RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) — Despite a 100-mile and three-hour trip to reach his destination, Stewart Boone didn't think twice about turning down the invitation.

The veteran is dressing up for an occasion at the Virginia War Memorial. It is an event nearly 80 years in the making.

At this gathering, Mr. Boone is something of a celebrity. Signatures and snapshots with the featured guest are a must.

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The 98-year-old is a member of a fraternity whose ranks are thinning. The Kansas native survived the Battle of the Bulge.

Boone’s unit of the 99th Division was overrun by Germans during the surprise attack in December of 1944.

“They just demolished our battalion,” said Boone.

Dozens of his fellow soldiers were captured. Many were killed.

“They kept firing as we took a few steps we’d hit the ground,” recalled Boone. “Finally we got. We got out of there.”

Provided to WTVR

Boone and 10 others ran through knee-high snow and bone-chilling temperatures.

“It was 12 inches of snow and 12 degrees above zero,” said Boone.

Their miraculous escape earned them the nickname "The Lucky 11." Boone is the sole survivor.

“Well, I think the Good Lord was taking care of me,” said Boone.

Members of the Battle of the Bulge Association hang on to every one of Boone’s words.

Alan Cunningham, whose father survived the bulge, said opportunities to meet veterans in person are growing more rare.

“We find that the numbers of the veterans are dropping very quickly,” said chairman of the board Alan Cunningham. “Oh, I really appreciate his being here. It really adds something when we have meetings and to be at the Virginia War Memorial of all places.”

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As Boone soaks up the attention, he reminds everyone to remember the soldiers who never returned.

“No one left behind. That is a good motto,” said Boone.

When she was two, Mary Ann Coates Smith’s father James was killed in the battle. She said meeting Boone is a living link to what she lost.

“Oh, it’s wonderful. It’s like here he is. We all got excited. It’s wonderful. It is a good feeling knowing that we can still communicate with him,” said Mary Ann.

As the day draws to a close, a gift of patriotic music plays for the aging veteran. It's a score to remember as the talented Mr. Boone leaves on a high note.

“It is good. It is good to be recognized," he said.

This story was originally reported by Greg McQuade on wtvr.com.

PETERSBURG, Va. — Shawn Wise was walking to his small encampment underneath the Martin Luther Bridge on Friday evening when he was surprised by police and what they had to tell him.

"They were here to tell me about this center, this warming station," Wise said.

Like many homeless in the Tri-Cities, Wise found themselves living outside in severe winter conditions. No shelters were open, with lows in the low double and single digits.

Marlow Jones, who was just elected to Petersburg's City Council, knew the weekend's cold temperatures could be deadly, so he reached out online to see if anyone would open up a building.

"He called me up, he said, man, you can use my building to do the warming station. And we took it from there," Jones said.

Corey Wesson saw Marlow's plea and spoke with his family.

"She was like, use the studio. You aren't doing anything else with it right now. Go ahead and let people stay there," Wesson said.

Within hours of the decision, homeless residents like Wise were out of the cold.

"It provided me with warmth. It provided me with food. Loving, caring people," Wise said.

Soon, others from the community and Central Virginia were lending a hand.

"Blankets and sleeping bags," Jones said. "It's not permanent, so we want to make sure we understand that, but it's here to keep people out of the cold," Jones said.

"We can try as long as we can, but you know, the business has to go back and just, next step is, where are they going to go?" Wesson said.

The private warming shelter did exactly what the people who opened it intended to do. It got about a dozen people who would have been outside in the cold and wind inside a warm building.

Wayne Covil at WTVR first reported this story.

HOPEWELL, Va. — A group of Starbucks baristas in Hopewell, Virginia served a hot cup of compassion to a grieving daughter.

Jackie Dean's mother died in January. In the days and weeks since her mother's death, Jackie and her sisters have attempted to plan a memorial for their mom.

“So it’s just been hard," Dean said.

"We've had to move her services three times due to COVID.”

Mildred Burnham loved Starbucks.

She particularly enjoyed sipping a caramel macchiato.

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While planning her mom's rescheduled service over the weekend, Jackie needed a coffee break. So she drove to her neighborhood Starbucks and placed her familiar order.

"I was going to order what I always order and I inadvertently ordered two," she said. "I was so used to getting one for mom.”

Realizing her mistake, Jackie became overcome with grief.

"I started crying and I tried to get my words," she said.

What happened next brought Jackie some joy during an otherwise difficult day.

“They came up to the window and said, 'ma'am, there’s not going to be any charge for your coffee today," she said.“[The barista said] 'I noticed you were upset and when you said you ordered two and then one, I said I knew something was going on.'”

In addition to the free coffee, the barista drew a small heart on Jackie's cup.

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“It just made such an impact, it made my day, my day had been terrible, I had been crying all day," she said.

The small Starbucks gesture helped warm her broken heart.

This story was first reported by Wayne Covil at WTVR in Richmond, Virginia.

NORFOLK, Va. — When Graham McCormick's family asked Rand Hooper to speak at his funeral, Graham's father Burke McCormick said, "We never dreamed he was somehow involved in Graham's death."

For weeks after Graham's body was found floating in the water where Carter's Creek meets the Rappahannock River, Rand told investigators that he, Graham, and another man played cards and drank on his parents' river house dock, and then they all went to bed.

When Rand woke up, Graham was nowhere to be found, and Rand speculated he had gone out on the dock to call his girlfriend and fallen into the water.

He also suggested Graham might have had a panic attack and went to the emergency room because Rand said Graham told him he had a panic attack after his brother Will's death from brain cancer.

Rand even watched as Graham's mother used an oar to search the water by the dock for her son.

"We thought Rand Hooper was a close family friend," Burke McCormick said.

But, 25 days after detectives recovered Graham's body, his family received some shocking news.

Rand had just told detectives in the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office that he and Graham took a boat ride in the early morning hours of Aug. 11 in 2017, the same day Graham's body was found.

Hooper said he could not remember who was driving the boat, but he remembered the boat hitting something hard, turning the boat's engine off, calling out for Graham, and when he did not see or hear him, he figured his friend was a good swimmer and could make it to shore.

He then got his bearings straight to the Tides Inn and told detectives he remembered nothing after that.

"They've never expressed any remorse or said they were sorry or anything. It's just such a sense of betrayal that my family feels," Burke McCormick said about Rand and the Hooper family.

The revelation came after Lancaster detectives discovered a Boston Whaler boat at the Hooper home with a large amount of damage that matched damage on the bulkhead where they found Graham's body.

But when detectives charged Rand in connection with Graham's death, that was only the beginning in the McCormick family's four-and-a-half-year fight for justice.

"Two-and-a-half years ago when things went sideways, I felt alone, I felt abandoned, I felt like my family was left out in the cold, and I prayed and asked for warriors," Gordon McCormick, Graham's younger brother, said.

"This case has had more twists and turns than a bobsled run," Burke McCormick said.

From 2017 until now, the McCormick family endured a plea deal thrown out by a judge, a prosecutor who had his law license suspended, another prosecutor who was removed from the case, new more serious charges and COVID delays.

"I've spent the majority of my 20s waiting for justice for my brother," Catherine McCormick, Graham's sister, said.

On Thursday, their long wait finally came to an end when a Norfolk jury found Rand Hooper guilty of involuntary manslaughter and failure to stop and render assistance in a boating crash.

Rand faces a maximum sentence of 15 years, and the judge revoked his bond.

"My life has been on hold and for the first time, I really feel like I am going to be able to move forward," Catherine McCormick said.

"Once I saw the handcuffs go on, that's when it became real, that's when I felt like it was time to turn the page, and I got my life back," Gordon McCormick said.

Next up in the case, the judge will determine Rand Hooper's sentence.

During the trial, prosecutors could not bring up Hooper's prior record of DUIs, and the time he shot his friend while drunk in the Fan neighborhood.

However, during sentencing, the judge will be able to consider those.

"It has been a long four and a half years, and finally, justice has been served. When the judge read the verdict yesterday, the sense of relief was palpable," Winston Blair, whose sister is married to Rand and was at the River house that night, said in a statement. "Identifying Graham’s body and listening to Rand read scripture at Graham’s funeral knowing the suspicions had already been placed were the two most difficult things I have ever experienced. The lies and deception surrounding the death of Graham McCormick have strained nearly every relationship that I have within my own family. I know yesterday brought a long-awaited closure to the McCormick family, and for that, I am grateful. I have renewed faith in our justice system. Prosecutors Matt Kite and Tiffany Webb brought that justice. I look forward to putting this behind me. I am confident the judge will serve the defendant a proper jail sentence to fit the heinous crime and cover-up. The cover-up was worse than the crime itself."

Melissa Hipolit at WTVR first reported this story.

RICHMOND, Va. — Two police officers in Richmond, Virginia, are being considered for a lifesaving award following their heroic actions during a motel fire.

On Jan. 7, around 5:30 p.m., Officers Ben Frazer and Steve Gibson were seeking a wanted individual near the Richmond Inn and came upon a fire in the back of the motel.

“I went upstairs and started beating on the doors. No one was answering the doors, so we had to manually open the doors,” Frazer recalled.

The partners used a battering ram to enter some of the rooms as they rushed to warn guests of the flames.

Upstairs, Officer Frazer would become engulfed in smoke as the flames rose.

“As soon as the fire extinguisher ran out, I heard a poof, and the curtains went up. It hit the balcony area and went up and over that. Of course, he was basically right there,” Gibson explained.

Richmond Police Third Precinct Capt. Faith Flippo described the moment as smoke-covered Officer Frazer.

“All of a sudden, smoke took over, and he lost sight. He had to hold on to a railing to walk himself out when he already got in the mix of trying to save somebody and helping people,” Flippo said.

Flippo said their efforts deserve a lifesaving award.

“They put themselves in danger to save others. Our Richmond officers do every day, and in this situation, it’s nice of the two officers involved got recognized for it,” she stated.

Nearly a dozen guests were saved due to the officers' quick reactions.

Officer Frazer’s injuries required oxygen in the back of an ambulance, but the pair quickly returned to duty.

“In a situation like that, I don’t think it matters if you’re a police officer or firefighter or whatever - the average human being would have done the same thing we did,” he said.

These officers believed there was a lesson to learn from a potentially devastating fire.

Officer Gibson discovered some guests were worried about their belongings in their room rather than escaping the danger.

“We are not there to watch your stuff burn,” Frazer explained. “We are there to protect the people out there. Just do us a favor, listen to us, and we will get you in your room.”

No one else was injured.

Richmond Police apprehended the wanted individual on Wednesday.

Brendan King at WRTV first reported this story.

RICHMOND, Va. — Sports typically aren't at the top of mind when one thinks of science. But don't tell that to the students on Team Clueless at Saint Bridget Middle School.

"The sports environment, working together as a team. The competition, that thrill, that adrenaline, to a STEM-minded kid," said Eric De Boer, an instructional technology specialist and one of the leaders of Team Clueless.

The squad is the only team from the Virginia and D.C. area to advance to the First Lego League World Championships, which will take place in Houston, Texas, this spring.

The 10-member team earned the highest robot score out of all 72 squads competing at the regional championships in December.

"The competition involves robots, where they have to build them out of Lego pieces entirely," De Boer said. "They have to build a robot to solve various missions on the board. They have two and half minutes to get as many points as possible."

"They can't touch the robot once it leaves home," he added. "They have to go and have it programmed to use different sensors, like a light sensor to follow a line or maybe it's going to use a touch sensor or an ultrasonic sensor to see how far away it is from an object."

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The competition combines creative thinking with hands-on learning. It's a team effort for STEM vets and rookies.

"I get to create basically anything I want and do different types of projects with it, and it allows me to pursue different ideas I have and have the resources I need to get these ideas into action," said eighth-grader Langdon Tollet, a member of Team Clueless.

"I'm a coach and we're problem solving this together," De Boer said. "And we can work as a team to help solve the problem."

This story was originally published by Rob Cardwell on Scripps station WTVR in Richmond, Virginia.

NEW YORK — Phish announced Thursday the band would postpone its annual run of New Year's Eve concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York City due to the COVID-19 omicron variant.

The sold-out concerts will be moved to April, according to a statement from the band.

"With the Omicron variant of Covid-19 surging in New York City, we have made the very difficult decision to reschedule next week’s run of shows at Madison Square Garden," the statement says. "We’re fortunate to have found a four-night window in The Garden’s schedule, and the shows will now take place April 20-23, 2022, including a three-set show (as originally planned for New Year’s Eve) on April 22."

After postponing its 2020 summer tour and New Year's Eve run, Phish returned to the road in 2021. The group played 35 shows between the end of July and the end of October.

Beginning in late September 2021, Phish started to require proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or proof of a negative COVID-19 test that was taken within 48 hours prior to each show.

While the virus did not cancel any Phish concerts prior to Thursday's announcement, summer wildfires prompted the band to move two concerts from the Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena in Stateline, Nevada to the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California.

COVID did alter Phish lead guitarist Trey Anastasio's September 2021 tour with his side project — the Trey Anastasio Band.

After several band members tested positive for the virus, some shows were played without his three-person horn section. At one point in the tour, Anastasio's eight-person band was reduced to just him on stage for a solo performance. Phish drummer Jon Fishman eventually joined the Trey Anastasio Band to finish the tour when drummer Russ Lawton tested positive for COVID-19.

This story was originally reported by Scott Wise on wtvr.com.

RICHMOND, Va. -- Crews that have been working to dismantle the pedestal on Monument Avenue that once held a statue of Robert E. Lee believe they have discovered the 134-year-old time capsule said to contain historic artifacts.

According to Governor Ralph Northam's office, workers noticed something that looked “different” Friday morning, so they chiseled down with a hammer and found the top of what appears to be the time capsule — located inside a large block, under one inch of cement.

It was found approximately 20 feet in the tower portion of the pedestal, not in the pedestal’s base where crews spent nearly 12 hours searching for it back in September.

Northam's office said it appears to be largely undamaged.

The stone must be removed and lowered to the ground before historic preservation teams can confirm whether this is, in fact, the actual time capsule — which could take a while.

Historians believe a time capsule was placed in the cornerstone of the Lee pedestal on October 27, 1887. But an attempt to find uncover it after the Lee statue was removed from the pedestal was called off when no discoveries were made.

Records from the Library of Virginia suggest that 37 Richmond residents, organizations and businesses contributed about 60 objects to the capsule, many of which are believed to be related to the Confederacy.

Some reports claim the capsule contains things like coins and pamphlets and possibly a rare photo of President Abraham Lincoln in his coffin.

If this is confirmed to be the time capsule, Northam said it will be transported to the Department of Historic Resources, so it can be opened using best practices for historic preservation to maintain the integrity of the artifacts.

Officials created a new time capsule to replace the one from 1887, even though it was not discovered at the time. The new capsule contained things like a COVID vaccination card and a Black Lives Matter sticker.

The items in the new time capsule were chosen by officials from 150 submissions that the public participated in.

It is unclear where the new time capsule will lie once the pedestal is completely removed.

This story was originally published by Taylor O'Bier at WTVR.com.

RICHMOND, Va. — Bill McKelway is chopping his way through retirement. The local man has an ax to grind with cold temperatures.

The former Richmond Times-Dispatch journalist volunteers with Project W.A.R.M. — Wood Association of Richmond Metro.

"I look forward to it every Saturday. I come out here every week and whack away," McKelway said. "It keeps you off the couch."

The nonprofit helps the less fortunate by delivering free firewood during the winter months.

"You feel like you're doing a little something to help. Most of our customers are retired. A lot of war veterans. Some injured," McKelway said.

Kay Faries, an elementary school teacher in nearby Henrico, has been volunteering with Project W.A.R.M. since 1995.

"It doesn't matter how hard things get for me. There is someone out there that needs something, and I can fulfill that need," Faries said. "Oh my goodness. The volunteers here come from all walks of life. You know we have a really good camaraderie here."

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Volunteers collect and cut donated hardwood at their wood lot on Richmond's north side year-round.

George England said the group is dedicated not only to strangers but to each other.

"The people here mostly want to give back to the community. There are at least 10 people here that I could call 24/7 and they'd say, 'What do you need?'" England said.

Since its founding 45 years ago, the organization has heated the homes and hearts of hundreds of customers.

"You certainly get a warm feeling just helping these families out," McKelway said. "They wouldn't be asking for it if they didn't need it."

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The program was the vision of the late Lou Wilson. In 1976, Wilson learned of a woman who was burning her clothes to fight the cold.

"You know, Lou always said the families that we serve are going to get the best that we have to give," said Lou Wilson's widow, Mary Ann Wilson.

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Wilson said her husband acted, and Project W.A.R.M. was born.

"In giving, you really receive a whole lot more than what you're giving," she said.

After Wilson's death in 2014, volunteers vowed to carry on his mission.

"This is his legacy," Mary Ann Wilson said. "There is no question about it. I feel his spirit everywhere here."

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On this day, Project W.A.R.M. is replenishing the wood supply of Mark McQuinn. The Vietnam veteran lives on Richmond's north side and has been a customer for years. The 76-year-old who lives alone relies on the group's kindness to feed his hungry wood stove.

"It was a gift from above because I didn't know where I was going to get some from that point. But it came," McQuinn said.

McQuinn said he doesn't know what he would do without the volunteers who have a burning desire to help.

"What they are doing really says a lot for what people should be doing all over the world. Being there for one another," he said.

This story was originally published by Greg McQuade on Scripps station WTVR in Richmond, Virginia.

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. — Standing 6'5", Chesterfield County Police Officer Sgt. John Kimenhour is as tall as he is humble.

The school resource officer would tell you what he did recently for a Chesterfield driver was something any other officer would do.

"I went up to the car, and there was a pretty decent language barrier," Kimenhour said."So, I called into the language line."

Once they could communicate, he knew there was only one way to fix the flat.

"She was stranded and had no idea what she was going to do," he said. "My grandson turned one yesterday, and she had a little boy sleeping in the car seat about that age. She ended up feeding him. I mean, how can you leave a mom and little boy on the side of the road, right?"

Kimenhour's grandpa instincts kicked in.

He purchased a replacement tire, changed it for her, and sent her on her way.

His kind act was captured in a photo and praised by his boss, Chesterfield Police Chief Col. Jeffrey S. Katz, on social media.

"When we talk about a heart for service, we are talking about behavior like this! Non-'newsworthy' deeds that make a big impact on the lives of those who entrust us to serve and protect them," Katz wrote in a social media post.

Kimenhour said he was in the right place at the right time to help.

"I left early for work. I had a pretty important meeting with Parks and Recreation that I was preparing for with my role in the Police Athletic League, and there she goes right off the road in front of me," he said.

Kimenhour said other officers have been asking him if he does oil changes and tire rotations.

Col. Katz said Kimenhour would be reimbursed for the tire thanks to a cash award he'll receive for his action.

Jon Burkett at WTVR first reported this story.

LOUISA COUNTY, Va. — There is a teacher with four legs helping students in Virginia.

Louisa County Sheriff's Office Lt. Patrick Sheridan will tell you a K-9 like Allie can teach students valuable lessons.

At Revillians Elementary School, she’s teaching children with special needs.

"If there is a situation where they become lost, we explain to them about what they should do in the woods,” Lt. Sheridan said. "We explain to them what would happen if a police K-9 gets close to them and finds them. They don't have to be scared. They are their friends."

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Allie is a 3-year-old bloodhound who has already been on 250 calls for service.

She recently helped save the life of a child on the autism spectrum.

Allie found the child alone in the woods and hugging a tree.

"What I did was let the child spend time with Allie. And I said, 'Hey, do you want to walk Allie out?' And the child said, ‘Yes,' and he got the lead. I was behind them, and Allie walked us out of the woods."

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These kinds of visits can also help students be calm, help them focus, and increase their ability to concentrate and learn.

People often turn to pets in times of emotional stress as a source of comfort.

Lt. Sheridan is just happy to teach the kids how important Allie can be for them.

"We did a grid search, a crime scene. They found an article of clothing for a missing student and then Allie was given that article. And she got to do a demonstration and show them how she works. And she found the student," he said.

This story was originally published by Rob Cardwell at WTVR.

RICHMOND, Va. -- Markeisha Harris-Minor is a young entrepreneur who has always considered herself to be a resource to people. And she has always wanted to do it, as she says, on a macro level.

So, last December, she came up with an idea for a new app she calls Blocal Search.

What is it?

“This is a nationwide directory and app for locating Black-owned businesses all across the country," Harris-Minor, CEO of Blocal Search, said.

Harris-Minor said she was constantly seeing the Black dollar recycle in front of her eyes. That’s why she said it was important for her to find an avenue that would allow the money to stay in local neighborhoods, especially in a moment in time where a demand to support Black businesses is on the rise.

“Because we all know that buying Black right now, it’s something that’s important. It may look more trendy or what have you, but I want to make sure I’m pushing it to be a lifestyle, so just kind of changing that focus and perspective, like why am I really buying Black?” she said.

Ajay Brewer, owner of Brewer’s Café on the city’s south side, added his business to Blocal Search this year.

“I’ve had several people tell me that they’ve found me through Blocal, so any sort of search engine that creates that sort of awareness for us is really priceless. It’s created revenue for Brewer’s Café for sure," Brewer said.

Harris-Minor said she has over 150 local businesses -- like restaurants, juice bars, beauty supplies, family dentistry, and more -- in the app.

The number is even higher nationwide. Blocal has promoted about 4,000 companies across 160 cities since the app launched in February.

“Blocal at minimum is going to be a directory, but this is going to be a brand that I’m building to really make sure that we’re able to have a sustainable community that we’ve had in the past and be able to create the generational wealth that we all are looking for our families,” she said.

Blocal Search is available to download on your phone by going to your App Store or on Google Play. You can also get more information here.

This story was originally published by Rob Desir at WTVR.

RICHMOND, Va. — British Army Major Chris Brannigan is making a barefoot trek from Maine to North Carolina because of a rare condition his 9-year-old daughter Hasti deals with every day.

The “barefoot soldier” does not sugarcoat it. Walking 1,200 miles with no shoes on is terrible.

“It’s so painful on my feet. I have nerve damage on my feet. I’ve had more blisters and cuts than I can count,” Brannigan said. “It’s really just to make it hard because Hasti’s journey with a rare disease is hard. There’s no money for research.”

Hasti was diagnosed with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS), a rare genetic mutation that impacts multiple systems within the body and affects a child’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development.

“What’s scariest for us is that it gets worse. At about age 12, kids start to go downhill a bit. They can start self-harming in very serious ways that they need to be restrained. They can become mute; they stop talking. We just can’t imagine that for Hasti, so we’re fighting every day to create this treatment,” Brannigan said.

Following her diagnosis, Brannigan said his family began asking questions and realized they had to do whatever they could to help bring about a treatment. The Hope for Hasti charity raises money that will go to research a gene therapy regiment for children with CdLS.

Brannigan partnered with The Jackson Laboratory in Maine, and money raised from his efforts will go to researching CdLS and running trials at the facility for genetic therapeutics.

“Even if it isn’t going to work for Hasti because she’s nine and will be 10 next year, if it works for even one family, that’ll have made it all worthwhile."

Hasti is an “amazing, bubbly little girl,” who Brannigan said he misses deeply in the six weeks he’s been walking alone through the U.S. Over the weekend, the 9-year-old experienced a serious seizure that landed her in the hospital.

Brannigan decided to continue on with completing the walk only after she improved. His leg through Central Virginia is toward the end of the path and will be heading from Richmond to Petersburg Wednesday.

“I’m in the final third of this thing, and literally just before I met you I thought it’ll be so good to put some slippers on,” Brannigan said.

The sign that tops his 50-pound pack of provisions asks a simple question of others: how far would you go for your child? Brannigan's answer is clear as he carries it down the road.

“We couldn’t sleep at night that we didn’t throw everything at this, that we didn’t uncover every stone and try to do everything to make her as happy and healthy as possible,” Brannigan said.

Since funding for research into rare diseases like CdLS, which affects one in 20,000 births in the U.S., Brannigan hopes his effort drives attention to the cause and money toward a treatment. Those who have the means can donate here.

Brannigan hopes to finish his journey near the end of October. You can follow the journey on social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram).

This story was originally published by Jake Burns at WTVR.

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) -- September 11, 2001, is a day Coach David Anderson will never forget.

He hopes that what he was doing in the terrible moments after the terrorist attack and what he does today inspires those around him.

Anderson is the founder of Foundation Academy Sports in Chesterfield, Virginia. He works with student-athletes to help them improve their game.

“It starts with them wanting to be consistent," Anderson said. "Basketball is my passion. I love development and teaching."

Anderson is serious about helping. He and the trainers at Foundation Academy have helped develop some of the best talents in Central Virginia.

“Over the last 15 to 20 years, we've had, I think, 11 or 15 of the top All-Metro players come through Foundation Basketball,” he said, showing pictures of former players.

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Some of the players earned college scholarships with his assistance and at least one of them made it to the pros.

“It’s not about me. It’s what I can do for other people," he said.

Anderson used to help people in devastating situations as a former first responder. On 9/11, he worked for the New York City Fire Department and EMS.

"The devastation in New York City was completely unbelievable at that time," Anderson said.

The memories from that day are still fresh in his mind.

“The radio went crazy,” he said.

Anderson was on duty when the first plane went into the World Trade Center. He had just worked a double shift and was on his way home for the day.

“I remember vividly. He came across the air and said, 'essential, essential, this is so and so and so and so, this is a hard hat operation, this is a hard hat operation,'" Anderson said while tearing up. "I'm sorry, I'm about to get emotional. He said, 'Plane into the World Trade Center.'"

On day one, Anderson was at Ground Zero searching for people in the rubble.

"It was so surreal," he said.

At first, he wasn’t sure he'd survive.

“My locker had a picture of me with my family. I just saw the picture. I wrote, you know, I love you guys, if I don't return, I love you, because I didn't expect to come back home,” Anderson said.

He stayed mentally tough by thinking of his family with gratitude.

“People lost their family members. They had children, they had souls, they had private lives, and you know, so you feel for them,“ he said.

Eventually, he followed his family to Central Virginia. They moved to the Richmond area for a job opportunity and Anderson found new work at the Chesterfield Fire Department.

"I was at Station 1 down in Chester-Harrogate Road. A lot of good friends over there. And then I was in Station 12 out in Ettrick for a few years,” he said.

Decades later, he still deals with the sadness of September 11.

“You don't forget. You just put in a certain part of your brain. I try not to think about it a lot, because it just breaks, breaks me every time," he said.

Some people from his old department in New York City have passed on.

“We’ve lost a lot of people to cancer," said Anderson.

He believes the disease may have been a result of the terrible day. Anderson beat cancer himself after being diagnosed last year.

“I had two surgeries, and it’s all been removed,” he said.

After about a decade of helping with emergencies in Central Virginia, Anderson hung up his uniform for good. He said he missed the fire department but was now passionate about helping athletes develop at his gym.

“This is serving my purpose. This is what God wanted me to do," Anderson said.

He hopes his life experiences inspire his players.

“They can help other people. It's each one teach one,” he said.

Foundation Academy offers an umbrella of services, including personal training, team sports, and athlete recovery. You can learn more about the program by visiting this website.

This story was first reported by Candace Burns on WTVR.com.

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. — A backpack found in a dumpster behind a Chesterfield store Monday contained fetal remains, Chesterfield Police announced Thursday afternoon.

Police released photos Monday of what officers described as a "suspicious incident."

Police were called around 1:50 p.m. local time for a reported unknown female who had placed a backpack in a dumpster behind a store several hours earlier.

It was reported that the female entered the store without the backpack before exiting.

"A store employee checked the backpack, saw what appeared to be blood on it, and called the police," a Chesterfield Police spokesperson wrote in an email. "Officers found what appeared to be human remains in the backpack.

Police later identified the person in the photo as a juvenile female.

"The medical examiner's office preliminarily determined the remains found in the backpack are fetal remains," police said. "A cause and manner of death have not yet been determined."

Police said their criminal investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Anyone with information about the case was asked to call Chesterfield Police at 804-748-1251.

WTVR first reported this story.

NELSON COUNTY, Va. — The remains of 17-year-old Alexis Murphy were discovered in Lovingston, Virginia, according to the Nelson County Sheriff's Office.

The remains, found about five miles from where the teenager was last seen alive in 2013, were discovered in December 2020 and positively identified as the missing girl earlier this month.

"Our family is so grateful for the continuing love, support, and prayers for Alexis and our family over the past seven years," her family released in a statement. "While we have been grieving the loss of Alexis since 2013, we remained hopeful that she would be found alive and well."

Officials delayed the release of information about the remains in order to give the family time to grieve and make proper arrangements.

DNA evidence recovered in the Murphy case ultimately led to the murder conviction of Randy Allen Taylor.

Taylor is serving two life sentences for Murphy's murder.

Information about what led police to the remains has not yet been made public.

"Alexis was the fashionista, athlete, and joker of our family; we were blessed to have loved her for 17 years and her memory will continue to live on through us all," her family's statement continued. "Our family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks and sincere gratitude to the citizens of Nelson County, the FBI, the Virginia State Police, the Nelson County Sheriff's Office, and all of the search and rescue teams for your commitment and unwavering support to find Alexis. You all kept the promise made in 2013, to bring Alexis home! During this time, we ask that you continue to lift our family up in prayer and in the words of Alexis, ‘Keep Hope Alive.’”

This story was first published by WTVR.

RICHMOND, Va. -- An Army veteran is making his way up the East Coast as part of an 1,800-mile walk to honor his friends who died in combat, and raise awareness about the alarming veteran suicide rate.

Greg Washington, 39, wants soldiers and people across the country to know their life matters.

According to a report published by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, an average of 22 veterans die by suicide each day.

"We are taught to be tough, and so we’re tough, we’re tough, we’re tough until we can’t handle it anymore, and we find ourselves at that breaking point and don’t have a plan to be able to help save ourselves," Washington explained.

The former infantry officer and West Point graduate started his walk in Mount Bayou, Mississippi.

While his journey on foot started three months ago, his internal battle has been going on for years.

“There were days where I couldn’t tell if I was awake or dreaming because I was constantly living in pain," said Washington.

Washington served two tours overseas. His first was from 2008 to 2009 in Afghanistan, and he traveled to Iraq in 2009 where he served until 2010. It was there his life changed.

"Two of my best friends, Emily Perez and Scottie Pace, they were both killed in action," he explained.

Washington met Perez and Pace at West Point. Perez was the highest-ranking African-American female Cadet in West Point’s history.

Pace was a combat pilot and the Academy named a ceremony after him following his death.

Because he survived, Washington faces post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and survivor's guilt.

“I remember making that promise to my battle buddies that I was going to be there to have their back, and not being able to be there to fulfill that promise weighed heavy on me for the longest," he noted.

But the young soldier also sustained physical injuries during his tour in Iraq.

A grenade exploded and he outran a car carrying an explosive device, leaving him with concussions so severe he was honorably discharged in 2011 and forced to hang up his uniform.

“My transition out the military was so tough," he explained. "I was almost one of those 22 that commit suicide a day, and if it wasn’t for my baby cousin calling me in the middle of my darkest hour, I might have pulled that trigger."

Washington is using his pain and personal experience to advocate for mental health resources for soldiers.

"It’s one thing to talk about your scars; it’s another to talk about your wounds," he noted.

As Washington walks through Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia, he’s been met by the support of strangers.

"I remember we were stopping and this one lady saw the trailer with the banner and was like I lost two already, and my husband is dealing with PTSD, so thank you for what you are doing," he explained. "All she could do was ball and cry in my arms, so having moments like that during these tough days of walking in the heat and uphill, those moments make a difference."

Washington plans to end his walk on Sept. 11 at West Point, where he hopes to be met by the football team and alumni.

Washington was a star linebacker during his time at West Point.

He asks everyone at home to think of that one friend, family member or "battle buddy" that you haven’t talked to in a while, or that you know is going through something tough, and call and check in on them.

"One phone call might save a life," Washington explained.

To find out more about his journey or to support his walk, you can click here.

This story was originally reported by Caroline Coleburn on WTVR.com

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. — More companies are embracing long-term or permanent remote work as they forgo brick and mortar locations for a virtual work life.

Aquent, a creative talent staffing agency, announced plans to allow leases at 35 of their offices in North America to expire.

Sarah-Tyler Moore, the agency’s Mid-Atlantic director, supported the company’s decision not to return to their Forest Avenue location in Henrico’s West End.

“Amongst the people who were actually coming into the office, I would say most people were doing one to two days remotely anyway, so it certainly was a jump for us,” Moore explained. “We very quickly decided this is what we have to do to adapt, to be able to still take care of our clients and talents, and now we are all fully remotely.”

WTVR

Aquent moved toward a virtual workforce during the height of the pandemic to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam continued to strongly encourage businesses to allow their employees to telework during the pandemic if they can do so.

Major companies like Amazon, Facebook, and Capital One have already committed non-essential employees to work from home until this Summer.

Aquent CEO John Chuang chose to allow his employees to work remotely to eliminate geographic barriers and increase opportunities for workers.

“I’ve actually gone to know so many people in our organization through working remotely that truthfully I don’t think I would reach out to if we weren’t in this pandemic world,” Moore stated.

However, Senior Economic Advisor Spencer Levy pushed back at the notion that more companies will choose virtual versus face-to-face work. Levy also serves as chairman of Americas Research at CBRE, the world’s largest commercial real estate company.

WTVR

“I certainly respect companies that make different choices,” he explained. “Most of the companies are going to make the choice to go back to the office.”

Levy said more CEOs are admitting that long-term remote work isn’t sustainable from a productivity standpoint. Levy described the use of office space as a want, and not a need for most companies.

“[Offices] make employees more productive and help you attract and retain talent. It allows you to create the company culture that you want. It allows you to learn the soft skills from communication to networking that you need to advance. Those things aren’t going to change,” Levy stated.

Some health experts have highlighted the burden of back-to-back online meetings, which is often referred to as “Zoom fatigue.” Humans are social animals that crave and need face-to-face interaction, they argued.

Moore believed the benefits of online work outweigh the challenges, especially as a mother.

“I have been able to, as a working mom, go get my kid from daycare a little later since I'm not as far away,” she explained.

Aquent also hired ahead of culture and community tasked with ensuring their employees are engaged with one another even while working virtually.

“We have all kinds of fun book clubs. We’ve done a cooking night and we were able to still connect together even though we are remote,” Moore said.

This story was first published by Brendan King at WTVR.

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. — One lesson Skipwith Elementary School music teacher Sophie Harrison loves to teach is how to play the ukulele.

"We do recorders in the fourth grade, and then for the fifth graders," Harrison said. “I think it's a great kind of transition to be able to play songs that are more popular with them."

But when Harrison wanted to change the tune and add ukuleles to the musical lineup, she ran into an issue.

The problem was that some students at home didn't have access to a ukulele, and others couldn't afford to buy one.

"Because it is a shared resource with HCPS, they weren't able to have their own at home," said Harrison. So she took matters into her own hands. "I just did a bunch of fundraisers to buy 85 ukuleles for each student."

Harrison used the website DonorsChoose.com to raise money from community members, friends and family, and other music teachers to purchase the ukuleles.

Word got out and more donations poured in. Skipwith Elementary chipped in with even more money. Eventually, there was enough to buy 85 ukuleles.

"It’s incredible,” Chris Moseley, Education Specialist for Performing Arts, said. “You know, a lot of people ask for things and they expect handouts. But when you put in a little bit of extra energy and get support from your community and get your school involved, then we're not making excuses. We're finding ways to get the appropriate results."

WTVR

Seeing that spark of interest in a young musician's eye is something Moseley knows well. He saw it in Harrison a long time ago.

"When she was an elementary school student, I was her band teacher,” said Moseley. “We had about 85 kids in the elementary school band, and she was one of the first students that I ever taught."

"Starting trumpet in his band class, it was definitely, it felt like that first time where you're really feeling like you have your music love and you're starting that journey.” reflected Harrison.

Maybe it is a ukulele that will hit the right cord and start another student's journey. And they have one, thanks to Harrison.

Building interest in music -- and building better minds.

This story was first published by Rob Cardwell at WTVR.

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) -- Tricia Dodson always dreamed of companion like Tater at her side.

“This is the first time I had my own puppy,” said Dodson. “That face. He is just a love bug, and he is just so cute.”

Everywhere Dodson goes, Tater goes.

Just weeks after moving into her home in September, Dodson turned to the Richmond SPCA to find a four-legged friend.

“He is a Beagle/Bassett Hound Mix. They call him Bagels,” said Dodson.

The U.S. Army veteran adopted Tater in October. He was a shelter dog found abandoned in Cumberland County.

“From the time I adopted him, he is just adorable,” says Tricia. “He is sunshine. He is sunshine in a doggie’s body. He really is.”

WTVR

Since October, the pair has been inseparable, and as Dodson found out, their bond goes beyond fur-deep.

“When I think about it now it scares me what could have happened,” said Dodson.

In the small hours of March 1, Tater jolted Dodson awake. She thought he needed a potty break.

“I was sleeping and it was about 3 or 3:30 in the morning,” said Dodson. “He started jumping on me and barking.”

But his bark was a warning of danger lurking downstairs.

“I opened the door and just black smoke hit me,” said Dodson.

A smoke alarm was blaring, but Dodson didn’t hear it since she is deaf in one ear.

“There is no way I would have heard that alarm. No way,” said Dodson. “That is why I keep saying how thankful I am.”

Dodson’s digital stove short-circuited and started burning. She called 911 and rushed Tater out. But her two cats were hiding upstairs.

“Luckily, police and fire got here very quickly,” said Dodson.

Chesterfield firefighters arrived and moved the burning oven outside.

WTVR

“That is what was in my house. Big black soot. Everywhere,” said Dodson. “I was very lucky. As far as house fires go I was very lucky.”

Weeks later Dodson still shutters at the thought if Tater didn’t act.

“Yeah. I would be dead,” said Dodson. “That is what scares me.”

The smell of smoke and soot need to be removed, but Dodson's house is still standing.

“If he hadn’t barked and gotten me out. It could have happened and the whole house could’ve have been lit up,” said Dodson.

For his heroic act, her pooch is promised a lifetime supply of belly rubs and treats.

“I could never repay him for what he has given me. Ever. There is just no way,” said Dodson. “I believe everything happens for a reason.”

Tater the shelter dog. stole Dodson’s heart. Then promptly saved her life.

“We’re in this together. He is right there with me and he is helping me every step of the way.”

Dodson’s two cats did survive the fire that terrifying night hiding in an upstairs bedroom.

Dodson said she will promote the benefits of adopting a shelter animal to anyone who will listen. She added that a furry friend could rescue you in more ways than one.

This story originally reported by Greg McQuade on WTVR.com.

RICHMOND, Va. — One Richmond family got a shocking delivery last month when 80,000 pennies were dumped on their front lawn. Now, they're using the money to help those in need.

"I just turned 18. When I was in the middle of class, my dad came by. He had rented a trailer," Avery Sanford, a Deep Run High School senior, said. "He pulled up in front of the house and turned the trailer on so it dumped out all the pennies on the grass, and my mom came out and was like, 'What are you dumping in my yard?' She didn't know who it was until he shouted, 'It's your final child support payment."

The act had an impact on the teenager.

"It's not just my mom he's trying to embarrass; it's also my sister and me, and it's upsetting that he didn't consider that before he did that," Sanford said.

Once the pennies were picked up, Sanford and her mom decided to turn a bad situation into a positive one.

Every penny of Avery's last child support payment will be donated to Safe Harbor, a domestic abuse center.

"Turning around and donating that money to moms and children in need, I feel like that really turns this situation into a positive. You can learn from it," Avery said.

Avery hasn't spoken to her father in years.

She said that the penny incident proved to her that she made the tough but right decision to stay clear. She said she had no interest in having a relationship with anyone who disrespected her mother.

"It's really hurtful and damaging to your kids when you do things like that. It doesn't matter if they're young or an adult; the actions of your parents will always have some effect on you," Avery said.

Avery's mother said she reported the incident to Henrico Police.

When reached by phone Tuesday, Avery's father said his actions resulted from 18 years of built-up frustration, and his emotions got the best of him.

He said the last thing he wanted to do was to put a further wedge between him and his daughter.

Jon Burkett at WTVR first reported this story.

PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) -- A man and a woman suffered serious burns after their car crashed and caught fire in Prince George County, Virginia, on Monday.

Officers who responded to the burning car were being credited for the couple's survival.

Jeff Craft, who was driving Monday afternoon, saw the car run off Courthouse Road and into the woods.

"I saw the smoke, immediately started coming out from underneath the car," Craft said.

WTVR

While he could not get close enough to help, he heard the woman screaming that her boyfriend was trapped.

Officer John Kuykendall was the first police officer to make it down to the burning car.

"His legs were underneath the car, the front bumper, he was laying there yelling for help," Officer Kuykendall said.

WTVR

"I saw the gentleman," Prince George County Police Officer Daniel Byrum recalled. "He was partially on fire. At which point, I had taken a fire extinguisher from another officer, and started to spray the fire around him."

Dana Newmyer, with Prince George Animal Control, also responded.

"Going down the hill, it was just a blaze of a vehicle fire, you couldn't see anything," Newmeyer said.

The group worked quickly to grab the man and pull him away from the fire.

WTVR

"It was a team effort and nobody hesitated, we didn't think twice about it," Officer Kuykendall said.

The fire burned Newmeyer's face and hair

"It's better to be semi injured and have people alive than the opposite," Newmeyer said.

The man and woman remained hospitalized with serious injuries.

WTVR

The officers suffered burns and heat-related injuries, but none required medical attention.

"Heroes. 100 percent," Craft said when asked to describe the rescuers.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

This story originally reported by Wayne Covil on WTVR.com.

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) -- May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and everyone's mental health was impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fourteen months into the pandemic and aspects of life are now slowly returning to pre-pandemic status. That, according to psychologists, has caused a variety of symptoms called "pandemic fatigue."

Nickie Brandenberger said she and her husband Mark have put so much emphasis on making sure their kids, Leah and Thomas, get through the ups and downs of the pandemic, she's sometimes forgotten about herself.

"I'm feeling very neglected in a lot of ways," Nickie admitted. "It's not as bad as it could be. But I think pain is relative and you have to sort of acknowledge that you're still struggling."

Clinical psychologist Dr. Meghan Rooney agreed.

She said many people are reporting a cluster of symptoms like sleeping more, depression, changes in eating or motivation, and worrying more or less than normal.

"Our bodies aren't meant to be in that state of alarm, for a long time, and what happens when your system is in that state of alarm, for a long time, is that we become exhausted and burned out and start having this cluster of symptoms that we're now referring to as pandemic fatigue," Dr. Rooney said.

Increasing resilience will help you get through tough times, she said. One way to do that is to reframe the pandemic as a challenge.

"We think of it as a threat," she said. "It evokes more of that alarm state and that fear state, and that makes us, again, like, just more irritable than we are if we see an event as a challenge."

Dr. Rooney said that makes a difference in how your whole body responds.

"It evokes a whole different set of responses, including hormones that actually make us calmer, relaxed," she said.

Another way to get you through this tough time is to remember struggles we've coped with previously, she said.

"It's really important to remember that it's not just about what if something bad happens, it's also remembering how well we have coped with difficult things in the past," she said. "What skills can we use? What strategies can we use to deal with it? Just knowing that, you know, we're often stronger than we think we are, we can deal with more than we think we can."

For Nickie, that meant more solo hikes through some of Virginia's natural wonders.

"I can feel that negative energy and lack of patience with simple things and I know I have to build in some time to get away and do something for a whole day. So that recharges me," she said.

Dr. Rooney said mindfulness activities like breathing exercises or mediation can help.

And if you think your symptoms are too much, seek help from your medical professional or a therapist. She recommends the site www.therapytoday.com.

If you or someone you know is experience mental or emotional challenges, there are numerous resources available:

This story originally reported by Tara Daudani on WTVR.com.

Nick Powell’s career path led him to the open sea. The North Carolina native teaches search and rescue in the U.S. Coast Guard at Yorktown.

“I got to sleep, knowing I made a difference or saved someone’s life,” Lt. Powell said.

Provided to WTVR

But a few years ago, Powell noticed he was the one in need of help.

“I remember waking up and my hands were numb and tingly,” he said. “I would get this strange feeling whenever I looked down.”

Mysterious symptoms nagged the healthy 29-year-old beginning in 2015. Two years ago, doctors delivered the crushing news.

“The MRI shows 10 lesions on the brain and two on the spinal cord. Basically, what this means is you have multiple sclerosis,” Powell said. “I never thought that person would be me."

Multiple sclerosis causes severe nerve damage. The disease leads to pain, fatigue, and loss of coordination.

“I still have so much to do. I’m in my prime. I’m at the pinnacle of my career. My wife is pregnant. I still have a lot of life left. This can’t be for serious,” Powell said.

Provided to WTVR

While the diagnosis led to depression, it also helped the married father of one discover a passion.

For Powell, cycling became an escape.

“It is rejuvenating. It is very relaxing. It is nothing but you and the open road you just keep pedaling,” he said.

Powell is a colorful fixture on the Capitol Trail.

On June 5, Powell will lead his team in Bike MS.

Each crank of the pedal raises funds for the National MS Society which in turn helps patients like him. His 62-mile goal would be the farthest Powell has ever ridden.

Provided to WTVR

“I am not going to let MS defeat me. I had to wake up every day and say that. I have MS but it doesn’t have me,” Powell. “When I am at my weakest moment, I think of how far I’ve come and how far I have to go in life. So it is a motivating factor."

Coast Guardsman is keeping the nation’s waterways safe while taking a stand against MS on solid ground.

“While I have movement and strength, I want to get out there and make a difference any way I can,” he said.

The one-day Bike MS is Saturday, June 5.

This story was originally published by Greg McQuade at WTVR.