🌱 Straight Street 28th Anniversary + RCSB To Cancel CTE Center?

Hello, fellow Roanokers! It's Friday and I'm here with what's going on around town. In today's newsletter, you'll learn about these stories and more:

• Property owners weigh in on Evans Spring.
• Almost five years since baby went missing.
• Slaughter and Vixen visit the 'noke.

Let's do it!

But first, today's weather: Warm with periods of rain. High: 81 Low: 48.

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Here are the top stories today in Roanoke:

1. Some residents of the neighborhoods surrounding the Evans Spring parcel are calling for the property to remain undeveloped, but city officials and the property owners have shot back and said that's not an option. Numerous projects have been on the drawing board over the years for the vacant land including stores and apartments, but have always fallen through due at least in part to resident outcry. "It does conflict with the residents, but there's a reality the residents don't understand and can’t understand, and that is the larger picture. Sure, I would love to have all the land around me just as beautiful and undeveloped as possible, but that's not reality," said Peter Cooper, a consultant to Heritage Acres LLC, a Washington, D.C. company that owns 28 acres of Evans Spring. (WFIR, Roanoke Rambler)
2. The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors has sent a letter to the Roanoke County School Board regarding the construction of the new Career & Technical Education Center, one of several Capital Improvement Projects scheduled to begin in Fiscal Year 2024. In the letter, the BoS members express shock and disappointment at the school board's consideration of canceling the CTE project in favor of renovations at two aging elementary schools, Glen Cover and W.E. Cundiff. The letter cites the dire need for such a facility, the formation of the Career and Technical Education Citizens Advisory Committee, and the purchase of a parcel at a price of more than $4 million dollars. The letter can be read in its entirety here. (Vinton Messenger)
3. A North Carolina mother of three has become an advocate for Arieanna Day, a three-month old baby girl who went missing on Sept. 11, 2018 from her home in Roanoke. The little girl's father has since admitted to burying her body in a neighboring county after finding the girl badly neglected and barely alive at her mother's house, but charges against him ended in a mistrial in 2020 and little else has happened since. "There’s so much speculation going on. A lot of truths that’s not being told. The ball was dropped on her. And if that’s the case, Roanoke Police Department needs to be held accountable," said Mallory Thornton, who hired a private investigator with money she collected from a GoFundMe campaign. "Even if it takes another five years, I’m going to make sure that she gets the justice that she deserves." A candlelight vigil is being held at 5:30 p.m. in Melrose Park for Arieanna and other cold case victims this Saturday. (WSLS)
4. This Saturday, March 25, an open house is scheduled to celebrate the 28th anniversary of Straight Street and to mark the opening of their brand-new 5K+ square foot student center. Straight Street is a downtown Roanoke ministry dedicated to providing a positive Christian environment for at-risk youth founded in 1994. Keith Farmer, founder and director, said the building that houses the new student center was purchased in 2011, but that because the ministry is committed to being debt free it took a while for the renovations to get done to get them to this point. The addition of the student center brings the Straight Street facility to a total of 20,000 square feet. The open house will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. (WDBJ)
5. Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges has announced they are continuing its Ace Northwest Summer Concert Series on Saturday, July 15 with a performance by 80s rock band, Slaughter. The band is best known for their hits 'Fly to the Angels' and 'Up All Night' and will be joined by all-female rock band Vixen who made the charts in the 80s with their songs 'Edge of a Broken Heart' and 'Cryin.' The venue is offering a special meet and greet and photo shoot with both bands ahead of the concert but warns that space is limited so people shouldn't wait to get their tickets. General admission is $35 in advance, $40 at the gate, pit admission is $59, and the VIP Skybox seating is $149. (WDBJ)

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Today in Roanoke:

• Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs vs. Fayetteville Marksmen at the Berglund Center (9 a.m.)
• SPRING Home Show at the Salem Civic Center (2 p.m.)
• 'Jersey Boys' at the Mill Mountain Theatre (7:30 p.m.)
• Crys Matthews at The Spot on Kirk (8 p.m.)
• Abby Bryant & The Echoes at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (10 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke Police Department: "Officer J. Woolard was awarded a Letter of Commendation at this morning’s lineup for his work helping a lost individual on Mill Mountain last fall. Officer Woolard was part of a team that responded to reports of a person in distress." (Roanoke Police Department via Facebook)
• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Well-earned freedom! This Blue Jay was found after she was hit by a car in Blacksburg and suffered from respiratory trauma, a fracture, and feather loss from the collision. After a lengthy rehab she was returned back to the wild." (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools: "Did you know... Each month, Dr. White and members of RCPS executive staff meet with principals and program directors to share updates and hear from school leaders. We're #RCPSProud of our principals and program directors for all they do!" (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Downtown Roanoke, Inc.: "Get your tickets to see Brett Young live at the Budweiser Summer Series on April 26! Crawford & Power will kick off the show, followed by Jordan Fletcher. Tickets are just $39! Buy tickets ➡ brettyoung.brownpapertickets.com." (Downtown Roanoke, Inc. via Facebook)

That's it for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with 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