Come out to Ikenberry Orchards Store in Daleville on Saturday September 29th from 8-5pm. Eagle Rock Elementary PTA will be selling fresh homemade apple butter. Prices: Quart $7 pint $4, they make great gifts!

Submitted by Julia Adkins

Weather journalist Kevin Myatt

Weather journalist Kevin Myatt has issued this updated forecast for tonight’s James River football game (Lord Botetourt has a bye, or this would apply to the Cavaliers, too!):

UPDATED 5:15 p.m.:

Most of the rain has gone north of Southwest Virginia today, and storms have developed mostly to the south and east. Radar does show a few showers and patches of rain that might move through, so rain gear would still be wise, but many games will probably get in dry tonight.

Note: This is an update from this morning’s forecast, which said:

Rain chances have increased for tonight. A cold front has not made as much progress eastward as earlier projected, and clusters of showers and storms from Kentucky will move through Southwest Virginia later today, possibly lingering into this evening. So definitely take those ponchos and umbrellas to high school football games.

For more weather news, see Kevin’s Weather Journal.

Photo courtesy of Ashlee Washburn

The Farm Service Agency office in Bonsack is pleased to have three new staff members: Janet Entsminger, Jesse Hines and Ashlee Washburn.

Two of the new faces have been employed as Program Technicians. Program Technicians are the faces that farmers see when first entering the FSA office. There is a lot to do in an FSA office, and Program Technicians are a huge part of everything FSA does. Program Technicians specialize in customer service and provide details of FSA programs and help carry out the requirements of FSA programs.

The third new employee has been hired as a County Operations Trainee. The County Operations Trainee program was developed to help mold new employees into County Executive Directors (office managers for the Farm Service Agency). The trainee program is an opportunity to learn about the programs FSA administers as well as how to be an effective manager. Read more »

State and federal agencies will be conducting one of their regular “pulse tests” at Gathright Dam on October 3, which will result in water levels rising downstream — on both the Jackson River and, ultimately, the James River.

Here’s a release from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

State and federal agencies will use Gathright Dam near Covington, Va. to simulate a storm event on the Jackson River Oct. 3.

The test pulse, conducted by the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, will begin at approximately 6 a.m. and peak at 3,500 cubic feet per second.

The agencies advise people to be aware of the river fluctuations that will be caused by the test pulse. The pulse is expected to increase the water level in the Jackson River by up to five feet in some sections and up to three feet in the upper James River, but will remain several feet below flood stage. In some areas, the rate of the river rise may exceed two feet per hour. The river is normally at a constant height and flow during this time of year.

Gathright Dam will gradually increase water releases from 180 cfs to a maximum of 3,500 cfs by 9 a.m. The maximum surge will last two hours, and at 11 a.m. releases will begin to gradually decrease, and return to 180 cfs by 2 p.m.

The controlled release will test whether the pulses effectively remove algae and improve water quality by simulating natural storm events that occur during the late summer and early fall. This natural variability is reduced by the operation of Gathright Dam.

The pulses are part of a continuing Army Corps of Engineers study at the dam. The study will determine whether a change to current low-flow augmentation operations at the dam can improve the overall water quality and ecological resources in the lower Jackson River without affecting the existing fisheries in Lake Moomaw and the trout fishery below the dam.

A crash on Interstate 81 in Botetourt County on Thursday night was caused by a woman who fell asleep at the wheel, according to Virginia State Police.

Zach Crizer of The Roanoke Times has more on this story.

NEW TECHNOLOGY LAB – Dan Thompson of Daly Computers (left) demonstrates the “smart board” in the new Instructional Technology Lab at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, which was opened recently on the DSLCC Clifton Forge campus. The new lab will provide help for faculty with designing, developing and implementing varoius uses of technology throughout the curriculum, provide research opportunities, serve as a location for workshops, training sessions, and special projects related to instructional technology. The lab is located in Room 388, Scott Hall. Looking on are DSLCC President Dr. Richard Teaff (far right) and Social Sciences Associate Professor John Barnes (center).

Submitted by Judy Clark

Weather journalist Kevin Myatt

Lord Botetourt has a bye this week. James River hosts Alleghany at 7 p.m.

If you’re going to the game, here’s what weather journalist Kevin Myatt says to expect:

It will be a bit sticky for high school football Friday night, with temperatures holding mostly in the 70s. There will be some chance of showers or thunderstorms, though it appears the better chances by Friday night will be mostly to the south and east of the Roanoke and New River valleys. A spare poncho or umbrella for a passing shower might be a good idea.

Last week, we had photos from Lord Botetourt’s homecoming ceremony – plus paparazzi photos from the dance — and photos from other homecoming festivities.

The week before, we had photos from the James River homecoming game — plus paparazzi – and other homecoming festivities.

You can share your photos at news@botetourtview.com, or use the “share” tool to upload 10 at a time.

For more weather news, see Kevin Myatt’s Weather Journal.

Fincastle Troop #432 visits Layman Family Farms. Photo courtesy of Jill Albers

Fincastle Troop #432 attended the Girl Scout Weekend at Layman Family Farms on Sunday September 23, 2012.

The girls and their families found their way out of the 100th Anniversary Girl Scout Corn Maze, rode the haywagon to the pumpkin patch where they picked out their Halloween pumpkins, enjoyed wonderful food and played in the corn box, launch pumpkins and corn via the launch machines, rode the Cow Train and visited the petting zoo.

Pictured L to R: Myla L., Kjersten D., Bridgette W., Ashleigh J., Rachael H., Meaghan H., Emma J., Dani K., Taylor A., Hannah M.

Not Pictured: Harper P.

The troop is led by Jill Albers, Lorraine Lester and Elizabeth Hix

– Submitted by Jill Albers

Brownie Troop #432. Photo courtesy of Jill Albers

Brownie Troop #432 visited the family farm of fellow Girl Scout Rachael Hix on Tuesday, May 23.

The girls learned about the day to day upkeep of the animals, toured the remodeled barn and visited with the farm animals.

Thanks to the Dudley family for allowing our visit and the snack after.

Pictured L to R: Emma H., Lily W., Taylor A., Rachael H., Bridgette W., Harper P., Ainsley S., Myla L., Dani K., Lauren H.

The troop is lead by Jill Albers, Lorraine Lester and Elizabeth Hix

– Submitted by Jill Albers

The "Help Elijah Fight" T-Shirt is on sale to the community by order form before Oct. 5.

Troutville Elementary School will once again run in the 26th annual Bank of Fincastle 5 K- 10K race.  This year at the October 20 run, the school is running with a purpose besides participation. The students are dedicating the run to Elijah Dalton. Each TES T-shirt on the 102 runners from the school will feature a boxing glove that says on the  back, “Help Elijah fight,”  The PTA funds the participant T-shirts, but the T-shirt will be available to the community as a fundraiser for Dalton. Orders are being taken now with proceeds going to Dalton.

Elijah Dalton is a TES student fighting cancer. Over 2012 Easter holiday, he became ill and a Stage 3 Neuroblastoma was discovered in his abdomen. The tumor was so large doctors could not do surgery until the chemo shrunk the tumor enough for its removal.

Elijah is he the son of Tanya and Allan Dalton. The family has been going back and forth with Elijah to Duke Medical Center in North Carolina for treatment.

Dalton has had chemotherapy and the surgery he needed. He faces more chemo and radiation in the future.

“The T-Shirts for non participants are on sale. The school has sent home a flyer to all of our student body,” said PE teacher Bev Hart who along with guidance counselor Lynette Saville, spoke of the TES school family concern for Elijah. “Our T-Shirts are being made by Mojo Sportswear in Daleville. We had to get three bids and he gave us a really good deal. Mrs. Saville and I explored the colors signifying childhood cancer. So our run team shirts will have light blue and white on a darker blue background in tie dye.”

“Elijah came to Back to School night. Our students, teachers, parents and faculty function like a family,” said Hart who said she was unbelievably touched by his presence. “we are all concerned about Elijah and his family.” Saville has noticed the students want to help. “We are probably going to sell wrist bands as a fund raiser in support of him at the actual event, too.” The teachers are also sponsoring a “Denim Day.” Saville said, “Teachers will be able to raise funds by donating to an Elijah fund in order to wear denim as a less formal dress code for a Friday.”

T-Shirts are on sale to the community. The cost for an adult shirt is $14 and a non participating youth, $12. Contact Mrs. Stinnett, Saville or Hart at 992-1871 or preferably at bhart@bcps.k12.va.us with an order or to make a donation for Dalton. paid orders need to be in by no later than October 5.

Elijah Dalton in August at Troutville Park