🌱 RCPS Superintendent White Honored + Three Area Firefighters Praised

Hello Roanokers! It's time for a fresh copy of the Roanoke Daily — the esteemed Hump Day edition! I don't know why it's esteemed really it just sounded good as I was typing. Anyways, here's what's happening in town, including...

• Manns sentenced in May 2021 shooting
• Coyotes are out — beware!
• No more parking at "the chicken coop!"

Let's mótair!

But first, today's weather:

Cooler with periods of rain.

High: 40 Low: 37.

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Here are the top stories in Roanoke today:

1. Roanoke City Public Schools Superintendent Verletta White has been selected as the Region 6 Superintendent of the Year, according to a press release by the school district. She was selected by her fellow superintendents in Region 6, which includes the Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Henry, Montgomery, Patrick, Pittsylvania, and Roanoke counties, and the cities of Covington, Danville, Martinsville, Roanoke, and Salem. White will now go on to the next round, which is the selection for Virginia Superintendent of the Year in April. The press release said, "Your leadership, vision, and heart for our students are truly inspiring! We are so fortunate to have you as our leader!" (RCPS Press Release)
2. A Roanoke man, Todd Manns, 36, was sentenced to life in prison plus three years in the shooting death of Taniko Belt, 46, another Roanoke man, in May 2021. Manns was found guilty of first-degree murder by a jury in October 2022. The police investigation into the shooting began with a shots fired call and while en route to the scene, officers were notified of a car crash on Peters Creek Road NW. Responding officers found Belt in the car and dead of gunshot wounds. Investigators determined the two men knew each other and that the incident had began on Panorama Avenue NW. No reasons were given for the shooting. (WDBJ)
3. Coyote mating season has begun and is expected to go through March. Area forest rangers are urging caution for people with pets as coyotes naturally become more active during this season and encounters with both humans and domesticated animals increase. Bigger dogs especially can be perceived as a threat by male coyotes and smaller dogs a source of food. People are urged to supervise their pets when outdoors even within the boundaries of a fenced-in yard. Coyotes generally present little threat to people, but have been known to become aggressive at times. Any such encounters should be reported to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and the local animal control authority. (WFXR)
4. Increasing cases of vandalism at the weigh station (aka "the chicken coop") on Interstate 81 between the Hollins and Cloverdale exits has the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles asking the state police to enforce a new rule — no overnight parking. But truck drivers aren't happy about the rule despite the vandalism issues. Trucker Shawn Canada said, "The biggest problem is looking at truck stops around here, there’s nowhere to park. It just makes it harder for drivers trying to make a living every day." The newly renovated rest area just north of Troutville is an option for southbound truckers with 12 newly added truck parking spaces, but state police say they fill up fast and truck traffic backs up onto the sides of the interstate causing obvious safety issues, including a few fatalities. To help alleviate the issue VDOT started a Truck Parking Task Force in October 2020 to study possible solutions. (WDBJ)
5. Roanoke City Fire EMS chief David Hoback is singing the praises of three firefighters whose quick thinking and reaction time helped save the life of a person trapped inside their burning home on Sunday morning. Firefighters Thomas Boettner, James Williamson, and Lt. Kevin Bradbury were among the crew called to the scene of a fire on Purcell Avenue NE around 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning and found that a person was trapped inside the residence. Chief Hoback said, "Every day we make decisions that are life or death. We make judgment calls and timing calls to make sure when we get there it’s very chaotic. They’ve got a strong focus on what they need to do. That’s what they train for every day. I’m very proud of them, day in and day out." (WSLS)

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Today in Roanoke:

• Shuttle to Snowshoe with Roanoke Mountain Adventures (6 a.m.)
• Lunchtime Talk: “Getting it Together: Understanding Multicultural Communication” at the Roanoke Higher Educational Center (Noon)
• Brew-HA-HA Open Mic Night at Big Lick Brewing Co. (6 p.m.)
• Palmyra at The Grandin Theatre (7 p.m.)
• Falco & Book Play Jerry Garcia at 5 Points Music Sanctuary (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "When a Roanoke County Police Officer brought us this Turkey Vulture earlier this week after a concerned citizen reported it to the police, we didn't think this bird had a shot at recovery — but looks can be deceiving!" (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke College: "Susan Hornsby Bruce '81 and her four kids, Devynne, David, Molly and C.F., will appear on 'Family Feud' for three nights in a row beginning tonight! Check your local listings for the correct channel and time, then tune in to cheer them on!" (Roanoke College via Facebook)
• Roanoke Outside: "Franklin County Parks and Recreation is starting a youth mountain bike club! Beginning in April, this free program is open to kids ages 9-13 who are interested in learning to mountain bike." (Roanoke Outside via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Sometimes pets in our care aren't used to what we would consider 'normal' parts of everyday life. We've had dogs who didn't know what steps were and had to learn to use them, and cats who were fearful of cameras. That's why we try to go slowly with our pets no matter if we're cleaning or taking them out to potty or just enjoying playtime with them." (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Instagram)
• Roanoke County Police Department: "Another week which means another day in the life! Check out what School Resource Officer Hubbard has to say about his day to day work in the profession!" (Roanoke County Police Department via Facebook)

There you have it — you're all caught up for today and ready to start climbing. I'll see you on the other side tomorrow morning for another update. Personally, I'm hoping there's bagels and orange juice, but we'll see.

— 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