🌱 New Adventure Vans Built In Roanoke + Southwest City Car Chase

Hello fellow Roanokers! Today is National Thank You Day so I want to take just a moment to say, "thank you!" to all of you for subscribing to this newsletter. I really enjoy writing it. Anyway, it's time for the Thursday edition of the Roanoke Daily so here's what's happening in town, including news on:

• LoA asking for soup donations
• COVID-19 rise continues
• Board of Supervisors shake up

Let's motor!

But first, today's weather:

A little afternoon rain. High: 54 Low: 41.

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Here are the top stories in Roanoke today:

1. In the midst of a traffic stop in Southeast Roanoke, the subject fled from Roanoke City Police. A chase resulted with the driver, Malcolm Harrison, who was wanted on charges that included aggravated malicious wounding, use of a firearm by a violent felon, and use of a firearm in a malicious wounding, being arrested. Harrison sideswiped a patrol car in his attempted escape and the chase ended with Harrison being taken into custody in the 1200 block of Stewart Avenue SW. No injuries were reported. (WDBJ)
2. COVID-19 case numbers continue to increase in the Roanoke City & Alleghany Health District according to Dr. Cynthia Morrow, head of the district. The total case count for the area as of Tuesday was 79,765 cases, up almost 800 in the past week. "Unfortunately, COVID-19 activity continues to increase with respect to laboratory-confirmed cases, hospitalizations, and deaths associated with COVID-19. The bivalent booster, released last fall, continues to show strong protection against the currently circulating strains of the virus," Morrow said. A new omicron variant, XBB.1.5, is thought to be the primary driver of increases, accounting for over 30 percent of the new cases across the Mid-Atlantic region. (WSET)
3. On the go adventurers have a new friend in Roanoke in the Noke Van Company, a startup that custom builds vans to be homes on the road for those who enjoy going walkabout from time to time. The vans are built on RAM Promasters and come in two different layouts, The Colonel Taylor and The Medina, or the two can be combined in a premium package. Co-owner Joshua Yerton said, "We love the idea of giving people an outlet and being able to go out and explore the world around us. So, yeah, that’s what makes the vans stand apart." A ribbon cutting for the company was held Tuesday. You can find their website here. (WSLS)
4. The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to elect Martha Hooker to be its new chair for 2023 in an annual reorganization meeting held Tuesday. The 2022 Chair, Paul Mahoney, will now serve as the vice chair. This will be the second time Hooker has served as chair of the five person BoS with her first being in 2018. She has twice served as vice chair and is currently in her second term as supervisor of the Catawba Magisterial District, which covers the largest amount of territory of the county's five districts. The board is expected to take up a number of key measures this year including a possible airport expansion. (Roanoke Times)
5. The Local Office on Aging is asking for the community’s help in getting food to seniors this winter with the nonprofit’s “Soup for Seniors” program. The organization is asking people for donations of nutritious shelf items such as low-sodium and nutritious soups, canned goods, and peanut butter. Donations can be taken to any one of a number of drop-off locations that are listed here or to the main collection site at the Church of St. Peter & St. Paul in Roanoke County's North Lakes neighborhood across from J.D. Byrider on Peters Creek Road. (WSLS)

Today in Roanoke:

• Fun Furniture Painting Classes at Black Dog Salvage (9 a.m.)
• Holistic Chamber of Commerce meeting at Lydia’s Italian Kitchen (5:30 p.m.)
• “I Live to Tell” presented by the 2023 Hollins-Mill Mountain Winter Festival of New Works at Hollins University’s theatre (7:30 p.m.)
• J.E. Feazell & Th’ Dive Bar Stars at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (9:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Have you ever heard of the uropygial gland? In doing a physical exam of this Barred Owl we snapped photos of this special gland that is critically important to many birds that not a lot of people know about." (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Police Department: "Our Police Support Technicians (PSTs) worked hard in 2022 to keep you safe! This dedicated team works tirelessly behind the scenes, providing excellent service to Roanoke residents and support to our Roanoke Police Officers." (Roanoke Police Department via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Nala is currently spending her days in one of our staff offices, and this is what her office mates have to say about her: I am obsessed with this girl! Nala is hilarious, sweet, and spunky. Once she had a little time to warm up to me, she became a 'Velcro kitty.'" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Roanoke County Public Schools: "The 2023 all county band is getting ready to perform at Northside High School! We are recording the concert and will have video coming later this week." (Roanoke County Public Schools via Facebook)

There you have it! You're all caught up for today! See you tomorrow for another update.

In honor of National Thank You Day:

~ 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