🌱 Youngkin Visit For Bill Signing + Local Novelist Releases New Novel

Hello again, everybody! It's Wednesday in Roanoke and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening in town, including news on...

• New travel center coming.
• Moneta woman charged with gun in airport appears in court.
• 100th robotic surgery at LewisGale.

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But first, today's weather: Some clouds, then sunshine. High: 62 Low: 39.

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Here are the top stories today in Roanoke:

1. Exit 128 on I-81 will soon be the new home of a Love's Travel Center. The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors approved both a rezoning request and a special use permit for the center's large signage in a 5-2 vote. The site of the new center will be two miles southeast of the Roanoke County line on 32 acres located at the corner of North fork Road and Pedlar Road. The center will include a fast-food restaurant, a convenience store, tire shop and service center, and other amenities for both truckers and motorists and is expected to bring in $350,000 a year in tax revenue while generating 50 new jobs. (WDBJ)
2. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin visited Round Hill Elementary on Monday for the signing ceremony of five pieces of legislation that made it through the recent legislative session, one of which originated in Roanoke. That measure was aimed at reducing the barriers for English language learners in Virginia's schools and was sponsored by Sen. David Suetterlein (R-Roanoke County) in addition to being supported by Sen. John Edwards (D-Roanoke City) and Sen. Joe McNamara (R-Roanoke County). While in the area Youngkin also toured the Eldor plant in Botetourt County, which opened in 2018 and manufactures ignition coils. (WDBJ, WSLS)
3. A Moneta woman, Susan Goodman Epperly, 64, was charged with carrying a weapon in an airport after a loaded revolver was found in her carry-on bag by an X-ray unit at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport. The incident occurred in early February and Epperly appeared at a hearing Monday in Roanoke City Circuit Court where she pleaded no contest to the weapons charge, a misdemeanor that was taken under advisement until September. She was ordered to pay a $2,500 fine to the TSA and the confiscated revolver was ordered destroyed. (Roanoke Times)
4. Local author Amanda Cockrell, a professor at Hollins University, has released a new novel titled "Coyote Weather." The story is about three young people experiencing the wake of the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the atomic bomb drills that are a part of American life in 1967. The title is a reference to a drought-stricken, ready-to-catch fire season, which seems perfect for the situation described. Cockrell said the book is for "the young men Cockrell knew then, who went to war and didn't come back, or came back someone else, and for the ones who didn't go and were marked by it nonetheless." You can learn more on her website here. (WDBJ)
5. LewisGale Medical Center has announced that its robotic surgery team has completed their 100th robotic surgery. LewisGale is currently the only hospital system in the Roanoke region offering the kind of "3D CT-based planning software" that allows surgeons to create a personalized joint replacement surgical plan by knowing more about a patient's anatomy. "Our robotic-arm-assisted technology is a game changer and has exceeded my expectations for patients after knee and hip replacements. Following surgery, most patients have reported significantly less pain and have earlier motion and returned back to an active lifestyle faster than more traditional surgery," said Dr. Phillip Patterson with LewisGale Physicians. (WSET)

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From our sponsor:

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Today in Roanoke:

• National Vietnam War Veterans Day at Mission BBQ Roanoke (11 a.m.)
• 'Jersey Boys' at Mill Mountain Theatre (7:30 p.m.)

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From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Let it all hang out... this Eastern Box Turtle sprawled out in the fresh dirt we put in her enclosure and had a great time digging in it. Despite the cold weather we have admitted turtles every single month this winter!" (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Botetourt County Sheriff's Office: "The Sheriff's Inmate Work Crew stays busy helping to keep Botetourt beautiful. Listed are the details highlighting what they have accomplished since its inception." (Botetourt County Sheriff's Office via Facebook)
• Roanoke Fire EMS Department: "Last week, we held a badge-pinning ceremony for those promoted to Firefighter/Paramedic who could not join us at the previous ceremony: FF/PM Cody Feury, FF/PM Joshua Ledford, and FF/PM Brady Seldomridge. Please join us in congratulating them!" (Roanoke Fire EMS Department via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Thank you to everyone who adopted pets last week, March 6-11. Happy Tails to TJ, Nuggz, Olive, Binx, Bam Bam, Marmalade, Mary, Harley, Buddy, Flurry, Luanne, Scooter, Luna, Molly, Jay, Shelby, and Daisy who all went home!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Roanoke Outside: "There are a lot of great places looking to hire seasonal staff right now. If you know anyone (students, teachers, etc.) looking for summer work, send this their way. And if you know of any jobs we missed, put them in the comment section!" (Roanoke Outside via Instagram)

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That's it for today! Get out there and get climbing! I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning!

— 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. To connect with Ian, you can visit him on Facebook and Instagram. He doesn't bite. Except on full moons.

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