The James River swim team travelled to Bristol over the weekend for an invitational meet at Virginia High School. The girl’s team finished in 1st place, the boy’s finished in 5th place and the combined teams finished 3rd overall.

Angela Smith shares this photo gallery.

Do you have news or photos involving people or events around Botetourt? You can share at news@botetourtview.com.

Eagle Rock Library Events for February 2011

1 Tues. Storytime. Join us as we read stories about Valentine’s Day. After our stories, we will create Valentine’s Day wreaths to hang on our doors. Sign up in advance by calling 540-884-3880. 10:30am

3 Thurs. Monthly Movie (for all ages): Despicable Me. Hey kids! Join us after school for a free showing of Despicable Me, an animated comedy about an aging super villain’s falling popularity at the hands of a younger super villain and three young orphan girls. (Rated PG/95 minutes long). Free popcorn and bottled water will be provided. 2:45pm.

3 Thurs. Silver Surfers: Basic Computers and Internet for Seniors. Do you want to learn computers like the young people? Are you afraid of computers? Join other beginners as we learn how to use a computer and the basics of searching the Internet. Sign up in advance by calling 540-884-3880. 6:00pm (in our computer lab)

4 Fri. Craft Time: Glass Bead Sun Catchers. Hey kids! Join us and make cool sun catchers out of colorful glass beads. Then, hang them in your window and watch the sun illuminate the colors. Sign up in advance by calling 540-884-3880. 2:40pm

8 Tues. Storytime. Join us as we read about cowboys! For our craft, we will color fuzzy pad pictures! Sign up in advance by calling 540-884-3880. 10:30am

10 Thurs. Eagle Rock Library Book Club. Join us as we discuss William Trevor’s The Story of Lucy Gault. We will also hand out our March selection. 6:00pm

11 Fri. Craft Time: Zebra Face Valentine’s Day Bag. Hey kids! Join us and make a cool holder for your Valentine’s Day cards and candy that looks like a cute zebra face! Sign up in advance by calling 540-884-3880. 2:40pm

15 Tues. Storytime. Join us as we read stories about honesty and the importance of telling the truth. For our craft, we will be finger painting George Washington’s famous cherry tree. Sign up in advance by calling 540-884-3880. 10:30am

18 Fri. Craft Time: Make Your Own Terrarium. Hey kids! Join us as we create tiny living, breathing worlds using glass jars, soil, rocks, plants, and miniature people figurines. Sign up in advance by calling 540-884-3880. 2:40pm

22 Tues. Storytime. Join us as we read stories about different shapes. After our stories, we will play a fun bingo game using the different shapes we learned about! Sign up in advance by calling 540-884-3880. 10:30am

24 Thur. Introduction to Social Media for Small Business: Facebook and Blogs (Computer Workshop). Join us in our computer lab for a free evening class that will teach you how Facebook and Blogs can act as free websites for your business. Social media is more popular than ever and your business will benefit from using these free websites! Sign up in advance by calling 540-884-3880. 6:00pm (in our computer lab)

25 Fri. Craft Time: Make a Melting Snowman. Hey kids! Join us as we create cool and fun pictures of snowmen – that are melting! Sign up in advance by calling 540-884-3880. 2:40pm

28 Mon. Friends of the Eagle Rock Library Monthly Meeting. Come join the Friends Group and learn how you can help raise funds and support for the library. 6:00pm.

submitted by Michael Hibben

From Genevieve Goss:

Regrettably, I’m postponing the BCP Meeting scheduled for Monday at the Fincastle Library Our speaker, Sara Hollberg, has just cancelled due to illness. When she is able, we’ll work out a re-scheduled date for this meeting. This may work out better, as I see the words “freezing rain” mentioned in th NWS forecast for tomorrow!

“Thanks for your understanding in this matter,” said Goss.

Genevieve Goss

Estelle Avner, Executive Director of the Bradley Free Clinic in Roanoke, will be the featured speaker at the February meeting of “Sharing God’s Grace” at Wheatland Lutheran Church, Buchanan, on Tuesday, February 15.  The ladies of the church will provide lunch at 12 noon, followed by the program.  The topic of the talk will be “Filling Gaps for the Uninsured.”  Discover what assistance this free clinic offers to those in need, including medical, dental and pharmacy services.  Bring friends and neighbors for an hour or so of good food, fellowship, and information.  A free will offering is requested.  Please call 992-5403 to make a reservation and to get directions to the church.

Historic steam locomotive C&O 614 on display for a limited time.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day

(Roanoke, VA)—The Virginia Museum of Transportation is hosting a day of fun and excitement for all ages: Train Lovers Saturday on February 12, 2011, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The event kicks off a rare opportunity to see three of America’s steam locomotive powerhouses as the C&O 614 joins Museum favorites N&W 611 and N&W 1218 for a limited time. Check www.VMT.org for details and an activities schedule.

Highlights of Train Lovers Saturday include:

• Discounted admission: $5 for all ages all day.
• Opening Day for the new exhibit: Thoroughbreds of Steam: N&W 611 and C&O 614, the Pinnacle of Steam Locomotive Technology. These rival passenger locomotives have never before been seen together; in fact, the C&O 614 has not been publicly displayed anywhere in a decade.
• Special guest, renowned railroad artist Andrew Fletcher from California, will display a collection of his work. His prints will be on sale and he will be available to sign prints for visitors, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Kids’ activities: 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• Roanoke Valley Model Engineers Open House: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., featuring an HO track that kids can run, plus a model sale. The group’s ON3, HO, and N scale layouts are only open a few times each year, located in the Museum’s basement. The entrance is on the back of the Museum just off the Rail Walk and around the corner from the Jupiter Rocket.
• Shop for your train lover’s valentine gift: all rail-related merchandise in the Museum Store is 15% off all day.

Both Norfolk & Western J 611 and Chesapeake & Ohio J-3a 614 were among the last steam engines to pull passenger trains in America. Both share the same 4-8-4 wheel arrangement, both represented the crowning technological achievement of their respective builders, and both are the last remaining examples of their class. The Museum’s Norfolk & Western Class J 611 was designed and built in 1950 by the N&W in its Roanoke Shops, while the C&O 614 was the last commercially manufactured 4-8-4, built by Lima (OH) Locomotive Works in 1948.

The exhibit is a joint project of the Virginia’s Rail Heritage Region partners. Thanks to Greenbrier Express Company for the loan of the 614, and to Norfolk Southern for moving the locomotive. The 614 will travel to the C&O Railway Heritage Center in Clifton Forge, VA at the end of April.

About the Virginia Museum of Transportation

Home to two of the most powerful steam locomotives in existence today—the N&W Class A 1218 and the N&W Class J 611—the Virginia Museum of Transportation regularly attracts visitors of all ages from across the U.S. and the world. Through exhibits, artifacts, and an outstanding collection of rail equipment, cars, trucks, airplanes, and more, the Museum tells the rich story of Virginia’s transportation history. 

The Virginia Museum of Transportation is the Official Transportation Museum of the Commonwealth of Virginia, but receives no state funding. In 2010, the Museum was named Non-Profit Arts & Culture Small Business of the Year by the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce. The Museum is located in the historic N&W Freight Station at 303 Norfolk Avenue SW, Roanoke, VA 24016. Open Monday-Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 1-5. 540/342.5670. www.vmt.org

Submitted by Fran Ferguson.

With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, quartets from The Virginia Gentlemen Barbershop Harmony Chorus are preparing to spread love all over the Roanoke Valley. On February 14th (a Monday), Singing Valentine’s will be delivered by tuxedo clad barbershop quartets, members of The Virginia Gentlemen Barbershop Harmony Chorus.

Their delivery area includes Botetourt County.

Arts writer Mike Allen has more details on his Arts & Extras blog.

If you get a singing telegram, be sure to share photos at news@botetourtview.com!

The Fowler boys with Monster Mutt in Daleville at Advance Auto

It’s Monster Truck weekend at the Roanoke Civic Center. On Thursday afternoon the Monster Mutt came to the Advance Auto  on Roanoke Road in Daleville. Families with children dropped in to see the big truck. It featured a tail, ears and yes even a little red tongue sticking out of the  hood.   Here are three youngsters from Botetourt who posed by Monster Mutt.  From Right to left: William, Andrew and Jacob Fowler.

Due to widespread complaints, Virginia Tech is scrapping its plan to restructure the Virginia Cooperative Extension program and starting over.

“We will be, as one member of the General Assembly described it, ‘going back to square one,’” Tech President Charles Steger wrote in a letter to a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

It’s unclear what this means in Botetourt, where a letter-writing campaign is already underway to keep the Botetourt office from being consolidated with those of neighboring counties. (See our posts from Jan. 26 about the Virginia Farm Bureau Women’s Committee and Jan. 18 about the 4-H Horse and Pony Club.)

The Roanoke Times has more on this developing story.

Early this morning at 7:01 a two vehicle accident  was reported on  US 220 the Botetourt Rd. near Buhrman Road north of Eagle Rock.  Both lanes, north and south, were blocked for a couple of hours. The information was reported by the Botetourt Sheriff’s Department.  According to the report, one of the two vehicles caught fire and was extinguished. One person was transported to Allegheny Regional Hospital. No word on the condition of the victim.  Icy road conditions were occurring in t he area during the  early morning hours.

Jackie Moffitt shares this photo gallery from the Lord Botetourt-Hidden Valley boys basketball game.

She’s a Hidden Valley fan, so most of the photos concentrate on the Titans, but you can spot some LB players in most of the photos.

Do you have news or photos involving people or events around Botetourt County? You can share at news@swo-co.com.