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Over at Lord Botetourt High School today, Trooper M.S. Jordan tried to get students to walk a straight line using simulator goggles that made the student sway and totter while Trooper J.R. Mann rode in the passenger seat of the Virginia State Police simulator .

Wearing the specialized goggles, a driver gets the motion of being visually impaired -- one of the side effects of drinking and driving. Each student from a PE class or driver's ed took a turn piloting the vehicle through a course of orange pylons.The state police sponsor the vehicle in hopes they will be able to avoid responding to the scene of the saddest of calls -- the death of a teenager due to drinking and driving, Mann said previously.

Both Lord Botetourt and James River high schools hold their proms this Saturday.

Sophomore Mina Asargi pilots the simulator -- a golf cart "pimped" to look like a mini state trooper cruiser.

Well over 100 people came by the BBQ in his honor to say good-bye and Buck Heartwell who is retiring as county attorney after 28 years said it was sad, but time to move on.

The county's constitutional officers -- Treasurer Benton Bolton, Commonwealth's Attorney Joel Branscom, Commissioner of the Revenue Jay Etzler, Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle and Clerk of Court Tommy Moore -- got together and paid for the lunch to honor him. After lunch at his private law office on Main Street in Fincastle, Heartwell accompanied by his wife Sudie, was introspective, "I enjoyed my years of service with the county. It is sad, but it was time for a change."

Buck and Sudie Heartwell and Angie Brogan his law office secretary were all smiles after his retirement lunch on the courthouse square in Fincastle.

There are a lot of ponds and lakes around Botetourt and the Fish Wagon out of Arkansas stops by several time per year bringing stocking fish. On Wednesday morning at Southern States in Troutville the truck waited for customers.

Larry Barnhill drives the Fish Wagon to Virginia complete with oxygenated tanks that he travels to various stops along the way.

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In The Notebook last week, Dwayne Yancey commented on the rising gas prices in Botetourt and Larry Ceola at Cavalier Automotive contacted the Botetourt View about how to save on gas mileage in the face of the rising prices!

Larry Ceola at Cavalier Automotive in Cloverdale sees alternatives to high gas prices in better gas mileage.

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In case you missed it over in the sports section, James River High School grad Angela Tincher has racked up another milestone on Virginia Tech's softball team. Tuesday, she threw her 2,000th strikeout -- in the course of a no-hitter, no less. She's just the third player in NCAA history to reach that mark.

Here's the story and more photos.

Also, our sports section is planning a bigger feature on Tincher in this coming Sunday's print editions of The Roanoke Times.

We had a previous post about Tincher on April 16, when she set the ACC record for wins.

Photo by Matt Gentry.

Our paparazzi photo crew was on hand at The Buchanan Theatre last Friday night for the Robin and Linda Williams show. We have photos of some of the fans who stepped onto our red carpet.

We you there? What did you think of the show? Feel free to leave some comments below

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!

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Buck Heartwell is retiring as County Attorney after 28 years and on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. a BBQ lunch in his honor is being held next to the Fincastle Court House.

Sponsors of the event are elected officials in Botetourt County and include Treasurer Benton Bolton, Commonwealth's Attorney Joel Branscom, Commissioner of the Revenue Jay Etzler, Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle and Clerk of Court Tommy Moore. The event is being held to allow county employees and others to offer their thanks to Heartwell.

DJ's Pit Stop owned by Doug and Jeff Moran will feature BBQ and all of the fixin's to go along. The sponsors said they are showing their appreciation and honoring all of the years of Heartwell's service and commitment to Botetourt County.

Want to help the Blue Ridge Autism Center (BRAC) and you like to do scrap booking? The "Crop for the Cause" event is being held at Bonsack United Methodist Church on May 2nd and 3rd for a $25 donation.

The event takes place from 5 p.m on Friday to 2 a.m. on Saturday and again on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m, said Lisa Hensley an employee of the BRAC who wanted to do something creative to help the center.
"You come both times for one donation or just once." said Hensley. "Checks are made out to BRAC and donations can also be made by mail to:

BRAC
PO Box 226
Blue Ridge, VA 24064

Rachel Rideout is a Creative Memories consultant who volunteered to help and she is taking orders for set-ups. She can be reached at 977-6075 or docnrae@cox.net.

These posters are all over the Botetourt County Court House and associated government offices. Who is Helen and what does it mean?

Circuit Court Clerk Tommy Moore says this celebration has been going on for years and the Botetourt View will have to come back Friday morning around 11 to know what it means. How does Helen rate her own week? We have some insider info. She's an employee who works in county offices...stay tuned for more!