Nelson County, VA
The heaviest of rains held off until late Saturday night and Sunday. That made for a cool and perfect day for activities across the Blue Ridge!
You can see more of the SVBCC photos from their stop in Nellysford by heading on over to their Facebook page here.
Next weekend will be equally as busy as the Virginia Craft Brewers Festival will take place at Devils Backbone Brewing on Saturday – August 24, 2013.
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Screen Grab – ©2013 CBS-19 Gray Television, Inc : Central Virginia’s Craft Brewing industry is on the move, particularly in Nelson County. CBS-19 takes a look. Press play above to view
Rockbridge / Nelson/ Albemarle County, VA
Those of us living here in Nelson County where BRLM is based know all about the craft brewing industry. Nelson was a pioneer in the business!
Our media partners over at CBS-19 The Newsplex take a look at the phenomenal growth.
Staunton
Augusta County, VA
The calendar says August, Mother Nature says it feels more like October! Generally when the grass is burning up and so are people, this year’s summer has been incredibly mild. That makes for perfect farmers’ markets across Central Virginia. The Augusta / Staunton Farmers’ Market is in full swing. They have two markets, Wednesday 7:00am to 1pm and Saturday 7:00am to noon. Our Shenandoah Valley photographer Norm Shafer stopped by the market recently and grabbed a few shots.
The Frog Pond Pickers will be back at this Saturday’s market on August 17, 2013.
See you there!
Wintergreen
Nelson County, VA
For the 8th year in a row the mountains and valleys will be full familiar music native to the Blue Ridge.
“Drawing on a Scots-Irish heritage, the Blue Ridge settlers added voices from Africa and, in a unique medley of fiddle, banjo, bass and guitar, sang of America. This region has spawned old time, bluegrass and Americana musical forms. Join us to enjoy this uniquely American sound on Saturday, August 17, 2013 when Wintergreen Performing Arts will present the voices of the Blue Ridge through its 8th Annual Blue Ridge Mountain Music Fest.”
For over 5 years Blue Ridge Life Magazine Publisher, Tommy Stafford has emceed the daylong event. He’s back this year for the festival that kicks off at noon and runs until roughly 7PM. It’s being held in big tent (formerly the Evans Center) just down from the Skyline Pavilion.
For a complete lineup of musical performances on Saturday, click here to head on over to WPA.
Lovingston
Nelson County, VA
BRML broke the news about Alexis Murphy’s disappearance from several days ago, as well as breaking more details along the way. Tuesday another step in the process took place as Randy Allen Taylor, charged with abduction in that case was in a Nelson court to face a judge, have a lawyer appointed, another court date set, and continued denial of bail.
Below the verbatim statement from Nelson Commonwealth Attorney Anthony Martin on that appearence:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: August 13, 2013
RE: Alexis Murphy caseFROM: ANTHONY MARTIN, COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY
An advisement hearing for Randy Allen Taylor, who is charged with abduction in the Alexis Murphy case, was held this afternoon in the Nelson County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court.
Judge Kenneth W. Farrar appointed P. Scott DeBruin of Lynchburg, Virginia, to represent Taylor on the abduction charge. Taylor’s next appearance, a preliminary hearing, will be held in the Nelson County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court on January 9, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.
The preliminary hearing will only determine whether there is probable cause to send the case to the Nelson County Circuit Court Grand Jury for trial.
Taylor remains held without bail at this time.
View a complete timeline of our stories and coverage by clicking here.
Lovingston
Nelson County, VA
The FBI in Richmond and the Nelson County Sheriff’s Department have released a photo of a GMC Suburban that is associated with recently arrested Randy Taylor in the disappearance of Alexis Murphy. They are asking the public to call law enforcement if they have seen the vehicle around the time Alexis went missing.
Read the entire press release from FBI by clicking here.
Meanwhile the search for missing Alexis Murphy continues.
Entire Alexis Murphy story history here.
Lovingston
Nelson County, VA
Few new details were released during an 11:30 AM press conference held in Lovingston where Nelson Commonwealth Attorney Anthony Martin and FBI officials discussed the Sunday arrest of Randy Taylor in connection with the case.
You can read the entire contents of CA Martin’s press statement by clicking here.
The Nelson Sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information in this case to please contact them at: 434.253.7050
Richmond / Nelson County, VA
Our partners at CBS-19 have obtained the police mugshot from the Charlottesville / Albemarle County Regional Jail of the man arrested in connection the case of missing Alexis Murphy. According to CBS-19 reporter Chris Stover abduction suspect Randy Taylor has Weds court date in Nelson.
An 11:30 am press conference is scheduled for Monday at 11:30 AM. BRLM’s Yvette Stafford will be there.
Original story we broke at 6:47 PM Sunday 8.11.13
The FBI in Richmond has confirmed to BRLM this evening that an arrest has been made in the disappearence of Alexis Murphy. BRLM broke the story just after 6:45 PM Sunday night.
Public Relations Office, August 11, 2013 Media Coordinator: Dee Rybiski
Arrest Made in Alexis Murphy case
Commonwealth Attorney of Nelson County, Anthony Martin; Sheriff David Brooks, Nelson County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office; Colonel Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police; and Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Jeffrey Mazanec, Federal Bureau of Investigation announce an arrest in the Alexis Murphy investigation.
This evening, an individual was taken into custody and charged with Abduction in the disappearance of Alexis Tiara Murphy. This remains an on-going investigation and law enforcement continues to request the public’s assistance as they show pictures and conduct interviews and searches.
For the continuing advancement of this sensitive investigation, the suspect’s name is not being released at this time. Additional information will be released at the appropriate time.
WCAV CBS19 News:
“More, but limited, information in the Alexis Murphy case. Unidentified suspect has been arrested, but the FBI does not say that Alexis has been found at this point.”
Fishersville
Augusta County, VA
With schools heading back into session you know it’s county fair time across Virginia! The Augusta County Fair wraps up this weekend on Saturday night – August 10, 2013. Though this is the 18th annual Augusta County Fair as it’s known today, the original fair has roots all the way back to 1868 when the first fair was held in Augusta.
History via Augusta County Fair Web:
The traditional county fair has been a part of Augusta County history for more than 140 years. The initial effort to establish a county fair began in 1811 when the Augusta Agricultural Society was organized.
The war of 1812 forced the group to temporarily drop their plans and they did not regroup until after the Civil War. In January 1867, Delegate Baldwin succeeded in passing a bill incorporating the Augusta County Fair. The very first Augusta County Fair was held from October 27-29, 1868
In 1889, the name of the fair was changed to the Baldwin District Fair and again in 1911 to the Augusta Indoor Fair.1949-1992
From 1949 until 1953, the event was designated as the official State Fair of Virginia and expanded to one full week in length. In 1954 the State Fair of Virginia moved to its current location in Richmond. After the move, the local fair was re-named the Staunton-Augusta County Agricultural Fair.
In 1970, the assets and charter of the Augusta County Fair was purchased by a group of five investors which included Mr. Rex Spiece, Mr. Al Gore, and Mr. Ed Hammer, Mr. Elwood Simmons, and Mr. James Weaver. In 1971 the name of the fair was changed to the Greater Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Fair. Although not agricultural in emphasis, this fair is still in operation and held each year on the Eastside Speedway grounds on Rt. 340 in Dooms.
About this same time, another group of agricultural leaders and ruritan Club members in the County organized an effort to form a “agricultural fair” in Augusta county similar to those held in the past. The Augusta Agricultural and Industrial Exposition, or Augusta Expo as it is now known, opened on the grounds of the Wilson Elementary School near Fishersville in 1969. The initial Augusta Expo fair was held under tents for two years until it moved to its present 200 acre site in Tinkling Spring at the intersection of Interstate 64 and Rt. 608.
Augusta Expo sponsored an annual fair until 1992 when it was decided by the Board of Directors to cease having a county fair.1993 – present
In September, 1993 a letter was sent out from David Fiske, Agriculture Extension Agent to civic Groups and interested individuals concerning a meeting to discuss starting the Augusta County Fair as we know it today. As a result of this meeting the first Augusta County Fair opened on Wednesday, August 23, 1995.
The Fair in the year 2012 will be the 18th year for the Augusta County Fair as we know it today.”
See you at the 2014 Augusta County Fair. For more information here on over to their website by clicking here.
Near Lovingston
Nelson County, VA
Updated: 8.10.13 @4:55 PM Eastern
Contrary to public rumors swirling about, BRML has confirmed from two independent law enforcement sources that no cell phone has been found thus far in the missing Alexis Murphy case. Nelson County Sheriff David Brooks said early Saturday no phone has been found thus far. Later in the day the PR office with the Richmond FBI office told BRLM the sheriff’s information is correct.
BRLM had received reports that agents had supposedly located the phone on Friday afternoon. According to the information above, that is unforunded as of late Saturday afternoon.
Original post from 8.9.13 @ 8:16 PM
BRLM and numerous other news outlets including our media partners at CBS-19 continue getting calls and emails about a flurry of activity along Route 29 just north of Lovingston near Eades Lane. A long line of state and federal police cars are on the northbound shoulder. BRLM’s Yvette Stafford talked with two members of the Virginia State Police on the scene and they said the search was continuing.
“Other than the continuing search in that area, no breaking details have been discovered this evening,” Nelson County Sheriff David Brooks told BRLM Friday night.
History of the Alexis Murphy case by clicking here.
