Fifty-five years after he helped found the fire department, Pug Wells is stepping down. But he's not done answering the call of duty.

ELLISTON — Pug Wells remembers the one time he got seriously hurt during more than half a century of racing to fires, floods and wrecks.

She balanced being a respected Roanoke Valley pastor, wife and mother of nine.

She touched thousands of ordinary lives, whether it was an encouraging word, mentorship or charity. She'll be remembered by many for her lead-by-example mentality, nurturing spirit, wisdom, unconditional love and enduring patience.

The commonwealth's attorney in Roanoke will prosecute a teacher in an assault case.

Roanoke Commonwealth's Attorney Donald Caldwell will serve as special prosecutor for a misdemeanor assault case in Botetourt County involving a high school teacher and a student.

The case has been set for a bench trial at 1 p.m. Feb. 16.

A new plan will require school employees to work more days than a current offer.

The Roanoke County School Board voted Thursday evening to extend the current early retirement offer to employees until March 9.

The board approved a change that will take effect for employees retiring early next year. Under the new plan, employees older than 55 who retire early will receive 20 percent of their annual salary and will work 80 percent of the contracted days over five years.

Western Virginia Land Trust's executive director, Roger Holnback, has resigned from the job he's held for more than a decade.

Holnback, 57, has worked with the land trust since 2001, according to a news release. During that time, the land trust worked with the Roanoke City Council to establish conservation easements on Carvins Cove Natural Reserve and Mill Mountain Park. Holnback also helped the Western Virginia Land Trust win national accreditation with the Land Trust Alliance last year.

The UNC athlete said he saw the defendant choking the victim months before her death.

CHARLOTTESVILLE — The romantic rival of a former University of Virginia lacrosse player accused of killing his ex-girlfriend testified Thursday that he saw the defendant with his arm around her neck months before her death.

The installation of air cleaners at the elementary school follows worries about lead paint and dust.

Roanoke school officials are placing air purifiers in every classroom at Highland Park Elementary School, even as they say there's no evidence of contamination from recent construction work.

The move comes one week after concerns were made public about lead paint chips and dust at the school, which is undergoing a replacement of its heating and cooling system.

The Bedford County Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting Monday night and gather in a closed session to discuss the position of County Administrator Kathleen Guzi.

Without the Tech president, no individual defendants remain in the wrongful death lawsuits filed by shooting victims' parents.

A judge's written ruling in two $10 million wrongful death claims against Virginia Tech may change the landscape of the high-profile case that has dragged on for three years.