🌱Big Lick Comic Con Drew Crowd + Botetourt County Superstreet Plans

Hello, everyone! It's Tuesday. That means you made it through Monday. Congratulations. Here's a look at some local news to get you started.

📣 Our readers love to celebrate good news! You can now shout out your big announcement at the top of the Roanoke Daily newsletter. Whether it's a grand opening, new product for sale, birthday, anniversary, engagement, wedding or new baby, let everyone celebrate alongside you! Submit your announcement here.

Now, today's weather:

A thunderstorm around in the p.m..

High: 90 Low: 72.

Check out what our local sponsor can do for you:

Roanoke bargain hunters: looking for the next great deal? Check out Virginia’s only licensed auction house without an auctioneer at Crowning Touch Senior Moving Services from Thursday August 11th through Saturday August 13th. With over 1,700 items at every monthly auction, there’s something for everyone — a trove of treasures from their client list of local seniors who are downsizing. Visit here to learn more and start placing your bids today.

Click here to get your business featured in this spot.

Here are the top four stories in Roanoke today:

1. The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors decided to submit four project applications to the Virginia Department of Transportation's Smart Scale initiative at its meeting on July 26. Of the four projects the first three concern the building of sidewalks and better access to nearby amenities for hikers of the Appalachian Trail. The fourth, and likely more controversial of the lot, is the construction of a "superstreet" along Route 220 in front of Lord Botetourt High School to alleviate the routine morning and afternoon traffic backups. Known as an R-Cut, the concept prevents traffic from going straight or turning left and instead funnels it around to designated turn lanes. A video detailing the general concept is available here. (Botetourt Bee)
2. Roanoke County Schools is reporting that it's in pretty good shape staffing wise ahead of the new school year, which begins Wednesday. According to RCPS Spokesperson Chuck Lionberger, RCPS is looking to fill 19 open school bus driver positions and only three teacher positions. "We have all routes covered, so there will be no issues, but we need more drivers so we can get back to full staff and not have to use mechanics and supervisors to drive buses," he said. The school system has decided to offer up to a $1,500 sign on bonus for applicants filing the bus drivers and nutrition associates positions. (WSLS)
3. The Roanoke Valley played host to the Big Lick Comic Con over the weekend, a popular regional comic book enthusiast convention hosted by Big Lick Entertainment. Roanokers got to take part in character meet and greets, autographs, photo opportunities, vendors, food and a cosplay contest that saw hundreds dressed up as their favorite characters including Darth Vader, Spider-Man, and various others from popular story worlds like Star Trek, Star Wars, and the Marvel Universe. "It’s all about creativity, it’s all about comics, and it’s about pop culture with over two days of fun. When people come together over something, they are super passionate about there is just magic in the air," said JD Sutphin, the founder of Big Lick Entertainment and the man behind Big Lick Comic Con. (WFXR)
4. A former Grand Home Furnishings location in the Westlake area of Smith Mountain Lake is the ideal home for a new community center. According to Smith Mountain Lake Center Inc., the group is nearing its fundraising goal to purchase the property. The group said it has raised about 70% of the funds it will need through donations since announcing the goal in February. The "Grand Plan," as it's known, is to remodel the now vacant 40,000 square foot former retail space into a multi-use facility and gathering place for education, entertainment and community and tourism events that is centrally located to the lake area. "It is moving along beautifully. The need has always been there to have a facility for events. It’s going to take the community. It’s going to take everyone to make this happen," said Vicki Gardner, president of the Smith Mountain Lake Center Inc. Board of Directors. (Roanoke Times)

Today in Roanoke:

• Hot Girl Summer Workout Series at Elmwood Park (6 p.m.)
• Roanoke City School Board meeting at Patrick Henry High School (6:30 p.m.)
• Line Dancing with Angela & Kamronn at Corned Beef and Co. Bar and Grill (7 p.m.)
• GOTE at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (9:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Holy COW, a SECOND Bobcat?! We admitted another young Bobcat kitten, this one from Floyd County. This kitten is in much better shape than the one we admitted last week (who is continuing to do well) but also had a heavy load of parasites, was very hungry and dehydrated." (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Gladys is a very special girl who will need a very special home. She has suffered through quite the trauma of being part of a massive puppy mill operation. You can read more about it in our post." (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• City of Roanoke Government: "988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones" (City of Roanoke Government via Facebook)

• Roanoke Public Libraries: "Walk-ins Welcome! There are 3 different opportunities to catch the DMV at the Libraries this week! Check them out Tuesday at the Williamson Road Branch Library or Wednesday & Thursday at the Main Library." (Roanoke Public Libraries via Facebook)

You're officially in the loop for today! See you tomorrow morning!

— Ian

About me: Ian Graham is a novelist, screenwriter, and freelance contributing writer. His interests are in politics, history, and religion and the stories and characters he writes about are centered on the explosive conflicts created when the three intersect. He is a firm believer in being yourself… unless you can be Batman. Always be Batman.

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