🌱 Bus Issues Continue At City Schools + Another NW Roanoke Shooting

Hello there, Roanokers! I'm here with the Saturday edition of the Roanoke Daily. Let's take a look at what's going on around town, including news on:

• A December play to support an area ministry
• A local blacksmith given a national award
• 50 percent off Drumstick Dash registration

Ready?

But first, today's weather:

Sunshine and patchy clouds.

High: 49 Low: 31.

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Here are the top stories today in Roanoke:

1. Roanoke City Schools continues to have transportation issues over halfway through the school year with one frustrated father reporting at a recent school board meeting that the bus that was supposed to pick up his daughter at 8:04 a.m. didn't arrive until 9:24 a.m. RCPS Chief Operations Officer Chris Perkins offered two solutions to the ongoing problem. The first was to change starting times for classes and the second was to change school opening times. The primary issues, say the city's transportation contractor, Durham School Services, is the national bus driver shortage. The company's employees are currently attempting to cover 144 routes with 122 drivers. (Roanoke Times)
2. Roanoke Police were notified by the City of Roanoke E-911 Center of a person with a gunshot wound in the 1100 block of Forest Park Boulevard NW at 4 a.m. Wednesday morning. When officers arrived at the scene, they found no one there — victims or shooters — but did find evidence of a shooting having occurred at a nearby residence. Shortly after that police were notified by Roanoke Memorial Hospital that an adult male had arrived in his personal vehicle looking for treatment for what staff believed to be non-life-threatening gunshots wounds. When officers arrived to speak with the man he refused to cooperate, and police are asking for anyone with any knowledge of the incident to contact them. (WFIR)
3. Logos Theatricus, a Roanoke area nonprofit theatre company dedicated to producing plays and musicals to serve the poor and homeless, has announced that its upcoming December show, 'Like Christmas Waiting,' will be a fundraiser for The Least Of These ministries. "It’s an Advent musical, and of course I think it’s a great play with a great message at the greatest time of year. It’s filled with music and thought provoking, but humorous scenes,” said Kevin Lewis, the group's founder. The show will be on at Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic Church from Friday, Dec. 2 through Sunday, Dec. 4 and there will be no charge for admission, though there will be an offering taken up for TLOT. (WDBJ)
4. Heart & Spade Forge, a Roanoke-based blacksmithing company, and its lead smith, Jed Curtis, have been named a recipient in Garden & Gun Magazine's 2022 Made In The South Awards for their carbon-steel cookware. "To be recognized by peers on the national stage is incredible. My life’s obsession is metal. Each piece takes around 16 hours of handwork, plus 25 years of experience at the anvil, to create. It’s a privilege to forge heirlooms for families, putting Heart & Spade — and Roanoke — at the center of their traditions," said Curtis. In addition to being featured in Garden & Gun, Heart & Spade's cookware has also been featured nationally in Taste of the South, The Local Palate, and Okra magazines and has been purchased by chefs all over the world. (Roanoker)

From our sponsor:

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Today in Roanoke:

• Star City Half Marathon at Rivers Edge South Greenway (8 a.m.)
• Mill Mountain Zoo at Kids Square Children’s Museum (10 a.m.)
• Friendship House Blessing Shop Clothes Closet Free Winter Gear Giveaway (11 a.m.)
• Ice Bumper Cars at the Berglund Center Coliseum (11 a.m.)
• Betty Branch Studio Tour at the Taubman Museum of Art (2 p.m.)
• Comedian Nate Bargatze's Raincheck Tour at the Berglund Performing Arts Theatre (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The Rescue Mission of Roanoke: "50 percent off registration! First 500 only! Use code BLAST. There was a time where a DASH registration was about half of what it is today. We wanted to honor those times with a discount code for the next 500 participants who use code BLAST." (The Rescue Mission of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Police Department: "A great day for a promotion at RPD! Please help us congratulate Officer M. Foster on her promotion to the rank of sergeant. She has served the City of Roanoke and Roanoke Police Department since 2012. Congratulations, Sgt. Foster!" (Roanoke Police Department via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Look into Sasuke's eyes. Who can resist those soulful peepers? He's a sweet and playful boy just looking for a home of his own. He's very gentle and sometimes he simply likes to hold onto toys and carry them around in his mouth." (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Downtown Roanoke, Inc.: "Love funky Appalachian crafts? Check out www.woodshed.life. ⛰ This new site sells hundreds of handcrafted goods and small batch foods. Plus it has stories about modern Appalachian life." (Downtown Roanoke, Inc. via Instagram)
• Botetourt County: "Check out our latest BOCONews update with Billy Martin!" (Botetourt County via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Fresh Perks Every Week (November 22)
• Add your event

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow 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