🌱 New LOA Wellness Center Opens + Williamson Road Improvements Passed

Happy Hump Day everyone! Let's take a look at what's going on around town as we begin the arduous climb up and over the halfway point today.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and hot.

High: 92 Low: 72.

📢 I’m looking for business owners and marketers in Roanoke who want to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales.

I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our Roanoke Daily readers to local businesses they need to know about. If that’s you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Here are the top five stories in Roanoke today:

1. Roanoke City Council voted 4 - 1 in its Monday meeting to approve an application for Smart Scale funding from the Commonwealth Transportation Board. The plan that was presented drew both support and criticism from Williamson Road area residents and businesses with its plan to reduce the number of lanes and add dedicated bicycle lanes. The section of Williamson Road that runs between Hershberger Road and Orange Avenue has been the sight of a dozen pedestrian deaths in recent years and is a top priority for improvement for the city. (WDBJ)
2. The Star City has been awarded nearly $4 million from the Virginia Housing Development Authority and will use the funds to give three area public housing projects a much needed facelift. Melrose Towers, Hunt Manor and Blue Stone Park will see a combination of new windows, new boilers, kitchen and bathroom upgrades and even new units. Some of the boilers in the units are reported to be almost 50 years old. "It’s great because we receive a lot of calls when we turn on the heat, that the heat isn’t working. The residents have problems and you have to give them heaters till we get somebody out there to fix it," said David Bustamante, Roanoke Redevelopment Housing Authority's Executive Director. (WSLS)
3. Roanoke's local Office on Aging has just opened a brand new wellness center that will help area senior citizens access services and socialize with other residents, an idea that came about during the pandemic when so many seniors were forced into isolation. The LOA said this is only the beginning of its expansion plans. "We have a lot of activities planned to have in this to kind of deal with isolation, social isolation. And of the social determinant of health that is detrimental, which social isolation is one of them, said CEO Ron Boyd. The center is located at 4902 Frontage Road just off Peters Creek Road. (WDBJ)
4. A Roanoke man has been arrested for the murder of his brother and two dogs at a home on Hershberger Road on July 30. Lloyd A. Harris, 40, is charged with second degree murder for the shooting and killing of John Q. Harris, 43, who was visiting from Asheville, North Carolina. Nothing has been released on what Lloyd Harris' motive for the crime was, but John Harris's girlfriend, Lori Lamb said in a Facebook post that "[John] was a great human, a good person, one that you don't meet a lot these days." (WDBJ, Facebook)
5. The Harrison Museum of African American Culture with the help of some area citizens has been raising money to erect a statue of Roanoke native Henrietta Lacks, known for leading to medical breakthroughs after her cells were harvested and used by scientists without her or her family's knowledge upon her death. The group hopes to place the statue inside Lacks Plaza, which was renamed from Lee Plaza and is located outside of Roanoke's downtown municipal building. The fundraiser is presently only $20,000 away from its goal. Those who are interested in donating can contact museum through their website. (WDBJ)

Today in Roanoke:

• Hidden Valley High Business Day (8 a.m.)
• Roanoke Kennel Club Mountain Valley Dog Show at the Salem Civic Center (8 a.m.)
• Disney’s High School Musical: One Act Edition by Mill Mountain Theatre (2 p.m.)
• Views and Brews by Roanoke Mountain Adventures at 806 Wasena Ave. (6 p.m.)
• Disney’s High School Musical: One Act Edition by Mill Mountain Theatre (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "After a long night and intensive treatment the Bobcat kitten is doing a LOT better! He is still not out of the woods yet but has made leaps and bounds since his admission and is becoming quite feisty." (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Happy Tails to all of the pets who were adopted last week and congratulations to all of the adopters who opened their hearts to a new best friend! If you're ready to bring home a pet of your own, now is a great time!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Habitat for Humanity in the Roanoke Valley: "Habitat for Humanity in the Roanoke Valley is pleased to have been selected as one of the recipients of state-administered Affordable and Special Needs Housing loans." (Habitat for Humanity in the Roanoke Valley via Facebook)
• Downtown Roanoke, Inc.: "Music lovers, you don't want to miss Jocelyn & Chris Saturday at The Spot on Kirk! With vocal comparisons to Janis Joplin and guitar work likened to Jimi Hendrix, Jocelyn & Chris and their band have charted four consecutive commercial radio singles in the Billboard AAA Top 40." (Downtown Roanoke, Inc. via Instagram)

Alrighty! You're officially in the loop now get out there and climb that hump! I'll see you tomorrow.

— 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