🌱 'The Book Keepers' Screening + Arrest In Food Lion Shooting

Good morning, Roanokers! Would you look at that — we made it to Friday! So here's the Friday edition of the Roanoke Patch newsletter with what's going on in town. Today we'll cover...

• Roanoke man involved in car chase sentenced.
• Salem's Officer of the Year for 2022.
• City officials admit fault in garden case.

Let's motor!

But first, today's weather: Cooler with occasional rain. High: 49 Low: 34.

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Here are the top stories in Roanoke today:

1. Aggravated Malicious Wounding, Use of a Firearm in Commission of a Felony, Discharging a Firearm in a Public Place, Shooting in an Occupied Building, and Carrying a Concealed Weapon Without a Permit are the charges a Roanoke man faces in connection with a shooting inside the Peters Creek Road Food Lion on Feb. 4. Kemonte A. Cooper, 28, was interviewed and released at the scene of the incident by Roanoke City detectives. Cooper has cooperated with the investigation and turned himself in at the Roanoke City Police Department where he was taken into custody. Early reports at the time of incident indicated the shooting may have been in self-defense, but police have not released any further details following Cooper's arrest. (WDBJ)
2. A man who led police on a chase through Southeast Roanoke, ramming several police cars in the process on Aug. 4 has been sentenced to eight years in prison. Tyler Anthony Jones, 33, of Roanoke crashed his own car ending the chase and was taken into custody. He was charged with one count of fentanyl possession with the intent to distribute, two counts of assault and battery of a law enforcement officer, one count of felony eluding and one count of the sale of methamphetamine in connection with an undercover case in which a confidential informant purchased drugs from him and was recorded doing so by area law enforcement. Jones was sentenced to a total of 19 years in prison, but 11 years were suspended after he serves the initial 8 plus a year of unsupervised probation. (Roanoke Times)
3. Roanoke City officials have admitted culpability in the destruction of a citizen's garden in the Round Hill neighborhood. Tim Saunders spent years growing a variety of native trees and plants in his front yard and describes it as part of both his spiritual practices and engagement with the community as people would often stop by, curious about the plant life. But that all changed on Valentine's Day when Saunders got a call from his mother saying a Roanoke City contractor was outside cutting down his garden. City officials had ordered the work after Saunders was notified by letter that he needed to clear weeds and trash from his property, a mistake city officials have now admitted to not realizing it was actually a garden. Saunders has been offered gift cards and labor to help replant the garden, but says he feels some kind of monetary settlement is needed. (WFIR)
4. Officer Chris Hayth was named the Salem Police Department’s 2022 Officer of the Year at a small ceremony on Wednesday afternoon. Hayth was commended for his response to two calls in particular — both involving administering CPR and saving a life by doing so. "I have been through quite a bit, so I can relate to a lot of what people are going through. I try to always have an understanding and a compassion for people, especially on calls concerning family," Hayth said. Major Derek Weeks said, "We are extremely proud of Officer Hayth. He is a young man full of humility who comes to work each shift to serve our community, and his actions represent the best of our profession." Additionally, Patch has it on good authority that the National Beard and Mustache Championships has a call into Hayth about his future as a mustache model. (WSET)
5. In support of their efforts to advance cancer care in the Roanoke region, the Carilion Clinic Foundation will be hosting the local premiere of 'The Book Keepers' at the Grandin Theatre on March 16. The movie is an adaptation of Carol Wall's memoir 'Mister Owita's Guide To Gardening,' written, directed, filmed, and edited by her son Phil Wall and chronicles her husband Dick's journey as her spokesman for the award-winning book after her untimely passing just a few months after the book was published. Wall was a Roanoke resident and cancer patient who wrote about her experiences in the book. The film won both the Jury Prize and Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature at the Austin Film Festival. The event is free to the public and the film's screening will be followed by a Q&A. (Roanoke Star)

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Today in Roanoke:

• Live Music on the Platform at Twisted Track Brewery (6 p.m.)
• Cameron Moore at Big Lick Brewing Company (6:30 p.m.)
• Shelby Lee Lowe at Sidewinders Steakhouse and Saloon (8 p.m.)
• Fiesta Fridays at Leonore Restaurant (9 p.m.)
• Kendall Street Company at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (10 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Meet Baldwin! Thank you everyone for making our naming campaign a HUGE success! More than 400 votes were cast to name this cutie. We are truly grateful for all of the support we received over the last couple of weeks and for all the donations!" (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges: "KIX is coming to Dr Pepper Park with local favorites Red Reign! Presale tickets go on sale Thursday morning! Enter the code 'Wheels' to purchase your presale tickets. GA - $25 in advance / $30 at the gate PIT - $49!" (Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges via Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools: "We encourage all students, staff, and community members to wear purple and gold on Friday to show how #WeAreOne in support of the Patrick Henry Boys Basketball Team! The Patriots will be traveling to Richmond to play in the 5A State Championships!" (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Roanoke County, VA Police Department: "Ready to #ForgeYourPath with the Roanoke County Police Department? We currently have multiple positions open for Part Time School Resource Officers as well as Full Time Police Officers!! Check the link below! Call or Text: 540-315-5428." (Roanoke County, VA Police Department via Facebook)
• Roanoke Pinball Museum: "Finally... it is happening. Mark your calendars for the long-overdue, much-anticipated, newly-upgraded, best-kept secret in downtown Roanoke: GET TILTED! Brews, music, pinball, late night fun! Saturday, March 18 from 8-11 p.m." (Roanoke Pinball Museum via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Delighted Every Week (March 14)
• Taxes in Retirement Seminar on March 14th and 15th at South County Library in Roanoke (March 14)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning for the Saturday edition of the Roanoke Patch newsletter. Pleaser tell your friends and family about this newsletter by forwarding this email to them with a nice note telling them how much you love it!

— 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at roanoke@patch.com