Via the Newsplex Charlottesville: Our Media Partners at The Newsplex in Charlottesville posted this story on Tuesday.
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.
Photo Courtesy of Amber Drumheller : This recently awarded plaque to the Nelson Relay For Life is still looking for a permanent home.
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.
Above, the denial letter the local Nelson Relay chapter received after a request to place the plaque in the Nelson County Courthouse. Click on the image to view larger.
“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.
Arrest Photos: 71 Year Old Tracy Davis(left) and his wife 61 year old Joyce Davis, of Beech Grove have been convicted in a Nelson County court on several charges of animal cruelty. They will not serve any jail time as part of the sentencing.
Lovingston/Beech Grove
Nelson County, VA
Nelson Commonwealth Attorney Anthony Martin Discusses the convictions with our media partners at CBS-19. Click on player above to view.
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 ATTORNEY
David 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.
Vendors from all across the area were on hand with tons of locally grown food and other custom locally made products. Fresh mushrooms from AM Fog. Yummo!Deb Harkrader of Nelson County displays many of the custom hand made bowls she fashioned. Nelly Mae the cow may be MIA, but that didn't stop the market kickoff this past Saturday morning!Lee Diehl of Roseland shows off some of the delicious local mushrooms for sale this past weekend at the farmers market. Vendors line the lawn during opening day of the market this past Saturday. Some young basil this past weekend from the Nelson Farmers Market Coop in Nellysford. Lots of fresh produce starting to come in from Appalachia Star Farm, right here in Nelson!
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.
Devils Backbone Brewing Company brewmaster Jason Oliver accepts a Gold award for the brewery's Vienna Lager. Blue Mountain Brewery, of Afton, beer maker that took home a medal. (Photo courtesy: DBBC)
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.
[ 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.
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.
The event was described as a non-competitive dog walk to raise money for the fight against human cancer.Three Dog Night Company, a mobile grooming service, was on hand to make the doggies look just right!
Wintergreen
Nelson County, VA
A grueling 6-mile climb on a course with gradients reaching 14 percent. That’s how the James Beazell Wintergreen Ascent is described. The annual event is put on by Wintergreen Resort and the Charlottesville Racing Club. Cyclists made the ride to the top this past Sunday.
Chris Carey, in the junior category, starts off on the Wintergreen Ascent this past Sunday at Wintergreen Resort. A cyclist grinds his way past Founds Vision Overlook on his way to the finish line at Devils Knob. The Fat Frogs from Virginia Beach at this past weekend's Wintergreen Ascent.The race was coordinated on the lot of Devils Backbone Brewing in the valley and ended at Devil's Knob.
![[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")
