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Whatever it is you're doing this weekend -- whether having a backyard barbecue or hitting the Buchanan Carnival -- surely you're taking photos right? If so, you can share them at news@botetourtview.com.

Happy Fourth of July!

On Saturday July 4 2009...3-5 pm...

Classic Rock and Original Recording Artist...5 Minutes Later... featuring 4 of Botetourt Counties Talented and Youthful Artist, Alex Tam & Travis Grahame, with David Vineyard and Singer JT Campbell will be performing at The Salem Fair for the enjoyment of this years Fabulous 4th. of July Celebration of the Independence of our Great Nation.

Submitted by Ed Tam

Do you have news or photos from Botetourt? If so, you can share at news@botetourtview.com.

Happy Fourth of July weekend. For a lot of people in Botetourt, the festivities started last weekend, with the annual Buchanan Carnival -- and we have photos. You'll find some in this week's print edition of The Botetourt View, and then you'll find more online in this photo gallery.

Of course, each week, we put far more online than we can even squeeze into print, so that's why we produce this weekly guide to find all those online extras. Why, we even had photos of the Buchanan Carnival before the Octopus ride went down!

Here's what else we have:

* Ride collapses at fair; one hurt
* Infant killed in wreck on U.S. 11 -- posts from June 30 and July 1
* Troutville rest area will stay open through holiday
* Leonardo’s opens in Fincastle
* Botetourt schools send home dress code policy
* Richard Sealey retires from health department
* Relay for Life benefit at Blue Ridge Vineyard on July 11
* Results from Lord Botetourt FFA and Read Mountain FFA
* More wildlife photos from Ben Schrader
* More photos from the summer gifted program
* More photos from the Central Academy talent show
* More photos from Chamber of Commerce dinner
* More photos of ladyslippers and robin's eggs that Jane Garnett found

AND IN SPORTS . . . .
* More photos of Botetourt Nationals vs. Botetourt Americans
* More photos of Botetourt Nationals vs. Blacksburg
* Photos of Botetourt Americans in Dixie Angels tournament
* More photos of Blue Ridge Blizzard vs. Robertson Motor Sports
* Photo of Fincastle Rebels baseball team
* Photos from Future Cavs basketball camp

So how can you get your news and photos in The Botetourt View? Easy! Just share at news@botetourtview.com.

For more information -- including how to advertise and reach more than 90 percent of the households in Botetourt County -- see below:
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David and Hazel Bowers send these photos of a  mother bear and two cubs coming to eat green apples on June 29.  The bears were spotted on Route 43 about 3 miles north of James River High School.

Have you seen a bear in Botetourt lately? If so, let us know at news@botetourtview.com -- and we'll add you to our map our bear sightings.

Katerina Yancey of Fincastle saw a bear galloping across U.S. 220 near Daleville on July 1. She her account here.

Coy Shupe, Jr of Troutville had a job lay-off in the winter. He and his wife Rhonda, a special education teacher at McCleary Elementary School in New Castle, thought an animal solution may be in the works. At first he wasn't certain, but by the end of February he made the commitment. They began to find some animals for a traveling petting zoo. What a fun new job. The animals at his little farm are friendly, soft and cuddly.

The economy will spawn many entrepreneurs it has been predicted. Shupe is among the first to approach the Botetourt View. He was in the telecommunications industry which is pretty dead now due to the lack of new construction and upgrades.  Rhonda got on the internet and began to surf  Craig's List and the result is a lot of miniature animals and low cost to get them. Today the Shupes were on the way to get Alpacas in the Shenanadoah Valley.

The Shupe family of four seem to really enjoy the animals. Besides Coy, there's wife Rhonda, son Daniel and daughter Kalena. They share time socializing the animals and pitch in to feed and water. The animals include miniature horses Cookie and Pete, chickens including polish silkies, bantams, bunnies, Pygamy goats named Katie, Buster and Cocoa, a sheep named "Baaab," a duck and soon there will be alpacas and a miniature donkey. The cutest things in the world??? Baby pot bellied pigs named Wilbur and Fiona. Fiona is a little black piglet and well when eating a bottle, she wouldn't let Wilbur try. She's a real pig! They also have a dog that follows Shupe all over the four acre farm.

Little Critters traveled last week to a church in Christiansburg and were well received. Children are around these animals on a daily basis so that is a really good thing. Birthday parties will be a big part of his business Shupe hopes.  He believes that PTA groups, fairs and events associated with kids will contact him. They will also bring animals to nursing homes and other places for pet therapy. Little Critters will even provide live animals for Nativity Scenes.

Already he expects to have the petting zoo sometime soon at a farm store in Roanoke County.

To reach Shupe and schedule Little Critters Traveling Petting Zoo-- call him at 354-8490.

BLACKSBURG, Va., July 2 -- The following students enrolled at Virginia Tech were named to the dean's list for the spring 2009 semester. To qualify for the dean's list, students must attempt at least 12 credit hours graded on the A-F option and earn a 3.4 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) during the semester.
Founded in 1872 as a land-grant college, Virginia Tech is the most comprehensive university in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is among the top research universities in the nation. Today, Virginia Tech's nine colleges are dedicated to quality, innovation, and results through teaching, research, and outreach activities. At its 2,600-acre main campus located in Blacksburg and other campus centers in Northern Virginia, Southwest Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond, Southside, and Roanoke, Virginia Tech enrolls more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries in 180 academic degree programs.

Bethany M. Doyle

Doyle is a sophomore majoring in biology in the College of Science.

Jennifer L. Holdren

Holdren is a senior majoring in human nutrition, foods and exercise in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Amy J. Lucas

Lucas is a senior majoring in international studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

Levi K. Poole

Poole is a second-year student majoring in agricultural technology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Lewis G. Richards

Richards is a senior majoring in management in the Pamplin College of Business.

Shannon M. Austin

Austin is a senior majoring in human nutrition, foods and exercise in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Rachel K. Higginbotham

Higginbotham is a junior majoring in agricultural and applied economics in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Tara L. Smith

Smith is a junior majoring in biology in the College of Science.

Joshua N. Armour

Armour is a sophomore majoring in finance in the Pamplin College of Business.

Allen E. Bowman

Bowman is a junior majoring in management in the Pamplin College of Business.

Joshua D. Wright

Wright is a senior majoring in civil engineering in the College of Engineering.

Barbara E. Sprinkel

Sprinkel is a freshman majoring in political science in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

Justin D. Stein

Stein is a senior majoring in business information technology in the Pamplin College of Business.

Thomas G. Allen

Allen is a senior majoring in biology in the College of Science.

Lindsey A. Bertholf

Bertholf is a senior majoring in civil engineering in the College of Engineering.

Devin W. Deane

Deane is a senior majoring in economics in the Pamplin College of Business.

Alicia M. McFalls

McFalls is a senior majoring in English in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

Sarah A. Muse

Muse is a senior majoring in biology in the College of Science.

Jonathan M. Potter

Potter is a second-year student majoring in agricultural technology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Benjamin W. Silcox

Silcox is a senior majoring in civil engineering in the College of Engineering.

Jamie E. Sorrels

Sorrels is a senior majoring in economics in the College of Science.

Do you have news or photos involving college students from Botetourt? If so, you can share at news@botetourtview.com

The Botetourt Farmer’s Market at Ikenberry Orchards is pleased to announce a special musical event Saturday July 18. The Black Twig Pickers will be playing their energetic, enthusiastic, and unique style of Old Time Mountain Music from 9:00 a.m. to noon. This group is a monthly regular at the Floyd Country Store summer concert series and Sing Out! Magazine notes: ‘The Black Twigs recapture the golden age of old-time music with all the spirit intact.’ Won’t you please come to Ikenberry Orchards and support the local farmers and growers of the Botetourt Family Farms group and the Black Twig Pickers as they preserve and grow this wonderful style of music. Don’t be afraid to bring your dancin’ shoes!

Submitted by Kevin Roberts

Jason Cohen shared this photo of Grace Boardwine, 14, performing her flute recital at the Blue Ridge Academy of Music. Grace studies the flute with Lisa Brooks.

Do you have news or photos involving people from Botetourt? If so, you can share at news@botetourtview.com.

The Fincastle Storm finished the season in Second Place in the Minors National Division.

Botetourt County parks and rec sends out the following reminder about soccer camps starting next week:

Accademy Soccer Camps will be held at the Cloverdale Soccer Fields on July 6th to 10th and July 27th to July 31st for children ages 5 to 12 year old. Elite Soccer camp will be held for children ages 9 to 12 on July 27th to July 31st. Camps will be held from 9am to 12 noon each day and the cost of the camps is $70.00 per participant.

If you have a child interested, please feel free to register them at www.botetourt.org/recreation under activities or you may call the Recreation Department at 473-8326. Should you have additional questions, feel free to call.