Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Why Roanoke school leaders say new state ratings miss the mark

Make time for Holiday Horseback Riding: Saturday, December 20th (click here to enroll) — The Wild Way on the Roanoke Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Friday December 19th Patch AM
Friday December 19th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hello Roanoke! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why Roanoke school leaders say new state ratings miss the mark
  • What Roanoke travelers gain from the new nonstop flight to Dallas
  • Have you seen this 79-year-old man near Roanoke or Troutville?

Also on today's calendar: Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings and 5 more events.

Find out what's happening in Roanokefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did one astronaut stranded on the moon say to another? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Roanoke Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. Everyone deserves to be connected. That's why T-Mobile and UScellular have joined forces to connect people from big cities to small towns and everywhere in between. UScellular is now a part of T-Mobile. Find out more at T-Mobile.com/Better-Together.
Find a T-Mobile store near Roanoke.AdvertisementAdvertisement

Find out what's happening in Roanokefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Mostly sunny and windy, with a high of 49 and low of 29 degrees.
  • Saturday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 52, low: 37.
  • Sunday: Mostly sunny and breezy, with a high of 54 and low of 27 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Roanoke City Schools respond to new state accountability ratings (wdbj7.com) — Roanoke City Public Schools is pushing back on new state accountability ratings that label several local schools as needing intensive support, saying the calculations don’t reflect recent gains. District leaders highlight improving reading and math scores, a new Community Empowerment Center helping hundreds of families, and data corrections for at least one middle school as they work to better support students.
   

2. American Airlines adds nonstop flight from Roanoke to Dallas Forth Worth (wset.com) — Starting June 5, 2026, Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport will gain a daily nonstop American Airlines flight to Dallas-Fort Worth, departing at 7 a.m. and returning around 11 p.m. Local leaders say the route will open easier connections across the Southwest, Mexico, and major international hubs, boosting options for Roanoke residents and businesses.
   

3. Herndon Man, 79, 'Critically Missing' After Car Found Abandoned On I-81 Near Roanoke (dailyvoice.com) — Police say a 79-year-old Herndon man may now be on foot in the Roanoke area after his car was found abandoned on I-81 near the city. Authorities describe Leonard Hugh Thompson and warn his disappearance poses a credible threat to his safety, urging anyone who might see him, including near Troutville, to call Herndon Police immediately.
   

4. New beginnings: Toure family receives keys to first home in WSLS Home for Good dedication ceremony (wsls.com) — A Roanoke mother of six just received the keys to her family’s first home through WSLS 10’s 11th annual Home for Good project with Habitat. After emigrating from Liberia and working at Carilion Clinic, she was finally selected for the homebuyer program and made her first mortgage payment on the steps of their new Roanoke house.
   

5. Wife serves veteran with quiet strength (wdbj7.com) — A Roanoke woman is lovingly caring for her husband Ed Allen, a local Army veteran and former WDBJ7 business manager, after a stroke left him largely unable to speak. Their 56-year love story, from high school algebra to his marathon medals, shows how she keeps him at home, involved in every conversation, and remains devoted to “running the race” beside him.
   

📸 Around Roanoke

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Roanoke

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Roanoke Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Roanoke PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Our kitten got out tonight.
    Please if you see her, call us. Her name is Meeka, she is mostly white and has siamese like markings on her face like a tabby cat. Please help. 540… (Nextdoor Read Mountain)
  • Missing dog!!
    Trixie! Pink collar but tag fell off today! BARKS BUT FRIENDLY! She doesn’t know she’s a big dog! Please help! (Nextdoor Wasena)
  • Walmart posted a job opening for Cart Attendant in Roanoke. Apply here.
  • Unifi posted a job opening for Airport ramp agent in Roanoke. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Roanoke here.

Ok Roanoke! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t think you know the gravity of this situation.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

Support These Local Businesses

+ List My Business

More from Roanoke