Life Saver Award example

On Saturday May 18th Woodman of the World a fraternal organization will present awards for individuals who have either saved a life or have been instrumental in caring about others. Nominations are being sought for the awards in the two categories. Steve Bishop is hoping someone in Botetourt County may have a person in mind.

A few details on the organization are from the website. “Woodmen of the World members share a commitment to family, community and country.  Woodmen of the World helps build strong communities through patriotism, education, community betterment, diversity, and wellness. We’re dedicated to helping others. Woodmen of the World lodges donate money and equipment to police and fire departments, schools and other community organizations. We help families, too. When our members see a neighbor in need, we match their lodge funds, doubling the resources they have to help people in their communities.”

Bishop who is an agent with the organization said simply, “The first award is for some one who has saved the life of another.” The second,  “This is for an individual who assists others in a charitable manner such as driving the elderly to the doctor or providing them with hot meals, or for volunteer work at schools or at hospitals.”

To make a nominations contact Bishop at 540-562-0824 or email him at SGBishopjr@woodmen.org.

Visit www.woodmen.org

Pete Peters in the back ground explains Tournaments and hotel rooms to the Board of Supervisors.

The Botetourt Board of Supervisors approved the 2013-14 FY budget on Friday April 26. The total budget for the County including the school division is $90, 873,054.  The budget reflects 1.4% increase over last year. Public Safety was the largest increase category with a 6 % increase. Billy Martin voted “No” on the budget due to the funding mechanism.

The Tax rates are to remain unchanged for FY 2013-14. Personal Property $2.63, Machinery Tools $1.80; Public Utilities .72; Mobile Homes .72 and Real Estate .72.

Funding was restored to the Library system $20, 000; $1, 500 for election officers; $1,000TAP Domestic Violence, $500 Brain Injury Association, $500 for Mental Health. Mac Scothorn of the Valley District wanted some accountability on the use by Botetourt County individuals as well as information concerning the Buchanan Theatre and Attic Productions and the Botetourt County Chamber of Commerce. No changes were made in the fund in allocations for those particular organizations. Terry Austin defended the two arts and entertainment non profits as enetertainment and cultural enhancement for grown ups.

Parks and Recreation Director, Pete Peters answered questions on the for profit agencies that schedule events on tournaments at the Sports Complex. He acknowledged that the four organizations who promote do make money. He said, “We fully control some events like the 10 ten team NCCCA sports national championship.”  He pointed out the number of hotel rooms being filled in Botetourt is increasing in a continuing upward trend. 26% of sports marketing nights were in Botetourt County.

Jack Leffel said, “I do not question whether it is a great thing (on softball fields,) but my concern is will it get the motels and restaurants in Botetourt County? $175, 000 for a commitment to 1. 4 million through 2018. I would vote for broadband on the the use of that kind of money. We haven’t addressed broadband. I want to say we can meet that need  if it comes up. ”

“Do we have discretionary money in the designated funds that could be put in the CIP at the discretion of the board so that we could use it?” Austin asked. County Administrator Kathleen Guzi said that the county does. The Roanoke Regional Task Force  for expanded broadband in the region approached the supervisors  at the regular Board meeting on April 23rd.  A “what if”  scenario was presented by William Fralin of MFA and a representative sent to ask if Botetourt County was interested in joining the proposed task force hoping to expand broadband in the region.

Austin brought up the needs in schools CIP for Colonial Elementary as well as improvements at Lord Botetourt High School. “Right now we don’t have the needs, but we need to monitor our revenues to answer those questions and put in place a plan and a way to put it in motion.”

After Jim Crosby’s withdrawal from the race earlier today, there are now four contender left seeking the Republican nomination for the House of Delegates seat now held by Del. Lacey Putney, I-Bedford, who is retiring.

They are: Buchanan District Supervisor Terry Austin; Eagle Rock minister Zachary Hatcher, Zach Martin of Goode, a business development manager with Moore’s, and Moneta businessman Jim McKelvey.

The nomination will be decided in a firehouse primary on Tuesday, May 7. Botetourt Republicans vote at Lord Botetourt High School from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

McKelvey never had a formal announcement the way the other candidates did, so here it finally is:
Read more »

Kayleigh Duffy of Prestige gymnastics has National Day of Prayer in mind with a prayer chain at Botetourt Gymnastics.

“May 2nd is National Day of Prayer. Today through the last day in May we will be celebrating National Day of Prayer and you can put your prayer request on our “Prayer Chain.” said Kayleigh Duffy owner of the Prestige Gymnastics School located in Troutville at Mountain View Plaza and she added. “We invite anyone to bring in a prayer concern.” She used the following  for her quest to make a long chain for those with troubled hearts. “Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

National Day of Prayer  events on May 2 at noon, has numerous gathering sites in Botetourt County.  Read more here  for a list of sites.

On the morning of April 17 at Lord Botetourt auditorium the 2013 Regis Hair Show sponsored by the hair industry icon and hosted by Botetourt Technical Education Center ( BTEC) Cosmetology program rolled into Botetourt with dramatic flair. Regis Mega stylists Gary Longo of Boston, MA and LaShun Pittman of Washington, D.C. wowed the future stylists with dramatic color and cuts and loads of advice. Said the chirpy Longo to the  attendees, “You do not need an $800 pair of shears at your first station. Be practical when you go to hair shows.”

“Use professional color,” said Pittman,” and know your theory. You will be able to rock color.” Longo remarked about color, “Do you want it to whisper, talk or scream?”

BTEC students that participated are: Mika Negamine, Krista Rosina,Rebecca Aronson, Alyssa Murray, Rose Queen, Christen Stevens, Ashley Atkins, Heather Boothe, Allison Frantz, Ashley Gray, April Harper, Brooke Herndon, Kayla Sloggett. Tabatha McRoy is the instructor at BTEC.

The other attending schools were: ROTEC (Patrick Henry), Arnold R. Burton, Giles County, and Pulaski.

Larry Wood will retire from Farm Bureau after 33 years.

Farm Bureau  is loosing an Insurance Specialist Larry Wood, who was raised in Cloverdale and graduated from Lord Botetourt. He is going to retire in May after 33 years with Farm Bureau.  He began his stint  with Farm Bureau back in 1980. First he served in the claims department in Franklin and Henry counties. He became an agent and then came to Botetourt County first in management, then returning to the field as an agent (or specialist) which he has performed since 1996.

” I love the people. They are more like family than insureds. I know them as  and that is what they like. For someone to know them and their lives.”

What will he do when he retires? ” I want my hardest decision to be whether I sit on the dock or  get in the boat.” Wood lives at Smith Mountain Lake. He is an avid hunter and fisherman. “We just bought a camper, add that, too.” he said with a laugh. He is a member of a bass fishing team called, “Team Outlaw.”

“I want to thank all of my insureds who have given me much over the years. Also the Farm Bureau Board here in Botetourt has been very active and supportive to me. They are Michael Beahm, Jerry Henderson, Pete Sprinkle, Richard Thompson, Jay Etzler, Bubby Entsminger, Preston Wickline, Lee Cronise  and Pat Ryan. Also Raymond Hundley who is an honorary member. ”

He has a wife Wanda, two stepdaughters Lisa and Amanda and six grand kids to keep him occupied in the future. ” I won’t be leaving here– I have family here.  I will miss my clientele, the other specialists at Farm Bureau and the many fine  people I have known. “

Mark Twain said “the report of my death has been greatly exaggerated!” when he read his own obituary in the morning paper.  The folks over at Eagle’s Wings Antiques in Buchanan know the feeling!  “People seem to think we are closed, and that isn’t the case at all,” says Eagle’s Wings owner Diane DiPalma.  “The building where Eagle’s Wings Antiques is located is undergoing changes, but we are still here.  The building has been sold and will soon become The Buchanan MarketPlace, but the antique shop continues to be open, occupying a smaller space.”

Buchanan MarketPlace will be home to Slices Bakery and Coffee Shop owned by Phil and Cathy Roach, as well as Eagle’s Wings Antiques and to Tricia’s Treasures, owned by Tricia Kidd.  Other local vendors will be sought to supply locally produced foods like milk and eggs, honey, jams and jellies, etc.  When asked what kinds of baked good people can look forward to, Cathy replied, “Whatever you like!  Breads and cakes, of course, and bagels, muffins, brownies and my to-die-for smores bars.”  Cathy hopes that in time, they will be able to expand to providing soups and sandwiches as well.

Diane will continue to carry her beautiful vintage jewelry, clothing and accessories; the walls will still hold fine art, and there will be a cozy country kitchen area which includes coffees, teas, soaps, art pottery, furniture and smalls.  Those fun Leaning Tree greeting cards will still be available, as well as Howard’s furniture restoration products.

Tricia’s Treasures will carry, as it has for years, lovely things, including pattern glass, art glass, fine porcelain and other beautiful found objects.

We anticipate the MarketPlace opening in midsummer.  In the meantime, stop by and take advantage of the sale prices at Eagle’s Wings Antiques and Tricia’s Treasures as we continue to reduce inventory to fit our new look.  Spring-summer hours will be 10AM till 5PM Monday through Saturday, Sundays by chance.

Submitted by Tricia Kidd

A Thai eatery says it’s “coming soon” to 5983 Cloverdale Road — what some call U.S. 220 extension — near Bonsack. When we know more, we’ll let you know!

Nancy Eck and Liana Lawson offer free wellness classes through June.

On April 9 the first wellness class at Lawson Family Medicine in Daleville took place: Healthy Nutrition on a Budget. Tips were given for maintaining a healthy diet and nutrition by limiting fat, sugar and other nutrition busters while eating whole grains, fruits and vegetables,  fiber and lean protein. Healthy snacks like fruit, vegetables and hummus  include many nutrients that boost health. It allowed Lawson to introduce a new facet of preventative medicine through education and to introduce a new nurse practitioner, Nancy Eck.

Liana Lawson MD’s established a practice in Botetourt County several years ago. She is a local  woman who graduated from James River High School, went away to college and medical school and returned to Botetourt to practice and raise her family.  Nancy Eck, FNP-BCP is a new staff member at Lawson Family Medicine. She has been a nurse practitioner since 1997. She has extensive experience in Primary Care, Urgent Care and Substance Abuse. She is also trained in Clinical Hypnotherapy. Prior to coming to Daleville she was an instructor  at Radford University School of Nursing.  In New York she was Clinical Coordinator of multidisciplinary team for an AIDS designated center. She has also worked in hospital, Home Health and skilled nursing facilities.

Lawson said, “She has a great interest in wellness education and loves teaching. Our goal is to help our patients and others in the community reach their full health potential. I have known Nancy over five years in Salem, Va. She is one of the brightest and most caring NP’s I have ever had the opportunity to work with in the medical field.”

The following free wellness classes are to follow at 5:30 p.m. at the office :

April 23–Exercise for a Healthier Life

May 7– Smoking cessation– what is available

May 21–Stress management

June 4–Cholesterol- the good, the bad, the ugly

June 18– Diabetes

Lawson Family Medicine is located at 1454 Roanoke Road  across from Lord Botetourt. Phone for inquiries is 992-3600.

The third annual Career Day at  Colonial Elementary School took place on Tuesday April 9. Said Principal Tammy Tiggs, “The event features 23 people from many different professions.” Professions that ran the gamut from pilot to farmer and had many in between. To educator John Busher who is the Assistant Superintendent of Schools the best description was ” A career is something you do because you love it and a job is something you go to for money.”  He has been a teacher, principal and administrator.

NetJets pilot David Radkte is a Blue Ridge resident and has a son  at Colonial.  Radkte  flies a private jet for a living. He graduated from Virginia Tech in Engineering but developed a love for flying early on. A Northern Virginia childhood  introduced him to flying. He  soloed in a civilian plane at the age of 16 and has the job he loves– flying a jet for the past 20 years. The students in Mrs. Ketron’s Kindergarten Class had fun passing his hat to try on!

Bobby Prince actually attended the Botetourt County school system. He is an alumni of Colonial, Botetourt Intermediate and Lord Botetourt where he was a basketball stand out. He graduated from VMI and Virginia Tech and is a bridge engineer. He is also a coach which he loves and his two sons, Nathan and Owen go to Colonial. “Boom” he shouted as students fist bumped him. He offered words of wisdom in a power point:

“Effort and Focus= Success = Fun; Nothing worth a darn comes easy; Pressure makes Diamonds; Don’t be afraid of failure and expect success; Take a job you love and you will never work a day in your life.”

Roanoke City Police Dog Mia relaxed on the floor behind her officer, Sgt. M. E. Thompson. She is a 7 year old specially trained German Shepherd who lives with Thompson and his family. The conccept of team work is everything between the duo in the K9 patrol. He along with Roanoke City Officers C.M. Lovering and B.N. Kosko explained the notion of K9 patrol as well as being a police officer. Lovering told the students to make good grades and not to get in any trouble. ” I filled out an eight page application and  they even talked to people who knew me growing up and in school. ”

Colonial Student Leadership representatives stayed with the visitors at every site. Miss Virginia, Rosemary Willis was on hand to meet and greet. Being Miss Virginia isn’t a career, but the scholarship money for college and the contacts are important to her search for a career. She is a junior William and Mary majoring in Governments and Kinesiology.

Farmer Ned Jeter brought along some livestock for the day. He asked students in Mrs. Trout’s fifth grade class to define “Agriculture.” His definition: “Food, Fiber and Fuel.” Two black Angus calves were on display. The Jeter Farm located just south of Blue Ridge on US 460, is a farm for vegetable produce and a beef  cattle operation. The family has had a farm there for a number of generations. In the fall, they host a corn maze and  hundreds of school and preschool students as well.