Central Virginia
Summer is still a few weeks away, but temperatures will begin feeling very summer like by mid week and easily reach the 90’s by late week across much of the area. As a matter of fact, by mid week and beyond it looks like warmer, even hotter, weather will be here to stay for the foreseeable future.
The graphic above via NWS Blacksburg, VA shows plenty of hot weather breaking out later in the week.
Summer officially begins on June 21st.
Wintergreen
Nelson County, VA
Picture perfect, the only way you could describe Memorial Day weekend 2013. After weeks and weeks of rain and cold temperatures the weather finally broke with plenty of sunshine and mild temps.
Rockingham County, VA
Via VSP Media Relations – Richmond
The Virginia State Police are investigating the shooting into an occupied vehicle that resulted in the wounding of a tractor-trailer driver.
The incident occurred on May 25, 2013, at approximately 12:30 AM on Interstate 81 southbound at around the 245 mile marker in Rockingham County. The incident appears to have been the result of a road rage incident between the tractor-trailer driver and the driver of a passenger vehicle. The tractor trailer was southbound in the left lane when the driver of the passenger vehicle shot into the passenger side of the tractor trailer. The bullet went through the tractor trailer’s passenger door and struck the driver the right leg. The tractor trailer driver attempted to follow the passenger vehicle but lost it in traffic as they entered Augusta County. The tractor trailer driver pulled into the rest area located at the 232 mile marker and reported the incident to the Virginia State Police. The passenger vehicle was last seen continuing southbound on I-81 and is described as a Chrysler PT Cruiser or Chevrolet HHR type vehicle blue in color.
The driver of the tractor trailer a 43 year old male from Arizona was taken to Augusta Health Center for medical treatment with what was described as non life threating injuries.
Trooper D. M. Fisher of the Virginia State Police is the investigating trooper of this case. Anyone who has any information about this incident is asked to contact the Virginia State Police at (540) 829-7771.
Charlottesville
Albemarle County, VA
We’ve been telling you about Nelson County native Sally Rose for years in stories and posts like this during her Richmond television debut back in 2010. Later that year she released her first album Heat Lightning in December 2010.
Now with a new band, and a soon to be released EP album number two called, Oh My Stars on the way, she took the stage at The Jefferson Theater Friday night – May 24, 2013 for the first time ever, The Sally Rose Band opened for the Chamomile & Whiskey CD Release Party. That band too has a strong Nelson native presence.
Be looking for lots more about Sally’s new release in the upcoming June issue of Blue Ridge Life Magazine.
View Route 151 Amherst Road Closure in a larger map
The general area affected by the 151 accident.
Amherst County, VA
According to this story by WDBJ-7 in Roanoke, the roadway was reopened by early afternoon on Wednesday – May 23, 2013.
Original post from 9:09 am – 5.23.13
Via VDOT Lynchburg:
Route 151 in the Clifford area of Amherst County is closed due to a tractor-trailer incident and motorists are urged to use alternate routes.
Emergency response crews are on the scene and a detour is being established.
A detour has been established on Route 151 near Route 610, Fletchers Level Road in Amherst County due to an incident involving a tractor-trailer.
Northbound traffic is being detoured onto Route 610, then US 29, followed by VA 56 and back to Route 151. Southbound traffic is being detoured onto Route 665, then to Route 778, followed by US 60 and onto US 29.
Law enforcement, emergency response and hazmat crews are on the scene.
There is no timeframe currently for the reopening of the roadway and no further details are available.
Near Lewisburg, WV
Back in 2010, Merideth Young of Heards Mountain in Western Albemarle County knew it was time to leave the mountains, for awhile, and head for the sandy beach. “I moved to OBX (Outer Banks, NC) for a almost a year then family health problems brought me to WV outside Lewisburg in a tiny no name town….so unimportant that is unincorporated,” Merideth laughs from the porch of her home in West Virginia. Most people back in Central Virginia and Wintergreen remember Merideth as the owner of then Black Rock Gallery inside The Mountain Inn at Wintergreen Resort. Before leaving the area she was at Devil’s Backbone Brewing and was well known as the traveling artist with her work seen all over.
“It all started in NC at food lion while walking through the soda isle….a cool turquoise and pink in color…an iced tea can. I started selling my earrings at a small gallery I worked at in Corolla, NC. They took off. Then I moved. Some people would raise an eyebrow at living in West Virginia but I would I beg to differ. The cost of living is less, beautiful mountains like in Nelson Co. and entertainment. All jokes aside I’ve lived here before but was to young to appreciate it and ran as far away as possible…to Colorado. This time is a better time now that I’m older I’ve adopted a more simple lifestyle.”
“The good thing about West Virginia is they have an appreciation for the arts. When I lived here in the mid 90’s they built a rest area off of 64 that was a huge giftshop featuring West Virginia artists. It was a hit! A real boost for the economy and it provided a nice income for people that might not have a chance to get their art out of their rural hollow and into the world. It’s called Tamarack. When I came back I approached them with my trash turned into treasure and they bought it. Tamarack also chose me to participate in a Rosen show. If your an artist then you know what I’m talking about. It’s a wholesale show in Philidelphia, that is top notch. One more thing crossed off my bucket list. I always wanted to do a real wholesale show but couldn’t because my focus was on Black Rock Gallery. It’s funny, when I had the shop my focus was on what sells. For me and my artists. I as an artist would create stuff that would sell rather then what came from my heart,” Merideth continues.
“Since begining this venture in February of 2011 and 2 wholesale trade shows later I have my jewelry in 57 galleries, museums and shops from Maine to California carrying my work. I miss Nelson County, it’s peeps and Wintergreen, but I must say visually West Virginia is pretty close and my view off my porch is a ten. Life changes, better hold on cause you never know what’s gonna happen.”
Well said Merideth!
You can learn more about what Merideth’s doing these days and view more of her unique jewelry by heading on over to Merideth Young’s Upcycled Aluminum Can Jewelry page on Facebook.
Near Pastures
Augusta County, VA
The VSP media relations office in Richmond updated this information on Thursday afternoon around 3:45 PM:
AUGUSTA CO. – Virginia State Police is continuing its investigation into an explosive device that damaged a passing vehicle early Thursday morning (May 16, 2013) in the community of Pastures in Augusta County.
At 4:45 a.m., the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene after receiving a 911 call about an incident involving a vehicle in the 200 block of Miss Phillips Road. When deputies arrived on scene they found a 2004 Toyota pickup truck with significant damage to its right front side. An explosive device lying alongside the road had detonated. The driver, a 61-year-old Staunton man, was not injured.
The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Appomattox Field Office, with the assistance of the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office, ATF and FBI, is currently investigating the incident and following up on various leads. If anyone has information about this incident, then please contact the Virginia State Police at 434-352-7128.
By 1 p.m., the scene was cleared and Miss Phillips Road re-opened to all traffic.
AUGUSTA CO. – Virginia State Police and the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office are on the scene of what appears to be a minor explosion that occurred early Thursday morning (May 16, 2013) in the community of Pastures in Augusta County.
At 4:45 a.m., the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene after receiving a 911 call about an incident involving a vehicle in the 200 block of Miss Phillips Road. When deputies arrived on scene they found a pickup truck with significant damage to its front side. The driver, a 61-year-old Staunton man, was not injured.
The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Appomattox Field Office is currently at the scene with a bomb technician and explosives detection canine. At this stage of the investigation, it appears the damage to the vehicle was caused by a type of explosive device.
Miss Phillips Road will be closed at Hebron Road to through traffic for the next few hours as the investigation continues.
Afton Mountain
Augusta / Albemarle County, VA
Work began again early Monday morning on a stretch of I-64 on Afton Mountain to perform emergency repairs on the mountainside in that area. VDOT is highly encouraging drivers to take Route 250 as an alternate. For the first day back on the job after the heavy rains last week, backups were very, very significant.
“Traffic is crazy. It was a mile long wait this morning trying to get on 250 from 151. Average speed on I64 was about 50.” Nicole Small Garrison told us on our BRLM Facebook page around 8AM Monday. “The worst traffic back ups ive seen in along time,” Caitlin Christian Kennedy added on our Facebook page.
VDOT’s official notice from their website Monday morning:
I-64E at MM 100.3
Description:
On I-64 in the County of Albemarle at mile marker 100.3, motorists can expect potential delays in this area from 05/13/13 at 6:30 AM until 05/13/13 at 8:00 PM due to roadside maintenance. The east right shoulder is closed.
On I-64 eastbound and westbound in Albemarle County, motorists should expect delays due to road construction. There will be temporary stoppages throughout the day. Passenger vehicles should exit I-64 at Exit 107 onto US-250 westbound and follow I-64 signs to re-enter at Exit 96(Delphine Avenue). Truck traffic should remain on I-64 westbound in the left lane through the work zone. Motorists should expect delays as they approach the are
The work is expected to continue all week long with rotating 45 minute closures throughout the day as work progresses.
CBS-19 has more in their story by clicking here.
Winter Weather Statement
Statement as of 8:01 AM EDT on May 14, 2013
…Frost advisory has expired…
Temperatures will quickly warm into the 40s and 50s this morning.
FROST/FREEZE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE TONIGHT AND EARLY TUESDAY
URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
315 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2013
NELSON-ALBEMARLE-GREENE-MADISON-RAPPAHANNOCK-LOUDOUN-ORANGE-
CULPEPER-NORTHERN FAUQUIER-SOUTHERN FAUQUIER-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…CHARLOTTESVILLE…WASHINGTON…
LEESBURG…CULPEPER…WARRENTON
315 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2013
…FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM EDT TUESDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS
ISSUED A FROST ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM
EDT TUESDAY.
* TEMPERATURES…MIDDLE 30S EARLY TUESDAY MORNING.
* IMPACTS…POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO UNPROTECTED COLD-SENSITIVE
VEGETATION.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A FROST ADVISORY MEANS THAT FROST IS POSSIBLE. SENSITIVE OUTDOOR
PLANTS MAY BE KILLED IF LEFT UNCOVERED.
URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
400 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2013
…FROST/FREEZE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE TONIGHT AND EARLY TUESDAY…
.AS COLD HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES OVER THE REGION…WE WILL HAVE THE
POTENTIAL AGAIN FOR AREAS WITH LOW TEMPERATURES AT OR BELOW
FREEZING…AND SOME AREAS WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 30S WITH
FROST.
VAZ034-035-045>047-059-140400-
/O.NEW.KRNK.FR.Y.0002.130514T0700Z-130514T1300Z/
BEDFORD-AMHERST-CAMPBELL-APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-CHARLOTTE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…BEDFORD…AMHERST…LYNCHBURG…
APPOMATTOX…KEYSVILLE
400 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2013
…FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EDT TUESDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A FROST
ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EDT TUESDAY.
* LOCATIONS… AREAS NORTH OF THE ROANOKE RIVER VALLEY AND EAST
OF ROUGHLY LEXINGTON TO BEDFORD.
* HAZARDS…AREAS OF FROST
* TEMPERATURES…IN THE MID 30S.
* TIMING…PRIMARILY 500 AM TO 800 AM.
* IMPACTS…SENSITIVE PLANTS MAY BE DAMAGED OR KILLED.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A FROST ADVISORY MEANS THAT FROST IS POSSIBLE. SENSITIVE OUTDOOR
PLANTS MAY BE KILLED IF LEFT UNCOVERED.
Waynesboro
Augusta County, VA
As far as the eye could see, autos from every category and every time period were on display this past Saturday – May 11, 2013 at the Waynesboro Motorsports Show. Our Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura headed over to grab some fantastic shots of some really pretty cars, and trucks! The annual show is part of the Waynesboro Downtown Development.
Here’s the winners:
Best In Show Cars
Bill Horn, Stuarts Draft
2012 Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500
Valley Mustangs UnlimitedBest In Show Trucks
Robert & Susan Gray, Waynesboro
1929 Model A Ford
Skyline Model A ClubBest In Show Motorcycles
Rudy & Susie Landis, Waynesboro
2008 Honda GoldwingCelebrity’s Choice
Donnie Sweet & Linda Lipscomb, Stuarts Draft
1970 Plymouth Roadrunner
Shenandoah Valley Mopar Club
