🌱 Down By Downtown Announces Headliner + Deputy Arrested For Drugs

Hello, everybody! It's time for the Thursday edition of the Roanoke Patch newsletter — here to take a quick look at what's happening in town. Today we'll cover...

• Bloody Sunday commemoration held
• Fee increases in Roanoke City
• Public comment being collected on train derailment

Let's motor!

But first, today's weather: Partly sunny. High: 61 Low: 37.

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Here are the top stories today in Roanoke:

1. The Roanoke Southern Christian Leadership Conference held a commemoration ceremony for what is known today as Bloody Sunday — the March 7, 1965, March for African American voting rights in Selma, Alabama, which ended with Alabama State Troopers and a posse of white locals under the direction of a local sheriff beating and tear gassing demonstrators. "We cannot forget about the sacrifices of our ancestors and our elders, who walked hand in hand for our right to vote. And we cannot act like it didn’t exist, or it didn’t happen," said Sean Burch, pastor of Spirit of Unity Baptist Church. Members of the community gathered at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge and Statue in Downtown Roanoke. (WDBJ)
2. The Freedom First Down by Downtown Music Festival has announced the headliner for the four-day music, multi-venue event — Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers. The band hails from Michigan and creates an eclectic, genre-bending sound that has been popular with FloydFest goers for a while now. "The live show is the purpose of the band. This is why we make music. Playing music is a symbiotic process, the crowd is as much a part of it as the musicians. We give as much energy and love as we can and we can feel that coming from the crowd as well," said Hertler, lead singer for the band. The festival will be held from April 20 - 23, tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door, and participating venues include Elmwood Park Amphitheatre, Martin’s Downtown, Sweet Donkey Coffee, and Big Lick Brewing among others. (WFIR)
3. A joint investigation by the Roanoke City Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, the Virginia State Police, and the Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office has concluded with charges against a deputy in the Roanoke City Jail. Deputy Jonathan Hidalgo was indicted on the charges of attempting to deliver narcotics to a prisoner, delivery of narcotics to prisoner, and two counts of bribery in a correctional facility on Monday and has been suspended without pay since the alleged misconduct was identified in January. Hidalgo has been on staff at the Sheriff's Office since 2019 but was terminated on Monday with the indictment. (WFXR)
4. Department leaders in Roanoke City presented possible fee increases to city council Monday in an ongoing effort to keep people out of Roanoke for reasons known only to them. Planning Director/Assistant City Manager Apprentice Chris Chittum shared the proposed price increases for permit applications, which would start at $50 for projects at or under $1,000 and go up $6.70 for every $1,000 thereafter. Additionally, Fire EMS Chief David Hoback said Fire EMS fees would rise by $20 percent but that the department would continue with their soft billing practices and not pursuing collections. Last, but not least, was PARK Roanoke Enterprise Administrator Brian Mann who cited the hiring of private security for the raise in monthly parking permit prices. Even with the increases, the city still has a $3.8 million shortfall to figure out ahead of Fiscal Year 2024. (Roanoke Times)
5. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is quietly collecting public comment on the 2020 train derailment that happened just east of Salem over the Roanoke River. Residents have until tomorrow (Friday) to submit comment on the VDEQ order fining Norfolk Southern $27,300 in addition to the railroad paying for the costs of the cleanup. "The public comment period for this consent order agreement is to allow the public to comment pertaining to the outcome of the consent order and proposed penalty. That is, to assure DEQ is meeting our statutory requirement in how the enforcement action was levied within our existing enforcement guidelines," a representative of the VDEQ said. Comments can be emailed to the VDEQ here. (WDBJ)

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Today in Roanoke:

• Evans Spring Master Plan Meeting at Williams Memorial Baptist Church (6:30 p.m.)
• Bob Ross “Inspired” Paint Party at Well Hung Vineyard (6:30 p.m.)
• Team Trivia at Big Lick Brewing Company Co. (6:30 p.m.)
• Branford Marsalis at the Jefferson Center’s Shaftman Performance Hall (7:30 p.m.)
• Jeremy Short at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (9:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Flurry and Uno are two gorgeous girls who came to us from the @aspca's Behavioral Rehabilitation Center (BRC). The ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center in Weaverville, N.C. is the first-ever permanent facility dedicated to the study and behavioral rehabilitation of homeless dogs suffering from severe fear and under-socialization, often resulting from cruelty and neglect." (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Instagram)
• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "TIME IS RUNNING OUT! Voting to name our Eastern Gray Squirrel ambassador ends tonight at 9 p.m.! Nutter Butter and Baldwin are head-to-head! What's this little one's name going to be? Click👇 to cast your vote before it's too late!" (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge: "We loved reading this feature of Scratch Biscuit Company in Southern Living❤️🤩 Their biscuits piled high with toppings are definitely a favorite here in Virginia's Blue Ridge! We'd love to know- what are your favorite breakfast and brunch spots in the region?" (Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge via Facebook)
• Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport: "Have you ever wondered why some airport codes end in X (like LAX and PHX)? 🤔 Before three-letter codes became standard, some airports were just short, two-letter abbreviations of their cities. To update them, Xs were simply added to the ends." (Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport via Facebook)
• The Agape Center Vinton-Roanoke: "OUR FURNITURE SECTION IS EMPTY! What you see here is what we have left to give to the families in need in our area! If you have GENTLY USED FURNITURE you’re considering donating, PLEASE remember THE AGAPE CENTER VINTON-ROANOKE!" (The Agape Center Vinton-Roanoke via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Delighted Every Week (March 14)
• Taxes in Retirement Seminar on March 14 and 15 at South County Library in Roanoke (March 14)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday. I'll see you tomorrow morning bright and early!

— 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