🌱 Roanoke Libraries Going Fine Free + $66M in New Roanoke Businesses

Hello, everybody! It's Wednesday in Roanoke and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening locally. Hope you all have a great day. Let's dive right in.

First, today's weather:

Sun and some clouds.

High: 86 Low: 67.

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I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our Roanoke Daily readers to local businesses they need to know about. If that’s you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Here are the top stories today in Roanoke:

1. Virginia State Police are investigating after a tractor trailer hit a VDOT road construction worker overnight Tuesday. The incident happened as the worker, Matthew Frazier, 54, of Clifton Forge, was getting out a piece of machinery along I-81 at mile marker 142 in Roanoke. The tractor trailer continued northbound in the interstate and police are working to identify the individual driving using various camera feeds at the construction site. (WSLS 10)
2. Volvo has debuted its newest electric truck model at its Dublin-based manufacturing facility. The truck will be regularly travelling the roughly 50-mile route between Dublin and Roanoke as it was purchased by Camrett, a Volvo partner and a Southwest Virginia based warehousing company with locations in Roanoke. The company plans to use the truck as a first step towards electrifying its fleet and reducing its carbon footprint. (Roanoke Times)
3. Roanoke County Director of Economic Development Jill Loope recently said the county has $66 million in new investments around the county that will account for approximately 400 new jobs. Much of that activity had been held up because of the pandemic, but is now beginning to move forward. Loope predicts that the back half of 2022 will be busy with grand openings. "It’s vitally important that we help our population base seek employment and job opportunities. Obviously, it’s important to our economic return on investment," she said. (WSLS 10)
4. Roanoke College announced on Monday that it has received a $3.5 million grant from past college president, David Gring and his wife Susan. The grant will go toward creating a new science center, something Gring had hoped to see during his tenure at the college. “I’m a scientist. All of my degrees are in biology and genetics, so there’s a warm spot in my heart for the place of science in a premier liberal arts college where students and faculty are engaged in the excitement of co-inquiry,” he said. The grant places the college at $50 million of the $70 million needed for the center's construction. (Roanoke Times)
5. Roanoke Valley Public Libraries have announced that it will be going fine-free beginning July 1. Outstanding fees have become a major impediment to many children's ability to check out books, something the City of Roanoke Director of Libraries Sheila Umberger estimates is a problem for around 60% of the children served by the city's libraries. “Probably the biggest motivator more than anything is making sure that all of our customers have free access to materials and that the fines don’t become a barrier to that,” said Umberger. (WDBJ)

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Today in Roanoke:

• Curious George: The Golden Meatball by Mill Mountain Theatre the Gainsboro Branch Library (1:30 p.m.)
• Yoga at the Taubman Museum of Art (5:15 p.m.)
• Live music: Roanoke Old Time & Americana Jam at Golden Cactus Brewing (6 p.m.)
• Yo.Go.Play at Morningside Urban Farm (6:30 p.m.)
• Soul Sessions Wednesday Night Poetry Show at Verses (7 p.m.)
• Children's Literature Author Meg Medina @ Hollins University (7:30 p.m.)
• Live music: Ben Trout Band at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (9:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "When you’re calm but your little sibling isn’t… these are the youngest two of the four Broad-winged Hawks we are rehabbing! Interestingly enough, both sets of two have one bird who is calm and collected while the second is hyperactive." (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• City of Roanoke Government: "The city of Roanoke is an All-America City because we are committed to a culture of change focused on diversity, equity and inclusion of everyone. Our department walks in unison with our city motto as we treat everyone with understanding." (City of Roanoke Government via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Shep is pretty busy looking for a new home, but he's not too busy to share the word about the Roanoke Valley SPCA Transitional Foster Program. The Transitional Foster Program gives families affected by life-changing situations the ability to get back on their feet without the fear of being separated from their family pets." (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools: "Aladdin Jr. rehearsals have been going amazing! Come out to Patrick Henry High School on June 30 at 7 p.m. to see the show! It's free and open to the public!" (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Roanoke Outside: "Signups are available now for the 6th annual Deschutes Tinker Creek Cleanup. The event takes place August 6, but signups end July 15!" (Roanoke Outside via Instagram)
• Downtown Roanoke, Inc.: "We're so excited for the USA Cycling Amateur Road National Championships this week! The Criterium is Saturday, July 2 in Downtown Roanoke. Check out the road impacts so you can plan accordingly." (Downtown Roanoke, Inc. via Instagram)

• Roanoke Community Gardens Network: "Davey Stewards is focusing his full attention on his composting project at The Harvest Collective now. (Thanks for your leadership, Davey!) LEAP's Community Gardens are being managed by an interim manager until August. (Roanoke Community Gardens Network via Facebook)

Alrighty, you're all set for today. I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning!

— Ian

About me: Ian Graham is a novelist, screenwriter, and freelance contributing writer. His interests are in politics, history, and religion and the stories and characters he writes about are centered on the explosive conflicts created when the three intersect. 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