Thanks those who contributed to concert success to benefit BAMA Food Pantry
Editor:
On behalf of the Buchanan Area Ministerial Association (BAMA) Food Pantry, we would like to thank those who supported our Nashville Night concert on October 8.
Over $17,500 was raised, every penny of which goes to fund the food pantry in Buchanan.
Many helped to make the night a success. A huge thank you goes out to Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Shane McAnally, Matt Jenkins and Josh Osborne, who give their time, talents and resources to help to feed those in need in Botetourt County.
Many thanks also to the James River Key Club who sponsored the event and volunteered that evening. The Bank of Botetourt once again donated a cash prize for the winner of the food donation raffle.
Thanks, too, to the many community volunteers who worked to make Nashville Night a fun and profitable evening.
Nashville Night would not have been such a success without those of you who bought tickets and brought food donations. A heartfelt thanks to each of you.
Who would have believed seven years ago that folks would line up at 3:30 in the morning to buy tickets to an event in Buchanan? But that’s what happens when you have a hometown boy who becomes a big star in Nashville and wants to give back to his hometown.
Thank you again, Matt Ramsey and friends.
Liz Provost and Sherry Crumley
BAMA Food Pantry
Botetourt Farmers Market completes best season ever
Editor:
The Botetourt Farmers Market would like to sincerely thank the community, vendors, volunteers and sponsors for an outstanding season. The 2017 season was our best ever!
Botetourt Farmers Market is a completely volunteer-run 501c3 organization, and its mission is to offer locally produced food and goods to the community, promote agritourism, and provide other farm-related educational and charitable activities to Botetourt County.
In addition to being blessed with great weather all year, we had 38+ unique vendors (including five new food/farmer vendors), and two food trucks that participated throughout the season. Customer counts during the summer averaged close to 300 adults each Saturday, and our biggest event of the season, Kids’ Day, had over 900 people in attendance! We also enacted a customer loyalty card program, which improved our ability to track spending. We estimate that approximately $20,000 in revenues were spent at our market, with local farmers, food and craft artisans– keeping those revenues in our community.
We would like to thank our many loyal customers, volunteers and sponsors who substantially contributed to help make this community resource viable. Special thanks go out to: Daleville Town Center and the Daleville Institute, Fralin & Waldron Inc, Town Center Tap House and Tizzone Restaurants, Patrick Team Homes, Bank of Botetourt, the Bank of Fincastle, and a handful of private donors, as well as advisors and board members, including myself, Kimberly Lunsford, Jules Sowder, Molly Henry, Sarah Staton, Helen Tippie, Stephanie Rogol and our market manager, Kevin Roberts.
The community is at the heart of our mission, and we hope that you will continue to support, grow and enjoy the market for years to come. As we look forward to opening again next May, our goals are to continue increasing our customer base, vendor variety and to have more food and produce available throughout the entire season.
We also seek two new members to serve on the board of directors, and we respectfully request that Botetourt County officially work to participate with us, and include the Botetourt Farmers Market in our economic, agriculture and tourism agendas.
We welcome everyone’s support to help grow this wonderful and valuable community resource.
If you have interest in participating as a new vendor, board member, want to contribute in some way or attend the market next year, please contact us at BotetourtFarms@gmail.com, call 540-966-1313 or visit us at www.facebook.com/BotetourtFarmersMarket.
Dayna Patrick, President
Botetourt Farmers Market
Strongly endorses Dodson for unparalleled advancements during his tenure
Editor:
I am writing to strongly endorse re-election of Todd Dodson as county supervisor for the Amsterdam District.
The advancements made by Botetourt County during his four-year term on the Board of Supervisors are simply unparalleled in recent decades.
A partial listing of accomplishments includes:
Revitalization of Greenfield Industrial Park leading to the attraction of the Italian automotive components firm Eldor; attraction of Ballast Point Brewery;
expansion of Altec; creation of the most attractive shell building for industrial recruitment in Western Virginia;
relocation of the historic slave quarters and antebellum kitchen to an appropriate historical set-aside parcel in the park and appointment of a commission to recommend a proposal for the development of that historical set-aside area for future generations to enjoy;
attraction of the Virginia Community College Centralized Services Center to Daleville;
expansion of East Park Commerce Center where there have been expansions and job growth by Dynex America and Arkay Packaging as well as the location of Harkness Screens;
expansion of public safety capacity with the establishment of another full-time rescue squad to improve response time and upgrading of fire and rescue vehicles and equipment for both paid and volunteer units where needed;
maintaining an exceptionally good working relationship with the Virginia Department of Transportation while holding them accountable on activities ranging from improving rural roads to rebuilding of the Exit 150 interstate exchange;
playing a key role in ensuring that a state-of-the-art YMCA will be built to serve youth and families and provide pool access for school swim teams; ensuring adequate school system funding in a time of severe state funding shortfalls;
modernizing the County Planning Department and attracting professional staff leading to enhancements to the County Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance and creation of an innovative land use plan for Exit 150 redevelopment;
modernization of the county’s Tourism program;
enhancement of the County’s water and sewer utilities by joining the Western Virginia Water Authority and bringing Carvins Cove water to Greenfield, Daleville Town Center, and the county’s 220 growth corridor;
permit approval for the Rocky Ford Wind Farm which will create substantial county tax base and become the first utility scale wind powered electricity generating facility in the Commonwealth of Virginia;
recruiting and hiring perhaps the most qualified and productive county administrator and director of economic cevelopment in Virginia.
The Amsterdam District has a history of voting overwhelmingly for Republican candidates. Clearly this is a time to maintain that strong Republican record and re-elect an experienced and proven Republican candidate, Todd Dodson, to the Board of Supervisors.
John B. Williamson III
Buchanan
Clinton top choice for leadership on Board of Supervisors
Editor:
Steve Clinton is the top choice for leadership on the Board of Supervisors for Botetourt County.
In his former supervisor role in Botetourt County, Steve was instrumental in building up the community of the Town of Troutville. He was easily accessible, actively participated, supported, and made personal financial contributions to move our community forward.
With zero cost to Troutville and Botetourt County, citizens in our community created the first Strategic Plan for the Town of Troutville. This plan was unanimously endorsed by the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors.
Today the town enjoys its official designation as an Appalachian Trail Community. Now citizens can take even more pride in their community and businesses which invest in their future.
Just as Steve was instrumental in the creation of the Strategic Plan, he will continue to help take Botetourt County into a bright future.
Steve is a consummate professional who listens to the people and works hard for them with the experience, vision, and leadership style we can trust.
I urge you to vote for Steve Clinton on November 7.
Sybille Nelson
Former President of Together For Troutville
Clinton will bring experience, insight, attention to constituents
Editor:
I have known Steve Clinton for almost 20 years.
I would like to thank Mr. Clinton, a Citadel graduate, for his 26 years of military service and his 15 years of public service.
I have a very high regard for his intelligence and integrity.
I met him when he was serving on the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors with my husband. Mr. Clinton served for 15 years as the Amsterdam representative until his work obligations displaced him temporarily.
During his time on the board the groundwork was put in place for Botetourt to become an economically healthy county through thoughtful growth. I believe Botetourt is now reaping the benefits of Mr. Clinton’s actions. Rome was not built in a day.
Under Mr. Clinton’s tenure Botetourt increased from a single A bond rating to a double A bond rating (the only county of our size in the state to do so, very impressive in such a poor economic climate), Botetourt’s debt per capita was very low, and his constituency felt acknowledged. Mr. Clinton listened to his district’s concerns, answered their calls, and lobbied other supervisors in their interest.
Botetourt has a unique position in the history of our nation and the commonwealth, which Mr. Clinton appreciates.
In conclusion, Mr. Clinton would bring experience, insight, and attention to his constituents’ ideas and thoughts. I urge the people of the Amsterdam District to vote for Steve Clinton.
Kathy Stevens Austin
Buchanan
Asks letter-writer on 3-day tour to see candidate’s accomplishments
Editor:
Steve Parshall’s irresponsible letter of October 18 is brimming with utterly bogus claims. Let’s examine just one of them: He makes the breathtaking claim that I accomplished nothing for Botetourt County during my 15 years on the Board of Supervisors.
I cordially invite Mr. Parshall to accompany me on a three-day tour of Botetourt County. The tour will include approximately 45 stops of about 30 minutes each, with each stop representing a facility or an initiative for which I played a material role, and often the leading role.
Here is the itinerary:
Day One, Accomplishments by Steve Clinton, Northern Botetourt County:
The new Eagle Rock Library;
The Craig-Botetourt Regional Jail;
The Additions to the Fincastle Library;
The Emergency Operations Center;
Improvements to the wastewater treatment plant in Fincastle;
The archives describing my lead role in settling long-standing dysfunctions between the schools and the county. (The archives will thoroughly disprove Parshall’s completely false version of the event. I fixed a problem that had existed long before I was on the board. No one had been able to fix it previously. I arrived on the scene. I fixed it.);
The additions and renovations to James River High School;
New Press Box at James River High School;
The kiosks and boat ramps comprising the Blue Water Trail along the entire James River in Botetourt; Buchanan Park.
Day Two, Accomplishments by Steve Clinton, Central Botetourt County (Part I):
The roadway intersection improvements at Route 11 and Blue Ridge Turnpike;
The Town of Troutville, where I helped organize and carry out Troutville’s strategic plan, which in turn led to, among other things, improvements at Troutville Town Park;
Improvements at Exit 150, for which I provided engineering expertise during critical phases of development, and for which I participated in numerous public information meetings;
Press Box at Lord Botetourt High School;
Realignment of Valley Road, using revenue sharing funds;
Improvements at water systems at Dal-Nita Hills, Wetherwood, and Daleville;
Improvements to the storm water drainage system at Tinkerview Gardens;
Renovations at Lord Botetourt High School;
Safety improvements along the length of Glebe Road;
The convenience center at the landfill.
Day Three, Accomplishments by Steve Clinton, Central Botetourt (Part II):
Back to Fincastle to review archives documenting my lead role in initiating the county’s first strategic plan, and in developing the action plans resulting therefrom;
Further archive review documenting the two major increases in the county’s bond rating while I was on the Board and the budget committee;
Improvements to Deerfield Road;
Widening of Country Club Road;
Improvements to the Greenfield water system;
Botetourt Sports Complex at Greenfield;
Cherry Blossom Trail at Greenfield;
Extension of International Parkway at Greenfield;
Pad-ready site at Greenfield, making possible Eldor;
Improvements to the intersection of Catawba Road and Etzler Road
That will conclude the tour, but if time permits, I will show Mr. Parshall how I managed to make all of the above-listed investments in the county, while still keeping taxes low and building the county’s fund reserves. I was able to do that because of my four decades of business experience – something that Parshall’s friend, Todd Dodson, totally lacks.
Upon request, I will take Parshall on a second tour, showing him more than $100,000,000 in private industry investment that I helped bring to Botetourt County. In return, I ask that he show proof of his preposterous claim that I wasted $10,000,000 at Greenfield.
RSVP close of business November 6.
Steve Clinton
Daleville
Appreciates Dodson as valued member of current board
Editor:
I would like to thank the Botetourt Board of Supervisors, under the leadership of Dr. “Mac” Scothorn, and to strongly urge all voters in the Amsterdam District of the county to vote for Todd Dodson, who has been a valued member of this exceptional group.
As a resident of The Glebe for the past 12 years, I am well aware of what wonderful work this board has accomplished with the current members – a huge change from the board eight years ago!
Just consider the following: jobs, School Board support, new industries, construction of Exit 150 (with virtually no delays in traffic during the work,) building of the “Y,” further development of the beautiful Daleville Town Center, working to rid Daleville of the “ugly” Catawba Road/220 intersection (something the previous board prevented by not allowing a wonderful business to build on that corner and to pay for intersection improvement.)
The current board is fully aware of The Glebe’s contribution to the county as a huge economic driver, employer of many staff members (including young people from Lord Botetourt High School,) endless hours of community service in local churches, schools, food pantries, medical clinics, road cleanup, voter registration and election day, donations from Glebe programs to all the rescue squads, volunteer fire squads, fraternal organizations, Red Cross and also the many cultural programs offered free to the community. The previous board tried to stymie The Glebe instead of realizing its valuable contributions and to understand the tremendous positive economic effect it has on the county.
We totally appreciate Todd Dodson as a valuable member of our current great Board of Supervisors (and we want to keep him!). God bless our board. Thus, we urge all concerned Amsterdam district voters to cast their vote for this wonderful gentleman.
Carole Edwards
Daleville
Dodson has supported Troutville
Editor:
I have had the opportunity to know and work with Todd Dodson for four years now. He is a straightforward, honest, Christian man.
Todd has come to the Town of Troutville in support of different functions in the Troutville Park.
I do not live in the Amsterdam District; however, I would encourage voting for Todd Dodson.
W. David Horton,
Mayor, Town of
Troutville
Challenges School Board candidate taking credit for advanced welding lab
Editor:
In a “vote for me because of all the things I have done” political advertisement disguised as a Letter to the Editor in your October 11 edition, one of the candidates hopeful of success on November 7 took credit for there now being an advanced welding lab at Botetourt Technical Education Center.
I emailed all of the members of the board of the Botetourt Education Foundation, who worked long and hard with no monetary compensation and paying their own expenses, so that, if they had not seen the ad, they might be made aware of this new participant.
Early the next morning I received a call from the candidate in which she said she had “heard” I was upset about what I perceived to be the School Board taking credit for having “established an advanced welding lab that is also an official testing site for the American Welding Society.”
She apologized and told me it was never her intention to leave that impression on anyone. (Query: If you are writing a letter to highlight your accomplishments in an effort to be re-elected, what other intention could there be?)
She also noted that her letter pointed out that the School Board works jointly with the Education Foundation.
When I responded that my copy of The Fincastle Herald made no mention of the Education Foundation, except in reference to the CCAP program, she said her copy had that reference in it, so maybe it was mistakenly left out?
Nevertheless, I suggested to her that she might write a Letter to the Editor apologizing to all who made the advanced welding lab a reality and giving credit where credit is due.
I saw her October 18 letter advertisement and it comes nowhere near to being an apology!
Instead, it is a weak effort to cover the conceit as it continues to take credit for the mechatronics lab, for which credit had already been taken in the previous advertisement, as being “another accomplishment that should be added to our (the School Board) list.”
In this letter she bestows thanks upon many.
Why is it that one of the very few times thanks is given is when a vote is needed?
In so doing, she thanks “our delegate to the General Assembly” without naming which one.
All of us very much appreciate Terry Austin for his efforts to obtain funding for the mechatronics lab, the advanced welding lab, and for a long list of things he has done for Botetourt County.
In passing out thanks and not seeking a vote, a myriad of gratitude to The Fincastle Herald for the extensive coverage it has given to the Botetourt Education Foundation from the beginning until the completion as it installed the advanced welding lab at BTEC.
Bob Patterson, President
Botetourt Education Foundation
Vision 2040 of Gateway Center bold, but achievable
Editor:
Exit 150 is a gateway not only to Botetourt County, but to the entire Roanoke Valley, the Shenandoah Valley, Central Virginia, and the Virginia Highlands.
It is the starting point for visitors in search of scenic beauty, history, culture, outdoor adventures, and shopping.
Economic development and land use policies and programs facilitate the area as a destination all its own. It is a nucleus of premier retailers, restaurants, and entertainment luring travelers off the highway and visitors from throughout the region.
Through design and dedicated effort, it serves as the glue that economically and physically unites all areas of our county and that extends opportunity to all.
That is the description in the Board of Supervisors 2040 Vision, which I have written about throughout all my letters during this campaign, of the Gateway Center, an area we designated that stretches from Kroger in Daleville to the railroad overpass along 220 and from the old Cash Building Supply property to the railroad bridge over Route 11, and linked to the Daleville Town Center.
The re-design of Exit 150 presented a once in a generation opportunity for Botetourt County to change our “front door.” And it was an opportunity to re-brand the county. During my military service, the most common question asked is “Where are you from?” I would always proudly reply “Botetourt County, Virginia,” which would prompt a follow-up question of “Where is that?” I would explain that I lived about 10 miles from the truckstop on I-81 north of Roanoke. Because most military members travel I-81 going to or from Washington, D.C., and almost everyone knew where the truckstop was.
The VDOT project has given us the biggest and most important opportunity for economic development: to create a destination exit in Botetourt, something that cannot be found anywhere along I-81 in Virginia.
The Gateway Center vision describes a destination that includes new hotels with the space to host small to mid-sized conventions, wedding receptions and functions, not to compete with Hotel Roanoke, but to capture a market that is underserved in the Roanoke Valley.
The vision also includes new and diverse restaurants that span from counter service to full service, so people coming to the Gateway Center from Roanoke and travelers off the interstate have a great choice.
And the vision includes a variety of retail choices that give us more choices and attract people to new and different shopping venues. And lastly, the Gateway Center vision includes an entertainment venue that includes greenspace, walking areas and family friendly areas for enjoying our great county.
And all of this will be tied together with the county’s greenways, so it is walk-able, ride-able and pedestrian friendly.
Our Gateway Center will also capture the athletes and families who are here to use the Sports Complex, instead of slipping back to Roanoke for lodging.
It will also be a place to stay and eat for people who are kayaking the James, hiking the Appalachian Trail or visiting the county’s diverse historical sites. And it will still support our transportation industry with easy interstate access and key services.
Our vision is bold but achievable, it will take new partnerships as well as current ones and it will take the longest of all our goals to see fulfilled. But it is an enormous opportunity to grow our lodging, meals and sales tax base. And it would be tax revenue that is not tied to your property tax or real estate tax.
Lastly, the Greenway Center vision is more than a place for us to eat and shop, or for travelers to spend the night. It is a tax revenue that represents future school facilities, a future library, a future satellite Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department in Daleville and the personnel to continue to keep us safe and improve our quality of life. That is what makes this such an important opportunity – because what it can bring to our county.
Todd L. Dodson
Amsterdam District
Board of Supervisors
Clinton will return board to citizen-centered
Editor:
I urge voters in Botetourt’s Amsterdam District to vote for Steve Clinton for supervisor. Steve will return the Board of Supervisors to the citizen-centered, open and transparent policies that existed during his 15 years on the board.
I rarely missed attendance at a board meeting while Clinton was Amsterdam supervisor because I always felt welcome and validated. I always felt that the board was conducting its business openly and transparently.
Once Mr. Clinton’s term was complete and Todd Dodson arrived on the scene, the atmosphere changed. The board sheltered itself in excessive closed sessions. It became indifferent and discourteous to citizens. It ended monthly disclosure of county financial information, shielding the disclosure with a “consent agenda.”
I eventually stopped going to board meetings. The spirit of citizen inclusion was gone. With Dodson’s arrival, it had been replaced with indifference, secrecy and even intimidation.
Steve Clinton will reverse this erosion of representative government. It is critical that we get him back on the Botetourt board!
Alvin M. Thacker
Daleville
Supports Dodson as a team player to make Botetourt a better county
Editor:
I am supporting Todd Dodson for re-election for the Board of Supervisors. I’ve worked with Todd for the past four years.
I’m not going to tell you all the things he has accomplished over the past four years. I will say, however, that Todd is a team player and it takes a team to be successful.
Todd was an officer in the Green Berets who led a team to fight for America. He is now on a team that is working to make Botetourt County the most successful county in Virginia. Todd retired as a full colonel. You don’t attain that rank unless you are on the ball and are able to lead. I’ve watched and listened to his ideas and suggestions for four years.
He is an intelligent young man with good ideas and energetic enough to get them completed. He has proven himself on the Board of Supervisors and I would like to have him on this team for another four years.
Both candidates are good men but Todd Dodson is my choice.
Billy Martin
Blue Ridge Supervisor
utville
Clinton true servant of the people
Editor:
I have known Steve Clinton for a number of years, and like myself, he is an engineer and had a career owning and operating a local architectural and engineering firm.
His proven business experience brings a much-needed business mind to the table and a logical and meticulous thinker. Beyond his business background as a credential, he also has proven himself to be a true “servant of the people.”
He exhibited this while previously serving as a Board of Supervisors’ member, but more notably, Steve stood with the people when he was not on the board.
He is the only elected official, either current or previous, that stood with the citizenry in attempting to save the historical site of the Greenfield Plantation slave kitchen. He not only intervened on their behalf, he had logical solutions that would have allowed the site to remain and still accommodate future economic development.
Botetourt needs elected officials that represent the people, have a strong business background and a candidate that offers creative and logical solutions to the issues the county will face.
John A. Garland
Roanoke City Council Member
Roanoke
