Wintergreen Resort
Nelson County, Virginia
Temps dropped down to the lower 20’s early Thursday morning which allowed Wintergreen Resort to fire up the snow guns and start making a little bit of snow!
Look for more updates as the 2011-2012 season gets underway in the coming weeks!
Nelson County, Virginia
If it seemed warm for many days in November, it was! As we head into the first of December it feels more seasonal, but for lots of November it felt like spring. Here at NCL in the Rockfish Valley we reached a monthly high of 75° in November 25th, with the lowest reading that month of 24° on November the 6th. For the month we recorded 2.97″ of rain and for the year make that just under 40 inches at 39.17″. We had a trace of snow for November 2011.
Head up in altitude to our NCL-TWNF Weathernet station at The Wintergreen Nature Foundation 3500′ feet above and the numbers are a bit different, but still warm for many days in November. They reached a high of 70° on November 7th and a low of 21° for the month on November 17th. For the month they had 5.5″ of rain in the gauge and just under 51″ of rain at 50.85″ ending November 30, 2011. During November they picked up about 3 inches of snow to boot!
Though it was warm lots of November, it wasn’t unprecedented.
December starts cooler, but not ultra cold. By the upcoming weekend, relatively mild temps with mostly sunny skies will settle back over Nelson before rain moves back in for the first of next week.
Flood Watch / Flood Statement
Statement as of 9:44 AM EST on November 29, 2011
…Flood Watch is cancelled…
The Flood Watch for portions of Virginia and northeast West
Virginia has been cancelled. Further rain today is not expected to
be heavy enough to cause additional flooding.
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
825 PM EST MON NOV 28 2011
AUGUSTA-ROCKINGHAM-NELSON-ALBEMARLE-WESTERN HIGHLAND-
EASTERN HIGHLAND-WESTERN PENDLETON-EASTERN PENDLETON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…STAUNTON…WAYNESBORO…HARRISONBURG…
CHARLOTTESVILLE…HIGHTOWN…MONTEREY…CIRCLEVILLE…FRANKLIN
825 PM EST MON NOV 28 2011
…FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT
THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON…
A FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR
* PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL SHENANDOAH VALLEY…CENTRAL FOOTHILLS
AND POTOMAC HIGHLANDS…INCLUDING EASTERN PENDLETON AND WESTERN
PENDLETON COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA…AND EASTERN HIGHLAND AND
WESTERN HIGHLAND…AUGUSTA…ROCKINGHAM…NELSON AND ALBEMARLE
COUNTIES IN VIRGINIA.
* FROM MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
* TERRAIN-ENHANCED MODERATE TO LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL DEVELOP
LATE TONIGHT AND CONTINUE THROUGH MID-DAY TUESDAY. ONE TO TWO
INCHES RAINFALL CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG EAST-FACING SLOPES. UP TO
ONE INCH CAN BE EXPECTED ELSEWHERE.
* RUN-OFF LIKELY WILL LEAD TO FLOODING OF CREEKS…STREAMS AND
LOW AREAS…INCLUDING ROADWAYS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON
CURRENT FORECASTS.
MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS.
THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO
TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP
Roseland / Beech Grove
Nelson County, Virginia
Updated 1.15.12
Nelson County Sheriff David Brooks confirms that two of his officers assisted federal authorities on Friday evening (January 13, 2012) in taking Tracy Davis back into custody. ” I was told this was as a result of a direct indictment. We were told it consisted of numerous charges involving moonshine. Our officers were there to assist federal authorities in the pickup of Mr. Davis,” Sheriff Brooks said over the weekend.
Sheriff Brooks said the agents who took Davis back into custody were out of the DC/Maryland area.
Previous story from 11.18.11
As we first reported here back on November 21st, the investigation continues into a raid conducted on the home of Tracy Davis in Beech Grove. Today new details have come to light after reporter, Rachel Ryan of our news partner CBS-19 The Newsplex, reviewed the 30 page search warrant that was the basis for going into the home. Many new detail details have come to light and others have been verified from the documents.
Lovingston
Nelson County, Virginia
Candidate Mac Bridgwater and incumbent Sheriff David Brooks are both awaiting word from a Judge Mosby Perrow in Lynchburg as to how a recount will proceed in the Sheriff’s race that took place in early November. As we first told you here, Bridgwater made his intentions clear on wanting a recount after an extremely narrow loss again Brooks. The paperwork for the recount was filed on November 18th. A panel of judges must now make the decisions on how the recount will proceed.
Our news partner over at CBS-19 has more in their story from The Newsplex by clicking here.
Afton
Nelson County, Virginia
Students at North Branch School in Afton got a real treat last week when members of the Apache and Yakima Tribes stopped by their classrooms to tell students there about customs of their tribes. It was all part of Native American Heritage Month.
Afton
Nelson County, VA
The temps may be in the 70’s this weekend, but the Christmas trees are back at the Rockfish Valley Community Center in Afton. We got ours first thing Saturday morning! The trees went on sale Saturday November 26th and will be available through December as supplies last.
Get yours now!
Greenfield / Afton
Nelson County, Virginia
We hope everyone has been having a wonderful Thanksgiving! We want to thank all of you, our readers, for your continued support, story suggestions, and just being a part of Nelson.
We are all truly thankful!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Tommy, Yvette, Adam & Peyton
Nelson County Life
Nellysford
Nelson County, Virginia
By Jennie Tal Williams
Cheryl Tompkins ran the Stoney Creek Pharmacy for years and years – it wasn’t just her job, it was her passion to provide a listening ear and a helping hand to the Nellysford community. But earlier this year, Cheryl had to put her health first and cut back the pharmacy’s hour – something she didn’t like to do.
Above, Cheryl in our July 2009 print story shortly after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Click on image to read.
So, after a while of running the pharmacy herself, Cheryl decided to sell the shop to some former colleagues: Dave Garber of Waynesboro and Joe Yeager of Fishersville. The three met years ago at a CVS and Dave and Joe are both pharmacists who already own several pharmacies around town.
Joe said that so far he’s enjoyed serving the community that Cheryl so cherishes.
“I would said that I would hope that if we could get in there and be a part of not only the business community, but a service to the community, that’s what I really want to do,” added Joe. “Of course we want to be successful, but it is our place to be a service and I would have to say that one of the best things we can do for [Cheryl] is to honor her and her commitment to have the pharmacy as a service to the community.
Welcome to Nellysford Joe & Dave!
Beech Grove
Nelson County, Virginia
UPDATE 12:45 PM 11.22.11
Scroll to bottom for official ABC press release outlining the operation.
UPDATE 8:20AM 11.22.11
The Nelson County Sheriff’s Department says Joyce Davis has made bond. Tracy Davis will not appear in court until November 30th at the earliest. He remains in jail during that time.
UPDATE 9:04PM
According to Sheriff Brooks. Tracy Davis is being held without bond. His wife, Joyce, was granted $5000 secured bond.
Original Post From 11.21.11
Around 8AM Monday morning NCL began getting calls about a large gathering of state and federal agents on the parking lot of the old Three Ridges Deli and Devils Backbone. Witnesses reported around 50 personnel including a large number of people with area humane society organizations, some from as far away as Roanoke and others with license plates from Maryland.
NCL has been working the story all day in conjunction with our Charlottesville News Partners at The Newsplex. (Their coverage here) Through information gathered NCL has been able to verify that agents served a search warrant at the home of Tracy Davis on Rooster Ridge in Beech Grove just off of Route 664. “We had two officers on the scene since the warrant was being served in Nelson, but our agency did not directly participate in the actual search or removal of animals,” said Nelson County Sheriff David Brooks. Brooks said that Tracy Davis and his wife Joyce are being booked at the Nelson County Sheriff’s Department late Monday afternoon. “They have both been charged with 28 counts of animal cruelty,” Sheriff Brooks continued.
According to CBS-19 the investigation may be looking into the cultivation and sale of illegal bear organs.
NCL has learned agents from the state Alcohol Beverage Commission, Federal Park Rangers, and Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms were on the scene as part of the warrant.
Sheriff Brooks confirmed the state ABC was the agency in charge with assistance from other law enforcement and support groups.
Here’s the official press release from the VA State ABC in Richmond received around 12:45 PM on Tuesday 11.22.11 via CBS-19:
ABC Agents Arrest a Nelson County Couple on Multiple Charges
RICHMOND – Special agents with the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) assisted by ten other local, state and federal agencies, ended a joint investigation November 21, as they executed a search warrant at an isolated residence, located on Rooster Ridge Road in Roseland. The investigation began as an inquiry into the operation of an illegal moonshine still when evidence of animal abuse was also discovered.
The owner of the home, Tracy Davis, age 71, was arrested on 15 counts of felony possession of a dangerous weapon while illegally manufacturing, selling or transporting unlawful alcohol, 1 count of misdemeanor for the illegal transport of untaxed alcohol and 28 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty. Davis’ wife Joyce Davis, age 61, was also arrested on 28 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty. The couple was arrested and booked at Nelson County sheriff’s Office and taken to the Albermarle County Regional jail where Mr. Davis is being held without bond and Mrs. Davis’ bond was set at $5000.
Agents seized an illegal distillery (moonshine still), several firearms and a large number of malnourished hunting dogs, fighting chickens and two horses.
ABC agents were on the scene until early Tuesday and were assisted by US Department of Agriculture, Virginia State Police, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife, Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force, Virginia Office of Attorney General, US Attorney’s Office, Virginia Department of Agriculture’s Office of Animal Care and Health Policy, and the Humane Society of the United States.
This investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be forthcoming.
