🌱 Queen's Passing Felt By Residents + Area Runners 'Finish Her Run'

Good morning, Roanoke. Happy Sunday. I think. Today is the 21st Anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks so it's a day of remembrance for many. Do you remember where you were at when you heard the news? I do. Drop me a line and let me know. Maybe I'll publish some of the responses later this week. Here's a look at some news...

---

First, today's weather:

A shower and thunderstorm; warmer.

High: 77 Low: 67.

---

🏡 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 in Roanoke today:

1. The passing of Queen Elizabeth II has been felt all over the world including here in Roanoke where former residents of her kingdom shared words of what she meant to them despite having emigrated many years ago. "It was a shock. Even though, you think well that's silly to say that, a shock. She was 96 years old but she was just as ever-present and so you just didn't think that she could leave us," said Michael Roberts, who came to the U.S. in 1977. "I came to the U.S. in 1972 and I worked at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. for three years," said Pam Robinson, who still remembers waving at the Queen as she'd ride through the village where Robinson once lived. "She was very compassionate and she dealt with an awful lot of stuff with family and she always did it so well. I just will always remember her as doing a great job and I can't imagine anybody else doing it. I think people today should learn about how wonderful a Queen was, she wasn't just a figurehead where you just looked at her and she smiled, she worked very, very hard." (WDBJ)
2. A $13,000 donation from Appalachian Power's TakeChargeVA program has the Roanoke Rescue Mission saving energy and looking a little brighter thanks to the more than 700 energy efficient lights now in place throughout the donation center and shelter areas. "This is a place of comfort, of healing, of hope and that is, in part, because of what we offer here as a physical facility," said Kevin Barry, Roanoke Rescue Mission's Community Outreach Manager. The new LEDc lights will save enough energy each year to power seven homes. Appalachian Power's TakeCharge Virginia is a way of bringing energy efficiency programs together in one convenient place, offering free assessments, incentive programs and rebates for homes or businesses according to the company website. (WSLS, AEP website)
3. A Roanoke man launched a nonprofit foundation with the goal of helping to find missing people after working at Virginia Tech close to where a couple were found brutally murdered. Kenny Jarels started creating flyers for missing persons and his flyers have become particularly recognizable due to his efforts and the efforts of a team of volunteers at The AWARE Foundation. "When Heidi Childs and David Metzler [were] brutally murdered just outside campus, I was a Virginia Tech alum, I was working there at the time. And then Morgan Harrington went missing, then Hannah Graham went missing. So I said it's time that somebody did something," Jarels said. Based in Roanoke, AWARE now operates in numerous states, with volunteers spread across the country. (WFXR, AWARE website)
4. On Friday, a group of local runners gathered to finish the run that kidnapped and murdered Tennessee runner Eliza Fletcher started, but never got to complete. 'Finish Her Run' was a nationwide virtual run organized on social media with hundreds of people participating all over the country. Here in Roanoke runners met at Chris's Coffee & Custard and the run was hosted by RunAbout Sports. "It's everyone's job to make sure that we are supported and we are safe. And it's unfair that such an exemplary person doing something that we all do every day, her life was ended short because of that. And it could have been any of us," said Al Bowersock, owner of RunAbout Sports. RunAbout hosts a weekly run for those who feel safer running with a group. For more information visit their website. (WSLS, RunAbout Sports website)
5. Officials at The Roanoke City and Alleghany Health District have confirmed that a fox that was caught in Roanoke on September 3 has tested positive for rabies. Animal Control Officers were called to the scene of the animal acting strangely in the Cave Spring area and were able to safely deal with the situation. Rabies has been confirmed in numerous animals in the area in recent months including a fox in Fincastle, a skunk in the Catawba Road area of Botetourt County and a fox in a Danville Walmart parking lot that bit four people earlier this summer, which doesn't actually sound all that strange for a Walmart parking lot in Danville now that I think about it. Officials are reminding residents that Virginia law requires pet owners to be up to date with rabies vaccinations for animals four months and older and to stay away from wild animals regardless of their behavior. (WDBJ, WFXR, Roanoke Times)

---

Today in Roanoke:

• Beaver Dam Farm Sunflower Festival (10 a.m.)
• Yoga For Athletes Pop UP at Uttara Yoga Studios (9 a.m.)
• Murder Mystery Event at Olde Salem Brewing (2 p.m.)
• Solacoustix at Fork in the Alley (5 p.m.)

---

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "We have received several Eastern Red Bats in the past few weeks, all of whom were hit by cars. This is one of them, who was found plastered in a car grill before being removed and brought to us." (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools: "We are just a week away from the 2022 Noel C. Taylor Cup matchup between our Patrick Henry Patriots and William Fleming Colonels! Please be aware the game's start time has changed. Kickoff will now take place at 5 p.m. on Friday." (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Roanoke County Public Schools: "To commemorate the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, cadets from the National Navy Defense Cadet Corps at William Byrd High School placed 2,977 flags in front of the school to represent each of those who were lost in the attacks." (Roanoke County Public Schools via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Local shelters, including the municipal shelter for our area, the Regional Center for Animal Care & Protection are full. If you've been considering bringing a pet into your family, now is a great time to adopt!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Virginia Museum of Transportation: "High chance of rain tomorrow. Come enjoy our special events inside at our Grandparents Day celebration tomorrow, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Uncle Toot's is already cookin' up the barbecue! Free caricatures, games and crafts, frozen ice and more!" (Virginia Museum of Transportation via Facebook)
• Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism: "McAfee Knob Trailhead Shuttle tickets are available to purchase online at www.McAfeeShuttle.com To learn more about the new shuttle, visit https://www.roanokecountyva.gov/2942/McAfee-Knob-Trailhead-Shuttle" (Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism via Facebook)

---

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Online discussion for bed mattresses in Roanoke, VA (September 24)
• Add your event

---

That's it for this edition. See you all tomorrow!

— 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