🌱 Free Animal Adoption Event + Roanoke Man Finally Sentenced

Hello again, Roanoke! Important update: You all, as readers, have made the Roanoke Daily so successful that it is my honor to announce the next stage of the newsletter. Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the Roanoke Daily. Although I have loved getting to know this community, we want to pass the torch to someone truly local to write about Roanoke long term. So if you're interested in earning extra income while making this newsletter a more valuable resource for your neighbors, learn more and apply here.

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First, today's weather:

Sunshine and windy. High: 47 Low: 20.

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Here are the top 3 stories in Roanoke today:

1. Today, Feb. 19, Angels of Assisi and the Regional Center for Animal Care and Protection are hosting a free adoption event. The goal of the event is to free up shelter space and find homes for as many animals as possible. Adoption fees during the event will be waived for all approved applicants! The event will take place outside the Regional Center for Animal Care and Protection, at 1510 Avenue NE in Roanoke from 1 to 4 p.m. (WSET)
2. On Friday, a Roanoke man, Kenneth Inger was sentenced to 31 years in prison after pleading guilty to several charges connected to the death of a man in a crash in 2019. Inger pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter as well two counts of hit-and-run, and he pleaded no contest to felony murder of the death of Thomas "Pete" Orr. The murder charge replaced the original charge of involuntary manslaughter, and Inger's driver's license has been taken away indefinitely. (WDBJ7)
3. A new event coming to Roanoke will honor LGBTQ+ pioneers in the community. On Thursday, the Roanoke Branch of the NAACP leaders, along with representatives for Roanoke College and the Roanoke Diversity Center, came together to announce the first-ever virtual "Ballroom Black History Maker Award" event which will be presented by the NAACP. The online event will take place Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. The goal of the event is to bring together founding and influential figures in the ballroom scene, a tribute to the social and creative movement started by LGBTQ+ people of color in New York City in the early 1970s. (WSLS 10)

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Today in Roanoke:

• Great Backyard Bird Count - Bird Watch & Bird Count 101, Ranger Guided Hike - Natural Bridge State Park (11:00 AM)

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From my notebook:

• The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke found a massive die-off of American Robins at Radford University on Thursday. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources is investigating the situation and will be testing all birds, living and deceased to determine the cause of this massive death. (Facebook)
• Students at Woodrow Wilson Middle School assembled winter care packages for Brandon Oaks residents. These packages included items such as hand sanitizer, puzzles, and personal hygiene items. (Facebook)
• The Roanoke Police Department congratulates Police Support Technician K. Lee on her retirement! After 18 years of service, she will be missed dearly at RPD. (Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you soon!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.