🌱 'Hokie Tracks' Debuts + Vinton Demolition Set To Begin

Good morning, everybody! It's Monday and you know what that means... 😱😱😱

It's the dreaded Monday edition of the Roanoke Patch Newsletter! Dreaded because, well, it's Monday and I like calling it that. Anyways, here's what's happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

Nice with sun, some clouds. High: 71 Low: 47.

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Here are the top stories today in Roanoke:

1. The buildings along South Pollard Street and East Lee Avenue in Vinton that were adversely affected by the fire in July 2022 are scheduled to begin being demolished today. The addresses of the buildings are 206 and 208 South Pollard Street and 103 and 107 East Lee Avenue and the project will close both lanes of the 100 block of East Cleveland Avenue. The westbound lane is expected to reopen tomorrow, Tuesday, April 4. The entire removal of the buildings is expected to last 4 -6 weeks. "The Town has been working with involved parties since day one of the fire and we will continue to assist with this process to make it as safe and speedy as possible. Public safety is our utmost priority. We appreciate everyone’s patience and optimism while we get closer to rehabilitating this corner of our downtown," said Town Manager Richard Peters. (WSLS)
2. The Botetourt County Planning Commission is considering amendments to the Botetourt County Comprehensive plan that could move water and sewer service down Rt. 460 to the corner of Laymantown Road. At the last meeting of the board of supervisors, the supervisors unanimously agreed to move the process along after receiving a request from Sheetz, Inc. and their development partners, Four H Investments, LLC. If ultimately approved, the request will create a Commercial Future Land Use designation for three parcels totalling 3.43 acres on the corner of the aforementioned roads. A full request for rezoning for a Sheetz gas station and store is expected in the near future and is expected to include improvements to the intersection in the same way that the Daleville Sheetz did on its corner lot on Roanoke Road. (Botetourt Bee)
3. Local favorite Homestead Creamery has partnered with Virginia Tech's Department of Food Science and Technology to create Hokie Tracks, the first ever Hokie themed ice cream. The flavor will be the newest addition to the creamer's famous farm-to-freezer list and features a vanilla ice cream base with a combination of salted caramel swirls and chocolate-covered pretzel pieces. Hokie Tracks will be available in select stores throughout Virginia as well as at Homestead's farm market located at 7254 Booker T Washington Highway near Smith Mountain Lake. To find a location that stocks the ice cream near you and learn more about the ice cream, visit the Homestead Creamery website here. (WFXR)

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Today in Roanoke:

• Irish Jam Band at Big Lick Brewing Company (6 p.m.)
• Books & Beans Book Club at Book No Further (6:30 p.m.)
• Roanoke Pinball League Spring Session at the Roanoke Pinball Museum (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "A local release for this young Red-tailed Hawk that was found by Roanoke Sewage Treatment Plant workers after she was found covered in mud and sewage near the plant. After a brief stint in rehab to get cleaned, fed, and sort herself out, she was returned back near where she was found to go about her way! Young raptors often get themselves into silly situations like this and need a little helping hand to move them along." (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools: "Congratulations to Alasdair Hackworth for representing Woodrow Wilson Middle School at the western Virginia regional KidWind Challenge last week at the Virginia Museum of Natural History!" (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools: "Patrick Henry students celebrated a World Culture Day and were transported through different countries around the world! Some students dressed in colors representing their heritage, while others wore traditional cultural clothing." (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "If you're looking for an office buddy, don't adopt Arie. You'll never be able to get any work done. But if you're looking for a cat who loves attention, Arie is the cat for you! She just wants to be around you and touching you!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Instagram)

That's it for this dreaded Monday edition! Not too terrible, right? Slow news day, but hey — even the news needs a strong brew and a kick in the arse somedays.

— 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