🌱 AoA Beagles Get Their Bash On + The Dawgs Make Mayhem Of Macon

Ugh! The dreaded Monday edition. I hope you all had a great weekend and are ready to get back in the saddle and ride. I know I am. I finished my first project of the new year Friday and am really looking forward to this one I'm starting next. It's a story set in the aftermath of the Vietnam War and two of the characters honor my dad and my father-in-law. Anyways, here's the Roanoke Daily with what's happening around town, including:

• Updated shooting numbers for Roanoke City
• Masons Cover House Fire
• A UFO in Roanoke?

Ready to motor?

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny and milder.

High: 51 Low: 31.

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Here are the top stories in Roanoke today:

1. Roanoke City Police reports that there were a total of 68 shootings in the Star City in 2022 and that's one more than in 2021. Chief Sam Roman spoke to city council recently to give them the update on the numbers and discuss several strategies that have been put forward to help combat the violence. "Now our officers are probably better suited and better used if they were in a high crime area doing something to deter crime instead of taking 14 and 15 years old home. But certainly, that falls in the realm of what law enforcement does," he said, in addressing the idea of a teen curfew that has been floated by Mayor Sherman Lea recently. A public hearing is planned to get the community's input about the possible curfew and other measures being proposed. (WHSV)
2. The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs routed the Macon Mayhem Saturday night to take possession of the first place spot in their division. The final score was 3-0 and took the Dawgs to a record of 17-7, two points ahead of their closest rivals the Evansville Thunderbolts and three points ahead of the Birmingham Bulls. The Dawgs had been tied for first place, but are now the sole holder and are poised to hit the road where they will face the Fayetteville Marksmen next. With over two months left to play in the season it's too early to tell if the Dawgs will be competing for a spot in the playoffs. (WSLS)
3. Last summer, Angels of Assisi rescued over 100 beagles from a breeding facility called Envigo located in rural central Virginia. The beagles have all since been adopted and this past weekend was the first ever AoA Beagle Bash in which the families of the dogs were invited to bring the pups to meet and play together. The idea for the get together came from Joe Bryson who adopted one of the beagles and who is the administrator of a Facebook Group for others who have Roanoke area adoptees. "I reached out to Angels and they said great go for it and helped get the word out," Bryson said. "All the humans have found it really emotional to see them all playing together and just being dogs." (WFXR, WDBJ)
4. Roanoke County Fire and EMS were called to the Masons Cove area Friday for a chimney fire. No injuries were reported and the flames were not able to spread beyond the home's chimney. Firefighters on the scene told the homeowners and nearby residents it's incredibly important to have their chimneys inspected and cleaned by a professional once a year before trying to heat their homes for the winter. Home heating is the second most common cause of house fires after cooking-related fires with most of those fires happening between December and February each year. (WSET)
5. A Roanoke resident has reported seeing an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) over the Star City as recently as January 2nd of this year. The report was made to the Mutual UFO Network, an Ohio based group of field investigators who specialize in abductions and non-human entity contact. The report was filed on January 3rd along with two video clips that show four hovering orange lights that couldn't possibly have been anything explainable like stars or dust, but that must have been a mostly invisible triangle-shaped spacecraft. Personally, I suspect they were hungry for a bowl with and a cheesy from Texas Tavern, but maybe that says more about me than about our otherworldly visitors. (Newsbreak)

Today in Roanoke:

• Free Haircuts by Feel Good Nation Barbershop at the Main Library (2 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "I ain't going back to jail, ma! Our youngest patient is this Eastern Gray Squirrel who is such a late baby that he needs to be fed special squirrel formula three times a day. But despite being a baby, this boy has got an attitude!" (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Did you get something for Christmas that you weren't too excited about? Maybe it was the wrong size or a duplicate gift. Maybe you got a gift certificate that you know you'll never use. Maybe you'd like to put your gift to use to help dogs and cats in need! Well, now you can! The Roanoke Valley SPCA is collecting items for Sit. Stay. Give! Our annual online auction." (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Instagram)
• Roanoke Public Libraries: "Our friends at the Kiwanis Club of Roanoke Virginia are looking for empty plastic milk containers for the Nature Garden they are building near the Melrose Branch Library. If you'd like to donate, please drop the empty and rinsed container off at any Roanoke Public Libraries location." (Roanoke Public Libraries via Facebook)
• Straight Street Roanoke Valley: "Thankful for the delicious meal from the AGAPE Center for our first Saturday night in 2023. Thankful for the amazing volunteers and awesome students that attend. Pray for the ministry as we have been blessed with many opportunities to serve and share the hope/healing found in Jesus Christ." (Straight Street Roanoke Valley via Facebook)

Sort of a slow news days so I was really reaching on that last one, but hey it was sort of fun, right? Thanks for following along. I'll see you tomorrow morning for another 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