From left to right they are:Ian Rich, Rachel Smith, Lorien Griffith, Matthew Smith, Megan Dixon and Haven Fredrich.

They were awarded as a Memory Master in Classical Conversations (CC). This means that they were tested on their memory of over 400 pieces of information which included….
* 161 events and people in a chronological timeline
* 24 history sentences to “put some flesh” on our timeline
* 44 U.S. Presidents
* 120 locations and geographic features in Africa, Europe, and the Old World
* 24 science facts (including classifications of living things and each continent’s highest mountain)
* 5 Latin noun endings and their singular and plural declensions
* English Grammar facts (including 53 prepositions, 23 helping verbs, and 12 linking verbs)
* Multiplication tables up to 15X15, common squares and cubes, as well as basic geometry formulas and unit conversions

They had to show “mastery” of this information by being tested four times. The last two tests they would have been disqualified for even one missed fact. This award takes hard work and dedication of the students and their parents.

Submitted by Laura Griffith, Classical Conversations Director

These Honeybees are in a Botetourt Hive. File  photo BV.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced today a workshop designed for new beekeepers. The Beginning Beekeepers’ Workshop is part of the Virginia Tech Catawba Sustainability Center’s homestead learning series, classes that teach skills for independent, sustainable living. Its goal is to provide a strong foundation of knowledge to those interested in starting their own apiaries, either for pleasure or potential profit.

“The honeybee is the only insect that provides food for human consumption,” say the workshop’s organizers, “but its most estimable value lies in the pollination of fruit and vegetable crops throughout the country.”

The first of two sessions will be held May 28, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Virginia Tech Roanoke Center – http://www.vtrc.vt.edu/. The second all-day session on June 1 will be at the Catawba Sustainability Center – http://www.vtrc.vt.edu/catawba/. The fee for the 12-hour workshop is $100 and includes a popular beekeeping book as well as lunch during the second session.

Topics include the history and biology of the honeybee, necessary start-up equipment, pests and diseases, laws and regulations, African honeybees, pollen and nectar sources, and information on how to harvest honey.

Increasing the honeybee population in southwest Virginia is one goal of the workshop. Josh Nease, manager of the Catawba Sustainability Center, stated that colony collapse disorder continues to decimate commercial beekeepers’ hives across the United States. “Introducing more of these very important pollinators will yield benefits not just for the beekeepers, but for our entire region,” said Nease.

Instructor Mark Chorba, also known as the “bee whisperer of the Roanoke Valley,” has kept honeybees in Roanoke, Floyd, and surrounding areas for the past 20 years. As a certified Virginia Beekeeper, Chorba has taught hundreds of new beekeepers throughout southwest Virginia. He is the 2013 president of the New River Valley Beekeepers Association, currently the largest beekeeping association in Virginia.

Online registration is open until May 21. For information see http://www.cpe.vt.edu/reg/beekeep/ or contact Josh Nease by e-mail, jnease@vt.edu, or at 540.553.2311.

–Elaine Lidholm, Director of Communications, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

We have photos by John Wimmer from Friday night at Relay for Life, held at the Carnival Grounds in Buchanan. From the opening ceremony to the lighting of luminaria in honor and memory of cancer survivors, you can see the strides made to help the American Cancer Society fight disease.

The teams would continue their fundraising efforts overnight.  You can see a lot of the teams in the slideshow above, or click to see individual images here.

Debra Boland sent in these photos of students going to the Lord Botetourt Prom.

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

OTHER PROM PHOTOS:
* Paparazzi photos from the Lord Botetourt prom.
* Paparazzi photos from the James River prom..
* Caitlyn Overbay and Robert Switzer at the Lord Botetourt prom
* Carson Swoope and friends at the James River prom
* Bradley Mason and Alisa Green at the Lord Botetourt prom
* Sherri Kent shares photos from the James River prom
* Shari Sutherland shares photos from the Lord Botetourt prom
* Tater Benson and some of his students before Lord Botetourt prom
* Meghan Underwood, Matthew Smith, Jennifer Smith and Lexis McCormick at the 2013 James River High School prom.
* Emilee Duffy and Matt Hall head to the LB prom
* Kim Gil shares photos from the LB prom
* Elizabeth Rhodes shares photos from the LB prom
* Tammy Simmons-Campbell shares photo from James River prom
* Thomas Ayers and Kinzleigh Hill at James River prom
* Haley Mundy and Jacob Hodges at James River prom

Photo courtesy of Jane Garnett

Girl Scout Daisy Troop 825 of Eagle Rock bridged Brownies May 9 at Mt. Carmel Church, their meeting place. Following the ceremony, the girls enjoyed pizza and brownie sundaes. Pictured are: Kaela Riddle, Lydia Dunbar, and Hailey Coffey. Troop Leader is Jennifer Coffey.

– Submitted by Jane Garnett

The Virginia Scrappers 12U Girls Fastpitch team. Photo courtesy of Sharon Layman

The Virginia Scrappers 12U Girls Fastpitch went undefeated, winning the championship in the ASA Terrier Tournament held April 13-14 at the Botetourt Sports Complex.

Pictured from left are:

Front row: Alexis West, Keiley Dudding, Ellasen Spangler, Lindsey Sarver, Sydney Stimeling

Middle Row: Peyton Hurd, Josie Brewer, Madison Brown, Kayla Gibson

Back row: Coach Bobby Spangler, Emma Layman, Mara Strum, Erin Hetherington, Coach Rick Strum and Coach Shannon Brewer

– Submitted by Sharon Layman

Roanoke Valley Christian School participated in VACA soccer Regional Tournament this past weekend and finished third in the region, qualifying them for the State Tournament this upcoming weekend in Martinsville, Va.

Three local Botetourt young ladies received medals following the tourney:

Lexi Hart (12th grade) rec’d…a medal for making the Regional Tourney Team

Ruthie Clay (11th grade) rec’d…a medal for making the Second All Region Team for the Year

AmeliaJoy (AJ) Clay (10th grade) rec’d…a medal for First Team All Region, Player of the Year SW Region, and Player of the Year South Region.

The first picture is of Lexi Hart, the second is Ruthie Clay and AJ is holding the teams trophy.

–submitted by Kimberely Clay

Caleb Franklin

Caleb Franklin, a third-grade student at Cloverdale, was recently honored at the Roanoke Valley Reading Conference for his original haiku poetry and accompanying art.

– Submitted by Karen Busher

Pictured with Del. Chris Head are Virginia Chamber Board Chairman Bill Ermatinger, corporate vice president and chief human resources officer for Huntington Ingalls Industries, and Barry DuVal, president of the Virginia Chamber. Photo courtesy of BJ Robertson

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce recognized Del. Chris Head, R-Botetourt County,  last week at its “2013 Legislative Awards Reception and Dinner” in Tysons Corner for receiving the Champion of Free Enterprise Award
and the Legal Reform Advocate Award on its 2013 Legislative Report Card.

The Legislative Report Card grades legislators based on their support of pro-business issues during the recently completed legislative session. Calculated annually based on legislators’ voting records on the principles and issues outlined in Where We Stand: The Virginia Chamber of Commerce 2013 Legislative Priorities, the Legislative Report Card recognizes legislators for their support on initiatives that will help move Virginia forward, and additionally provides analysis of a legislator’s support for the business community’s priorities.

“The Legislative Report Card allows us to recognize and honor legislators who uphold free market principles and support the interests of the business community,” said Barry DuVal, President and CEO of the Virginia Chamber. “In addition, it provides analysis of a legislator’s support for the business community’s priorities.”

The Champion of Free Enterprise Award recognizes Legislators who scored 100% and grade of “A+” on the 2013 Legislative Report Card. Head worked closely with the Chamber this year to advance a legislative agenda that included topics such as education and workforce training, transportation funding and economic development. Head also made significant contributions to advancing one of the Chamber’s main legislative priorities, legal reform, during the 2013 session. For his efforts in improving Virginia’s legal system, the Virginia Chamber recognized Head with the Legal Reform Advocate Award.

To view the full 2013 Legislative Report Card, visit www.vachamber.com.

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce is the state’s largest business advocacy organization with more than 13,500 members. As the voice for business, the Chamber works in the legislative, regulatory and political arenas to act as a catalyst for enhancing Virginia’s economic competitiveness and pro-business climate.

– Submitted by BJ Robertson

JRHS Knights secure both 2013 Pioneer District Track & Field Championship titles at Covington High School on May 14. 2013 Track & Field Senior athletes proudly display the team’s awards.

– Submitted by Debbie McAllister