🌱 Longtime Area Shelter Closing + Two Life Sentences For Clerk Killer

Hey, everybody! It's time for the Friday edition of the Roanoke Daily! Here's what you need to know about what's happening locally, including updates on:

• Brandon Avenue Kroger sees big update
• Starbucks Union rally
• Senator to visit for MLK day

Let's motor!

But first, today's weather:

A rain or snow shower; breezy.

High: 49 Low: 31.

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Here are the top stories today in Roanoke:

1. A Roanoke man, Jamerius Al-Karim Crennell, 21, received two life sentences Wednesday for a convenience store robbery in which the clerk, Basil Glenn Hubble, 31, of Roanoke, was shot and killed. The crime occurred in September 2021 and Crennell was arrested as he left the store with cash in one hand and a gun in the other after a patrolling officer heard the gunshots and responded. Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney John McNeil said the A&A Cash Market had several surveillance cameras that captured events both inside and outside the store on the night of the robbery. Crennell pled guilty to the charges and was sentenced according to the deal he made with prosecutors. An accomplice who remained outside the store has not been identified or located by police. (Roanoke Times)
2. Trust House, a residential facility for "unhoused individuals, families, and veterans" located on the corner of 4th Street SW and Elm Avenue in Roanoke, will close permanently on Jan. 31. The facility has been in continual service since 1970 when it was founded by Hollins College (now Hollins University) students and faculty. The facility grew to be a 29-bed shelter and has been under the care of ARCH Services for an undetermined period of time. Tommy Oliver, treasurer for ARCH Services, said, "It is with the most profound regret that the board came to this decision. Trust House has served our clients well for many decades. We had hoped to find a sustainable path forward, but unfortunately, we could not." Oliver went on to say they are working with other area services such as the Veterans Administration and the Roanoke Rescue Mission to help their residents transition to new facilities. (WDBJ)
3. Virginia's junior U.S. senator Tim Kaine is scheduled to visit Roanoke for a weekend full of events dedicated to Martin Luther King, Jr. His schedule includes a stop at the Roanoke Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and a local church on Sunday, but details have not been released entirely for security reasons. "It’s like you know going back to scripture. You go back to things that you’ve maybe read or thought about a couple times in your life but as circumstances change you look back through King’s life and lessons in new ways," he said. He's hoping to be able to listen to other's personal stories in addition to adding his own reflections on the importance of the day and of King's legacy in general. (WSLS)
4. Employees at Starbucks store #04567 at The Bridges in Roanoke on Old Whitmore Avenue have announced that they will be holding a contract rally today. The store is the first Starbucks location in Southwest Virginia to vote to unionize and joins 11 other stores in the state as well as 170+ locations nationwide in doing so. Employees of the location voted to unionize in June 2022 but say the Starbucks organization has continued to refuse to negotiate a first contract with them. Today's rally is being held in hopes of forcing that negotiation. At issue particularly is the way management continues to refuse to address problems with shifts and hours and continues to change opening and closing times erratically. (WDBJ)
5. A ribbon cutting was held Wednesday for the newly upgraded Kroger on Brandon Avenue in Roanoke. The upgrades are part of a $4 million remodel taking place at stores in both the Roanoke and New River Valleys. Kroger officials on hand for the ceremony said the updates to each store include new flooring, new products, and new display cases as well as some fresh new products. In addition to celebrating the remodel, officials also presented checks worth $1,500 to the Rescue Mission of Roanoke and Feeding Southwest Virginia. There's no word on whether other stores in the area will see similar remodels. (WSLS)

Today in Roanoke:

• Ben Trout at Starr Hill Pilot Brewery & Side Stage (6 p.m.)
• McFadden & Friends at Big Lick Brewing Co. (6:30 p.m.)
• Line Dancing with Ashton at Corned Beef & Co. (7 p.m.)
• Violet Bell at the Jefferson Center’s Fostek Performance Hall (8 p.m.)
• Grub at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (10 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke Sheriff's Office: "If you receive a call from Deputy Murphy regarding a warrant or citation, it is a scam. This is not our deputy calling. The caller may ask for money or leave a message asking you to call 540-858-1250. This is a scam!" (Roanoke Sheriff's Office via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Fosters needed! We are in need of fosters for these eight puppies. Fostering will need to be at least two weeks long. We provide all necessary supplies including food, leashes, toys, etc. You MUST live within an hour of the shelter!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "The seed-eating beak of a Northern Cardinal is no joke! Cardinals are notorious for having a painful bite strength and using their nippy nature to try to escape being handled. Tricking them into biting Q-tips can make exams and medical procedures a little safer for us human caretakers!" (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges: "Yachtly Crew is coming to Dr Pepper Park on July 22 for a one-of-a-kind show! If you like Piña Coladas, then The Nation’s favorite Yacht Rock band will reel you in with their great sound and high energy show filled with timeless 70s and 80s soft rock hits by Christopher Cross, Hall & Oates, Toto, Steely Dan, and many more!" (Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley Television: "Get a behind the scenes look at how a local family turned a passion into an exciting new business! Noke Van Co. celebrated a ribbon cutting this week in the Roanoke creating custom conversion vans for your next on the road adventure!" (Roanoke Valley Television via Facebook)

Alrighty! You're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow morning 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