🌱 Gun Violence Commision Effectiveness Questioned + Area VDOT Update

Good morning, neighbors! It's time for the Edition Formerly Known as The Dreaded Monday Edition of the Roanoke Daily! Whew — that's a mouthful, isn't it? Anyways, keep reading to find out what's happening in town, including updates on:

• New program will create more dentists fort kids!
• One rescued and hospitalized in Sunday morning fire
• TAP hosting gun violence prevention efforts

Let's motor!

But first, today's weather:

Breezy with clouds breaking.

High: 45 Low: 31.

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Here are the top stories today in Roanoke:

1. In a meeting this past week, members of Roanoke City Council and members of Roanoke's Gun Violence Prevention Commision both expressed frustration over the lack of results seen by the commision to date. The commission was created to help lessen the amount of violence in the Star City caused by the use of guns and is composed of both elected officials and citizens. At the beginning of the Commision about $1 million in public money was granted to help them accomplish their mission, but no specific guidelines were issued as to how the money was spent and on what. Commision expenditures include providing gun safety locks for city homes and staging memorial art projects and candlelight vigils, but the gun violence statistics remain largely the same after two years. At particular issue for the council was the commission's plan to spend $3,000 on a talent show for middle and high school students. Council members all expressed their continued support for the commision, but said from time to time the results needed to be measured and talked about. (Roanoke Times)
2. The Virginia Department of Transportation has recently issued an update on its list of upcoming road construction projects for the commonwealth, including several that affect the Roanoke Valley area. The biggest of the projects listed was the widening of Interstate 81 between the 137 and 141 exits, which serve Salem and parts of Roanoke County. Motorists and residents were told to expect lane closures, ramp closures, and work zone speed limits starting in February and stretching into the summer months. Also on the list were improvements to 13th Street SE between Tazewell Avenue and Norfolk Avenue in Roanoke City, the temporary closure of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Roanoke County, and lane closures on 220 north and south in Daleville while the road is improved to akme way for a new housing development called Fieldstone. The full list and a lot more details can be viewed at the source link. (WSET)
3. Roanoke Fire-EMS responded to a fire call shortly before 3:30 a.m. and arrived to find flames showing from the roof of a residence on the 1300 block of Purcell Ave NE near the intersection of Route 460 with 13th Street NE. Five occupants were inside the residence at the time of the fire and one of them was trapped. Firefighters quickly freed the trapped person, evacuated the other four, and got the flames under control within half an hour. The trapped resident was taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Fire marshals investigated the cause of the blaze and determined it to be an accidental electrical fire. Initial estimates put the damages to the structure and contents at $30,000. (WSLS)
4. Carilion Clinic has announced a partnership with the Delta Dental Foundation to help expand pediatric dentistry in the Roanoke region. The foundation, which is a non-profit, philanthropic arm of Delta Dental, will be funding a $2 million endowment to provide annual support for the program that will allow Carilion to add additional dental facilities and care to their pediatric location inside Tanglewood Mall. Lee Jones, the Chief of Dentistry at Carilion Clinic, said "It’s incumbent of us as a provider community to do all we can to teach and educate parents on how to take care of their children, and to provide an access for them to make that easier for them to take care of their children’s oral health." The program will also function as a residency program for upcoming dentists and Carilion predicts being able to produce four board-eligible pediatric dentists per year once the program gets up and going. (WFXR)
5. Total Action For Progress has announced that they will be hosting an event on the third Saturday of each month dedicated to helping curb gun violence in the Star City. The event is being called 'Envision Your Vision' and is being aimed at middle and high school students. At January's event students were encouraged to create a vision board that showed both their short term and long term goals. Organizer Jason Hariston said, "We believe in a saying, it’s called ‘exposure brings on expansion,’ so if you can see something visually more than just what’s in your mind, you know it’s out there." The next event will be on February 18 and will be a walk around the Gainsboro neighborhood to discuss the history of black people in Roanoke. (WSLS)

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Today in Roanoke:

• Community Appreciation Day at Nothing Bundt Cakes (9 a.m.)
• Golden Cactus Pub Run starting at Golden Cactus Brewing (6 p.m.)
• Irish Jam Band at Big Lick Brewing Co. (6 p.m.)
• Eureka Recreation Center Redevelopment Community Engagement Meeting at Roanoke Academy for Math & Science (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Do you want to name our next ambassador? Well, now's your chance! Starting at 5 p.m. this afternoon and running until next Saturday at 9 p.m. you can bid on the right to name her at our online auction!" (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "You may remember Esther and Eliza who were recently adopted from our shelter. Eliza is the mother of Esther and McCoy. McCoy, pictured here, hasn't been made available for adoption yet because we noticed him behaving a little strangely. Our staff told the medical team, who promptly did an evaluation, and we soon got word that McCoy is blind and it's likely he was born with the condition. He may be able to see some light and shadows, or he may be completely blind. It's hard to say. But it doesn't slow him down!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools: "Save the Date! Harrison Museum of African American Culture will be hosting an HBCU College Fair at William Fleming High School on Saturday, February 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is a great chance for prospective students to meet with multiple colleges and learn about the admissions process! Registration is required." (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Roanoke Fire EMS Department: "There are only 10 days left to apply for the best job in the world! 🚒 What makes us different? Over 100 years of tradition, aggressive tactics, a diverse urban environment, and unparalleled professionalism. We offer a competitive starting salary of $43,800, plus benefits like health insurance, paid vacation, retirement, and more." (Roanoke Fire EMS Department via Facebook)
• Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges: "It only takes two minutes to vote for Dr Pepper Park for ‘Best Live Music Venue’! Just click the link and type in Dr Pepper Park! 🗳️ (Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges via Facebook)

There you have it — the Edition Formerly Known as The Dreaded Monday Edition of the Roanoke Daily! Just kidding! It's still the Dreaded Monday edition because who doesn't dread Mondays? I mean I don't. I love what I do for a living, but I think it's funny and I'm in charge so there. See you all tomorrow for 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 Daily? Contact me at roanoke@patch.com