Central Virginia Blue Ridge
With the warmer temps arriving thoughts are turning to longer days. Just in time! Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday – March 12th at 2AM. But for those of us that party until that hour, your best bet is to move your clock ahead one hour before turning in on Saturday night. Then you’re all taken care of until Sunday – Nov 5, 2017 when we go back to standard time.
Until then, enjoy those longer and warmer days to come!
Afton
Albemarle County, Virginia
News release via VDOT Culpeper Division:
To improve safety, the Virginia Department of Transportation is installing a temporary signal at the intersection of Route 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) and Route 151 (Critzers Shop Road) in Afton, near the Nelson County line.
An advance warning flasher on Route 250 eastbound, which has a steep downgrade, will accompany the signal to alert motorists when the signal ahead is yellow or red.
Beginning this week through late April, motorists should stay alert for intermittent lane closures controlled by flagging.
A more extensive project is in development to convert the intersection to a roundabout. The safety improvement project will address a history of turning-related crashes at the high-volume intersection. Route 250 carries 6,700 vehicles per day and Route 151 carries 10,000 with about seven percent truck traffic daily on both routes. Pending funding approval, preliminary engineering on the project will begin in 2018.
Nelson County, Virginia
Via press release from Ernie Reed
Ernie Reed will announce his candidacy for Nelson County Board of Supervisors, Central District, on Friday, March 10, at 12 noon at the Nelson County Courthouse in Lovingston,
Ernie, who will be running as a Democrat, is a retired high school school administrator who is a life-long education, arts and conservation community advocate
“I hope to be able to continue the work that Connie Brennan has done in such an outstanding way over the years I have known her,” said Ernie. “Her absence on the Board of Supervisors would create a void that I would hope to fill with the same energy and vision she has given to Nelson County.”
After building his home in Faber in the early 80’s, and working at Wintergreen Resort and actively volunteering in the Nelson County community, he and his family moved to Charlottesville and founded the Living Education Center for Ecology and the Arts, an alternative private non-profit high school. After the close of his school, Ernie helped organize Friends of Nelson and moved back to his Faber home “for the long-haul.”
“It is with delight and confidence that I look forward to handing the reins of responsibility to Ernie for the business of helping Nelson County continue to move forward, “ said Connie Brennan, current Central District Supervisor. “His knowledge and experience in many fields, from business to the environment, will help keep the Commonwealth’s mandates of protecting the health, safety and welfare of our residents foremost in his deliberations. His energy and dedication will bring forward new ideas for the future.”
Ernie’s campaign, like his life, will focus on education, economics and the environment. “Having run small businesses, both for profit and not, I understand the importance of work that sustains the community over the long-term, “Ernie said.
“I understand the frustration of people who feel their voices are not being heard,” Ernie said. “Issues may have many sides but ultimately we are one community.”
Shipman
Nelson County, Virginia
Updated: 8:20 AM 3.8.17
According to NCSD School Resources Officer Deputy Barnett Johnson has been located and is safe.
The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office needs your help in locating a missing juvenile. The juvenile is a 15 year old white male identified as Logan Matthew Johnson. He was last seen at his home off James River Road in the Shipman area of Nelson County around 4:00PM EST on March 7, 2017.
He was last seen wearing a black Under Armor jacket and dark colored pants. Anyone with information about this case or who may know the whereabouts of Logan Johnson area asked to call the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office.
If you have any information the sheriff asks you call his department: 434-263-7050
We have a request into the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office for additional details.
Massies Mill
Nelson County, Virginia
Thankfully it’s not as rare a sight now as it used to be. Bald Eagles have made an impressive comeback across the U.S. in the last several years. They still leave people in awe whenever one is spotted. Thanks to the quick lens of BRL reader Mary Craig she grabbed the shot above of a bald eagle dropping its nest in Massies Mill near Grace Episcopal Church.
Very neat and thanks for sharing the photos with us Mary!
Amherst
On Sunday, March 19 at 2:30 p.m. Dr. Horace Rice will talk on his book Patriot Pinn’s Pearl, a historical fiction account that chronicles the lives of the Cherokee and Wiccocomico Native Americans. His focus will be the role of Patriot Native Americans during the Revolutionary War.
Dr. Rice will also provide information about the UCITOV — The United Cherokee Indian Tribe of Virginia. Pearl is a “symbol of suffering. Just as an oyster suffers and forms a pearl, the UCITOV people have suffered (invasion, dispersion, forced indentured servitude, Indian slavery, and paper genocide.”
The program will be held at Second Stage, 194 2nd Street, at the corner of 2nd and Washington streets and is open to the public with no admission fee. Refreshments will follow the program. Dr. Rice will be available to autograph his book.
Dr. Rice is himself of Cherokee descent, though not from the Buffalo Ridge area. He received his Masters and Doctorate of Education from the University of Virginia and worked at area schools including Bedford County and Monelison Jr. High in Amherst. He is the author of The Buffalo Ridge Cherokee: A Remnant of a Great Nation Divided, a work that explores the history of the Cherokee living in the Stapleton area of Amherst County. Dr. Rice argues that they were occupying that land before the Revolutionary War and through the years experienced a type of “paper genocide” that kept this remnant of the Cherokee nation an obscure and forgotten part of Native American culture. Dr. Rice has served as a historical advisor for the United Cherokee Indian Tribe of Virginia since 1992.
The Program is made possible by The Greater Lynchburg Community Trust.
Second Stage is a not-for-profit organization that has been converting a historic church into a Center for Creativity and Community since 2015. Programs and performances are currently being planned for the 2017 season. For more information, call 434-94-0997 or visit their website at secondstageamherst.org.
Elkwood, an Amherst Salon, is owned and operated by Wayne Ferguson and Robert Reeves, history and art enthusiasts who support cultural activities in Amherst County.
Amherst County Museum and Historical Society is a nonprofit educational organization whose mission is to discover, collect and preserve objects related to the history and genealogy of Amherst County. The society exhibits, interprets and offers its collections to provide educational experiences for people of all ages.
For additional information on the program, contact Octavia Starbuck, Director, Amherst County Museum and Historical Society at 434-946-9068 or by the website email: staff@amherstcountymuseum.org.
LYNCHBURG
Highway work requiring road/lane/structure closures is scheduled, weather permitting. Items in italics contain new/updated information. For up-to-date information, call 511 or visit www.511Virginia.org.
Amherst County:
Route 130 over Pedlar River- Bridge work; road closed. Detour to new construction/existing Rt. 635. Messages boards, signs and barriers in use. Est. comp. 11/27/17.
Route 501/130 (Hunting Club Rd-existing bridge) – Two-way traffic on new bridge. Construction continues; temporary lane closures possible. Completion 4/21/17.
Route 640 over Pedlar River (Rt. 635-607) – Road closed for superstructure replacement from Feb. 6-March 10, weather permitting. Detour via routes 607, 610 and 635.
Appomattox County:
Route 660 over North Creek – Road closed Jan. 3 – June 15 for bridge superstructure replacement. Detour via 26, 659, and 613.
Buckingham County:
Route 20 over Slate River – Speed reduced during bridge replacement. Est. comp. – 12/2017.
Route 60 (Andersonville AHQ) – Crew will repair asphalt.
Andersonville AHQ- Crew will repair shoulders.
Various – Crews will cut brush, work surfaces and respond to customer concerns.
Campbell County:
Routes 29 & 460 – Crews will work on ramp lights.
Route 601 over Entry Creek (756-645) – Road will be closure from April 10-May 19 for culvert replacement. Detour via 756 and 600.
Charlotte County:
Route 40 over Louse Creek – Use caution during bridge project. Est. completion July 2017.
Routes 47 & 360 – Signal work will result in outage of intersection warning flashers and STOP sign flashing beacons. Message boards will alert motorists during these operations.
Craftons Gate AHQ – Crew will install mainline/driveway pipe and boom ax.
Phenix AHQ – Crew will trim trees.
Various – Crews will boom ax, work shoulders and surfaces and respond to customer requests.
Cumberland County:
Route 600 over Green Creek (Rt 653-657) – Road closed from 3/6-6/9 for structure replacement. Detour via 653, 638, 45 and 657.
Various – Crews will cut brush, work ditches, shoulders and surfaces and respond to customer requests.
Halifax County:
Routes 360 @ 47 & 501 @ 658 – Crews will address sign work orders over several weeks.
Route 501, Cluster Springs AHQ – Crew will chip brush.
Route 667 over Bye Creek ( Rt. 753-57) – Road closed for substructure repairs from Feb. 27 – Mar. 17, weather permitting. Detour via routes 753 and 57.
Route 707 over Coleman Creek (Rt. 718-658) – Road will be closed from Feb. 13 – June 2 for structure replacement. Detour via routes 718 and 658.
Bethel and Cluster Springs AHQs – Crews will work surfaces.
Bethel AHQ– Crew will boom ax.
Various –Crews will work shoulders and respond to customer requests.
Lynchburg:
Greenview Drive widening- Changes in traffic pattern during project. Completion- July 2017.
Route 29/460 Corridor eastbound/westbound from Concord Turnpike to Candlers Mtn Rd: Speed reduced to 45 mph for construction throughout the corridor.
Route 29/460 (501-29)– Construction traffic entering/exiting roadway. Weather permitting, lane closures may be in place from 9 pm, Friday to 6 am, Sunday, excluding holiday weekends until further notice. Use caution. Est. comp. 11/16/17. Speed reduced to 45 mph.
Route 29/460 (Odd Fellows Rd Int. and Odd Fellows Rd.)– Construction traffic entering/exiting roadway. Temporary lane closures on 460 & Odd Fellows likely; Odd Fellows & Mayflower may be closed during roundabout construction. Est. comp. 8/3/18. Speed reduced to 45 mph.
Route 460, area of LU campus – LU/English Const. bridge project. Crews plan to set girders over Rt 460 during the week of March 14-17. Nightly lane closures east- and westbound, as well as traffic stoppages of up to 15 minutes will take place from 7 pm to 6 am.
Nelson County:
Route 151 & 635 , Route 6 & 638 int. – Intersections improvements. Traffic control devices and flaggers will direct traffic. Expect delays. Estimated completion October 16, 2017.
Pittsylvania County:
Route 29 S over Norfolk-Southern RR –Bridge replacement. Rt. 29/803 connection temporarily relocated. Southbound traffic detoured to northbound lane. Girders will be set beginning Feb. 27. This work will require “slow roll” traffic control for approximately 20 minutes per beam. Est. comp. 6/20/17.
Route 40, Gretna AHQ – Crew will install mainline pipe for turning lane at hospital.
Route 638 over Reed Creek – Closed from 8 am to 5 pm on March 13015 for geology work. Detour via 640, 685, 646, 642 & 634.
Route 662 over Sandy Creek – Closed from 8 am to 5 pm on March 16, 17 & 20 for geology work. Detour via 701 and 640.
Route 682 over Shokoe Creek( 686-1094) – Road closed April 3-May 12 for culvert replacement. Detour via 686 to 640.
Route 761 (600-639) – Road closed for bridge replacement. Detour via routes 600, 602 and 601. Completion – 12/4/17.
Route 903 over Whitethorn Creek (Rt. 995-676) – Road closed March 6-31 for bridge superstructure replacement. Detour US 29.
Brosville AHQ – Crew will work ditches and repair shoulders.
Gretna AHQ – Crew will apply stone around mailboxes.
Gretna, Kentuck and Rondo AHQs – Crews will trim trees.
Various –Crews will work surfaces, boom ax and respond to customers.
Prince Edward County:
Route 360 – Travel lane may be restricted during shoulder work.
Various – Crews will work surfaces, cut brush, clean roadsides and ditches, and respond to customer requests.
District-wide activities:
Guardrail maintenance – Crews will do guardrail maintenance.
Latex Microsurfacing – Crews will perform latex microsurfacing at various locations.
Pavement messaging – Crews will work at various locations.
Pipe rehabilitation – Crews will work on pipes at various locations.
Nellysford
Nelson County, Virginia
Last Thursday (March 2, 2017) we told you about some heavy equipment activity on the lot between Wells Fargo Bank and UVA Community Credit Union in Nellysford along Route 151. Last summer we also confirmed (in this story) that Dollar General was looking at the property as a possible site location for a new store. They said a decision would be made in late 2017. On Thursday we asked if the new activity at the site meant a decision had been made and construction had started.
“We are still in a due diligence phase for a new store on Rockfish Valley Highway in Nellysford. Based on our current timeline, I anticipate a final decision for the project is expected by early spring. No, we still haven’t made a definite decision on the store yet,” March 2, 2017 – Crystal Ghassemi with Dollar General’s Corporate Communications in Goodlettsville, Tennessee told us.
We have another inquiry into DG corporate in Tennessee for clarification.
We’ll let you know!
Nelson County, Virginia
A large house fire in the Afton / Greenfield area of Nelson County along 151 is out. The home is a total loss according to Wintergreen Fire & Rescue Chief Curtis Sheets. “There were no injuries,” Chief Sheets said and luckily everyone got out alive and unharmed.
Video above by BRL Photographer Marcie Gates
BRL has learned though some family pets were lost, several of the family’s dogs were saved.
Fire crews are on the scene of this fully involved house fire just off 151 in Greenfield / Afton near Paulie’s Pig Out
2:35 PM Wintergreen Fire & Rescue Chief Curtis Sheets:
We were toned for a structure fire. Upon arrival crews reported heavy fire.
Well over a dozen pieces of fire equipment on scene.
Rockfish FR
Wintergreen FD
Faber FD
Crozet FD
Lovingston FD
Gladstone FD
Wintergreen RSPiney River FD
NCSO
VSP
Virginia Department of Forestry
Avoid area.
Wintergreen Resort
Nelson County, Virginia
In spite of some very warm days recently the weather has turned cold and Wintergreen Resort has been making more snow!
Our BRL-Nature Foundation At Wintergreen Station just below shows how cold it is up top. The entire day has been in the 20s with teens expected Friday night into Saturday.
To read more about the days left to ski and ride, check out their mountain message by clicking on the facebook post at the top.
