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.

WTVR

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.”

WTVR

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.

RICHMOND, Va. —

A gunman opened fire as hundreds of people stood outside after a high school graduation ceremony Tuesday evening in Richmond, Virginia, killing two people and wounding five others, the city’s interim police chief said.

As merriment turned to terror around Richmond’s Monroe Park, other people were hurt as they tried to escape the gunfire, including a 9-year-old girl who was hit by a car, Richmond Interim Police Chief Rick Edwards told reporters Tuesday night.

Video above: Interim Police Chief Rick Edwards describes shooting scene

Police initially detained two people but later said one was not involved. The other – a 19-year-old who investigators think may have known one of the victims and had four handguns – was held Tuesday night and police will recommend two counts of second-degree murder against him, Edwards said.

Killed were an 18-year-old student who graduated Tuesday and a 36-year-old man who had attended the ceremony at a theater near the park. They were not identified.

The shooting happened at Monroe Park after Huguenot High School’s ceremony in the Altria Theater, Richmond Public Schools official Matthew Stanley said. The park is on Virginia Commonwealth University’s campus, across the street from the theater.

Besides the two killed, five others – a 14-year-old boy and four men ranging in age from 31 to 58 – suffered gunshot wounds. Four of those injured had non-life-threatening injuries, according to Edwards.

The 9-year-old struck by a car was being treated at a hospital Tuesday night with non-life-threatening injuries, Edwards said.

Three off-duty officers were working security at the ceremony and heard gunshots outside just before 5:15 p.m. ET. They radioed a call of shots fired and other officers who were working traffic duty responded, the interim police chief said at an earlier news conference.

The suspect fled the scene but was stopped and detained by VCU police.

“Is nothing sacred any longer? Is nothing sacred any longer?” Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney said at the first news conference.

The mayor promised whoever was involved would be brought to justice, “not just for the families involved but for the city.”

A different high school’s graduation ceremony that was scheduled for the theater after the Huguenot High ceremony was canceled, Stanley said. Graduation ceremonies for three schools were scheduled at Altria Theater on Tuesday, according to the school system’s website.

The graduation ceremony had ended, and graduates were outside taking photos with their families when the shooting happened, Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras said. Hundreds of people were in the park at the time, Edwards said.

“I don’t have any more words on this,” Kamras said. “I’m just tired of seeing people get shot, our kids get shot. And I beg of the entire community to stop.”

An alert sent at 5:15 p.m. by Virginia Commonwealth University says a shooting happened at Monroe Park. About an hour later, the alert page said there was no ongoing threat.

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.

WTVR

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.

WTVR

“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."

WTVR

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.

RICHMOND, Va. — Conservation experts in Virginia's capital have pulled books, money, ammunition, documents and other artifacts from a time capsule found in the remnants of a pedestal that once held a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

The lead conservator for the Virginia Department of Historic Resources said the measurements and material of the copper box, match historical accounts.

A newspaper from 1887 suggested that the capsule contained dozens of objects, civil war memorabilia, and a picture of Lincoln lying in a coffin.

Tuesday's reveal marks the end of a weeks-long search for the capsule, which was embedded in the pedestal of the statue of Lee. Earlier this year, the statue was removed following a prolonged legal battle and amid the nation's ongoing reckoning with its racist past.

Last week, state conservators spent five hours delicately prying open a separate box found in the tower portion of the pedestal days that they initially hoped was the 1887 time capsule. What they found instead was an edition of "The Huguenot Lovers: A Tale of the Old Dominion," a cloth envelope, a silver coin and a rust-colored 1875 almanac, the Associated Press reported.

Historian Dale Brumfield believed the box found on Dec. 17 was less of a time capsule and more of a personal commemorative collection for the men behind the statue's construction.

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."

WTVR

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."

WTVR

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.

WTVR

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."

WTVR

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."

WTVR

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."

WTVR

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. — 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.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve in Portsmouth, Virginia, has decided to try “goatscaping.”

Staff at the preserve has hired a landscape company called RVA Goats, which is based in Richmond. A team of about 80 goats and sheep are helping to control the invasive wisteria that has taken over a couple of acres of the property.

“So, the English ivy on the ground, the sheep are very effective at getting that, and then the goats are good at climbing and getting at some of these vines,” explained Kristi Orcutt, owner of RVA Goats.

Executive Director of Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve Ashley Morgan says this is the first time they’ve done this.

“About a year ago, we discovered that the vines in this area had really invaded the forest and taken down the canopy,” said Morgan.

She said they invited experts from the state forestry department and also city landscapers to look at the problem.

“Doing nothing is not an option because the invasive wisteria will continue to spread and continue to take down the native trees,” Morgan added.

Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve was established in 1997 and is a 142-acre urban wildlife preserve.

The owner of RVA Goats says her company is keeping busy, often hired by homeowners and business owners.

“We also get hired by cemeteries, especially African American cemeteries that are historically under-funded and under-managed,” described Orcutt. “I’ll send the goats in and within a week, I’m seeing these beautiful works of art, these stone markers.”

The University of Richmond is one of their next jobs, stated Orcutt. She added that the goats and sheep are used to clear streambeds and also to model and demonstrate sustainability for their ecology students.

Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve plans to use the goats and sheep through the end of the week. Morgan said the cost was covered by a grant through the Rotary Club of Portsmouth and the Southeast Virginia Community Foundation.

They hope to gain more human volunteers to help until they can rent out the goats again in spring.

This story was originally published by Angela Bohon at WTKR.

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.

WTVR

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.

RICHMOND, Va. —

A crowd erupted in cheers and song Wednesday as work crews hoisted an enormous statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee off the pedestal where it has towered over Virginia’s capital city for more than a century.

One of America’s largest monuments to the Confederacy, the equestrian statue was lowered to the ground just before 9 a.m., after a construction worker who strapped harnesses around Lee and his horse lifted his arms in the air and counted, “Three, two, one!” to jubilant shouts from a crowd of hundreds. A work crew then began cutting it into pieces.

“Any remnant like this that glorifies the Lost Cause of the Civil War, it needs to come down, said Gov. Ralph Northam, who called it "hopefully a new day, a new era in Virginia.” The Democrat said it represents “more than 400 years of history that we should not be proud of."

Sharon Jennings, an African American woman born and raised in Richmond, said she had mixed feelings seeing it go.

"It’s a good day, and it’s a sad day at the same time," Jennings, 58, said. "It doesn’t matter what color you are, if you really like history, and you understand what this street has been your whole life and you’ve grown up this way, you’re thinking, 'Oh, my God.' But when you get older you understand that it does need to come down."

Some chanted, "Whose streets? Our streets!" and sang, "Hey hey hey, goodbye." One man with a Black Lives Matter flag was escorted out by police after running into the fenced-off work area. No arrests were reported, and there was no sign of a counter protest.

Workers used a power saw to cut the statue in two along the general's waist, so that it can be hauled under highway overpasses to an undisclosed state-owned facility until a decision is made about its final disposition.

The job was overseen by Team Henry Enterprises, led by Devon Henry, a Black executive who faced death threats after his company's role in removing Richmond's other Confederate statuary was made public last year. He said the Lee statue posed their most complex challenge.

“It won’t transport in this height, so we need to lift the rider off the horse and transport it that way. From a thickness standpoint, we don’t know how long it will take. Are there iron supports? It’s a total mystery,” Henry said Wednesday.

Northam ordered the statue’s removal last summer, citing nationwide pain over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis after a white police officer pressed a knee into his neck. Litigation tied up his plans until the Supreme Court of Virginia cleared the way last week.

The 21-foot high bronze sculpture sat atop a granite pedestal nearly twice that tall, towering above Monument Avenue since 1890 in this former capital of the Confederacy.

State, capitol and city police officers closed streets for blocks around the state-owned traffic circle before its removal, using heavy equipment and crowd-control barriers to keep crowds at a distance. The Federal Aviation Administration granted the state’s request to ban drone flights, and the event was livestreamed through the governor’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

"This is a historic moment for the city of Richmond. The city, the community at large is saying that we’re not going to stand for these symbols of hate in our city anymore," said Rachel Smucker, 28, a white woman who moved to Richmond three years ago. "I’ve always found it to be offensive, as a symbol of protecting slavery and the racism that people of color still face today."

The pedestal is to remain for the time being, although workers are expected to remove decorative plaques and extricate a time capsule on Thursday.

After Floyd’s death, the area around the statute became a hub for protests and occasional clashes between police and demonstrators. The pedestal has been covered by constantly evolving, colorful graffiti, with many of the hand-painted messages denouncing police and demanding an end to systemic racism and inequality.

The sculpture was valued for its artistic quality, and stood among four other massive Confederate statues that were removed by the city last summer.

The decisions by the governor and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney to remove the Confederate tributes marked a major victory for civil rights activists, whose previous calls to remove the statues had been steadfastly rebuked by city and state officials alike. A statue of Black tennis hero and Richmond native Arthur Ashe erected in 1996 is expected to stay.

"I think it’s pretty apropos that the only remaining monument on this tree-lined street is Arthur Ashe, and I’m pretty confident he’ll withstand the test of time," Stoney said.

A previous wave of advocacy and resistance led to a rally of white supremacists in the city of Charlottesville erupting into violence in 2017. Other Confederate monuments started falling around the country.

In Virginia, local governments were hamstrung by a state law protecting memorials to war veterans. That law was amended by the new Democratic majority at the statehouse and signed by Northam, allowing localities to decide their fate as of July 1, 2020.

Stoney then moved swiftly, citing the continuing demonstrations and concerns that protesters could get hurt if they tried to bring down the enormous statues themselves. Protesters had already toppled a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis before Stoney's decree. Work crews then removed removed statues of Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, Confederate naval officer Matthew Maury and Gen. J.E.B. Stuart from the thoroughfare, where their pedestals remain.

Northam's plans to remove the Lee statue stalled until the Supreme Court of Virginia cleared the way last week in unanimous rulings against two lawsuits, saying that in a democracy, "values change and public policy changes too."

The changes have remade the prestigious avenue, which is lined with mansions and tony apartments and is partly preserved as a National Historic Landmark district. Northam has tapped the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to lead a community-driven redesign for the whole avenue.

As for the Lee statue, Northam has said his administration will seek public input on what should happen to it next.

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.

NEW RICHMOND, Ohio —

Tuesday brought a heartbreaking announcement in the search for a missing Clermont County man.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation believes a body found off of State Route 222 on Monday is that of Robert "Bobby" Farrell Jr., 23, from New Richmond.

Along with new details released by officials, there are still many lingering questions.

The search for Farrell started in New Richmond and has expanded into the county.

Even as family members said his best friend has been arrested, the questions of "How?", "Who?" and "Why?" are still unanswered.

Exclusive WLWT video showed a scene in the 2300 block of State Route 222 in Clermont County on Monday night just before 11 p.m.

The road was blocked off by tape.

Clermont County sheriff's deputies and the Clermont County coroner were in sight as evidence and bags were loaded into a truck.

Investigators have not elaborated on everything they found on Monday night.

But as of Tuesday, Ohio BCI officials said they believe they found the remains of Farrell off the roadway, describing him as the victim of a homicide.

His family has been devastated since he disappeared from New Richmond on July 6.

"He went out with his friend and that's all we really know. He went out with his friend and never came home," Farrell's aunt, Sandy Coorey, said.

Family members said Farrell's best friend, Keyanta Gardner, spent days helping them search for the young dad.

On Monday, we uncovered Gardner was arrested in connection to Farrell's disappearance.

Investigators said he admitted to making false and misleading statements to BCI agents.

The tragedy just keeps getting worse for Farrell's family.

"It just hard when you watch someone grow up as a baby, and just, and you don't know what's happening," Coorey said.

Neighbors in New Richmond and along State Route 222 told WLWT that police have asked for surveillance video from July 6.

Clermont County dispatchers said no one called 911 to report the body, so it's unclear how it was found or when it was put there.

Even still, there is a community demanding justice for Farrell.

The Ohio BCI said though Gardner is already charged with tampering with evidence, additional charges are expected.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Ohio BCI at 1-855-224-6446.

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.