Teachers are recognized at the Botetourt Education Association reception

The Botetourt Education Association held a reception on May 21st at Greenfield Elementary School to recognize the teachers retiring from Botetourt County public schools this year.

Here is a list of the retiring teachers:

Breckinridge Elementary School:

Elizabeth Cole

Buchanan Elementary School:

Dianne Baker and Linda Burke

Cloverdale Elementary School:

Susan LaRose and Jacqueline Mosley

Colonial Elementary School:

Linda Crumpacker

Greenfield Elementary School:

Diana Harvey, Barbara Riddleberger, and Marsha Peters

Central Academy Middle School:

Marilyn Brewbaker, Shirley Cahoon, Susan Martin, Vaneta McAlexander, Marcia Neighbors, Mary Otey, and Nancy Womack

Read Mountain Middle School:

Ed Craig and Linda Long

James River High School:

Geraldine Hayth, Bridget Marshall, and Susanne Stinnett

Lord Botetourt High School:

Alan Brenner, Linda King, Debbie Welch, Jerry Wertz, and June Whitlock

Central Office:

Chester Adams, Kaye Longley, and Sandra Tunnell

Bus Garage:

Iris Jean Collins, Carolyn Fulton, Martha Wilhelm, and Geraldine Williamson

Here is a list of the teachers who were recognized for 25 years in public education:

Buchanan Elementary School:

Amy Myers

Eagle Rock Elementary School:

Annette Taylor

Troutville Elementary School:

Beverly Hart and Sara McCorkle

Central Academy Middle School:

Myra Petty

James River High School:

Carolyn Shotwell

Lord Botetourt High School:

Tim Bane and Charles Pound

Front row, L to R: Kelly Dill, Mackenzie Tyree, Bethany Sass, Kelly Crocker. Middle: Marie Galloway, Casey Germain, Kaitlin Alford, Jessica Stragand. Back: Anna Painter, Anna Robertson, Haley Simmons, Heather Duvall. Photo courtesy of Greg Hupp.

The Lord Botetourt girls tennis team won the Blue Ridge District Tournament and also the regular season district championship. Here is a photo of the team after a match against Northside sent by Greg Hupp.

Do you have photos involving teams or players from Botetourt? If so, you can share just like Greg did.

Rachel Bryant, senior and NHS treasurer, comments on the importance of service. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Alderson.

Twenty-seven students from James River High School were inducted as new members to the National Honor Society on May 27, 2009.

Jennifer Alderson submitted the following information about the ceremony:

Members were selected by the chapter’s Faculty Council for meeting high standards of scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

Students inducted were: Megan Hill, Trent Jolin, Jennifer Stull, Patrick Bennett, Jordan Brogan, Megan Childs, Emily Kettelson, Maggie Moniot, Whitney Painter, Brandon Plunkett, Andrew Tucker, Elizabeth Amos, Haley Baker, Jordan DiPalma, Cierra Falls, Katie George, Britta Grimm, Shannon Kessler, KW King, Matthew Mandeville, Mary Beth Marshall, Dustin Odum, Jenna Reed, Emily Smith, Ethan Thrasher, Caitlin Ward, and Alexis Williams.

The National Honor Society ranks as one of the oldest and most prestigious national organizations for high school students. Chapters exist in more than 15,000 schools and, since 1921, millions of students have been selected for membership. This national student organization is proudly sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

The Pulsar Club hard at work this winter searching through a terabyte of information gather at the National Radio Observatory in Greenbank, West Virginia last summer.

James River  High School science students in the Pulsar Club won the 17 school competition by assembling almost twice as much information from pointings in the universe as the next closest school. They also found a class 2 pulsar as well and their reward is a three day trip to West Virginia University in Morgantown. The students and their sponsor Barbara Kolb have a busy itenerary meeting with scientists and faculty and will present their findings.

LBHS tackle Mitch Hanson is a top 2010 prospect on Virginia Preps.com photo by Rebecca Holland

Mitch Hanson is a big fellow at 6″4 and 270 of mostly muscle and determination. He is a junior at Lord Botetourt High School and a football stand out– so much so that VirginiaPreps.com listed him on the front page the week of May 23 as a top 2010 football prospect as an offensive tackle.

Last fall Hanson broke his heel and didn’t get to play much in the ’08 football season, but he has been training hard to get in shape with the conditioning program the school started in January.  The results show– he has big guns in those biceps!

Hanson heard from Virginia.Preps through his Facebook page showing once again how much the Internet has become part of daily sports news.  (Speaking of Facebook, we’re there, too — search for us and join our group and get updates.)

When asked about his football plans, Hanson said, “I have several top camps to attend this summer so I can get some film (referring to film for scout tapes.) He has heard from Virginia Tech, University of Richmond, Liberty, University of Pennsylvania and Old Dominion University. Better yet, he has a 3.93 GPA which truly makes him a student athlete.

Hanson plays left tackle. “The conditioning program at the school has really been beneficial and Coach Harrison has done a great job keeping us motivated. We’ve really bulked up.”

As far as the Cavaliers for the fall Hanson said, “The team has a big line.  Coach Benson has been very supportive me and all of our program. We are working hard to get strong and fast.”

Thee two enterprising ladies raise fresh chickens as Blue Ridge Poultry Coop! photo courtesy of BRPcoop.

Hello and Happy Spring! from Angie Lenoir at BRP Coop

“It was a wonderful, restful winter season. But a beautiful, wet spring is upon us and Patricia and I are excited to be able to provide you with the freshest, most delicious chicken available. We will be processing this Monday, June 1st. We will also be processing on Monday, June 8th. Please visit our website for more upcoming dates: www.blueridgepoultrycoop.com

If you’d like to reserve chicken, please send us an email or call at 966-0158. We’re looking forward to seeing you!
Thanks!
Angie LeNoir

This fellow came away with a nice trout in the fishing pond part of the carnival for smaller kids!

Voted one of the best events in the Best of Botetourt  contest last month, Buchanan is once again hosting the 10th annual Fishing Carnival for kids aged 15 and under from 9 a.m. til 2 p.m. on Saturday June 6.  The event is sponsored by Botetourt Parks and Recreation. Prizes and fishing will rule the day. Registration is the day of the event at the Carnival Grounds in Buchanan.

Various activities are held through out the day for children of all ages and exhibits will be onsite. Eureka in this  economy– it is free of charge so what better way to spend a Saturday with the family! For information call 473-8326.

Buchanan is a planning yard sale June 6.

From Harry Gleason:

Buy or sell. Take part in Buchanan’s Annual Community Yard Sale on Saturday, June 6th. Members of the Buchanan Special Events Committee invite you to reserve a space in the BB&T parking lot on Main Street. Spaces are $5 for each 10′ x 10′ space, to reserve a space, or, for additional information contact the Buchanan Downtown Revitalization Program at 254 – 1212. Register your yard sale with us to be included on our map of Buchanan Yard Sales today!

Front row: Halla Roberts, Lauren Slater, Destiny Witt. Back row: Kate Smith, Anna Scott, Meaghan Hix, Madeline Smith, Olivia Polumbo, Emma Butler and Olivia Hoye.

Girl Scout Brownie Troop 432 of Botetourt Service Unit carried out their “Take Action” Project at Mill Mountain Zoo on May 16. The girls educated zoo visitors on the endangered snow leopard by making a poster of snow leopard facts and passing out flyers with information on how to help the snow leopard. This project completed the troop’s Brownie Quest.

Not Pictured: Troop leaders: Kelly Slater, Sheila Smith and Chris Hoye

Submitted by:

Jane Garnett

This is the 2nd year Daisy Girl Scout, Destiny Cash has made a new friend downtown, on National Day Of Prayer. Last year was a honor for her to say the pledge with Mr .Holland, Veteran, WWII.

This year she also met Mr. Hobs, a veteran as well. Destiny is a very smart 6 year old girl and she looks forward to this important day every year.

Submitted by Darlene Cash