🌱 Funding For Homelessness Enforcement + Area Redistricting Breakdown

Hey, everybody! It's time for the revered Friday edition of the Roanoke Patch Newsletter, all about what's happening in town including these stories and more...

• Meet Rocky, the newest Fire EMS foster dog.
• Southwest standoff ends peacefully.
• Fleetwood Mac Tribute at Dr Pepper Park.

Let's motor!

But first, today's weather: Warm with clouds and sun. High: 84 Low: 61.

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Here are the top stories in Roanoke today:

1. Roanoke City has approved funding for armed security and mental health training for staff to help with the increasing amount of homelessness, in addition to funds to help people find permanent housing. Since the pandemic, the number of people living outdoors has increased dramatically despite an overall decline in traditional homelessness numbers at shelters. Next year's budget includes $25,000 for cleaning up homeless encampments that have popped up around the city in recent months after the enforcement of a ban on sleeping on sidewalks and in parking garages began in late 2021. "It’s a daily thing for us now. It's become a really big part of our job. We encounter unhoused folks in our restroom facilities, we encounter them in wooded areas of parks, sometimes out in the open," said Michael Clark, director of the parks and rec department for the city. (WFIR, Roanoke Rambler)
2. With redistricting now done in the wake of the 2020 census, the 2023 election will be the first using the new districts and some area residents are understandably confused. Southwest and Southside Virginia news outlet Cardinal News has put together an easy-to-use resource to help residents find their new district numbers as well as which races they should be paying attention to. Most of Roanoke and the immediate surrounding areas are in House Districts 37, 38, 40, and 41 and Senate Districts 3 and 4. The redistricting has caused many long-time incumbents to have to run against each other, which has in turn led to a record number of retirements and to added confusion. The full breakdown can be found here. (Cardinal News)
3. A Southwest Roanoke man, whose name has not yet been released, barricaded himself inside a house leading to a mass of police and tactical units closing down the immediate area around the 3200 block of Avenham Avenue SW on Wednesday afternoon. Police say the incident began with a phone call about a man experiencing a mental health crisis and when officers arrived the man barricaded himself in the home, firing a single gunshot inside at an unknown target. "This is the first shooting since I’ve been here and it kind of made me realize how lucky I am, and how I want to start working even more on gun control than I have," said resident Dorry McCorkle, who has lived in the neighborhood for almost 40 years. The man surrendered peacefully after a few hours and will undergo a psychological evaluation before facing charges for the reckless handling of a firearm. No injuries were reported. (WDBJ)
4. Roanoke Fire EMS has announced its newest entrant in their Fire Station Foster Dog program that works as a public relations effort for the department and a voice for the many shelter dogs awaiting adoption. Rocky is the third dog to be featured and to have the privilege of going to live with a fire crew. If Rocky had a theme song, it would be 'I Want You to Want Me,' Roanoke Fire EMS said in a Facebook post Tuesday. Two previous dogs, Caiden and Audi, have already found forever homes through the program and Rocky — the newly announced world champion of snuggles — can be seen in the department's latest "doggovision" video here. (WSLS)

Today in Roanoke:

• Along the Way: A Shared Life of Painting at Olin Hall Galleries — Roanoke College (5:30 p.m.)
• The Tattoo Experience Show in Downtown Roanoke's Century Plaza (6 p.m.)
• Salem Red Sox vs. Lynchburg Hillcats at Salem Memorial Ballpark (7 p.m.)
• "Dear Nannie," a play by Sally Miller presented by Attic Productions (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges: "The tribute you've all been asking for is BACK this summer! 'Rumours: The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show' is coming back to Dr Pepper Park on Aug. 4 for the all-new Cundiff Heating & Air Conditioning Flashback Concert Series!" (Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges via Facebook)
• Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge: "Voted one of 'Southwest Virginia's Best Festivals' by Virginia Living Magazine and 'Favorite Annual Festival' by the readers of The Roanoker Magazine, the Strawberry Festival returns to Roanoke May 5 & 6! 🍓" (Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge via Facebook)
• PLAY Roanoke: "NEW at this year's Blue Ridge Slow-K, we're hosting a brunch market! Happening Sunday, April 23 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., this is a great way to get involved in all the fun of Blue Ridge Marathon weekend, whether you're interested in running or not!" (PLAY Roanoke via Facebook)

Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you tomorrow morning for the Saturday edition! Have a good time and be careful if you're going out tonight. 👊💥

— 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