Gene Marrano
MGN
Roanoke County is once again teaming up with Roanoke City and Salem to “Load the Bus for Kids,” collecting donated school supplies for children in need. Backpacks, notebooks, binders and pencils are among the many items requested. School supply donations can be dropped off now through this Sunday at Roanoke Valley Wal-Mart stores. This weekend is also the annual tax-free weekend for many back-to-school related items. Chuck Lionberger is with Roanoke County Public Schools:
Kroger Mid-Atlantic will relocate its division office from Roanoke to Richmond by the end of 2020. Kroger says the move will establish division operations in a location that is “better equipped and positioned to serve and support all markets.” Kroger also says about 100 associates will have options through the transition to Richmond. Its Roanoke district leadership team will remain here.
ROANOKE, Va. (August 4, 2020) – Today, Kroger Mid-Atlantic announced plans to relocate its division office from Roanoke to Richmond by the end of 2020. The move will establish division operations in a location that is better equipped and positioned to serve and support all markets throughout Kroger Mid-Atlantic. Additionally, recent growth for the division has been centered on the Richmond and Hampton Roads regions as those areas have seen significant increases in population over the years, creating greater demand for grocery stores.
Kroger Mid-Atlantic has created a number of opportunities to ensure that its approximately 100 associates have options through this transition. The company’s warehouse operations, logistics and its Roanoke district leadership team will remain in the region. “As we prepare for this next chapter in our division, we want our associates and communities to know that we’re committed to a safe, seamless and positive transition,” said Paula Ginnett, president of Kroger Mid-Atlantic. “This is not a goodbye to Roanoke because we will remain committed to the region and we will continue to support our associates, customers and community partners throughout the area.”
Kroger opened its first store in the Roanoke Valley 91 years ago and currently operates 11 stores in the region. The relocation will have no impact on stores, pharmacies or fuel centers in the Roanoke area. The Kroger Mid-Atlantic division office is located at 3631 Peters Creek Road in Roanoke. The Richmond division office will be located in Glen Allen at 140 East Shore Drive. Kroger Mid-Atlantic plans to have its Richmond office in full operation by the start of 2021.
Wordsprint worked with Mill Mountain Zoo-FB photo
A new public television show is looking to help create more of a “Buzz” for local non-profits when it comes to upgrading their image and marketing efforts. More on a program debuting tomorrow night, from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
(from Roanoke PD) UPDATE: Roanoke Police have made an arrest regarding the March 1, 2020 murders of April Barnicoat and Eric Surface. William Ray, 23 of Vinton, was arrested and charged with two counts of first degree murder. Throughout the course of the investigation, detectives identified Mr. Ray as a person of interest. The victims and Mr. Ray are known to one another.
Detectives continued following leads and collecting evidence, and spoke with Mr. Ray on Friday, July 31. At that time, he was taken into custody regarding this case. On August 3 (today) the Roanoke City Grand Jury indicted William Ray on two counts of first degree murder. Though an arrest has been made, the investigation remains ongoing.
Photo: Gene Marrano
Former Roanoke Mayor David Bowers – hoping to regain his seat as an independent candidate this November – said today in a Zoom press conference he does NOT support much of the Black Lives Matter agenda – like defunding police departments. Bowers said Roanokers should not “demonize” public safety workers. He also said there “does seem to be some segregation” in certain neighborhoods – but not in others. Bowers then called for dialogue and a “day of outreach,” between the city’s ethnic and racial groups. Bowers also reflected on his previous long tenure as Roanoke mayor:
(from NWS Blacksburg) Significant amounts of rainfall are expected
to begin across the forecast area after midnight tonight and increase through the day Monday into Tuesday as a result of a stalled frontal system
across the area, firmly entrenched deep tropical moisture, and the
outer circulation of now Tropical Storm Isaias moving northward from
along the central and northern Florida East Coast today to just
east of Danville by Tuesday morning