Central Virginia Blue Ridge
Nelson County, Virginia
Here we go, welcome to 2024! Hard to believe we’ve been at this, either in print, or here on the web for 19 years!
Let’s get started!
Happy New Year!
Nelson : Car Accident Shuts Down Route 151 in Nellysford Wednesday Night
Nellysford
Nelson County, Virginia
Route 151 in Nellysford was closed Wednesday evening after a significant one car accident caused response crews to shut it down.
Here’s the verbatim preliminary release from VSP on Thursday morning:
“Virginia State Police is investigating a one-vehicle crash that occurred at 6:31 p.m. on Rockfish Valley Highway (Route 151) in Nelson County on Dec. 27, 2023.
A vehicle struck a utility pole at the intersection of Route 151 and Adial Road and overturned.
There was at least one reported injury.
Matthew Demlein
Public Relations Manager
Virginia State Police”
A Christmas Memory : The Late Earl Hamner (John-Boy) Of Nelson Co, VA : Merry Christmas 2023!
Click on the orange and white arrow play button above to listen now.
Schuyler, Virginia & Memphis, Tennessee
In what’s become our annual tradition here at BRL, enjoy this special radio interview from the December 2011 (Well over a decade ago!!) Christmas season as Nelson native Earl Hamner, Jr. talks with BRL Publisher Tommy Stafford and Memphis KWAM 990 Radio host, Earle Farrell. Earle continues his radio show to this day. Press the orange play button above and listen for over an hour as Earl reminisces about his career, life in the Virginia Blue Ridge and more.
And be sure to check out one of our favorite recipes for the Christmas season. Applesauce cake made by Earl’s mother. Click here to view that.
Be sure to listen toward the end as Earl reads a special Christmas tribute remarking about the late Will Geer who played Grandpa Walton.
Enjoy & Merry Christmas!
Tommy, Yvette Adam & Peyton
Sheriff Elect Mark Embrey, Officers Formally Sworn In : Take Office January 1
Lovingston
Nelson County, Virginia
By Tommy Stafford
We first told you about Mark Embrey’s win in the Nelson County Sheriff’s election in this post back on November 7, 2023.
Since then Embrey has been busy putting together his team that will officially assume office at the same time he does just after midnight on December 31st.
According to various sources we have talked to, there has been no productive transition communication between outgoing Sheriff David Hill and Embrey.
Updated 5:45 PM – After reading our initial story here in this post, above, current Sheriff David Hill called me personally. He refuted the statement that there’s been no productive communication between he and his successor. Sheriff Hill said he and another family member have been out sick with Covid at home but he’s been replying to phone calls and emails with Embrey.
Sheriff Hill also provided a voice mail response from Sheriff Elect Embrey discussing a K9 officer and agreeing to carry the officer over into the new administration. “We can’t just turn over the agency today, I am sheriff until December 31 and I am responsible for everything until that point. I want to make it clear we have been communicating,” Hill told me in a Wednesday night call from his home.
Editorial note: It was not my intention for this post to turn into such a story, but in fairness as we have always done, both sides should and will be told.
Embrey told the crowd it was an honor and a privilege to be elected to the office and he looks forward to getting to work January 1.
BRL archives on Sheriff Elect Embrey by clicking here.
High Winds Cause Power Outages For Some
Central Virginia Blue Ridge
As of 9:15 Monday morning CVEC still showed a few hundred people without power on their system after very high winds overnight moved into the area.
Nothing to sneeze at. Clocked 65 MPH wind gust this AM at our BRL WX station mounted at Ski Barn (that’s at the base of Wintergreen just south of Nellysford)Link : https://t.co/2XGWYlTBmp Gusty even for there! Tommy @NWSBlacksburg @NWS_BaltWash @CBS19Weather @TravisKoshko #vawx pic.twitter.com/QnwivOTvAq
— BlueRidgeLife (@BlueRidgeLife) December 18, 2023
AEP is showing some additional outages here on their outage map.
Winds are expected to be gusty at times for the remainder of Monday even into Tuesday, but do begin to ease off during the afternoon and evening on Tuesday.
VDOT Lifting Most Lane Closures To Make End Of Year Travel More Delightful
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BOS Elect, Jessica Ligon, Releases Statement Regarding September Traffic Stop
Lovingston
Nelson County, Virginia
Over the last few days WSET ABC-13 in Lynchburg has been airing promotions regarding a story planned for Friday evening on their channel. It centers around a traffic stop involving, then candidate, Jessica Ligon. Ligon ran for, and successfully won the South District BOS slot in the November 2023 election.
Apparently, officer body cam video from the September traffic stop by the Nelson County Sheriff’s Department was obtained in a Freedom of Information Act request. It has been shown and linked in a YouTube Channel. It’s being aired in promos on WSET as well. The two don’t overly appear to be related.
Today BRL, along with numerous other news outlets, received the following news release from the Stanley Law Group in Moneta, Virginia. Ligon has retained former Virginia Attorney General Tony Troy and lawyer VA Senator Bill Stanley to assist in responding to the video release and news inquiries.
Below is their release verbatim:
“Nelson, Virginia – “On September 9th, I was stopped for speeding by the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office, during the course of the traffic stop, I was asked questions regarding if I was impaired in my driving, however, I was not charged with Driving while under the influence. I answered all questions and fully cooperated with the Sherrif Deputies.
On November 28th, post-election, a YouTube video was made using the deputies’ body camera footage, but it was highly doctored; while the body camera footage shows that I voluntarily subjected to a preliminary breath test (PBT), and the results noted that I was at 0.083, and subsequently at 0.80, it was the officer’s discretion not to charge me with DWI.
The doctored video attempts to advocate that I should have been charged with a DUI, solely due to the PBT. However, these results would not be admissible in a court of law, because PBTs have been shown to be unreliable, and prone to inaccurate readings; and the field sobriety tests that were administered are subjective based testing and are solely based on the officer’s observations.
The real question is not what I was charged with, which was speeding, but rather who is it, and for what reason is there an attempt to disrupt my productivity and stifle my voice on the Nelson County Board of Supervisors.
I will not allow this to disrupt my service to the citizens of Nelson County—I look forward to serving, will address the key issues facing the County and will have no further comment on this matter.”
Her attorney’s Senator Bill Stanley and former Attorney General Tony Troy of the Stanley Law Group, made the following joint statement. “It is apparent to us both that whoever posted this video does not understand the judicial system as it pertains to traffic stops. And it is also apparent that the real motivation of the author of this altered video is, in our opinion, a blatant attempt to impugn the character of Ms. Ligon. As trial attorneys, we have defended people charged with DUI, and it is clear to us that Ms. Ligon was not intoxicated at the time: there was no slurred speech, she was cogent and alert in her responses to the officers, she was not unsteady on her feet, she did not have bloodshot watery eyes, and she passed the field sobriety tests on the side of the road. While the preliminary breath test (PBT) registered just at the legal limit, all of us in the legal community know that those machines are notoriously unreliable, and that is why they are not admissible in a court of law to prove guilt.
The deputies there at the scene performed their duties with the utmost professionalism, and did not show any favoritism towards Ms. Ligon because she was a candidate for a position in local governemnt. She has since been elected, and it is now questionable why these allegations are now being presented. It is clear that Ms. Ligon was not under the influence, and that the only thing that she was properly charged with was speeding.”
Wintergreen Says They Will Open The Season Friday Morning
Wintergreen Resort
Nelson County, Virginia
Wintergreen Resort says they will kick off the 2023-2024 season this Friday – December 15th at 9:00 AM.
“Slopes are predicted to open at that time. “skiing and snowboarding from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The expected open trails include Upper Dobie, Lower Dobie, Patch, Teaching Area, Upper Cross Trail, and Lower Cross Trail.. The Blue Ridge Express and Patch lift will provide chairlift access to the terrain. The Plunge Snow Tubing Park resumes operations on Friday, December 15 after opening December 2 for the season,” the resort posted on their website.
You can get the latest slope conditions and mountain report at this link.
Here’s to the coming season!
Significant Snowfall Hits The Blue Ridge Of Central Virginia
Central Virginia Blue Ridge
Nelson County, Virginia
As predicted some pretty significant snow fell overnight Sunday and early Monday morning in a fairly widespread area across the Blue Ridge of Central Virginia.
Though some folks down below, as far east as Richmond to the east, saw some snowfall in the lower elevations, it was mainly the mountainous areas along the BRP and Skyline that saw the brunt.
The remainder of the week is more or less quite. We will start off pretty cold but temps moderate as we work through the remainder of the week. The next chance for any precipitation comes around Sunday of next weekend when temps are generally in the 50’s for daytime highs.
Weather Bulletin : Winter Storm Warning : Along & Near BRP & Skyline Drive (EXPIRED)
WINTER STORM WARNING
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
820 AM EST Sun Dec 10 2023
Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-Central Virginia Blue Ridge (Including Wintergreen-Montebello-Humpback Rocks-Afton Mtn & Big Meadows)
820 AM EST Sun Dec 10 2023
…WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING
TO 6 AM EST MONDAY…
* WHAT…Heavy snow expected. Total snow will range between 2 to
4 inches between 1,000 and 3,000 feet with 4 to 8 inches above
3,000 feet. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph.
* WHERE…Northern Virginia Blue Ridge.
* WHEN…From 8 PM this evening to 6 AM EST Monday.
* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous
conditions will cause snow covered and slippery surfaces.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Rain will change to snow this evening
between between 9 and 11 PM with temperatures rapidly falling
below freezing. The combination of snow and blowing snow will
reduce visibility below one-half mile at times.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency.
When venturing outside, watch your first few steps taken on
steps, sidewalks, and driveways, which could be icy and slippery,
increasing your risk of a fall and injury.
Click here for the specific local forecast for the BRP and higher elevations.
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