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Abigayle Lynch. Photo courtesy of Shannon Lynch

Shannon Lynch of Buchanan submitted this photo from the Civil War Re-enactment in Buchanan in April. This was Abigayle Lynch‘s first re-enactment, and she thoroughly enjoyed it!

Thanks, Shannon!

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

Uneasy is the Iron Throne occupied by King Joffrey...on his elbow scheming advisers vie for power.-- Publicity Photo courtesy of HBO, "Game of Thrones."

Hey, it’s Terrific Tuesday again! How’s everything  in your neck of the woods? Who besides me is tired of gray skies and rain accompanied by the weird sound of the 17 year cicada? I think I am in the twilight zone.

Off I go to spin a yarn for this bleak day.

I have been watching Game of Thrones again on HBO this season. HBO is my sinful extra cost. While I buy  meat and food with pink stickers,  I use the savings to afford HBO so I can watch Game of Thrones until Nucky Thompson and Boardwalk Empire return.

I absolutely love Game of Thrones. The rebirth of Dragons has driven me wild with visions of my childhood when I wanted so to find a dragon skeleton or even a single dragon tooth or scale. The scheming and politics in such an ancient place– well they remind me of something…Hmmm….

I have noticed a great parallel in Game of Thrones to local, state and national politics. Who has the King’s elbow and whispers sweet nothings into his ear,  is likely to be the one who is influencing policy. Look at the whole sordid John Edwards affair. Certainly those who whispered in his ear influenced him to his demise and of course in his own stupid quest for love in all the wrong places. But, they received a lot out of doing it allegedly in dollar terms.

Here, the King has changed in some respects, to a Queen. Who at her elbow whispers in her ear?  She ought to get out more and discover the truths of Botetourt County on her own. More than one is concerned she isn’t getting a true picture. You see,  I hear the whispers of others elsewhere throughout the county–I drive around here about 500 miles per month. Maybe some people who desire the spot at the elbow, but certainly voices that need to be heard so she can form her own viewpoint.

I Googled “Lewis and Clark” (as in proposed Legacy Trail)  46,900, 000 in .22 seconds and then Googled “Greenfield” 8,930,000 .53 seconds.  Which could matter most? In tourism dollars and the L&CLT, it could be built upon a love story. “William Clark visits Julia Hancock before Thomas Jefferson! News at 6.” Good copy, baby!  Not to mention historical context, which made me laugh when the two were compared.  Greenfield could be part of the L&CLT because they were contemporaries, but it will never have anything more than local historical context on its own. Lewis and Clark helped build a nation with a gritty and determined exploration. It has huge significance in a country beleaguered–  could it become a rallying point– who knows?

On the other hill, I am all for the Sports Complex– its time will continue to build. Diversity will help America expand in the future economy, I feel. This country loves sports and being entertained.  The lack of the new business end worries me after all of those budget meetings this year.  Many whisper to me that to add more smaller businesses at Greenfield would make sense. 40 or less employee companies.

But do the folk whispering at the elbow think so? Who is leading the charge to attract business here? That could be where all the difference is made.  We have “Winter is Coming” (lack of revenue) and what have we done to prepare besides raise some taxes ? Have we sent the  Knight’s Watch beyond the Wall while we fight amongst ourselves like they do in The Game of Thrones? Where will the alliances be made? Ahhh….

And the final part of this yarn. There are those fallen from grace that many, not as attuned to Botetourt County, do not know are no longer in power here (and from where I sit, I am not sure some of those fallen good old boys  have figured that out yet, neither). For example, two Republican chairs from a different viewpoint have now been elected in the party in so many years plus. For the folks who play in Richmond and Washington– that would be a good fact to keep in mind. The King has changed and you can bet there is someone looking for his elbow.

See you next week!

Old flags are burned in a particular way and for respect.

VFW Post # 1841- Daleville  The VFW post, located at 4902 Roanoke Rd. (US 220) is asking the community to drop off their old, tattered U.S. flags to the post so that they can be properly burned. The post will have an official flag burning ceremony on the day before Memorial Day holiday, which will be Sunday May 27th at 7:30 pm. The ceremony will be a joint effort between the VFW and American Legion post #240 (Troutville). Local scout troops will be assisting in the ceremony. Only U.S. flags will be burned.

– VFW Jerry Jacobsen, Post 1841

Photo courtesy of Sheila Feltis

Troutville Elementary fourth- and fifth-graders took a field trip to Jamestown on April 4. The classes enjoyed tours of the settlement. They also went to the glass house and ate lunch and dinner at the Jamestown Cafe.

– Submitted by Sheila Feltis

Photo courtesy of Sheila Feltis

In Botetourt County, two of the three towns have newsletters. Here is a  copy of the Troutville Tidbits is best accessed by the Town of Troutville website! There are limited paper copies at Town Hall and other spots, but be green and paper free with a web hit!

Shari Sutherland of Blue Ridge took these photos at Sunday’s re-enactment of the Battle of Buchanan. She writes, “Beautiful day, perfect weather — excellent all around.”

Photo courtesy of Pam Coloton

Pam Coloton shares this photo from the Civil War Weekend in Buchanan this past weekend, April 27-29.

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

Sally Eads is a noted Botetourt Historian.

As part of the Buchanan Civil War event April 28, the Friends of the Buchanan Library presented Fincastle’s Sally Eads. Eads, retired as a history professor at Virginia Western, spoke at the Wilson Warehouse on how both northern and southern women coped with the absence of their men. These women had to take full responsibility for feeding their families, clothing them and bringing in some income from farm crops. With horses gone to the war effort, often women even had to pull the plows themselves, as well as do everything else they did before the war. However, Eads concluded, their experiences gave them a confidence in their abilities they never had before. And resulted in saving family properties, too.

–submitted by Priscilla Richardson

Friends of the Buchanan Library will be having their semi-annual book sale this weekend during the Civil War events. Here at the library on Friday 9-5 and Sat 9-1. We have received many book donations from the community and this sale has a little of everything. We also will be selling fresh from the bakery Krispy Krème doughnuts on Friday. Come early for the doughnuts, coffee and book sale.

2012 Botetourt Golf Classic

The Botetourt County Chamber of Commerce held its Twenty-Second Annual Botetourt Golf Classic on Thursday, April 19, 2012, at Botetourt Golf & Swim Club, with a total of thirty-four teams participating. Following are results of the tournament: Grand Tournament Champion: Congratulations to First Choice Title & Settlement for winning the putt-off among the three flight winners. Flight Winners: Flight A – 1st Place: First Choice Title & Settlement, 2nd Place: The Downing Team; Flight B – 1st Place: The Mowles Team, 2nd Place: DownHome Pharmacy; Flight C -1st Place: Boxley, 2nd Place: BB&T.

Proceeds from the tournament are used to fund Chamber programs and services, including business seminars, promotional material on Botetourt County, and various membership services. The Chamber expresses its sincere appreciation to all the companies and individuals who supported the tournament through their sponsorships, donations and time. A special thank you to Botetourt Golf & Swim Club for hosting the tournament and to all the Chamber members who volunteered their time and talents to help make this year’s event one of the most successful ever.