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School board member Jack Leffel in foreground and administrator Sam Foster in back ground with Chairman Kathy Sullivan in an earlier school board event this year.

The committee chaired by  Fincastle District school board member Jack Leffel and comprised of Blue Ridge  member Scott Swortzel and administrator Sam Foster, brought forth a new  policy on the naming of fields and buildings for persons either living or deceased. The policy would not allow the naming of buildings or fields for persons. "Foster looked into 16 different school divisions and their policies on naming facilities and fields after individuals," said Leffel, who also chuckled and said, "but I will take the heat on this one."

The committee recommended a draft to the school board that would instead allow commemorative plaques or markers supported by broad based community interest for individuals who have performed extraordinary service to a school. The committee formed after citizens asked that the Lord Botetourt gym be named after former coach Don Meredith and the soccer field at Troutville Elementary School to be named after the late Cecil Hoyt. Earlier in the year, the James River softball field was named in honor of 48 year JRHS coach and former teacher John Shotwell. A plaque and commemoration on a marker already exists at Lord Botetourt High School in honor of the late George Moore's family contribution to the building of the LBHS football field house.

Among the policy recommendations, is an application form to be filled out by interested parties wanting to sponsor a plaque. First, contact is made with the building principal who accesses the information and contacts the school superintendent, a decision is made to form a committee if the commemoration is found to be well supported. Those on the committee will include parents, teachers, administrators, interested parties. The committee will then decide what if anything will transpire on the plaque honoring or memorializing an individual. The matter will then go to the school board and they will have the final say in what the plaque says and where it will be placed within a building or on a field.

The school board will act on the policy change dubbed FFA-BR Dedicating areas of school Facilities or grounds in December. Here is a look at the draft presented on Thursday night November 12: Read more »

The Botetourt County School Board meets today. Here's the agenda.

Social Services says, "Help is needed for Botetourt families this holiday season."

Mary Lou Mullis, Director of Social Services, sent this letter to the Botetourt View:

Dear Friends:

The Botetourt County Department of Social Services helps individuals and families during times of financial difficulties. A particularly difficult time for many is the Christmas Season-a time that should be filled with joy; however, many families do not have money to provide Christmas for their children. They cannot afford to purchase toys, the additional cost of food for Christmas dinner, or the additional cost of fuel needed in the winter. These problems can be compounded if an unexpected illness occurs in the family.

We are once again asking individuals and local businesses for donations to the Botetourt County Christmas Fund so that we can continue helping those in need at this time of the year. Any resources that are left over we will use to help pay for medicines and other necessities for families that may need help throughout the year.

For the Botetourt County Christmas Fund in 2008, local citizens and businesses contributed over $12,500 that was spent for food and gifts to assist approximately 300 families. In addition, individuals, local businesses, churches and civic organizations sponsored approximately 350 "Angels" by purchasing clothing/toys for these individuals.

If you would like to make a donation to Botetourt County's Christmas Fund, please send a check payable to the Botetourt County Department of Social Services (BCDSS) and mail to:

Botetourt County Department of Social Services m

Christmas Fund

P. O. Box 160

Fincastle, VA 24090

Thank you for helping us help others at this very special time of the year. If you have any questions about the Christmas Fund, you may contact Tina Childress at 473-8210.

VETERAN'S DAY LIST

E L (Pat) Paderick Marine Artillery man during WWII
Purple Heart and Bronze Star Korea 1953

H T Grindstaff Air Force 1943-1945 WWII

Joe Johnson Air Force Pilot 1942-1972 WWII

Orville Ruid Navy 1942-1945 WWII ( oldest there -96 yrs old )

Roy Webb Army Air Force 1943-1945 WWII

Harry Burnett Navy Yeoman 1943-1946 WWII

Harold Wilhelm United States Navy 1944-1946 WWII

Frank Wooding Merchant Marine 1942-1946 WWII

Bob Young Army Air Force WWII 1943-1945

Norman Flora Army Field Artillery 1948-1952

Walt Bergman Lieutenant Commander Navy 1947-1967

Phyllis Bergman Lieutenant in Air Force 1951-1954

Richard Barbour Army medic 1952-1953

Henry J Amos Army Korean Conflict 1950-1952

James Gardner Korean Marine 1950-1951

Jack Sutliff Navy 1953-1955

Bob Venable Commander in the Navy 1954-1978

Larry Crawford Army 1953-1956

Gene Hatcher Air Force 1957-1961

Wes Whitely National Guard 1958-1964

Mason Whitenack Air Force Airman 1951-1955

Wayne Gray Army 1958-1978

Ken Venable Lieutenant in the Army 1963-1966

Dale Bryant Navy 1963-1970

Dewie Weddle Air Force 1952-1956

Michael Crowder Air Force 1977-1981

Doug Paxton Navy 1971-1975

David Davney Navy 1971-1975

Terry Martin Army 1981

Walter Cone Air Force 1974

George Blake Army 1969-1970
Nelson Mayo Navy 1969-1971
John Guidon Navy 1981-1989
Dennis Harlow Army 1982-1988
John Strickley Air Force
Joshua St. Clair National Guard 2007-2008

Submitted by Priscilla Richardson and Lee Minnix

Photos by Richardson and Len Miller

Rene Worthen shows some of the raffle items.

The Friends of the Fincastle Library is having a Christmas Raffle drawing on December 15, 2009. Among the donations being raffled are:

Country Cookin - 25 free Breakfast Bar certificates

Nancy Wells - Candle holder set

Curves - Free Service fee value $150.00

Janet Buttram - Reed Diffuser & 2 Mary Kay Hand Care kits

Buchanan Florist - Candle

Ashley Plantation - 4 Free Green fees

Cahoon Florist - Gift Certificate

Chamber of Commerce - Golf tote bag

Rivers Edge Restaurant - Gift Certificate

Wayne Graves - Happy Food Mart - 2, 12 packs of sodas

BB&T Buchanan Bank - Thermos

Chewey Boo Creations - Hand cut wood item

Thomas & Chris Hearn - 1 bird feeder & 1 bird house

Kevin Costello -Botetourt Tourism - 1 Wine Trail Tee-shirt

O'Charleys - Gift Certificate

Old Mill - 1 hunting cap

Anonymous - 1 Longberger basket

Three Little Pigs - Gift Certificate

McKinzie Moore - Hand made child's necklace

Leonardo's - Gift Certificate

Botetourt Landscape - 1 Blueberry Preserves & 1 Pure Sorghum

Buchanan Library - 3 book bags

Money from the raffle will help fund the children's programs. The tickets are $1.00 each or 12 for $10.00 and are on sale in the Fincastle Library, The Buchanan Library and the Botetourt Bookmobile.

Submitted by Friends of the Library

The JRHS band marched in Buchanan for homecoming!

The James River band is marching today in better weather in NYC today in the city's annual Veteran's Day parade. We had a previous story about the Knight's application and journey to fund the trip to NYC. Look for more pics when they get back on Friday!

OTHER RECENT COVERAGE OF JAMES RIVER:
* Nov. 10: James River has 12 on All-Pioneer District football team
* Nov. 9: James River presents one-act play Nov. 19
* Nov. 9: James River Sports Hall of Fame inductions
* Nov. 8: Photos of James River football vs. Craig County
* Nov. 6: Four James River volleyball players win all-district honors
* Nov. 6: Japanese exchange with James River High School
* Nov. 6: James River's Britta Grim going to state cross-country meet
* Nov. 3: Photos from senior night for James River band
* Nov. 2: More photos from the James River - Bath game
* Nov. 2: Photos of James River football vs. Bath

Colonial Elementary began a day of service to honor veterans on this Veteran's Day November 11, 2009. The ceremony featured students, a teacher, the principal and the music teacher and an area Veteran. For the rest of the day field trips are scheduled to  a Roanoke VFW Hall on Grandview Avenue where  the Mayor of Roanoke will make a proclamation. those attending will be from the Colonial Kindergarten, First and Third grades will travel to the Virginia Veteran's Care Center to honor and sing to the veterans and the Fourth and Fifth grades will be at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford to honor the veterans there. The second grade sang two special songs and had to cancel their field trip to the VA hospital due to hospital policy concerning  children and the spread of Swine Flu.

SCA members lead the student body and guests in the pledge of allegiance. Principal Tammy Riggs and music teacher Jessica Wright sang the National Anthem in harmony. Afterward, teacher JoAnne Perkins, a  veteran, spoke of her service in the US Air Force, her husband as a Viet Nam veteran and the other three generations of her family that have been in every major war WWII, WWI and the US Civil War.

Sgt. Shane Fletcher, a Colonial parent, of the Army's 101 Airborne and a specialist who trained the Iraqi Army spoke of his tour. "A suicide  bomber pulled up beside our truck and exploded." He showed a picture on the power point of his burning truck. He and another soldier from Lynchburg ran back into the fire and pulled out their comrade from the flames. All three injured, but all three survived.

Fletcher urged the students to thank a Veteran for all they have done to preserve American freedom. While he was in Iraq, Colonial continued to send him care boxes that meant a lot to him and to his fellow soldiers. He presented Principal Riggs with a "Challenge coin" a symbol of someone or in this case a school, that has done a good deed.

Riggs then announced and the SCA recognized with a framed certificate, the Veterans in the audience. They were:

Jim Brown, Army; Robert Wolfe, Army; Randy Holman, Army National Guard; Jason Rider, Marines; Bill lovern, Army; WH Simpson, Army; Daniel Fitzwater, Army; David Deel, Navy; Roger Beatty, Army; Gordon Edwards, Navy; Randall Beckner, Navy; John  Mareen, Army; Ken Holton, Marines;Rick Winfield, Navy; Shane Fletcher, Army; Derek Norwinski, Air Force; Michael Vaughn, Navy; Lucky Vance, Marines; JoAnne Perkins, Air Force.

At the conclusion, Riggs charged the students to not consider the weather, but rather the purpose of their mission to honor veterans on this day. The students then departed to go on the respective field trips to honor the service of area veterans.

On Monday night November 9, 140 people showed up to fight the proposed Aqua Virginia rate increase. The town hall meeting at Rainbow Forest Baptist Church was held by Blue Ridge Supervisor Billy Martin. Though the time to sign on as a respondent against the rate increase in a case pending before the State Corporation Commission ended on October 16 and  before any action could be taken through the Board of Supervisors, Martin is persevering on his promise to help the citizens of the Blue Ridge and Read Mountain areas. They are customers of Aqua Virginia and he vowed to help them fight the increase. he held a meetingin October as well and about 70 people came to that meeting.

"Over a period of a year the rate increase adds to about $216 per family for 2,500 people in Botetourt County noted Martin. " Though Aqua has spent 44 million state wide in water improvements and water treatment, only 1.3 million has been invested in Botetourt County," he said. Aqua Virginia has 20,000 subscribers through out the state so Martin sees the rate increase disproportioned to the amount invested here. Botetourt residents do not receive sewage and runoff water treatment only potable water service. The former is much more expensive, said Martin who wondered why Botetourt citizens should have to pay for a service they do not recieve.

Since Botetourt  County can not be a respondent, just sympathetic case attendants with counties that did get in under the deadline, only letters and petitions of concerned residents can be sent to the SCC. Petitions are circulating through out the affected subdivisions and Martin provided a flyer of helpful hints for those who will write letters to the SCC and the case number.

Martin said, the rate increase will take place in December. If the Aqua Virginia rate increase is not approved in February 2010 by the SCC, customers will likely receive a credit on their monthly bills in the form of refund.   He plans one more town hall meeting in January 2010 to keep people reminded of the fight against the rate increase.

Here are the Rate increase case  particulars and reasons to oppose it Martin passed out at the meeting last eveningReasons to oppose the projected rate increase by Aqua Virginia Inc.

• request for $3.2 million dollar increase or 69% increase in rates is outrageous
• Equates to $18.00 per month per customer or $216 increase per year
• Aqua Invested $44 million across Virginia to improve water and wastewater systems
• Only $1.3 million invested in Botetourt County or 2.95% of the total invested
• Aqua wants Botetourt to help pay for the $42.7 dollars invested elsewhere. We should not have to do this.
• Had rate increase four (4) years ago (approximately 60% or better)
• Aqua has asked the SCC to consolidate rates for their customers. Regardless where they live, all will pay the same rate. (NOVA vs. Botetourt) Wage scales and costs in NOVA are much higher than this area. We should not be burdened with this increase.
• Over half of this increase is for storm water drainage and sewage operations. Botetourt residents already pay for sewage and storm water drainage operations. We should not have to pay Aqua a second time.
• Aqua had a $98 ,million profit last year. Why do they need a rate increase?
• Aqua stated that Rate increases provide a way to recover capital and operating dollars to improve. So is planning and setting aside capital to do this
• Why does Aqua NOT have accounts budgeted for capital expenditures? Aqua sent a letter to its' stockholders boasting of the company's ability to grow earnings despite recent unfavorable weather and economic conditions. How do they have ten (10) consecutive years of increased profits? Well, Aqua contributes this "to the company's ability to "recover capital investments through timely rate relief" IN OTHER WORDS, put this burden on the ratepayer through unreasonable and preposterous rate increases.
• Aqua said this was for improvements, not necessity. To spend $44 million and then ask your customers to pay is irresponsible management.
• Aqua wants this increase and still profit from their existing rates.
• This proposed increase is unwarranted, unfair to Botetourt County and simply put, OUTRAGEOUS.
• A company already making $100 million a year in profits should not grow fatter by stealing from the citizens it is allowed to serve.

State Corporation Commission Refer to case PUE-2009-00059
P O Box 1197
Richmond, VA 23218

Fincastle and Buchanan Libraries Food Drive for the Botetourt Food Pantry.

FOOD DRIVE
Botetourt Food Pantry

.50 cents will be removed from your fine
For every current dated non perishable food item
Fincastle Library, Botetourt Bookmobile
Buchanan Library
November 16-21, 2009
December 14- 19, 2009

submited by Fincastle Library

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.