July 30, 2008Webb remembers Hutchins in speech from Senate floor U.S. Sen. Jim Webb has just delivered a tribute to his aide Fred Hutchins in a speech on the Senate floor. For details, click here. Hutchins was found shot to death yesterday along U.S. 220 near Fincastle. Several people -- including a former teacher at Lord Botetourt High School -- have left remembrances on our original post about his death. Missing woman who worked in Daleville found unharmedPolice had been looking for a Roanoke woman who works in Daleville -- she'd been missing for several days. She's now been found, unharmed, in South Carolina. For more details, click here. The original report is here. July 29, 2008Fred Hutchins, aide to Webb, found dead along U.S. 220Authorities in Botetourt County this morning discovered the body of a well-known Democratic operative and U.S. Senate aide along U.S. 220 north of Fincastle, dead from an apparent gunshot wound. The body of Frederick W. Hutchins Jr., 26, of Roanoke was found shortly after 7 a.m. along southbound U.S. 220 by a Botetourt County deputy who had stopped to check on a vehicle parked on the highway's shoulder, according to the sheriff's office. Hutchins was an aide to U.S. Senator Jim Webb, D-Va., and previously worked for Del. Onzlee Ware, D-Roanoke. Hutchins had been shot in the head, and a gun was found beneath his body, Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle said. For more on this story, click here. Here's the official release from the sheriff, with a statement from Sen. Webb below that. Continue reading "Fred Hutchins, aide to Webb, found dead along U.S. 220" » U.S. 11 turn improvements begin on August 4 VDOT posted signs late last week announcing the beginning of construction on the turn improvements at the exit 150 interchange nnounced in early July. Left turns will become double coming from U.S. 11 North onto U.S. 220 North. Expect delays from August 4 forward until completion in September. With school starting in a few weeks, the bus routes between Lord Botetourt and south county will bring additional traffic will be in the area. July 26, 2008Looking for a sweet treat Sunday?You can get a tasty treat and help the Read Mountain Rescue Squad. Members of the Read Mountain Fire and Rescue Department are serving up ice cream sundaes from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday for their annual “Sunday Sundaes” fundraiser. Read this story by Beverly Amsler, published in The Botetourt View on July 18, for all the details. July 23, 2008Storms tear though Botetourt Tuesday night thunder, lightening, hail and winds accompanied strong storms. In Fincastle trees fell, creeks spilled over their banks and driveways and ditches washed across roads from secondary roads to U.S. 220. At least one vehicle got stuck in the median. On Herndon Street a tree fell across the road. "U.S. 220 closed during the weather melee as traffic backed up," said Terry Tucker, a local resident. Herndon Street was closed for clean-up at 8:30 a.m. this morning. Tucker said they had five inches of rain according to her rain gauge. The ancient tree in the yard of Jake and Phoebe Cress in the town fell. Power was out for several hours in and around the town. Five miles west of Fincastle, Jack Thomas reported just under two inches of rain but severe lightning and some hail. More storms are expected today.
July 9, 2008Turning will be easier as VDOT constructs additional left turn lane at Exit 150 The chaos of rush hour, school dismissal and holiday traffic will get a little easier at Exit 150 as double left turn lanes from U.S. 11 north onto U.S. 220 north are expected to commence by the end of July. After more than a year of waiting since VDOT held a public hearing at Lord Botetourt High School on potential traffic fixes, a traffic improvement is coming said Heidi Coy, spokeswoman for VDOT. Over a year ago VDOT extended the current single left turn lane further south on U.S. 11 north and got rid of the median. That traffic change improved traffic flow some, but this will potentially be a much bigger benefit. Coy said the double right turn lane from Route 11 south onto US 220 north has been a major improvement for traffic flow and that was completed about two years ago. As evidenced by this Botetourt View photograph taken at 2 p.m. on July 9 at US 11 north at the stoplight, traffic patterns show that most travelers on US 11 north are stacking into the single left turn lane to turn onto U.S. 220 North. Only one car waits at the stoplight to travel farther north on U.S. 11 while 15 cars at a non-rush hour time stacked in the left turn lane to go north on U.S. 220. There will be one dedicated left turn, one left and through lane combination and one dedicated through lane.The current left turn lane is 345 feet long. What do you think? You can click "comment" below. July 7, 2008Hail storm hits Fincastle and Springwood On Monday afternoon a hailstorm dumped pea size hail on Fincastle and Springwood. Wind damage and hail struck gardens and caused minor property damage. The storms were over almost as quickly as they began and by evening the sky was sunny and calm. Hail gathered in the yard five miles west of Fincastle. Submitted photo by Julia Ewen Do you have photos or stories to share from the storm? You can click "comment" below or email photos to news@botetourtview.com Cove Creek fire near Buchanan containedMonday night, July 7: Chris Rose, public relations spokesman of the U.S. Forest Service district office in Roanoke, says the Cove Creek fire near Buchanan is contained. The combination of firefighters and rain have helped th service get control of the fire. It has burned over 600 acres and it has been determined that a lightning strike did start the fire he said from his office on Peters Creek Road. "We ask that people refrain from using Route 635 Yellowstone Road for the time being and we are asking campers and hikers to stay out of the burned areas. Dry conditions and wind may stir the fire again." he cautioned. Continue reading "Cove Creek fire near Buchanan contained" » Fire continues to smolder even with rain Monday, July 7, 10 a.m.: As of Saturday, the fire on Cove Mountain had burned almost 600 acres and teams from the U.S. Forest Service had been called in -- including the Augusta Hot Shots and the Jackson Shots from Jackson, Mississippi, along with members of the Virginia Department of Forestry. Continue reading "Fire continues to smolder even with rain" » July 5, 2008Rain slows fire near Buchanan7:44 p.m., Saturday, July 5: The rain early Saturday morning has helped slow the wild fire in the mountains east of Buchanan. For details, click here. Do you have photos of the fire? You can share them at news@botetourtview.com We've had previous posts about the fire: July 4, 2008Fire near Buchanan grows to more than 500 acres12:47 a.m, Saturday, July 5: The fire near Buchanan has now grown to more than 500 acres. For details, click here. Do you have photos of the fire? You can share them at news@botetourtview.com We've had previous posts about the fire Friday afternoon and Friday morning. Fire near Buchanan grows to more than 100 acres2:06 p.m., Friday, July 4: The fire in the mountains near Buchanan has grown to about 100 acres, according to the the U.S. Forest Service. Because of the fire, Virginia 43 is blocked to through traffic between the Buchanan town limits and the Bedford County line, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. Local traffic is still permitted. For more details, click here. We had a previous post about the fire (with a photo) earlier this morning. Do you have photos of the fire? You can send them to us at news@botetourtview.com We'll provide regular updates on this site. You may recall our coverage a few weeks ago of the fire on Caldwell Mountain west of Fincastle. Fire burns near Buchanan on Cove Mountain On July 3 around 1:30 p.m. a fire was first noticed on Cove Mountain just north of Buchanan along Virginia 43. As of this morning, the U.S. Forest Service continues to monitor the fire with assistance from the Buchanan Volunteer Fire Department and the Virginia Department of Forestry out of Pulaski. The fire runs just below the Blue Ridge Parkway. At dark last night a fire department spokesman said the fire was waste high in the underbrush and had consumed at least fifty acres. July 3, 2008Sheriff's Office lists May incidentsThe Sheriff's Office has posted a list of incidents in May that it's investigating. For more information, see the sheriff's website. May 30 - Damage to a cabin on Craig Creek Road. May 16 - May 23 - Car Washes on Cloverdale Road had vending machines tampered with and/or money stolen from. May 15 - Vandalism to a vehicle on Cabin Hallow Road. May 12 - Theft of a utility trailer and generator from Traveltown in Cloverdale. May 6 - Theft of vehicle parts on Spring Hollow Road. June 30, 2008Amateur Radio Field Day 2008 They do it as a hobby but also for the safety of the public during emergency situations, they are the key to restoring communication and on Saturday and Sunday they practiced their skills at Charlie Draper of Salem on the radio and Darin Stultz of Blue Ridge set-up in the Command Center for Field Day. June 24, 2008Fire dies down, but burn pattern visible on Caldwell Mountain Tuesday, 9:45 a.m.: The Stone Coal Fire remnant died down last night on the eastern slope of Caldwell Mountain, but the burn pattern showed in the morning sunlight from last week's Stone Coal fire. Forecast weather conditions of low humidity and brisk wind may stir the fire again today. U.S. Forest Service officials are keeping watch on the movement, if any, of the smoldering fire. Cattle graze in the foreground as a puff of smoke rises from a knob on the eastern slope. The reddish areas along the ridges show the fire's path on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before rains fell on the blaze over the weekend. The Stone Coal fire has burned about 820 acres on Caldwell Mountain in western Botetourt County. We have a photo gallery of fire scenes before and after dark on Friday. Photos by SJ Carter. We've also had previous posts about the fire (most with photos): June 23, 2008Caldwell Mountain fire flares up again Monday, 7:50 p.m.: This afternoon's stiff breezes and dry conditions have proven to be right for the re-kindling of at least a small fire on the side of Caldwell Mountain again. This area of knob on the eastern slope nears Lee's Gap had burned Friday night and Saturday before thunderstorms brought rain on Saturday and Sunday. Meanwhile, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Barb Walker issued this update: Restrictions/Closures: General Information: Today, crews improved the containment line on the south corner of the fire, where a small amount of flame and smoke continues to occur. Fire activity may increase again in a few days as temperatures rise and fuels dry out. Crews will continue to monitor the fire daily until it is out. The fire is entirely on national forest. If you have photos of the smoke rising from the mountain, you can share them at news@botetourtview.com We have a photo gallery of fire scenes before and after dark on Friday. Photos by SJ Carter. We've also had previous posts about the fire (most with photos): Crews no longer actively fighting Caldwell Mountain fireIt sounds like the Caldwell Mountain fire is pretty well close to running its course. This update says the fire has consumed 820 acres, but containment lines have been set, and crews are no longer actively fighting the blaze. The weekend rains also helped dampen the fire. If you have photos of the smoke rising from the mountain, we'll still take 'em at news@botetourtview.com We have a photo gallery of fire scenes before and after dark on Friday. Photos by SJ Carter. We've also had previous posts about the fire (most with photos): June 22, 2008More rain, little smoke -- Stone Coal fire update More rain fell Sunday afternoon on Caldwell Mountain and little smoke is visible. Time will tell if the fire will smolder until drier conditions prevail. From the USFS updates: General Information: Humidity, cloud cover and good, wetting rains Saturday and early Sunday have slowed the fire considerably. Crews will patrol and secure control lines on the west, south and north today. They may use backing fires to further widen lines. Crews on the east side of the fire will monitor activity around Lees Gap. Dry hot weather conditions next week could cause the fire to resume activity in that area. Crews will continue to monitor the fire daily until it is out. We had previous posts about the fire (most with photos): Rain slows fire, now up to 750 acres
In case you've missed it, here's a link to this morning's report in The Roanoke Times. This says the fire is now up to 750 acres, but Saturday afternoon's rain had helped slow it -- so surely the overnight rain helped even more. Saturday's fire scene on Caldwell Mountain. Photo by Barb Walker, U.S. Forest Service We have a photo gallery of fire scenes before and after dark on Friday. Photos by SJ Carter. If you have photos of the fire, you can share them at news@botetourtview.com We had previous posts about the fire (most with photos): June 21, 2008Fire burns toward Lee's GapSaturday, noon: Caldwell Mountain is covered in smoke this morning and more fire burned through the night especially on the eastern slope towards Lee's Gap. Barb Walker, the public relations representative for the U.S. Forest Service, said that the fire is going as well as can be expected as far as forest fire goes. As the fire approaches Lee's Gap, firefighters will have to decide what containment line will be built, she stated. So far the fire has three sides of containment lines. Weather may be a factor today she said as a chance of showers is in the forecast. Below is the latest update. We have a photo gallery of fire scenes before and after dark. Photos by SJ Carter. If you have photos of the fire, you can share them at news@botetourtview.com June 20, 2008Fire has now burned 650 acres Friday night update: The best estimate by the US Forest Service fire fighters on site is that 650 acres have now burned in the Stone Coal Fire as of darkness Friday night. We have a photo gallery of scenes before and after dark. Photos by SJ Carter.  USFS firefighters and personnel, Danny Wright, Steve Cory and Augusta Hot Shot Matt Way, discuss the fire map and plan on the side of the road in the 6000 block of Breckinridge Mill Road. Beyond the cornfield in the background, the recon helicopter landing area has been established. The fire burns in the distance. If you have photos of the fire, you can share them at news@botetourtview.com Another photo of the Caldwell Mountain fire Here's a photo that a reader sent us of the fire on Caldwell Mountain -- alternately called the Caldwell Mountain fire, or the Stone Coal Gap fire -- or, as it spreads, perhaps the Lee's Gap fire. The reader didn't leave a name, unfortunately. UPDATE: Julia Ewen took this photograph from her upstairs window. If you have photos of the fire, you can share them at news@botetourtview.com -- but, please, let us know who you are so we can properly give you credit. We know of at least one photographer who is going out tonight to get some night shots, so check back on The Botetourt View for more photos and updates through the weekend. Fire officials have said they expect the fire to burn into next week and consume more than 1,000 acres. Click here for our most recent update -- with three more photos. We had previous posts about the fire: Photos: Fire continues to burn on Caldwell Mountain While fire crews tried to make defensible lines, the fire in western Botetourt County continued to spread along Caldwell Mountain today. The Stone Coal fire has burned well over 300 acres and heads into overnight. Stone Coal fire this afternoon Do you have photos of the fire? Send them to news@botetourtview.com Spencer Suter of Botetourt County Emergency Services said: "As the fire nears Lee's Gap it gives a less defensible position but the forest is national forest and should not be a threat to private lands. As far as fires go, if one had to burn it is better to burn now than in November when dry fuels would send it from tree top to tree top and be much worse." Continue reading "Photos: Fire continues to burn on Caldwell Mountain" » Stone Coal fire now up to 300 acresHere's the latest update from the U.S. Forest Service on the fire in western Botetourt County: Location: Caldwell Mountain, near Lee’s Gap in Botetourt County, VA. Date Reported: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 Size: Estimated at 300 acres at 8:00 AM Friday. Aerial monitoring this afternoon will give fire managers a better estimate of acres burned. Number/type of resources on fire: 35 firefighters and 2 bulldozers are currently on the fire. A helicopter will arrive this afternoon. Restrictions/Closures: General Information: Fire crews are utilizing existing trails and roads for fireline whenever possible. They plan to clear and link Lee’s Creek Horse Trail, Price Mountain Road and Stone Coal Road to contain the fire. For More Information: Contact the Eastern Divide Ranger District at 540-864-5195 or 540-552-4641. We had previous posts about the fire about 10 o'clock this morning and 9 o'clock this morning, Thursday evening, Thursday morning and Wednesday afternoon. Most of those posts had photos. If you have photos of the fire, send them to news@botetourtview.com and we'll share them with readers. Stone Coal fire continues to spread Barb Walker of the U.S. Forest Service said rangers are continuing to assess the acreage of the Stone Coal fire in western Botetourt County. It has burned at least 100 plus acres, she said. Last night the low humidity and conditions showed in the dark that the fire was eeking its way towards Lees Gap. Smoke lay over the valley and long the mountain. This morning the Augusta Hot Shots are trying to establish a top perimeter along the Old Price's Mountain Road called Route 5012 -- a road no longer in service. The southern perimeter of fire defense is along the horse trail that runs from Stone Coal Gap along the foot of the mountain to Lee's Gap. Walker said more information is pending after a fly over and GPS work is done to assess the spread of the fire. We'll have more updates as they become available so check back on The Botetourt View. Do you have photos of the fire? Send 'em to us at news@botetourtview.com and we'll post 'em here. For more on the fire, here's the latest from The Roanoke Times newsroom. We had previous posts about the fire earlier this morning, Thursday evening, Thursday morning and Wednesday afternoon. Send us your fire photos!Smoke hangs over much of Botetourt County this morning, billowing up from the fire on Caldwell Mountain and then drifting east over Fincastle and Buchanan. (We have this report from reporter Neil Harvey plus this earlier post with photos by our own Cathy Benson, and we'll have other updates as they become available, so keep checking back on The Botetourt View.) Thankfully, the fire isn't threatening any homes, so we can appreciate this spectacle of nature in action. Last night, about sunset, I was driving from Buchanan to Fincastle on Wheatland Road and caught some amazing views of the smoke billowing up with the setting sun behind it. I swear, it looked exactly like a volcano erupting, the way the smoke poured up. I drove up to the top of the cemetery hill in Fincastle to get a better view, although trees were in the way at the highest point. I found another good angle on Mount Pleasant Road, near the Brian Center just north of Fincastle. This morning, as I was driving down U.S. 220, it looked like the most impressive views came in the Greenfield area. I bet the folks who live along Blacksburg Road get an especially good look. So -- what are you seeing? Send us your photos at news@botetourtview.com and we'll share them with readers. Just be sure to tell us where you took the photo from. -- Dwayne Yancey June 19, 2008Fire spreads to 100 acres, could consume more than 1,000 The U.S. Forest Service says the Stone Coal fire has spread by 75 acres bringing the total acreage to 100 acres today as dry conditions, low humidity and westerly winds have fueled the fire. Chris Rose in the Forest Service public relations office said his agency has equipment on the ground and are assessing the fire with ground crews. He expects this fire will burn an estimated 1,000 to 1,200 acres before it is extinguished. He says the Augusta Hot Shots, a crack team of firefighters, are expected to arrive Friday to help fight the fire. Continue reading "Fire spreads to 100 acres, could consume more than 1,000" » Update on the Stone Coal fire U.S. Forest Service District Ranger Cindy Shiffer is out on the site making a fire plan this morning for what has been termed the "Stone Coal fire." Smoke hangs over much of Botetourt County and folks at the James River Football camp asked where the fire is located at the beginning of camp this morning. The ridges along the Blue Ridge Parkway have pooled the smoke near Buchanan.The fire is located in western Botetourt County near Stone Coal Gap in rugged terrain and is thought to have been caused by a lightning strike last week and has smoldered for days. Forest Service spokesman Chris Rose said this morning the fire is thought to have consumed about 20 acres. So why all of the smoke from such a small fire? Rose said, "The smoke is coming from the burning of green vegetation and underbrush and this is a slow moving fire." June 18, 2008Fire on the mountain again Caldwell Mountain is on fire again on the Botetourt side northeast of Stone Coal Gap. This is the third fire in that area in the past week. However, this is by far the largest of the three fires.The U.S Forest service has dubbed the fire, "The Stone Coal Fire." U.S. Forestry Service dispatcher Paul Dory said, "We believe this is another fire that has smoldered from a lightning strike. We have people on foot heading up Caldwell Mountain as we speak." With dry conditions, low humidity and wind he said the conditions lend to a rekindling of flames in a smoldering site. The fire is near the top of the mountain along a ridge line and follows a path of smoke about for about 1/3rd of the way down the ridge. For old time residents, the area is know for its propensity to be the home of timber rattlesnakes We had a previous post about a lightning-caused fire on the mountains between Botetourt and Craig on June 11. VDOT reports wide load has cleared Botetourt CountyThe Virginia Department of Transportation reports the wide load it warned about Tuesday has now passed through Botetourt County on its way north, so Interstate 81 has returned to normal. The large steel structure for the Navy in Baltimore has now made its way to New Market. We had a previous post about possible closure of the interstate overnight on June 17. And today's official press release from VDOT is below: (Just curious -- did anyone in Botetourt see this thing pass through overnight? If so, you can leave a comment below.) Continue reading "VDOT reports wide load has cleared Botetourt County" » June 17, 2008VDOT warns of delays on northbound I-81 overnightThe Virginia Department of Transportation has just sent out an advisory about a wide load traveling north on Interstate 81 overnight (Tuesday, June 17-Wednesday, June 18) that is expected to cause traffic delays. It's a steel structure for the Navy in Baltimore and is so large that the truck is traveling with a police escort. VDOT provides more details about the load -- and the expected traffic delays -- in this press release: Continue reading "VDOT warns of delays on northbound I-81 overnight" » |