🌱 Fire EMS Public Safety Report + All-America City Award Results

Good Sunday to you all! Here's a look at some of things happening around the 'noke.

First, today's weather:

Thunderstorms around in the p.m..

High: 96 Low: 75.

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Here are the top five stories in Roanoke today:

1. Roanoke Fire EMS Chief David Hoback recently presented the department's public safety report to City Council and said 2021 was the most active year on record with more than 30,000 calls, but that 2022 is expected to top that based on current call volume. The biggest challenge the department has faced during this time is staffing issues with 11% of the workforce out for various reasons and 25 vacancies across the city. "Right now we’re in a negative staffing profile. Every day we have anywhere from 3-5 overtimes and that’s 24-hour shifts. What that means is we have people that are less experienced in the more severity of what we deal with every day, our structure fires and our critical calls and we have to really make sure we prepare them for that and get them education and experience," Hoback said. Despite the staffing setbacks and other challenges, the department's response numbers are solid. (WDBJ)
2. Roanoke City Public Schools has seen a lot of success with its Athletics Summer Enrichment Program, which is giving students a chance to learn new skills in football, tennis, lacrosse, and other games. RCPS high schoolers are helping out as teachers and, learning aside, it’s meant to be fun. Even RCPS superintendent Dr. Verletta White got in on the action. "I don’t want anybody to judge my football throwing skills, but it was so much fun. It’s fun to be with the kids, and it’s fun to have fun with them. It’s a wonderful opportunity to make new friends, learn skills on the football field here, and other sports activities they’ve had. It’s just been a wonderful opportunity," she said. (WDBJ)
3. The National Civic League and the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading announced the 2022 winners for its All-America City Award Thursday night and Roanoke City finished as a finalist in the Top 20 out of 500 communities. According to the National Civic League's website, "the award, typically given to 10 communities each year, celebrates and recognizes neighborhoods, villages, towns, cities, counties, tribes and regions that engage residents in innovative, inclusive and effective efforts to tackle critical challenges." Roanoke has been nominated in 1952, 1982, 1988, 1996, 2012, and 2017 and was awarded the PaceSetter Award for prioritizing grade school success and reading for 2022. (WDBJ, National Civic League)
4. The Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue reports that it is bringing in an unusual amount of horses for this time of year. The non-profit organization, based in Franklin County, rescued four horses this week alone and said increases in the price of crops and services are making it difficult to stay within its budget. "With the cost of diesel for our farmers to run their tractors, the prices [have] gone up from $45 and now we’re paying $65 and $70 for one roll of hay. We put out 13 rolls a week," CEO and Founder Pat Muncy said. "We do everything we possibly can. We’re here to help them. It’s heartbreaking, it’s devastating on my volunteers and my help.” Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue takes donations through Facebook, PayPal or Give Direct and said its in need of human volunteers in addition to funds. (WSLS 10)

Today in Roanoke:

• Hollins Playwrights’ Festival of New Works at Mill Mountain Theatre (11 a.m.)
• Mr. Microphone’s Drag Brunch July at Elephant Walk Restaurant and Lounge (11 a.m.)
• Downtown Divas Drag Show at Shishka Mediterranean Grill and Hookah Bar (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Ever want to see what working at the Center is like? We have to feed this incubator every thirty minutes -- staff members Lark and Levi have to work hard all day to keep them fed. And this is only one of many incubators of birds we have." (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools: "Today marked the final day of our Summer Athletic Enrichment Camps! This week, students participated in football, running, and golf. We love seeing our high school athletes mentoring our younger students and showing that #WeAreOne." (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "As a shelter that practices the Fear Free Shelters philosophy, we sometimes pivot from our normal routine to accommodate the pets in our care and ensure they have a comfortable experience with us." (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Roanoke Outside: "We're so excited to have the @gocrossrace become part of the USCX cyclocross series. This is a great recognition for our area and the race weekend (Sept 17-18) is going to be amazing! For more details see the link in our profile." (Roanoke Outside via Instagram)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "You may remember India as the mother of 9 puppies we took in from another facility. Most of her puppies finished up their time in foster care, were spayed or neutered, microchipped, and found their new homes! " (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Instagram)
• Virginia Museum of Transportation: "We are rolling into the weekend! Come visit us Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 1pm-5pm!" (Virginia Museum of Transportation via Facebook)
• City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority: "Thank you WDBJ7 for covering this story and a big thank you to Virginia Housing for granting us with funding to advance projects!" (City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority via Facebook)

That's it for today! I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning.

— 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