🌱 Largest Ever Apartment Complex Planned + Manhunt For Sex Offender

Happy Friday! Here's a fresh copy of the Roanoke Daily for this last Friday of 2022. Do you have big plans for New Years Eve? Shoot me an email at patch.roanoke.daily@gmail.com and let me know what you got up to with a picture and I'll share some next week. Keep reading to find updates on:

• Fire at Bimbo Bakeries
• Can you help Chris's Coffee & Custard hit the road?
• Gingerbread Cottage debuted at Richfield Living

Let's motor!

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and mild.

High: 61 Low: 43.

🏠 If you're a real estate agent in Roanoke, of course you're looking for a way to stand out from the crowd and attract new clients. We can help you do that with an exclusive sponsorship in the Roanoke Patch newsletter.

Click here to learn more.

Here are the top stories in Roanoke today:

1. Authorities are searching for a Roanoke man accused of sexually assaulting a child left in his care in the Martinsville area. Martinsville Police were called to the Raceway Inn on Business 220 when Lucas John Donley, 36, a registered sex offender, was accused by the parents of a 6-year-old child of sexual assault. Donley had already fled the scene, but deputies soon located him and a pursuit began, reaching speeds of 100 miles per hour before deputies called it off due to safety concerns. Donley is known to be driving a blue 2014 Kia Forte with the license plate number VWM-5364 and is described as a white male, 5′ 9″, 270 lbs, with brown hair and green eyes. If you see him call 911. (WFIR)
2. Three people suffered minor injuries in a fire at Bimbo Bakeries in the 1900 block of Blue Hills Dr NE just off Route 460/Challenger Avenue. Roanoke Fire EMS responded to the call around 8 p.m. and encountered heavy smoke before locating the fire in a freezer. Firefighters were able to get the flames under control, but said they would be on site for some time working to ventilate the building and to make sure the flames stayed out. The cause of the fire is under investigation and the three people injured were treated at the scene by paramedics. (WSET, WFXR)
3. A Lynchburg area developer — TPB Enterprises — has applied for rezoning on a property located on Orange Avenue in Roanoke between the District Vue Apartments and the Statesman Industrial Park for what would be the largest apartment complex in Roanoke if the plans are developed as submitted. The property is a former farm and will house 768 apartments in a 16 building complex with commercial buildings for businesses located along the Orange Avenue road frontage at the front of the property. When asked for comment Roanoke City Planning Director Chris Chittum said, "It’s very positive that they want to invest and have found a place to invest in Roanoke. Bringing this number of new housing units into our housing mix is very positive and will be beneficial really throughout our housing market." The next phase for the project is a public hearing on Jan. 9 before the Roanoke City Planning Commision. (Roanoke Times)
4. Chris’s Coffee and Custard are wanting to hit the road next year in a new food truck and are asking Roanokers to help them raise $75,000 for a truck and equipment. The goal, founders Beth and Chris Woodrum said, is to help get their special needs young adults who help staff the facility out into the community more. "We have some amazing young adults here at Chris’s and to be able to get them out and to share them with the community is going to be awesome. They have such special gifts and talents that we just want people to see and to know about," Beth said. The team hopes to have the truck up and running by the summer and will have to hire four more employees to make that happen. Should you feel so inclined, you can donate here. (WSLS)
5. The Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce held an unveiling at Richfield Living in Salem on West Main Street on Wednesday for a new gingerbread cottage located on the senior living facility's property in the Glenvar area. The cottage is part of the chamber's Hometown Gingerbread Trail that were revealed throughout the month of December leading up to the Christmas holiday in partnership with assemblage artists, Page Turner Studios. "We are stoked to work together with the Chamber to build a lasting tradition of this joyous celebration,” Page and Zephren Turner said. More information on other locations for The Hometown Gingerbread Trail can be found here. (Salem Times Register)

From our sponsor:

Today’s Roanoke Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Roanoke newsletter possible.

Today in Roanoke:

• Free Yoga for the People at the main Roanoke Public Library (7:30 a.m.)
• Salem Mayhem vs. Hampton Hammerheads at the Salem Civic Center (7 p.m.)
• Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs vs. Quad City Storm at the Berglund Center Coliseum (7 p.m.)
• Isaac Hadden Organ Trio w. Rebeka Todd at 5 Points Music Sanctuary (7:30 p.m.)
• Eric Wayne Band at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (10 p.m.)

Special notice:

Patch has partnered with T-Mobile for two new series: Local Heroes and Star Student Athletes. The goal is to highlight heroes and star athletes in Roanoke!

• If you want to nominate a local hero, click here
• If you want to nominate a local athlete, click here.

From my notebook:

• Roanoke Fire EMS Department: "🥶 High winds and frigid temperatures from the winter storm downed power lines, felled trees, and damaged numerous water pipes across the city between 12/23-12/27. Those events, combined with typical demand, resulted in a whopping 599 calls for service!" (Roanoke Fire EMS Department via Facebook)
• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Can you believe we STILL are getting baby squirrels? Apparently our local populations of eastern gray squirrels did not get the memo that breeding season was supposed to be over a few months ago." (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Police Department: "Cheers to all of the designated drivers this holiday season! Thank you for choosing to stay sober and volunteering to drive – your actions have and will save lives!" (Roanoke Police Department via Facebook)
• Solomon's Mission: "New Years sale for three days Thursday 29th 11-4 Friday 30th 10-5 Saturday 31st 9-1 50% off all household ,furniture, pictures, and we will have all Christmas items 10 for $1!" (Solomon's Mission via Facebook)
• Roanoke Outside: "If you're looking to stay active during the winter months, there are many different fantastic hiking, biking, and running clubs that operate year round. Every Thursday it's the Olde Salem Brewing road ride! Get the full details now." (Roanoke Outside via Instagram)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Fresh Perks Every Week (January 3)
• Add your event

Alrighty ... you're all caught up for today! I'll be back tomorrow morning with another update. In the meantime, be excellent to each other my brethren.

— 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