🌱 Downtown Vinton Building Fire + Fourth of July Event List

Good morning, fellow Roanokers! Here's the what's what going on around town.

First, today's weather:

Humid with a thunderstorm. So, business as usual.

High: 86 Low: 68.

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Here are the top five stories in Roanoke today:

1. Overnight Friday two buildings at the corner of Lee and Pollard streets in Downtown Vinton caught fire and were declared a total loss by Roanoke County Fire EMS. Fire fighting crews responded to DR Music Center and the Edward Jones investment office next door, both of which had apartments above, around 2 a.m. to find the buildings engulfed. No human injuries were reported, though eight people living above the businesses were displaced. (WDBJ)
2. RAM House, a Roanoke-based day shelter and lunch service for the homeless, has found the perfect location in which to expand. It is currently in talks with the Norfolk Southern Railroad who owns the building. The ministry announced its eventual move to a new location a year and a half ago. The need has increased since with fuel and food prices placing more people in need than ever before. The RAM staff of nine recently served lunch to 207 people. "Our vision is that we can have new programs that will better serve homeless people, because we have lots of gaps," said Melissa Woodson, director of RAM. (Roanoke Times)
3. Café To Grow is a children's food market operated by Feeding America Southwest Virginia in partnership with Sinclair Cares, a summer hunger relief program paid for by Sinclair Broadcast Group. The market is located in the Melrose area of Roanoke and children are given fake currency to shop for food. "A lot of children that are food insecure, they rely on free or reduced priced school lunches and meals as their only source of nutrition throughout the day. [Our program teaches them] fiscal responsibility and nutrition. It teaches them how to use money. It gets them in the habit of using money to buy nutritious food that they can use to eat healthy," said Pete Deaver, grant and development writer for Feeding America Southwest Virginia. (WSET)
4. Approximately 600 cyclists and their families came to the Roanoke area over the weekend to compete in and observe the 2022 USA Cycling Amateur National Championship held at the Botetourt Sports Complex. It's the first time the competition has been held in this area and competitors came from all over the world. Winner Viggo Moore is a native of Utah who currently lives in Germany. "It’s my last chance at a national jersey. I’ve been training for this for eight years. Although it’s a bit hotter than where I’m from, the kind of rolling hills and like the trees and forests is kind of like where I live in Germany," Moore said. (WSLS 10)
5. The Virginia State Board of Elections said it will be addressing 11 complaints filed against Roanoke City Council candidate Peter Volosin, one of three winners in the Democratic Primary held June 21. At issue is a sample ballot the Volosin campaign distributed that lacked a required disclosure statement identifying it as a paid advertisement. Volosin has previously said the ballots were a mistake that was corrected within a few hours, but Roanoke's director of elections and general registrar, Andrew Cochran, said later sample ballots distributed by the campaign also fell short of disclosure requirements. (Roanoke Times)

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Today in Roanoke:

• 2022 Freedom First Festival at Elmwood Park (11 a.m.)
• Night Lights Festival at 5 Points Music Sanctuary (2 p.m.)
• Live music: Sugar Ray - Freedom First Festival at Elmwood Park (5:30 p.m.)
• Fireworks display at Rivers Edge North (9:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke County Police Department: "Congratulations to the 62nd Basic Police Academy class of the Roanoke County Criminal Justice Academy as well as the 82nd Basic Police Academy class of the Roanoke Police Academy. Job well done. Now it’s time to get to work with your community!" (Roanoke County, VA Police Department via Facebook)
• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Celebrate by saving a life! Fireworks are beautiful but the Fourth of July is a day the Center dreads — the holiday (and the days after) after are some of our busiest days of the year. Fireworks disrupt wildlife, causing them to become disoriented and scared, often abandoning their babies, running into objects, and getting stranded." (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke College: "Orientation students in the class of 2026 are not the only new Maroons on campus. Roanoke College would like to officially welcome our new president, Dr. Frank Shushok!" (Roanoke College via Facebook)
• Downtown Roanoke, Inc.: "Come on down to the Historic Roanoke City Market! We’re open daily and most vendors are here 7am-3pm. We have tons of produce right now: tomatoes, squash, corn, blueberries, blackberries, melons, peaches, peppers, onions, and more!" (Downtown Roanoke, Inc. via Instagram)
• Virginia Children's Theatre: "Sending best wishes to our We Don’t Talk About Bruno and Lightyear Summer Camps who have their showcases today. Break a leg everyone!" (Virginia Children's Theatre via Facebook)
• City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority: "Let the cookouts begin!🍔🍉🥤 Our Resident Joint Council provided an awesome cookout lunch, complete with all the must-haves! #RRHA #roanokeva #community #cookout #events #summerfun #lunch" (City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority via Facebook)
• Here is a list of Fourth of July celebrations happening in and around the Roanoke area! Visit this convenient site by WSLS Channel 1o for the latest.

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Events:

• Purcellville Wine and Food Festival (July 16)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today! I'll be back tomorrow with another update!

— 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