🌱 New Bike Lanes + St. Andrews Preservation Award + Shooting Arrest

Hello again, friends. It's Sunday in Roanoke and I'm back in your inbox with a look at the local news and events.

First, today's weather:

Some rain and a thunderstorm or two.

High: 80 Low: 71.

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Here are the top five stories in Roanoke today:

1. Cyclists in the Roanoke area have their own lanes in some areas of the city now thanks to the most recent project by the Roanoke Department of Transportation. The roads around Valley View Mall are a little brighter thanks to some fluorescent green bike lanes that were installed as an extension of the Lick Run Greenway. "We have installed about 40 to 50 miles of bike lanes currently. We will continue to install bike lanes wherever we can and continue to promote multi-modal, bicycles, walking and pedestrian crossings,” said Roanoke Traffic Engineer Hong Liu. (WSLS)
2. One of the Roanoke skyline's most famous buildings is set to receive the 2022 Gabriella Page Preservation Award for Outstanding Preservation Project from Preservation Virginia. The heavy renovations to St. Andrew's Catholic Church have taken several years and a major commitment from both the congregation and The Church. The project began in 2014 and called for improvements to the replacement of the steeples, the slate roof and exterior masonry — that was just the outside. "The project was so extensive, we did everything in the world to make this facility last another hundred years," said St. Andrew's Facilities Maintenance Coordinator Wayne Gould. (WDBJ)
3. Roanoke area fire and rescue departments seeking new recruits are taking steps to engage area youth by hosting day-long Emergency Service Camps aimed at people ages 10 - 14. Called Camp R.I.T. for respect, integrity, and teamwork the camp is designed to give "a rapid in-depth insight into the world of emergency services professions" according to a department press release. With organizations across the nation facing volunteer shortages Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Chief Travis Griffith said exposing young people to the activities of emergency personnel may spark an interest in the profession. "If you can find that target audience in middle school or high school, and engage them, maybe in a camp like this, or get them into a volunteer system, a lot of times those people do progress, and they do eventually become career fire and rescue personnel," Griffith said. (Roanoke Times)
4. An arrest has been made in the death of 37-year-old Leeann Haun, who has been identified as the victim of a shooting in the early morning hours of July 22 at Roanoke's Belmont Park. Richard Quarles, 26, has been arrested and charged with second degree murder for her death, but information about the incident is still vague and police are asking anyone who knows anything to please step forward. Those wishing to report something are asked to call (540) 344-8500 or text 274637. Be sure your text begins with “RoanokePD” to ensure it’s delivered properly. (WDBJ)
5. According to a recent court hearing and sentencing memorandum prosecutors are asking for a 37 year prison sentence for a Roanoke man, Sean Denzel Guerrant, known as “Harlem Dunk." Guerrant has previously admitted to being the leader of the Rollin' 30s Crips, a Roanoke subset of the nationwide street gang that originated in Los Angeles in the late 1960s and whose name is a nod to the same gang's Harlem, New York faction. Under Guerrant's leadership, the gang is alleged to have murdered Nikolas Lee, a fellow gang member and a graduate of Patrick Henry High School who was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds early in the summer of 2017 after falling out of favor with the gang. (WSLS)

Today in Roanoke:

• Twisted Bazaar at Twisted Track Brewpub (Noon)
• Murder Mystery Event at Big Lick Brewing Company (2 p.m.)
• Carrington Kay at Big Lick Brewing Company (4 p.m.)
• Book Launch: NEWS! by Dan Smith in Hollins University’s Moody Center (6 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "We love it when Miss Rachel Lucas WSLS 10 News stops by to do a story on the pets in our shelter! She loves our pets just as much as we do!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Allyson, our LVT, and rehab staff Kristin worked together to help this unruly juvenile Virginia Opossum with an injured tail. And boy, was he a handful! Opossums are cute and look cuddly but they are still wild animals." (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• City of Roanoke Government: "Yesterday we celebrated at the Art in Roanoke ribbon cutting of one of the newest murals on the Roanoke River Greenway! The mural was completed by Nolan-Shafer Murals and Maggie Perrin-Key, and was made possible by Barrows Inc." (City of Roanoke Government via Facebook)
• Virginia Children's Theatre: "A huge thank you to ARD Properties, LLC for providing a home away from home for our out-of-town artists during their time at Virginia Children's Theatre!" (Virginia Children's Theatre via Facebook)

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

— 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