🌱 New Details in Northwest Shooting + Fire EMS' First Female Marshal

Good morning, everybody! It's the weekend again. Finally. I hope you've got some fun plans. Maybe Roanoke's first ever Taco Fest? Anyways, here's a look at the news...

---

📣 Our readers love to celebrate good news! You can now shout out your big announcement at the top of the Roanoke Daily newsletter. Whether it's a grand opening, new product for sale, birthday, anniversary, engagement, wedding or new baby, let everyone celebrate alongside you! Submit your announcement here.

---

First, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy with afternoon showers.

High: 75 Low: 66.

---

🏡 Looking for more real estate leads in Roanoke? Let us help you reach prospective home buyers and stand out from the competition. Click here to learn more.

---

Here are the top five stories today in Roanoke:

1. The Roanoke Equal Justice Initiative Community Remembrance Projects Coalition has been researching the history of the Roanoke Valley for awhile now and chairperson Brenda Hale said it has been able to discover the names of two men who were lynched in Roanoke in the late 1800s. William Lavender was lynched on February 12, 1892 and Thomas Smith on September 21, 1893. On Thursday night, the coalition gave a presentation on the history of racial inequality in the valley that included speakers Jordan Bell, Jennie Waering and Roanoke City Councilman Joe Cobb. It was intended to spotlight the history of racial inequality in the valley. "This is the commencement of our coalition to continuing to do community events to bring to light the history that has been swept under the rug for so many years, and help people understand how that history, even if it was 100 years ago, continues to impact what happens in Roanoke, Virginia today," said Councilman Bill Bestpitch, who was in attendance and helped to plan the event. (WDBJ)
2. A Roanoke area entrepreneur known for setting the tone of industrial advancement in the Star City and New River Valley has died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Bonz Hart was the CEO and founder of Meridium, Inc., a software company that provides services to numerous industries including companies in the chemical, oil and gas, manufacturing and transportation sectors. Hart began his career working for software companies throughout North America in the 1980s and founded Meridium in his home office in 1993. Under Hart's leadership and expertise, the company grew to have a headquarters in downtown Roanoke, first in the Wachovia Tower and then in the restored brick visible from 581 near the Elm Avenue exit. "In many respects, he was a pioneer, not only in his industry, but in just starting a new business, and working all over the world," said Joyce Waugh, president of the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce. (Roanoke Times)
3. New details have become available in the shooting death of a teenager this past weekend. Demarion Sanders, 15, was killed in an altercation along Palm Avenue Northwest. Search warrants released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that a witness reported four men in the front yard of a house who were soon joined by two other from inside the residence just before the shooting started and that a gun and phone were recovered at the scene. No arrests have been made and police are asking for anyone with any information to call them at (540) 853-2212. Calls can be anonymous. (WSLS)
4. Roanoke City Fire EMS has named Rebecca "Becky" Smith Fire Marshal and Battalion Chief of Fire Prevention. Smith will be the city's first female fire marshal. She began her emergency services career in 2003 and has worked as a firefighter-EMT, certified fire investigator, fire inspector and assistant fire marshal for Franklin County and has been on staff at the Virginia Fire Officer Academy since 2015. "We have full confidence that Chief Smith is the right choice to continue to advance the growth of the Fire Marshal's Office," said Roanoke Fire-EMS Deputy Chief David Guynn. (Roanoke Times)

---

Today in Roanoke:

• Mast General Store FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Day (10 a.m.)
• Taco Fest at Elmwood Park (10 a.m.)
• Roanoke 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Wells Fargo Tower (noon)
• Chris Janson at Dr Pepper Park (6 p.m.)
• Inappropriate Music Yoga Class at Uttara Yoga Studio (6 p.m.)

---

From my notebook:

• Roanoke College: "Roanoke College is thrilled to announce that Shelley Olds '03, a member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Cycling Team, is returning to her alma mater to lead the college's new competitive cycling program !" (Roanoke College - Salem, VA via Instagram)
• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Turtle time! Turtle expert and enthusiast Kaitlyn examined this young Eastern Box Turtle that was admitted with a bad ear infection. Ear infections are a common but serious ailment we see in many of our box turtle patients." (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Police Department: "Please help us congratulate Sergeant B. Kosko for being awarded the Dr. Paul Ferrara Award from the Virginia Forensic Science Academy Alumni Association for his remarkable, dedicated work on more than 90 homicide/death investigations." (Roanoke Police Department via Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools: "The namesake of Roanoke Academy's Library Media Center, Mary Divers Hackley, wanted to do something special to inspire and motivate RAMS students to start the year off with a positive attitude. She wrote letters of encouragement to every student from pre-K through 5th grade!" (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Roanoke Sheriff's Office: "Roanoke City Sheriff's Office would like to welcome Deputies Brandon Kasey, Brian Webb and Robert Leftwich. We would also like to welcome our new SRO Todd Wiley. We are glad you decided to join us and know you all will do a great job!" (Roanoke Sheriff's Office via Facebook)

---

That's it for today. I'll be back tomorrow with a new 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Roanoke Daily? Contact me at roanoke@patch.com