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Who’s the best rec league coach in Botetourt County?

You tell us!

Last year, voters in our Best of Botetourt reader poll bestowed that honor on the Mountain Magic festival in Buchanan, followed by the Buchanan Carnival and Relay for Life.

In 2010 and 2009, voters picked the same three events, just in a different order: Then it was the Buchanan Carnival, followed by Mountain Magic and Relay for Life.

What will the top events be this year?

Voting is now open in our fourth annual Best of Botetourt reader survey.

You can find the voting form right here (or over in the right-hand rail.)

The voting is open through midnight on Sunday, March 11; we’ll publish the results in our April 20 print edition.

A few new wrinkles: To make it easier to vote, we’ve gone ahead and listed the top six finishers last year in the business categories — although, as always, you can cast a write-in vote if your favorite isn’t already listed.

If you’ve got someone or some thing you think should be recognized, feel free to start a campaign to drum up votes.

Is there someone or something who should be recognized who doesn’t fit into a category? We always have our “best thing not on this list.”

Happy voting!

Here’s who won in 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have Best Of contests underway in Salem, Southwest Roanoke County and the New River Valley.

Hannah McMillion, Garrett McMillion, Chandler Smith, Madison Brogan, Meradith Brogan, Malorie Brogan and Wyatt Mabe. Courtesy of Laura Mays

Laura Mays of Buchanan submitted this photo of the year’s first snow day off from school.

MORE BOTETOURT SNOW PHOTOS:
* Tanner and Matthew prepare for the ultimate snowball fight
* Pam Brooks shares snow photos from Blue Ridge
* The Whitings build a 15-foot-tall snowman
* Sandra Harter shares snow photos
* Kara Tice shares her snow angels
* Snow at Blue Ridge Springs Farm
* Snow with JB Cook
* A cabin in the snow
* Barbara Vinal shares snowy scenic photos
* The Prillamans share “Shorty the Snow King”
* Kye Ginono and his snowman
* Jacob Mulhauser’s snow man
* Scenic snow photos from west of Fincastle
* Kristin McNaron shares sledding photos from Cloverdale
* The Tickners share snow photos from Fincastle
* Rodney Spickard shares photos of snowy dawn on Country Club Road
* Photos of road conditions Monday morning
* The Blugermans in Troutville
* Ellen Prillaman in Blue Ridge
* Shawnee Leigh in Oriskany
* Cathy Benson’s snow photos

Do you have snow photos from around Botetourt? You can share at news@botetourtview.com or use the “share” tool to upload 10 at a time.

Back row, left to right: Hannah Falls, Reagan Harris, Michaela Hedrick. Front row, left to right: Haley Vanover, Skylar Shanks, Jaylen Clay. Courtesy of Jane Garnett

Buchanan Brownie Girl Scout Troop #958 held their annual cookie booth on Saturday, February 18th, at the Dollar General in Buchanan. They gained valuable customer service experience, and had a lot of fun as well. Each customer that bought cookies was given a handmade thank-you card.

Pictured Back left to right – Hannah Falls, Reagan Harris, Michaela Hedrick

Front left to right – Haley Vanover, Skylar Shanks, Jaylen Clay

Not pictured: Madelyn Newell

The troop’s leader is Melanie Shanks; co-leader is Audra Vanover.

– Submitted by Jane Garnett

A tornado watch is in effect until 10 p.m. for much of Southwest Virginia, including Botetourt County. Read more on Kevin Myatt’s Weather Journal blog.

From the watch:

TORNADOES…HAIL TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER…THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS

TO 70 MPH…AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS. …

REMEMBER…A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

The mother of a student at Lord Botetourt High School has filed a civil lawsuit in Botetourt County Circuit Court against the county’s school board and high school teacher Victor Terry.

Filed today by lawyer Harvey Lutins of Roanoke, the lawsuit by Elizabeth M. Daniel, mother of Jessie Wayne Gray, alleges that Terry placed his hands on the student during an interaction in the vicinity of Terry’s classroom on Nov. 18 and that this contact allegedly caused Gray to suffer “indignity, ridicule, physical and emotional stress, all caused and provoked by the unnecessary conduct of said Terry.”

Duncan Adams of The Roanoke Times has more on this story — including a copy of the suit.

The Graph of state/local funding downswing vs upswing.

The County Audit cam back with smooth sailing for the way Botetourt manages its money and keeps its books. Corbin Stone of Robinson, Farmer and Cox presented the annual Audit findings to the Botetourt Board of Supervisors. One clear picture from the variety of graphs is the deep decrease in state funding to education in Botetourt County pictured in the graph. Look at the top of the page. The orange line represents state funding and the blue line local funding. As the General Assembly has whacked the education funds across the state by millions, local funding is rapidly taking the place.

Over the past several years, Botetourt Schools have  whittled  millions out of the budget. But as School Board Chair Ruth Wallace stated  earlier this month, “We  have slashed to the bare bones.” The school budget faces a 2.5 million dollar short fall thus far in the budget process for 2012-13.

The rapidly shrinking state dollar is forcing many communities to impose  higher tax rates on real estate for instance to make up for the loss, while the state continues to tax at the same rate with out returning  much to the local arena.

Sometime in the near future a new County Administrator will be named for Botetourt. All of the  funding shortfalls will soon have a new audience and solutions will have to be found.  Stone commended the Board and county for their fiscal policies but he also commented he new there are rough times ahead.

Botetourt Tourism has been looking for sites for landing the film location for “Wish You Well.” Gwen Ikenberry offered the “Ikenberry Cabin” in Troutville. The cabin is almost two hundred years old. Located in a meadow in the shadows of the mountains, by a beautiful orchard.  The site holds privacy and beauty in one spot.  Great for filming!

CHARACTER COUNTS! is a national program that has been embraced by Botetourt County CHARACTER COUNTS! Leadership Council, Botetourt County Schools, Botetourt County Recreation Department, Botetourt 4-H, Botetourt Chamber of Commerce, and private businesses and civic organizations in an effort to promote the importance of good character. CHARACTER COUNTS! teaches the six pillars of character – respect, caring, trustworthiness, fairness, responsibility, and citizenship.

The Botetourt County CHARACTER COUNTS! Leadership Council has been in existence since 1999. Its mission is to facilitate and foster the development of more trustworthy, respectful, responsible, fair, and caring citizens within our community. The council envisions a community where all citizens personally embrace the principle that character counts.

If you are currently involved in your community and would like more information on becoming part of the Leadership Council please contact Angie Crawford at 540-473-8326 or acrawford@botetourt.org.

– Submitted by Sheila Lythgoe

Buchanan Library activities for March:

March 7th-Free coffee and pastries-1st Wednesday of each month- 9:00 am -11:00 am

Story time with Ms Jackie-every Tuesday @ 11:00am- Come and enjoy books, songs and crafts. No signup is needed

Book Club is reading “I think I love you” by Allison Pearson- the next discussion will be: March 28th-10:00 am-All are welcome, come by and get your copy

Our sewing circles will meet March 7th 9:00 am-11:00am and March 22nd 5:00 pm-7:00pm. All types of sewing, knitting, crocheting or crafts are invited. Sit, work on your projects and chat with each other. Lots of fun! No signup needed

The monthly movie is “Puss in Boots” March 1st @ 4:00 pm. No charge-snacks provided

Monthly craft time with Jackie is March 13th. 3:00pm-4:00pm. Kids K-5. Registration is required. We will be making a Spinning Sun-catcher to welcome spring. Call 540-254-2538 to register or come into the library

– Submitted by Janet Buttram

Botetourt County Horseman’s Association hosts Dr. Julia Hecking as guest speaker on advanced horse therapies on March 6.

Botetourt County Horseman’s Association (BCHA) will host guest speaker, Dr. Julia Hecking, DVM, of Blue Ridge Equine Clinic, on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at their monthly meeting held at Bellacino’s in Daleville at 7 p.m. Hecking will be talking about advanced horse therapies such as IRAP, PRP, and Stem Cell that can be used on horses to aid in recovery of injuries and chronic illnesses. As the world of equine medicine evolves, new and innovative therapies have become an interest to horse owners on a wide scale, and Blue Ridge Equine Clinic in Staunton will speak about these new strategies and other alternatives in treatment and answer questions following the presentation. This event is open and free to the public. For more information about Blue Ridge Equine Clinic, visit them on the web at www.blueridgeequine.com.

BCHA is a non-profit organization promoting interest in the equine and education towards better horsemanship. The organization meets every first Tuesday of the month at Bellacino’s.

– Submitted by Botetourt County Horseman’s Association