The tipoff time for the James River boys basketball regional semi-final game on Saturday has been moved up, due to weather expected in far Southwest Virginia.

That means George Wythe and Radford will now start at 4 p.m., rather than 6 p.m.

And the James River game — against the winner of tonight’s Chilhowie-Grayson contest — will start at 6 p.m., rather than 7:45.

Both games are at Northwood High School in Saltville.

Not sure how to get to Northwood? We have directions here.

Are you going? Be sure to share photos at news@botetourtview.com.

Botetourt Parks and Rec sends out the following reminder:

Baseball & Softball sign ups ages 5-12 year olds ends this Sunday February 28. For those of you who have not registered yet, please call our office at 473-8326. We take Visa, American Express and Mastercard. Otherwise, you can still register online at our website botetourt.org/recreation through midnight Sunday. Ages 13 & up registration will continue until March 31 due to their late season start.

Be a teen counselor this summer at 4H camp!

NEEDED: 4-H CAMP TEEN COUNSELORS

Each year about 20 – 25 teens are selected to serve as 4-H Camp Teen Counselors during the Botetourt County 4-H Camp. Who is eligible? Any teen, ages 14 – 18 as of January 1, 2010. Qualifications are: Responsible and mature; have an interest in youth; ability to work with youth; possess leadership ability; knowledge of the 4-H program; interested in getting involved and being active in the 4-H program; and the ability to plan, organize and teach or assist with a class. Teens Counselors assist with camp classes, swim time, campfires, evening programs and the campers. Some Teen Counselors actually teach classes such as Soccer, a foreign language, crafts, and other topics. Its lots of fun and a good way to gain some job skills and it is good for resumes for college or for employment.
The camp is be July 12 – 16, 2010 at the W.E. Skelton 4-H Educational Conference Center at Smith Mountain Lake. Each year Botetourt takes over 100 campers are ages 9 – 13 as of September 30, 2010 to camp. To apply for a position, interested teens need to contact the Botetourt County Extension Office, P. O. Box 217, Fincastle, VA 24090 or call 473-8260 to receive an application. Completed applications and references are due in the Botetourt County Extension Office by March 18, 2010. Interviews for Teen Counselors will be conducted on March 22, 23, and 30, 2010 beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Old District Courtroom in Fincastle. Teens should call the Botetourt County Extension Office to schedule an interview time. All selected teens must attend a mandatory Teen Counselor training.
If you are a person with a disability and require auxiliary aids, services, or other accommodations for this meeting, please discuss your accommodation needs with Glenda M. Snyder at the Botetourt County Extension Office at (540)473-8260 within 5 days of this event.
The 4-H program is available to all youth ages 5-19. For more information about the Botetourt County 4-H program, contact Glenda M. Snyder, Extension Agent, 4-H Youth, P.O.
Box 217, Fincastle, VA 24090 or call 473-8260.

This photo of the Rainbow Forest Lake was taken by Martha Harrision during one of the recent snows.

The Rainbow Forest Recreation Association is holding a meeting with membership and the neighborhood to discuss the future of the lake this Sunday February 28 at 1 p.m. Blue Ridge District representative Billy Martin will be there and Sen. Ralph Smith has also been invited. The lake is in process of draining due to an order by the Soil and Conservation Board of the Division of Conservation and Recreation. We have a previous story.

That's Del. Bill Cleaveland in the yellow tie at the Nov. BPPT meeting.

The social hosting ordinance in HB1293 resulted from discussion by the Botetourt Prevention Planning Team in November 2009. The newly elected delegate, Bill Cleaveland, attended the meeting and well, what he heard made an impact. Sharon Coleman chairs the subcommittee on social hosting for the BPPT and has been following the bill’s progress. Our previous story.

HB 1293 Alcoholic beverage control; consumption by underaged persons accompanied by parent or guardian.
William H. Cleaveland | all patrons … notes | add to my profiles
Summary as passed House: (all summaries)
Alcoholic beverage control; exemptions from licensure; consumption by underaged persons. Clarifies that a person in his residence may serve or give to his guests or family members lawfully acquired alcoholic beverages when (i) such guests are 21 years of age or older or are accompanied by a parent, guardian, or spouse who is 21 years of age or older, (ii) the consumption or possession of such alcoholic beverages by family members or such guests occurs only in such residence where the alcoholic beverages are allowed to be served or given, and (iii) such service or gift is in no way a shift or device to evade ABC laws. Currently, the law requires only that (i) such guests are 21 years of age or older or are accompanied by a parent, guardian, or spouse who is 21 years of age or older and (ii) such service or gift is in no way a shift or device to evade ABC laws.

Full text:
01/21/10 House: Presented and ordered printed 10104179D pdf
02/11/10 House: Printed as engrossed 10104179D-E pdf

The winter weather has driven us all stircrazy, but the snow is melting and the fields are drying up finally. Now it is time to start enjoying some outdoor activities!!!

Baseball & Softball sign ups ages 5-12 year olds ends this Sunday February 28. For those of you who have not registered yet, please call our office at 473-8326. We take Visa, American Express and Mastercard. Otherwise, you can still register online at our website botetourt.org/recreation through midnight Sunday. Ages 13 & up registration will continue until March 31 due to their late season start.

Botetourt Stars U6-U10 Academy Programs begins March 17 @ Greenfield Soccer fields. We have teamed up with Roanoke Stars Soccer to host these 8 week soccer academy programs. Each program is designed to teach technical player development the Botetourt Stars way. Call our office for more information 473-8326.

Recipe Swap Club, March 16 @ Fincastle Community Center. 6:00 PM This month’s theme is “Luck of the Irish”. Please bring your favorite Irish food, copies of its recipe and an extra container to take home some extras. We have a wonderful time eating and socializing each month. Please join us….bring your friends & family!

Fincastle Baptist Indoor Baseball Clinic. Saturday March 13 for ages 9&10 from 8:30 until 12:30. Ages 11 & 12 from 1:30 until 5:30. Join Roger White as he introduces the fundamentals of baseball. Cost of event is $5 and includes a Tshirt.

Adult Softball Registration begins March 1-30. Games will be played on Sundays starting April 18. Games will be played at Blue Ridge Park, Breckenridge and Cloverdale Elementary Schools. Double elimination postseason tournament will be played at the Botetourt Sports Complex. For more information call our office today or email Mark Moore at mmoore@botetourt.org

How to Take Better Outdoor Pictures with Bruce Ingram. This 2 day event will be held on Friday March 5 & Saturday March 6. Cost of this event is $25 made payable to the instructor. Join Bruce and learn how to take fantastic photos!

Crafters Club will have a Flower Arrangement class in March at Cahoon’s Florist in Fincastle. The date is TBA. Join us this month to learn how to make a beautiful arrangement. Cost of this event is TBD.

Submitted by Botetourt Parks and Rec

The Little Switzerland Cloggers, one of Virginia’s oldest clogging teams, will be performing at the Buchanan Theatre on Saturday, March 27 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10.00.

The award-winning team performs to a variety music genres including rock, pop, hip hop, country, blue grass and more. The group performs at local festivals, fairs and events like the Highland County Maple Festival, the Treasure Mountain Festival, the Highland County Fair, and Pulaskifest. Little Switzerland has also traveled to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee to the former Spring Fling event to exhibit, as well as the Annual Radford University Showcase in Radford, Virginia.  Several members also compete in the American Clogging Hall of Fame competitive circuit.

Director, Choreographer, and Instructor, Dorothy Stephenson, leads the group. Stephenson has an extensive list of credentials including 20 years in the clogging industry. She is also a Certified Clogging Teacher, and, in 2008, was nominated and inducted to the American Clogging Hall of Fame’s All American Team.

Submitted by Jo Eggers, Buchanan Theatre.

Ruthie P. Schmidt sent in this photo of a snowman who may have had too many to drink. “Our snowman, three weeks after building, had started leaning and we thought he looked intoxicated. So I got some beer cans and placed around him.  We found it hilarious!” she said.

Thanks, Ruthie!

Miss Virginia, Chinah Helmendollar, came to Lord Botetourt High School on Wednesday, Feb 24. She is the reigning Miss Virginia because she inherited the crown as a runner up. Miss Virginia 2009, Caressa Cameron became Miss America. Gallery

YOVASO (Youth of Virginia Speaking Out) members Justin Collins and Haley Miller introduced Miss Virginia. Helmendollar delivered a message about making the right life choices, setting goals and avoiding pitfalls like underage alcohol consumption and drugs. Though her personal platform is on Virginians with disabilities, the 23 year old JMU grad knew how to keep the crowd’s attention. A pretty brunette with deep brown eyes, many of the young men in the audience  were awe struck by the young woman in the tiara and sparkling Miss Virginia sash.

“Your friends know what you want to accomplish. Your real friends won’t try to trip you up with bad choices. They want you to reach success.” She used an an example of junk food and her quest for the crown. When I started to eat bad things my friends reminded me of my goal.” She drew that analogy to using alcohol and drugs. “If they know your goal is to get a car or the keys to your parents car, they won’t offer you a beer to drink. If you get caught as an underage DUI, you lose your license. Don’t let a bad choice close doors for you.”

When the crowd noise started to gain momentum after alcohol was mentioned, the theater grad waved her hand in a “come here” motion and instructed the student body to “Come on back, come on back,” until they quieted down.

Helmendollar, a Franklin County resident, will travel over 20,000 miles in her reign. Lord Botetourt is one of 19 schools selected for her to visit. She will go to James River High School in late March. The Miss Virginia pageant is held in Roanoke every summer and the Miss America scholarship program is the best available for young women Helmendollar told the audience.

At the end of the assembly, she posed with The Botetourt Buddies an LBHS club for special ed and general ed students to establish fellowship and friendship.

Andrew Tucker, John Bennett and Jordan Talbott ready to take on the next team in regions!

James River’s School Secretary Martha Alphin sent this along: Directions to Northwood!

Directions to Northwood High School
I 81 South to Exit 35 @ Chilhowie
Cross RR tracks and go straight through the red light, this puts you on Hwy 107
It is 8 miles to Saltville, when you get to the T-intersection (red light) in Saltville,
Turn left
Pass through town (keep to the left) and turn left at the Town Hall onto Stadium Drive
Pass in front of the school, turn left on far end of school to enter back parking lot
Game changes – due to weather conditions

Playoff games are delayed
Semi-final game is Saturday, February 27 @ 8 PM
Final game Monday, March 1st @ 8 PM