🌱 Two Weekend Shootings; One Kills Teen + Labor Day Parade Returns

Hello and Happy Unofficial Monday everyone! I hope you all had a chance to enjoy the day off yesterday and have some fun. Let's get back into the swing of things with some local news...

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First, today's weather:

Humid with a thunderstorm in spots.

High: 84 Low: 67.

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Here are the top four stories in Roanoke today:

1. Belmont Baptist Church, which has stood on the corner of Stewart Avenue and 9th Street in southeast Roanoke for more than 120 years, is for sale, but not because the church is closing. Rather, the pastor, the elders and the congregation envisioned the church building being made into affordable housing and sold it to a company called Belmont Lofts, which will remodel the property into 32 housing units. "From that moment where I sensed that God was leading us to do this, I never flinched. I never had a second thought, never doubted, never wondered if we were doing something wrong or stupid," said the pastor. "We were pushing 175 people on Sunday morning, and we were actually looking at buying some surrounding properties to expand our parking and to upgrade the building, so that was some good times, and then obviously the pandemic has cut that in about half. It was kind of a wake-up call for a lot of people in churches that they needed to be willing to transition and do something, whatever it would take, to be effective in their city and their context." (WFXR)
2. Two shootings, one of which lead to the death of a teenager, over the weekend continue a troubling upward trend in violence in the Star City. Police responded Saturday night to the scene of a shooting along Palm Avenue to find a teenage victim with critical gunshot injuries who was later pronounced dead by Fire EMS officials. Then on Sunday afternoon police were called to the Harrison Avenue area for another shooting about 3:30 in the afternoon and found a man on the front porch of a house who was described as screaming obscenities and being less than cooperative. " Me and my daughters were sitting on my deck, we were just watching TV and we just thought it was firecrackers and it was just like pop pop pop pop," said a neighbor. No arrests have been made in either case and police say both cases are ongoing investigations. They are asking anyone with any information to please come forward or to call (540)344-8500 or text anonymously to 274637. Be sure to enter RoanokePD so the message is delivered appropriately. (WDBJ, WDBJ, WFXR)
3. The Roanoke Labor Day parade returned this past weekend after a two year hiatus due to the pandemic. Several local area labor unions and multiple political campaigns were at the forefront of the activities as paraders marched down Campbell Avenue to Williamson Road. "It's invigorating. When you bring this crew together and they all sit around and talk … you realize who knows who. Labor Day means exactly what it was intended for …started to be recognized as a holiday for workers. We're coming out here just to make sure the public knows that organized labor is alive and well," said Chuck Simpson, vice president for Western Virginia Labor Unions. Many of the unions handed out flyers and candy as they marched. (WSLS)
4. In addition to being National Recovery Month celebrating those who have beaten addiction and remembering those whose lives addiction took, September is also Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Colloquially known as SPAM, numerous local organizations and area nonprofits are getting the word out and trying to let those in need know they are not alone in their despair. September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day and The Suicide Prevention Council of the Roanoke Valley (SPCRV) and Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare (BRBH) have planned activities to help people get involved. "Do you know [someone] in your life that may be struggling with mental health concerns? They may be willing to seek care if they know how supported they are. Remember this month is all about asking, listening, and encouraging each other," SPCRV said in a Facebook post. (Newsbreak, WDBJ, Facebook)

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Today in Roanoke:

• Coffee & Contacts September 2022 presented by Tech Squared (7:30 a.m.)
• Roanoke City Council Meeting Briefings (9 a.m.)
• Roanoke City Council Meeting at Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building (2 p.m.)
• The Famous Tuesday Night Beer Ride, starting at Twin Creeks Brewing (5:45 p.m.)
• Fleet Feet Pub Run & Walk at Big Lick Brewing Co. (6 p.m.)
• Line Dancing with Angela & Kamronn at Corned Beef and Co. Bar and Grill (7 p.m.)

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From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Cool bird alert! This bright fellow is a yellow-breasted chat, a species that is so distinctive from all other songbirds that recently it was placed in its own taxonomic family all by itself!" (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "We sometimes get comments from potential adopters about the hammocks we keep in our kitten condos. They love how much the kittens seem to enjoy being in them. And it's true! Not only does a hammock give more vertical space for kittens to explore, it also provides a soft snuggly spot for cuddling and sleeping!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• City of Roanoke Government: "The Roanoke Run for Refugees 5K is on Friday! Come join the fun, and sign up today! https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Roanoke/RoanokeRunsforRefugees" (City of Roanoke Government via Facebook)
• Roanoke Outside: "The riders are coming! We're grateful to everyone who has signed up to volunteer for @gocrossrace. We still have some open slots and would love to fill them ASAP ... just two weeks to go!" (Roanoke Outside via Instagram)
• Roanoke Public Libraries: "We have an incredible week of programming ahead and it all kicks off today with Body Butter for Teens at the Melrose Branch Library. Need more information? Send us a message or call 540-853-2648." (Roanoke Public Libraries via Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today. 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