Photo by BRL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : Fireworks filled the sky over Wintergreen Resort Sunday night July 3rd, 2022 as part of their annual celebration.
Wintergreen Resort
Nelson County, Virginia
The weather was perfect and the skies were filled with a display of brilliant fireworks at Wintergreen Resort this past Sunday night. It’s part of their annual 4th of July celebration that’s been going on for years.
BRL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura has been photographing the event each and every year.
Photo Courtesy of Kathy Kreeger : Route 29 southbound just north of Lovingston in Nelson County was blocked by a tree across the highway Friday afternoon. It was just one of many locations across several counties hit hard by severe thunderstorms. June 17, 2022.
Central Virginia Blue Ridge Area
Severe thunderstorms moved into the area late Friday afternoon causing considerable damage and power outages in its path.
Additional multiple large trees down in SE Nelson Co, generally near Gladstone, from severe storms. Rescue & VDOT assisting removal. Power out in numerous parts of County as well. Tommy #vawx@CBS19Weather@TravisKoshko@NWS_BaltWash@NWSBlacksburg
Thanks to Kevin Hitt of Lake Nelson for these photos. Kevin tells us trees are down everywhere there, but a path has been cut to allow cars to get through. June 17, 2022
Thanks to Kevin Hitt of Lake Nelson for these photos. Kevin tells us trees are down everywhere there, but a path has been cut to allow cars to get through. June 17, 2022
Thanks to Kevin Hitt of Lake Nelson for these photos. Kevin tells us trees are down everywhere there, but a path has been cut to allow cars to get through. June 17, 2022
A large tree is across power lines in the Town of Amherst late Friday afternoon when severe storms moved through the area. June 17, 2022.Graphic via CVEC :In addition to trees down, a few thousand customers were still without power as of early Friday evening. June 17, 2022
As of 7 PM Friday evening, the majority of the severe weather had moved east out of the area. Quieter, milder and much less heat and humidity is arriving for the coming weekend.
FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON
Augusta-Rockingham-Western Highland-Eastern Highland-Central
Virginia Blue Ridge-Western Pendleton-Eastern Pendleton-
Including the cities of Monterey, Wintergreen, Harrisonburg,
Staunton, Sugar Grove, Riverton, Ruddle, Brandywine, Hightown,
Franklin, Waynesboro, Oak Flat, and Stuarts Draft
841 AM EDT Tue Jun 14 2022
…FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON…
* WHAT…Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.
* WHERE…Portions of Virginia and eastern West Virginia, including
the following areas: in Virginia, Augusta, Central Virginia Blue
Ridge, Eastern Highland, Rockingham and Western Highland. In
eastern West Virginia, Eastern Pendleton and Western Pendleton.
* WHEN…Until 3 PM EDT this afternoon.
* IMPACTS…Excessive runoff may result in flash flooding of rivers,
creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…
– Showers and thunderstorms will produce heavy rainfall with
localized rainfall amounts around 1 to 3 inches possible
within a couple hours. The heaviest rain will be late this
morning through midday.
– Please visit http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood for flood
safety and preparedness information.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.
At approximately 2:05 am, on Saturday, June 11, 2022, units from Albemarle County Fire Rescue and Albemarle County Police Department responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash on the 3600 block of Dick Woods Road.
The driver of the vehicle, 21-year-old Harlan Franklin Shifflett III of Crozet, VA, died at the scene of the crash.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Albemarle County Police Department’s Fatal Crash Reconstruction Team. This is the seventh fatal crash investigated by ACPD in 2022. This count does not include fatal crashes that occur in Albemarle County that are investigated by Virginia State Police.
Milling and paving operations on westbound Interstate 64 require overnight alternating lane closures on Afton Mountain in Augusta County. The work is scheduled for Monday through Thursday nights for about six weeks starting June 13. Motorists should be alert for lane closures from the Nelson/Augusta County line (near mile marker 100) to exit 96 (Waynesboro/Lyndhurst).
During certain phases of the project, there also will be overnight closures of the on- or off-ramps between westbound I-64 and Route 250 (Three Notch Mountain Highway) at exit 99 (Afton/Waynesboro). Digital message signs will provide detour information.
All work is weather permitting.
Virginia traffic alerts and traveler information are available by dialing 511 or visiting http://www.511Virginia.org.
The VDOT Customer Service Center can assist with reporting road hazards, asking transportation questions, or getting information related to Virginia’s roads. Call 800-FOR- ROAD (800-367-7623) or use its mobile friendly website at https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/. Agents are available 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week.
The Staunton District Twitter feed is at @VaDOTStaunton. VDOT can be followed on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube. RSS feeds are also available for statewide information. The VDOT Web page is located at http://www.VirginiaDOT.org.
The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany and Bath counties.
Photo By Tommy Stafford : Liz Salas (center) in this 2008 photo coordinating the upcoming annual Nature Foundation at Wintergreen Sara Ott Golf Classic. On the left is Jack Daly who helped coordinate the event each year, on the far right is the late Frank Ott. The tournament was originally named in honor/memory of his wife that passed away in 2008.
Wintergreen
Nelson County, Virginia
By Tommy Stafford
I first met Liz Salas Fravel of the Nature Foundation at Wintergreen way back in the early 2000’s. Back then I was helping emcee the annual Sara Ott Golf Classic. It’s still a major yearly fundraiser for the Nature Foundation. Fast forward to well over a decade Liz became a regular that I interacted for many years. She was legit. Hardworking, tirelessly coordinating events for the foundation.
There’s Liz on the far right in the ball cap at one of the annual golf tournaments back in the fall of 2009.That’s Robin Ott MacDonnell on the far left holding none other than a very young Adam Stafford! Robin is the daughter of the late Frank and Sara Ott. The tournament is named in memory of her parents.
I just sort of thought Liz would always be there. She’d become such a permanent fixture at the Nature Foundation. We worked together on so many projects during the years from our weather station up there, to all sorts of other things dealing with the magazine.
I was a bit saddened, I must admit, when I heard Liz was leaving the Nature Foundation to take a new job as a project manager with Mary Baldwin that’s a bit closer to home. Excited for her, yes, but it will feel odd knowing she’s not a fixture up on the mountain as she has been for the last 24 years.
I’ll leave you the words Liz wrote in her final newsletter for the Nature Foundation in a recent email blast. We will miss you Liz, happy trails and good luck!
“To the Most Wonderful Members a Person Can Have,
The honest truth is that when I came to work at the Nature Foundation in my twenties I thought I’d be here for a few years. I learned to ski when I was maybe five, owning Potato Patch, Diamond Hill and eventually Eagle. For the record, Tyro is still my favorite. 24 years later, my chapter here is ending and a new adventure awaits. I never planned to stay 24 years. But the truth is that I fell in love with you, all the people I’ve had the privilege of working with over the years.
The community opened their homes and hearts to me. I often tell people that I’m the favorite daughter of this family and that family and I truly believe it. You shared your stories with me and through the years this little community became way more than a job to me. I believe that everybody has a story and I genuinely want to hear it. You talked and I listened.
People have asked me what I want to say as I turn the page to my next chapter. Thank you. You always answer my calls when I need one more thing, you volunteer more hours than I can work and you’ve welcomed me into your homes and shared your lives with me. Wintergreen is truly the most amazing community in the world, made up of the most amazing people. You are the reason this place is special.
Photos By BRL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : You know summer is arriving when you see folks lined up to take s ski lift ride over the green mountains rather than inches of snow below. Wintergreen Resort kicked off the unofficial start to summer this past weekend with lots of Memorial Day holiday activities.
Wintergreen
Nelson County, Virginia
It’s what’s commonly known as the the unofficial start to summer, Memorial Day weekend. Though summer doesn’t official start for another couple of weeks, this is the time when most people think of the kickoff.
Wintergreen Resort hosted several events over the three day weekend which generally marks the beginning of the summer season across the area.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS CANCELLED TORNADO WATCH 276 FOR
THE FOLLOWING AREAS
IN VIRGINIA THIS CANCELS 16 COUNTIES
IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA
ALBEMARLE CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE
GREENE NELSON
IN NORTHWEST VIRGINIA
CITY OF WINCHESTER FREDERICK MADISON
PAGE RAPPAHANNOCK SHENANDOAH
WARREN
IN WESTERN VIRGINIA
AUGUSTA CITY OF HARRISONBURG CITY OF STAUNTON
CITY OF WAYNESBORO ROCKINGHAM
IN WEST VIRGINIA THIS CANCELS 1 COUNTY
IN PANHANDLE WEST VIRGINIA
MORGAN
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, CROZET, FRONT ROYAL,
GREENFIELD, HARRISONBURG, HARRISONBURG, LURAY, MADISON, PAW PAW,
SHENANDOAH, STANARDSVILLE, STANLEY, STAUNTON, STAUNTON,
STRASBURG, WASHINGTON, WAYNESBORO, WAYNESBORO, WINCHESTER,
WINCHESTER, AND WOODSTOCK.
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 276
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
620 AM EDT Fri May 27 2022
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Tornado Watch for portions of
District Of Columbia
Central and northern Maryland
Central and northern North Carolina
Central and northern Virginia
Extreme northeastern West Virginia
Coastal Waters
* Effective this Friday morning and afternoon from 620 AM until
200 PM EDT.
* Primary threats include…
A few tornadoes possible
Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible
SUMMARY…A gradual ramp-up of thunderstorm intensity and coverage
should continue through the remainder of the morning in a
destabilizing, moist environment, with enough shear to support
supercells and bowing segments. A few tornadoes and scattered
damaging to locally severe gusts are possible.
The tornado watch area is approximately along and 65 statute miles
east and west of a line from 25 miles southwest of Southern Pines NC
to 40 miles east northeast of Martinsburg WV. For a complete
depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
(WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
tornadoes and 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.
TORNADO WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE FOR WT 276
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
620 AM EDT FRI MAY 27 2022
TORNADO WATCH 276 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 PM EDT FOR THE
FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
VA
. VIRGINIA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE
ALBEMARLE AMELIA AMHERST
APPOMATTOX ARLINGTON AUGUSTA
BEDFORD BRUNSWICK BUCKINGHAM
CAMPBELL CAROLINE CHARLES CITY
CHARLOTTE CHESTERFIELD CLARKE
CULPEPER CUMBERLAND DINWIDDIE
ESSEX FAIRFAX FAUQUIER
FLUVANNA FRANKLIN FREDERICK
GOOCHLAND GREENE GREENSVILLE
HALIFAX HANOVER HENRICO
HENRY KING AND QUEEN KING GEORGE
KING WILLIAM LOUDOUN LOUISA
LUNENBURG MADISON MECKLENBURG
NELSON NEW KENT NOTTOWAY
ORANGE PAGE PITTSYLVANIA
POWHATAN PRINCE EDWARD PRINCE GEORGE
PRINCE WILLIAM RAPPAHANNOCK RICHMOND
ROCKINGHAM SHENANDOAH SPOTSYLVANIA
STAFFORD SUSSEX WARREN
WESTMORELAND
On May 18, 2022, members of the Nelson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office
were present in Richmond when the Virginia Supreme Court’s Drug Treatment Court Advisory
Committee approved the application for Nelson County Drug Court. The Committee voted
unanimously to approve the Nelson County Drug Court. The Court will accept non-violent
criminal defendants into the intensive 18-month treatment program based in Lovingston.
Defendants who complete the program, which requires extended sobriety, employment, and
participation in treatment, may have their charges reduced or dismissed.
Nelson County Commonwealth’s Attorney, Daniel Rutherford, noted “Seizures of
methamphetamine, heroine and fentanyl have increased over 600% since 2010. As my office’s
workload has increased, we have seen how addiction to these drugs destroys families, sends
people to jail, and rips apart lives. Now, with the approval of the Nelson County Drug Court, my
office can help those defendants who are ready to end their addiction. This will free up more
resources to vigorously prosecute those who traffic these drugs into our community.”
The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Nelson County Board of
Supervisors for its’ continued support of the Nelson County Drug Court and would also like to
recognize Susan Morrow and Neal Goodloe of OAR Jefferson Area Community Corrections,
Francee Laverty at Region Ten Community Services Board, Judge Doucette, and local attorney
Kyle Hughes for their hard work during the application process.
