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Interstate 81 through Botetourt is now clear again. There had been a traffic tie-up following a wreck near Exit 168 at Buchanan.

We had information about that wreck in an earlier post.

A vehicle crash has slowed traffic on northbound Interstate 81 in Botetourt County, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

VDOT said the wreck occurred sometime around 4 p.m. near mile marker 168 and has closed the right lane.

Traffic was backed up about two miles as of 4:15 p.m.

Motorists are advised to use caution and expect delays.

Caleb Dorton VHSL Group A Player of the Year last season has been honored with a banner at the JRHS baseball. He is pictured here with his mother Kim Kingery.

Alumni Caleb Dorton was honored with a banner at the JRHS baseball field last week. The prize winning pitcher and hitter played three games as a starter for Concord University but is coming home to Virginia to attend and play at Ferrum College. His mother Kim Kingery said he is taking some classes at Virginia Western and looking forward to playing for the Ferrum Panthers next season and the family is happy he is cloer by so they can go to more games. Photo by the Dorton family

JRHS girls after their district championship in soccer.

Both James River and Lord Botetourt Girls soccer and Girls softball continue their march to state.  All three were victorious last night. Both boys soccer matches were postponed due to rain and the Knights baseball team was unscheduled. The tournaments continue tonight.  For individual results see www.roanoke.com/sports.  Go Botetourt teams!

Alan Brenner, Fincastle Town Council member, submitted this info:

The Reroofing project on the Fincastle Town Office will be this Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Anyone who can help would be appreciated.  Wear comfortable work clothes and TENNIS SHOES or other soft soled shoes. Boots will tear the shingles. I'll try to bring a few bottles of water. You might want to bring something to drink and a snack. Break time is at 9:30. Maybe we can send for a pizza for lunch at 11:30.

Brenner has  two ladders, but we might need another one or two. Bring a hammer and nail apron. Our biggest problem will be to get the 40 bundles of shingles up on the roof. If anyone knows of a tractor with bucket or other device that we could use for a short period to get them on the roof, that would be great.

Photo courtesy of Joel Coman

Here is a link to photos of the Lord Botetourt Varsity boys soccer team. These photos were sent by Joel Coman:

The Seniors with Asst. Coach Andrew Moore (far left standing) and Coach Hayman

Congratulations to Da Von Ross, Melissa Cupp, Amelia Cassell, and Alisha McCrowey. They all received scholarships from the Foundation for Roanoke Valley during a reception held at the Jefferson Center in downtown Roanoke.

Submitted by Lisa Brown

Jump into the action!

(Pause for collective groan due to bad pun.)

OK, well, moving on. Welcome to this week's guide to all the online extras associated with this week's print edition of The Botetourt View.

That's one of them at left -- Maribeth Kern of James River's track team. That's her at the Pioneer District championships.

We have some photos from both James River and Lord Botetourt district tournament action in print -- but we have lots more online.

And we have lots of other things, too, so here goes:

* Photos from the Attic Productions show "Dark at the Top of the Stairs," which opens this week
* Photos from Faith Festival in Buchanan
* Photos from Battle of the Bands at Lord Botetourt
* Blue Collar Joe’s wins recognition for remodeling
* Troutville girl takes first at Salem fishing rodeo
* Photos from Lil Scholars graduation at Fincastle Baptist
* Kayla Hanson wins scholarship
* Troutville Elementary’s Jump Rope for Heart raises $3,400
* Greenfield Elementary holds annual variety show
* Music teacher Margaret Courtney wins scholarship
* Photo of Sherrie Andrews’ piano students at recital
* Paparazzi photos from Local Colors

AND IN SPORTS . . .
* Lord Botetourt grad Megan Forbes sets softball records at JMU
* Two Lord Botetourt football players sign with colleges
* Photos from James River girls soccer
* Photos from James River boys soccer
* Photos from James River track at district and regionals
* Photos from Lord Botetourt softball
* Photos from Lord Botetourt baseball
* Photos from Lord Botetourt JV baseball

For more information -- including how to advertise and reach more than 90 percent of the households in Botetourt County -- see below:
Read more »

Captain Elaine Vickers of the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office and the first woman captain. She is the head of the jail in the public safety building.

Elaine Vickers has been promoted to the rank of Captain in the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office. Vickers is the first female to reach the rank of Captain in Botetourt County Sheriff's Office. She speaks with a nice British lilt and has been a jailer in the  county for almost nine years. She is a native of England and is married to Kip Vickers  who is also in law enforcement at Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy as Director. They have three children and live in the Troutville area.

She married Vickers a GI, and came back to live in the states she said. She has worked as a dispatcher and jailer in several locales including Wythe County and Roanoke City. "I am just like any other Captain," she said, "Being a male or a female has nothing to do with it. It is all in the work ethic. I am awed by the trust the sheriff has placed in me."

Vickers describes how much better the new facility is compared to the old and what is the daily job entail? " Safety, first is the rule of the thumb both for the inmate and the employees." She currently runs the records department but is assuming the other duties as of June 1 that will include the day to day operation of the jail including supervising the staff and inmates.

"I will focus on what needs to be done and try to treat every one with respect. We have an excellent relationship with the inmates as a result of our daily and direct contact with them."

Is it 1977 or '87? Looks like it might be '77 but nonetheless does anyone out there recognize the ring?

The Fincastle Library received an interesting phone call recently. They have submitted the following to the Botetourt view.

Diane Hennessy was walking near the San Clemente Pier in San Clemente, California. She found a woman's class ring in the sand. Diane took the ring to a jewelers to be cleaned and she thinks it is from Lord Botetourt High School. The date appears to be from 1937, but perhaps it is 1987 as there was no Lord Botetourt at that time. The initials inside the ring appear to be VEJ.

So the question remains, to whom does the ring belong and what is the story behind the loss. Hopefully this will have a happier ending than the last found ring story. Diane is willing to return the ring to the proper owner, should she be found. Contact Rebecca Smith Fincastle Library at 473-8339 if you might know where and to whom this ring belongs!