RAYSAC got the summer off to a great start on Thursday and Friday June 13 and 14.  The

RAYSAC Youth Leadership Training at Camp Eagle in Fincastle.

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-underage drinking and safety  groups  met for leadership and team building.  The photo is RAYSAC Youth Leadership Training, Day 2 at Camp Eagle in Fincastle. The first day took place in SW Roanoke County at Blue Ridge Behavorial  Healthcare.

At Camp Eagle  the youth participated in team initiative activities and low ropes challenges. The group had a lot of fun despite the mud! Featured are James River, Lord botetourt, Northside and Salem High School stsudents.

Front Row:

Sheila Lythgoe, BRBH and RAYSAC; Julia Ewen, JRHS; Haylee Corvin, JRHS; Aaliyah Gray, NHS; JD Carlin, BRBH

Second Row:

Emma Studtmann, SHS; Kendall Lythgoe, LBHS; Courtney Cox, LBHS; Janis James, BRBH

Third Row:

Ashley Hatcher, BRBH and RAYSAC; Carleigh Studtmann, SHS; Grace Boardwine, LBHS; Delanie McKeel, LBHS; Stan Long, Camp Eagle.

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.

SALEM — The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will hold a citizen information meeting to gather public input on the environmental study being conducted for Interstate 81 in the Roanoke and New River valleys. VDOT launched the Tier 2 Environmental Assessment of the I-81 Corridor Improvement Study for the section of I-81 between exit 118 (Christiansburg) and exit 143 (Roanoke) last fall, but in April 2013 added an addition seven miles to extend the study from exit 143 north to exit 150 (Troutville).

The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 26, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Lord Botetourt High School, 1435 Roanoke Road, in Daleville. The meeting is being held to provide an opportunity for citizens and organizations to give VDOT comments or suggestions on the proposed project and the scope of issues to be addressed in the environmental study. The meeting will be held in an open-house format with no formal presentation given. VDOT representatives will be present to discuss the study and to answer questions.

Comments about the study may be submitted at the meeting or until July 6, 2013, by mailing them to Ms. Angel Deem, Project Manager, Virginia Department of Transportation, 1401 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Comments can also be emailed to Angel.Deem@VDOT.Virginia.gov. Please reference “I-81 Tier 2 EA” in the subject line.

Anyone requiring special assistance to attend and participate in this meeting may contact Patrick Hughes at 804-371-6839, 800-367-7623 or TTY/TDD 711.

Based on traffic analysis associated with the Tier 2 document, VDOT determined that the traffic and ramp volumes and commuting patterns along the seven-mile portion of I-81 between exit 143 and exit 150 represent a more logical breakpoint that is consistent with the original study section between exit 143 and exit 118. Therefore, VDOT expanded the study area to include the additional seven miles north to exit 150. VDOT held two previous citizen information meetings for the Tier 2 Environmental Assessment in early February in Christiansburg and Salem.

The environmental study is the next required step before a widening project along the study area can be designed and constructed. The proposed widening project would involve the construction of no more than two general purpose lanes in each direction, where needed, to address future traffic demands for this section of I-81. VDOT is completing the Environmental Assessment in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

–submitted by VDOT

Here is the RAYSAC Radar for June, submitted by Kathy Graham Sullivan:

SAMHSA Launches New Campaign to Help Parents Talk with Young Kids about Alcohol

“Talk. They Hear You,” a new national public service announcement campaign that empowers parents to talk to children as young as nine years old about the dangers of underage drinking was recently launched by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). SAMHSA’s latest report on underage drinking shows that more than a quarter of American youth engage in underage drinking. Although there has been progress in reducing the extent of underage drinking in recent years, particularly among those aged 17 and younger, the rates of underage drinking are still unacceptably high. “Talk. They Hear You” raises parents’ awareness about these issues and arms them with information they need to help them start a conversation about alcohol with their children before their children become teenagers.

“These young people are our future leaders—our future teachers, mayors, doctors, parents, and entertainers,” said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde. “As our youth and young adults face challenges, we as a community, need to effectively communicate with them in every way possible about the risks of underage drinking so that they have the necessary tools to make healthy and informed choices.” Read more »

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

A wreck at mile marker 162 has closed both lanes of I-81 north in Botetourt County. Traffic is being diverted off the interstate at Exit 162 through Buchanan, VDOT said.

The Roanoke Times will have updates here.

Susan Fain shared this proclamation from the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors and writes: The attached proclamation declaring the week of May 19 through 25 as Emergency Medical Services Week in Botetourt County was signed by Board of Supervisors Vice-Chairman Terry Austin (Tuesday) morning.

Whereas, emergency medical services are a vital public service; and,

Whereas, the members of emergency medical services teams are ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week; and,

Whereas, access to quality, emergency care drastically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury; and,

Whereas, the emergency medical services system consists of emergency physicians, nurses, medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, educators, administrators, 911 telecommunications officers, and others; and,

Whereas, the members of emergency medical service teams, both career or volunteer, engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their lifesaving skills; and,

Whereas, it is appropriate to recognize the value and the accomplishments of emergency medical service providers by designating Emergency Medical Services Week,

Now, Therefore, we, the Board of Supervisors of Botetourt County, Virginia, do hereby proclaim the week of May 19 through 25, 2013, as Emergency Medical Services Week in the County of Botetourt; and,

Further, with the theme “EMS: One Mission One Team,” we encourage the community to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

Several organizations collecting supplies for tornado victims in Oklahoma will be accepting donations of bottled water, packaged food and personal hygiene items at the Bonsack Walmart from noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.

The Roanoke Times has more on this story.

Kathleen Guzi, Botetourt County Administrator announced this morning that Carr Boyd, Director of EMS for the county has resigned effective May 31.

Boyd at an EMS event last fall.

Botetourt Emergency Services planned ahead for several years and in 2012  hired an Emergency Services Director. Carr Boyd one of 70 applicants, was named the new Emergency Services Director and arrived in Botetourt in May 2012. Coming from the Charlotte N.C. area, Boyd was highly credentialed. During his first weeks on the job he was soon to be on hand to establish a command center at a school bus accident north of Fincastle. Over the course of a Derecho in late June, Boyd had to deal with power and water outages and providing water and a cooling site for hot residents in the ensuing 90 degree plus days. The continuing problems with the Buchanan Volunteer Fire Chief, Billy Joe Carter, stretched into the fall.  Buchanan Volunteer Fire disbanded and county EMS took over in November of 2012. By winter, county volunteers were the hallmark of news items submitted and reported in the Botetourt View.

One group Fincastle Volunteer Rescue Squad members sent a letter of dissatisfaction as well as Fincastle and Troutville volunteer fire departments in early winter to local media including the Botetourt View. FARST, the Fire and Rescue board established in the county to oversee volunteers and their participation in EMS, had not met since August.

David Bush, Captain of Fincastle Volunteer Rescue Squad said, “I am shocked. While we had our differences about the ambulance, I saw he made some positive changes. This move will affect his family.”

At a meeting with Fincastle Rescue Squad and County EMS, Fincastle Supervisor Jack Leffel intervened, suggesting a reconvening of dialogue in the FARST committee. That move brought about a Captain and Chiefs committee dialogue with county EMS. It has not resulted in a change in FARST committee under code. In ensuing months volunteer training resumed, the dissolution of the Buchanan Fire Department completed and more paid EMS for the south end of the county were included in the 2013-14 budget.

Boyd  could not be reached for comment today.

Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle supports “Click It or Ticket,” for public safety. File photo Botetourt View

Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office is joining with other state and local law enforcement officers and highway safety advocates across the country to help save more lives by strongly enforcing all traffic laws, especially seat belt laws around the clock.

Motorists who refuse to wear their seat belts-beware. The 2013 national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization kicks off May 20 to help save lives by cracking down on those who don’t buckle up.

Virginia’s seat belt use rate was 78.43% in 2011 (using a new survey methodology), and there is still much work to be done. According to the DMV Highway Safety Office’s TREDS (Traffic Records Electronic Data System) in preliminary 2012 statistics, there were a total of 774 fatalities-305 of them were unrestrained at the time of the crash. Of the total unrestrained fatalities (305), 77 or 25% of the deaths resulted from crashes that occurred between the hours of Midnight-6:00AM. The highest time period for unrestrained deaths was from crashes between 6:00pm and midnight – 84 killed (28%).

“Seat belt use is just too important to ignore”, said Sheriff R.N. Sprinkle. “We want to stress that regularly buckling up works, and we know of too many cases, largely at night, that all too often ends in tragedy.” Sheriff Sprinkle went on to say, “Our goal is to save more lives, so the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office will be out enforcing ALL traffic laws including seat belt use around the clock.”

Regular seat belt use saves thousands of lives across Virginia each year. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics show that in 2011 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 272 lives in Virginia. An additional 112 lives could be saved with 100 percent seat belt use.

While this year’s Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization runs from May 20-June 2, motorists should know that officers are out enforcing traffic laws, including seat belt laws year-round.

Everyone in the vehicle should buckle up every time they go out, both day and night,” said Sheriff Sprinkle “Our Deputies are prepared to ticket anyone who is violating the law and not buckled up…no warnings and no excuses. Click It or Ticket.”

–submitted by Lt. Jeff Stritesky, Crime Prevention Specialist