🌱 Roanoke Man Helping Kentucky Flood Victims + Reservoir Water Test

Good morning everyone! Happy Hump Day! Let's cut straight to the chase and look at some local news.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and less humid.

High: 84 Low: 59.

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Here are the top five stories today in Roanoke:

1. Last year the Virginia Department of Health tested the water at Roanoke County's Spring Hollow Reservoir and found it contained a substance known as hexafluoropropylene oxide dimmer acid or HFPO-DA, a 'forever chemical' and also known as GenX. So-called 'forever chemicals' are believed to be present worldwide in the air, water, soil and living organisms, but Spring Hollow contained the highest concentration in the over forty public water sources that the state tested. "This stuff is pretty much ubiquitous in the environment right now," said Western Virginia Water Authority Executive Director Michael McEvoy. But the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League issued a statement saying in part, "We urge WVWA and local leaders to locate the GenX source so impacts on our drinking water can be mitigated and health risks reduced." (Roanoke Times)
2. A Roanoke man well-known to anyone who frequents the Haunted House scene has been on the ground in Kentucky helping flood victims for several weeks now. Billy Glen Nauert, known by many as 'Beetlejuice,' has been in the town of Neon, about three and a half hours away from the Roanoke Valley, shoveling, hauling and just helping out any way he can. "When all this other stuff is going on and you think that nobody really cares for anybody any more, nobody’s words or values are good any more, they are. There are still a lot of people out there that love each other, will help each other at any time of need or not. And I needed that in my life," Nauert told reporters. He encourages everyone to consider a gift to the Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund. (WDBJ)
3. Local supporters of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a program designed to provide millions of dollars for energy efficiency and flood prevention, will gather in Roanoke to show their support for the program, which Governor Youngkin has said he wants to end. Supporters say the program has resulted in nearly $400 million in funding for localities and also helps to support energy efficiency programs for low income households. "The recent catastrophic floods in central Appalachia demonstrate the unacceptable human cost of an inadequate response to climate change. By participating in RGGI, Virginia is able to proactively reduce emissions and respond to the real emergencies we’re facing: flooding, heat waves, and other weather extremes," said Emily Piontek, a representative of environmental group Appalachian Voices. (WSET, Appalachian Voices)
4. Virginia Western Community College is predicting close to a 6% increase in the number of full time students that will be enrolled in the college in 2022. That news comes as community colleges across the country have experienced years of declining numbers on top of the Atom Bomb that was COVID-19. "Community college enrollments have had a tough time during COVID, so we are kind of ecstatic that we are kind of getting back in the path now of growth. We feel good about the growth, we have a lot of students on board and we’re moving forward,” said Dr. Robert Sandel, president of VWCC. With President Biden’s announcement of student loan forgiveness programs, Dr. Sandel said he expects enrollment numbers to jump even higher. (WDBJ)
5. A long-blighted building in the Buchanan area of Botetourt County will soon be seeing a major upgrade as private developers turn the property into multifamily dwellings thanks in part to a grant from the county. Owners of the former Groendyke Manufacturing facility on Main Street and Botetourt County Economic Development Director Ken McFadyen presented a grant request to the Board of Supervisors in late August and it was approved. A grant in the amount of $463,276.50 from the Industrial Revitalization Fund will be matched by the project’s developers for a total of project cost $926, 553.00 to turn the old building into dwellings. (Botetourt Bee)

Today in Roanoke:

• Pints and Pups with a Purpose at Parkway Brewing Company (5:30 p.m.)
• Views and Brews presented by Roanoke Mountain Adventures (6 p.m.)
• Ben Trout Band at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (9:30 p.m.)

This weekend in Roanoke:

• Friday Food Truck & Tunes at Sweet Donkey Coffee with Jennifer Bertiaux (Friday 6 p.m.)
• Bee Gees Gold Tribute Band at Dr. Pepper Park (Friday 6 p.m.)
• Classic Cars and Coffee at Duck Donuts (Saturday 8 a.m.)
• The Bogeys at the Daleville Town Center (Saturday 5 p.m.)
• The Thrillbillys at Rosie's in Vinton (Sunday 2 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke College: "Jesse Griffin took a group of students for a float down the Roanoke River last week during PLUNGE, which is a weeklong pre-orientation experience that opens the doors of community service to incoming first-year Roanoke College students." (Roanoke College via Instagram)
• Roanoke County Public Schools: "At last week's school board meeting, the board congratulated the Glenvar High School girls outdoor track team - TWO TIME VHSL Class 2 state champions!!!" (Roanoke County Public Schools via Facebook)
• Roanoke County Public Schools: "At last week's school board meeting, Allison Angel at Mount Pleasant Elementary was awarded a $2,500 grant from the American Heart Association for additional PE equipment. We thank the American Heart Association for supporting our schools!" (Roanoke County Public Schools via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Happy tails to all of our pets who found their new families during the last full week of Clear the Shelters, August 22-27! Pictured are just a few of the pets who are in their new loving homes." (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Roanoke Outside: "Looking for riders to cheer on at the upcoming Go Cross Race Sept. 17 and 18? Meet @emily.shields.werner, a local resident and UCI Elite Women's rider who will be showcasing her talents at the race. Good luck Emily!" (Roanoke Outside via Instagram)
• The Rescue Mission of Roanoke: "Do you love helping others? Well we have a job for YOU! The mission is hiring and if you have a passion for helping those in need, please visit rescuemission.net/employment to see what we have to offer!" (The Rescue Mission of Roanoke via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday. I'll see you tomorrow morning!

— 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