🌱 New Theater Apartments Near Completion + New Zoo Improvements Debut

Hello and Happy Sunday! It's me, Ian, your host of the Daily. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in town.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and pleasant.

High: 81 Low: 58.

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Here are the top six stories today in Roanoke:

1. Venkat Reddy, a Roanoke Valley businessman who passed away in 2021, purchased the old Lee Theatre on Williamson Road in 2019 with the idea of turning it into cost effective housing. Now the project is nearing completion and the Lee Theater Lofts will feature 35 one-bedroom size apartments starting at $795 a month including essential utilities such as water, sewer, electric and basic internet service. This kind of repurposing of older, disused commercial buildings is something sorely needed in an area where the average apartment price is over $1,000 in rent alone, not including utilities. "There are a lot of buildings all across Roanoke and Southwest Virginia that could be repurposed," Husain Alam, president of Alam Design Group, who handled the design and construction of the new lofts said. (Roanoke Times)
2. A ribbon cutting ceremony was recently held at Mill Mountain Zoo to unveil the recent improvements made to the zoo's black bear and red wolf exhibits. “This project ensures the integrity of the two enclosures for decades to come and represents the high-quality standards we have in place going forward to secure a viable future for Mill Mountain Zoo. People want us to succeed. We are not the little zoo that could, we are now the little zoo that will,” Niki Voudren, executive director for Mill Mountain Zoo, said. (WDBJ)
3. The Salvation Army of Roanoke took Friday's National Donut Day as an opportunity to get out and thank its area sponsors and volunteers with dozens of donuts donated by Duck Donuts. The hand-out included volunteers that help accomplish the day-to-day mission as well as some of its top corporate sponsors. "Without the support of Roanoke and the community that encompasses it, we would not be able to do what we do, it means everything to us,” a volunteer and special events coordinator for the Salvation Army said.(WDBJ)
4. As gas prices around the Roanoke Valley continue to be above $4 a gallon, a local nonprofit is celebrating the addition of a new all-electric delivery van. LEAP, which delivers healthy food to underserved communities, will save about $5,000 per year and be able to fit twice as much food in the new van as its old one — a fantastic thing as needs in the valley continue rise. “It really was getting to the point with our last van where we had to limit the amount of farm share members we could have because we could fit only so much food into the van," Director of Programs at LEAP Kelly Key said. (WSLS 10)
5. According to witnesses road rage is to blame for the shooting death of a man shortly before noon on Williamson Road Friday. News of the shooting and the resulting police investigation closed much of the immediate area for several hours. Police did take a suspect into custody, though no charges were immediately filed. "They were riding, one dude cut the other dude off. They had a few words, pulled over into the laundry mat, got into a minor altercation and the other I guess, win or lose, shot him in the face three times. It happened so quick. It shows you how quick someone else can lose their life. It’s just how stuff can escalate, that quick,” observer Damon Davis, who works in the area, said. (WSLS 10)
6. Roanoke City Police say multiple petitions have been sought in the recent social media threats made against Preston Park Elementary on Williamson Road. A 10-year-old boy, whose name has not been released, but who was a student at the school, has been taken for evaluation by psychological professionals and the petitions will be served once he is released from medical care. (WDBJ)

Today in Roanoke:

• IRONMAN 70.3 at River’s Edge North (6 a.m.)
• Sidewalk Art Show presented by the Taubman Museum of Art (10 a.m.)
  
• Palmyra the Band at Fork in the Alley (6 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke City Public Schools would like to "congratulate Patrick Henry High School RCPS senior Alice Sherman for being appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy! The USNA has a 6% acceptance rate and requires a nomination from an official source." (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke says "believe it or not, this is a red-winged blackbird! You may be saying “but it isn’t red or black” and you would be correct—only mature males are glossy black with red shoulder patches." (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA says "summer is a great time for hiking, vacations, chilling at the beach — and cuddling kittens in our cat rooms! The Roanoke Valley SPCA cat rooms are in desperate need of volunteers to fill in during this busy travel season." (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Roanoke Fire EMS says "the Roanoke 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb is back this year on Saturday, September 10, and will once again be held at the Wells Fargo tower in downtown Roanoke. Registration is now open!" (Roanoke Fire EMS via Facebook)
• Virginia Children's Theatre says "tickets for our 15th season are available to purchase! Hurry and reserve your tickets now for the best seats available. We are so excited to have you join us for our 2022-2023 Season." (Virginia Children's Theatre via Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you bright and early 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