seizure of about 2,618 grams of methamphetamine, 108 grams of fentanyl, 78 grams of heroin/fentanyl, 26 grams of cocaine, 20 firearms and $6,953 in currency.

Niday, 20, pleaded no contest to one count of selling fentanyl, two counts of selling more than 20 grams of methamphetamine, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and possessing a firearm while possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Based on the terms of the plea agreement, Niday has been sentenced to a total of 35 years in prison, suspended after serving 16 years.

McCraw, 36, pleaded no contest to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute-2nd offense, possession of heroin with intent to distribute-2nd offense, and felon in possession of a firearm. Per the terms of the plea agreement, McCraw was sentenced to a total of 35 years in prison, suspended after serving 10 years.

All 20 firearms were forfeited and will be destroyed, according to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, which said thanks to this investigation, “large amounts of dangerous drugs and weapons were taken off the streets and the responsible parties were held accountable for their actions.”

Ashley Bobbitt, who was arrested with Niday and McCraw, was found guilty in July 2023 of one felony count of possession of a controlled substance. She was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended after time served in jail awaiting trial, which was about four months and seven days, according to the CA’s office. She was ordered to keep the peace, be of good behavior and obey the law for one year following her release from incarceration.

John M. McNeil, Jr., Chief Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, said, “Although Ms. Bobbitt was present during the execution of the search warrant and arrested along with Niday and McCraw, there was no real evidence to tie her to the larger amount of drugs and weapons associated with the other two.”

Copyright 2024 WDBJ. All rights reserved.

Murray talks about his lifelong pals, and his special connection to Virginia

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - For James “Murr” Murray, his comedy career started in high school, with his lifelong friends, Sal, Joe & Q.

“We went to an all-boys Catholic high school in Staten Island. There was no social media. There were no girls. So, what do you do other than prank each other?” says Murray.

Years later, Murray says he and his friends decided to create a TV show based on those pranks.

“Impractical Jokers” is 10 seasons strong, and Murray says they’ll start shooting the next season in January.

“Our goal is never to get people angry. It’s to embarrass each other. So I would say we’re the butt of the joke, not the public,” says Murray.

In one of of the show’s most famous moments, Murray lost a challenge.

His punishment was to have his eyebrows shaven.

“To this day, because of “Impractical Jokers,” my license still has no eyebrows, as you can see here. They shaved my eyebrows off and made me get a 10 year driver’s license,” says Murray.

Murray will be on his own, as he brings his standup show, James “Murr” Murray Live to the Berglund Center in December.

Virginia, including the Roanoke area, holds special meaning to the comedian.

“My entire family lives in Virginia. I have sisters -- family in Roanoke, in Richmond, Charlottesville, and Norfolk. That same weekend I’m in Roanoke, I’m all over Virginia, so the whole family’s coming out. I moved my parents to Virginia a few years ago, so it’s going to be great,” says Murray.

And as a special treat, the audience will get to be part of an “Impractical Jokers” stunt.

“I choose somebody from the audience and put an earpiece in their ear, send them out in the streets of Roanoke, we watch on screen in the theatre and they’ve got to do and say what I tell them to live on the spot. It’s like watching the TV show uncensored in front of your eyes,” says Murray.

James “Murr” Murray Live will be at the Berglund Center Saturday, December 16. The show starts at 7 p.m. Click here to buy tickets.

Copyright 2023 WDBJ. All rights reserved.

Roanoke is best known for its proximity to over 1,000 miles of world-class hiking and biking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, but the culinary scene in this southwest Virginia city is also on the rise. In addition to farm-to-fork dining and craft cocktails, restaurants are churning out locally-made brews, Southern-inspired fare, and organic vegetarian cuisine. The combination of raw talent and proximity to local farms has turned Roanoke into a bona-fide dining destination—one you won’t want to miss.

Here are some of the best restaurants to try on your next visit to Roanoke, in no particular order.

Bloom Restaurant and Wine Bar

If you like vegetables, then you will love the seasonally driven small plates at Bloom, a modern American restaurant and wine bar in the Wasena neighborhood. You might find sautéed spaghetti squash served on a bed of charred hay crème fraiche topped with shaved gouda; sliced beets tossed with hazelnuts and drunken goat cheese; or roasted butternut squash crumbled with pumpkin seed dukkah atop quinoa pilaf. Classic cheese and charcuterie plates pair elegantly with the European-leaning wine menu as do expertly prepared proteins, such as an 18-hour braised beef, which are available in both small and large portions.

bloomrke.com, 1109 Main St SW, Roanoke, VA 24015

Bread Craft Bakery

Plan to arrive at Bread Craft when it opens—promptly at 8 a.m.—to optimize your selection of breads and pastries, which vary daily based on a baking schedule posted on the bakery’s website. Jewish Rye as well as Miche, a round-shaped sourdough variety, are available on Thursdays whereas sweeter options like cinnamon rolls and sticky buns make the rounds on Saturdays. A breakfast and lunch menu featuring egg dishes, maple French toast, and freshly prepared sandwiches is also available for counter service or carry-out.

breadcraftbakery.com, 24 Church Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24011

Crystal Spring Grocery Co.

This gourmet market cum café with indoor and patio seating is the ideal spot to stock up before or after a hike in the neighboring Blue Ridge Mountains. Made-to-order lunch items such as a crispy chicken sandwich with local honey on a brioche bun or griddled pepper jack and cheddar cheese on sourdough are available between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Customers can select seasonally inspired salads and house-made soups from the grab-and-go section in addition to an array of snacks from the grocery aisles. Organic wine and craft beer are also available.

csgrocery.com, 2205 Crystal Spring Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24014

Fruits and Roots

The first brick-and-mortar location for this Historic Roanoke City Market vendor is bright and cheerful with a handful of tables inside. Fruits and Roots, an organic eatery, offers cold-pressed fruit and vegetable juices, plant-based treats, smoothies, and bowls. Sample a classic açaí bowl topped with house-made vegan granola or the Nutty Green smoothie blended with bananas, blueberries, spinach, hemp seeds, peanut butter, and almond milk. Don’t forget to grab a pack of organic energy bites or a gluten-free muffin on your way out.

facebook.com/fruitsandrootsroanoke, 122 Campbell Ave SE, Roanoke, VA 24011

Lucky Restaurant

Ask anyone in Roanoke where to go for a craft cocktail and chances are high, they’ll send you straight to Lucky. For over a decade, this restaurant has built a reputation around its beverages as well as its high-end comfort food. Try a unique concoction from the bar, such as the “Stede Bonnet,” fashioned with Seedlip Grove 42, sorrel, jasmine green tea, green cardamom, adjusted orange, aquafaba, and champagne. The dinner options are just as enticing; a four-course prix fixe menu featuring the likes of fried green tomatoes, roasted bone marrow, and smoked meatloaf, among other dishes.

eatatlucky.com, 18 Kirk Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24011

RND Coffee Lounge

Roasters Next Door (RND) is the place to get your caffeine fix in town. An independently owned small batch roastery with locations in Wasena and neighboring Vinton, RND emphasizes a variety of single-origin blends from around the world including Ethiopia, Columbia, Nicaragua, and Brazil. Coffee is available by the cup or to purchase by the pound. Stop in for a quick sip or linger with your laptop at one of the tables; the friendly staff won’t mind. RND is open daily from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m.

roanokecoffee.com, 1114 Main St SW, Roanoke, VA 24015

Scratch Biscuit Co.

No reservations are necessary at this casual breakfast standout in historic Grandin Village. Southern-style biscuits are baked from scratch daily and offered with an array of accompaniments, like eggs and sausage, alongside sweet dishes such as French toast and pancakes. Feeling ambitious? Order The Cowboy Crippler, an eight-inch-wide biscuit loaded high with country-fried sausage, beef brisket, pulled pork, hash browns, and cheese.

scratchbiscuit.com, 1820 Memorial Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24015

Sidecar

This downtown Roanoke gem transports with a European-themed menu and upscale gastropub vibe. You’ll find classic steak frites, tender duck confit, and Normandy-style mussels. Groups will appreciate shareable appetizers such as Bavarian pretzels and charcuterie platters. Don’t miss the handmade sausages, available individually or in platters of four, served with all the traditional accouterments. Fancy a cocktail first? You’ll find an assortment of old-world-inspired beverages, European wines, and imported beers at the bar.

sidecarva.com, 411 1st St SW, Roanoke, VA 24011

Stock Cafe

Fire Station One, a boutique hotel housed inside a historic firehouse, offers an intriguing newcomer to Roanoke’s diverse restaurant scene. Stock Café features a Nordic and Scandinavian-themed menu. Think: cocktails produced with lingonberry and Kapsalon, a Dutch fast-food dish assembled with hand-cut fries, chicken shawarma, gouda, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, garlic sauce, and sambal. You’ll also find authentic plates like varieties of Smørrebrød, a traditional Danish open-faced rye bread sandwich; fried pork schnitzel; and whole roasted trout accompanied by potato rösti and crème fraiche.

firestationone.com/stock, 13 Church Ave SE, Roanoke, VA 24011

The Green Goat

Visiting Roanoke with children in tow? Head to The Green Goat for a casual lunch or dinner. The restaurant’s outdoor seating ranges from picnic benches to Adirondack chairs at this eatery located on the Roanoke River Greenway in the eastern corner of Wasena Park around the corner from the basketball court and skate park. The American menu features crowd-pleasers such as wings, waffle fries, and deviled eggs, rounded out with a variety of salads, sandwiches, burgers, and pizzas.

greengoatroanoke.org, 802 Wiley Dr SW, Roanoke, VA 24015

The River and Rail

The River and Rail is a local favorite for traditional Southern fare sourced from the Roanoke and New River Valleys. As you might expect, the menu rotates regularly based on what’s fresh and in season. Begin, for example, with a Virginia oyster wrap sculpted with organic Bibb lettuce, house-made kimchi remoulade, shaved radish, and chives or the applewood smoked heritage pork ribs with sorghum and peanuts. Save room for protein-rich mains, such as wild striped bass or dry-aged duck breast, as well as dessert options like handmade ice creams and sorbet.

riverandrailrestaurant.com, 2201 Crystal Spring Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24014

Viet Sub

Viet Sub proves that delicious food doesn’t require a fancy interior or table service. This pint-sized restaurant has some of the most authentic Vietnamese food around, including an Instagrammable Banh Mi lathered with mayo, chicken liver pâté, ham, carrots, daikon radish, cucumber, cilantro, and jalapeño pepper. Classic dishes such as pho, rice vermicelli bowls, spring rolls, and dumplings also grace the menu. Order yours at the counter for take away or to eat in.

www.vietsubroanoke.com, 1403 Williamson Rd NE, Roanoke, VA 24012

For more than 70 years, a brightly lit star has twinkled high above Mill Mountain greeting residents and visitors of Roanoke, Virginia. But where did it come from and how did it get there?

The History Of The Roanoke Star

Originally erected to celebrate Christmas and encourage holiday shopping, the Roanoke Star was commissioned by the Roanoke Merchants Association (today's version of the Chamber of Commerce) and built by local, family-owned company Kinsey Sign Co, led by Roy C. Kinsey and his three sons, Roy Jr., Bob, and Warren.

The steel star, which is actually three stars—a small center star with two sets of outlining frames—was lit for the first time on November 23, 1949 in an event that was attended by around 100 people, including John Payne, a Roanoke native and star of Miracle on 34th Street.

Measuring 88.5 feet high and weighing 10,000 pounds, the star, which cost $28,000 to build, was to be dismantled at the end of that first holiday season. Nearly a century later, it remains.

"The Roanoke Star was so popular among locals that the city quickly decided it would stay up year-round," Kathryn Lucas, director of public relations for Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge, tells Southern Living. "And we don’t have a closet big enough to store it in."

Originally a holiday installation, the star, which sits 1,045 feet above the city, has become a fixture of southwest Virginia.

"The Roanoke Star has sat atop Mill Mountain for almost 75 years, and there are very few residents who can remember a time before we became the Star City,” City of Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea Sr. tells Southern Living, referencing the city’s nickname, The Star City of the South.

From downtown Roanoke to the Wasena Bridge, the Roanoke River Greenway, and neighborhoods across the city, the Roanoke Star can be seen shining each evening.

"It is a must-see special attraction for those traveling to Roanoke and a comforting reminder of home for those who live here," Lea says.

Using more than 2,000 feet of neon tubing, the star was originally illuminated white and has maintained its warm glow, though there have been color changes throughout the years, as well as short periods of time where the star has been turned off.

In September 2001, the structure was illuminated red, white, and blue as a tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, and it went dark completely on April 16, 2008 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre.

According to the City of Roanoke's website, “going forward, the star will remain white year-round but will be illuminated red, white, and blue on the following days as a tribute and sign of patriotism: Memorial Day (May), Flag Day (June 14), July 4, Sept. 11, and Veteran's Day (Nov. 11).”

Visitors wanting an up-close look at the famed fixture, which is the largest free-standing man-made light up star in the world, are in luck.

"The most accessible way to visit the Roanoke Star is by car. It’s just a short 10-minute drive from Downtown Roanoke up Mill Mountain," Lucas says. "If you’re looking for more of a challenge, you can also hike the Star Trail up Mill Mountain. It is a steep 1.4-mile trail with over 750 feet of elevation gain."

As technology has evolved, so has the famed Roanoke adornment. Today, the star features a camera that live streams from the base.

"Visitors can wave to their family and friends as they watch on the livestream," Lucas says.