Waynesboro
Augusta County, VA
From the Charleston Gazette-Mail:
“The takeover of nTelos Holdings Corp., a wireless communications company that serves customers in West Virginia, by Shenandoah Telecommunications Co. was finalized Monday.
Shenandoah Telecommunications, also known as Shentel, announced that it had completed the $208 million deal and would be taking over nTelos customers’ wireless plans in the near future.”
Nelson County, Virginia
Severe thunderstorms moved across the Blue Ridge area lat Monday afternoon dropping hail from the size of to larger than quarters. On Route 6 River Road in Nelson County, heavy rains along with hail stripped leaves from many trees.
Above, Jon Goff grabbed this video of hail falling late Monday afternoon near Lovingston.
Tommy says there’s continued chances for showers and storms on Tuesday and later this week, but they don’t appear to be severe. Temps will be below normal for the second half of the week.
Roseland
Nelson County, Virginia
You know spring is finally here when the thunderstorms start rolling through the mountains of Virginia. Thursday evening lots of folks got a light show in the sky accompanied by big booms of thunder and even some small hail.
The chances for rain will continue over the next several days into the first of May. Temps remain cool except for an occasional bump into the 70s.
Check out my forecast below in the audio update.
Wintergreen
Nelson County, Virginia
Wintergreen Performing Arts (WPA) is pleased to announce that Julianne Akins has been selected as WPA’s Executive Director, effective May 1, 2016. This newly created leadership position results from a recent reorganization at WPA. Ms. Akins will be responsible for executing the administrative vision of WPA, working collaboratively with WPA Artistic Director Dr. Erin Freeman, the WPA staff, and the WPA Board of Directors to ensure the smooth operation and continued growth of WPA and its Wintergreen Summer Music Festival and Academy. In announcing the selection, Dale Weigel, President of the Board, said: “After concluding a thorough national search, we are delighted to welcome Julianne Akins to Wintergreen Performing Arts. She comes to us from the Richmond Symphony with a wealth of knowledge in the operation, business development, and marketing of artistic, especially classical music, organizations.”
Ms. Akins will be responsible for office administration, corporate and individual donor development, marketing, and relations with Wintergreen Resort, Wintergreen Property Owners Association, and local government. She will support and work collaboratively with WPA’s core of dedicated volunteers.
Ms. Akins most recently served as Business Development Manager for the Richmond Symphony. Prior to that position, she was the Symphony’s Patron Services & Sales Manager and Operations Manager. She earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Richmond and a Bachelor of Music, Music Performance, degree from The Ohio State University. In addition to her work in arts administration, Ms. Akins is a freelance musician who plays the tuba. As David Fisk, Executive Director of the Richmond Symphony, stated: “The Richmond Symphony has appreciated our various points of connection with Wintergreen Performing Arts over the years, including this new development: Julianne Akins has been a valued member of the Richmond Symphony management team since 2010, having – most unusually – had the skill-set to work in a number of different areas in her time here: orchestral operations, patron services, corporate relations and government advocacy. That broad base of arts management experience will serve her very well in this new executive leadership role: we wish her and WPA every success.”
About Wintergreen Performing Arts, Inc.: Wintergreen Performing Arts, Inc.
(WPA) is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization located at Wintergreen Resort, Virginia’s beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain destination southwest of Charlottesville. It has enjoyed 20 continuous, successful years of operation since its founding in 1995. It produces the Wintergreen Summer Music Festival, launched in 1997, an extraordinary month-long experience held each July. Boasting a fully professional orchestra and distinguished guest artists from around the country, the Festival attracts first-rate musicians who are consummate performers and educators. The presentation of symphonic and chamber music is at the core of WPA’s mission, but its offerings also include jazz and solo concerts; informal educational classes, seminars, and workshops for a variety of ages; visual and literary arts; dance and theater performances; and culinary arts classes and wine tastings. WPA also presents the annual Blue Ridge Mountain Music Fest each August. Important to WPA’s mission are its educational and community engagement initiatives. The Wintergreen Summer Music Academy, held in conjunction with the Festival, draws talented young musicians from across the country in stringed instruments, vocal performance, conducting, and composition of classical music. WPA also offers life-enriching outreach programs for the Nelson County Public Schools and others living in the surrounding area. WPA welcomes visitors and residents alike to share in this unique Wintergreen experience. For more information, call (434) 325-8292 or visit WPA’s website at www.WintergreenPerformingArts.org.
Greenfield / Afton
Nelson County, Virginia
A few days ago we told you about the official start on the Blue Mountain Pavilion at RVCC in Nelson County. Once completed the pavilion will be a place to provide a protected outdoor performance venue for events large and small.
This past Sunday they officially began putting the roof on with the help of several volunteers.
Be looking for more updates soon!
Nellysford
Nelson County, Virginia
Abby Riggleman thought she was headed out to Basic Necessities in Nellysford for a regular dinner this past Thursday night. It’s one of her most favorite spots! Little did she know her family and fiance’ had something else in mind. A marriage proposal!
Thanks to our BRL Region Photographer Marcie Gates for her very stealthy setup. A little birdie tipped her that it was happening. She set up with her laptop and other stuff to make it look like she was working. She was actually getting these neat pics!
Congrats Abby & Danny!
Shenandoah National Park
Near White Oak Canyon Trail
#BREAKING: The body of Fairfax Co Firefighter #NicoleMittendorff found in Shenandoah National Park, family confirms. pic.twitter.com/4Qt8ox8ET6
— WMAL News (@wmalnews) April 22, 2016
From our news partners at CBS-19 The Newsplex:
“The search for a missing Fairfax County firefighter may be over as officials say a woman’s body has been found in the Shenandoah National Park.
Virginia State Police say search efforts within the park have been suspended. The body was found around 2 p.m. Thursday about a mine from the White Oak Canyon Trail parking area, six days into the search for 31-year-old Nicole Mittendorff.”
Continue redading below the US Park Service presse release for more.
Here’s the verbatim press release from the US National Park Service:
“Remains Located in Shenandoah National Park; Search Efforts Suspended Madison County, Va-Search efforts in the Shenandoah National Park were suspended Thursday afternoon (April 21, 2016) with the discovery of female remains within the park property. At approximately 2:00 p.m. a ground team of National Park Service and Virginia State Police personnel discovered a body in a remote location more than a mile from the Whiteoak Canyon parking area and about 330 yards from the trail in treacherous rocky terrain. National Park Service and Virginia State Police are currently still processing the scene. National Park Service and Virginia State Police personnel will conduct a press conference at Whiteoak parking area at 7:30 p.m.”
Nelson County, Virginia
A few years ago the Supervisors of Nelson County initiated a plan to provide more support to the rescue squads and fire departments of Nelson County. Historically the County has supported operational funding assistance, and interest free loans for equipment, but never outright provision of capital equipment. Their newest initiative provides one fire department each year and at least one rescue squad substantial assistance with vehicle acquisition.
Faber, Montebello, Lovingston, and Gladstone Fire Departments have new vehicles in service which were nearly paid for in full by the County. These vehicles were ordered specifically to meet the needs of our area. Rockfish Valley Fire Department has a new pumper-tanker on order. In the first year of the program three departments were helped when they decided to acquire “mini-pumpers” which assist them in gaining access to structures with challenging driveways. Collectively these three pieces cost less than one full-sized pumper, hence three purchased at once. Piney River and Wintergreen Fire Department will round out the first round of assistance.
“The ambulances have taken a little longer to replace because the County has encouraged the rescue squads to apply for state grant assistance before encumbering County funds. The Commonwealth of Virginia has a robust assistance fund for these types of projects. Gladstone Fire & Rescue and Nelson County Rescue Squad each have beautiful new ambulances ready to respond to medical emergencies anywhere within the County. According to the Virginia Office of EMS, the average cost of a new ambulance with limited equipment is $195,000. Next to receive ambulances will be Wintergreen Rescue and Roseland Rescue, each of which are in need of a replacement ambulance within the year. Rescue Squads operating in Nelson County keep their ambulances in service for over 10 years. Given the challenges of our terrain and topography, as well as the distance which must be traveled to reach the hospital, a 10-year lifespan shows that solid maintenance plans are in place.
The member agencies of the Nelson County Emergency Services Council wish to extend a sincere ‘Thank You’ to the Supervisors, the County Administrator, and all County Staff who have made this program such a success,”
Chief Sheets said.
Shenandoah National Park
Near Elkton
Our thanks to Hawes Spencer and Skip Degan for the information, updates and video below from Wednesday.
As of Tuesday morning WHSV in Harrisonburg reports the fire burning in the Shenandoah National Park near Elkton has now consumed more than 3000 acres.
WHSV reports more in SNP Wildfire
Shenandoah National Park
Near White Oak
Updated 5:08 PM via VSP:
“Approximately 100 federal, state and volunteer search and rescue teams have spent Monday (April 18) searching in the Shenandoah National Forest for the 31-year-old missing Woodbridge, Va., woman. Due to the steep, challenging terrain of the area, search efforts will conclude at sundown and resume again early Tuesday morning.
The search efforts have focused on several miles of federal park land surrounding the Whiteoak Canyon trail in Madison County. Nicole K. Mittendorff’s 2009 Mini Cooper was located in the parking area at the trail entrance shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday (April 16). The abandoned vehicle was found by a U.S. Park Ranger.
There is still no evidence to indicate anything suspicious about Mittendorff’s disappearance.
She is described as a white female with blonde hair and green eyes. She is 5’6 and weighs approximately 125 lbs. The last contact any family had with her was Wednesday, April 13. She is the spouse of a Virginia State Police employee.”
Here’s the latest from the Virginia State Police as of 9:30 Monday morning:
Search efforts resumed this morning (April 18) shortly after 8 a.m. in the Shenandoah National Park for the missing 31-year-old Woodbridge, Va., woman. State police are continuing to concentrate their search operation in the region of White Oak Canyon Trail, where Nicole Mittendorff’s vehicle was discovered Saturday night (April 16). At this time, there is still no evidence to indicate foul play in her disappearance.
Our media partners from CBS-19 have more below in their coverage.
