Brooke Leonard shares these photos from the game between Lord Botetourt and Alleghany on May 15. Lord Botetourt won 2-1.

Must have been the smell of coffee that drew a five foot black snake over to Mill Mountain Coffee at Botetourt Commons in Daleville! “Muffins” spooked him and he slithered into the road. Two through  hikers ” Rickshaw” and “Muffins” and Dan Taylor of Gander Mountain helped the black snake get out of the road and back into the tall grass.  All Appalachian Trail hikers adopt a trail name. This reptile is now “Coffee Shop!”

Got a fun photo? Send to news@botetourtview.com

On a yearly basis right before Memorial Day, hundreds of motorcycles boom through Botetourt County as part of the annual veteran’s “Run for the Wall and Rolling Thunder. At about half past 11 a.m. on May 23rd, a small group of veterans, the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Department Color Guard and a few well wishers stood by US 220 alternate and waved on the participants. Tommy Watts and another veteran Bill Dunbar, and also Doug Watts stood along beside Leslie Bradley, Hannah and Michael Bradley, Margie Watts  and Southern States employees Janice Brown and Lisa Conner. All were on hand to cheer the bikers on in their quest.

Watts remarked, “Glad to see the media here for this annual event and to witness this run.”

Sheriff’s Dept. Color Guard members are David Goodman, Ray McCaleb and Chris Prillaman.

Run for the Wall participants headed to Montvale Elementary School for lunch and then over to the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford. Tonight they will rest up in Salem and be on the way to Washington, D.C. to the Viet Nam Veteran’s Memorial on the Mall.

The organizations mission statement reads:  “To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world.”

Philosophy: “We strive to maintain a safe, supportive and private atmosphere in which all participants can reflect and heal on their journey to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. in the hope that they can return home to a new beginning.”

Goals:  “To guide the participants across America. To educate future generations as to the importance of accountability in wartime actions emphasizing that no one should be left behind.”

Botetourt County RMMS Group: Abby Eggleston, Grace Spangler, Kyle Perdue, Jonothan Ballard, Ali Crawford. Photo courtesy of Sheila Lythgoe

On April 27, 2013, as part of Global Youth Service Day through Family Services of the Roanoke Valley, the Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition (RAYSAC) and its youth leadership arm- the REAL Team- conducted a “Sticker Shock” at 12 area convenience stores throughout the Valley.

Sticker Shock is a community-based strategy through the VA ABC that seeks to educate those persons 21 years of age or older who might purchase alcohol and illegally provide it to minors.

Stickers displaying a warning message about the penalties for furnishing alcohol to minors were placed on multi-packs of beer, wine coolers, and other alcohol products that might appeal to underage drinkers.

Photo courtesy of Sheila Lythgoe

It is against state law to allow (aid or abet) underage persons to possess or consume alcohol. This is a Class 1 misdemeanor and is punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $2,500 fine. Purchasing for and/or giving alcohol to a minor is also against the law, and penalties can include losing a driver’s license for up to a year.

RAYSAC volunteers consisted of 5 teams of adults and youth that visited each store and placed the stickers on the alcohol and also provided an educational resource packet for the store on how to help reduce underage drinking. Participation in Sticker Shock is another great way for youth and adult leaders to partner to mobilize our community in promoting a safe and drug free Roanoke Valley.

A special thank you to the following stores that participated in Sticker Shock:

Botetourt County: Stop In, Buchanan; Stop In, Daleville; Stop In, Cloverdale; Barry’s Exxon, Buchanan; Brugh’s Mill Country Store, Fincastle; Dodge’s Store, Daleville

Roanoke: Stop In, Melrose Avenue; Stop In, Memorial Avenue; Stop In, Edgewood Street

Salem: Stop In, 4^th Street; Quik Way Food Mart, Thompson Memorial Drive; Marathon, W. Main St

– Submitted by Sheila Lythgoe

Rebecca Weller, Andrew Weller, and Emily Weller, children of Arnold and Julie Weller and students of The Blue Ridge Academy of Music, each performed a piano recital on Sunday, May 5 at the Wellers’ home.  Each performer amazed the audience with advanced pieces by Bizet, Chopin, Mozart, and Beethoven.  To add a little contemporary into the mix, the performers included delightful arrangements of songs from Richard Rodgers’ “The Sound of Music”, Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Phantom of the Opera” and “Cats”, and Jerry Bock’s “Fiddler on the Roof”.  Rebecca included “Yesterday” by Paul McCartney, and Emily sang two songs including “The Way You Look Tonight” by Fields & Kern.  Andrew astounded on the piano with W.A. Mozart’s Alla Turca.  Pictured here at the conclusion of everyone’s performance, left to right:  Arnold Weller, Andrew Weller, Julie Weller, Rebecca Weller, Emily Weller, and all three children’s piano instructor at The Blue Ridge Academy of Music, Lenora Turner.

Submitted by Jason Cohen, The Blue Ridge Academy of Music

Postal workers who helped with Stamp Out Hunger.

Troutville’s Food Pantry at Troutville Baptist church is brimming with goods donated by postal customers. Here is a pictures taken during the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on May 11, 2013 in Troutville, VA.

Bluefield College recognized dozens of outstanding students for academic excellence during its year-end Honors Convocation, April 24.

Each spring, the college acknowledges academic achievement and service among its students through the capstone awards program. In welcoming students to this year’s ceremony, Vice President Robert Shippey spoke about the significance of the day.

“You are to be commended for your efforts and your steadfast pursuit of excellence,” Dr. Shippey told the students. “It is our joy to honor you today. Even as we celebrate your accomplishments, we are reminded that everything we are and everything we do is for the glory of God.”

Among the students honored and the awards presented during the 2013 Honors Convocation:

Caleb Bittler of Fincastle, Virginia: Paul W. Beasley Service Award

Nine students inducted into the Sigma Beta Delta National Business Honor Society were recognized, including Suzanne Caldwell of Troutville.

– Submitted by Chris Shoemaker, Bluefield College

Here are the programs for the week of June 3 offered by Nature Investigations, 25 Claybrook Court, in Blue Ridge. For more information, call 706-220-0980 or visit www.natureinvestigations.com.

Mysterious Maps

Follow a map on a treasure hunt, learning fun facts about nature along the way. Then create your own mysterious maps for others to explore. For ages 8 and up. $5/child, free for adults. Pre-registration required at natureinvestigations.com on the calendar page or calling 706-220-0980.

Monday, June 3, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Greenfield Park, Daleville

Incredible Insects

Explore the world of insects as we find different types of bugs in different habitats. We will investigate how to tell groups apart, their life cycles, and their incredible diversity. For ages 6 and up. $5/child, free for adults. Pre-registration required at natureinvestigations.com on the calendar page or calling 706-220-0980.

Wednesday, June 5, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Greenfield Park, Daleville

Creepy Crawlies

Spiders, worms, slugs and centipedes are just a few of the creepy crawlies we may find as we look under dead leaves and logs. For ages 6 and up. $5/child, free for adults. Pre-registration required at natureinvestigations.com on the calendar page or calling 706-220-0980.

Friday, June 7, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. or
Greenfield Park, Daleville

Listening to Frogs

Join us for an evening stroll near wetlands and ponds to listen for the frogs of the season. Besides learning a bit about frog ecology, we will learn how to gather scientific data for a national citizen project on frog surveys. For ages 6 and over. $5/person (half price for May 10 and 24), registration required by emailing natureinvestigations@gmail.com or calling 706-220-0980.

Friday, June 7, 8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Greenfield Park, Daleville

– Submitted by Laura Beltran

Coach Jessica  Hartman attached a photo of  the undefeated LBHS JV girl’s soccer team. “We finished the season last Tuesday undefeated with a 12-0 record.  The girls worked as a team every game and really put their hearts into the season.  They finished with 51 goals scored and only 3 goals scored against them.  Here’s our team website for reference: http://lbhsathletics.org/index.cfm?action=main.team&ID=27081. ”

“I’m really proud of everything they’ve accomplished this year. ” She attached a recent team photo and the names of the people pictured are listed below:

Back Row (standing): Hartman, Kalynda Slawter, Abby Hudson, Toni Vickers, Erika Buchanan, Alex Lesniak, Abby Rigatti, Makayla Oyler
Front Row (kneeling): Ally Houston, Leann Downey, Kaitlyn Beasley, Hope Tuck, Lindsey Owens, Danielle Thacker, Morgan Unroe, Julia DeHart, Allison Gooden.

–submitted by Jessica Hartman

LBHS JV went undefeated.

The Botetourt County Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism is currently accepting registrations through June 28, 2013 for Soccer, Tackle Football, Cheerleading and new for 2013, Youth Flag Football.

Soccer leagues are sponsored through the local youth recreation booster clubs in conjunction with the Recreation Department. Players participate with the club associated with their current elementary school district and fees range from $35 to $65 per child.

Tackle Football (ages 7 to 12) and Cheerleading (ages 6 to 12) are organized entirely by the Recreation Department and registration fees range from $30 for cheerleading to $60 for football.

New this year, the Recreation Department will also offer Flag Football for ages 5 to 8 and will be open to boys and girls. Registration fees will be $45 per child and will include an NFL jersey and flag belt.

Playing ages for all athletic leagues sponsored by the Recreation Department is determined as of September 30, 2013. Practices will begin August 1st and games on or near August 24.

Three convenient ways to register:
1. Call Botetourt County Parks, Recreation & Tourism at (540) 473-8326
2. Register online at www.botetourt.org/recreation
3. Submit Botetourt County Athletic Registration Form and payment to:
Botetourt County Parks, Recreation & Tourism
16 East Main Street, Box 4, Fincastle VA 24090

– Submitted by Wendy Farkas