🌱 Roanoke 200 Plan To Be Unveiled + Energy Diversity Bill Killed

Good morning, everyone. Hopefully Monday wasn't too traumatic for you. It's time for the Tuesday edition of the Roanoke Patch newsletter with what's happening in town including news about...

• A Roanoke man has invented a way to clean tennis shoes
• Gas prices trending downward
• Roanoke Fire EMS responds to fire on Franwill Avenue

Let's motor!

But first, today's weather: Breezy in the morning. High: 71 Low: 43.

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Here are the top stories in Roanoke today:

1. Residents of Roanoke County will be getting a look at a long gestating plan for the county's 200th Anniversary in several meetings being called 'Draft Plan Reveals.' The plan is designed to show the vision area residents have for their communities for the next 15 years bringing them to the 200-year mark in 2038. Over 1,000 residents have taken part in the process so far and all county residents are invited to attend one of the six reveal events located throughout the county. After the reveal meetings are concluded the planning commission will hear public comments at a session at Green Ridge Recreation Center on March 23 and again at the Roanoke County Administration Building on April 3. For a list of the reveal sites go here. (WDBJ)
2. A Roanoke man has started a business cleaning tennis shoes. Zakey (pronounced ZAH-KEY) Black created Swiping It Clean, a bottled cleaner that's now available online at the company's website. Black said he was inspired by watching people on YouTube create their own products and decided to create his own for a process that had long frustrated him. Zakey stopped by the WSLS studios to demonstrate the product firsthand. He said he's been repping the product at trade shows for a few years and started the business because he wanted something different for his life. (WSLS)
3. Gas prices are on a downward trend around the Roanoke region having gone from 'oh my God that's insane' to a more palatable 'ghastly' in recent weeks. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said "The national average has resumed its decline after a pause as oil and wholesale gasoline prices fell on worrisome inflation figures showing the Fed likely to ramp up rates to slow inflation. For the weeks ahead, tradition tells us to expect prices to move up eventually, but that could at least be partially offset by inflationary data that continues to be hotter than expected, leading to anxiety that the Fed will boost interest rates and cooling the economy and oil demand considerably." Prices in the area currently range from $2.85 to $3.39 a gallon with the average falling at $3.13. (WDBJ)
4. While many Roanoke residents are suffering shock upon receiving their latest energy bills, a bill in the House of Delegates that would have created a Virginia Power Innovation Fund to help study and develop alternate sources of energy met its doom in the State Senate. The death blow for the bill that sought to explore the use of nuclear reactors in Southwest Virginia came from Roanoke area Sen. John Edwards who flipped from voting yes in an earlier session to voting no. "The knee-jerk opposition to nuclear innovation is very short sighted and puts Virginia behind the curve on energy diversification. Nuclear energy is inevitably going to have to be a bigger part of Virginia’s energy portfolio. It produces zero carbon and is highly reliable," said Delegate Israel O’Quinn (R-Washington Co.) who sponsored the original bill. Sen. Edwards had not publicly commented on his vote as of writing. (Roanoke Star)

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Today in Roanoke:

• Healing Power of Hope Exhibition at the Va. Tech Carilion School of Medicine (5:30 p.m.)
• Line Dance Night at Sidewinders Steakhouse and Saloon (6 p.m.)
• Kegley Lecture Series — Opening Lecture at the History Museum of Western Virginia (7 p.m.)
• Sammy Miller and the Congregation at the Jefferson Center (7:30 p.m.)
• The JSB Variety Show at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (9:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Allyson and Kaitlyn worked together to examine this Northern Cardinal who was admitted with an eye injury. Sometimes eye injuries are not apparent unless you use an ophthalmoscope to look deep into the eye." (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Fire EMS Department: "🔥 Roanoke Fire-EMS was dispatched to the 1800 block of Franwill Avenue NW at 9:07 this morning for reports of a structure fire. Crews arrived to find flames and smoke showing from the residence. The fire was marked under control within 15 minutes." (Roanoke Fire EMS Department via Facebook)
• Virginia Museum of Transportation: "Plan the perfect birthday celebration with us here at Virginia Museum of Transportation! 🚂✈️🚗🎉 Our birthday party room, Main Street Station, can be reserved for parties of up to 25 people!" (Virginia Museum of Transportation via Facebook)
• Shield Chap: "We are so very grateful for Mutts With A Mission who provided Shield with Scarlett. Like us, their service continues only through the generosity of others. Looking for a worthy recipient of a financial gift? They are on my short list." (Shield Chap via Facebook)
• Virginia Children's Theatre: "💚 🎶 Today is day #1 of season reveal rehearsal! We have a 4-day intensive to bring our show together!! Stay tuned for more behind the scenes rehearsal footage!! Here we GO!! 🕺 💙" (Virginia Children's Theatre via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Tuesday! See you tomorrow morning for another 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