🌱 Roanoke Developing A 'No Snitch' Culture + Railroad To Pay Fines

Hello again, friends! It's time for the Roanoke Patch newsletter with all the local news you need to know right now! Let's motor!

But first, today's weather:

Milder with clouds and sun. High: 55 Low: 34.

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Here are the top stories in Roanoke today:

1. A person was shot around 6:30 p.m. on Massachusetts Avenue NW. Police say a suspect is in custody and there is no further danger to the public. No details were released on the incident nor the condition of the victim, but police are investigating. Additionally, Roanoke police officers and prosecutors have recently commented on the "no snitch culture" that has begun to take hold in the Star City over the last handful of years. Many times witnesses to crimes have been threatened or intimidated in some way and Lt. Eric Thiel, an investigator with Roanoke City Police, said "That’s really hard for us to combat. We’re relying upon that person to inform us of how they’re being intimidated, provide us the evidence of how that happens, and to be a cooperating witness going forward on the witness intimidation case, as well. It’s a double whammy, so to speak." Both the police and prosecutors say they have resources to help witnesses who have been threatened, but they need to be notified and told what's happening in order to put those into play. (WDBJ, Roanoke Times)
2. Norfolk Southern Corporation has been ordered, and has agreed, to pay civil charges in the amount of $27,300 in settlement of violations related to a train derailment that led to coal being spilled into the Roanoke River. The incident occurred on a trestle just west of Salem on October 30, 2020 when 26 rail cars carrying a total of 2,600 tons of coal derailed. 22 of the cars and an unspecified amount of coal fell into the river leading to a cleanup effort that involved the closing of the Salem Water Plant's intake for over a month. Water monitoring and sampling continued through July of the next year and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality issued a Notice of Violation leading to fines. (WSLS)
3. President of Roanoke College Frank Shushok visited North Cross School in Roanoke County last week and shared his experience with dyslexia, saying his appointment as the president of a higher learning institution would have surprised a younger version of himself. "I barely graduated from high school. Really. I barely graduated from high school. I spent the summer of my sophomore year in high school repeating two classes that I failed that year. I spent the first 17 years of my life thinking I wasn’t smart. In my head, I thought I was dumb." Shushok toured the campus to learn more about the Crosswalk Program that helps students with language-based learning disabilities. Shushok later shared the turnaround for him was two teachers who saw something in him he didn't see in himself. "They confronted me. They walked with me. They challenged me. They held me accountable. For some reason, I listened to them.” (WDBJ)

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Today in Roanoke:

• DMV Connect at the Salem Civic Center (9 a.m.)
• Irish Jam Band at Big Lick Brewing Co. (6 p.m.)
• Gatewood Rose Bouquet Bar at Big Lick Brewing Co. (6 p.m.)
• Valentine Dreams by the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra at the Jefferson Center (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke City Public Schools: "Thank you to Del. Sam Rasoul for always supporting and encouraging our students! In this second semester, RCPS had 3,408 honor roll students and Del. Rasoul is hand writing a personal, congratulatory note to every single one!" (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "This has been a big winter for injured Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, including this second year bird who is not able to stand/move very well. Human contact can be stressful for any wild animal so we keep it to a minimum, but when patients are this debilitated, they sometimes need help eating." (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools: "Students in Mr. Stallings' seventh and eighth-grade art classes were recently given the opportunity to respond to calls for public art projects at Lucy Addison Middle School. Students were commissioned to create artworks that brought color, beauty, and positive messages to the school's two-story atrium common space." (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Nala is having lots of fun in the free roam room! She's made friends with Calista, Hercules, and Achilles and they're all getting along really well! Happy #caturday! #caturdaysaturday #asafeshelter #rvspca #roanokevalleyspca" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Instagram)
• City of Roanoke Government: "Black History Month Day 11: Civic and Social Organizations Roanoke’s African American Community boasted dozens of civic and social organizations. Some were chapters of national organizations and others were created within the community." (City of Roanoke Government via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Monday! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with your next 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