🌱 Pok-E-Joe's Opens In Vinton + City Seizes Land Used By Homeless

Hello fellow Roanokers! Here's the Thursday edition of the Roanoke Patch Newsletter to get you all caught up on what's happening around town. Today's issue includes:

• Salem VA Medal of Honor wall.
• Carilion Clinic holds research day.
• Emerging country artist coming to Dr Pepper Park.

Let's get to it!

But first, today's weather: Clearing and a stray t-storm. High: 78 Low: 52.

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Here are the top stories today in Roanoke:

1. A new barbecue restaurant opened in place of the former Joe Goodpie's in Vinton. Pok-E-Joe's serves traditional barbecue as well as sandwiches and burgers. This is the brand's second location with the first one having been open for about 4 years on Boonsboro Road in Lynchburg. Owner Cory Welch is from the Roanoke area and said he's happy to get back this way. "It’s kind of like a homecoming. I had a lot of friends who wanted me to bring it home. This is where it started at when I first had my food truck before buying Pok-E-Joe's and we wanted to bring it back here with all the demand that we had." Town officials and local media were on hand Tuesday for the grand opening. (WFXR)
2. Carilion Clinic is hosting a research day in which students at the many affiliated schools will have a chance to show off their research. Carilion has been trying to fan the flames of a research-oriented community in Roanoke for quite some time and hopes to use events like this one to continue that development. "It’s been a great learning process for me to learn what research is like, this whole process of coming up with the study and making a poster about it, and I also do a lot of teaching and sharing that with the community,” medical student Brianna Chang said. The event will feature efforts by students from Carilion Clinic, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech, Radford University Carilion, and the Salem VA Medical Center. (WSLS)
3. Dr Pepper Park at The Bridges has announced emerging country artist Megan Moroney will make her Star City debut on Friday, June 23, as a part of the Northwest Ace Summer Concert Series. Moroney is a Georgia native who has become known for her love of storytelling, her distinctive voice, and honest, conversational lyrics, according to a press release from Dr Pepper Park president Waynette Anderson. Her performance on ESPN's College Game Day of her hit "Tennessee Orange" has achieved 155 million streams globally and saw her nominated for Breakthrough Female Artist of the Year at the 2023 CMT Music Awards. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 7 and are $20 in advance, $25 at the gate, and the VIP Skybox tickets are $99. You can get your tickets here. (Dr Pepper Park Press Release)
4. A ribbon cutting was held recently at the Salem VA for a wall that honors the recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, the U.S. Armed Forces highest honor. Salem VA Health Care System Associate Director Allen Moye said, "A gentleman by the name of Hershel 'Woody' Williams showed up in my office when I was at a previous medical center. He was wearing a Marine Corps Jacket and a congressional medal of honor winner. We had a long conversation and it was his dream to have a Congressional Medal of Honor Wall at every VA center across the nation." That encounter inspired Moye to continue on with Williams' vision after his passing and the wall in Salem does just that, featuring the names of 18 recipients who are connected to the 26-county area served by the Salem VA Healthcare System. (WFXR)
5. Roanoke City has officially seized a parcel of land that belongs to a defunct management company called LMR Land Company that has become the site of homeless encampments in recent times. The land is located between the Rutgers Avenue Lowe's Home Improvement store and Aviation Drive, which leads into Valley View Boulevard. The management company owes thousands of dollars in real estate taxes leading to the city taking the company to court and securing permission to seize the property. The parcel totals 4.6 acres and will now be cleared of any belongings, mowed, and maintained by the city, something they were unable to legally do in the past. (Roanoke Rambler)

From our sponsor:

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Today in Roanoke:

• Team Trivia at Big Lick Brewing Co. (6:30 p.m.)
• WOLF! With Scott Metzger at 5 Points Music Sanctuary (6:30 p.m.)
• 'The Unlikely Story of The Lesbians of First Friday' at the Grandin Theatre (7 p.m.)
• Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs vs. Macon Mayhem at Berglund Center (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Believe us — this bird has a head, he’s just sleeping! Many birds tuck their head behind their wings when they sleep to keep warm and feel cozy. Any guesses as to what species this guy is? Here is a hint — currently this species is migrating." (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Fire EMS Department: "Check out the new RS1 we put into service yesterday! This vehicle is assigned to the southside Rescue Supervisor, who is responsible for responding to all critical EMS calls, vehicle extrications, fires, and more. 🚨" (Roanoke Fire EMS Department via Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools: "Celebrate School Library Month and School Librarian Day by picking up a good book (or two or three)! Thank you to our library media specialists and assistants for providing our students a special place to connect with one another." (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges: "We don’t normally brag… but our photographer is on the cover of bridebook! If you need pictures of your family or next life event, Tracie Hoprich Photography is the way to go! She photographs every artist that comes through!" (Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "We want to share this post as a courtesy for the Regional Center for Animal Care & Protection (RCACP). Their dog rooms are full. We know we have seen a decrease in dog adoptions the last several weeks, which impacts all of the shelters." (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)

That's it for today! See you all tomorrow morning for the Friday 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