August 1, 2023 in Local News Reading Time: 1 min read.

July 18, 2023 in Sports News Reading Time: 2 mins read.

July 11, 2023 in Golf, Sports News Reading Time: 6 mins read.

I’m on a list to receive e-mails from a guy named Josh Barton, who puts out odds and results of polls on all kinds of sports. I don’t know how I got on the list but I get a couple or more e-mails from Barton at www.BetOnline.ag every single day and they’re usually interesting to look at.

Buck Ellis of Roanoke, originally from Franklin County, scored his first ever hole-in-one on Saturday, June 24, at the annual James River High School Football Golf Tournament. Ellis used a 48 degree “gap wedge” on the Par 3, Number 10 hole at the Ashley Plantation golf course. This shot also won Buck the closest to the pin award for the tournament and his team finished third overall.

Meredith Wells, a 2020 graduate of Lord Botetourt High School, had a solid year in her first season pitching for the Elon University softball team. Meredith was second on the team with a 3.96 earned run average and won four games for the Phoenix, who went 22-26 overall. Meredith appeared in 28 games, starting 12. She pitched 92 innings, which was also second on the team and she picked up one save in relief. Meredith was a junior this past season after transferring from James Madison University after her sophomore year. The rising senior is majoring in Public Health.

Botetourt County citizens made their choice last Tuesday for the Republican nominees in the primary elections for November’s Board of Supervisors. Dr. Mac Scothorn, incumbent candidate in the Valley District, received nearly 70% of the votes, defeating opponent Robert Young. In Blue Ridge, Walter Michael (58%) won the nomination over incumbent Blue Ridge District Supervisor Billy Martin.

Botetourt County Fire & EMS held their second annual, award-winning Girls’ Fire Camp last Saturday at Lord Botetourt High School in Daleville. Campers participated in various activities that included a crawl maze, tying knots for special rescue operations, a zip line demonstration, relay races, fire hose operations, and more.

In May, multiple locations in Botetourt County were given the “Endangered Site” classification by the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation (RVPF). Some of the properties listed are The Rader-Muse Bank Barn and The Rader House in Troutville and the Peck-Figgatt House in Fincastle. The RVPF is a nonprofit organization...

A Fourth of July celebration takes place in Fincastle this Tuesday night at Breckinridge Elementary School. The town has hired the services of professional fireworks company Master Display once again this year. The town welcomes friends and families to join in on the festivities. Fireworks donations can be made by donation checks to Town of Fincastle, P.O. Box 250, Fincastle, Va., 24090 or by contributing to the event using Venmo to @townof-fincastle. Donations will also be accepted that evening at Breckinridge.

A Botetourt County grand jury returned 37 indictments against 22 individuals in June:. Richard Nathaniel Crawford of Buchanan, driving under the influence, third offense;. • Page Louise Curry of Conway, S.C., possession with intent to distribute MDMA, transporting drugs in Virginia, manufacturing marijuana, possession of a firearm with drugs. Timothy...

Carter Smith has won the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Vito Perriello Citizenship Award. It is a $1,000 scholarship given by the VHSL to two people in the entire state each year and he was selected this year. Only students that work with their school’s athletic trainers are eligible. Smith has worked with Tracey Driscoll at Lord Botetourt High School for the past four years. He is the son of Lisa and Todd Smith of Blue Ridge and is headed to East Tennessee State University this year.

Ainsley Simmons, a rising senior at Randolph College is Mountain Castle Soil & Water Conservation District’s (MCSWCD) new summer intern. Simmons has taken on the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP) for the district. The program encourages stormwater management through cost-share programs that provide financial incentives to property owners installing...

Botetourt County middle schools have released the following honor rolls for the fourth nine-week grading period:. EIGHTH GRADE: Reilly Eason, Brennan Firebaugh, Richard Francis, Brooklyn Hayslett, Jay Hipes, Louisa Jamison, Ayden Jennings, Kristen Kessler, Cheyenne King, Rhaya Kitt, Joran Little, Jeremiah Mays, Brennen Monaghan, Kyleigh Napier, Brianna Patterson, Stacy Plumb, Ryleigh Scott, Gillian Smith, Vivian Vernon, Mark Voight, Samuel Wilson.

The Botetourt County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution met in the Family Life Center of Fincastle United Methodist Church for their annual June luncheon. Family members, prospective members and guests joined the DAR members for this meeting. The guest speaker for the meeting was DAR Sister Ren...

The Buchanan Lions Club has recently welcome three new members. From left are Lion Andre Peery (District Gov. representative), new Lions Susan Bratcher, Audrey Clark and Mark Lindsey, and Buchanan Lions First Vice President Tim Heinlein. The Lions Club International has several focus points, two of them being vision assistance, and diabetes education. Another big focus for the Buchanan Lions is community service. With that, members also participate in James River water testing, assisting with the Buchanan Food Pantry, the Ironman Race, Solomon’s Mission, Buchanan Theatre, and many other local events.

This hand-painted plate shows St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Springwood (1885-1967). It was donated to the Botetourt History Museum by John and Ruby Leighton. The Rev. Robert A. McRae’s book “Sentinels of the Faith” provides further information about the history of this church and other Botetourt houses of worship. On page 175, McRae’s research tells that the church’s congregation dates back to 1815. Originally, it was “Jackson Lutheran Church and became St. Mark’s during the 1880s after the area name also changed from Jackson to Springwood. The land on which St. Mark’s stands today was donated to the Jackson Lutheran Church congregation by Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Obenshain.” Since 1967 the building has not been used but is still standing on a hill.

The Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office reported the following arrests for June 20-24: Joshua P. Greenway, 38, of Fincastle, property damage, violation of a protective order; June 20. Kevin R. Moran, 38, of Buchanan, driving under the influence, June 23. Christopher K. Wagner, 40, of Roanoke, giving false identity to...

At its general membership meeting on June 1, American Legion Post 240 in Daleville elected its new slate of officers who will serve through May 31, 2024. They are (from left) Warren Bennett, Commander; Dennis Craft, 1st Vice Commander; Ed Bennett, 2nd Vice Commander; John Thomas, Finance Officer; and Ken Bagnasco, Adjutant. District 9 Commander Daniel Garrett swore in the new officers, who will continue the post’s fine tradition of serving veterans in the surrounding areas.

Lapsleys Run Baptist Church will celebrate the annual Homecoming Day on Sunday, July 9. The morning service will begin at 11 a.m. with the message from the pastor, the Rev. David W. Halsey, Sr. Lunch will be served following the morning service. The afternoon service will begin at 2 p.m....