🌱 RCPS Deploys New Raptor Safety App + Fire EMS Go Above & Beyond!

Good morning fellow Roanokers! Here's a look at some local news this Sunday morning.

First, today's weather:

Humid with a thunderstorm in spots.

High: 77 Low: 69.

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Here are the top four stories today in Roanoke:

1. Roanoke County Public Schools are deploying a new school safety app called 'Raptor' that could shave precious seconds off emergency notifications. The app is designed to be able to alert the entire school — teachers, custodians, SROs, administrators, etc. — with the click of a button. "They have this app on their phone, they can grab their phone, hit the app button, that then opens it up to a swipe, and it sends out what is similar to an amber alert message to all people who have the app on their phone. That would automatically send a message to lock the school down," said Rhonda Stegall, assistant superintendent of administration. Stegall also said the district isn't wasting time training the staff. Now that Raptor is up and running, RCPS already has emergency drills planned to get staff comfortable with using it. (WSET)
2. The application for the Section 8 housing waiting list has now closed again as of Friday afternoon. Those who were able to get in an application will now be awarded a spot on the list via a lottery system. The Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority has said that they will be distributing as many housing vouchers as their monthly budget allows and that they received over 4,000 applications throughout the week long period the application was open. RRHA's executive director, David Bustamante, said landlords should expect to see some applicants visiting properties. "If you’re a landlord and you have over four units, you really cannot tell somebody that you will not rent to them because they have a voucher. Everybody that has the availability must at least consider that person for tenancy." (WDBJ)
3. A Virginia man, Brandon Hayward, 33, from a suburb of Washington D.C. phoned the InFirst Federal Credit Union located inside downtown Roanoke's Poff Federal Building and after not receiving what he considered a satisfactory answer to his questions got angry and started making threats. Court documents show that Hayward said, "I am going to get you raped ... I will get you killed, b****. I am going to blow up Roanoke. I don’t give a f***. You think you’re safe in Roanoke; you’re not." Hayward was arrested Thursday and now faces federal charges of using a telephone to make a threat to injure or destroy property by means of fire or explosives as well as one count of communicating a threat in interstate commerce. (WSLS)
4. Roanoke Fire EMS Department crewmembers were dispatched earlier this week to an EMS call for a patient who experienced a medical emergency when she was out mowing her yard. The Engine 8 and Medic 4 crews responded to the scene and while Medic 4 took the woman to the hospital Engine 8 decided to stay behind and make sure her yard work was finished. "We are lucky to have such compassionate first responders on our team. Please help us thank Capt. Rob Reid, Lt. Dennis Hayes, and FF Shane Webb for going above and beyond the call of duty for our city’s residents," the department said in a Facebook post. (WSET)

Today in Roanoke:

• Summer Drag Brunch Featuring the Roanoke Royals at Well Hung Vineyard (11 a.m.)
• Milepost Music @ Roanoke Mountain Picnic Area (Milepost 120) (1 p.m.)
• Keep Flying at Fork in the Market (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke College: "Circling each other trying to decide if they will become pals. Campus dog and campus cat dynamics are tricky. 🐶🐱" (Roanoke College via Instagram)
• Roanoke Police Department: "CLASS 84 IS IN SESSION! Our new recruits have started their journey to becoming RPD Officers. Please help us congratulate them and wish them luck! We’re already accepting applications for Class 85 — Apply online today!" (Roanoke Police Department via Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools: "We had a wonderful time celebrating our summer graduates last week! Congratulations, all! Portraits of individual graduates have been sent to each high school." (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Roanoke, Virginia: "Who’s ready for another beautiful weekend in the City of Roanoke?! Tag us in your pics for the chance to get featured! #roanoke #roanokeva #weareroanoke" (Roanoke, Virginia via Instagram)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "As you may know, we could not help as many animals as we do without the help of our amazing fosters! The past two weeks we've had 11 puppies who needed to go to foster for two weeks. Our amazing fosters answered right away!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Instagram)

Alrighty ... now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Sunday. I'll see you tomorrow morning for the dreaded Monday 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Roanoke Daily? Contact me at roanoke@patch.com