Section of Parkway still closed

Part of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Bedford County remains closed due to a wild fire.

Forestry officials say the fire was started by a spark from a piece of mowing equipment.

The fire, in the Thunder Ridge area, has consumed at least 215 acres.

Up-to-date road closure information is available by calling (828) 298-0398. 

Wildfire closes section of Blue Ridge Parkway

About 20 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed in Bedford

and Rockbridge counties, as firefighters battle a forest fire in the Thunder Ridge Wilderness area.

Firefighters closed the Blue Ridge Parkway between mileposts 66 and 85 to fight
the fire, which has claimed at least 215 acres.

No buildings or people are at immediate risk.

16-year-old missing

 A 16-year-old Bedford County girl, Audrey McCombs, has been missing since Sunday and may be with Earnest Grubbs, the former Bedford County sheriff's deputy charged with taking indecent liberties with a child.
The Virginia State Police say McCombs may be in danger.
McCombs has been added to the Virginia's Missing Children Clearinghouse.

Election Day on Tuesday

Voters go to the polls Tuesday, as Virginians decide a number of state and local races throughout the region.

Statewide, all 40 seats in the Senate and all 100 seats in the House of Delegates are up for grabs.

In the 25^th Senate District, Republican Thomas “T.J.” Aldous is challenging the Democratic incumbent, Senator Creigh Deeds. In the 22^nd Senate District, Democrat Bert Dodson is battling Republican Tom Garrett. Dodson is a former member of Lynchburg City Council while Garrett is commonwealth’s attorney of Louisa County. In the 23^rd Senate District, Republican incumbent Steve Newman is taking on Democrat Robert Short Sr.

In the race for the House seat from the 59^th District, Democrat Connie Brennan of Nelson County is squaring off against Republican Matt Fariss of Campbell County. Linda Wall of Appomattox is running as an independent candidate. In the battle for the House seat from the 19^th District, Independent Lacey Putney, the incumbent, is taking on Republican Jerry Johnson and Democrat Lewis Medlin Jr. In the 24^th House District, Republican Ben Cline is running unopposed.
In local races in the Rockbridge area, Bucky Joyce and Josh Elrod are battling for Rockbridge County and Lexington commonwealth's attorney. There are three candidates for Rockbridge County Sheriff, Vernon Reynolds, Roger Clark and Chris Blalock.
In the battle for seats on the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors, in the South River District, Ronnie Campbell, Gene Tilles and Eric Sheffield are the three candidates, while John Higgins and Janet Mogensen are the two candidates for the seat from the Buffalo District. Jay Lewis is running for the Rockbridge County School Board seat from the Walkers Creek District. In Glasgow, Sam Blackburn and Lynda Mundy-Norris Miller are vying for Mayor while Monica Dock, Ruby Ogden Clark, Sarah Funkhouser and Caleb Keckler are the candidates for three seats on Glasgow Town Council.
In Buena Vista, Frankie Hogan and Tommy Keiser are running for Mayor. City Council candidates include Jane Armstrong, Steven Baldridge, Lisa Clark, William Henry Fitzgerald, Lewis Plogger and Bob Thomas. Candidates for the School Board include Margaret "Sam" Byers, Teresa Ellison and Wayne Flint.

In Campbell County, in the race for the Board of Supervisors seat from the Concord District, the candidates are Gary Stewart, Edward Foster Jr. and Eddie Gunter Jr. In the Sunburst District, the two contenders are Tip Killingsworth and Steven Shockley, while the two contenders for the seat from the Spring Hill District are James Borland and Lorraine Blanks Potter. In the race for Sheriff, the candidates are Steve Hutcherson, Paul Adams and Richard Irvin.

In Bedford County, in the battle for seats on the Board of Supervisors, Dale Wheeler and Bill Thomasson are the candidates in District 1. In District 6, the contenders are Annie Pollard and Martin Leamy while the candidates are Tammy Parker and Kyle Williams in District 7. In the race for seats on the Bedford County School Board, L. Ricky Wilkerson, Julie Bennington are running for the District 5 seat while Kevin Willis and Debbie Steele Hoback are running for the seat from District 7. The contenders for Sheriff include Mike Brown and Chuck Reid.

In Amherst County, in the race for the Board of Supervisors seat from District 3, Robert Curd is challenging Leslie Irvin.

In Appomattox County, the candidates for Sheriff include Butch Bailey III, W. Todd Craft and Barry Letterman. There are two candidates for the Board of Supervisors seat from the Falling River District, Chad Millner and Ronnie Spiggle.

In the race for the Nelson County Board of Supervisors seat from the South District, the candidates include Joe Don Johnson, Johnny Ponton and Larry Saunders. The candidates for Commonwealth’s Attorney include Anthony Martin and Daniel Lee Rutherford. The three candidates for Sheriff include W. David Brooks, Mac Bridgewater Jr. and John Wright.

Winter Weather Advisory

The NWS Blacksburg office has a Winter Weather Advisory in effect for Alleghany, Bedford, Botetourt, Craig, Floyd and Roanoke Counties from 10:00 pm until 11:00 am Saturday.

The storm will initially produce rain and sleet before transitioning to snow and sleet primarily at elevations above 2500 feet. Accumulations of 2 to 4 inches is possible along with wind gusts up to 30 mph.

Travel will be dangerous.