🌱 Gillespie Mural Gets A Fresh Coat + Two Vinton Homes Destroyed

Good morning, everybody! It's the esteemed Thursday edition of the Roanoke Patch Newsletter with what's happening in town, including news about...

• John Crist coming to the Star City.
• New details emerge in shooting case.
• "James and the Giant Peach" coming.

Let's go!

But first, today's weather: Mostly cloudy. High: 70 Low: 55.

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Here are the top stories today in Roanoke:

1. Two abandoned homes caught fire overnight on Tuesday in Vinton. The homes were located on the 100 block of Highland Road just off Gus Nicks Boulevard. The calls went out shortly after 11 p.m. and the first crews to arrive found one house fully engulfed, which then spread to the home next store. Residents on the street confirmed both homes were unoccupied, and the flames were brought under control within an hour with the aid of several crews. One firefighter received non-life-threatening injuries battling the blaze and was transported to the hospital. The Roanoke County Fire Marshal's Office is investigating. (WDBJ)
2. Fast rising comedian John Crist will be making a stop in the Star City on his 'Emotional Support' Tour on Sept. 30 at the Berglund Center. Crist got his start in Denver's improv scene and began to make a name for himself after becoming a finalist on Comedy Central's 'Up Next Comedy Competition.' Crist is known for humor harpooning Christian culture often saying in his shows, "Shoot, I grew up in Georgia. My dad is a pastor, and I was the third of eight homeschooled children. Coming from a background like that, how do you NOT write jokes?" Tickets for the show go on sale this Friday and can be purchased here. (WFXR)
3. New details about the shootings in downtown Roanoke Sunday night have come to light from search warrants provided to local media. The shootings occurred shortly before 1:30 a.m. at the Shishka Hookah Bar on Campbell Avenue SE and the warrants show police searched the bar for blood, fingerprints, and DNA evidence. Officers found clothing, bullets and casings, a phone, a recording device, and firearm accessories during their search and video surveillance on the premises lead to the arrest of Brandon Woods, 26, of Roanoke. Witnesses said Woods began shooting into the crowd after a fight broke out between him and an unidentified person. Surveillance footage also showed Woods at the scene with a woman and warrants have been served for her phone. Woods has faced charges in the past relating to assault and battery and firearm offenses. (WSLS)
4. A 40-year-old mural in downtown Roanoke designed by Roanoke native and nationally known artist Dorothy Gillespie is getting a much-needed fresh coat of paint. The mural is located at the corner of Church Street SW and 2nd Street SW and was painted in 1975. Jack Fralin and Dana James are presently applying coats of sealer and will follow with coats of paint when that is done. Fralin said, "I’m excited about bringing it back. She (Gillespie) had donated all of her papers to Rutgers University. We were able to see the photographs, and original colors of it, and take those as cues for what’s going to happen next." Several entities have partnered up for the project including the Roanoke Arts Commission, Downtown Roanoke Incorporated, and the owners of the building. (WDBJ)

Today in Roanoke:

• Roanoke Symphony Orchestra Painted Violins viewing at Hotel Roanoke's Bar 1882 (5:30 p.m.)
• The Darkside Experience feat. the classic studio albums of Pink Floyd at the Grandin Theatre (6 p.m.)
• Public hearing on Roanoke’s proposed budget and tax rates in Council Chambers at the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke City Public Schools: "ROTEC Carpentry students recently put what they learned into action as they built new steps for a community member’s home! We appreciate our students giving back to the community!" (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Roanoke Fire EMS Department: "Ladder 5 and Engine 5 paid a visit to the preschoolers at RAMS recently and taught them about fire safety. Thanks for having us over! 👨🏼‍🚒📚" (Roanoke Fire EMS Department via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Thank you to Girl Scout Troop 749 who brought in a a wonderful supply of donations for the pets in our care earlier this month! Thank you all!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges: "🌟 Staff Spotlight ✨ Meet Tammy! She’s a part of our amazing beer ID crew at Dr Pepper Park! She's starting her 2nd year with us and also works full time at Lawrence Companies." (Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges via Facebook)
• Virginia Children's Theatre: "Insects are taking over downtown Roanoke! Don't miss your opportunity to BUG out with VCT for 'JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH.' 🍑 Enjoy this sneak peek of the wonder that awaits you with Roald Dahl's 'JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH!'" (Virginia Children's Theatre via Instagram)

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with another update.

— 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