Historic slave homes. Stephen clinton support of not moving houses perhaps we can stop the action that is preceding right now and Work Together for a solution that suits all of the parties invo of ceremony Shirley Johnson lewis says she is a decendant of slaves and is leading the fight to save this historic land. Shirley Johnson Lewis organizer of event i think the slaves didnt have a say and so i kind of feel like im working for them now. I think they are depending on members of the group say they want to attend the next Botetourt County board of supervisors meeting on february 23rd. An organization in amherst county is starting to develop a strategic economic plan, with for the first time the help of an outside consulting firm. Officials with the Economic Development authority of amherst county held their kickoff meeting yesterday to start developing the Strategic Plan. The development of the plan is being funded through federal, state and private grants. Officials say the plan is needed now more than ever. Since the Central VirginiaTraining Center is expected to close by 2020. The idea is that we will be able to do something positive and that will also build our tax base so that we can improve the quality of life of amherst county citizens. Officials say the Strategic Plan is expected to be released in may. If you want to get invovled with developing the Strategic Plan you can find information on our website virginia first dot com. Race fans are excited about this weekends start of the nascar season. We already know that Chase Elliott and matt kenseth will occupy the front row at the daytona 500 on sunday. Where everyone else in the field will start would be determined in last nights canam duels at daytona. The duels are a pair of 150 mile races. The first one was run pretty clean and it would finish with a story book ending. On the 15th anniversary of dale earnhardt, srs death it was junior taking the checkered flag. It the junior has won a duel. And a fantastic race from ryan blaney and the Wood Brothers. The 21 car finished 3rd, which means blaney will start in the 4th row. A great the second race was not as clean. The big wrecked happened at the end. Kyle busch leads to the pack for the win, but behind him cars pile up as Jamie Mcmurray tried to block Jimmie Johnson for second place. Johnson hits kurt bush who racks up other drivers. J allmendinger and martin truex jr. Were all collected in the crash. The daytona 500 is this sunday and it will be one of the most watched events of the year. But as we settle in to the new race season, we have to remember. It all started with some colorful characters right here in our part of the world. Lets take a look as we go runnin to racing. 1231332 312 424 154 27 before dale. Before jimmie and jeff. Before joey, tony and kevin. Before the car of tomorrow and the chase for the sprint cup. Before Million Dollar sponsors and aero push. Before daytona rising. And the night race at bristol. Man and machine sanity. To eke out a living. Moonshine and stock car racing are forever linked together. Some of the early pioneers. Nascar hall of Famers Curtis Turner and Junior Johnson honed their skills in the backwoods and backroads of appalachia. Campbell 4 5 06 01 they could manhandle a car. And growing up the way they did, wether on the backroad or the race track. So the guys in that era it was mainly their talent and their expertise that got them to the front 5 22turner began his bootlegging career at age 9 and amassed a small fortune by age 20. He quickly developed a reputation for offtrack antics. And ontrack talent. Nascar moved away from its bootlegging roots as the years passed and fortune 500 joined the southern 500. But those roots are still firmly planted in franklin countyone of the selfproclaimed moonshine capitols of the worldauthor and reporter Morris Stevenson chasing moonshiners with federal and state agents in 34 16 18 52 years his stories of the wild west literally fill a book. Morris load of shine out to norfolk. The sailors would wave him on to the base, and he would trade his liquor for sugar a key ingredient in the liquor. Morris 6 41 52 20 he took it Chris Prillaman and his parterners set out big plans for twin creeks. Right now, they are waiting for the virginia alcohol Beverage Control to order more jars of franklin countys finest. The Wood Brothers 21 and driver ryan blaney will start 7th on sunday. And tickets are on sale for the april 3 stp we have a lot of daytona 5oo coverage for you this weekend. On saturday night its jeff gordons daytona 500 preview party. Then on sunday, our coverage actually begins at 11 30 with the 30 minute big race special. And of course, they actually now to some news around the commonwealth this morning. A woman is facing charges in virginia after police say she attacked a wendys worker because of a wrong order. John burkett has more. Robinson declined a request she returned to work tuesday night. Terrifying moments for a dog in reston when she fell through thin ice on lake thoreau. This is video of the firefighters braving the freezing water to help the dog named angel. You can hear her barking in the frigid water as crews worked to rescue her. Her owner says thankfully, she was not hurt just a little cold. And in our ag life report, do you think maple syrup only comes from vermont. We will see what it takes for local if you are eating breakfast as you watch us, there is a chance you are enjoying some maple syrup this morning. When many of us think of maple syrup, we think of vermont. But canada is the biggest producer. It accounts for 80 percent of the worlds supply. You dont have to go north to get good maple syrup. A couple in Botetourt County is getting ready to make a few gallons of out to tap the trees. And its a lot of work because it takes nearly a hundred gallons of sap just to make a small amount of the sweet stuff. Wfxrs solina lewis shows us how they do it in our ag life report. 2439125136 thats why tom did it, cuz uncle jim did it that waytom and fay poulin have been married for 48 years, known each other 68 years, and have been making tom says if they gather sap later in the season the syrup is much darker and thicker. Hi dad. Yeah. Sorry about there must be higher love down in the heart what do you think . And in the stars above hi ted, glad you could join us, we think youre going to like these numbers. Bring me a higher love i could rise above. But thats just between you and me. Its really cool to the touch. At mattress firm,get zero percent apr financing. Visit mattress firm, and dont forget you can get your latest weather and news on virginia first. Com. 24 hours a day. Wfxr news is your local election three republican president ial candidates donald trump, john kaisch, and jeb bush took part in a town hall last night. They took questions from South Carolina voters ahead of tomorrows primary. Karin caifa has more details from columbia. Donald trump has sparred with nearly every republican candidate in this president ial race. And just hours before taking the stage for the town hall here at the university of South Carolina, he was hit on his immigration policy by pope francis. Francis, on his way back to rome following a visit to mexico was asked about trumps plan to build a wall between the us and mexico. The pontiff said to just build walls and not bridges is unchristian. Trump early on called that comment, disgraceful. But heres what trump had to say later and jeb bush, when asked to weigh think it was probably a little nicer statement than what you folks reported in the media. After i read it, it was a little softer. The bottom line is we have to have a border, we have to have security. We have tremendous illegal immigration president ial candidate i dont think its appropriate to question Donald Trumps faith. He knows what his faith is. If he has a relationship with the lord, fantastic. If he doesnt, none of my business. Meanwhile, john kasich the third candidate was asked about a touching moment thursday with a young man who said hed been through a rough time, and has now found meaning in kasichs message. Kasich gave him a hug. President ial candidate its definitely changed me cuz its slowing me down, and you know ive learned so much listen, everyone here, you gotta celebrate other peoples wins, and sometimes youve got to sit with them and cry. Friday the final full day of campaigning here in the palmetto state, before South Carolina voters go to the polls on saturday. Donald trump holds a doubledigit lead in most polls, but theres a real battle on for second and third. In columbia, South Carolina, im karin caifa. Can you convince your boss to get can you convince can you convince your boss to get an add a puppy to the staff . Thanks to a little help from social media so people in arkansas did just that. Thats coming up right after the the world a president has to grapple with. Sometimes you cant even imagine. Thats the job. And shes the one whos proven she can get it done. Securing a massive reduction in nuclear weapons. Standing up against the abuse of women. Protecting social security. Expanding benefits for the national guard. And Winning Health care for 8 million children. The presidency is the toughest job in the world and shes the one wholl make a real difference for you. Should get a dog for the station. And im not the only one who thinks a furry coworker is a good idea. Station in little rock, arkansas campaigned to add a puppy to its staff and it worked. The dog belongs to a kark employee who happened to bring the pup to work one day last week. The golden retriever of staffers. But not the stations bosses. Karks news director decided to make a deal that if a photo of shade on the stations Facebook Page got 100thousand likes, he could stay around as station mascot. Well, the photo didnt get enough likes by the deadline. But after some more ribbing. And a trending hashtag we want shade. The news director gave in. Shade will join the morning news