🌱 Cloverdale Convenience Center + Roanoke Sheriff Weighs In On SROs

Good morning, everybody! It's Friday in Roanoke and this is Ian, your friendly neighborhood newsletter writer. I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town. Because community information is power, amirite? :)

First, today's weather:

A shower and a thunderstorm. So, more of the same. It's been that kind of week, but hey the pool opens today and the weekend is looking fairly nice.

High: 77 Low: 58.

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Here are the top five stories in Roanoke today:

1. Green for Life Environmental is all set to open a citizen convenience center in Cloverdale on Route 11/Lee Hwy on Wednesday, June 1. The facility is the second of its kind in Botetourt County and was developed through a partnership with the county government. GFL will operate the facility 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For a list of services and prices read the full article at the link. (Roanoker)
2. Roanoke City Sheriff, Antonio Hash, is calling for more school resource officers in the city's elementary schools and has vowed to continue working towards that goal. Hash says, "We have 17 elementary schools in the Roanoke City District and 9 SROs. We can't be everywhere at the same time and we sell our kids short by not having enough." (WFIR)
3. The 8th Annual Gauntlet Business Program and Competition, a program founded by The Advancement Foundation to help with economic development in Roanoke, is honoring its youngest entrepreneur to date: Graham Fitzgerald, founder of t-shirt company GK's Dream, which he started with his dad, Michael, at only six years old! (WDBJ)
4. A familiar figure in Roanoke City politics, Luke Priddy, has entered the race for Roanoke City Council. Priddy is the first person on the Nov. 8 Special Election Ballot necessitated by the forfeiture of former councilman Robert Jeffrey earlier this year. Voters will be electing a total of three people for the council in the regular election and the winner of the Special Election will serve out the remaining two years of Jeffrey's term. (Roanoke Times)
5. Petty Officer 2nd Class Whitney Hooker, a native of Salem, is currently on duty with the Naval Support Activity Washington and stationed in the nation’s capital. Petty Officer Hooker says "The Navy protects the sea lines of communication and our way of life. I’m very proud of having been named Junior Sailor of the Quarter at my last command." Hooker graduated in 2017 and said she uses skills and values she learned growing up in Salem. (The Roanoke Star)

Friday Fun in Roanoke:

• Salem Gem, Mineral, and Jewelry Show at the Salem Civic Center (10 a.m.)
• Daleville Summer Concert Series featuring Adam Rutledge at the Daleville Town Center (5 p.m.)
• Grandin Chillage featuring The Ambassador & Chosen Few at the old Texaco Station on Grandin Road. (5 p.m.)
• Eyes of Silver and The Fabulous Thunderbirds at Roanoke’s Festival in the Park at Elmwood Park (6 p.m.)
• Friday Food Truck and Tunes at Sweet Donkey Coffee featuring Celtic duo Kinnfolk! (6 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The Roanoke Fire EMS Department says "Last weekend, Lt. Stacey Wills, FF-Paramedic Greg Templeton, FF-Paramedic Michael Pierce, and FF-EMT Matt Allen attended Rope Technician Level II training as part of the Piedmont Technical Rescue School in Bedford, VA." (Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA says "Thanks to Mark and the folks at the Kroger growler bar for donating their tips to help the pets in our shelter! Donations like these add up and make a huge difference in the lives of the most vulnerable pets in our community. Thank you!" (Facebook)
• Downtown Roanoke, Inc. says "Virginia Made Saturday is back Saturday, May 28 at @rendezvousroanoke (on the 2nd floor of @thefrenchfarmhousemarket). 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Swipe ➡ to check out all the amazing vendors who will be there." (Instagram)
• Roanoke City Public Schools wants to know if you "Have 20 minutes to spare? Tune into the virtual ROTEC Extravaganza at noon to hear from our amazing students about the impact ROTEC - Roanoke Technical Education Center has had on them!" (Facebook)
• The City of Roanoke Government would like you to know "The City of Roanoke's Gun Violence Prevention Commission is providing gun locks for distribution to families of students in Roanoke City Public Schools. Contact your school today to receive a free gun lock." (Facebook)
• Our Nextdoor Neighbor in Kenwood says "I am the publisher for Cave Spring and Hidden Valley Neighbors and am looking for classifieds, recipes, neighborhood articles, sports like local peewee teams, and any business owners that would like to participate." (Nextdoor)
• Tiffany Bradbury, Director of Communications for Botetourt County says "BOCO Wild is June 4. Botetourt County Parks & Recreation and the Department of Wildlife Resources is partnering to present BOCO WILD, a celebration and expo of outdoor recreation in the great Botetourt area!" (Nextdoor)

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Alrighty, there you have it! You're all set for today. I'll be back tomorrow morning, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed... or something like that.

— 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