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After School Movie at Botetourt County Libraries

The Blue Ridge and Buchanan libraries will show the Pixar animated feature "Up" in November.

Carl Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and now in his 78th year he launches his house into the sky via thousands of balloons. Right after lift-off he discovers he has a stowaway in the form of an over optimistic 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell. This hilarious journey takes you into a lost world with the least likely duo on Earth. The film is rated PG.

The movie will be shown on Thursday, November 12 at the Blue Ridge library and Thursday, November 19 at the Buchanan branch. Both will begin at 4:00 P.M.

The movies are free, and snacks will be provided.

Mommy & me classes are held each Thursday morning from 9:30 AM until 11:30 AM at the Fincastle Community Center. Please join Ms. Angie for a fun filled morning for your little one. Cost of each session is $7.00. Drop in's are welcome or your may call our office to register your 2-5 year old child at 473-8326.

Parents Night Out...need time to finish last minute holiday details? Why not drop the kids off with us at the Troutville Elementary School on Friday evening, December 18 from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM for some organized fun and a pizza dinner too! Cost for each child (K-5th graders) will be $10. Please call our office to register at 473-8326.

2010 Amazement Square...Schools will be closed on Friday, January 15, why not allow your student to spend the day with us? Registration is limited for this trip to Lynchburg, so hurry and reserve your child's spot. Cost for this event is $12.00 for children ages 8-13. Please pack a lunch or send money for the day.

Submitted by Botetourt County Parks and Recreation

JTEKT Auto, the Botetourt County auto parts manufacturer announced this summer it will phase down operations in October and be closed by February. Today, the U.S. Department of Labor announced those workers will qualify for federal assistance.

Here's the full release from the Labor Department: Read more »

Botetourt County is updating its Comprehensive Plan over the next eight months, with final adoption anticipated in Spring 2010. The comprehensive planning effort will produce a document that outlines how the community envisions its future.

When completed, the plan will be a tool to help guide and shape the county's future growth and development. The intent of this Comprehensive Plan is to provide for the realization of general goals in such a way that the County's livability is protected and enhanced.
More information about the Comprehensive Plan Update can be found here: www.botetourt.org/government/planning_cp_update.php

The Comprehensive Plan will include:

• A vision statement that will guide decision-making;
• A plan for managing anticipated growth and development including all modes of transportation;
• Goals and policies related to economic development, housing, infrastructure, and natural resources;
• A plan for preserving the County's environmental quality and agricultural lands.

This plan is for the whole community and because of that, it is important to have extensive citizen input and support. The 2010 update to the Comprehensive Plan, like previous updates, incorporates public input opportunities throughout the planning and policy development process. This Plan is for the community and community comments will have a direct effect on the County's goals and actions for the next 5, 10 to 20 years!

The County held two open-house style public forums on October 24, 2009 to discuss the community's vision for the future. They presented information regarding the County's current growth and sought feedback on how the community wanted to grow and where.

The second public forum will focus on identifying, evaluating and prioritizing implementation options for achieving the County's vision. Input from this meeting will provide the County with an understanding of what may be the most desirable and appropriate implementation tools. The second public forum is scheduled for December 5th at Lord Botetourt High School from 9:00 - 11:00 AM and James River High School from 1:00 - 3:00 PM. Please come and join us!

American Heritage Girls Troop VA 2009 making donation to Troutville Fire and Rescue.

Seeking to bless our local fire and rescue teams, American Heritage Girls (AHG) Troop VA2009 surprised the Troutville Volunteer Fire Department on October 10 with cases of bottled water and Gatorade, two beverages in high demand by first responders after answering an emergency! AHG is a Christian scouting organization for ages 5-18 dedicated to developing women of integrity through service to God, family, community and country! The Roanoke-area chapter was started this Summer, and already has 19 girls participating! Meetings are held across the street from the Troutville Fire Department on Rt. 11 at Living Hope Fellowship Church. For more information about AHG, contact Connie Davis via email at noahslanding1@cox.net.

submitted by Jennifer Blugerman

Republican Bill Cleaveland won a seat in the House of Delegates Tuesday night. He represents only a small part of southern Botetourt but . . . he is a Botetourt resident, so will go to Richmond as Del. Bill Cleaveland, R-Botetourt.

Here's video from Cleaveland's victory party last night. We also have this photo gallery of election scenes which includes several shots of Cleaveland.

We have more election news and analysis here.

With all the precincts reporting, incumbent Terry Austin has won re-election as Buchanan District supervisor and Kathy Graham Sullivan has won re-election to the Buchanan seat on the school board.

The results:

Terry Austin: 1,338
Crystal Ware: 568

Kathy Graham Sullivan: 1,308
Tom Wilbon: 451

We have complete results here.

A voter arriving at Orchard Hills Church of the Holy Spirit on Cloverdale Road hit the building, according to Virginia State Police Sgt. Rob Carpentieri. The driver, 55-year-old Virginia Berry of Botetourt County, apparently pressed the gas pedal instead of the brake.

Nobody was hurt, but the building was damaged. We have details on our election site.

Botetourt's registrar says voter turn-out this year could top the mark set in the governor's race four years ago.

Also of note: More absentee ballots this year.

We have more about Botetourt's turn-out on our election site.

So what are you seeing and hearing at the polls today? You can leave a comment below.

Voting is a dirty business.

All those fingers actually touching the touch-screen. What to do with there's a swine flu epidemic going on?

Well, when I voted at Breckinridge Elementary in Fincastle about 8:45 this morning, the poll worker helpfully directed my attention to . . . a cup of coffee stirrers by the machine. I could use one of those, she said, to touch the screen in case I didn't want to make direct contact.

I tried it. It worked.

Anyone else encounter this at other precincts? You can leave a comment below or email us at news@botetourtview.com. Check back tonight and we'll post Botetourt election results here on The Botetourt View-- and statewide results (with analysis) here.

Not sure where your polling place is? We have this primer.

-- Dwayne Yancey, senior editor