Gladstone : Rooftop Tent Rally Returns To James River State Park This Fall

Tommy

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September 18, 2025

Gladstone : Rooftop Tent Rally Returns To James River State Park This Fall

Gladstone, Virginia

From Virginia State Parks:

“Outdoor enthusiasts are invited to James River State Park for the annual Rooftop Tent Rally, presented by the Friends of James River State Park, a celebration of camping, community and adventure.

The rally, scheduled for Oct. 16-19, brings together overlanding and camping fans from across the region for a weekend of exploration and camaraderie in the heart of Virginia’s scenic Blue Ridge foothills.

“James River State Park is an incredible setting for this event,” said Park Manager John Fury. “The Rooftop Tent Rally not only highlights the growing interest in overlanding and car-top camping, but it also gives visitors the chance to connect with nature and each other in a unique way.”

Participants will camp in rooftop tents and overlanding setups in the park’s Dark Sky Observation Field. In addition to outdoor recreation, the event features live music, food trucks, gear demos, a campsite cook-off and more.

Photo Via VADCR : Photo from a previous Rooftop Tent Rally.

Camping space is limited, and pre-registration is required. Early arrival tickets cost $155 and include camping privileges from Thursday through Sunday. Weekend tickets cost $135 and include camping privileges from Friday through Sunday. These costs are per vehicle or camping rig. Tickets can be purchased online at www.virginiastateparks.gov/jr-rooftop-rally.

The Rooftop Tent Rally is open to day-use visitors. Other than the regular park entrance fee, there is no additional fee to attend.

For more information about the Rooftop Tent Rally or to register, visit www.virginiastateparks.gov/jr-rooftop-rally or call 434-933-4355.

** Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. For more information about Virginia State Parks’ activities and amenities or to reserve one of the more than 1,800 campsites or 300 climate-controlled cabins, call the Virginia State Parks Reservation Center at 800-933-PARK or visit www.virginiastateparks.gov”

VSP Investigating Fatal Hit and Run in Augusta County

Tommy

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September 15, 2025

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VSP Investigating Fatal Hit and Run in Augusta County

Stuarts Draft Highway
Augusta County, Virginia

From VSP:

“Virginia State Police is investigating a fatal hit and run crash that occurred last evening (Sept. 14, 2025) at approximately 9 p.m. on Stuarts Draft Highway (Route 340) in Augusta County.
A Kia Sorento was travelling northbound on Route 340 when it struck an e-bike (that was also travelling northbound) near the intersection with Ladd Road.

The e-bike rider, Dylan C. Knowles, 25, of Waynesboro, Va., died at the scene.
The driver of the Kia initially fled the scene but was later taken into custody with the assistance of the Waynesboro Police Department. Samuel W. Call, 36, of Waynesboro, Va., has been charged with driving while intoxicated and felony hit and run.

Call is currently being held at the Middle River Regional Jail.
Virginia State Police is asking anyone who may have seen the e-bike travelling on Stuarts Draft Highway prior to the crash to please contact Virginia State Police Division Three Dispatch at 1-800-552-0962 or email questions@vsp.virginia.gov.

The Augusta County Sheriff’s Department also assisted in the investigation.
(Please contact the Middle River Regional Jail for mugshot photos)

Matthew Demlein
Public Relations Coordinator
Virginia State Police”

Goodbye My Friend, Andy

News

Tommy

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September 13, 2025

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Nelson County, Virginia

Over 10 years ago, a dozen to be exact, a small group of us used to gather at Devils Backbone on old porch outside not terribly long after it opened. Back then all that was there was the brewery itself. You parked right out front and walked on in. It was a magical time. The good old days.

One of the main people in that group was Andy Stillman. Most locals here in Nelson knew Andy because of his extreme talent as a stone mason. While I knew that about Andy, I knew him because he’d become my friend after years and years of those Monday meetups.

Last week Yvette received a message from Andy’s wonderful wife, Sue, Andy was gone. He joins countless others I have written about recently and in the past.

Photo by Tommy Stafford : Andy, holding court, as we used to call it. Andy was such a colorful character and full of of history and knowledge. This photo was April 2016.

That Monday group I mentioned had to be one of the most diverse groups I’ve ever been involved with. Doctors, lawyers, architects, contractors, teachers, federal agents, nurses, electricians, welders, motorcycle enthusiasts, and yes, stone masons.

This group of mutts, as we used to refer to ourselves, came to be totally by accident. You see Andy and our beloved friend, the late Dr. Steve Lotz, DVM, used to meet a few afternoons a week at Devils Backbone. Yvette and I had and appointment one Monday afternoon that was canceled. We’d already hired a sitter for the kids. We remembered that Dr. Lotz and Andy were usually around the brewery. Sure enough late that Monday afternoon they were there. And on that day, we decided this would become a Monday tradition. And it did, growing from just a few of us to nearly 3 dozen at times. We laughing called it book club.

Photo By Tommy Stafford : Back in December of 2015 when Dr. Lotz passed away, we held a ceremony at Devils Backbone. The late co-founder of the brewery, Steve Crandall, had a bar stool marked in Dr. Lotz memory. Andy spoke with such passion and remembrance about Dr. Lotz. They spent a lot of time together talking about their occupations and things well beyond that. Andy pushed to make sure this ceremony happened and that his friend wasn’t forgotten. This photo was December 2015.

Photo By Tommy Stafford : Just a portion of the Monday group during Dr. Lotz’s memorial. There’s Andy in the middle, back row. December 21, 2015.

Andy always had this funny way of rubbing his hands together rapidly when he was trying to make a point. The more intense the point, the more he’d rub his hands together almost as he was willing magic or such! But it was his intense ability to remember almost anything that amazed me. One day he broke out in an almost Shakespeare like tone and recited the entire act from some early ages play. I honestly don’t remember what the play was, but he knew every word. And it was delivered like a seasoned actor on stage. We were all dumbfounded. That was Andy.

Photo By Tommy Stafford : As the years ticked by our group continued to grow. Yet, we started losing some of them along the way. Of that original group many have passed away. Andy adds another. There he is just to my left in the photo back in April 2016.

There was so much I still didn’t know about Andy. But with each Monday, he’d talk more about his past. Like the days he used to work out in the hot blazing sun on railroad tracks in Arizona. Or some patio project he’d just completed for a client here in Nelson. Or, how proud he was of his family. He always talked about his wife and daughter at every meetup. That was something he was more proud of than anything else he’d ever done.

Politically we were not closely aligned, and you know what? It didn’t matter. We laughed at one another and became even better friends and debaters.

I’ll never be able to pass Devils Backbone anymore without thinking of Andy. It’s not the same anymore, and those days of hanging out on the porch are long gone. But the memories will forever remain. Thank you for those memories Andy.

Andy was quite the character, and one good soul. Rest easy my friend and we’ll see you next the other side. This was July 2015.

Here’s Andy’s obituary info.

If any formal memorial plans materialize I’ll let you know. Andy wasn’t much of the type to have people fuss over him, but if it happens I’ll let folks know.

So Long Doris : Drumheller’s Orchard Matriarch Passes Away

News

Tommy

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September 8, 2025

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So Long Doris : Drumheller’s Orchard Matriarch Passes Away

Lovingston
Nelson County, Virginia

By Tommy Stafford

I can’t remember exactly when I first met Doris Drumheller. It had to be around 2005 (ish) or thereabouts. I know it was within a year or two of us moving here in for good in 2004. She was the face of Drumheller’s Orchard over in Lovingston. Doris was such a nice and pleasant lady. She was one of the first advertisers we had in our charter printed publication Nelson County Life. She stayed with us to the end in our 2013 rebranded publication Blue Ridge Life until we shuttered the print side in 2021.

Doris Drumheller back in October 2007 showing youngsters how the apple business works and the pressing of apples to make cider. October 14, 2007

Yvette said Doris was the only person she still let fax or drop-off material for ads versus electronically composing them. Doris was just so very nice. She may not have been the most internet savvy, but she was one very smart woman.

I was so saddened to hear that Doris passed away on September 5th. Not that she hadn’t already lived a very full life, she did indeed. But, just knowing she wasn’t going to be seen during the annual fall festivals at the orchard stings, a lot.

I’d compare the passing of Doris to that of the late Paul Saunders in 2022 and his wife Tatum two years later. They were all Nelson institutions for decades, long before any of us that moved to Nelson ever arrived.

Photo courtesy of Morgan Drumheller : If there was ever a photo that perfectly described Doris, it would be this one. My favorite. Doris took on every adventure with excitement and lived life to the fullest. That’s her in the right rear of the coaster ride. This was in Florida, February 2018.

The roots of Drumheller’s Orchard dates all the way back to 1937. Eventually Doris and her husband, Darrell, inherited the orchard operation in the 80s after her father in-law passed away. She continued actively working in the operation until her recent death. Her son Kevin, and other son Gary, helped man much of that operation. Gary left in 2005 the same year Doris’ husband also passed away. Kevin’s daughter, Morgan, Doris’ granddaughter, joined the operation full time in 2008 and has been running much of it nowadays in conjunction with Doris.

Doris Drumheller (far right) meeting schoolchildren for a tour of Drumheller’s Orchard back in October 2007.

If you re a frequent reader of BRL here on the web, you know I often write about the passing of icons and just genuinely nice and known people here in Nelson. Doris, no doubt fits in that category.

While I will miss her, and knowing she won’t be sharing the excitement of the orchard, the fall festivals, and her generational story of getting there, I can smile in being fortunate enough to have known her for the 20 plus years we’ve made Nelson home.

Her granddaughter, Morgan, says in spite of this sudden and very tough loss, the family tradition will carry on. “The orchard operation will continue. My father, Kevin and I are going to continue the family business with a wonderful team behind us.”

And here’s something Doris would likely want people to know now that she’s not here in person to tell us. Back in 2006 while doing a story on the upcoming fall festival we asked her what’s your favorite apple? “My favorite apple to cook with or whatever is the Golden Delicious, and that’s what I make all of my cakes with!”

Good advice Doris, thank you for all of the memories, you were one of the truly good ones.

Doris’ complete obituary information can be found here.

Wintergreen : Nature Foundation Search Underway For New Executive Director

Tommy

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September 8, 2025

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Wintergreen : Nature Foundation Search Underway For New Executive Director

Wintergreen
Nelson County, Virginia

From The Nature Foundation at Wintergreen

“TNFW TRANSITION and EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SEARCH UPDATE

To the Wintergreen Community,

I am very pleased to inform you that the Board of Directors has appointed Chuck Bailey as Interim Executive Director of TNFW, effective Friday, September 5. Chuck is a Geoscientist and award-winning faculty member and Geology Department Chairperson at his alma mater, The College of William and Mary. He holds graduate degrees from Johns Hopkins University and is immediate past president of the Geological Society of America. A member of TNFW’s Science Advisory Committee for a number of years, and more recently as a member of the Board of Directors, Chuck is committed to the mission of TNFW and is excited to immediately begin engaging with the Wintergreen community, TNFW members and staff to provide leadership as we move through this period of transition.

As I mentioned in my message to you in June, the pool of applicants in our search for a new Executive Director was excellent. We invited two outstanding finalist candidates to Wintergreen for interviews in early July, but unfortunately neither of them accepted our offer of employment. All of us who have worked on the search are disappointed that our initial effort did not result in an appointment. As a result, the Board of Directors unanimously recommended that the search be re-opened, which was done last week. A few changes were made to the job description to make the position more attractive. As of this date we have fifteen new applications. The search will remain open until September 26, during which time the search committee will conduct initial interviews of qualified candidates. We are optimistic that the current search process will yield candidates who will be invited to Wintergreen for in-person interviews in October.

Let me conclude my message by saluting Doug Coleman, TNFW’s founding Executive Director. Doug has made the transition from his leadership responsibilities to Executive Director Emeritus, as Chuck Bailey begins his tenure as Interim Executive Director. Doug’s extraordinary vision for over 40 years has established TNFW’s reputation as the leading scientific research and non-profit educational organization of the Central Blue Ridge Mountains. Our community, including Wintergreen Resort and the Wintergreen Property Owners Association, is unique in the nation to have TNFW as a partner insuring both perpetual preservation and growth of scientific knowledge of the natural resources of this special place.

Thanks to all of you who have generously supported the work of TNFW.

Brent Douglass, President, TNFW”

VDOT : District Traffic Alerts for September 8 – 12, 2025

Tommy

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September 6, 2025

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VDOT : District Traffic Alerts for September 8 – 12, 2025

Lynchburg District Traffic Alert
September 8-14, 2025

YNCHBURG — Highway work requiring road/lane/structure closures is planned; however, work may be delayed/canceled due to weather or other issues. Items in italics contain new/updated information. For up-to-date information, call 511 or visit https://511.vdot.virginia.gov

District-wide activities:

Crews will perform various activities throughout the district to include, but are not limited to bridge & guardrail maintenance, brush/tree/limb cutting, pothole/surface/shoulder work, surface treatment/paving operations, work orders, mowing, boom axing, drainage repairs/ work and roadside cleanup.

LYNCHBURG — Highway work requiring road/lane/structure closures is planned; however, work may be delayed/canceled due to weather or other issues. Items in italics contain new/updated information. For up-to-date information, call 511 or visit https://511.vdot.virginia.gov

District-wide activities:

Crews will perform various activities throughout the district to include, but are not limited to bridge & guardrail maintenance, brush/tree/limb cutting, pothole/surface/shoulder work, surface treatment/paving operations, work orders, mowing, boom axing, drainage repairs/ work and roadside cleanup.

Work at specific locations:

Amherst County: