July 25, 2008Jamison Design The finishing touches on the new complex prior to the house removal on the front of the lot about a month ago. July 24, 2008New Kroger opened this morning to a packed crowd The old Kroger at King Street and U.S. 460 will now be closed. The outlying strip mall shops in Kroger Square have yet to open. July 23, 2008Local florists give smiles for National Smile Week Karen Peery, Kathy McClung, Tiffany McClung, Taylor Peery, Jacob Peery, Rita Young, McKenzie Martin and Hollie Martin worked diligently to bring smiles to the elderly at three area resident facilities. July 22, 2008Walgreens rezoning will return after changes Continue reading "Walgreens rezoning will return after changes" » July 21, 2008House Moved Sunday July 18, 2008Bland Painter's 1933 Dodge RamTruck! The cat's meow! Greenwood and North Star restaurants now featured Greenwood Restaurant and North Star restaurant are the latest two featured Botetourt Cat's Meow landmarks.  Continue reading "The cat's meow! Greenwood and North Star restaurants now featured" » July 17, 2008Bikers come through on the Transamerica Route established in 1976
 The TransAmerica bike riders are part of the summer tourism business coming through Botetourt County. Luckily for Thriftway Market in Troutville, they stop and make purchases. This couple, Krystin Bergman and Nick Boekelhide, is heading for Oregon. They're on their honeymoon. They left Yorktown five days ago and and hope to be in California to begin graduate school in Pasadena in September. Bland Painter, the proprietor of Thriftway Market, keeps a log book for hikers and bikers to sign on the front checkout. He said: "We are lucky that both have to come past us on the bike route and Appalachian Trail." July 7, 2008More businesses announced for Bonsack KrogerBusiness writer Jenny Boone has an item over on her retail blog, The Storefront, about the growing list of businesses planned for the new Bonsack Kroger complex, which is set to open sometime in late July. It's just over the line in Roanoke County, but a lot of Botetourt folks in the Blue Ridge and Bonsack areas drive right past it, so they're sure to be interested. Our last post about developments at the Bonsack Kroger was July 1. It announced that the fuel center there opens on Wednesday. July 4, 2008Happy "4" of July Traffic on I-81 was light today for the holiday and yes, gas prices in Botetourt have jumped above $4 per gallon as evidenced at Brughs Mill Exxon near Troutville. July 3, 2008Photos from dog show at Blue Ridge Vineyard We promised photos from the recent dog show at Blue Ridge Vineyard and Steve Jones has come through for us. You can take a look at some of the pretty pooches in this photo gallery. Our previous post about the event was June 28. So do you have photos from events in Botetourt County? If so, you can share them at news@botetourtview.com just like Steve did. July 1, 2008Kroger fuel center at Bonsack to open July 9Folks in the Blue Ridge and Bonsack areas will soon have a new place to gas up: Business writer Jenny Boone reports the fuel center at the new Bonsack Kroger will open July 9 -- before the grocery store itself opens. For details, see The Storefront retail blog. Our last post about the Bonsack Kroger was May 21. June 30, 2008Rare find at Blue Ridge quarry estimated at 500 million years old Boxley Aggregates today displayed the rare intact head of a stromatolite found last month in the Blue Ridge quarry operation. It looks like a turtle shell. Matter of fact, that is what Richard Benge the operator of the loader working in the quarry thought it was when he dug the fossil out of the cliff side. Ions ago the sea coast of Virginia was along the ridges of mountains in our area. "Stromatolites were among the first single cell life forms blue green algae and they ived in a colony," explained Dr. James Beard of the Virginia Museum of Natural History where the fossil is headed. When we first saw this last week, we were flabbergasted." He said prior to their development the atmosphere was carbon dioxide and they actually oxygenated the earth. Continue reading "Rare find at Blue Ridge quarry estimated at 500 million years old" » June 28, 2008Rare Stromatolite discovered in Blue RidgeRare find in local Blue Ridge gravel mine: Stromatolite is a viewed as a powerful crystal (or as a rock) by many New Age enthusiasts and formed from ancient blue green algae. Dog show at Blue Ridge Vineyard a howling success Last Sunday hounds and horses came to the show at Blue Ridge Vineyard. But the contestants were large and small from a Silky Terrier to an Irish Wolfhound. A Dachsund dressed as a hot dog won the costume contest. Our last post about Blue Ridge Vineyard was June 17.
June 25, 2008Farm Bureau opens new building Farm Bureau officials happily cut the ribbon on their new building The ribbons are cut and Farm Bureau has spent to day feeding hot dogs and meatballs to the public in celebration of the new office building on Roanoke Road north of Daleville. Out on Roanoke Road on US 220 north near Ashley Plantation, Farm Bureau has had a building for many years. Last year it began construction of a new building and today, had a ribbon cutting ceremony to dedicate the new building. Farm Bureau is the largest group insurer in the Virginia Anthem system and provides home and auto insurance as well to thousands of Virginians. It also helps with many facets of farming including Young Farmer groups. The public rolled into the parking lot and dined on hot dogs, chips and drinks and farm decorated cakes. They offered the famous Farm Bureau BBQ meatballs as an appetizer as well.Freebies like cups, pens and pads were given under a tent and door prizes including gas and meal cards. June 23, 2008Bank of Botetourt recieves top performance recognition  US Bankshares Magazine named the Bank of Botetourt Bankshares Inc. one of the top performing financial community banks in the country in the June 2008 issue. They are among the 200 best sited by Joseph Rosta, the author of the piece, for their three year performance and avoiding the subprime mortage enticements. H. Watts Steger, III, Chairman of the board and CEO said," We are pleased to be recognized as one of the top performing banks by the magazine..." President of the bank, G. Lyn Hayth commended his staff as being committed to the success of the bank. Bank of Botetourt has sites through out Botetourt, Roanoke and Smith Mountain Lake. Pictured here are members of the senior management team at the Bank of Botetourt. June 19, 2008Dollar General begins in Fincastle The grading crew and dozers are on site at the corner of Herndon Street and U.S. 220 in Fincastle. Todd Wampler of Wampler Realty is the Realtor who closed the land deal and said a company out of Richmond is grading the land and building the new Dollar General building for the nationally know retailer. It is the first new construction of a retail building in Fincastle for several decades. Dollar General is under construction. June 18, 2008The General Lee is for sale! June 17, 2008Blue Ridge Vineyard to host community pet show on SundayBlue Ridge Vineyard in Eagle Rock invite folks to bring their dogs, cats, puppies and kittens for a community pet show this Sunday from 2 to 7 p.m. And you can sip some Botetourt County wine while you are there. We have details on the Happy Wag pet blog. We had previous posts about Blue Ridge Vineyard on April 21 and June 16. June 16, 2008Agritourism workshop will be June 25
Chicken ranchers are selling chickens this weekChicken anyone? The chicken ranchers featured last week are taking orders. Angie LeNoir said, We last had a post about the chicken ranchers on April 17. June 11, 2008Long and Foster spends the day at the League for Animal Protection  Members of the local Daleville branch of the real estate firm Long and Foster spent Wednesday on a service project painting and sprucing up the League for Animal Protection, a no-kill shelter in Fincastle. Lewis Sifford, Rick Hillman and Shelly Dalton of Long and Foster work on a dog kennel repair for the LAP. Continue reading "Long and Foster spends the day at the League for Animal Protection" » June 10, 2008Planners approve zoning--Walgreen's one step closer “Stacking” was the key word of the night in the Planning Commission discussion Monday night June 9 on rezoning that would allow a new Walgreen's. Buzz Bradbury the owner of Princess and Princess Daycare points out the problems he sees with buses and the new entry exit system through the proposed Walgreen's Continue reading "Planners approve zoning--Walgreen's one step closer" » June 1, 2008Splat Shop holds grand re-opening Sunday The fans of paintball came out to visit the Splat Shop in Fincastle on Sunday June 1. Owners Billy Draper and Tommy Blankenship of the Splat Shop in Fincastle Continue reading "Splat Shop holds grand re-opening Sunday" » May 24, 2008Twin Rivers Outfitters open for business Want to canoe or kayak the James this weekend? Try Twin Rivers Outfitters' new canoe barn on the James River at Buchanan! Continue reading "Twin Rivers Outfitters open for business" » May 23, 2008When's the big rush at the Bonsack Wal-Mart?Why are the lines so long at some Wal-Marts? Business writer Jenny Boone investigates -- and comes up with an interesting answer on her retail blog, The Storefront. What's particularly interesting for Botetourt readers -- Wal-Mart cites its Bonsack store as an abberation of sorts. It's big rush comes not in the evenings, like others, but at 1:30 p.m. Why? You'll have to read Jenny's blog, right here. May 22, 2008Three Li'l Pigs celebrates five years on Friday
"On Friday May 23, get on by and see if you are lucky number 5!" The restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Stay tuned for more! May 21, 2008Bonsack Kroger may open in JulyThe Kroger under construction just over the county line in Bonsack may open as early as July. For details, see business writer Jenny Boone's latest post on her retail blog, The Storefront. We had a previous post about what's planned for the entire complex there in Bonsack on May 18. May 18, 2008Arby's wants to build at Bonsack KrogerWe know many folks in the Blue Ridge and Bonsack areas have been keeping a close eye on what's being planned just over the county line at the new Kroger Square at Bonsack. Well, here's the latest: Arby's wants to locate there, too. Business writer Jenny Boone has the latest in her retail round-up column today. Our last post about developments at Kroger Square at Bonsack was April 28. May 9, 2008Snapshot: Betsey and Chris Head at Home Instead Senior Care Betsey and Chris Head of Home Instead Senior Care have announced a Care Giver contest but they also sponsor Senior Santa trees at Christmas and they have a love for taking care of the elderly. They live in Botetourt County and the business is located on Cloverdale Road. Chris Head sees the aging baby boom as the greatest challenge to future health care. Betsey believes delivering reliable and well trained caregivers is what gives their business the edge. Currrently they employ 250 caregivers in Lynchburg and Botetourt. April 30, 2008Fish Wagon stops in Troutville There are a lot of ponds and lakes around Botetourt and the Fish Wagon out of Arkansas stops by several time per year bringing stocking fish. On Wednesday morning at Southern States in Troutville the truck waited for customers. Larry Barnhill drives the Fish Wagon to Virginia complete with oxygenated tanks that he travels to various stops along the way. Cavalier Automotive owner responds to gas prices In The Notebook last week, Dwayne Yancey commented on the rising gas prices in Botetourt and Larry Ceola at Cavalier Automotive contacted the Botetourt View about how to save on gas mileage in the face of the rising prices! Larry Ceola at Cavalier Automotive in Cloverdale sees alternatives to high gas prices in better gas mileage. Continue reading "Cavalier Automotive owner responds to gas prices" » April 28, 2008Farmer's Market opened Saturday Hardly a parking spot could be found as the Botetourt Family Farmer's Market opened to rave reviews at Ikenberry's in Daleville on Saturday. People milled in and out of the porch at Ikenberry's in a steady stream where the following Botetourt farmers are going to be providing produce, meat and dairy products. Three months ago these growers formed to bring locally and naturally grown foods to their own community. Stores lining up for Kroger Square at BonsackThe Kroger store under construction at Bonsack isn't in Botetourt, but it's close enough that some folks in Botetourt -- especially those in Blue Ridge -- will be interested. Business writer Jenny Boone has an update on just what stores are lining up for the new development. April 25, 2008Bonsack to get new nTelos storeThis isn't in Botetourt but it's close enough that a lot of folks in Blue Ridge will be interested. Business writer Jenny Boone reports on her blog, The Storefront, that nTelos will be opening a store at the new Kroger Square that's under construction in Bonsack, just over the line in Roanoke County. For more, see Jenny's blog. We had a previous post about the Bonsack Kroger on April 14. April 21, 2008Wine event in Eagle Rock worth the drive Blue Ridge Vineyard in Eagle Rock held a wine tasting and musical event on Saturday afternoon April 19, and even with rain showers, attendance was good. Robyn Dobbyns singing "Mr. Sandman" at the Blue Ridge Vineyard in Eagle Rock Continue reading "Wine event in Eagle Rock worth the drive" » Gas prices hit $3.59 in BotetourtI spent much of Saturday criss-crossing Botetourt County -- from a rec league game in Buchanan to the Attic Productions youth show in Fincastle (photo gallery here) to errands in Daleville -- and couldn't help but notice the price of gas. At the two gas stations just off the interstate at Exit 162, gas was an eye-popping $3.59 a gallon. Just a few miles down the road -- but probably more miles than a tourist would venture -- the price was 20 cents a gallon cheaper. Prices like that could almost make the other prices seem a bargain,eh? Here are some of the prices I found -- hardly a comprehensive survey, but a good record of these times we live in: April 18, 2008Traffic advisory: Gander Mountain opens TuesdayThis isn't in Botetourt, but anyone from Botetourt driving south on Interstate 81 and planning to get off at the Hollins exit onto Plantation Road will want to know this: The big new Gander Mountain outdoors store opens Tuesday. Not sure what kind of traffic it will generate for its opening, but traffic lights recently went up at that interchange to prepare for it. Business writer Jenny Boone has more on her blog, The Storefront. |
"Every fifth table gets a meal for free!" So said Bill Gaul the owner of the eatery that relocated to Botetourt County five years ago to Botetourt Commons on Kingston Drive in Daleville.