Open two hours late. Gusty winds days snow showers continue in those areas but as we head through today mopes to that will slowly come to an and but southwestern virginia the mountains a West Virginia it have to watch upper a few slick spots is you heading out this morning heres you weather headlines a chilly start you deftly one a bundle up temperature say twenties and thirties probably on your home tomorrow but at the wind benefiel colder than that strong gusty winds will have increasing sunshine county. But the shelters are open. Wdbj7s Amanda Kenney is at one of the shelters this morning. Good morning, amanda good morning, kimberly. Im at the appomatox Community Center, and the other shelter is at the pamplin Fire Department. Theyre staying open as local leaders continue to encourage victims to water, and food. But there is some good news this morning, ive checked the outage maps for the area and it looks like 100 of the power has been restored. Local leaders have warned that could change as gusty wind conditions could continue to create new outages. But crews are working nonstop to keep the power online if you are experiencing a power outage, unplug major appliances to minimize risk of surges when the power comes back on. Wind could also cause more problems so if you are in an area affected by the tornado , be aware of loose limbs, downed power lines or other windrelated hazards. If youre driving, be cautious as debris wires may still be on roadways. Dont forget, there is still a help line open for anyone to call. That number is on the bottom of your another concerns are well talk about how to find them coming up in the next hour. The tornado may have brought down trees and homes in appomattox, but it didnt bring down the spirit of the community. Several people went through debris trying to salvage whatever they can for the families affected by the storm. Power crews were also out working to restore power to the area. Members of the humanitarian group, gleaning for the world, were out making sure volunteers and victims had enough supples. Volunteers said they cant help but be touched by the stories they see in the piles of debris. Travis smith the Community Needs to come together. People need to band together to help one another. Thats something thats going to be real important in these next couple of days. Gods pit crew plans to send a truck full of relief supples to appomattox this morning. Volunteers are also traveling from danville to a man has been shooting in the town of pulaski. It happened at 10 50 last night in the 100 block of 6th street. That had been shot the scene. He was taken to the flown to roanoke memorial for treatment. Chadwick metz has been arrested in connection to the shooting. Hes being held in Regional Jail without bond. Also new this a man has been arrested in danville the onethousand road. It happened just night during a fight. One person was taken to the hospital with a stab wound to the neck. That persone was taken to the hospital. Kenneth huggins was arrested and is in the danville city jail. cold toss to leo gotstill finding gusty winds in around the area now will be the trend in that thirty mylan our wind us hot springs thirty six roanoke twenty three blacksburg and thirty three galax area remember wind advisories do continue until seven oclock 33 mylan our wind us toward the galax area. Remember wind advisories do continue until seven oclock this morning but once that expires we still have gusty winds just not in that thirty 30 to 40 mylan our range more like the 20 to thirty mylan our range and still would that saturated ground tree limbs trees could get toppled that will continue to diminish over the upcoming weekend so this what it feels like across erie the area feels like its only seven and hot springs the windchill there twenty two in roanoke feels like its 20 blacksburg 15 galax and thirty one in danville now all the Severe Weather of course long gone were still finding snow showers on the backside of the low making its way through the west Virginia Mountains every once in while couple flurries toward far southWest Virginia bay here you go these are the confirmed tornadoes from the National Weather service to eat got yeah rewrite the air we also had a gf three in appomattox ararat Patrick County had adf one Mecklenburg County just to the east of our area also reporting you one so widespread tornadoes out there that outbreak long gone good news for us temperatures 40s today will actually warm up as we make our way through the weekend highpressure building and once these areas my get closer the snow showers begin to shut down and everyone should start to see beautiful sunshine today by the afternoon we should end up mostly sunny gusty winds highs forties maybe a little bit warmer toward the martinsville and danville area tonight partly cloudy cold lows in the teens and twenties and your first alert wtvj seven day saturday breezy just not windy like previous days sunday monday and tuesday were back up until low sixties 60s next chance a shower thunderstorm heads our way on these damage stricken communities are receiving. As wdbj7s shayne dwyer shows us, some of the biggest support comes from those closest to home. This Evergreen Community used to get overlooked but now its hard to look away, this photo will tell the tale for decades, destruction now then we got out and all of our houses were destroyed, completely destroyed. Four homes stood on debbie garretts property. Now one, the one that saved her familys lives. And community is the only thing keeping them alive now. We all went to granny bs in appomattox fantastic restaurant, they gave us our breakfast on the house as i was sitting there one of the waitresses stephanie walked up to me and handed me a 100 dollar bill and said this is from one of our customers just to say were sorry then as i was sitting there another customer walked by me shook that hand, and in that hand was a 20 dollar bill. Fewer people live north across route 460 , but the tornado still obliterated everything in its path. Total devestation, everything pretty much destroyed. Damien baileys family came home to halfa House Wednesday night. Thursday morning brought a kitchen with a view to the heavens, and a search for beloved diamond earings. Ive been on the Fire Department for the last 15 years and responded to other peoples disasters and you that it doesnt happen to you, and it just hurts when it happens to you. Among so much destruction, tears, and sorrow, one thing is standing taller than ever community pride. Thank you appomattox, thank you ems, thank you state, local sheriff deputies, rescue and fire, if it wasnt for them i dont know where we would be now. In appomattox county, shayne dwyer wdbj7. In southern appomattox county, wednesdays tornado destroyed a 120yearold church. Winds tore the steeple off Central Baptist Church and dropped the ruins about a quarter mile away. The brick facade was peeled off and stained glass windows are mangled. Yesterday morning volunteers, including the Football Team from appomattox county high school, helped clean up the damage. Barbara arnold its devastating. Even if they rebuild, its still not going to be the same church, and im sure they will rebuild. The church was insured. Appomattox leaders people to stay out of areas impacted by the tornado. In Patrick County, a ef 1 tornado hit the ararat community, destroying trees and homes. Yesterday, crews continued to clean up along ararat highway. Vdot and the National Guard were called in to help. Patrick county board of supervisors chairman is thanking the emts and fire and rescue teams who responded so fast after the storm and helped get people to safety. Roger hayden, chairman, patrick co board of supervisors, it really bothers me to see this place damaged and the agony of the people but luckily no one was injuried or killed in this episode so, ya know that was a blessing. Law enforcement will have a strong county at least make sure you drive carefully this morning, as theres in effect for some areas. Well have your first ihometown traffic report, after the and when it comes to the election in november, most people are only thinking about the president ial campaign. But thats not the case for this college what hes planning for the 5th district next. Heading off to the busstop this morning seven a. M. Around thirty two degrees but with the wind its benefiel colder than that so deftly dress accordingly by the one shower thirty six most areas will see mainly sunny conditions had home from school temperatures coming in right around forty degrees plus and minus and then over the weekend those winds continue to icy patches in bland, grayson and tazewell counties. Even the main roads are slick in those areas. Were also seeing flooding throughout our area, and downed trees will be a problem. Appomattox county drivers are urged to stay off the roads if possible because of dangerous conditions. Workers are installing a new gas line in southwest roanoke. Flaggers will control and creston avenue. Expect delays from 8 am to 4 pm now through march 15th. Underground Electrical Work could slow you down in lexington. The intersection of North Randolph street and East Washington street will be closed from nine this morning to three this afternoon. Drivers are asked to go a different way. Candidates are lining up to replace Fifth District representative robert hurt when he leaves Congress Next year. At least six people are running so far and, as wdbj7s tim saunders show us, a teenager from the district wants to make sure people in his hometown know where everyone stands. Brookneal is not the Largest Community in the fifth congressional district, but for one night it will be the focus of a campaign to elect the areas newest representative. Its all thanks to a young native of the town named conner francis. Conner francis im trying to be the best representative of brookneal i can be. Francis is a student at Central Virginia community college. Despite the fact that hes only 18 and already has his hands full with a job and college classes, francis has found time to organize a Political Forum for the Fifth District five candidates have committed to showing up. Francis i know its early in the race, but right now some people dont even know which candidates are running. The current Fifth District congressman, robert hurt, is from the southern part of the district. Most of the candidates running to replace him are from areas farther north. Francis wants to make sure those people know and understand the concerns of people on the southside. Francis what we have to look at is whos going to represent brookneal the best, in their ideas and values. Like so many rural towns in the southern Fifth District, brookneal has watched jobs disappear and its economy fall into depression. The situation was highlighted earlier this month when the old dan river plant, once the towns largest employer, burned in dramatic fashion. Francis wants his next congressman to pay special attention to his hometown and make job creation a priority. Francis i dont care how much i have to brookneal better, but im going to do it because its my hometown. In brookneal, tim saunders, wdbj7. The Political Forum is tonight at 7 in the Brookneal Community Building on main street. Its a nonpartisan event and francis is hoping for a good turn out. Students at Radford University are reacting to the news that donald trump is heading to campus on monday. The noon rally is at Radford Universitys dedmon center. Even though its not a University Sanctioned event, students will be part of the crowd. Layne dibuono i am interested in going just to hear what he has to say and just get my own opinion instead of just hearing what other people are saying about him. Tyler rosenblatt im definitely going to go and i want to hear what he says but im just going to take it with a grain of salt. Doors for the trump rally open at 10 am monday. And as we told you yesterday, marco rubio will be speaking at Roanoke College sunday night at 8 30. Rsvps are required for anyone 12 and older. Its a surprising turn of events in the race to become roanokes next mayor. For their party. And, what one group is doing to make some of the areas mountains ready for cam diminishwhere finding temperatures in the thirties across the area ronald now i thirty four new york city thirty four atlanta coming in at thirty seven but we have the wind here so its feeling colder than that looking out from lane stadium across the campus of Virginia Tech relatively quiet thirty one degrees 31 but would that west northwest wind 20 only feeling like its eighteen degrees visibility this morning not an issue whatsoever still could see a flurry or two that is about it most of the activity now confined toward the mountains a West Virginia but if you look really close still finding a few toward smith bland taz will gracing counties even to the ronald valley dont be spry see a flurry this morning dopants price see a flurry this morning but everyone should start see dryer conditions as we head through the day that low continues to move off and highpressure builds in giving upper thirties to low forties forecast model shows the snow showers this morning but watch out kino shrinking Coverage Area as you head through the afternoon that dryer air begins to work its way in and then as he head toward friday night maybe a few more clouds saturday sunday all looking good other than a that is you had toward friday night. Maybe a few more clouds saturday sunday all looking good other than couple of fairweather clouds from time to time we should see nice warming temperatures especially as he head toward sunday and monday today gusty winds mostly sunny temperatures into the 30s low to mid 40s throughout the region head out tonight partly cloudy still been be on the chilly side just not as windy as last later this morning will fine low temperatures dropping back down into the teens and twenties that will be the actual temperatures morning thats action what it feels like is you had out even though temperatures are in the 20s and 30s your first alert wtvj seven day planner seventy breezy on saturday just not as windy as previous days sunday couple of fairweather clouds beluga that High Temperature getting up until low and middle sixties monday and tuesday a mix of sun and clouds highs in the low sixties and as he head toward boundary drives through and that could bring us a few scattered showers even a couple the lone candidate seeking the republican nomination for roanokes next mayor withdrew his bid. The announcement came just about two hours before kevin settles wouldve become the nominee at a republican meeting. His campaign released a short statement saying he has withdrawn from seeking the republican nomination for mayor. At the meeting thursday evening, the committee didnt put forth any candidates for city council either. Mel williams, temporary chairman, roanoke city mass meeting i can say that historically speaking, its a very difficult race for republicans to run and that can make it difficult to recruit candidates to run in those spots and unfortunately it appears the Republican Committee hasnt been able to get any candidates for those. It appears that sherman lea will be the only candidate on the ballot to be roanokes next mayor. The election will be held on may 3. A group of volunteers is doing its part to keep Mill Mountain looking its best. Last weeks storm knocked down trailways and streets. Clean up staff says blocked roads could be dangerous for hikers, bikers and drivers. The group works four to five hours cleaning parks and other outdoor facilities every thursday. Matt allenbaugh Outdoor Education instructor maintaining the high quality trails that we have is really important for its citizens, tourist and people who may be interested in moving to roanoke the next project will be cleaning carvins cove on march10th. Coming up in sports, we have highlights from some local basketball teams as they try to move ahead in the regional basketball playoffs. And, a bill that would let homeschooled students play Public School sports is the second time. Im Hillary Clinton and i approve this message. Her lifes work has been about breaking barriers. And so would her presidency. Which is why, for every american whos not being paid what theyre worth. Whos held back by student debt or a system tilted against them and there are far too many of you she understands that our country cant reach its potential. Unless we all do. Together. Increasing sunshine. Our high will close in on 40. The High School Regional basketball playoffs were front and center last night across the area. Heres travis wells with highlights in sports. Good friday morning everybody. High School Basketball regional playoffs continued tonight, with cave spring hosting the 3a west games. In the first game of the doubleheader, it was his oneloss northside vikings against a 3loss western albemarle team. Northside out to the early lead with a couple threes. Kendrick tucker from beyond the arc on his way to 13 points in the game. Then it was shey webb followingsuit. Webb led the vikings wi