Waynesboro
Augusta County, VA
NCL Mountain Photographer headed west this past weekend to grab some shots at the Waynesboro Motor Sports Show in Augusta County. And there were some very nice cars on display indeed.
Click here to see the winners in the 2012 show.
The event is held annually around this time of year.
Lovingston/Afton
Nelson County, VA
Library service is important to many Nelson County residents. Monday, May 21 the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library will hold its monthly meeting at the Rockfish Valley Community Center giving Nelson residents a chance to ask questions and air concerns about library service in Nelson and the entire JMRL system. The board meeting will be preceded by a 45 minute lunchtime presentation highlighting the JMRL website and the use of its many databases. The databases include, among others, news, health, finance and genealogical research databases.
Mary Coy, a recent appointee to the library board’s advocacy committee, arranged for the JMRL board to meet in Nelson in order to increase awareness of the library and all it has to offer to the Nelson County community. “Many of us use the library website from home to place holds on books or search the catalogue but we have no idea of how much more there is on the website and, therefore, accessible from our homes,” says Coy. She encourages attendees to bring their computers to the noon presentation for a hands-on information experience.
The presentation begins at 12 noon and the board meeting will follow at 1pm. The Rockfish Valley Community Center is located on Rockfish School Lane in Nellysford. For more information, contact RVCC at 361-1000 or Nelson trustee to the JMRL board, Mary Coy at 263-8802.
Wintergreen
Nelson County, VA
Verbatim By Newsplex & CBS-19
May 8, 2012
Wintergreen Resort officials are considering several options to improve the resort’s financial security, including selling all or part of the property.
Other options include a joint venture with another entity and recapitalizing Wintergreen’s balance sheet.
The Nelson County Times (http://bit.ly/yrRPh4) reports that vice president and chief financial officer Rob Sullivan described possible steps that could be taken in a statement released Monday.
The resort encountered financial problems earlier this year because of a mild winter, the loss of its $3 million line of credit with Bank of America and a tax credit dispute with the state.
Wintergreen asked its members for help and sent renewal notices for 2013 about four months earlier than usual. Sullivan says that effort raised about $4.1 million.
The resort also settled the tax credit dispute.
By Jennie T. Williams
Lovingtson
Nelson County, VA
Saturday (May 5) marked the 4th annual Nelson County Relay For Life, an event so well-known and well-respected in Nelson County, that last year, the community raised more than $127,000 and earned the recognition of one of the top ten fundraising communities nationwide (per capita). In recognition of that honor, the American Cancer Society presented the Nelson County Relay For Life organizing team with three plaques (one large and two small).
“We were extremely thrilled,” said this year’s Event Chair, Amber Drumheller, a Lovingston Attorney. “We knew we raised a lot of money last year, but we had no idea it would get a national award.” This year the totals are still coming in.
It included 483 Participants, 33 Teams, and $102,789 raised with more donations being added daily according to the organization’s local web page.
She said that the reason Nelson does so well in support of the American Cancer Society and the Relay For Life is simply because of the tight-knit community.
“I think we do really well because we are a small community,” she said. “Through word of mouth, people can incorporate their friends and family and coworkers. Since we are such a small community, everyone wants to come together to support a common goal. Everybody’s been touched by cancer in some way – everybody knows somebody who’s been struck by cancer.”
Amber and the rest of the committee felt that because the community earned the plaques, the plaques should be placed in the community. One of the small plaques is currently being showcased at the Blue Ridge Medical Center, and other small one is currently still looking for a home, as is the large one. The Committee thought the largest plaque might be best suited in a community-owned location – like the County Courthouse. But they were surprised to be denied the chance to display it there.
“We were disappointed and frustrated,” said Amber, who, as an attorney, is in the courthouse frequently. “We do want all the citizens of Nelson to know how successful our community has been. I was expecting them to say yes.”
While the County Board of Supervisors denied the request, County Administrator Stephen Carter insisted that it was in no way a decision made with the intention to discredit the Relay For Life’s accomplishments.
“Certainly the County recognizes how great an honor this is and how great a job they did,” said Stephen, who mentioned there is no official policy about showcasing awards in the County Courthouse. “The board just thought [the plaque] should be somewhere else other than the Courthouse.”
He suggested perhaps the Nelson Center, and added that he and his family have participated in the Relay For Life for several years.
The Relay For Life is a free community event held annually. For more information, please visit www.RelayForLife.org/nelson.
Lovingston/Beech Grove
Nelson County, VA
The following press release was received from CA Anthony Martin’s office regarding the disposition of this case. Original story here. The release has been posted verbatim:
Update: 5.8.12 4PM EDT
CA Martin also added the follwing information to the original release:
Mr. Davis pleaded guilty to 4 felony charges this afternoon in the Nelson County Circuit Court for possessing a firearm during the sale, distribution or manufacturing of illegal alcohol. He received 5 years in prison on each charge for total of 20 years all suspended except for 90 days. He will begin serving his 90 day jail sentence on May 24, 2012. After his release, he will be on probation for 10 years and all firearms seized are forfeited to the Commonwealth.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: May 8, 2012
RE: Roseland couple convicted of animal cruelty
FROM: ANTHONY MARTIN, COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEYDavid Tracy Davis and Joyce Davis of Roseland were found guilty of animal cruelty yesterday in the Nelson County General District Court by Retired Judge Steve Helvin of Charlottesville.
Both were charged with approximately 30 counts of animal cruelty last November after authorities obtained a search warrant following an investigation by the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control board. Authorities observed that many of the dogs were dehydrated and had inadequate shelter. Dr. Rachel Touroo of the State Veterinary office in Richmond was at the Rooster Ridge property during the execution of the search warrant. She provided expert testimony in the day-long trial approximately 2 months ago. She testified that virtually none of the dogs had clean water and several had tumors, one of which was the size of a softball.
One of the dogs, a Pomeranian that stayed in the house with the Davises, had missing teeth and suffered from an infection which could be seen and smelled by authorities when they entered the home last November. Authorities also testified that they saw no dog food on the premises.
Judge Helvin announced his decision yesterday. David Tracy Davis was found guilty of 14 counts of animal cruelty while Joyce Davis was convicted of 15 counts. Helvin stated that while there was no actual abuse of these animals, there was neglect of many of them.
After the Commonwealth’s Attorney Anthony Martin requested active jail time for the couple, Helvin recalled testimony from Sandy Solar of Nelson County Animal Control, who testified for the Davises in the trial, that she did not observe any signs of neglect when she visited the property earlier in 2011. While Helvin expressed concern about the vast difference between Solar’s and Dr. Touroo’s observations, he decided that he would not impose active jail time since animal control did not see any problems.
Both defendants were sentenced to 60 days in jail suspended on each charge. They are also prohibited from owning any companion animals or livestock for a period of 2 years. Photographs of the animals introduced in the trial have been kept in the court records.
Nellysford
Nelson County, VA
In spite of the ongoing Nelly May saga we have been talking about recently, the 2012 Nelson Farmer Market Coop in Nellysford kicked into gear this past Saturday morning. NCL Valley Photographer Hayley Osborne was there grabbing some of the shots!
It only gets better as the weather gets warmer! More and more fresh, local produce, meats, and more available at the market all summer long into October.
See you there!
Devils Backbone Brewing Co. and Blue Mountain Brewery are bringing back medals awarded to them at this year’s World Beer Cup in San Diego. Devils Backbone is bringing home a Gold for its Vienna Lager in the Vienna-Style Lager category. Blue Mountain is bringing back a Silver in the American-Belgo-Style Ale category for its Blue Reserve, a brew that took home a Silver at the Great American Beer Festival last year and is made with a “high proportion of the hops grown onsite” at the brewery, according to brewmaster Taylor Smack.
799 breweries representing 54 countries entered 3,921 beers for blind judging by an international panel of 211 judges from 27 different countries. Cheers to all of them, but double cheers to the Nelson County guys!
Update: The victim in Friday’s wreck has been identified and details regarding the accident are emerging.
***
Virginia State Police are investigating an accident in Lovingston this afternoon that killed one person. Local rescue units responded to a wreck on US 29 South at the traffic light at the Food Lion shopping center involving two cars and a tractor trailer, according to Nelson County Sheriff David Brooks. Traffic is being diverted to the passing lane as crews work to clear the scene; expect delays.
![[Nelly] May Day sighting excites, frustrates, locals](https://blueridgelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0165.jpg "[Nelly] May Day sighting excites, frustrates, locals")
[ Greenfield, VA ] In what appears to have been a false flag (Nelly) May Day event, early morning reports of sightings of the missing Nelson Farmers’ Market mascot turned out to be bull. As in, Bull Sheetz.
Reports began trickling in Monday before 8 A.M. of Nelly May sightings at Ashley’s Market, the southbound lane of Route 151 near Tuckahoe Antique Mall, and Wintergreen Hardware. Later in the day, we spotted the Nelly May look-alike standing near Hickman’s Grocery in Beech Grove. Apparently Sheetz the Bull is quite upset over Nelly May’s disappearance.
Hickman’s Grocery owner, Andy Hickman, had already left for the day when we entered his store. Perhaps, he too, is looking for some Nelly May.
Lovingston
Nelson County, VA
People, with K9’s in tow made it over to the Bark For Life event this past weekend in Lovingston. It was being held at Drumhellers Orchard as part of a fundraiser leading up the the Nelson Relay For Life this coming weekend on May 5th.
