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VDOT Lynchburg District Weekly Traffic Alert – January 5-11, 2026
A Christmas Memory : The Late Earl Hamner (John-Boy) Of Nelson Co, VA – 2025
Click on the orange and white arrow play button above to listen now.
Schuyler, Virginia & Memphis, Tennessee
In what’s become our annual tradition here at BRL, enjoy this special radio interview from the December 2011 (Well over a decade ago!!) Christmas season as Nelson native Earl Hamner, Jr. talks with BRL Publisher Tommy Stafford and Memphis KWAM 990 Radio host, Earle Farrell. Earle has long since left the radio airwaves and now has his own show weekly from The Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis, but this was such a memorable interview that we like to reshare it each Christmas. Press the orange play button above and listen for over an hour as Earl reminisces about his career, life in the Virginia Blue Ridge and more.
And be sure to check out one of our favorite recipes for the Christmas season. Applesauce cake made by Earl’s mother. Click here to view that.
Be sure to listen toward the end as Earl reads a special Christmas tribute remarking about the late Will Geer who played Grandpa Walton.
Enjoy & Merry Christmas 2025!
Tommy, Yvette Adam & Peyton
Route 60 Near Gladstone : VSP Investigates Fatal Car Crash
Route 60
Near Tye River Road
Nelson County, Virginia
Verbatim release from VSP:
“Virginia State Police is investigating a fatal single-vehicle crash that occurred early Sunday morning (Dec. 21) in Nelson County.
At approximately 12:40 a.m., troopers responded to a crash on Route 60, approximately one-half mile east of Tye River Road. A 1999 Chrysler Town & Country was traveling eastbound on Route 60/Richmond Highway when it ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree.
The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was identified as 39-year-old Porsche Christinia Vaughn of Gladstone. Vaughn succumbed to her injuries at the scene. She was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash.
The crash remains under investigation.
Sergeant Jessica B. Shehan
Public Information Officer
Virginia State Police”
High Wind Warning & Wind Advisory For Friday Continues : December 19, 2025 (EXPIRED)
HIGH WIND WARNING -(includes Wintergreen, Humpback Rocks, Montebello & Big Meadows)
URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
859 AM EST Fri Dec 19 2025
Central and Eastern Allegany-Western Garrett-Western Highland-
Eastern Highland-Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-Central Virginia
Blue Ridge-Eastern Grant-Eastern Mineral-Eastern Pendleton-
859 AM EST Fri Dec 19 2025
…HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS
EVENING…
* WHAT…West winds 25 to 40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph.
* WHERE…In Maryland, Central and Eastern Allegany and Western
Garrett Counties. In Virginia, Central Virginia Blue Ridge and
Northern Virginia Blue Ridge, and Eastern Highland and Western
Highland Counties. In West Virginia, Eastern Grant, Eastern
Mineral, and Eastern Pendleton Counties.
* WHEN…Until 10 PM EST this evening.
* IMPACTS…Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines.
Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult,
especially for high profile vehicles.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…The strongest winds are expected from about
10 AM to noon, and again 3 PM to 9 PM.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and
avoid windows. Watch for falling debris and tree limbs. Use caution
if you must drive.
WIND ADVISORY
URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
859 AM EST Fri Dec 19 2025
District of Columbia-Carroll-Northern Baltimore-Cecil-Southern
Baltimore-Prince Georges-Anne Arundel-Northwest Montgomery-
Central and Southeast Montgomery-Northwest Howard-Central and
Southeast Howard-Northwest Harford-Southeast Harford-Augusta-
Rockingham-Shenandoah-Page-Warren-Clarke-Nelson-Albemarle-Greene-
Madison-Rappahannock-Fairfax-Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria-
Northern Fauquier-Western Loudoun-Eastern Loudoun-Northwest
Prince William-
859 AM EST Fri Dec 19 2025
…WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM EST THIS
EVENING…
* WHAT…West winds 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph expected.
* WHERE…DC, and portions of central, north-central, northeast, and
northern Maryland, and central, northern, northwest, and western
Virginia.
* WHEN…From noon today to 10 PM EST this evening.
* IMPACTS…Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree
limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high
profile vehicles. Use extra caution.
Secure outdoor objects.
URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
416 AM EST Fri Dec 19 2025
Including the cities of Dobson, Amherst, Bedford, Rocky Mount,
Stuart, and Wilkesboro
416 AM EST Fri Dec 19 2025
…WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING…
* WHAT…West winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected.
* WHERE…In North Carolina, Surry and Wilkes Counties. In Virginia,
Amherst, Bedford, Patrick, and Franklin Counties.
* WHEN…Until 10 PM EST this evening.
* IMPACTS…Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree
limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high
profile vehicles. Use extra caution.
Secure outdoor objects.
&&
$$
URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
416 AM EST Fri Dec 19 2025
VAZ007-009>014-018>020-023-024-WVZ042>044-507-508-200300-
/O.CON.KRNK.WI.Y.0018.251219T1200Z-251220T0300Z/
Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Craig-
Alleghany VA-Bath-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Mercer-Summers-Monroe-
Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier-
Including the cities of Rainelle, New Castle, Wytheville, White
Sulphur Springs, Quinwood, Fincastle, Bland, Bluefield,
Blacksburg, Flat Top, Tazewell, Covington, Union, Marion, Hot
Springs, Clifton Forge, Lexington, Lewisburg, Buena Vista,
Radford, Pulaski, Pearisburg, Hix, Duo, Alderson, and Hinton
416 AM EST Fri Dec 19 2025
…WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING…
* WHAT…West winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 55 mph expected.
* WHERE…Portions of southwest and west central Virginia and
southeast West Virginia.
* WHEN…Until 10 PM EST this evening.
* IMPACTS…Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree
limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high
profile vehicles. Use extra caution.
Secure outdoor objects.
Augusta : Crews Perform Cold Weather Rescue of Injured Hiker In Mountains
August County, Virginia
Near The Blue Ridge Parkway
If you could pick one of the worst days to become injured and needing rescue, this past Sunday would have been the day. High winds and extremely cold temperatures had wind chills later in the day near zero in the mountains.
The injured hiker was able to get a 911 text out for help just after 5:30 Sunday morning. The ability to get that text out was probably life saving, but the rescue was far from over and would last hours.
Wintergreen Fire & Rescue picks up the details of how it all unfolded and the successful rescue in their Facebook post below. Click there to read the entire story and see more photos. Even if you don’t have Facebook you can view the link.
Job well done by all of the agencies involved!
Weather Bulletin : Cold Weather Advisory For Parts Of Area Sunday Afternoon / Overnight (EXPIRED)
COLD WEATHER ADVISORY
URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
220 PM EST Sat Dec 13 2025
Eastern Highland-Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-Central Virginia (Including Wintergreen)
Blue Ridge-Eastern Pendleton-
220 PM EST Sat Dec 13 2025
…COLD WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM SUNDAY TO 1 AM
EST MONDAY…
* WHAT…Very cold wind chills as low as 15 below expected.
* WHERE…In Virginia, Central Virginia Blue Ridge and Northern
Virginia Blue Ridge, and Eastern Highland County. In West
Virginia, Eastern Pendleton County.
* WHEN…From 1 PM Sunday to 1 AM EST Monday.
* IMPACTS…The cold wind chills as low as 15 below zero could
result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a
hat, and gloves.
Make sure outdoor animals have a warm, dry shelter, food, and
unfrozen water.
Make frequent checks on older family, friends, and neighbors. Ensure
portable heaters are used correctly. Do not use generators or grills
inside.
Zone Forecast Product
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
357 PM EST Sat Dec 13 2025
Central Virginia Blue Ridge-
Including the city of Wintergreen
357 PM EST Sat Dec 13 2025
…COLD WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM SUNDAY TO
1 AM EST MONDAY…
.SUNDAY…Sunny, blustery with highs in the mid 20s. Temperature
falling to around 14 in the afternoon. Northwest winds 15 to
25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. Wind chill values as low as
9 below in the afternoon.
.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear and blustery, cold with lows around
12. Northwest winds 15 to 25 mph. Gusts up to 40 mph in the
evening. Wind chill values as low as 10 below in the evening.
.MONDAY…Sunny. Highs in the upper 20s. West winds 5 to 10 mph,
becoming southwest in the afternoon. Wind chill values as low as
3 below in the morning.
.MONDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s.
.TUESDAY…Sunny. Highs in the upper 30s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.
.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs around 50.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s.
.THURSDAY…Partly sunny. Highs around 50.
.THURSDAY NIGHT…Showers likely. Breezy with lows in the mid
30s. Chance of rain 60 percent.
.FRIDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 40s.
URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
220 PM EST Sat Dec 13 2025
Augusta-Rockingham-
220 PM EST Sat Dec 13 2025
…COLD WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM SUNDAY TO 1 AM EST
MONDAY…
* WHAT…Very cold wind chills around zero in the valleys and as low
as 10 below zero on the ridges expected.
* WHERE…Augusta and Rockingham Counties.
* WHEN…From 4 PM Sunday to 1 AM EST Monday.
* IMPACTS…The cold wind chills could result in hypothermia if
precautions are not taken.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a
hat, and gloves.
URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
209 PM EST Sat Dec 13 2025
Ashe-Alleghany NC-Watauga-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-
Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson-Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-
Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Mercer-Summers-Monroe-Eastern
Greenbrier-
Including the cities of Troutdale, Roanoke, Alderson, Hot
Springs, Pulaski, Independence, Lewisburg, West Jefferson, Galax,
Salem, Sparta, Hix, Hinton, Boone, Tazewell, Wytheville, Union,
Bland, Radford, Lexington, Flat Top, Blacksburg, Buena Vista,
Clifton Forge, Floyd, Marion, New Castle, Fincastle, Whitetop,
Covington, White Sulphur Springs, Pearisburg, Volney, and
Bluefield
209 PM EST Sat Dec 13 2025
…COLD WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM SUNDAY TO 10 AM
EST MONDAY…
* WHAT…Very cold wind chills as low as 15 below zero expected.
* WHERE…Portions of northwest North Carolina, southwest and west
central Virginia, and southeast West Virginia.
* WHEN…From 7 AM Sunday to 10 AM EST Monday.
* IMPACTS…The very cold wind chills could result in hypothermia or
frostbite if precautions are not taken. Frostbite and hypothermia
may occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these conditions.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a
hat, and gloves.
VDOT : Weather Impact On Road Conditions Overnight Saturday Into Sunday AM
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Weather Bulletin : New / Winter Weather Advisory : Friday 12.12.25 (!! CANCELED!!)
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
136 PM EST Thu Dec 11 2025
Nelson-Central Virginia Blue Ridge- (Includes Wintergreen)
136 PM EST Thu Dec 11 2025
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 6 PM EST FRIDAY…
* WHAT…Snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 1 and 3
inches, with localized totals up to 4 inches on the Blue Ridge.
* WHERE…Central Virginia Blue Ridge, and Nelson County.
* WHEN…From 6 AM to 6 PM EST Friday.
* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous
conditions could impact the Friday morning and evening commutes.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road
conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by
calling 5 1 1.
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
133 PM EST Thu Dec 11 2025
.An area of low pressure over the central U.S. will move east into
the lower Ohio Valley tonight, then across the central Mid-Atlantic
Friday. This system will bring a period of snow, with the heaviest
accumulations west of I-81.
Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Bedford-Amherst-Campbell-Appomattox-
Buckingham-
Including the cities of Salem, Buena Vista, Lexington,
Appomattox, Bedford, Fincastle, Roanoke, Amherst, and Lynchburg
133 PM EST Thu Dec 11 2025
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 7 PM EST FRIDAY…
* WHAT…Snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 1 and 3
inches.
* WHERE…Portions of central, south central, and west central
Virginia…an area that is east of Interstate-81 and along and
north of Highway 460. This includes, Roanoke, Bedford, Lynchburg,
and Lexington.
* WHEN…From 4 AM to 7 PM EST Friday.
* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous
conditions could impact the Friday morning and evening commutes.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road
conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by
calling 5 1 1.
Good Night Jimmy K (Updated 12.22.25 With Memorial Service & Funeral Info)
Nellysford
Nelson County, Virginia
By Tommy Stafford
Updated immediately below with service info for Jimmy on January 17, 2026.
Original story – 12.08.25
I’ve written many of these over the past 22 years of making Nelson my permanent home. Some hurt more than others. But all matter. This one really hurts. A lot.
Many, many years ago Jimmy Koschara sat across the table from me in the old Margaritas Restaurant in Nellysford, tears swelling up in his eyes. Life had taken a hard turn. I remember, sort of, walking through this with him over the months ahead and eventually seeing him come out the other side. It’s what you do when someone is your friend. It was just one of many challenges he overcame.
I actually knew Jimmy’s dad, also Jim, first.
Jimmy was real Nelson. Local. He knew the history, and the people.
A few years ago Jimmy stopped me in the old Wintergreen Hardware store and told me, “I have some bad news.” He had cancer. Jimmy wasn’t a guy to sit around, ever. He was active in the forestry service for years. Even in semi retirement he would go on missions out west when the big fire hit and they needed manpower. He even did some work while taking treatment. He was also a Class B general contractor, almost everyone knew him from that.
Jimmy beat his cancer eventually. It was brutal. But he made it. Then, it came back. The second time wasn’t as forgiving. It spread, slowed down, then sped up, and sometime in the late summer and fall of this year the obvious outcome was staring Jimmy squarely in the face. He approached it with grace, sometimes fright. But with character. He lived his final months as he wanted and enjoyed what time he had left.
Jimmy often spoke to me about anything a man would worry over as he knew his time here was coming to an end. His family mostly. Will they be ok? “I want them to be able to get over me not being here,” he once told me. He knew life goes on and as long as people could remember him with a smile most days, that would be a win.
If you’ve been in Nelson any length of time, you’d be hard pressed to forget Jimmy. He will be easy to remember. Many of us have a piece of his and his family’s craftsmanship left behind as a legacy. Just this past summer Jimmy oversaw the construction of a marvelous wooden bridge that crosses our creek. We wanted it to look like it had been here for years and years. Not something that didn’t belong. He and his son made it happen. Ironically, that’s one of the last projects Jimmy was able somewhat be a part of before his health really started failing. We have, appropriately, named it The Jimmy Bridge. It will have a bronze placard put on it in his memory.
We got the call Sunday morning December 7th that Jimmy probably wouldn’t make it. Yvette rushed to go see him one last time. Just a couple of weeks before Christmas his tired body fighting cancer gave up. Jimmy crossed over his own bridge just like the countless ones he’d built for so many other people during the years.
The last time I saw Jimmy in person was in the early fall of this year. We’d put together a little Brunswick stew cookout in front of the barn here on the farm. Jimmy wasn’t moving well and was pretty sick and beat up from treatments, but he drove out for a little while. He wanted to see friends. This was but a handful of them, but good ones. I didn’t even get to say goodbye that afternoon. Peyton and I had taken the side by side to go get some firewood. We waved at Jimmy as he was headed down the driveway to go back home and rest. That was my last time to see Jimmy. Sort of apropos, one final wave.
Oddly, I think Jimmy might have known that was the last time we’d see each other. He would always bring his very fancy camp chair to the farm anytime we’d have a get together. He left it that day and later told me by phone, “You keep that chair in the barn. It belongs there now.”
I got some texts back and forth from Jimmy over the next few weeks, but they became more infrequent. The last one he sent was, “One day at a day at a time Tommy. I miss y’all.”
We miss you already Jimmy. Still have that restaurant gift card you gave us from last Christmas. Think we might just use that in the coming days, in your memory.
Ride high my friend, you’re pain free now.
I’m sure there will be a remembrance for Jimmy in the coming weeks. Once I know more and have additional obit info, I’ll update it here.
First Snow Hits The Blue Ridge : Wintergreen Resort Officially Opens Season
Central Virginia Blue Ridge
Nelson County, Virginia
As expected, the first legitimate snow of the coming winter season began falling during the early morning hours Friday. Accumulations were a touch higher than anticipated. Not a terrible snow to travel in, but enough to make it challenging and cause a few accidents across the area. Most people are reporting between 3 to 4 inches of snow with locally higher amounts especially in the mountains.
Ironically the first snow for the season fell on the exact day Wintergreen Resort opens for the 2025-2026 ski and boarding season.
Most schools across the area closed and even some universities closed or modified their schedules.
Though it feels like winter with all of the snow, winter doesn’t officially begin by the calendar for several more days. It officially starts on December 21st at 10:03 AM.
