🌱 Local Artist Transforms Graffiti + 23 Dogs Find 'Fur-Ever' Homes

Hey, friends! It's me, Ian, host of the Roanoke Daily. Here's a look at the community news!

First, today's weather:

Variably cloudy and humid.

High: 88 Low: 67.

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Here are the top five stories today in Roanoke:

1. Last week the dog shelters at Angels of Assisi were full, but thanks to a successful weekend adoption event 23 dogs found new "fur-ever" homes! That frees up enough room for AoA to take in more dogs from other area shelters that are also at capacity including the Regional Center for Animal Care and Protection. "Our shelter was full before that so we are very happy to be able to open up some space to help even more animals,” said AoA Director of Community Engagement Dayna Reynolds. The next AoA adoption event will be held this weekend at PetSmart on Franklin Road. (WSLS)
2. Three would-be robbers are in custody after leading Roanoke City Police on a chase from Plantation Road to Forest Hill Road where the suspects fled their vehicle. The three men, identified as Markie J. Hill, 19, of Roanoke, Benjamin D. Jones, 30, of Roanoke, Lorenzo L. Carter, 29, of Roanoke, were taken into custody when additional police units joined the foot pursuit. They have each been charged with two counts of attempted robbery. The name and exact location of the business they attempted to rob was not released. (WDBJ)
3. Virginia Western Community College will be hosting several Family Movie Nights in its community arboretum on Colonial Avenue. The movies include "The Secret Garden," "The Lorax" and "Epic," and will begin July 23, run throughout the 2022-23 year, and will all be rated PG. The VWCC Community Arboretum sits on two acres and includes 11 gardens. In May, staff and volunteers installed three bog gardens filled with carnivorous plants. I mean, who doesn't want to get eaten by a carnivorous plant while watching your favorite family movie? Popcorn, sodas, and candy will available for sale ... for the plants ... once they're done with their main course. (Roanoker)
4. Local artist Sky Kirk has decided to clean up the streets of Roanoke by transforming the graffiti on Norfolk Avenue with more graffiti. Kirk is hoping to take bad graffiti covering walls of rundown buildings with more positive images for young people like his son, Nikki. "I’ve seen a lot of bad graffiti out here. And a lot of the problems here are the streets are getting nastier. And people are seeming more O.K. to put bad graffiti out. So it’s definitely been an intention to fix that up and make it nicer. Especially to make more of a good influence, you know, to people like my son," Kirk said. You can see more of Kirk's art by following his Instagram page. (WSLS)
5. Lola, a Franklin County dog, has survived a rattlesnake attack and area veterinarians are warning dog owners to pay attention to where their dogs walk, even in neighborhoods. "She just went off to the side into the woods to use the bathroom and my husband said he heard the snake lunge at her but he didn’t see it. The rattle didn’t go off,” Emily Scott, Lola's owner said. Lola was immediately taken to the emergency vet for treatment and staff there said it isn't uncommon to see rattlesnake bites this time of year. "The main thing is just getting to the vet. There’s some old wives tales about sucking venom out and things like that but I definitely don’t recommend that. Just get your pet to the vet as soon as possible," Maureen Roberts of Emergency Veterinary & Specialty Services of Roanoke said. (WDBJ)

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Today in Roanoke:

1. Mill Mountain Advisory Board Meeting at the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building (4 p.m.)
2. Roanoke Neighborhood Advocates Meeting at the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building (5:30 p.m.)
3. Live music: Roanoke Old Time & Americana Jam at Golden Cactus Brewing (6 p.m.)
4. Yo.Go.Play presented at Morningside Urban Farm (6:30 p.m.)
5. Live music: Ben Trout Band at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (9:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Another successful release! This adult American Robin was admitted after she was found unable to fly. Upon examination we discovered wounds indicating she had been attacked by a predator but managed to escape." (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Downtown Roanoke, Inc.: "Have you gotten your tickets to see Brothers Osborne LIVE at the Budweiser Summer Series this Friday, July 15?! Tickets are ON SALE NOW! Grab yours for just $39. For full details, visit DowntownSummerSeries.com." (Downtown Roanoke, Inc. via Facebook)
• City of Roanoke Government: "In this week's blog, City Manager Bob Cowell discusses Partners in Prosperity." (City of Roanoke Government via Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools: "Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) students are using Zing Stikbots to create their own stop motion movies at middle school RCPS+! Check out this motion picture by one of our RCPS+ students!" (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Roanoke Diversity Center: "Pride month may be over - but being LGBTQ+ in SWVA is an all year round affair for us! The RDC is partnering with other groups and collecting LGBTQ+ affirming businesses and healthcare providers to provide resources for our community." (Roanoke Diversity Center via Facebook)
• Roanoke Fire EMS Department: "Did you know, extreme heat often results in the highest annual number of deaths among all weather-related disasters? Knowing information about heat exhaustion is important to keep in mind during these extreme heat months." (Roanoke Fire EMS Department via Facebook)
• Virginia Children's Theatre: "BRAND NEW DAY will take the stage in a month! Mark your calendars and make plans to join us for our summer concert, outside at Elmwood Park. BRAND NEW DAY August 6 at 7 p.m. August 7 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Elmwood Park Amphitheatre." (Virginia Children's Theatre via Facebook)
• Roanoke Animal Hospital: "Join us THIS SATURDAY from 1 - 3 p.m. for our Client Appreciation Grand Reopening Celebration where you can: TOUR our beautifully renovated hospital that you have so patiently been waiting for!" (Roanoke Animal Hospital via Facebook)
• Roanoke County Public Schools: "The Roanoke County School Board will hold a budget work session today at 11 a.m. at the RCPS Central Office. Meetings are open to the public. You can watch the meeting live or via playback at www.rcps.us/schoolboardmeetings. Agenda: http..." (Roanoke County Public Schools via Facebook)
• PLAY Roanoke: "Announcing our Adult 3 vs 3 Basketball League starting at the end of the month! Games will be played at Washington Park's Ricky Renell Wright courts from the end of July to early September." (PLAY Roanoke via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday. I'll see you tomorrow!

— 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