July 3, 2008An online guide to the July 4 print edition of The Botetourt ViewHappy 4th of July weekend. Those of you who are Roanoke Times subscribers will find your Botetourt View in its usual place at the usual time (not in the rosebushes, we trust.) Those of you who aren’t subscribers -- and who get it by mail -- well, there’s no mail on Friday, so you likely won’t get yours until Saturday. A good reason to subscribe, eh? Either way, we reach more than 90 percent of the households in Botetourt County. (How do we do that? See below. And if you’d like to find out how you can advertise in The Botetourt View to reach all those households, click here for retail advertising or click here for classifieds.) Whenever you get your print edition, you’ll see a couple things. One, send us photos from whatever you’re doing on the 4th of July. And if you’re going to the Salem Fair this weekend, send us photos of you at your favorite carnival attraction! (By the way, we have video of the elephants.) Or, just send us photos of what you’re doing this summer -- or that weird-shaped eggplant you’re so proud of. Whatever you have to send us, we’re here at news@botetourtview.com And now, on to our . . . SPECIAL ONLINE EXTRAS * James River teacher to search for pulsars at West Virginia observatory So how can you get your news or photos in The Botetourt View? Keep reading below! Continue reading "An online guide to the July 4 print edition of The Botetourt View" » July 1, 2008How does your garden grow? Send us pictures!Over on the Fridge Magnet food blog, food writer Lindsey Nair has a report of the first ripe homegrown tomato of the season. Or is it? How's your garden going? All of which seems to a good time to say hey, if you have photos of your garden -- be it that first ripe tomato of the season or the potato shaped like Richard Nixon's nose -- we'd love to show 'em off to readers. Just send your photos (and, of course, a brief description, if we can't tell whether it's a rutabaga or rock) to us at news@botetourtview.com Terrific Tuesday It's Terrific Tuesday, whats up with you? It's Buchanan Carnival time and the crowds are slim this year. I have been three nights mostly to yak, take pictures, listen to music and scarf fries with vinegar. I did get off my chair long enough to flat foot to one song last night. Yep -- the economy is slowing down fun, too, but folks-- we need to support the fire department. At least go buy fries and a hamburger. (See photos from the Buchanan Carnival in our June 28 post.) Sunset Saturday night on Catawba Road June 26, 2008An online guide to the June 27 print edition of The Botetourt ViewCan you believe June is almost over? Our latest issue of The Botetourt View comes out Friday, destined to reach more than 90 percent of the households in Botetourt County. (How do we do that? See below. And if you’d like to find out how you can advertise in The Botetourt View to reach all those households, click here for retail advertising or click here for classifieds.) Meanwhile, in the June 27 issue, you’ll see several places where we direct folks online for more photos or other coverage. Here’s a guide to our . . . SPECIAL ONLINE EXTRAS * Photo gallery (and more!) of the Caldwell Mountain fire (You'll see we posted updates multiple times a day when the fire was at its height -- but we always update this site multiple times each weekday, sometimes even weekend, even when there isn't a big fire going on, so you can think of this as daily coverage of Botetourt County.) Finally, some shout-outs: Send us your summer photos! Click here to find out more. And high school grads, you can still write your graduation blurb about your plans and we’ll publish it for free. Click here to find out more about that. Want to find out how to get other news and photos in The Botetourt View? Keep reading below! Continue reading "An online guide to the June 27 print edition of The Botetourt View" » June 24, 2008Terrific Tuesday It's Terrific Tuesday. So whats new in your neck of the woods? It seems we have a sixth supervisor as Chairman Don Assaid asks citizen Bob Bagnoli of Daleville his opinion from the floor in non public hearing situations. I find that amusing. Bagnoli is a nice fellow, but we haven't elected him to anything. I might need to move to the front row -- I have a lot of opinions that I would like share, too. LOL. Hey -- The Botetourt View's Terrific Tuesday column made it on best-selling author David Baldacci's website under "on the the web" for our summer book list from last week. I went to Smith Mountain Lake and met him in late April when he signed "The Whole Truth" for me. I have a picture of us together on my cell phone. I found the Stone Coal fire mesmerizing, too and it was only two miles from the house. I do not miss the smoke however. Did anyone besides me see the flock of about 20 white doves -- not pigeons -- flying through Daleville yesterday? Is there a race on, a big wedding? Someone let me know. I spent time at the Board of Supervisors meeting today. We have a brand new library coming soon to Eagle Rock (look for the blog tomorrow) and a new trash transfer station coming to the landfill (see today's blog.) We will not have a Walgreens coming to Daleville. Thus turns the wheels of county government. I think I had not been to one of these meetings in almost a year. June 19, 2008An online guide to the June 20 print edition of The Botetourt ViewOur latest issue of The Botetourt View comes out Friday, destined to reach more than 90 percent of the households in Botetourt County. (How do we do that? See below.) In the June 20 issue, you’ll see several places where we direct folks online for more photos or other coverage. We update this site multiple times each weekday (and sometimes weekends, too), so really have daily coverage of Botetourt County -- such as our ongoing coverage of the fire on Caldwell Mountain. Meanwhile, here’s a guide to our . . . SPECIAL ONLINE EXTRAS: * Photos of Lord Botetourt High School graduation And that’s a good time to remind graduations of our special invitation: Write your own graduation blurb and we’ll run it for free. Here’s how. Parents: If you have graduation photos to share, you can send them to us at news@botetourtview.com. Finally, whether you’re a graduate or not, our other invitation of the week applies to you: Tell us what you’re doing this summer. And now, back to the extras: * Middle schoolers travel to Chespeake Bay for summer program So how can you get your news and photos in The Botetourt View? Easy! Keep reading below! Continue reading "An online guide to the June 20 print edition of The Botetourt View" » June 17, 2008Terrific Tuesday It's Terrific Tuesday again! What were you doing at Sunrise? It's Summer reading list day! We have a new intern at The Botetourt View -- Katelyn McDaniel, Lord Botetourt High School Class of 2008. Her first blog was the Pool Patrol from yesterday. She will be attending Va Tech in the fall and major in Communications. The '69 Chevelle at the Friday night Cruise-In Buchanan was a dream. My first car was a '69 Chevelle and that baby could flat out fly. Virginia Mountain Vineyards is raising money with a car show, wine tasting and music by the Blue Chips. The cost is $10 for just wine and music and $20 for all events. Part of the proceeds will benefit Roanoke Officer Bryan Lawrence who is recuperating from injuries in an Atlanta Rehab Center. Maybe that 69 Chevelle will be there, too. June 16, 2008Send us your summer photos! How are you spending the summer of '08? Traveling? Staying at home? Whether it's the beach or a backyard barbecue, that European vacation or the kids at camp, send us your summer photos at news@botetourtview.com and tell us what you're up to. We'll use some in upcoming issues of The Botetourt View -- plus, we'll even put you on the map -- specifically our Botetourt Summer '08 map. (Umm, right now it's empty because we're just starting. But you can fix that!) Botetourt kids draw Father's Day pictures If you saw Sunday's Extra section of The Roanoke Times, you saw some Father's Day pictures drawn by kids. Well, here's the complete set of those drawn by Botetourt kids. At left, is the one by Matthew Henninger of Troutville. But we also have links to those by: Dunn LaPradd of Troutville Alisa Marie Caraballo of Troutville If there's someone you know here, let 'em know! June 13, 2008Photos from Long and Foster service day at animal shelter Long and Foster, the real estate firm, sends us photos from Wednesday's service day at the League for Animal Protection. We had a previous post about it on July 11. And we had a post earlier today featuring one of the cute critters up for adoption. Left: Chris Layman wields a paintbrush. Below: A new pen is hoisted over the fence; Shelly Dalton and Steve Underwood; Barry Kuhlik. Continue reading "Photos from Long and Foster service day at animal shelter" » Why all the antique cars around Botetourt today? The 5th annual Speedster Rally is taking place this week in and around the Roanoke Valley. Members are cruising today up to Natural Bridge and plan another excursion into Botetourt on Sunday. For details, see this report by Miranda Adkins on our Salem news site -- along with a photo gallery. At left Kyle and Mary Harris of Buchanan cruise in Kyle's 1915 Model T. Kyle Harris is the president of the local Model T chapter: "The Cranky-Ts of the Blue Ridge." Photo by Miranda Adkins Please adopt me? June 12, 2008An online guide to the June 13 print edition of The Botetourt ViewOur latest issue of The Botetourt View comes out Friday, destined to reach more than 90 percent of the households in Botetourt County. (How do we do that? See below.) In the June 13 issue, you’ll see several places where we direct folks online for more photos or other coverage. Here’s a guide to our . . . SPECIAL ONLINE EXTRAS: First, we have coverage and a photo gallery from the Lord Botetourt High School graduation. On Friday, we'll be adding the same from the James River High School graduation. And that's a good time to remind graduates of our invitation -- write your own graduation blurb and we'll run it for free in an upcoming issue of The Botetourt View. Here's how. And now, the news: * Eagle Rock Elementary holds camp-in with fast cars So how can you get your news and photos in The Botetourt View? Keep reading below! Continue reading "An online guide to the June 13 print edition of The Botetourt View" » June 10, 2008Terrific Tuesday It's a random bits of information kind of day again. So what's new in your neck of the woods? Fincastle waterfalls on a hot summer eve June 5, 2008An online guide to the June 6 print edition of The Botetourt ViewOur latest issue of The Botetourt View comes out Friday, destined to reach more than 90 percent of the households in Botetourt County. (How do we do that? See below.) In the June 6 issue, you’ll see several places where we direct folks online for more photos or other coverage. Here’s a guide to our . . . SPECIAL ONLINE EXTRAS: * Special shout-out to The Class of ‘08 * Photos of James River softball. * Photos of Lord Botetourt girls soccer. * Why all the helicopters around Eagle Rock? * Jury rules against Troutville podiatrist * Colonial Elementary donates benches in memory of bus driver * Boy Scout leader Steve Pappas gets award * More photos from International Day at Greenfield Elementary School * More photos from Field Day at Breckinridge Elementary School * Photos of the Buchanan Battitudes softball team (including video!) * More photos from the Splat Shop re-opening * Photos from “The Curious Savage” (which runs through Saturday at Attic Productions.) How can you get your news and photos in The Botetourt View? Keep reading! Continue reading "An online guide to the June 6 print edition of The Botetourt View" » June 3, 2008Terrific Tuesday Great White Heron 5 miles west of Fincastle! Native Americans believe white animals are Messengers of God (the Great Spirit?) This bird was way off of his normal track of the deep south and coastal regions and showed up at my place on Saturday. Hope is his message to us. I choose to believe that anyway as hope makes tomorrows and faith supports us when things don't go well when tomorrow becomes today. Many you have expressed to me in interviews, on the street, on the phone, etc your worries for the economy, energy costs, the elections and so forth. So what's new in your neck of the woods? May 29, 2008An online guide to the May 30 print edition of The Botetourt ViewOur latest issue of The Botetourt View comes out Friday, destined to reach more than 90 percent of the households in Botetourt County. (How do we do that? Here’s how: Subscribers to The Roanoke Times get it included in their Friday paper; non-subscribers have it mailed to them as part of the weekly Simply Savings advertising flier. Those two add up to more than 90 percent. Plus, we have some free copies available at these locations.) In the May 30 issue, you’ll see several places where we direct folks online for more photos or other coverage. Consider this blog post your shepherd to point out where those links are: SPECIAL ONLINE EXTRAS: * Our special shout-out to graduating seniors
Continue reading "An online guide to the May 30 print edition of The Botetourt View" » May 27, 2008Any bears in your part of Botetourt? If not, well, some of our neighbors in Botetourt have seen bears lately. We've just added four bear sightings to our map of bear sightings -- and all were in Botetourt County. I don't know if that means there's an outbreak of bears in Botetourt -- or whether folks in Botetourt are just more diligent about reporting ursine encounters. I've lived in Botetourt close to 26 years and I've never seen a bear. But if you have, e-mail our resident bear spotter Matt Chittum the date, time, location, description and any photos or video and we'll post it on our bear map. It's part of our Datasphere storehouse of data. Cathy Benson, our community journalist for Botetourt, had a blog post about one particular bear sighting earlier this month. Terrific Tuesday Feeling a little lazy today after the long weekend? Me, too. Memorial Day is over and it's back to work. May 23, 2008Looking for a pet? Our Happy Wag pet blogger tells about Cora, who is up for adoption at the League for Animal Protection in Fincastle. Check out this post. May 22, 2008An online guide to the May 23 edition of The Botetourt ViewHello again. Our latest issue of The Botetourt View hits the streets Friday. As you may have figured out by now, we often use the print edition to refer to things online where we have more photos or more coverage. Well, you've found The Notebook, where all those things are. This is our news blog which we update multiple times each day -- so to make things easy for you, here are the links to some of the things we're talking up this week in print: SPECIAL ONLINE EXTRAS * Photos from our ice cream party at the Daleville Kroger * Photo from the Relay for Life Survivor's Luncheon * Jessica Justis of Lord Botetourt High School wins award at art show * Arby's wants to build at Bonsack Kroger * Brittany Cornett of Lord Botetourt High School talks about running * Battle of the Bands at Lord Botetourt High School. * Memorial balloon found near Springwood. To find out how to get your news and photos in The Botetourt View, keep reading: Continue reading "An online guide to the May 23 edition of The Botetourt View" » May 20, 2008Terrific Tuesday Can you see St. Francis of Assisi in this tree? I used my drawing pencil to outline him. St. Francis is on the right. Have you seen the famous statue of him holding the bird in his hands? (If not, click here.) Tell us what you think. This may put the Big Spring of Fincastle on the map, thanks to Nancy Downs who noticed it on her walks by the park. Anyway, What's new with you? Big night for James River -- Greer Sullivan and Corey Ware both won the Artie Levin Awards in B'nai-B'rith last night (Check out the sports page.) I caught on fire at the Young Life bonfire last night. I was sitting on a sofa the kids set out by the fire with SRO Jeff Striskey. The wind changed as the flames and embers blew our way, I jumped up when my skirt caught on fire. The couch caught on fire, too. I said to Stritskey, "I wouldn't have come if I had known I was the bonfire." Great to see all those kids out to wish Dave Sloop well. May 19, 2008Photos from our ice cream party at the Daleville Kroger Thanks to all who came out Saturday and joined us for an ice cream party at the Daleville Kroger -- such as Brooke Whitehead, Macey Tyree, Jaclyn Chrisman, Katey Hall, Morgen Sandoval and Hannah Ward right here. We have more photos from the party in our gallery -- and we'll be running some in Friday's print editions of The Botetourt View. If you see someone you recognize here, let 'em know! May 16, 2008This is not a giant mosquito -- it's a crane fly Overheard in an eatery in Cloverdale: "My house has been invaded by giant mosquitos!" Not! That giant spindly insect that seems to have multiplied to the nines this years is called a Crane Fly. Continue reading "This is not a giant mosquito -- it's a crane fly" » May 15, 2008An online guide to the May 16 print edition of The Botetourt ViewIn the May 16 print edition of The Botetourt View, we point readers to things online in several places. Now that you're here online, we'll make things even easier for you -- here are links to those particular items: * Photos of storm damage in Blue Ridge * Gospel music at the Troutville Hardees * Bethany Sass recognized for her Science Fair work * Photos of Botetourt folks at the Duck Derby * County Wide League fund-raiser * Botetourt County administrator announces staff changes * James River High School prom photos * Lord Botetourt High School prom photos Plus, we have two special shout-outs: * A special invitation to high school seniors * Is someone from Boteourt County graduating from college? As always, if you have news or photos from Botetourt County to share, we're just a click away at news@botetourtview.com. We're especially looking for youth sports photos! If you'd like to meet our community journalist for Botetourt County, Cathy Benson, she keeps regular office hours at the Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea in Daleville. Here's her schedule. And if you're looking for a print version of The Botetourt View, here's where to find one. May 13, 2008Terrific Tuesday random bits of info for May 13 Lord Botetourt Girl's Tennis Team took off for District play this afternoon right after lunch. Continue reading "Terrific Tuesday random bits of info for May 13" » May 12, 2008Photos of storm damage in Blue Ridge Kathy Phillips of Blue Ridge sends two photos showing how lightning splintered one of her neighbors' trees during the weekend storms. Her neighbors are Bill and Kathy Bishop, and she hastens to add that the Bishops were cool with her sending these photos from their property. Did you suffer any storm damage? Do you have photos? We can take 'em at news@botetourtview.com May 8, 2008A guide to Friday's print edition of The Botetourt ViewIn Friday's print edition of The Botetourt View, you'll see several places where we refer people here, to our online site, to see more photos or find out more on a particular story. To make things even easier, here are those particular links: * Election results from Buchanan and Fincastle * Attic Productions holds auditions for "Annie Get Your Gun" * Lord Botetourt High School prom * James River High School prom * Buchanan hosts garden tractor pull * Mill Creek Baptist youth hold car show As always, if you have news or photos to share from around Botetourt, send 'em to us at news@botetourtview.com And if you're looking for a print edition of The Botetourt View, here's where to find one.
May 6, 2008Terrific Tuesday random info for May 6  It's Terrific Tuesday again and the info is as random as ever but has some follow-ups listed by readers and friends who have contacted the Botetourt View in the past week. Have you voted yet if you live in an area with a town election? (Details here.) The cat in last week's Terrific Tuesday picture is named Hyster and she sleeps in the tree frequently said owner Caroline Landon at the Breckinridge Mill. Literally in the tree. She goes down inside of the knot and sleeps inside the branch! Landon is an artist of renown -- check her out at www.landonstudios.com Another mountain lion report surfaced. A friend of the Botetourt View has reported seeing a mountain lion on Grove Hill Road a couple of miles west of Fincastle last summer along the roadside by the Douthat Farm. As with our lady in Buchanan last month, she is very sure of what she saw and even stopped by Ardmore Stables to tell them to get the horse and foal in the field into the barn. In turn she went home and looked up a mountain lion on the Internet and is indeed convinced that is what she saw. "It was as tall as my border collie and longer with a long tail," she reported. May 1, 2008Pollen counts high today in Botetourt Sinuses feel full today? According to pollen.com todays' pollen counts in the Roanoke-Botetourt area will be a whopping 9.3 out of 10. Tree pollen is the major culprit especially oak, birch and maple. This dogwood is probably not making you sneeze. April 29, 2008Terrific Tuesday random bits of info What is going on in your neck of the woods? On this terrific Tuesday, I saw my neighbor's white cat in the tree by the Breckinridge Mill. Send me a picture of your favorite next Tuesday! Here's a few random bits of info brewing in Botetourt County. Some Botetourt gamers were out with the rest of the mob at Game Stop last night at midnight getting Grand Theft Auto 4. I am told this was a big event since it is the first new version in almost four years. 210 people waited in line for the midnight sale. The State Police were out on Read Mountain Road about an hour ago checking driver's permits and inspection stickers, tags -- don't forget to look at yours to make sure they are current! April 25, 2008See images that capture the valley Pam Horton of Blue Ridge submitted this photo to our Images of the Valley photo contest. She took this on the last day Explore Park was open in the fall. For a gallery of photo contest winners, click here. |