🌱 A New 'Pyle' in Roanoke + Local Italian Eatery Featured Nationwide

Hello, everybody! Happy weekend! I hope you got to sleep in a bit if that's your thing. I'm an early riser regardless of the day ... gotta get up and get something accomplished to feel good. Let's take a look at some news.

📣 Our readers love to celebrate good news! You can now shout out your big announcement at the top of the Roanoke Daily newsletter. Whether it's a grand opening, new product for sale, birthday, anniversary, engagement, wedding or new baby, let everyone celebrate alongside you! Submit your announcement here.

First, today's weather:

Sunny and comfortable.

High: 82 Low: 57.

🏡 Looking for more real estate leads in Roanoke? Let us help you reach prospective home buyers and stand out from the competition. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top five stories in Roanoke today:

1. Evil comes in many forms, but it's hard to imagine something worse than intentionally causing harm to a child or an animal. Yet that's apparently what a Roanoke man, Kirk Allen Shaver, 55, has done. Shaver was found guilty of neglecting a herd of 64 cattle after an investigation by animal control officers and a Virginia Tech veterinarian confirmed the animals were in state of starvation. The animals were located on a property in Floyd County and have since been moved to another farm where reports say they are being well cared for and are gaining weight. The cattle will be raised to a healthy status and weight and will be sold at a local livestock market with Shaver responsible for covering any differences between the selling price and the cost of raising them back to health. (Southwest Virginia Today)
2. A. Duie Pyle (yes, that's a real name. No, I didn't make it up, I swear) recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the company's brand new logistics service center located on Salem Turnpike in Roanoke City across from Fairview Cemetery. "We have been planning to add locations (pyles?) in the Commonwealth of Virginia for some time, and we are thrilled to gather here today with our customers, local officials, and business leaders to commemorate our expansion into Roanoke," the CEO of (the?) Pyle, Peter Latta, said. "Extending (the?) Pyle’s footprint into Roanoke and the greater Virginia area positions us to reach key metropolitan areas along the East Coast and fully support our customers’ growth, while opening up new economic opportunities for the City of Roanoke." The new facility features 16 service doors and represents a significant new pyle ... urr ... investment in the city according to Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea. (Editorial Note: I'd be remiss in my duties if I didn't point you to the company's website which features a section called 'My Pyle.' You're welcome.) (Roanoke Star, A Duie Pyle website)
3. Remini's, a Roanoke Italian restaurant located on Brambleton Avenue, recently received the exciting news that its eatery is to be featured on the America's Best Restaurants Roadshow. ABR will roll into Roanoke on September 29 to interview owners James and Dawn Ferrone, highlight popular dishes such as the Pasta Natale and the Steak Pizzaiola and talk about the restaurant's exemplary reputation in the community. "I was excited just to have someone recognize how hard it is for a mom-and-pop operation to weather through all these storms,” Dawn Ferrone said. "A lot of people just don’t get how challenging it can be to run a small business." Remini's will be featured across ABR's significant social media presence once filming is completed, but an exact date has not been announced. (WSLS, ABR Facebook)
4. A recent Roanoke City School Board meeting created a Transportation Work Group to study issues impacting bus routes, Chief Operations Officer Chris Perkins announced. While the city school district has not had to resort to cancelling routes and shifting more transportation responsibilities to parents like some nearby localities, Perkins said transportation has been a frustrating issue for many. "We are concerned, and we owe it to our community to get answers. We cannot suffer through another year like we did last year." The city's school transportation services are operated and managed by Durham School Services who is dealing with the effects of what Perkins called a national, state and regional shortage of bus drivers. (RCPS Press Release)
5. An open house for Roanoke's famous Fire Station Number One is scheduled to be held on September 23 to celebrate the new life of the much loved facility. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. with city officials and project managers on hand. The building will be open to the public until 8 p.m. with festivities including live music, local food vendors and more. The remodeled facility will be home of several small businesses including the showroom of local furniture manufacturer, Txtur, which produces made-to-order, direct-to-consumer furniture in another facility less than two miles away and Stock, a bistro with a bar that will feature fine wines and a kitchen focused on fresh, regional ingredients. (Roanoke Star)

Today in Roanoke:

• Virginia’s Blue Ridge Go Cross Cyclocross Race at Fallon Park (8 a.m.)
• 5th Annual Take the Hill 5k and Kids Fun Run at North Cross School (9 a.m.)
• Roanoke Virginia Regional Public Safety Career Fair (11 a.m.)
• Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival (11 a.m.)
• Inaugural Southwest Virginia Pride Fest (Noon)
• Henry Street Heritage Festival (1 p.m.)
• BOCO BBQ & Country Music Festival (3 p.m.)
• Post Adventure Saturday Concert at Explore Park (3:30 p.m.)
• Monster Atlantic, as part of the Summer Music Series at Wilderness Adventure (6 p.m.)
• Teen Asana at Uttara Yoga Studio (6 p.m.)
• Dark Moon Hollow at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (10 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Feeding squirrels in wildlife rehab is no easy feat! There is a science to wildlife rehab — from weighing each squirrel daily to calculate the amount of formula needed, to doing physical exams to make sure they are developing well!" (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Fire EMS Department: "Congratulations are due to Lieutenant Jason Focht! Lt. Focht was selected for the Outstanding Pre-Hospital Provider by the Western Virginia EMS Council. This award is given to an individual who exemplifies outstanding dedication and service!" (Roanoke Fire EMS Department via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Krystal is one of our newer adoption counselors. Although she's only been here a short time, she's already fallen in love with big boy Mack and his sweet and goofy personality. Mack is one of those dogs who loves to entertain himself!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Virginia Children's Theatre: "Work has begun on our production of "The Secret Garden." Check out these thumbnail drawings of the incredible set, designed by Jimmy Ray Ward. Come see these drawings brought to life in "The Secret Garden" starting October 7 at 7 p.m." (Virginia Children's Theatre via Facebook)
• Roanoke Police Department: "Are you looking for a way to give back and serve your community? Sounds like you'd be interested in a career in public safety! We'd love to see you at the Roanoke Valley Regional Public Safety Career Fair this Saturday, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m." (Roanoke Police Department via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Online discussion for bed mattresses in Roanoke, VA (September 26)
• Add your event

Alrighty. Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday off right! I'll see you tomorrow morning!

— 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Roanoke Daily? Contact me at roanoke@patch.com