The Town of Buchanan has been busily preparing for the 60th annual carnival conducted the previous 59 years by the Buchanan Volunteer Fire Department. In January, the town assumed the now defunct incorporated BVFD activities with the carnival. It has been renamed the Buchanan Community Carnival because, “It is a community event that reaches across the county and into other localities as well, ” said Mayor Larry Hall. He along with Town Improvement Manager Harry Gleason and Carnival Committee Chairman Cletus Newcomb, described the upcoming carnival preparations. Indeed the hours of time expended are evident in the accomplishments of the committee. Many people and businesses have contributed to the efforts of the carnival preparation.

“We have over 200 volunteers ready to help with the week long event which takes place from June 27- July 6 on the carnival grounds on Lowe street in the heart of Buchanan.” said Hall.

Cole Rides will provide the amusements rides and the town will man the french fry and food stands that are so popular with the visitors. The Midway will open nightly at 6:30 p.m. Chili Hamburgers, Hot Dogs and Fries with vinegar and  for dessert ice cream treats are among the food staples offered.

“Along the lines of upgrades and updates, much has been done since January including building, electrical, health and food safety improvements and painting, too. “The Ladies room has some fixture upgrades,”  Newcomb noted. “The French friers and hamburger have new hoods, cleaned and spruced up stands fill the bill for the safety and health concerns.” Even the yellow lights over the walking area are encased in safety cages. “We will have state of the art  weather reports from Twin Rivers Outfitters so no chances will be taken. People will be told to go to their cars or home if weather is a problem, “said Hall recalling last year’s Derecho.

Every school child in Botetourt took home a “five dollar off ” unlimited ride coupon in backpacks on the last few days of school. The Town is also offering an unlimited ride ticket for advanced ticket sales that will be only $17 if purchased by credit card by phone or dropping by the Town Office. The number to call is 254-1212.Advanced sales  are through June 27th.

“Games operated by our volunteers with better stuffed animals are also on tap,” said Newcomb.

Raffle tickets are also on sale for daily big prizes including cash, a gift card, a  pair of gas grills, a riding lawn mower and the top prize is $5,000 on the last night. The Town offices and local businesses like Buchanan Stop In, Bank of Botetourt branches and committee members.

Bands performing are another big item for the yearly Carnival. Here is the schedule of performers this year. Burning Bridges, June 27; Glenn Shelton, June 28; Justified, June 29 and Rebels of Rhythm Cloggers June 30; Moonshine Express, July 1, True Cadence, July 2; Virginia Carolina and New Corner Grocery Gang with High Voltages Cloggers July 3; Seven Mile Ford, July 4; Diamond Back, July 5th; Jason Harris and Friends and Rebels of Rhythm Cloggers, July 6th. Be sure to bring lawn chairs!

Fire Chiefs and Captains from over the years will be honored during the 60th anniversary Carnival this year. ( More to follow) The annual 4th of July Parade  at 5 and fireworks at 10 p.m.will also take place on July 4.

On three days including two Saturdays, new events for the daytime have been added:

June 29  at 4 p.m. there will be a demonstration of Fireman’s Skills on the carnival grounds beginning at 4 p.m.

July 4 th  the first annual Canoe and Kayak Race will be held at 2:30 p.m. for a 6 mile race to Arcadia. Twin Outfitters has partnered with the town for the event. Call 254-1212 04 540-261-7334 toregister in advance. Cost is $10 with own river vehicles or rent for $25 for a Kayak and $50 for a canoe. Registration online is www.canoevirginia.net.

July 6 Community Carnival Corn Hole Competition at 2 p.m. on the Carnival grounds. $5 per person -$10 per team. Prizes will be awarded.

Steve Vest is head librarian for Botetourt County Public Library System.

This year the Botetourt Town and Country Women’s Club is recognizing the dedication of some of the county’s employees that are a huge asset to the community. The event will take place on June 23rd at  the D. Geraldine Lawson Performing Arts Theatre  at 7490 Roanoke Road, Fincastle from 2-4 p.m. The public is invited. the event will honor  Steve Vest, the Library Staff and the Friends of the Library.

Botetourt County is very fortunate to have four library facilities under the leadership of Library Director, Steve Vest. In addition to the library staff, the Women’s Club will be recognizing the Friends of the Library which is a committee of volunteers that support Steve and his staff with fundraising efforts providing the summer reading program, guest authors and added library supplies among many other benefits.

The General Federation of Women’s Club is an international women’s organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. This organization is represented by the work in and around Botetourt County by the name of GFWC Botetourt Town and Country Women’s Club. The club currently has twenty-nine members and has been very active in the county by providing scholarships, supporting local fire and rescue departments, donating to the area food pantries, litter cleanups, as well as adopt-a-family through social services.

Submitted by BTCW. File Photo by Cathy Benson, Botetourt View

Guzi reviews the Communications System for Botetourt County.

Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle had been concerned for months about the radio communication system for Botetourt County. Earlier this year the system failed for  12 hours leaving deputies and EMS unable to communicate effectively with Dispatch. In Botetourt County, school buses are on the system as well.  Sprinkle  had understood after the 2014 budget sessions the solutions to the problem had begun, but recently learned that was not the case.  Parts on the current system were so old and antiquated that EBay was used to acquire them.

However after Sprinkle had talks with Fincastle Supervisor Jack Leffel and County Administrator Kathleen Guzi, a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors took place. On Friday June 14, the Board of Supervisors held a meeting to speed up the procurement  with a vote to allocate needed funds. It may still take up to  6 months due to the manufacture of the needed parts.  Leffel lauded the Sheriff for his concern and actions for the safety of Botetourt citizens and emergency and public safety employees.

The three Supervisors members present, Terry Austin, Mac Scothorn and Leffel voted to begin the process and approved the funding  for solving the communications problem. The cost is over $450, 000 for the needed upgrades, though all of it will not take place at one time. The contractor, Pro Com will be contacted to begin and a time line will be formed for the process, noted Austin.

The Roanoke Times has additional coverage of the radio system here.

Roanoke Cement Company (RCC), founded in 1950 and acquired by Titan America in 1992, has been a longstanding member of the Catawba Valley community. Located between the Appalachian Mountains and Jefferson National Forest, Roanoke Cement is privy to the energy-intensive nature of its industry and works assiduously to minimize its carbon footprint.

As a result of these efforts, Roanoke Cement is pleased to announce that we have earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR certification for the 7th consecutive year. The ENERGY STAR certification signifies that our industrial facility performs in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency and meets strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA.

“It is rewarding to know that small adjustments in air pressure, for example, can result in huge savings over the course of the year and add up to a tangible difference,” said Stephen Knox, Electrical Manager. “Energy savings benefits the company by reducing our energy costs while also contributing to environmental sustainability by reducing overall energy demand.”

Earning ENERGY STAR certification highlights Roanoke Cement’s status within the top 25 percent of cement industries in the nation with regard to energy performance. Since our first certification in 2007, Roanoke Cement has made countless strides to lower its energy consumption. Efforts include reductions in plant air usage, installation of VFD on a major fan, reduction in the use of heaters throughout the plant, and automation throughout the plant. These upgrades have resulted in more than 2 MW of reduction since our first year of certification.

Roanoke Cement understands and embraces its obligation to continuously lower energy consumption as we strive to be leaders in sustainability and environmental stewardship for our industry. Initiatives for achieving future energy reductions include:

• Reducing or eliminating the use of inefficient or unnecessary lighting

• Maximizing the use of alternative fuels

• Targeting other fans as candidates for VFD upgrades

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products as well as new homes and commercial and industrial buildings that meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the EPA.

For more information about Roanoke Cement Company, visit:

http://www.titanamerica.com/our_company/business_activities/roanoke_cement_company/

–Submitted by Jennifer Coleman

4H Livestock Daycamp is June 19th at Limestone Park

Botetourt County 4-H Offers Cloverbud Livestock Day Camp for youth ages 5 – 12

As school is dismissed there is a new season of vacations, adventures and water sports approaching but nothing says summer like camp! This year the Botetourt County Cooperative Extension Office is excited to be hosting a Cloverbud Livestock Day Camp.

The camp will be held on June 19, 2013 from 9:00 – 12:30 at Limestone Park in Buchanan. The camp will be available to students from the ages of five to twelve and will be designed to give participants a hands-on, safe, educational experience in agriculture.

Focus areas of the camp will include animal selection, animal health and animal showmanship utilizing goats and lambs. Students will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of animal agriculture and the importance of the industry to their families as consumers. Animal health and animal husbandry will also be featured topics. The camp will end with a segment in animal showmanship. Participants will be partnered with a senior 4-H member and have the chance to try their hand at showing sheep and goats with the assistance of an older member. Camp registration is free but participants are encouraged to bring a packed lunch for a picnic following the program. Please register by June 17th by calling the Botetourt Extension County Extension Office at (540)-473-8260. For registration or questions please contact Katherine Carter, Associate Extension Agent 4-H Youth, carterke@vt.edu or Joy Powers, VCE-Intern joy4@vt.edu .

TRAFFIC ALERT: EASTBOUND LANE OF ROUTE 738 IN BOTETOURT COUNTY CLOSED FOR BRIDGE REPLACEMENTS

SALEM – Beginning Monday, June 10, the eastbound lane of Route 738 (Webster Road) in Botetourt County will be closed to traffic between its western intersection with Route 460 and Route 658 (Willowbrook Lane). This work is part of a project to replace two bridges on Route 738 over Glade Creek.

Drivers will be directed to use eastbound Route 460 to access Route 738 at its eastern intersection with Route 460. Motorists should use caution and watch for signs directing traffic.

This project will be complete in November 2014.

For traffic related information visit www.511Virginia.org .

–Submitted by VDOT

Dan Naff and the 15th edition of Botetourt Living in front of the Chamber of Commerce’s newest business member, Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee Company another spot where a free copy can be obtained.

The 15th Anniversary Edition of the Botetourt Living magazine is out and is available at a number of Botetourt County.  They can be picked up at the Chamber office in Fincastle, all four of the County libraries, Digital Image Printing in Daleville, Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee Company and the Kroger store at Botetourt Commons to name a few.

For the second year it will also be available online by going to the Botetourt Chamber website homepage and clicking on the cover.  This will be activated in about .

“We hope you enjoy this year’s publication.  It has been the primary marketing piece for Botetourt County since it was first published in 1999,” said Dan Naff, the Executive Director.

WASHINGTON, DC – A member of Congressman Bob Goodlatte’s staff will be holding open door community office hours this month in Fincastle and Buchanan.  A staff member will be available to meet with citizens to discuss any problems they might have with the federal government and hear their views on current issues before Congress.

Fincastle Open Door Meeting
June 11, 2013 – 2nd Tuesday
9:00am-10:00am
County Courthouse
2nd Floor, Conference Room
Main & Roanoke Streets
Fincastle, VA

Buchanan Open Door Meeting
June 11, 2013 – 2nd Tuesday
10:30am-11:30am
Town Hall
19753 Main Street
Buchanan, VA

Submitted by Congresssman Bob Goodlatte

Bring an appetite and come on out on June 15!

The VFW post 1841 located @ 4902 Roanoke Rd. in Daleville is having a fish fry on Saturday, June 15th from 5:00-7:00pm. Either eat in at the post or take out. Whiting fish filet, fries, coleslaw, dessert and drink, all for $8.00. Tickets are sold in advance of date. Get your tickets from Louis Silcox @ 556-1625 or Alice Crowder @ 992-3360.

John Williamson is the Republican candidate for the Supervisors seat being vacated by Terry Austin.

Former Roanoke Gas president and CEO John Williamson is the Republican candidate for the Buchanan District Board of Supervisors seat. Incumbent Terry Austin isn’t running again; he’s the GOP candidate for the House of Delegates.

Williamson, a former Botetourt county administrator, remains as chairman of the gas company.

So far, no other candidates have emerged, although any Democrat or independent has until June 11 to get on the ballot.

Here’s a release from the Botetourt Republicans:

On Friday, 31 May 2013 Botetourt County Republican Chairman Jeff Stritesky notified the State Board of Elections that John B. Williamson III will be the Republican Candidate for the Buchanan District –Board of Supervisor’s position. “Mr. Williamson is a superb candidate, bringing a wealth of knowledge from an impressive career both in public and corporate service.” said Stritesky.

Since there was only one candidate the Party Canvas (Firehouse Primary) scheduled for June 3, 2013 has been cancelled.

The general election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 5th 2013. The Buchanan District consists of four precincts. They are the Buchanan Precinct (Buchanan Elementary School), Mill Creek Precinct (Wheatland Lutheran Church), Roaring Run Precinct (Cedar Bluff Baptist Church) and Springwood Precinct (James River High School.)

–submitted by Sandy Gates, Secretary