County Administrator Jerry Burgess served on the Stakeholders Committee to determine alternatives to the congestion at Exit 150.

VDOT presented plans for Exit 150 at Lord Botetourt High School on Thursday. By 5 p.m. a horde of onlookers had arrived to study the four plan alternative presented by VDOT for improvements to the Exit 150 interchange.

County Administrator Jerry Burgess showed the Botetourt View his preference. Which has a stoplight at the current Exit 150 B exit, a new on ramp north on  I-81 in that area, closure of Exit 150 A to truck traffic and closure of the current I-81 north ramp. He had an another addition to the fourth alternative and that was to also purchase the Truck Stop of America property. “As a portal to Botetourt County,” he noted, “it would be an excellent idea.” Add that to the area undeveloped behind the Route 11 businesses on the east side that could be opened for development in the future.

He also noted that Truck Stops of America and Pilot combined do not provide the tax revenue of Cracker Barrel located just north of the proposed new traffic pattern.

Other altenrnatives included three stoplights, One at Exit 150 b, one at the Pilot Station and one at the current location. Another alternative had a through road from the proposed Exit 150B stoplight as a new route to US 220 alternte coming in just north of the Railroad tracks. Public comments will continue through September 8. E-mail responses can go to saleminfo@VDOT.virginia.gov. Reference Exit 150 access management citizens information meeting.

ATTENTION HORSE LOVERS AND OWNERS
BOTETOURT COUNTY HORSEMAN’S ASSOCIATION

SEPTEMBER MEETING
Reiki & Animal Communication Demonstration with Brenda Strong
www.reikiforallbeings.com
Learn How to Make
Your Horse Happy
Everyone Welcome
WEDNESDAY, September 2, 2009
MEETING STARTS AT 7:00PM

STARS & STRIPES FARM
Directions: From Troutville/Daleville area, 220 North to Fincastle , turn right at the Leonardo’s Pizza place. First right on to Grove Hill. Cross the creek and
turn left onto Breckinridge Mill Road. Take the 2nd driveway on the right. (Sign will say BreezKrest Farm). First barn at Stars and Stripes Farm sign Bring your own lawn chair.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE

For more information call
Phyllis Johnson at 540-293-1347 or e-mail phyllis@sterlingrealtysvcs.com

The September 2009 Botetourt Look Good Feel Better Program, run by coordinator Francine Bray will be held on Thursday September 10th, at 5:30 at Creations, 19818 Main Street in Buchanan

Francine Bray, who has been a coordinator since the program began says, “Look Good Feel Better…helps women deal with one of the hardest times of their lives without losing their desire to feel good about the way they look.”

All Look Good Feel Better Sessions require registration. Please Call the American Cancer Society with any questions about the program and to reserve your space, 540 774 2716

Submitted by Creations gift shop in Buchanan

The Dabney S. Lancaster Community College Educational Foundation holds a fund-raiser October 11. The college is in Clifton Forge, but serves a lot of students from Botetourt County and this event includes a number of Botetourt sponsors.

At left are two of those sponsors, Bank of Botetourt, CEO, H. Watts Steger and Lexington Branch Manager, Duaine Fitzgerald.

Here’s the full release: Read more »

The game was reasonably close in the first half, but the LBHS Cavs ended up winning 29-7 over the JV Knights. The Knights only play freshmen and the Cavs are a combination of both so that may factor in but all in all it was a nice humid evening for football. A reasonable crowd turned out for the game!

That’s Claudia DeFranko of Troutville in the peacock feathers at the recent Local Colors Fashion Show.

For more photos from the event, see this online gallery.

Kids are back in school — and so are we!

In this week’s print edition of The Botetourt View, we have photos from the first day of school (and some other days, too.) And, as you might expect, we have even more here online.

The one at left shows students getting off the bus at James River High School. You can find others in this photo gallery.

Those aren’t the only online extras this week. Here’s an easy way to find the rest:
* Wright Kids to perform at Heritage Days in Fincastle
* Troutville’s Party in the Park will be Sept. 12
* Lord Botetourt freshman serves as judge for hand-held devices
*Greenfield Elementary seeks artists and crafters for fall festival
* Reader photos from the Food Lion opening
* More photos of Bob McDonnell at Blue Ridge Vineyard
* More photos from the Fincastle Baptist Car Show
* More on the controversy over whether bear hunters with “kill” permits can keep the meat
* More bear sightings, in general
* More photos from the Food Expo

AND IN SPORTS . . .
* Photos from James River-Narrows benefit game
* More photos of Botetourt American Legion team

So how can you get your news and photos in The Botetourt View? Easy! Just share at news@botetourtview.com.

For more information — including how to advertise and reach more than 90 percent of the households in Botetourt County – see below:

Read more »

Think you’ve got what it takes to be a fearless forecaster? Match your predictions against the sports staff of The Roanoke Times — and anyone else who wants to sign up in this year’s edition of Varsity Forecasters.

One of the games on this week’s roster of picks is, of course, the traditional season opener between Lord Botetourt and James River.

Click here to sign up and make your picks. The deadline is 4 p.m. on Friday.

Events abound in Botetourt this weekend

Event: Buchanan Progressive Dinner & Silent Auction
When: Friday, August 27
Where: Various locations in Downtown Buchanan
Time: 6 to 8:30 pm
Contact: (540) 254-3064
Cost: $10 for adults and $5 for children under 10
Information: Event to benefit Resource Center in Buchanan

Event: Fincastle Vineyard & Winery Summer Evening Concert
When: Saturday, August 29
Where: Fincastle Vineyard & Winery
Time: 5 pm to 8 pm
Contact: info@fincastlewine.com, www.fincastlewine.com, (540) 591-9000
Cost: $10 tasters, $5 non-tasters
Information: Entertainment by No Strings Attached

Event: Blue Ridge Vineyard HARVEST-FEST!
When: Saturday, August 29
Where: Blue Ridge Vineyard
Time: 6 to 9:30 pm
Contact: blueridgevines@ntelos.net, www.blueridgevineyard.com, (540) 798-7642
Cost: $5 for adults, children & friendly leashed dogs are free
Information: Entertainment by Exit 162. Food available for purchase. Part of proceeds goes to Ruritans. Grape stomping competition for the Annual Purple Foot Award

LBHS JV during "2 a days" this August.

The JV football teams of both high schools square off tonight at 6 p.m. at Knights field as a preliminary to tomorrow evening’s battle of Botetourt County when the Lord Botetourt Cavaliers travel to Springwood to play the Single A James River Knights at 7:30 p.m. A preliminary intro for the 50th Anniversary of the two high schools is also planned for Friday night’s game.

Tonight, the game begins at 6 p.m. Girl’s volleyball will also be played at JRHS this evening.