🌱Vinton Dad Charged In Baby's Death + Higher Demand At Food Pantries

Happy Saturday, neighbors! Hopefully you're taking sometime off today and enjoying what our beautiful area has to offer. Don't forget the Local Colors Festival downtown today!

First, today's weather:

A few thunderstorms around this afternoon.

High: 93 Low: 68.

🏡 Are you a local real estate agent? Let us help you generate leads, build your brand in Roanoke and stand apart from the competition. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top five stories in Roanoke today:

1. A Vinton area father is being held in the Blue Ridge Regional Jail without bond after being arrested and charged with the murder and neglect of his two month old child. The Bedford County Sheriff's Office responded to a call from the Saunders Road area and Bedford County Fire/EMS pronounced the infant dead at the scene. (WFIR News Talk Radio)
2. Roanoke and Southwest Virginia area food banks God's Storehouse and Feeding America Southwest Virginia are reporting that higher inflation is leading to higher demand for their services. Representatives for the organizations say they are feeding nearly 500 more people than they were at this time last year. (WSET)
3. Cox Communications is offering few details on the recent widespread internet outage in Southwest Roanoke. Cox has said the outage occurred when its fiber lines were damaged, but has not responded to questions about how it happened and where the lines were located. Many residences and businesses lost connectivity and a local healthcare provider had to turn to a backup system. (Roanoke Times)
4. Members of Roanoke City Council are hurling allegations of over spending at each other after Mayor Sherman Lea, Vice Mayor Trish White Boyd and Councilwoman Stephanie Moon Reynolds got into a dispute over Mayor Lea's $2,500 a year personal vehicle stipend. Members of the council have defended Lea by pointing out the Councilwoman Moon Reynolds spent double that amount on meals, travel and continuing education. (Roanoke Times)
5. The Bonsack area of Roanoke County is one of the fastest growing areas in Roanoke and citizens are being asked to weigh in on future roads and land use. The primary issues discussed at a recent community input meeting centered on travel alternatives to US Route 460 and Challenger Avenue, which is notorious for its gridlock at certain times of the day. (Roanoke Times)

Today in Roanoke:

• The Local Colors Festival is happening in Downtown Roanoke today and will feature performers, vendors, and exhibits from the many the cultures represented by our fellow Roanoke citizens. (11 a.m.)
• Freedom First and Center In The Square are hosting The Cocktail Classic in Fincastle. Billed as Virginia's most extravagant celebration of craft spirits, the event will feature Brady's Distillery, local food vendors and entertainment by dueling pianos! (6 p.m.)
• The inaugural Boones Mill Firehouse Fest is today at the Boones Mill Marketplace. The event will feature live music by Big Daddy Love, food trucks, fire trucks and free admission and is a fundraiser for the Boones Mill Volunteer Fire Department. (1 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke City Public Schools would like to "congratulate all 56 RCPS employees who are retiring! Combined, they have 1,029 years of service to RCPS! Thank you for all you've done to support our students and schools!" (Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA would like to "send a huge thanks to the Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors for hosting a food and supply drive to benefit our shelter pets! We can't thank you enough for your support!" (Facebook)
• Downtown Roanoke, Inc. is reminding folks that "tickets to see Brett Eldredge at the Budweiser Summer Series on Friday, August 19 went on sale Friday, May 20! For full details and ticketing link visit www.DowntownSummerSeries.com." (Instagram)
• Roanoke City Public Schools would like your help as "we select Grandin Court Elementary School's next principal! Please take a few minutes to complete the survey linked below. The survey will only remain open until May 24 at midnight. (Facebook)
• The Roanoke Police Department Recruiting Team and member's of RPD's RESET Team will be at the Goodwill Community Career and Resource Fair to help celebrate the grand reopening of YouthHQ@Goodwill." (Facebook)
• The Virginia Museum of Transportation: "is hosting 3 summer camps this year! Each camp's registration deadline is extended one week prior to the start date." (Instagram)
• Neighbors on Hollins Rd. have announced a big yard sale at 208 Preston Ave. NE today!" (Nextdoor)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Apex Bail Bonds of Martinsville, VA — (Visit website)
• Apex bail bonds — (Visit Website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• MONSTER Flea Market @ The Berglund Center (7:00 AM - 3:00 PM today)
• 90s Trivia Night @ One Love Coffee House (May 24th)
• Social Security Seminar (May 31)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to start the day off right! Go out and enjoy the day and I will 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