Central Virginia Blue Ridge
Most of the coming weekend looks spectacular. Other than the chance for a scattered thunderstorm on Sunday afternoon the entire weekend looks mostly sunny and nice!
The best chance for rain in the next seven comes on Monday, then after that it’s mainly dry for the remainder of the week.
Have a great weekend!
Tommy
Arrington
Nelson County, Virginia
Randy Pirtle has been named Chief Executive Officer for Blue Ridge Medical Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit community health center system serving Nelson County and neighboring communities.
As the new executive leader of Blue Ridge Medical Center, Pirtle will provide leadership in the development and implementation of the mission, vision and goals of Blue Ridge Medical Center and will be responsible for multiple service expansion efforts and care integration programs. He begins in his new role on October 16th and will transition in collaboration with Peggy Whitehead, the current CEO, beginning September 18th. Ms. Whitehead’s leadership over 25 years has grown BRMC into the outstanding regional health care provider it is today. She will stay on as a grant writer for the organization.
Pirtle has worked in health services for nearly 30 years, with extensive experience in physician practice management. He has special experience in implementation of electronic medical records systems, multi-setting integration, Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Center operations. Pirtle most recently served as Corporate Vice-President and COO, Florida Hospital HealthCare Partners, a 200 provider multispecialty physician group in eastern Florida. Before that he served as Regional Administrative Director for a division of Sutter Health in northern California. Some notable accomplishments include: recipient of 2011 President’s Award for Top Performance in Patient Satisfaction at Sutter Medical Foundation (SMF), recipient of 2009 SMF Star Award of excellence for contributions to electronic health records (EHR) implementation project, and recipient of 2009 and 2010 Sutter Health President’s Award for overall performance of the SMF Central Division.
Pirtle earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California and a Master of Health Administration from Chapman University in California.
About Blue Ridge Medical Center
Blue Ridge Medical Center is a primary care facility with pediatric care, dental care, behavioral health, and pharmaceutical as well as lab, imaging, physical therapy and a comprehensive outreach program. Blue Ridge Medical Center has a mission to provide patient centered quality health care accessible to all people in its service area and to improve their general health and well-being through prevention, education, and treatment. The Center opened the doors of a small modular building in July 1985 as a result of efforts by active community members who responded to the need for improved access to primary care. At that time there was one doctor and three exam rooms. Through five building additions and ongoing service expansions, three doctors and six nurse practitioners along with a staff of nearly 100 members are providing primary care for 8,000 patients each year. July 2017 will mark the 32nd anniversary of Blue Ridge Medical Center.
Roseland
Nelson County, Virginia
Barry Douglas & The Word have been spreading the word of God through song, traveling around the state to perform at church services, anniversaries or other special events.
But that’s not all. Earlier this month the group presented a $500 Performing Arts Scholarship to a Nelson County senior Timothy Ludovissy.
The group has performed with spiritual individuals like Antonio Brown; one of Sunday’s Best contestants.
The group was previously mentored under the leadership of Ms. Brenda Hazel, the widow of Hall of Fame inductee Edward Earl Hazel, who has worked with some of the music industry’s most wanted artist and producers.
Barry Douglas & The Word recorded their first live video in October 2016. All copies sold out within a 2-month span.
The General Manager, Minister Barry Douglas Jr. says he’s excited about the path the group is taking.
To learn more about their group and how can book them, visit their Facebook page by clicking here.
Congrats to Timothy!
Lovingston / Shipman
Nelson County, Virginia
A man from Shipman is facing numerous charges after deputies say he led them on a high-speed chase through parts of the county. Our media partners over at CBS-19 News have the details below.
Deputies say Dakota Allan Shipman, 23, sped off after a deputy tried to initiate a traffic stop for other violations in front of Vito’s Restaurant on Route 29.
The pursuit continued south on Route 29 through the Shipman and Lovingston areas before re-entering Route 29.
Deputies say they had to deploy spike strips which disabled the vehicle and eventually led the offender’s vehicle to stop on Route 29 in the Lovingston area.
Batton was taken into custody and charged with felony eluding, reckless driving, driving while suspended and several other violations.
He is being held on a secured bond at the Albemarle Regional Jail.
The sheriff’s office reports the Virginia State Police were also involved in the pursuit.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 278 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
Scroll down for county specific information
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 278
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
445 PM EDT Sat May 27 2017
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
Northeast North Carolina
Eastern Virginia
Coastal Waters
* Effective this Saturday afternoon and evening from 445 PM until
1000 PM EDT.
* Primary threats include…
Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2
inches in diameter possible
Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible
SUMMARY…Scattered thunderstorms are forming over central Virginia.
These storms will track eastward across the watch area this
afternoon and evening, posing a risk of locally damaging wind gusts
and hail.
The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 80
statute miles north and south of a line from Lynchburg VA to 10
miles east southeast of Norfolk VA. For a complete depiction of the
watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
tornadoes.
&&
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 275…WW 276…WW 277…
AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
2 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A
few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector
27030.
BULLETIN – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE FOR WS 278
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
445 PM EDT SAT MAY 27 2017
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 278 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
NCC015-029-041-053-065-069-073-077-083-091-127-131-139-143-145-
181-185-280200-
/O.NEW.KWNS.SV.A.0278.170527T2045Z-170528T0200Z/
NC
. NORTH CAROLINA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE
BERTIE CAMDEN CHOWAN
CURRITUCK EDGECOMBE FRANKLIN
GATES GRANVILLE HALIFAX
HERTFORD NASH NORTHAMPTON
PASQUOTANK PERQUIMANS PERSON
VANCE WARREN
VA
. VIRGINIA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE
ALBEMARLE AMELIA AMHERST
APPOMATTOX AUGUSTA BRUNSWICK
BUCKINGHAM CAMPBELL CAROLINE
CHARLES CITY CHARLOTTE CHESTERFIELD
CUMBERLAND DINWIDDIE ESSEX
FLUVANNA GLOUCESTER GOOCHLAND
GREENE GREENSVILLE HALIFAX
HANOVER HENRICO ISLE OF WIGHT
JAMES CITY KING AND QUEEN KING WILLIAM
LOUISA LUNENBURG MADISON
MATHEWS MECKLENBURG MIDDLESEX
NELSON NEW KENT NOTTOWAY
ORANGE POWHATAN PRINCE EDWARD
PRINCE GEORGE SOUTHAMPTON SPOTSYLVANIA
SURRY SUSSEX YORK
VIRGINIA INDEPENDENT CITIES INCLUDED ARE
CHARLOTTESVILLE CHESAPEAKE COLONIAL HEIGHTS
EMPORIA FRANKLIN FREDERICKSBURG
HAMPTON HOPEWELL LYNCHBURG
NEWPORT NEWS NORFOLK PETERSBURG
POQUOSON PORTSMOUTH RICHMOND
STAUNTON SUFFOLK VIRGINIA BEACH
WAYNESBORO WILLIAMSBURG
ANZ633-635-636-637-638-280200-
/O.NEW.KWNS.SV.A.0278.170527T2045Z-170528T0200Z/
CW
. ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS INCLUDED ARE
CURRITUCK SOUND
RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER FROM URBANNA TO WINDMILL POINT
YORK RIVER
JAMES RIVER FROM JAMESTOWN TO THE JAMES RIVER BRIDGE
JAMES RIVER FROM JAMES RIVER BRIDGE TO HAMPTON ROADS
BRIDGE-TUNNEL
Grandmas Hill Rd
SE Nelson County Near The Amherst County Line
Updated 3:20 PM< BRL has learned the person killed earlier Saturday is James Lee Spencer. Relatives have confirmed the identity and have also confirmed the name. "The person murdered was my cousin. My aunt is his mom. I was here when officers told her," Sean Phillips, his cousin, told BRL Saturday afternoon/em>
Earlier original post
Press release from the Nelson County Sheriff’s Department:
“On Saturday May 27, 2017 around 5AM the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the 1700 block of Grandmas Hill Road for assistance regarding an altercation involving a gunshot wound. Upon arrival deputies secured the scene, noticing a male unresponsive. The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office responded shortly after. It was determined that the offense was committed in Nelson County. One victim male was pronounced deceased at the scene. The name is being withheld pending notification of the family. This incident only involved one offender, a male identified as Jacob Paul Lincoln age 32 of Amherst Virginia, who was taken into custody and charged with Second Degree Murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. Mr. Lincoln is being held at the Albemarle Regional Jail on no bond. The incident is currently under investigation involving assisting agencies, Virginia State Police and the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office.”
Faber
Nelson County, Virginia
This is the kind of news we love to share! We told you a day or so ago about the miraculous recovery Nelson cyclist Martin Versluys was making in this post. His come back has been astonishing considering he was flown out by Pegasus on Mother’s Day weekend after a car turned in front of him heading north on Route 151.
Friday morning we received word through a family friend via his wife Kathy they had made it home.
“Another whirlwind day. Even when he’s fresh out of ICU, I still can’t keep up with Martin. Had NO IDEA he’d be home today already. In fact, gotta admit to panicking a bit, since I didn’t know all those tubes and hoses could come off yet.
But Martin wanted nothing more—Let’s just go home. I’m ready to sleep after 12 days.
So with baby steps forward, we’re starting a new adventure. Speechless in our gratitude for all the support and friendship. Don’t know where to begin expressing thanks to everyone.But it’s late again, so I’m going to follow Martin’s method: sleep! Tomorrow is a new day.
So love you all!
Kathy”
Martin still has weeks and weeks of rehab and recovery to go through as his injuries were major, but he’s certainly on the mend now and is home!
We’re told it’s way too soon for any visitors, but if you’d like to send Martin your thoughts and perhaps a card you can mail it here.
Kathy Plunket Versluys & Martinus Versluys
Acorn Inn
P.O. Box 431
Nellysford, VA 22958 USA
A YouCaring site has been set up for Martin by friends to help offset the expenses they are incurring while he’s down.
We will keep you updated on his progress as we receive word.
Great news Martin and keep on the mend!
Afton / Greenfield
Nelson County, Virginia
By Yvette Stafford
In between grilling hot dogs and burgers this Memorial Day Weekend, the Rockfish Valley Community Center is welcoming people to its 4th Annual Celebrate Rockfish! event Saturday, May 27 from 5 to 9 PM.
Rockfish River Gallery owner Kathy Bonham — who has a shop at RVCC — says she’s delighted to see more people trickle into the community center, especially since the recent road construction leading into it may have slowed down her business.
“We are low on foot traffic and I personally think it’s because of the construction on 151 and our road,” she says from the main room of the center, which currently features artwork from the BozART Fine Art Collective.
Celebrate Rockfish! is offering a 50-50 cash raffle and a grand prize worth up to $5000. The event will also feature music by The Blenders and Hannah Gardener, beer from Blue Mountain Brewery, food by Paulie’s Pig Out and Claudia Gibson Catering, as well as Gourmet Ice Cream by Rockin’ Scoops.
Raffle tickets, which sell for $20 each or $50 for a bundle of three, are available at the RVCC office, the Treasure Chest Thrift Store, and online at RockfishCC.org. Otherwise, there is no admission charge.
Faber
Nelson County, Virginia
Back on May 18th we told you about the major traffic accident Nelson cyclist Martin Versluys was in. His injuries were severe and he’s been at UVA ever since, much of that time in surgery and ICU.
We are happy to report Martin is improving daily and has been making great strides!
Wednesday night around 9PM we got a very positive update via his wife Kathy through a friend.
“Martin just now, took a walk around the nurses quarters, like he had been doing pre-surgery. This time they had him use a walker (with all-too-familiar squeeze brakes) and an oxygen tank. He walked two loops (at a high rate of speed), out the front ICU doors, past the family lounge, returning through the back ICU doors. Gotta say, it was the first time today he looked a bit more chipper. (And, I’ll tell ya, seeing him striding right through the enormous double doors, past that red EXIT sign gave ME a boost.)
We’re looking forward to getting past all this scary business, back to a normal life.”
A YouCaring site has been set up for Martin as well to help offset the expenses they are incurring while he’s down. As of this post around $8000.00 of a 14.5K goal has been raised.
We will keep you updated as we get updates.
Continue the great improvement Martin!
Update 5:01 PM :
UPDATE: Debris Removed, Westbound Rt. 250 Right Lane Open
Original post from 4:09 PM 5.24.17
Motorists should expect delays while crews clear road
The westbound right lane on Route 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) is closed just west of Route 151 (Critzers Shop Road) in Albemarle County due to debris in the road.
Crews are on scene working to clean up the debris. The lane is expected to be closed through 6 p.m.
Traffic is getting by the incident in the westbound left lane. Motorists should expect delays and consider using alternate routes.
Updates and other real-time travel information can be found on the 511 Virginia website, the free VDOT 511 mobile app or by calling 511 from any phone in Virginia. Local updates are also posted to Twitter.com/VaDOTCulp.
