Photos Courtesy of Henri & Elaine Weems : Volunteers spent Saturday removing the drop ceiling in the auditorium at the Rockfish Valley Community Center. The removal will reveal the old windows that have been hidden for years.
Afton
Nelson County, VA
For years the old style original windows in the auditorium/gymnasium of the Rockfish Valley Community Center have been hidden away behind a false ceiling that was put in several years back. This past Saturday volunteers started peeling away that drop ceiling to bring the decades old school back to its original state. Last September work was started to bring the old windows back to more of their historic state.
In the upper left of this shot you can see the contrast where part of the drop ceiling has been removed revealing the original gymnasium windows behind it.
Over the coming months more work will be underway to restore what was the old elementary school back to its more historic state. Numerous recent concerts held in the RVCC auditorium have been big successes. We are told to be expecting lots more in the coming months!
The stage in the auditorium at RVCC was used as a temporary storage area to stack insulation removed from above the drop ceiling.
Can’t wait to see what it looks like when it is all done!
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Statement as of 8:04 PM EDT on March 24, 2012
The National Weather Service has cancelled Severe Thunderstorm
Watch 107 for the following areas
In Virginia this cancels 5 counties
In central Virginia
Albemarle Nelson
In western Virginia
Augusta Highland Rockingham
In West Virginia this cancels 1 County
In northeast West Virginia
Pendleton
In Virginia this cancels 4 independent cities
In central Virginia
Charlottesville
In northwest Virginia
City of Harrisonburg
In western Virginia
City of Staunton City of Waynesboro
This includes the cities of…Charlottesville…Franklin…
Greenfield…Harrisonburg…Monterey…Staunton and Waynesboro.
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 107
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
305 PM EDT SAT MAR 24 2012
THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
WESTERN VIRGINIA
SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA
EFFECTIVE THIS SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 305 PM UNTIL
1000 PM EDT.
HAIL TO 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER…THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70
MPH…AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 55
STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 30 MILES NORTH
NORTHWEST OF BECKLEY WEST VIRGINIA TO 20 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF
STAUNTON VIRGINIA. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE
ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU7).
REMEMBER…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY
DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 104…WW 105…WW 106…
DISCUSSION…VIGOROUS TSTM DEVELOPMENT WAS OCCURRING NEAR A SURFACE
LOW AND INVERTED SURFACE TROUGH MOVING ACROSS THE APPALACHIANS THIS
AFTERNOON. MOIST AIRMASS AND SURFACE HEATING HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO
MODEST AIRMASS DESTABILIZATION AS LARGE UPPER LOW MOVES EAST FROM
KY/OH. STORM COVERAGE SHOULD BE FURTHER ENHANCED BY ASCENT
WITHIN/BENEATH EXIT REGION OF STRONG CYCLONICALLY CURVED UPPER JET
NOW MOVING INTO THE REGION. SHEAR WILL BE SUFFICIENT FOR STORM
PERSISTENCE AND ORGANIZATION WITH LARGE HAIL AND SOME DAMAGING WIND
EVENTS POSSIBLE INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS.
AVIATION…A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT
TO 1.5 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60
KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 450. MEAN STORM
MOTION VECTOR 25030.
Virginia County/City Outlines:
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 107 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
The upcoming weekend, more or less, looks to be a soggy one.
Nelson County, VA
Probably not the best weekend ahead for outdoor plans. Though we won’t be looking at gully washers, we will be dealing with scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms until roughly mid-afternoon Sunday. After the rains clear for the weekend, cooler temps arrive early next week with possible scattered frost overnight Monday into Tuesday.
™2012 Nelson County Life : Photo By NCL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : Spring officially arrived at 1:14AM EDT on Tuesday morning. Paul has been grabbing shots of all the beautiful blooms like this tree near Lake Monacan in Nellysford.
Nelson County, Virginia
So long winter …officially that is! Though it’s felt like spring over the past several days, it officially arrived here on the east coast in the wee morning hours. And it looks like the warm temps are here for several more days.
Photo By NCL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : Taken this past weekend, hints of spring are alive in the mountains too. This is the Shenandoah Valley taken from the Raven's Roost Preserve, not to be confused Raven's Roost Overlook, on the BRP.
Mug Shot Courtesy of CBS-19 Charlottesville : According to Nelson CA Anthony Martin - Joshua Lee Hatter, a former deputy with the Nelson County Sheriff's Dept was sentenced Tuesday June 19th in Nelson County Circuit Court
Lovingston
Nelson County, VA
Via The Nelson County CA office:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: June 21, 2012
RE: Former Nelson County Deputy sentenced on Tuesday
FROM: ANTHONY MARTIN, COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY
CONTACT: 434-263-7010
On Tuesday, June 19, 2012, former Nelson County Deputy Joshua Hatter was sentenced by Nelson County Circuit Court Judge J. Michael Gamble.
Earlier in March 2012, Hatter pleaded guilty to two (2) felony charges: abduction and shooting in an occupied dwelling, and three (3) misdemeanor charges of assault and battery, property damage and damaging a telephone to prevent a person from calling 911, all of which occurred on October 16, 2011.
At Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, Commonwealth’s Attorney, Anthony Martin, introduced testimony from Hatter’s former girlfriend about how Hatter’s actions affected her physically and emotionally. The defense then introduced evidence from several family members of Hatter.
After hearing the evidence, Judge Gamble sentenced Hatter to a total of 12 years and 6 months and suspended all of the sentences except for 8 months in jail which Hatter had served since he has remained in jail without bond since the incident.
As a condition of Hatter’s suspended sentences, he has been ordered to have no contact with the victim, ordered to remain alcohol free and attend substance abuse programs and he is on probation for 5 years meaning if he violates any of the sentencing conditions, Hatter could face being brought back before the court and be ordered to serve some or all of the remaining suspended prison sentence.
Judge Gamble cited Hatter’s lack of a prior criminal record and his having family members in the area who testified that they would make sure Hatter satisfied his court orders as reasons for sentencing Hatter below the state sentencing guidelines recommendation of continued incarceration for up to 3 years and 7 months.
Earlier posts: As we first reported back in October 2011, (scroll down in that linked story for history) Joshua Lee Hatter, a former deputy sheriff in Nelson County, was fired after a variety of charges stemming from a domestic dispute.
On Tuesday March 20th, Nelson’s Commonwealth Attorney Anthony Martin released the following details of court action that involved the case:
DATE: March 20, 2012
RE: Former Deputy pleads guilty
FROM: ANTHONY MARTIN, COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY
Joshua Lee Hatter, a former deputy with the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office, pleaded guilty yesterday in Nelson County Circuit Court to two felonies: abduction and shooting in an occupied dwelling. He also pleaded guilty to several misdemeanors: destruction of property, assault and battery, and damaging a telephone line to prevent a call to 911.
Hatter has been held in the Blue Ridge Regional Jail since October 16, 2011 when these offenses occurred.
Hatter will be sentenced in the Circuit Court on May 29, 2012 at 9:30 a.m.
The case surrounding 71 Year Old Tracy Davis(left) and his wife 61 year old Joyce Davis, of Beech Grove was heard on Monday 3.19.12 in a Nelson court. The pair is charged with multiple counts including animal neglect.
On Tuesday, Nelson Commonwealth Attorney Anthony Martin released details of a court proceeding that took place on Monday 3.19.12 in Nelson County General District Court. Over 8 hours of testimony was heard.
Here’s the release provided by the CA’s office:
DATE: March 20, 2012
RE: animal cruelty cases against Roseland couple heard
FROM: ANTHONY MARTIN, COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY
Yesterday (March 19, 2012) in Nelson County General District Court, over 8 hours of testimony was heard in relation to 28 charges of animal cruelty against a Roseland couple. Each charge is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
David Tracy Davis and Joyce Davis were each charged with 28 counts of animal cruelty stemming from the conditions of 28 animals, mostly dogs and a few livestock that were observed during the execution of a search warrant which was conducted by state and Federal authorities on November 21, 2011.
Dr. Rachel Touroo, a veterinarian who was working for the Virginia Department of Agriculture at the time and who was on the scene last November, provided expert testimony relating to the physical conditions of the animals; and for many, lack of food and water. Photographs of the animals and their environment were also introduced as evidence.
Retired Judge Steve Helvin of Charlottesville is expected to make his ruling on these charges within a week.
™Nelson County Life : Photos By Yvette Stafford : Massie Saunders (center) chats with team members coordinating the search at a command post on the lot of Flippin Seaman's packing shed in Tyro just before dark Monday. K9 units are also on the on way to help search near Harpers Creek shelter.
Tyro
Nelson County, VA Updated 1:33PM EDT 3.20.12
Nelson Sheriff Brooks says the search for a possible missing hiker has been called off due to developing thunderstorms in the area of SW Nelson County. Numerous searchers are on horseback and in very high elevations. Nearby storms pose a great threat of lightning strikes to people on the ridge lines.
To view video of the search from our media partner at CBS-19 in Charlottesville, click on the image above.
Sheriff Brooks said nothing had been found as of the search being called of early Tuesday afternoon.
Updated 10:00AM EDT
Nelson Sheriff Brooks says the search for a missing possibly injured hiker continues Tuesday. “A radio two-way radio broadcast was heard on Monday afternoon by a nearby fisherman. The call for help said a person had fallen into a ravine along the AT in Nelson County,” Sheriff Brooks said. The two way radio was most likely a family services radio according to other rescue personnel on the scene.
Updated 8:55PM EDT
Nelson Sheriff Brooks says the VSP team has cleared the area and has left the search at this time. “We still have 7 other teams that are searching portions of the trail. We are not exactly how much longer the search will go on tonight,” the sheriff said just before 9PM Monday night.
Original post at 7:01 PM 3.19.12 NCL has confirmed authorities and rescue personnel are in the process of organizing a search along the Appalachian Trail here in Nelson County. “The only information we have right now is that a person called in on a two way radio and asked for help. They said they’d fallen into a ravine,” Nelson Sheriff Brooks said Monday evening around 6:30 PM.
A Virginia State Police helicopter hovers above Tyro Monday evening. They are also assisting in the search.
View AT Search in a larger map A command post has been setup in the Tyro area by authorities to begin conducting a search for a person that made a distress radio call for help along the Appalachian Trail.
His men along with rescue personnel are setting up in the Tyro area to coordinate the search from there. The Virginia State Police also has a helicopter enroute to the scene to assit in the search.
™Nelson County Life : Photos By Bonnie Holliday : Alpha Phi Omega members erect a greenhouse frame, donated by Windridge Landscaping. North Branch students will be able to grow plants all year long for science classes and gardening activities.
Afton
Nelson County, VA
This past weekend on March 17th, 100 members of the UVA chapter of Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity transformed the school grounds of North Branch School in Afton as their spring project. The UVA students raised almost $4,000 and volunteered their time – the equivalent of about 1,000 hours of labor – on a beautiful Saturday to build an outdoor stage, erect a greenhouse and construct the end wall for it, repair a wooden ramp, spread mulch on the playground and entrance, build benches on the front porch, and restructure the sandbox on the playground.
Two members of Alpha Phi Omega cut boards to repair a wooden ramp at North Branch SchoolThe 100 members of the UVA chapter of Alpha Phi Omega take a moment to celebrate all that they accomplished during their spring workday at North Branch School.Team Bench rests on their laurels. These Alpha Phi Omega members constructed three permanent benches on the front porch of North Branch School.Building an outdoor stage required a large team of Alpha Phi Omega members. The stage will be used by the teachers and students of North Branch School for plays, programs, assemblies, and concerts.
Photo Via NCSD: The Nelson Sheriff's Department has charged 19 year old Cody Hughes of Faber in connection with last week's bomb threat at Nelson County High.
Lovingston
Nelson County, VA
Nelson County Sheriff David Brooks says his agency has arrested and charged 19 year old Cody T Hughes from Faber with a class 5 felony make and communicate a threat to bomb, burn, destroy a place of assembly, etc school other building or structure. The arrest comes after an investigation into a bomb threat placed to Nelson County High last week. “We got an anonymous tip that led us in Hughes direction, then with more investigation we were able to charge him with the crime,” said Sheriff Brooks.
Sheriff Brooks said Highes has been released on a $5000 unsecured bond.
™Nelson County Life : Photos By NCL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : It was a day of St Patty's fun all up and down the Rockfish Valley Saturday after. Carrie Eheart, a waitress at Wild Wolf Brewing in Nellysford, was dressed in green and serving up the brews!
Rockfish Valley
Nelson County, VA
Though Nelson is a far cry from Ireland, that didn’t stop people from having a blast Saturday afternoon in recognition of St. Patty’s Day. Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura came down from the upper atmosphere and grabbed some of the fun and festivities. All of the breweries and many of the wineries held special events for the day.
Folks lined the bar at Blue Mountain Brewery in Afton to celebrate St Patty's Day, Nelson style!Lots of folks piled into The Blue Toad for some green beer and also took part in their bus tour that visited the various breweries up and down Route 151. One of the bus stops was at Devils Backbone Brewing in Roseland, at the foot of Wintergreen. These fellows were having a fun St. Patty's afternoon. No St Patty's Day would be complete without the green beer. None in short supply at The Blue Toad. With beautiful sunny weather, the outdoor patio was packed at Blue Mountain Brewery. Customers celebrate St Patty's at Wild Wolf in Nellysford this past Saturday afternoon March 17, 2012
