Gene Marrano

The director of the Regional Center for Animal Care and Protection – David Flagler – says he will retire as of June 30th.  Flagler has overseen the facility since 2013. Flagler came under fire last year when he locked volunteers out of the Center after several dogs were put to death and they protested. An interim director will be named as a search commences.

UPDATE – From Roanoke Police Department: On April 20th the Roanoke Police Department asked for the public’s assistance in locating Edme Merle-Perez, age 38, of Roanoke. At this time in the investigation, detectives do not believe Merle-Perez left on her own accord and have still not been able to locate her. Detectives have conducted numerous interviews regarding her whereabouts and have executed several search warrants involving items belonging to Merle-Perez. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the RPD tip line at 540-344-8500. Callers can remain anonymous. Anonymous text messages can be sent to 274637. Please begin any text message with the keyword “RoanokePD:” to ensure that it’s properly sent.

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Two prominent Roanokers are helping to form what they call a non-partisan organization that will help fight climate change. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:

Click below to hear much more about the Citizen’s Climate Lobby (an extended conversation with WFIR’s Gene Marrano (speaking with Joy Sylvester-Johnson and Michael Duval):

Total Action for Progress put The Dumas Center up for sale several weeks ago. At least one community group has expressed an interest in buying  it.  There’s a community meeting next Monday night at 6:30, at Saint Paul United Methodist Church on Gilmer Avenue – organized by a group that says it wants to generate support within the black community to purchase The Dumas Center. TAP CEO Annette Lewis says it simply doesn’t fit with the social service agency’s mission at this point.