🌱 Homeless Couple Find Long Lost Family + Local Colors Draws Many

Good morning, neighbors. It's Monday. Again. I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening in the 'noke. Let's have get to it.

First, today's weather:

Cloudy, showery, and cooler. It'll feel good out there after the last few days.

High: 69 Low: 57.

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Here are the top five stories today in Roanoke:

1. A couple who has been living on the streets of Roanoke have found long lost relatives thanks to a report last year in The Roanoke Times on area homelessness. Quintin Cruse and April Ragan met at the Greyhound Bus Station in downtown Roanoke and lived for a time in a tent near the Taubman Museum of Art. Now, Cruse's sister, niece, and daughter have arrived from Alexandria and plan to take the couple back with them. (Roanoke Times)
2. Beginning with a Parade of Nations, the Local Colors Festival kicked off Sunday in Elmwood Park. Each country that was represented was introduced as they raised their flags to the delight of thousands of people packed into the park to embrace the many diverse cultures across the Roanoke Valley. (WSLS)
3. Treetop Quest at Virginia Explore Park in Roanoke County is back open for business. Located off of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the zip line course offers Tarzan-like swings, cargo nets, tight ropes, and 13 landing pads. Adventurists can even reach new heights at night during the course's Zip At Night dates. (WSET)
4. The Liberty Trust building, formerly the original home of the First National Bank constructed in 1910, is beginning a new chapter downtown as The Liberty Trust Hotel. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the building features French architecture, a Beaux Arts design with grand columns in the lobby and bar area, preserved copper doors and a bank vault that is now a space for private events. (Roanoke Times)
5. A Franklin County farmer, Alex Hunt, has received Clean Water Farm Award after installing barbed wire fences and new watering troughs on his 430 acre farm in order to keep cattle out of local waterways. The project was paid for in part by federal agencies such as the Farm Service Agency and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program and cost about $100,000. Bobby Whitescarver, a retired government conservation official who now runs a consulting business, says, "without question in livestock regions like Franklin County, Augusta County and Rockingham County, the number one water pollution issue is cattle in streams."

Today in Roanoke:

• Free Yoga for the People at the main Roanoke Public Library on Jefferson Street (5:30 p.m.)
• Live Irish Music Session at Big Lick Brewing Co. on Salem Avenue. (6 p.m.)
• Salem City Council Meeting at Salem City Hall (6:30 p.m.)
• Monday Night Games & Vinyl at Crystal Spring Grocery Co. (4 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke says "say cheese! This Virginia Opossum is showing us the very best scary face she can muster! At this age she is perfectly capable of eating on her own and the only human contact she has is brief and indirect when we clean her enclosure." (Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools would like to "congratulate Miss Guzi, a special education teacher at Fallon Park Elementary School, who has been selected as a Cox Education Hero! Representatives from Cox surprised her with the good news earlier this week during a faculty meeting." (Facebook)
• The Roanoke Fire EMS Department would like you to "come join our team! The City of Roanoke’s Fire-EMS Department is currently hiring for a full-time Support Administrator. The Support Administrator serves as the primary supervisor for the administrative and front office functions." (Facebook)
• Virginia Children's Theatre would like you "join us for our Traveling Talent Search! No sign-up or preparation needed. Our Talent Search will be held at three Roanoke Public Libraries locations. Check our social media pages for locations and dates." (Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and happy Monday! Same bat time, same bat channel tomorrow for your next update!

— 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