🌱 New Roanoke County Greenways + Area Coach Charged With Sex Crimes

Hello again, everybody! It's me, Ian, host of the Daily. Here are all the things you need to know about what's happening in the 'noke today.

First, today's weather:

Afternoon thunderstorms likely.

High: 96 Low: 71.

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Here are the top five stories today in Roanoke:

1. Virginia Tech has announced that Scott Weimer has been named executive director of Roanoke Regional Initiatives. Weimer has held the position on an interim basis since 2020 and now it will be permanent. The executive director is an important part of the Outreach and International Affairs leadership team, which oversees the Virginia Tech Roanoke Center and the Center for Organizational and Technological Advancement, both of which support several Roanoke area educational programs. (The Roanoke Star)
2. Roanoke County is in the process of increasing its greenway amenities throughout the valley with the goal of tying them together with those of nearby localities. "We are actively working on an extension of the Roanoke River Greenway between Green Hill Park and the City of Salem,” said Lindsey Webb, Roanoke County Parks Planning and Development manager. Roanoke County was also recently awarded a grant through the National Park Service that will aid in conceptual designs bringing the greenway from Green Hill Park to the Montgomery County line. (WFIR News Talk Radio)
3. Several parents with children enrolled at Southeast Roanoke's Rivermont School are upset over a supposed “miscommunication” from the school about lunch services. Two separate letters from the school principal were sent to parents, one last week saying lunches would no longer be provided beginning Monday, but another was sent Monday attempting to clarify that a catered lunch option would be available. "We know that our kids go to school during the day that they will get one or two meals at school. So those families that are strictly budgeted and special needs families most of the time, like mine, are living on disability," said parent Stephanie Manus. Parents said the matter should have been handled much further in advance than the week before the changes were to take effect and that phone calls should have been made to parents. (WDBJ)
4. Officials at the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport said the number of factors contributing to flight delays and cancellations across the nation should deter people from flying out of the Roanoke airport. "The industry is still coming out of the pandemic and getting service levels back up. You have a significant amount of demand out there for summer travel this year because people are feeling comfortable that we’ve got COVID behind us, and so you’re seeing that demand [and] we're seeing some impact from that," said Brad Boettcher, director of Marketing and Air Service Development at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport. (WDBJ)
5. The volleyball coach at Hidden Valley Middle School in Roanoke County has been charged with sex crimes by Roanoke County Police. Aaron Stephenson King, 45, of Roanoke County, was charged with misdemeanor indecent exposure and obscene sexual display. A police press release said that the incident happened off campus and that his victim was an adult, but that further information will not be released due to victim privacy concerns. "King is not a Roanoke County schools staff member. His only connection to RCPS is his role as a coach," said Roanoke County School’s Community Relations director, Chuck Lionberger, in an email. (Roanoke Times)

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Today in Roanoke:

• “Curious George: The Golden Meatball” presented by Mill Mountain Theatre at Roanoke Library’s Main Branch (10:30 a.m.)
• Live music: Roanoke Old Time & Americana Jam at Golden Cactus Brewing (6 p.m.)
• Yo.Go.Play presented by Carilion Clinic Community Health and Outreach at Morningside Urban Farm (6:30 p.m.)
• Soul Sessions Wednesday Night Poetry Show at Verses (7 p.m.)
• Live music: Will Easter & The Nomads at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (9:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "We have only gotten this kind of bird once before! And fun fact, once fully mature, these birds will never walk or hop, instead flying everywhere they wish to go!" (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "We love to brighten up days by featuring some of the pets who were adopted from our shelter last week! Happy Tails to all of the adopters and adoptees who formed new families this week!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Roanoke Fire EMS Department: "Congratulations to Firefighter-EMT Timothy Kenny, who scored a 98 on the Hazardous Materials Technician test - the highest in his class! Great Job!" (Roanoke Fire EMS Department via Facebook)
• Downtown Roanoke, Inc.:"Secure your tickets to see Brett Eldredge live at the Budweiser Summer Series, featuring Lauren Alaina as the show opener! August 19th at Elmwood Park Cost: $39 Visit DowntownSummerSeries.com for details." (Downtown Roanoke, Inc. via Instagram)
• City of Roanoke Government said, "We are the Star City! There are so many shining stars in our community; folks who live, work, play, and come together to make the City of Roanoke thrive. It is our community that makes us an example of what an All-American City should be!" (City of Roanoke Government via Facebook)
• Habitat for Humanity in the Roanoke Valley would like to recognize "this wonderful group of volunteers from Bedrock Community Church who worked on our home remodel at 1111 Stewart Avenue. Many thanks to them!" (Habitat for Humanity in the Roanoke Valley via Facebook)
• Roanoke Community Gardens Network wants to know if you're "looking to get some dirt under your fingernails? Help strengthen Roanoke's food system? Lend a hand to a Grandin Village Farmers Market vendor? Plan to be a part of Garden Variety Harvests' upcoming volunteer day!" (Roanoke Community Gardens Network via Facebook)

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That's it for today! I'll be back tomorrow with a new update. See ya then!

— 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