🌱 New Fentanyl Ad Campaign Appears + BoS Fires Back At School Board

Hello Roanokers! Here's a fresh copy of the Roanoke Patch Newsletter with all the most important things happening in town on this Sunday. Let's go!

But first, today's weather:

Cooler; breezy in the morning. High: 64 Low: 41.

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Here are the top stories in Roanoke today:

1. A Roanoke-centered documentary that had its original premier in 2019 is headed back to the Grandin Theatre in a new and improved format. "The Unlikely Story of the Lesbians of First Friday" is the passion project of former WSLS, WDBJ, and E! True Hollywood Story producer Kathryn Beranich and since the first premiere was marred by a technological nightmare that erased many of the film's special effects, she's giving it another go now that everything is fixed. "It’s so much better than it was and just chock full of pictures, and I’m so excited for people to see this now because I’m very proud of it,” Beranich said. The film will be shown on Thursday at 7 p.m. (Roanoke Times)
2. The Roanoke Rambler, a local online newspaper dedicated to independent journalism, has decided to shift gears and begin a new business model. The site began as a subscription only site in September 2021, but will now be shifting to more free content will trying to attract sponsorships and advertisers in addition to monthly paying members who will get the added benefit of the site's in depth exclusives. "What I’ve learned is that people are still hungry for local news. They want to know what’s going on in their community. We’re excited that by opening up access, more people will be exposed to the Rambler, be able to read what we write and hopefully see the value in that by subscribing. The recent newsletter went out to 2,400 people here in the Roanoke Valley, so I think we’ll just look to continue to grow that." To sign up for the Roanoke Rambler newsletter click here. (WDBJ)
3. A new nationwide billboard campaign has made its first appearance in the Roanoke area with a billboard along Rt. 460 between Roanoke and Lynchburg. Non-profit organization 4 Them We Fight is dedicated to educating the public on the dangers of fentanyl and began with a single poster-sized advertisement put up by one of the co-founders in Hillsboro, Ohio. The organization now boasts billboards from Southern California to Washington D.C. and even has a mobile billboard van. Each billboard features the photos of fentanyl victims in that state and says "Deceived To Death — Any Drug...Anytime...Anyone — Fentanyl Poisoning Kills." A recent interview with the group can be seen here. (WDBJ)
4. The spat between the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors and the Roanoke County School Board is continuing. Earlier this week Supervisor Jason Peters fired back saying certain school board members had not accurately portrayed the funding of capital improvements in their public statements. Peters, who represents the Vinton District, sounded off at the end of a long meeting Tuesday night "about the county’s commitment to education, citing false claims and asking for a public apology." Most of the board has chosen not to address the issue publicly, but Peters was particularly incensed by charges that the board floated the idea of closing a school, something he says was never on the table and began with a comment made by school board member Tim Greenway. (Roanoke Times)

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Today in Roanoke:

• Blue Ridge Region Sports Club Car Club Solo Event at the Salem Civic Center (10:30 a.m.)
• Ice Bumper Cars at The Berglund Center (11 a.m.)
• Lenny Marcus and Friends at Big Lick Brewing Co. (4:30 p.m.)
• Murder mystery Dinner at Well Hung Vineyard (6 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• City of Roanoke Government: "The City of Roanoke is excited to announce that later this year we will be bringing Starfish to the Star City! Due to the unseasonably warm winter and an overage of salt for brining, we will be able to salinate Garnand Branch to create the first ever natural inland Starfish habitat!" (City of Roanoke Government via Facebook)
• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "One of the first spring migrants arrived today — a Blue-headed Vireo hit a window and has major air sac trauma (just like the Dark-eyed Junco we posted about last week). Blue-headed Vireos are usually only seen at the tops of trees." (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Police Department: "Many of you know we had an incredible round of promotions last week, where we celebrated several RPD Team members on rising to the next level of supervision and leadership. What some of you might not know, is that one of those promotions made history at the Roanoke Police Department. Captain J. Boswell’s promotion marks the first time a female officer has served at the rank of Captain at the Roanoke Police Department!" (Roanoke Police Department via Facebook)
• Roanoke Sheriff's Office: "Congratulations to those who have been recently promoted. Listed with new titles: Major John Williams, Major David Powers, Captain Angela Traynham, Lieutenant Cristina Eberstein, Lieutenant James Murphy, Lieutenant Mirhet Sabanovic Sergeant, Sergeant Linda Jone, and Sergeant Eric Eberstein." (Roanoke Sheriff's Office via Facebook)

That's it 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at roanoke@patch.com