🌱 Rail Yard Dawgs Run For The Top + New 5-Year City Economic Plan

Whew! I managed not to get blown away yesterday, so good morning! Here's a fresh edition of the Roanoke Daily with the local news while you work on thawing out, including:

• An update on several road closures
• Vendor selected for police department review
• Champs Gym in danger of losing training space

Ready? Careful, it's icy.

But first, today's weather:

Very cold with lots of sun.

High: 24 Low: 16.

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Here are the top stories today in Roanoke:

1. Several area roads were closed Friday due to a variety of circumstances, including downed power lines, icy conditions, and a shed fire. Roanoke City Police said Yellow Mountain Road from Franklin Road to Poplar View Road was closed in both directions due to power lines that had fallen as a result of wind and there was no estimate available as to when crews would be able to repair them. Flames lit up the 2700 block of Colonial Avenue SW around 8:30 p.m. when a shed located behind a residence caught fire. Roanoke Fire EMS crews quickly responded and got the fire under control and fire marshals are investigating the cause. A water main break as well as freezing temperatures created an icy mess at the corner of Yellow Mountain Road and Welcome Valley Road and the intersection was closed until further notice. (WSET, WDBJ)
2. Leaders in Roanoke City have announced the creation of the Roanoke Opportunities in Action: Economic Development Strategic Plan, a five-year strategy designed to help expand existing businesses and bring more new businesses into the city. Attention will be focused on the northwest and southeast areas of the city where a newly hired innovation administrator will work with area entrepreneurs to help them understand and navigate issues small businesses face such as taxes and hiring employees. Roanoke’s director of economic development, Marc Nelson, said, "If folks say, ‘I really want a Trader Joe’s, I really want a Lululemon, I want something like that,’ it is incumbent upon our department to go out and find those things and that’s not something that we’ve previously done before. The plan is outlining ways to have an attraction plan to be able to go out and find those businesses." (WDBJ, WFIR)
3. In other City of Roanoke news, leaders have chosen the outside element that will be hired to take a closer look at the Roanoke Police Department. The city wants an independent review of the department that will focus on optimizing the department's efficiency and effectiveness in the wake of the sharp rise in violent crime across the city over the previous two years. Center for Public Safety Management, LLC has been selected to lead the process, which will encompass a review of current status and policies, evaluating previous reports, and reviewing information obtained from interviews, meetings, and data collection. The vendor said its work will begin in January and expects to be completed by summer 2023. (WSET)
4. The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs have won its last eight games and that has put them in a position to make a run for the top spot in the Southern Professional Hockey League. Within the SPHL, the Dawgs are ranked second place and face daunting competition from the Knoxville Ice Bears and the Evansville Thunderbolts, but now play six of its next seven games at home in the Berglund Center. The Dawgs are only two points behind the number one Peoria Rivermen and now face lower ranked teams, the Fayetteville Marksmen and Macon Mayhem. (Roanoke Star)
5. Champs Gym, a Roanoke area boxing club founded 50 years ago with the idea of giving inner city kids a fighting chance, is in danger of losing their practice space at the old Fire Station No. 6 on Jamison Avenue after some confusion about the status of the nonprofit. City leaders say they were under the impression that the organization was defunct and sought new parties interested in buying or leasing the building, ultimately finding another nonprofit called REACH interested in investing $150,000 into the structure, which is in need of significant repairs. But Victor Banks, the current operator of Champs Gym and the nephew of the club's founder, said, "There's been a lot of misinformation going around about our program. It won't be easy [to find a new place.] We're already here, we're already set-up, we've already been in the community for six years." (WFIR)

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Today in Roanoke:

• Views and Brews E-Bike Tour at Roanoke Mountain Adventures (2 p.m.)
• O' Holy Bright Drive Thru Christmas Lights at St. Mark's UMC in Daleville (5:30 p.m.)
• Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Buffet at The Hotel Roanoke Regency Room (5 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Ever heard of a Merlin? No, not the wizard, the falcon! Despite this bird being a fierce hunter, she was hunted herself and was injured by a cat. She has a badly bruised wing and shoulder, a few punctures, and will need X-rays." (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Police Department: "Delta Platoon was making sure all of the last-minute shoppers were safe at the mall when they decided to pay a visit to jolly old St. Nick. They wanted to make sure they were on the nice list before Santa’s visit this weekend!" (Roanoke Police Department via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Thank you to everyone who committed to being a Home for the Holidays foster and backup foster this year! Because of you, every pet who could be fostered has found a foster home for the holidays, where they can experience joy and love!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools: "Mrs. White's Winter Storytime is here! Tonight, Mrs. White and her furry friends are reading two books: 'Winter is the Warmest Season' and 'A Loud Winter's Nap.'" (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Solomon's Mission: "Blessed today with some amazing people — Keith Wood played the piano, Addie Bankert played the guitar — both bringing us some Christmas music!" (Solomon's Mission via Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you tomorrow for the Christmas Day edition!

— 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 Daily? Contact me at roanoke@patch.com