🌱 Downtown Bear Was Euthanized + Fentanyl Survey Reveals News

Good morning, neighbors! I'm back with your new edition of the Roanoke Patch newsletter. Follow along to find out everything you need to know about what's happening in town, including updates on...

• Sadly the bear was euthanized.
• Grant for new facility.
• Survey reveals unsettling news.

But first, today's weather:

A shower and thunderstorm. High: 86 Low: 69.

Here are the top stories today in Roanoke:

1. Sadly, the bear that was removed from a downtown Roanoke, Market Place tree had to be euthanized. According to WDBJ, "While putting the bear down was not the outcome many were hoping for, [the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources] told WDBJ7 the bear was extremely underweight and dependent on human food, so releasing it back into the wild would have done more harm to the animal."(WDBJ)
2. The Good Samaritan Hospice was awarded a $500,000 grant from the Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia to support the construction of a new in patient facility in the Roanoke Valley. The new facility is slated to include 16 private patient rooms and space for loved ones, as well as gardens, family meeting rooms and a chapel. (The Roanoke Star)
3. A recent survey conducted by the Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition interviewed 500 Roanoke Valley adults and revealed that there was a drastic increase in the number of people who said, "they did not believe pills obtained somewhere other than a licensed pharmacy might contain fentanyl." According to WDBJ, "Fentanyl is a dangerous opioid, 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine or heroin. And it’s often found in counterfeit pills or mixed with other drugs. Adam Neal, the Director of RAYSAC said, “We want to make sure that everybody knows that this is something that is affecting our area and it’s causing many deaths and overdoses throughout our area, so we need to be prepared."'(WDBJ)

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From my notebook:

• Roanoke Pinball Museum: "Happy ending for the little bear! He was rescued by our firefighters after being safely tranquilized. " (Roanoke Pinball Museum via Facebook)
• Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges: "YelaWolf is coming to Dr Pepper Park on September 23rd as a part of the Bank of Botetourt Amped-Up / Acoustic Series!! GA - $25 in advance / $35 at the gate. Ry Hubbard PIT - $59. National Pools VIP Skybox - $149 (Plus taxes and fees)." (Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges via Facebook)
• Lynchburg Humane Society: "Meet Porsche, a cat who exudes grace and charm in every whisker. At 3 years old, this captivating black long-haired beauty is a true gem. Her plush, fluffy coat is a velvety wonder, making her the epitome of cuddliness." (Lynchburg Humane Society via Instagram)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "We're expanding our popular Photos with Santa Paws into seasonal pet portrait sessions! Bring your cat or dog for a beach themed photo session this Sunday, July 23rd, 2023 from 1:00-5:00PM at the Roanoke Valley SPCA! Registration is required." (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Instagram)

That's it for today! I'll see you around.

— Karena Garrity

About me: Journalism is in my veins. I have been a community reporter for the better part of the past 20 years. I love my community and I am honored to be a part of Patch.com. You can reach me at; karena.garrity@patch.com.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Roanoke Patch newsletter? Contact me at karena.garrity@patch.com