🌱 North Korean Defector Visits + City Violence Town Hall Coming Up

Good morning, everybody! It's Hump Day in Roanoke and I'm here in your inbox with what's happening in our community, including news on:

• Cave Spring School Board Member won't seek re-election.
• VSP Task Force busts drug operation in SE Roanoke.
• Chief of Police moves to assistant city manager.

Let's motor!

But first, today's weather:

Cooler; a shower in the p.m.. High: 56 Low: 46.

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Here are the top stories today in Roanoke:

1. At least one Roanoke County School Board seat will be up for grabs in the next election cycle without an incumbent. Board member Mike Wray has announced he will not seek re-election. Wray represents the Cave Spring district of the county and said in a letter to parents informing them of his intentions, "I want to thank everyone who has supported me during my time on the school board. I want to thank past and current board members for serving with me. Most times we agreed, sometimes we didn’t, but we always discussed and deliberated issues in a friendly, professional manner." The entire letter can be read here. (WSLS)
2. Roanoke City Council is inviting to the community to join them at a Town Hall style event to discuss the ongoing increase in violence in the city and possible solutions, including a new youth curfew. Roanoke City now has the dubious distinction of being the #2 crime capital in the state after years of being labeled a safe and friendly city in which to raise a family. Anyone who wishes to speak art the meeting is asked to call the City Clerk’s office at 540-853-2541 to sign-up ahead of the event. The meeting will be held on March 30 at Patrick Henry High School at 6 p.m. (Roanoke Star)
3. The Virginia State Police have announced that the Star City Drug and Violent Crime Task Force has successfully executed a search warrant at a residence in the 1500 block of Riverside Terrace SE in Roanoke. The search lead to the seizure of over $1 million in drugs and the arrest of three individuals and is said to have been the culmination of a long term investigation into drug-related activities that included several counties and cities around the Roanoke region. The three people arrested were all under the age of 25 and are being held without bond in the Roanoke City Jail. In addition to the drugs 20 firearms and $6,647 in U.S. currency were also found and seized. (WFXR)
4. Roanoke College students and the community were invited to the Wortmann Ballroom on Roanoke College's campus on Monday to hear from one of just over 200 defectors to have reached the United State from North Korea in the last 80 years. Yeonmi Park fled North Korea at age 13 and said in her speech "If I said one thing—one word wrong—it was not just only going to get me killed. It was going to kill three and each generations of my own family with me." Park has since settled in the US and studied at Columbia University. You can learn more about Park and her activism to alert the world to the evils of the North Korean regime here. (WDBJ)
5. Current Roanoke City Chief of Police Sam Roman has been named an assistant city manager and will leave his position as chief after a search for his replacement is completed. Roman has been with the RCPD in various capacities for the last 25 years. The search for a replacement chief is expected to be completed in July. Additionally, Angie O'Brien was also named an assistant city manager and takes over her new role immediately. (WDBJ)

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Today in Roanoke:

• Chayce Beckham at Sidewinders Steakhouse and Saloon (5:30 p.m.)
• Brew Ha-Ha at Big Lick Brewing Co. (6:30 p.m.)
• 'Jersey Boys' at the Mill Mountain Theatre (7:30 p.m.)
• Q at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (9:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke Fire EMS Department: "This weekend’s smoke alarm canvas was a huge success! On Saturday we teamed up with Salem Fire & EMS Department and the American Red Cross Virginia Region to canvas homes on the Roanoke-Salem border. By the end of the event, 66 homes were made safer with new smoke alarms, batteries, and education." (Roanoke Fire EMS Department via Facebook)
• Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges: "The Red Not Chili Peppers are playing with Badfish - Sublime Tribute on June 16th for the Cundiff Heating & Air Conditioning #Flashback Series!! Get your tickets NOW at DrPepperPark.com!" (Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges via Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools: "Patrick Henry's AFJROTC unit took part in the special tradition of placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a recent field trip to Washington DC. We are thankful our students were able to participate again this year!" (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Roanoke Police Department: "The Roanoke Police Academy took the most recent group of recruits on a Cultural Enrichment Day to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. This trip was a chance for the recruits to learn about the role of Nazi Germany’s law enforcement in the Holocaust." (Roanoke Police Department via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Have you gotten your tickets for Best in Show yet? You won't want to miss this amazing art show happening THIS WEEKEND! With nearly 250 pieces of art, there is something for everyone! Get your tickets, preview the art, and find out all the details here: https://one.bidpal.net/bestinshow2023/ticketing." (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out to base camp (lunch) on this Wednesday. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with 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