Nellysford
Nelson County, Virginia
A few days ago we told you about the forthcoming opening of the Children’s Nature Trail behind the Natural History Center at Spruce Creek Park. The trail was part of a project coordinated by The Rockfish Valley Foundation.
The nature trail includes many natural exhibits along the path that circles the property.
For complete details on the new trail click here to learn more!
Wintergreen
Nelson County, Virginia
Web story by Tommy Stafford
Two years ago back in 2015 Renee Everhart weighed in at 310 lbs. “At one point I saw 318 on the scale but I don’t claim that because I don’t have documentation,” Renee told us. Today she’s but a shadow of what she once was. Active. Running. Weightlifting.
Above our September 2017 magazine story by Yvette Stafford & photos By Marcie Gates, on Renee and her journey to fitness. Click on the magazine image above (in lower right of frame for fullscreen) to read that story now online.
So with 130 pounds now in the rearview mirror Renee says it’s about improving on what she’s already done. “Working on my muscle tone and strength. I have about 30 more pounds I’d like to lose, but if I’m happy and healthy I’ll be good with that too. With what I do as a firefighter, I and my team depend on me. So just working on becoming the best me!”
Congrats on the fitness Renee and see you on the trail!
Schuyler
Nelson County, Virginia
By Tommy Stafford
We first told you about the sale of the old Earl Hamner homeplace in our Facebook post on Wednesday. Three different individuals from across the U.S. came together to preserve the legacy of Earl Hamner’s childhood home. Hamner (a frequent contributor to this magazine in our early years) is best known for creating the long running CBS television series The Waltons.
Ray Castro who coordinated and produced Earl Hamner Storyteller, a biography of Hamner’s life, went into a partnership with two other people to purchase the home.
The Waltons Hamer House, as it’s now being called, will be open to the public for tours for a small admission price. You can click here for more details and information on hours and fees.
Woods Mill
Nelson County, VA
By Tommy Stafford
Release from VSP:
“At 9:05 a.m., Aug. 31, 2017, Virginia State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash in the southbound lanes of Route 29 near Rockfish River Road in Nelson County. A tractor-trailer and Toyota 4Runner collided in the southbound lanes of Route 29. The impact of the crash caused the tractor-trailer to run off the road, strike the guardrail and overturn. The tractor-trailer was loaded with frozen chicken. The driver of the SUV refused medical transport by ambulance. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured in the crash.
Corinne N. Geller
Public Relations Director
Virginia State Police”
Cleared: Accident: SB on US-29 at MM113 in Nelson Co.9:22PM
— 511 Southwest VA (@511southwestva) September 1, 2017
Updated: 5:00 PM
Motorists going by the area around 5PM tell us the cleanup is still underway and one lane is open southbound.
Update: Accident: SB on US-29 at MM113 in Nelson Co. 1 NB travel lane closed.2:40PM
— 511 Southwest VA (@511southwestva) August 31, 2017
Updated: 12:45 PM one lane is still moving southbound but delays are still happening.
Update: Accident: SB on US-29 at MM113 in Nelson Co. No lanes closed.9:56AM
— 511 Southwest VA (@511southwestva) August 31, 2017
What’s believed to be an overturned semi hauling what’s believed to be frozen chicken wings is delaying traffic on US 29 southbound in the vicinity of Buck Creek Lane and Route 6 (River Road)
Crews are working to clear the road, some oil has spilled from the semi as well, so hazmat crews are working to contain that as well.
Expect delays for the foreseeable near future in this area.
Burlington,NC
By Tommy Stafford
A North Carolina couple are charged with the shooting of a Nelson County, Virginia woman last week are now indicted for the murder of 84 year old Harold Simpson in Burlington.Simpson went missing over a week ago. His car was stolen and driven to Laurel Road in East Nelson County where the shooting took place.
CBS affiliate WFMY has more on the story in the video below:
WFMY says in their report:
“Sean D. Castorina, 42, and Penny M. Dawson, 40, were indicted for First Degree Murder after being taken into custody in Minnesota last week for their connection to the disappearance and murder of Harold Simpson.
The Burlington police department believes they found Simpson’s remains in Caswell County according to a release Simpson was reported missing on Aug. 19 to Burlington police. Based on the investigation, investigators believe the remains found are Simpson’s, but are awaiting official notification from the state medical examiner’s office.”
Timeline of the entire Castorina / Dawson events by clicking here.
Nellysford
Nelson County, Virginia
The new kid-friendly exhibit is called NATURALLY NELSON and focuses on water, rocks, plants and animals. We’ll have interpretative guides at interactive stations along the Children’s Nature Trail and also docents at stations inside the center at the Naturally Nelson exhibit. We will unveil our new park shed built by Nelson County High School Students, new perimeter fencing and gate at our Glenthorne Loop entrance and a Nelson County geology kiosk. LOTS MORE.
Refreshments include Kona shaved Ice ( truck), Lucky Duck Kettle Korn and watermelon. There will be a water melon seed spitting contest, horse shoes, pulpwood throwing and a brand new “mud kitchen”. We have new swings and a 42 inch x 8 foot concrete “play” pipe. (the size of the proposed Dominion pipeline)
Augusta County, Virginia
Highway 11 & Route 262
Release via Virginia State Police:
“Virginia State Police Trooper S.J. Nicely Jr., is investigating a fatal crash in Augusta County. The crash occurred at approximately 1:57 a.m., Saturday (Aug. 26) at the intersection of Highway 11 and Route 262.
A Yamaha R3 motorcycle was traveling south on Highway 11. As it took the ramp to Route 262 south, the motorcyclist lost control. The motorcycle ran off the road and struck the cement barrier. The impact of the crash caused the rider to be ejected from the bike and to fall over the cement barrier to Highway 11 underneath the bridge.
The motorcyclist, Justice L. Feazell, 24, of Waynesboro, Va., died at the scene. He was wearing a helmet.
Speed was a factor in the crash. The Virginia State Police Appomattox Division Crash Reconstruction Team is assisting with the ongoing investigation.
Corinne N. Geller
Public Relations Director
Virginia State Police”
Caswell County, North Carolina
By Tommy Stafford
The body of a man that’s been missing in North Carolina since last weekend was apparently located on Friday in Caswell County, NC. TheTimesNews.com is reporting the story out of Burlington. The case has links to the shooting of a Nelson County, VA woman several days ago. The same couple, Sean D. Castorina, 42, of Burlington, N.C., and Penny M. Dawson, 40, of Burlington, N.C, are suspected in the disappearance of Harold Simpson in NC. Investigators say they stole his car and drove it to Nelson County where they say the couple shot the woman here. The NC car was abandoned in East Nelson County. The duo then stole her boyfriend’s truck of the shooting victim. They fugitive couple was eventually captured in Minnesota on Thursday.
From TheTimesNews.com:
“The body of an 84-year-old Burlington man missing since Aug. 19 was found Friday, the man’s son said.
Police said Saturday morning that the body is still unidentified and are awaiting identification from the state medical examiner’s office.
Meanwhile, one of the suspects in Harold Simpson’s disappearance had just been released from prison after serving a sentence for second-degree murder in the killing of his former boss.
In a Friday night phone call to the Times-News, Robert Simpson said police had told his family that the body of Harold Simpson had been found that night in Caswell County. Robert Simpson learned the news about 10:15 Friday night from a family member, he said.
Investigators with the Burlington Police Department, State Bureau of Investigation and the Caswell County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Totten Road at 6 p.m. on Friday, Burlington police said in a statement.
Investigators searched the area and found a body in a field.”
You can read the rest of their story by clicking here.
While the official Burlington PD release says they are awaiting positive forensics identification, the story above does say a family member was told by police it was Harold Simpson.
“BURLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
MEDIA RELEASEFor Immediate Release Contact: Captain Bret Currie
Date: August 26, 2017Death Investigation
On August 25, 2017 at 6:00 pm, investigators with the Burlington Police Department received information involving the disappearance of Mr. Harold Dean Simpson that led investigators to the area of Totten Road in Caswell County. Investigators with the Burlington Police Department, State Bureau of Investigations and the Caswell County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Totten Road.
Investigators searched the area and found an unidentified body in a field. At this time it is unknown if this is the body of Mr. Harold Dean Simpson who was reported missing to the Burlington Police Department on August 19th. The unidentified body will be transported to the NC Medical Examiner’s Office for examination and identification.
Anyone with information concerning this crime is encouraged to contact the Burlington Police Department at (336) 229-3500. For anonymous methods, call Alamance County-Wide Crimestoppers at (336) 229-7100 or text 8398 to 274637 for a text-a-tip method, both with possible cash rewards.
Captain B. L. Currie
Criminal Investigations Division
Burlington Police Department”
Augusta County, Virginia
We’ve been telling you about Craig & Nikki Nargi’s Stable Craft Brewing since the beginning. On Thursday the news got even better! They along with the Virginia Governor’s office announced a 1/2 million dollar expansion at the brewery. Once finished it will triple the production of the beer. The company will also purchase 88 percent of its agricultural inputs from Virginia farmers in additon to creating 13 new jobs.
“The increased production capacity and bottling line will allow our packaged beers to reach more consumers in more places convenient to their travels, in addition to Stable Craft Brewing’s current availability in restaurants, taverns and dining establishments.” said Craig Nargi, Stable Craft Brewing owner. “The expansion will also allow our award-winning head brewer, Christopher Fann, more flexibility with new beers, experimentation, and ultimately delivering a quality Farm Fresh product.”
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services worked with Augusta County and Stable Craft Brewing to secure this project for Virginia. Governor McAuliffe approved a $15,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund, which Augusta will match with local funds. Funding and services to support the company’s employee recruitment and training activities are being provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.
“Through its commitment to sourcing ingredients from Virginia’s agricultural producers, Stable Craft Brewing is further supporting Virginia’s growing craft beer supply chain,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Basil Gooden. “I am pleased the Commonwealth could partner with Augusta County through the AFID Program to support this local business in a quickly growing industry.”
Congrats to Craig & Nikki and all of the crew at Stable Craft!
Way to go!
Fergus Falls, MN
Nelson County, VA
By Tommy Stafford
Our special thanks to KTSP-TV anchor Bill Lunn In Minneapolis, Minnesota for he and his staff’s assistance working the story with us from that end.
As BRL first broke the story earlier in the day Thursday on our Facebook page, two felons on the run have now been captured. VSP picks up the details in their release below.
The East Nelson woman who was shot remains in serious condition after she was transported to UVA Medical Center by Wintergreen Fire & Rescue earlier this week.
View history and timeline leading up to the capture by clicking here.
Official release from VSP:
The two fugitives from North Carolina being sought in a Nelson County shooting are now in police custody. Shortly after 9 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, Sean D. Castorina and Penny M. Dawson were apprehended by the Fergus Falls, Minn., Police Department. The two were arrested without incident at a gas station within that jurisdiction.
The two will be extradited back to Virginia to face charges of malicious wounding, use of a firearm and grand larceny of a vehicle.
During the past two days, the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Appomattox Field Office, the Nelson County, Va., Sheriff’s Office, Burlington, N.C., Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service have been actively pursuing leads and searching for the couple.
The incident began Aug. 19, 2017, when the Burlington, N.C. Police Department received a report of a missing person. Mr. Harold Dean Simpson, 84, was last seen by his family at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. Mr. Simpson’s silver 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt was located by the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office at 6:48 p.m., on Monday, Aug. 21. The vehicle, with North Carolina license plate EMA 8936, had been abandoned on Laurel Road in eastern Nelson County.
During the course of the investigation into the abandoned vehicle, the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at approximately 7:30 p.m., Tuesday (Aug. 22) about a shooting victim at a residence on Laurel Road near Rockfish River. When law enforcement arrived on scene, they found a 60-year-old female suffering from a gunshot wound. She continues to be treated at UVA Hospital in Charlottesville, Va., for serious injuries.
After the shooting, Castorina and Dawson fled the residence in a 2002 Dodge Dakota that belonged to the owner of the residence. The two were still driving the stolen pickup truck when apprehended in Minnesota.
The search continues for Mr. Simpson. Anyone with information related to Mr. Simpson’s disappearance is asked to still please contact the Burlington, N.C., Police or call 911 or, in Virginia, call #77 on a cell phone.
Corinne N. Geller
Public Relations Director
Virginia State Police
Original post
BRL has been able to independently confirm outside of law enforcement and with law enforcement sources in Buckingham County, VA that the two fugitives on the run from police have been apprehended.
Family and friends of the victim say they were caught in Minnesota. Though we have not been able to confirm that with law enforcement.
BRL has attempted to get Nelson Sheriff David Hill to confirm the capture. Thus far he has not returned any of our calls.
We have an inquiry into the Virginia State Police as well.
