🌱 Angels Of Assisi Under Fire + Update On Botetourt Wind Farm

Happy Friday before Christmas all! Here's a new copy of the Roanoke Daily with a quick guide to what's happening in town, including updates on:

• The Winter Warming Bus is back
• Boones Mill School leaders get pied
• Remembrance ceremony for homeless deaths

Let's motor!

But first, today's weather:

Very windy; mostly cloudy.

High: 28 Low: 3. (In other words, stay inside! Stay very inside!)

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Here are the top stories in Roanoke today:

1. Several images of the Angels of Assisi shelter in Downtown Roanoke are causing a stir and have area animal lovers demanding answers from the organization. The images include a bowl with bugs in it, damaged walls, and even blood in a cage, but staff say the images were taken out of context. Executive Director Lisa O’Neil said, "It wasn’t the whole story. It’s no secret in Roanoke that we have a dumpy old building. It’s 94 years old, and it’s taken us longer than we initially thought [to replace it.]" O'Neil went on to say the blood in the cage was the result of a dog fight that happened before two dogs went on a walk and that the staff clean the kennels every morning. A full, detailed interview with O'Neil is available at the link. (WSLS)
2. The Least of These Ministry is making sure homeless people have someplace warm to go for the second year in a row with its winter warming bus. The bus is parked and idling from 9 p.m. on nights when it's below 40 degrees and people can get on and stay until 6:30 a.m. The founder of TLOT, Dawn Sandoval, said need for the bus has only grown. "Well, this year already, we’ve been having the bus pretty much full on a pretty regular basis. We started operating this bus for that reason, because there were people that were sleeping on porches and in the woods. We’re just trying to give people an opportunity to live until there’s some type of breakthrough in their circumstances." More information on the warming bus and on The Least of These Ministry can be found here. (WDBJ)
3. Just before Thanksgiving, the leadership at Boones Mill Elementary School gave a challenge to their students: bring in at least 500 items for the school's food drive and they can throw pies at the principal and School Resource Officer, Mrs. Shaver and Sergeant Grantham. Well, the students more than lived up to the challenge. Instead of 500 items they brought in nearly 1,000! Four students from the class that brought in the most items were selected at random to deliver the creamy blows and they didn't disappoint. "We are so thankful for their great sportsmanship in this challenge and for all of our students and families for their donations to Heavenly Manna," the school said in a Facebook post. (WSLS)
4. Rocky Forge Wind, a proposed wind farm on a mountain top in Botetourt County owned and operated by Apex Clean Energy, has been slow to get started. The project was announced in 2016 and permitting was granted in 2017, but Apex struggled to find a buyer for its electricity and the project was delayed indefinitely. Today the project is back on the market and a recent email from the company's vice president of public affairs, Dahvi Wilson, said there have been "ongoing conversations" and that the farm had "drawn significant interest." The company plans to start construction in summer 2023 and though the permit for the farm was renewed last year, the farm still faces legal challenges from a group of residents living nearby. (Roanoke Times)
5. A remembrance ceremony was held in Downtown Roanoke at Greene Memorial United Methodist Church for homeless persons who passed away in Roanoke City in 2022. According to organizers, there were 31 such deaths this past year and that the average in the community each year is about 30. Paul Powell is one of the organizers and said he could have easily been one of the names being read aloud if not for the help he received in Roanoke during his struggle with addiction. "I’m just thankful to the people of this city for welcoming me the way they did and not viewing me as just another addict. There were several services here, the Rescue Mission, the VA, that helped me recover from homelessness. I decided to stay here in this community. Now I work at the VA hospital in the homeless program." (WFXR)

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Today in Roanoke:

• Free Yoga for the People at the main Roanoke Public Library (7:30 a.m.)
• Deck the Hops and Drink our Barley Party at Big Lick Brewing Company (6:30 p.m.)
• Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs vs. Fayetteville Marksmen at the Berglund Center Coliseum (7 p.m.)
• Diamond Lips Karaoke with music by DJ Hootie Mack at Xtr3me Bar and Grill (10 p.m.)
• Eric Wayne Band at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (10 p.m.)

Special notice:

Patch has partnered with T-Mobile for two new series: Local Heroes and Star Student Athletes. The goal is to highlight heroes and star athletes in Roanoke!

• If you want to nominate a local hero, click here
• If you want to nominate a local athlete, click here.

From my notebook:

• City of Roanoke Government: "Congratulations to our 2022 Citizen of the Year — Sunni Purviance! Sunni has been living in Southeast Roanoke and has devoted her time and energy for numerous commitments of kindness, care, and thoughtfulness!" (City of Roanoke Government via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Don't forget to stop by Olde Salem Brewing Company before the end of the year to enjoy a drink AND support shelter pets! We are this month’s Helping Hands charity and for the month of December!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Roanoke Fire EMS Department: "Serving others is as the core of everything we do, and today was no different! Staff from Fire-EMS Administration and the Fire Marshal’s Office were able to help facilitate the transfer of a large donation of toys and food to those who were recently impacted by the catastrophic flooding in Buchanan County." (Roanoke Fire EMS Department via Facebook)
• Virginia Museum of Transportation: "NASCAR Enthusiasts and Looney Tunes Fans: You're going to want to stop in to see this one! Showcased in our Auto Gallery is a 1970 Plymouth Superbird!" (Virginia Museum of Transportation via Facebook)
• Straight Street Roanoke Valley: "We are so thankful for the prayers, encouragement, and support from Jeters Chapel Church of the Brethren. This week they provided 50 hand made hats for students. Blessed by their service and sacrifice." (Straight Street Roanoke Valley via Facebook)

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There you have it. You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you tomorrow morning with your next update!

— Ian

About me: Ian Graham is a novelist, screenwriter, and freelance contributing writer. He is a firm believer in being yourself… unless you can be Batman. Always be Batman. To connect with Ian you can visit him on Facebook and Instagram. He doesn't bite. Except on full moons.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Roanoke Daily? Contact me at roanoke@patch.com