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No telling yet how much money the bomb threats today will end up costing Botetourt County, citizens, schools and the Sheriff's Office will have a price tag for additional services. The students at James River High School and Eagle Rock Elementary got sent from the respective buildings without backpacks and coats and no lunch for most.

Lunch at JRHS was just ready to serve. So what will happen to the food left in the cafeteria while the threat is searched? No doubt there's a financial loss. Gym students went out into the 45 degree temperatures in gym shorts and t- shirts. Many students had on regular shorts expecting to spend the day in side. Most who had on jeans had on short sleeve shirts and no jackets. The threat of rain hung heavy in the air.

Parents arrived at the school to pick-up students before 12:30. Those cell phones came in handy today as parents verified that a student could ride home with another parent, too. Not to mention the text messages that alerted the Botetourt View about what was transpiring at the school. Students filed off the field when a bus number was read to get on a bus to go home. Oh yes, extra Diesel fuel and additional pay to the drivers should be added to the cost.

Though they spent over an hour outside,  hope springs eternal in high school youth.

Hungry from the lack of lunch and standing in the cold, many traveled with parents and each other over to the Burger King in Buchanan. When asked if the students were sad to be out of school, a resounding "No" filled the dining area." No one felt threatened or a least admitted to it. "Take our picture,"  shouted Taylor Statum a junior and a "Yes,"chorused through the group. The order taker seemed less than thrilled with the additional business, but imagine how the coffers will count out tonight when perhaps a hundred students and parents eventually purchased food from the fast food spot. So not everyone lost money on the bomb threat today.

Several of the seniors recalled three years ago a student wrote a bomb threat in the bathroom and a similar situation happened.

Bomb sniffing dogs and additional personnel were called into Botetourt County. The JRHS staff went back into the school after the all clear around 2:15 p.m.

Watch for updates as they arrive.

OTHER COVERAGE OF THE BOMB THREATS:
* Sheriff says bomb threats traced to Southeast Roanoke
* Eagle Rock students now at Breckinridge; searches underway
* James River students dismissed; Eagle Rock also evacuated
* James River High School evacuated

Ever had a dream come true? The James River band had the  time of their young lives last week when a dream came true for the musicians and flag team. The main excitement for the James River High School band students was to be participants in the annual Veteran's Day parade along 5th Avenue in NYC! They  rode the subway and saw some sights of New York City. They also traveled about 1,000 miles round trip in a couple of days. Through out the lives of these talented young people, they will carry the awesome memory of  marching in a New York parade --an event few can claim as an experience.

Band Director Will Divers applied for the parade position for the band last winter. The school board approved the trip in late spring and the rest so they say is history. The band members worked hard on their competition routine but always in the November 11 and the Veteran's Day parade in NYC lurked just beneath the surface. Plenty of fund raising and band booster activities from parents and well wishers helped make the dream come true for the Knights band.

On Tuesday morning, November 10, the band departed the parking lot at JRHS. Parents and principal Jamie Talbott accompanied the band to New York. On November 11, the Knights donned uniforms and marched down the streets of New York City doing their best to show their musical ability and to make Botetourt County proud. By the looks of it, they were successful. Parents along the way snapped pictures, and smiles abounded.  For more pictures of the trip.

Divers remarked, "The big city was a bit intimidating, but certainly broadened the world view of those who went on the trip."

By Friday they were back in Botetourt County and off to the game at Fort Chiswell. When asked how it was the band members replied, "Great!"

Way To Go! River band!

Barbara Rigatti, an employee of Verizon Business and Troutville parent, presents a check from the Verizon Foundation for $750 to Katrina Terry, President of the Troutville Elementary PTA and Karen Crush, school principal.  Verizon enables employees to earn money for non-profits by volunteering at least 40 hours to an organization of their choice.  The Troutville staff has decided to put the money towards several new classroom tables to support group reading efforts.

Submitted by Sheila Feltis, Troutville Elementary School PTA Treasurer.

This event was organized by Lee Minnix, a community involved resident.  Attendees included community volunteers, 3rd thru 5th grade students from Troutville, as well as parents, TES Staff, many Veterans from the community, Cub Scout Troop 137, The Virginia Gentleman Quartet, Rev. Dave Rochford of St. Mark's United Methodist Church and more.   The Cub Scouts carried in the flag and the pledge was recited.  Several individuals spoke of the flag and the meaning of Veteran's Day.  The Veterans were presented with medals.  Special singer Dottie Henry with Rose Young at the piano sang the service songs to the Vets.  Also, TES students sang songs to the Vets lead by Ms. Radford (music teacher).  Refreshments were served to the Veterans.  Troutville Elementary would like to give a very special Thank you to Lee Minnix for all of her hardwork.

Submitted by Sheila Feltis, Troutville Elementary School PTA Treasurer.

These photos were submitted by Tammy Riggs, Principal of Colonial Elementary School in Blue Ridge.

First photo: Fourth & Fifth grade students literally "singing in the rain" at the National D-Day Memorial.

Second photo: Representative Tom Perriello shakes hands with Grayson Bond, Colonial's SCA president, before speaking at the event.

Third photo:  Kindergartens wave their flags and sing for veterans at the VFW Post 1264.

Fourth photo: First and third graders sing at the Virginia Veteran's Care Center.

This lovely pair were for sale last year at the St. Mark's craft fair.

St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Daleville will host their 33rd Annual Christmas Fair on Saturday, December 5, at Lord Botetourt High School cafeteria from 8 am - 2 pm.
The church and more than 35 local crafters will offer many quality crafts, decorations, wreaths, jewelry, a silent auction, and much, much more. Always delicious Whaley's Pecans will be available packaged in 1-pound bags in both halves and chopped.
An extensive Bakery area will offer a large assortment of special goodies for the Holidays ready to be eaten or frozen. Be sure to look for many home-canned items including pepper jelly, apple butter and "Donna's Pickles".
A large menu of delicious Breakfast, Snack and Lunch foods will be served throughout the day.
Church members have created a beautiful handmade queen-size Jacob's Ladder Quilt. Donation tickets of $1.00 for the Quilt will be sold at the door. The drawing for the Quilt and several door prizes will be held at 2 pm.
Monies raised will support many mission projects.

--submitted by Ramona Tolley

More than 150 students from Eagle Rock have been transferred to Breckenridge Elementary School at 331 Springwood Road in Fincastle, about 12 miles away, where the students will receive lunch, according to school superintendent Tony Brads.

"Pick up for Eagle Rock students will occur at Breckenridge," Brads said.

This follows the bomb threats this morning at Eagle Rock and James River. James River students have already been dismissed. Authorities are currently searching both schools.

For more on the story from the newsroom of The Roanoke Times, click here.

James River High School students are being dismissed for the today following a threat that was called in this morning, according to school superintendent Tony Brads. School buses are currently on the way to pick up students, who had been evacuated to the football field.

A similar threat was also called into Eagle Rock Elementary, Brads said. Those students have been evacuated to school buses.

Police dogs are en route to Eagle Rock and Brads is hopeful, but not certain, that students will be allowed to return to classes today.

James River High School students have been evacuated to the football field.

We'll post more details when we get them.

These students at Greenfield Journey Program have been busy planting tulips this fall!

Third grade Journey students at Breckinridge and Greenfield Elementary
Schools have been busy planting tulips this fall. Journey North, a Global
Study of Migrations and Seasonal Change, is a program that helps students
visualize the changes in seasons in a direct, hands-on approach.

Breckinridge Journey students planting tulips.

One part of
the study is a tulip test garden. Students all over North America plant Red
Emporer tulip bulbs in the fall and log their planting dates on an
interactive map online. As the tulips emerge and bloom, students can track
the arrival of spring. Third graders at Cloverdale and Colonial Elementary
also participated in the tulip test garden, as well as another unit on
Monarch butterfly migration. Find out more online at

<www.learner.org/jnorth>

submitted by Krystyne Bryant