Maribeth Kern and Tyler Kern. Photo courtesy of Theresa Kern

Tyler Kern and Maribeth Kern, both athletes from James River High School, were nominated for the B’nai Brith Award.

– Submitted by Theresa Kern

Knight of the Arts is coming soon! In fact, it is this Thursday night, starting at 7:00 p.m.

There will be great entertainment for the whole family. It is free admission, plus delicious refreshments provided by the JRHS PTSA. Our concert band and choir will perform. On display will be the annual exhibition of student art work in the cafeteria. The NEW Currents magazine will be there and all students  and staff members can pick up their copy. This year we have additional entertainment provided by the Drama Club. Everyone is invited to the wonderful and stupendous  event!!!

–JRHS announcements

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.

CAMS Track did very well at the Cosmo meet last week!

Randy Brinkley over at Central Academy Middle School  sent in this results listing  the CAMS track  team at the annual  Cosmopolitan held in Roanoke last weekend!

“The COSMO track and field invitational event was held at William Fleming High School in Roanoke, Virginia on May 5th, 2012. Central Academy Middle School sent 20 students to this Invitational. Central Academy Boys placed 3rd out of 15 teams represented at COSMO.”

The following are the students that placed in their respective events:

Cosmo 2012

Boys 100 Meter Dash – 5th: Caleb Sink: 12.59

Boys 4 x 100 Meter Relay

1st: Marcus Pierce, Jack Schultz, Caleb Sink, and Sean Wright: 49.01

Girls 400 Meter Dash

4th: Hannah Peery, 1:08.12

Girls 800 Meter Run

5th: Hannah Peery, 2:40.05

Boys 200 meter Dash

1st: Sean Wright, 25.55

4th: Jack Schultz, 25.82

Girls 400 Meter Dash

4th: Hannah Peery, 1:08.12

Girls 800 Meter Run

5th: Hannah Peery, 2:40.05

Boys 4 x 400 Meter Relay

2nd: Gage Blackwell, Zach Keith, Caleb Sink, Jordan Zicafoose 4:11.11

Boys High Jump

2nd: Jack Schultz, 5’2”

4. Steven Weaver, 5’00”

Boys Triple Jump

4th: Marcus Pierce, 35’1”

Names for the attached picture:

Front row (left to right): Sasha Wright, Morgan Barber, Hannah Peery, Gage Blackwell, Kaitlyn Upson, Virginia Peary, Sean Wright, Steven Weaver, Emily Walker.

Back Row (left to right): Marcus Pierce, Zach Keith, Kyle Hepler, Michael Albright, Dillon Brown, Caleb Sink, Jack Shultz, Donta Wright, Jordan Zicafoose, Jessica Bruno, and Kasey Tolley.

Congrats to the CAMS  students and thanks Randy!

On Friday, May 11, the Read Mountain Middle School Friends of Rachel club sponsored a “come-back” dance from 6 to 8 p.m. Students were invited to return to school to dance underneath hundreds of twinkling lights while dressed in their Sunday best. This was the first event of its kind, and the turnout and reaction on the part of the students was very positive. Everyone involved, from the student dancers to the teacher and parent chaperones, had a fantastic time! The F.O.R. club is coordinated by Summer Underwood, and she and the club members do several activities throughout the year to offer positive experiences for all middle school students. We hope this dance will become an annual May tradition at RMMS!

– Submitted by Heather Simmons, Read Mountain Middle School

Tim Ward is leaving the Planning and Zoning Department and heading to Maryland.

Anyone who had the pleasure of  meeting Tim Ward and speaking with him at length soon found he is a devoted Christian. May 25th is his last day as the head of Planning and Zoning in Development Services for Botetourt County. He took over after Chuck Supan retired in October of 2010. He is leaving for camp ministry.

Ward and his wife Rene, along with their two daughters, will be moving on to Camp Wabanna in Edgewater, Maryland.  It is located on the mainland side of the Chesapeake Bay. He will serve as Director of Ministry and Programs for the nondenominational camp that fields campers from inner city as well as subdivisions.

Ward worked in the Botetourt Planning Department for six and a half  years.

Criminal Justice Class at BTEC

On May 2, 2012, the Criminal justice class at BTEC took a field trip in Botetourt County. They toured the Circuit Court, listened to several court hearings in General District Court, and toured the Botetourt County Public Safety Building, as well as parts of the Botetourt-Craig County Jail. The trip was informative and the students enjoyed the exposure to the inner workings of criminal justice.

The class:

Back Row – L to R: Kyle Kline (LB), Buck Johnson (LB), Robert Jackson (LB), Jake Garman (Craig Co), Justin Hawkins (LB)

Middle Row – L to R: Juretta Manley (LB), Chelsea Phillips (LB), Elliot Smith (JR), Whitney Bolton (JR), Samantha Barton (LB), Lisa Assenat (Instructor)

Front Row – L to R: Devan Snodgrass (LB), Thomas Hale (JR), Jared Clendenin (LB)

–Lisa Assenat

This story has been edited

The current FUMC building was completed in 1840.

Fincastle United Methodist Church  Heritage/ Homecoming Day Celebration on Sunday,  May 20th. Fincastle Methodist Church has had a continuous congregation since the 1790s.  Come join our Heritage Day.  All the preparation is gearing up to FULL SPEED AHEAD for May 20th!

Lemonade will be served on the lawn under the  National Champion Honeylocust at 10:30 a.m. A Heritage based church service at 11 a.m. is replete with special music and a video photo essay of the church through the ages.  A luncheon will at  follow at noon. The lunch will take place in the Family Life Center across the street. There, music will play and people will have a turn at sharing old memories of the church.

There will be a presentation of our history and an overview of the present. This will be a wonderful time of making new memories in our church.  Come and Join the Celebration, bring your family and friends.

–Fincastle UMC Heritage Committee

(Note: There will not be a 9:00 a.m. service on this Sunday)

April Howard, of Fincastle, Director of Accounting, was one of the outstanding employees of the year for the Campus Support office in Roanoke and was also presented with her fifteen year service award.

Mathew George, chair of the Roanoke Valley Campus business department, was honored with the Distinguished Teaching Award. This award is presented annually to a National College instructor who has demonstrated excellence in classroom teaching, concern for students, co-curricular innovation, and pedagogical creativity.

Anna Counts, director of institutional compliance and accreditation, was presented the Distinguished Service Award. This award is presented annually to a full-time National College employee who has shown concern for student welfare – or performed their duties in a manner substantially improving student service in a “behind-the-scenes” capacity – in areas outside teaching, and who best personifies the spirit of National College.

David Tofano received the Admissions Representative of the Year- Admissions Advocate Award.

Karen Jackson was presented the Community Resource Coordinator of the Year Award. As community resource coordinator, Jackson works with local employers to provide enhanced workforce skills. She received the award in recognition of her success in recruiting students eligible for National College’s Business Partnership Grant.

Kristal Bushong was recognized with the Career Center Director Chairman’s Award for achieving a graduate job placement rate of 75% or higher. As career center director, Bushong provides current students and graduates with job search guidance and preparation, including assisting with resumes, cover letters, interview skills, and dress for success seminars.

Nicole Rowsey, Shana Roche, and Lisa Harbert were recognized as outstanding employees of the year for the Roanoke Valley Campus.

Daniel Vos was recognized as the outstanding employee for the College’s online program.

Elizabeth Johnson was recognized as the outstanding employee for the English as a Second Language program.

Brady Heberle, Paul Glover, Brenda Artrip, Linda Wickline, April Howard, Ed Lemire, and Whitney Smales were recognized as outstanding employees of the year for the Campus Support office.

Louis Watson, Karen Alldredge, Caroline Huff, Don Richardson, Janet Poage, Debra Wertz, James Johnston, Nancy Simmons, David Yeaman, Linda Moseley, Joanne Bixler, Carlton Doss, Leah Ebert, Cheryl Greenwood, Jesse Kenny, and Nicholas Montgomery were honored at the in-service for five years of service to the College.

Joseph Bear, III, David Tofano, Frances Lynch, Patrick Kennard, Jason Towers, April Will, Stephen Witt, and Susan Gonzalez were honored at the in-service for ten years of service to the College.

April Howard, Jayne Atkins, and Scott Rowsey were honored at the in-service for fifteen years of service to the College.

Larry Steele was honored at the in-service for twenty-five years of service to the College.

Ronald Smith and Dr. Michael Campbell were honored at the in-service for thirty-five years of service to the College.

Award winners were selected from among eight campuses in the Virginia/West Virginia Division.

Submitted by Allison Clarkson

David Tofano received the Admissions Representative of the Year- Admissions Advocate Award.

–Dan Zicafoose