🌱Mill Mountain Zoo Turns 70 + Primary Winner Addresses Sign Charges

Hello Roanokers! I'm back with a new Roanoke Daily. Here's everything you need to know about what's happening in the community today.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny.

High: 86 Low: 66.

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Here are the top five stories in Roanoke today:

1. One of the winners of Tuesday's Democratic primary in Roanoke might be in trouble with the state board of elections after complaints were filed that his campaign had been distributing a sample ballot that lacked the required 'Authorized By' statement. City Council candidate Peter Volosin could face a per sign fine after an inquiry is held in August. When asked about the matter, Volosin said, "That was a mistake. We didn’t realize that that wasn’t on there. [Those were] intended to communicate that I believe that these are the three strongest candidates to beat the Republicans and the independents in November." (Roanoke Times)
2. This year marks the 39th year that the CROP Hunger Walk has been held in Roanoke. The walk is a fundraiser by Church World Service designed to bring awareness across America about hunger both globally and locally. Each year the event chooses a local partner to receive a portion of the funds and this year Feeding America Southwest Virginia will be the recipient. "The CROP Hunger Walk is the heart and 'sole' of Roanoke. It is the leading Roanoke Valley walk event that brings together all members of our community young and old, all faiths and walks of life for a common goal: to end hunger, one step at a time!" according to a press release for the event. (WDBJ)
3. Nearly 20 public safety officers at the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport are participating in a runway fire drill this week. Officials at the airport said a fire hasn't happened in many years, but that they are even more prepared than the FAA requires should such an event arise. "We try to keep up and make sure our practice is perfect so we can do it on the job too,” said Ben Cook, ROA Director or Public Safety. "It could be a plane where the landing gear doesn’t go down, they have to do a landing on the belly creating sparks that could ignite the fuel. The fuel is very flammable, pretty easy to light off so any little thing could actually set it off so we practice for the worst case scenario." (WDBJ)
4. Downtown Roanoke Inc. has announced a new ambassador program that is set to begin later this summer. The program is designed to improve the downtown experience for people who live, work and play there by providing an extra set of eyes, cleaning public spaces, welcoming and assisting the public, reaching out to those in need and helping to connect them with area services and connecting with downtown businesses. "We’ve seen the popularity of these programs grow greatly over the past several years and have been investigating the feasibility of bringing an Ambassador Program to Downtown Roanoke for quite some time," said Tina Workman, president and CEO of Downtown Roanoke Inc. (The Roanoke Star)
5. Roanoke's Mill Mountain Zoo is celebrating its 70th birthday! The zoo is dedicated to wildlife conservation and to providing educational programs in which people can learn about things like proper animal care and is planning a birthday makeover. "Because we are getting ready for our 70th anniversary we're updating the brand, rolling out a new 70th anniversary logo, which will be used for the year we are 70. After that the brand will change, the name will remain the same, but our color scheme and logo will change and it's all really exciting for us," Niki Voudren, executive director of the zoo, said. (WSET)

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See important Reg A Disclosures

Today in Roanoke:

• Grandin Chillage at the old Texaco Station on Grandin Road. (5:30 p.m.)
• Absolute Queen at Dr. Pepper Park (6 p.m.)
• 21st Annual Star City Motor Madness Cruise-In on Williamson Road. (6 p.m.)
• Live music: Sam Collie & The Roustabouts at Big Lick Brewing Company (6:30 p.m.)
• Children's Literature Scholar Anne Phillips @ Hollins University (7:30 p.m.)
• Live music: The Jared Stout Band at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (10:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke Valley SPCA: Yesterday we were able to pull 15 cats over from the Regional Center for Animal Care & Protection, but we still wanted to share this courtesy post for them. Their dog rooms are at capacity! (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Roanoke Fire EMS Department: "Yesterday, members of the Roanoke City Council recognized members of our department for a swift water rescue incident on May 27th, where a female was trapped in her vehicle with rising flood waters. Thanks to our members for a job well done! (Roanoke Fire EMS Department via Facebook)
• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: Over the years we've saved a lot of wildlife from the New River Valley and beyond, like this Cooper's Hawk that was released back home at Virginia Tech. We're the only wildlife center within 100 miles for many. (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• The Rescue Mission of Roanoke: "Shoutout to our HR team Stacy and Christy at the Virginia Career Works job fair today until 3 p.m. at 3601 Thirlane Road NW. Spread the word on the impact our staff can make! Woo hoo! (The Rescue Mission of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools: Don't forget: The City of Roanoke's annual Youth Summit is Saturday! Come out to Washington Park for a day of fun. Transportation is provided. See the post for more information. (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• City of Roanoke Government: WE NEED YOUR VOTE! Roanoke is a finalist for the All-America City Awards! Help us win by voting for Roanoke's AAC virtual Civic Action booth! VOTE HERE! (City of Roanoke Government via Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll see you soon.

— 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