Lovingston
Nelson County, Virginia
Nelson County Sheriff David Brooks said Tuesday afternoon that the search for Alexis Murphy will continue until she’s found, regardless of how long it takes. Contrary to some media reports, Brooks says the November search has been planned all along as part of their ongoing efforts. Murphy was reported missing as we first told you about in this story from August 2013.
BRL Publisher Tommy Stafford speaks with Sheriff Brooks about the search that will take place in Orange County, VA next month. Press play above to listen.
Stoney Creek / Nellysford
Nelson County, Virginia Back in June of 2013 we told you about the passing of Frank Ott. He was a long time volunteer with Wintergreen Fire & Rescue in Nelson County. “Although several members contributed significantly, if I had to attach just one name to the effort, it would be Frank. He embraced our training and became an advanced life support provider, as well as a fire fighter. He was a lifetime member of both the Fire Department and the Rescue Squad. For anything we needed, Frank was there,” Wintergreen F & R Chief Curtis Sheets told us.
Frank Ott’s daughter, Robin, speaks at the Saturday ceremony where the newly renovated Wintergreen Fire Station in Nellysford was dedicated in her late father’s memory.
His daughter Robin said most people on the outside had no idea what an influence her father had through the years at Wintergreen F & R. “Bigger than most people that aren’t involved with the fire & rescue really know. There was a rule that you couldn’t do that (dedicate a building in someone’s name) here and they made an exception just for this, which is very special.”
Frank Ott’s children and grandchildren look over memorabilia from when Frank Ott was an active volunteer with Wintergreen Fire & Rescue.Flanked by Frank Ott’s grandchildren on the far right and left, Wintergreen F&R Chief Curtis Sheets (L) looks on as Julia Rogers (Nelson Chamber President – center) and Nelson BOS Chair Connie Brennan cut a ribbon officially dedicating the newly renovated fire station in the late Frank Ott’s name.One of Frank Ott’s grandsons hangs his squad helmet on a hook in a new entrance to the fire station. It’s the final resting place for the helmet worn countless hours by Frank when he was a volunteer with the squad.
Photo Courtesy of Hawes Spencer : Police block off a large area surrounding Walnut Creek Park in Albemarle County where they say a female body was discovered Saturday afternoon – October 18, 2014.
Walnut Creek Park
Albemarle County, Virginia
Press play above to listen to Tommy & Rachel discuss the events as they unfolded Saturday afternoon – October 18, 2014.
BRLM & our media partners over at CBS-19 The Newsplex first broke, law enforcement authorities are confirming the discovery of a female body in the Walnut Creek Park area of Albemarle County. “Walnut Creek Park is five miles from where Morgan Harrington’s body was discovered on Anchorage Farm in Albemarle County,” says CBS-19 anchor/reporter Rachel Ryan. It is highly presumed this is the body of missing UVa sophomore Hannah Graham.
BRLM’s Tommy Stafford first received information around 2:30 that a body had been found. He along with Rachel at CBS-19 began working the story and within an hour or so were able to confirm the information as show in Rachel’s tweet below. Additionally, former Hook publisher/editor Hawes Spencer and Tommy worked to confirm the details as they were unfolding.
BREAKING-Police source says body has been found in Walnut Creek Park. Press conference scheduled for 5:30
That press conference was held around 5:45 PM Saturday evening where lawmen did confirm the body being found, but stopped short of saying it’s definitely Hannah Graham’s. They are awaiting an autopsy from the medical examiner in Richmond for positive identification.
Central Virginia Blue Ridge
Nelson County, Virginia
After heavy rains earlier in the week the fall colors are absolutely on fire in parts of the Blue Ridge, especially in the higher elevations around 3000 feet and above. As a matter of fact, in another week many of the leaves may be just past peak in the highest of elevations.
A gorgeous view this past Friday afternoon – October 17, 2014 looking down into the Rockfish Valley from Founders Vision Overlook at Wintergreen Resort. Click on photo to enlarge.
The weather this weekend will be perfect for looking at leaves and it will feel very much like fall with crisp cool days and nights.
This tree on the parking lot of The Nature Foundation At Wintergreen is full of color. The elevation there is around 3500′. Click on photo to enlarge
Incidentally, you can always see what the weather is doing at that very location. BRLM has a weather station in cooperation with The Nature Foundation At Wintergreen atop their office on Devils Knob. Just click on the station above and then be sure to bookmark that station in your favorites!
While it was a cool 59° for the high on Friday on the mountain, it was a much warmer 74° in the Rockfish Valley down below. Jamie Tremel, a waitress at Wild Wolf Brewing in Nellysford waits on some of the people enjoying a beautiful fall afternoon. Click on photo to enlarge.
Nelson County, VA More changes are on the way for people driving along the northern half of Route 151 in Nelson County. Concerns over increased traffic and a past history of numerous fatalities has VDOT continuing their improvements along the road to help keep cars moving.
Nelson County, Virginia
Contractor crews for Central Virginia Electric Coop have been taking to the skies over the past few days to clear limbs from power line right of ways across the county. The odd looking saw seen hanging way below a helicopter was seen working in the Roseland area of Nelson County, Virginia on Thursday.
Video By Tommy Stafford : Click on our Instagram video above to see a short clip of the air saw in action!
The chopper and saw are part of a routine maintenance program CVEC uses to clear limbs away from power lines to prevent branches from falling on them later in thunderstorms or ice storms.
The very long saw with multiple blades hangs way below the helicopter. The pilot maneuvers the saw in place slicing off limbs from trees near power lines. Many locations along bluffs and hillsides are impractical to reach by conventional methods. Click on photo to enlarge.
Be looking for the strange helicopter and saw hanging around over the next few days as more limbs are cleared.
The Storm Prediction Center has much of the Blue Ridge in the slight risk area for severe weather Tuesday and Tuesday night. IN addition to strong storms, flooding rains are a big concern.
Central Virginia Blue Ridge
All of the heavy rains and potential for severe weather has moved east of the Blue Ridge as of noon Wednesday. Sunny skies are on tap for the upcoming weekend, with much cooler temps.
Earlier post Dynamics are coming together for the potential of severe weather across the region over the next 24 hours. While I do think the brunt of the ultra severe storms will be to the south of Nelson, the possibility of a strong to severe storm here is still likely. A more concerning factor will be flooding rains. The developing storms and the system that hit the mid-south to our west last night, will arrive here later today into the overnight hours before exiting late morning Wednesday.
Flash Flood Watches and Wind Advisories are up across the area. Click on image for more detail.The Weather Prediction Center branch of the NWS shows substantial amounts of rain possible across the Central Virginia Blue Ridge area with 2-4″ possible. Some locations could receive more.
Roseland
Nelson County, Virginia
In spite of rains showers and continued threatening skies The Festy Experience 2014 has been a packed event with tons of fantastic music. This makes the 5th anniversary for the annual event held on the grounds at Devils Backbone Brewing Company in Roseland.
The music finishes up Sunday evening and then plans will be underway for the 2015 Festy.
Decades of urban and suburban development have significantly decreased the occurrence of native plants across Virginia and the United States. Without these native plants, the thousands of insects, including moths, butterflies, and other pollinators that we all rely upon cannot survive. Once mature, the Mallory Creek native grasses and wildflower meadow will represent a small sample of what fields were like in the Rockfish Valley hundreds and thousands of years ago. The plants sown here will offer food and shelter for bugs and small animals that evolved with them over the millennia.
Photo Courtesy of Nelson Master Gardners : Back in early 2014 volunteers and master gardeners starting creating this empty space on the north end of RVCC into a what’s now a field of breathtaking color.
Over the coming years, an ever increasing diverse population of pollinators will rely on its flowers for nectar and as a source for food and habitat. We will all be able to enjoy the beauty of the wildflowers and butterflies, but don’t forget to look for caterpillars, moths, bees, and other insects that create the complex biodiversity needed for a healthy environment.
A panoramic view of the completed wildflower meadow at RVCC. Click photo to enlarge.
Monarch butterflies should be of special interest to us all. Large monoculture farms and increased use of herbicides have endangered this iconic species. It can only survive if we all take every opportunity to re-establish the only resource Monarchs must have, milkweed. Our meadow will be sown with common milkweed and we will add some swamp milkweed plants as well. You can help Monarchs by planting a butterfly garden on your property including milkweed plants.
More of the brilliant colorful wildflowers in the newly dedicated meadow at RVCC.
The Mallory Creek Native Grasses and Wildflower Meadow is a cooperative effort of the Nelson County Master Gardeners, the Rockfish Valley Community Center, the Wintergreen Nature Foundation, the Central Blue Ridge Master Naturalists, and others. Special recognition is extended to J.W. Townsend Landscapers and the Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation Office for their expertise and support.
Roseland
Nelson County, VA The Festy Experience 2014 kicks off this Friday evening October 12th, but if you are a Nelson local you get to see and hear some of the music Thursday night during special performances. Tommy talks more about that in his weather below.
This is the fifth year The Festy has been ongoing.
To seen the entire lineup at The Festy 2014, along with other event info, click on the image above.
Tommy talks about the forecast for this weekend’s Festy 2014 above.
And, our BRL Photographer Shay Munroe will be there all weekend long covering the sights and sounds of The Festy!
