Via Wunderground.com: A current satellite view of Hurricane Sandy as she makes her way toward the coast of Virginia and points north.
Nelson County, Virginia
Everyone is wondering what Hurricane Sandy will do over the coming days as she spins northward along the eastern seaboard of the US. Friday, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, issued a state of emergency for the entire state in preparation of Sandy. Friday afternoon weather models showed Sandy to make landfall Monday into Tuesday somewhere near the Delmarva. Other Friday models show that shifting a bit north, better news for Central Virginians.
Via Wunderground.com : Sandy's current position and 5 day projections.
Regardless, the Central Virginia Blue Ridge will see some effects from the storm. Primarily gusty winds, and possible heavy rains Sunday night into Monday. There’s also the possibility of some snow in the highest of elevations, especially in Western Virginia and Eastern West Virginia.
Tommy will be keeping up with the storm over the weekend and updating as necessary.
™2012 Blue Ridge Life : Photos By BRL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : The Nelson County High School Classes of 1962-1966 met this past weekend as part of their reunion. The class of 1962 was honored recently for their 50th year since graduating from NCHS.
Lovingston
Nelson County, VA
50 Years ago students with the NCHS Class of 1962 graduated. 5 decades later this past weekend they got back together to remember on their time there. “The Nelson County High School Classes of 1962-1966 have held a joint class reunion for the past several years and from that we have been able to fund a scholarship each year to a NCHS student in memory of Catherine Whitehead, who was our guidance counselor,” said Dolores Saunders Hill
Mary Catherine Flythe and Jim Garwood happily conversing at the NCHS 1962 Class Reunion
Congrats on 50 years!
Additional pictures are accessible at Paul Purpura’s web-site (www.photographybypaulpurpura.zenfolio.com). When Paul’s home page comes up, place your mouse over “Portfolios” in the lower left and a sub-menu listing accessible portfolios will pop up.
™2012 Blue Ridge Life : Photos By BRL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : People enjoyed themselves listenting to music at the Walton's Mountain Museum 20th Anniversary this past weekend - October 20, 2012
Schuyler
Nelson County, VA
Additional pictures are accessible at Paul Purpura’s web-site (www.photographybypaulpurpura.zenfolio.com). When Paul’s home page comes up, place your mouse over “Portfolios” in the lower left and a sub-menu listing accessible portfolios will pop up.
Though not part of the actual museum itself, folks packed the old Hamner home place just down the street to get a chance to see where Earl Hamner (John Boy) grew up. Above Earl's real life sister Audrey Hamner, from near Roanoke, chats with a fan in Schuyler this past Saturday - October 20, 2012. Vintage era cars and trucks were parked outside the museum during the 20th Anniversary of The Waltons Mountain Museum in Schuyler, VA Live music was part of the 20th anniversary celebration this past weekend at Waltons Mountain Museum in Schuyler, VA
Congrats Waltons Mountain Museum on 20 wonderful years!
™Blue Ridge Life : Photos By Blue Ridge Life Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : Brian Kidd with Flippen-Seaman Orchards in Tyro pours hot apple butter taken from the cauldron into bottles for sale this past Saturday - October 20, 2012 as part of their annual apple butter making festival.
Kids & adults picked pumpkins this past weekend at Flippin-Seaman's Apple Butter Festival on Saturday 10.20.12Apples aplenty at the Flippin Seaman Apple Butter Festival.Candied Apples, always a treat, at the Flippin Seaman Apple Butter Festival(Left) Brian Kidd stirs a cauldron full of apple butter at the Flippin Seaman Apple Butter Festival
™2012 BLue Ridge Life : Photos By Blue Ridge Life Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : Wide Receiver Virgil Glass (#18) is tackled by an Governor defensive lineman when the NCHS Govs played the Gretna Hawks on Friday night 10.19.12.
For more looks or to purchase photos of Last Friday night’s game, head on over to Paul Purpura’s web-site:www.photographybypaulpurpura.zenfolio.comWhen Paul’s home page comes up, place your mouse over “Portfolios” in the lower left and a sub-menu listing accessible portfolios will pop up.
On a night that honored one of the greatest teams in Nelson’s long gridiron history- the 1961 Seminole District champions – this year’s Governors hoped some of the championship mojo would rub off. If did, it wasn’t nearly enough.
The team entered this week knowing that they would need to open up their offense if they were going to beat the Gretna Hawks for the first time 2002. But while the Govs did manage their most successful effort of the season passing the ball, it wasn’t nearly enough to overcome some familiar problem areas, and Gretna walked away with a 48-8 win Friday night.
Looking to catch the Hawks off guard, Nelson opened the game with usual starting quarterback Tyler Vest at split end, Coby Etchison at QB, and Doug Taylor and Devonte Turner at running back. It was apparent early on that the run-oriented Governors would be passing more than usual, a game plan which stayed in place even after Etchison left the game with an injury and Vest slid back to his accustomed spot. However, while Vest went on to have his best night of the season throwing the ball (8 of 11, 138 yards), the Govs were eventually undone by two season-long problems: poor tackling and a failure to finish off drives.
The Nelson County High School Marching Band marches onto the field prior to the start of the game when the NCHS Governors played the Gretna Hawks - Friday : 10.19.12
Gretna quarterback Dyon Rosser was a one man wrecking crew for the Hawks (3-1 in the Dogwood, 6-2 overall), throwing for two touchdowns, rushing for three, and returning a punt for a touchdown. Several of his touchdowns game after breaking free of multiple Gov tacklers.
“We’ve got to get people on the ground when we’re in a position to make tackles” said Nelson Coach Mark Wells. “And on offense, we’re just leaving too many points on the field. We need to finish drives.”
Now 0-4, 2-6, the Govs travel to William Campbell next Friday night.
Roseland
Nelson County, VA Updated 10.19.12 9pm EDT
VA State Police Releases Additional Info On Roseland Glider/Plane Crash:
NELSON CO. – A Staunton man is recovering tonight after being involved in a minor plane crash Saturday afternoon (Oct. 20, 2012). Virginia State Police Trooper E.D. Everhart responded to the scene of the crash that occurred at 1:45 p.m. in a field along Route 151, less than a mile south of Route 623 in the Roseland community of Nelson County.
A single-engine Piper aircraft was in the process of taking off with a Genesis 2 glider in tow. As they proceeded down the field, the glider attempted to align itself with the Piper for takeoff but caught its wing on the ground. The glider then overturned.
The tow rope disengaged, and the Piper circled back around and landed without any problem.
The glider’s pilot, Presley W. Moore, III, 46, of Staunton, was transported by ambulance to Augusta Medical Center for treatment of serious, but non-life threatening injuries.
Original Post
The pilot of a small glider aircraft that was attempting takeoff from a field in Roseland has been transported to Augusta Medical Center after crashing. His injuries do not appear to be severe or life threatening. “He was just getting off the ground being towed and then his wings started waving or sort of oscillating,” one witness told NCL. The accident occurred on a grass landing strip used frequently for gliders flying in the area.
Several area rescue squads made the scene to assit. It took a considerable amount of time for some authorities to arrive due to some confusion as to where the exact locations was. Off in the distance the tow plane can been seen parked at the end of the grass strip. Nelson County deputies start putting tape around the scene until the FAA arrives to inspect the crash.
The glider that crashed comes back registered to a Roseland pilot.
We’ll update the story when we have more information.
Photo Courtesy of Curtis Sheets WPOA: An 80 foot scaffolding is part of the ongoing construction of a 5 million gallon water tank at Wintergreen Resort that will double the snowmaking capacity during ski season.
Our October 2012 article on the expansion at Wintergreen Resort which will increase snowmaking capacity. Click on the magazine image above to read that story now.
With the new construction of the water tank the resort says they will be able to dramatically speed up getting into action for the upcoming 2012-2013 ski season. “Once we start getting routinely below-freezing nights, we’ll be able to open up new terrain at TWICE the rate we have every year in the past,” Wintergreen posted on their Facebook site Friday.
Photo By Mie Anderson : NCHS JV Volleyball Coach Toni Donigan (center front) joins hands with her team. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The team is showing support for their coach who was diagnosed with breast cancer back in the spring of 2012. Petroleum Helicopters Inc (AirCare5) is supporting the cause by by distributing lapel pins, t-shifts and information cards.
Lovingston
Nelson County, VA
“I really like this group girls. I have been blessed by the Lord and coaching has helped me get through this season of my life,” that’s how Nelson County High’s Junior Varsity Volleyball Coach, Toni Donigan, sums up her last several months. Back in the spring of this year she found out that she had breast cancer. She underwent major surgery to remove the cancer. The girls volleyball team was very concerned for her Coach Donigan’s health. They weren’t sure she would able to physically return to coach their team for the season. To their surprise Coach Donigan not only returned, she didn’t miss a practice. “She’s like our mom,” one of the team members remarked.
Coach Donigan and the team are flanked by flight crew members of PHI / AirCare5 based at Weyer's Cave, who support health initiatives each month such as Breast Cancer Awareness. Besty Smith (far right) a flight nurse and area manager with PHI has a sophomore daughter, Kaleigh, that plays on the JV volleyball team.
Every October the girls JV and Varsity Volleyball team wear a variety of pink items to promote Breast Cancer awareness but this meant even more because Coach Donigan was personally affected. PHI AirCare 5 showed their support by donating pink Breast Cancer awareness t-shirts to the entire team and coaching staff. Tuesday the team wore the t-shirts to school, during their pre-game warm up session, and after the game to honor Coach Donigan.
Sweet victory! The Nelson JV Volleyball team also won earlier this week against Altavista, a team they lost to earlier in the season. That made the week honoring Coach Donigan even more memorable.
Coach Donigan has one more surgery after the volleyball season ends. She’s been told she is cancer free!
Way to go team and congrats to Coach Donigan on a good report!
Arrington
Nelson County, VA
For over a half century the Nelson County Chamber Of Commerce has been representing area businesses. This past Tuesday they held their annual banquet to recognize business members. Nelson County businesses that have served the community for at least 50 years and met at least two of the following three additional criteria were eligible for the Golden Circle Award, same name; same location; and ownership within the same family.
Joe Lee McClellan of Joe Lee McClellan, Inc. receiving his Golden Circle Award from outgoing President Jerry Gress at the Nelson County Chamber of Commerce 57th Annual Chamber Banquet.
The following Golden Circle Award recipients will received recognition and an honorary plaque at this year’s Chamber of Commerce annual dinner held on October 16, 2012:
Alberene Soapstone Company
Ashley’s Market
Central Virginia Electric Cooperative
George R. Criswell, DDS
Dickie Bros. Orchard
Drumheller’s Orchard
Flippin-Seaman, Inc.
Joe Lee McClellan, Inc.
Montebello Resort
Payne’s Garage, Inc.
B. T. Ramsey & Sons, Inc.
Saunders Brothers, Inc.
Shady’s Place, Inc.
Silver Creek Orchards
Wells Sheffield Funeral Chapel, Inc.
Williams Store
Chamber of Commerce members enjoying a dinner of Broiled Bay scallops or Roast Pork Loin, along with assorted vegetables and deserts at the Nelson County Chamber of Commerce 57th Annual Chamber Banquet.Aaron Laufer & Tripp Stewart from Alberene Soapstone Company in Schuyler chat with Julia Rogers of Rogers CPA in Nellysford, at the Nelson County Chamber of Commerce 57th Annual Chamber Banquet.
According to the Nelson Chamber, one of the businesses traced its beginning to the 1750s and many others date back to the late 1800s. Collectively, they have over 1500 years of providing goods and services to the citizens of Nelson County and employment to their friends, neighbors and family members.
The Nelson County Chamber of Commerce has been serving the region since 1955.
Piney River
Nelson County, VA
Back in April of 2012 we told you about Dale Plummer and his ambitious project of restoring and reopening what was once known as Campbell’s Grocery in Piney River.
Above our April 2012 story (written by Jennie Williams and shot by photographer Hayley Osborne) when Dale Plummer was just getting into the renovation of the old store in Piney River. Click on the magazine image above to read that story.
In just a few days Dale will reopen the store that has a nearly 100 year old history. “We’ll be opening it as Campbell’s General Store. We might be ready to open as soon as this coming weekend. If not, certainly within a few days of that.” Dale says the store was in the Campbell family for about 75 years. Around 2000 Eddie Seaman operated the store for four years. Dale then bought the property in 2004, did some remodeling, and leased it to someone who briefly operated it as the Pinery River General Store. After shutting down after just 9 months the building remained empty until now.
On Monday of this week when we were there, vendors were busy stocking shelves and contractors were busy putting finishing touches on some of the last remaining things to be done. Dale had originally hoped to open back in May, but many delays over the summer months prevented that.
One of the many vendors on hand this past Monday - October 14, 2012 at the soon to open Campbell''s General Store in Piney River. Shannon Mays checks inventory in the extensive plumbing and electrical isles at the soon to open Campbell's General Store.
Dale says the store will have just about anything a person will need and hopes to eliminate long drives for his customers. “I have built seven houses out in this area and let me tell you, it’s no fun having to drive an hour or so away to pickup something needed on the job.” With a large selection of hardware, paint, windows and more, Dale hopes he can keeps trips like those to a minimum for his customers.
In addition to being heavy on the hardware and home improvement items, the store stocks a wide variety of household goods and food items. New gas pumps were just put in place at the soon to open grocery. Finishing touches were being put on a large covered porch outside where picnic tables will be placed for customers that want to eat outside.
Dale says they will open as soon as possible (within a few days) but a large grand opening will be held in the next few weeks to officially kick off the opening.
