🌱 Severe Storms Hit Bedford + New Renewable Gas Facility!

Happy Saturday all! Ian here with a fresh look at all the things you need to know about what's happening in town. Let's get to it!

First, today's weather:

Sunshine (finally!) and patchy clouds.

High: 78 Low: 56.

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Here are the top five stories in Roanoke today:

1. No fatalities have been reported, but more than 15 structures along the Crockett Road area of Bedford County were damaged when severe thunderstorms raged through the area early Friday morning. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management assessed 50 buildings for possible damages, but the National Weather Service has not yet confirmed whether or not the impact of the event was a tornado. Residents who need assistance are asked to call 540-586-7665. A temporary shelter has been setup at Goode Station on Forest Road. (WSLS)
2. The Western Virginia Water Authority, as part of its Roanoke Region Water Pollution Control Plan, broke ground on a brand new facility designed to turn the methane generated in the area into renewable natural gas. Both the Water Authority and Roanoke Gas will earn environmental credits for the effort. "We end up just burning [the methane] off and this way it's available as a renewable energy product to the citizesn of Roanoke," said Executive Director of the Water Authority Michael McAvoy. (WFIR)
3. Roanoke City has set out to reduce language barriers by offering language access cards in three city libraries, the municipal building and the Department of Social Services. The cards are primarily used to request a translator and are available in different languages including Spanish, Mandarin, Bosnian, Pashtu and 17 others. Roanoke has noticed an increase in the need for translators in recent times as it's one of only three refugee resettlement cities in Virginia. (WSLS)
4. The Roanoke City Police Department is partnering with the NAACP and other community organizations to host a "Groceries Not Guns" event next month. “We’re trying to save lives and this is our way of trying to save lives with the collaboration and partnerships that we have,” Brenda Hale, president of the Roanoke Branch NAACP said. The event will be Saturday, June 25 at the Melrose Community Center. (WDBJ)
5. Want some hot coffee and cool friends? That's the tagline of Chris's Coffee & Custard which opened amid the pandemic and lockdowns in March 2021 in Southeast Roanoke. The business is located at the old Viscose plant near the Roanoke River Greenway. Owners Beth and Chris Woodrum says it's their dream come true. (The Roanoke Star)

Today in Roanoke:

• Blue Ridge Wildflower Society’s Annual Native Plant Sale at the Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs Center on Colonial Avenue. (9 a.m.)
• Downtown Food and Cultural Tour hosted by Tour Roanoke. (11 a.m.)
• Architectural Restoration Behind the Scenes Tours at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest (11 a.m.)
• Jimmy FEST by the AWS1 James Buriak Foundation at Olde Salem Brewing Co. on Main Street in Salem. (2 p.m.)
• Reading to Cats! at the Vinton Library by the Regional Center for Animal Care & Protection (2:30 p.m.)
• The Beggars Clan live at Big Lick Brewing Company on Salem Avenue in Downtown Roanoke. (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke Fire EMS Department says "Congratulations to Battalion Chief Chad Riddleberger on his retirement from Roanoke Fire-EMS after more than 27 years!" (Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools says "RCPS families may contact their school to receive a free gun lock through a partnership with the City of Roanoke 's Gun Violence Prevention Commission." (Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Hefty boy Grayson is ready to go home. Now he just needs to find the perfect person. Grayson has a list of requests (or demands) for his new adopter. He wants to make sure his adopter will love him and pet him as much as he wants. " (Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA says "Hi friends! My name is Willow, but sometimes people call me Teddy or Teddy Bear because they say I look like a real-life Teddy Bear. Normally, I am much more energetic than a stuffed bear though!" (Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools says "Walk down the well-worn path into the Morningside Urban Farm and you can’t miss the crisp orange carrots, shiny tomatoes and leafy lettuce sitting out. One look, though, and you’ll notice these vegetables are for admiring, not eating." (Facebook)
• Roanoke Outside wants to know if "anyone else is ready for a bit of sunshine☀️?? We're over the clouds and rain and ready to get outside this weekend. Between road rides (stay off those natural surface trails, please!) and rock climbing, our region has a few things to help!(Instagram)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA says "Our Community Cat Crew is in action tonight! We couldn’t do this without the amazing volunteers who have stepped up to make this group possible and we’re so appreciative! Our goal is to trap-neuter/spay-vaccinate-and return 41 cats!" (Instagram)
• The City of Roanoke Government says "Heads up! The Discovery Center on Mill Mountain will be closed today." (Facebook)
• VA Museum of Transportation says "We are having a sale this weekend! Receive 15% off on all 611 themed merchandise in celebration of the 72nd birthday (May 29) of the N & W J-Class 611 locomotive. The sale will last through Sunday, May 29!" (Instagram)
• The City of Roanoke Government would like you to know "our offices will be closed on Monday, May 30 in observance of Memorial Day." (Facebook)
• The Roanoke Police Department is "KEEPING YOU INFORMED! On May 26, Ahmad H. Mubdi, 53 of Roanoke, was sentenced for his involvement in the September 2020 murder of Derrick Bostick and was sentenced to five years." (Facebook)
• Virginia Children's Theatre is having a "CASTING CALL: ADULT ACTORS We are now accepting submissions from adult actors for our upcoming productions of THE SECRET GARDEN and BEAUTY & THE BEAST. Submit today to be considered!" (Facebook)

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That's it for today. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update!

— 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