As expected heavy rains moved through the area Thursday night and Friday morning as what was left of Tropical Depression Debby shoved across the Blue Ridge.
Here’s just a small portion of what we’re seeing move on social media Friday.
#crozet road closed 680 the Mechams river is well out of its banks here and I suspect other places around Albemarle County ( this is just off the junction of 240 and 250 by Plaza Azteca ) great Mexican BTW! pic.twitter.com/VbigiMzuq0
Skys clearing today. Road troubles do not necessarily leave with the clouds. Downed trees, power lines and water-covered roadways remain. #VDOT & power crews are hard at work! Do not cross water-covered roads & stay away from downed power lines until crews make the area safe. pic.twitter.com/xGjUC5YzVB
Thursday morning Uttaro was sentenced to four life sentences in prison plus 25 years. Nelson County Commonwealth Attorney, Daniel Rutherford confirmed the sentencing to BRL just after noon.
What’s left of Tropical Depression Debby will be affecting most of Central Virginia from Thursday afternoon into early Friday evening. Skies go partly cloudy overnight Friday with sunshine and milder temps returning for Saturday and Sunday.
Between now and then heavy, sometimes flooding, rains can be expected. They arrive late Thursday afternoon into Friday afternoon.
In addition to flooding rains mentioned above, area power companies are preparing for some outages due to rains soaked ground with trees uprooting from breezy conditions as Debby blows through.
As Virginia prepares for Tropical Storm Debby, I declared a state of emergency to mobilize resources and equipment needed for response efforts. I urge all Virginians to stay informed and alert as this storm moves up the east coast. https://t.co/MdmTpOu1Uw
Tropical Storm Debby has the potential to create tornadoes, with the threat potentially lasting through the overnight hours. pic.twitter.com/MRYktNXP5D
— Virginia Department of Emergency Management (@VDEM) August 8, 2024
Locally Nelson County decided to postpone the start of school opening until next week.
We’ll continue to watch Debby as she moves through the area and update as necessary.
A little over two years ago we told you about the passing of Paul Saunders in this post. To say he was a Nelson County legend would be a gross understatement. Sadly, the Saunders Brothers family revealed that Paul’s wife, and the family matriarch Tatum Saunders, passed away last week on July 26, 2024.
There will be a celebratory remembrance held on Tuesday – July 30th at Saunders Brothers Market, followed by funeral services and burial on Wednesday – July 31st.
Mrs. Saunders’ complete obituary information is immediately below.
We are thinking of all of the Saunders family during this major time of change in their lives.
It was a long time coming but Wintergreen Fire & Rescue (WF&R) took delivery of their newest fire engine just a few weeks ago. “Engine 61 is a Pierce Enforcer which was ordered approximately three years ago. It’s your standard structural engine. We did add a light tower, which is something we have never had before,” WF&R Chief Curtis Sheets tells us.
Chief Sheets says the contract cost of the engine was $698,000.00. A new one today already costs over a million dollars. Roughly a 43% increase in just 3 years.
“It also has rigging attachment points on both sides and the rear. This will assist us with quick stabilization of unstable vehicles. This truck replaces a 28-year old engine which has been sold to Madison County for use as a reserve engine.”
“Our next pumper to go is our 21- year-old Engine 62. I asked Pierce to quote a replacement exactly like the one we just received. The price is 1.2M. With prices like that, this very well may be our last new engine.” Chief Curtis Sheets – WF&R
Youngsters and adults got the chance to look over all of the equipment and vehicles that WF&R uses. July 4, 2024
Other pieces of equipment were on display for everyone to see. July 4, 2024
WF&R Chief Curtis Sheets talks to folks that dropped by to see the new fire engine and other equipment on display during the 4th of July weekend 2024 at Wintergreen.
Updated : 7.23.24 6:22 PM : Boil Order Lifted
“Aqua says the precautionary boil water notice has been lifted from the Stoney Creek Village/Wintergreen Valley water system, effective immediately. All water samples came back negative, per state requirements, indicating the water is safe for drinking and normal use. It is no longer necessary to boil water before consumption.”
Earlier update to issue boil water alert: “WPOA has been notified by Aqua Va regarding the need to boil water secondary to a significant water main break yesterday. You may read their notice below:
WPOA is happy to forward notices such as this, however it should be noted that WPOA frequently is not provided timely and/or accurate information. Furthermore, the ultimate responsibility to communicate regarding utility outages rests with the service provider.
Stoney Creek Village Emergency Repair Update 07-20-2024
Aqua VA Emergency Repairs in Stoney Creek Village have been completed and the boil water advisory will remain in place until test results are received.
Aqua customers experienced periods of low pressure and outages in the distribution system due to an emergency repair. Periods of low or no pressure in the distribution system increases the potential for back siphonage and introduction of bacteria into the water system. Aqua, in conjunction with the VA Department of Health, is issuing a precautionary boil water notice for your area effective immediately due to the low water pressure.
Customers are advised to boil water for any consumption, including making ice or brushing teeth, for 1 full minute before any consumption. Boiling water is not necessary for showering or bathing. Be sure to bring the water to a full boil for 1 minute, then allow water to cool before normal use. Aqua is in the process of sending water samples to the lab for testing and will notify customers as soon the boil water notice is lifted. As soon we receive satisfactory test results, Aqua will contact you to lift this advisory. Aqua anticipates results by 07-23-2024
We thank our customers for their patience while we address this issue – we will continue to keep you updated.
End of notice.”
(Original Post 7.19.24)
Some folks in the Stoney Creek area of Nellysford were being affected by a water main rupture just before noon on Friday. According to Stoney Creek resident, Bill Howard, the break is on Monacan Drive near Foothills.
“According to one member of the repair crew, the break caused the main tank on the mountain to drain, and it will take many hours for the tank to refill. (See clarification down below on mountain tank) Until the tank refills, all Stoney Creek Aqua water customers may expect low water pressure. Stoney Creek Aqua water customers north and west of the intersection of Monocan and Stone Chimneys will be without water until the broken main is replaced. The repair crew could not provide an estimate of when water would again be available to those customers.”
Photo courtesy of Bill Howard : Crews with Stoney Creek Aqua work to repair a broken water main on Monocan Drive near the intersection of Foothills Drive. Friday – July 19, 2024
At least one other Stoney Creek resident we talked to said their water had come back on just before 12 noon.
WPOA Deputy Director Curtis Sheets tells us the water tank feeding the valley is not on the mountain but rather on Hearthstone. “There was a separate water main failure on the mountain which did drain a tank last night. Nelson County Service Authority crews worked through the night and they’re filling the tank now. Neither of the leaks were connected.”
This story has been updated on July 17, 2024 at 10:42 AM with name of the deceased.
“Virginia State Police is investigating a fatal single vehicle crash that occurred on Norwood Road in Nelson County.
At 4:30 p.m. on Sunday (July 14, 2024), Virginia State Troopers were notified of a crash in the 5700 block of Norwood Road that resulted in a 2005 Dodge Caravan overturning in a nearby creek. The Caravan was driving southbound on Norwood Road when it went off of the left side of the road, through multiple trees, down an embankment, and into the creek.
The exact time of the crash is unknown, as the vehicle was not visible from the roadway. State Police troopers believe it occurred between 9 p.m. on Saturday (July 13, 2024) and 4:30 p.m. on Sunday (July 14, 2024).
The driver, Shania F. Hawley, 22, of Gladstone, Va., died at the scene. She was not wearing a seatbelt.
Anyone who may recall having seen a Dodge Caravan traveling on Norwood Road during those hours or has any information related to this crash is encouraged to contact the Virginia State Police at 540-444-7778 or by email at questions@vsp.virginia.gov.
The crash remains under investigation.
Matthew Demlein
Public Relations Manager
Virginia State Police”
From VSP:
“Virginia State Police is investigating a fatal single vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 4:31 p.m. on Sunday (July 14, 2024) on Norwood Road in Nelson County.
There was one fatality.
The crash remains under investigation.
Matthew Demlein
Public Relations Manager
Virginia State Police”
“Virginia State Police is investigating a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred at 7:46 p.m. Sunday (July 14, 2024) on Rockfish Valley Highway in Nelson County.
A 2017 Harley-Davidson FXDLS was heading northbound on Rockfish Valley Highway, at the intersection with Glenthorne Loop, when the motorcycle went off of the right side of the road, struck the roadbed of Glenthorne Loop, went airborne, and struck a guardrail.
The driver of the motorcycle, Francis M. Saunders, III, 43, of Nellysford, Va., was thrown from the motorcycle. He was transported to an area hospital where he later died of his injuries. Saunders was wearing a helmet.
The crash remains under investigation.
Matthew Demlein
Public Relations Manager
Virginia State Police”
Original release at 11:10 AM – 7.16.24
“Virginia State Police is investigating a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred at approximately 8:10 p.m. Sunday (July 14, 2024) on Glenthorne Loop in Nelson County.
There was one fatality.
The crash remains under investigation.
This is all the information I have to release at this time.
Matthew Demlein
Public Relations Manager
Virginia State Police“
Project will improve safety, visibility by illuminating exit 99 interchange
in Augusta County
CULPEPER – The Virginia Department of Transportation plans to install lighting on Interstate 64 at exit 99 at the summit of Afton Mountain in Augusta County. At a design public hearing on July 16 the public will have the opportunity to view project plans, speak with members of the project team and provide comments.
The public hearing will be held at Kate Collins Middle School, 1625 Ivy Street, Waynesboro, VA, 22980, from 5-7 p.m. All comments received at the public hearing and during the 10-day comment period after the hearing will be reviewed by the project team and included in the public hearing record. In case of inclement weather, the hearing will be held on July 18.
This proposed project will involve installing lighting at the top of Afton Mountain around the I-64 exit 99 interchange to improve safety and visibility for motorists. Thirty-five pole-mounted lighting fixtures will be installed within the limits of the exit 99 interchange along I-64 and U.S. 250. The lighting will improve visibility where the interchange ramps connect with U.S. 250 (Three Notched Mountain Highway). This will assist motorists to navigate the interchange at night and during low-visibility conditions.
A visual impact study, conducted in coordination with the National Park Service, concluded that the planned lighting will have minimal impacts on most of the adjacent natural areas, including Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The LED light fixtures will be mounted on 25-foot-tall light poles within the highway right-of-way. The lights will have housings that direct the lighting downward toward the roadway and minimize unwanted light pollution.
This lighting project component is one of two safety improvement projects coming to Afton Mountain. The other improvement, which is under way, will install a congestion warning system on Interstate 64. The lighting project is anticipated to begin in spring 2025 and estimated to be completed by fall 2025.
More information is available on the project web page: www.vdot.virginia.gov/projects/culpeper-district/interstate-64-afton-mountain-safety-improvements/. Project information, including the National Environmental Policy Act document in the form of a Programmatic Categorical Exclusion, is available on the project web site, at the public hearing or at VDOT’s Culpeper District Office located at 1601 Orange Road, Culpeper, VA 22701, 540-829-7500, or 1-800-FOR-ROAD (367-7623). Please call ahead to ensure the availability of personnel to answer your questions. All work will be completed within the existing right of way. Tentative construction schedules may be reviewed at the above address and will be available at the public hearing.
Comments may be made at the hearing or submitted by July 26, 2024, to Ms. Caroline Awua-Mensah, Project Manager, Virginia Department of Transportation, 1601 Orange Road, Culpeper, VA 22701. You may also e-mail your comments to Caroline.Awua-Mensah@vdot.virginia.gov. Please reference “I-64 Interchange Lighting Comment” in the subject line.
To say the newly opened Bank Of The James (BOTJ) branch it’s a homecoming for Mike Manthey would be an understatement. “It was one of the major factors in me coming back. The commute to Charlottesville was a little tenuous and stressful on my growing family. It’s just great to be back and support the community that I originally started with.” You may remember Mike’s face way back 2004 and days of Wachovia, then Wells Fargo, when those banks operated in Nellysford. Mike was there until they closed. He then shifted to the WF Albemarle branches. He’s now the newly named VP and Branch Manager of BOTJ in Nellysford.
Mike is joined by long time banker Sarah Monahan. Sarah is the Universal Banker One Team Lead at the Nellysford branch.
Sarah’s face is likely familiar to people banking in the Amherst branch, or if you jump in the time machine way-way back, she once worked at Mac’s Market in Roseland before she later went into banking. She and her family live in the Lowesville area. “I’m excited, very excited to be working in the county I live in and seeing people I know.”
The decision to open in Nellysford wasn’t difficult says Brandon Farmer, Executive VP & Chief Operating Officer of BOTJ. “I think the attraction, we felt like, it was an under banked market, underbanked community with Wells pulling out and only having the UVA Credit Union there. We saw that as a great business opportunity.”
Brandon says unlike a lot of banking operations everyone on the inside is available to all. “Every door is open to every customer, from a branch manager to the CEO. We’ve already got some customers in the area, so it really helps to have a presence in the area. We’re really excited about the possibilities of all of the residents of Stoney Creek and Wintergreen, and all of the people that Mike knows.
