Registration for after school and before school care programs are now open in our region.

Noelle Shelton died unexpectedly this month and now, her loved ones are celebrating her life

BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. – Botetourt County’s brand-new Colonial Elementary School is filled with top-notch technology; however, just over a week ago, stepping into the school was like stepping back in time as the school was off the grid for a month. She worked with county leaders, Blue Ridge Towers and BriscNet to come up with a fix and found a temporary solution, a portable tower. A temporary, portable internet tower sits in the parking lot of the new Colonial Elementary School in Botetourt County. It’s as important as water, as electricity, as natural gas, as the septic system,” said Botetourt County Administrator Gary Larrowe. “We have about 85% of the individuals being served right now, but we still have people that aren’t,” said Dr. Mac Scothorn, who chairs both the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors and the Botetourt Broadband Commission.

But a school resource officer was able to help lift the kid’s spirits. Thursday morning, Principal Tammy Riggs said the kindergartener got dropped off at Colonial Elementary School, but he immediately got upset. That’s when the school’s resource officer, Deputy Andrew Morris, came over to help, laying down on the floor right beside the boy. “My biggest goal as a resource officer is to let people see past the uniform,” said Morris. The little boy got up, talked with the principal, went back to class and ended up having a good day.

BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. – Bigger and brighter. That’s what students saw as they walked into the new Colonial Elementary School. Monday marked day one in the new building, something nearly a decade in the making. I’m pretty excited to go here as the first day of school,” said fifth-grader Mason Scott. At the new school, there’s also a special place dedicated to the old building, which includes a replica of the old school, the original slate shingles and lots of photos.

BLUE RIDGE, Va. – It’s the end of an era for Botetourt County students. Colonial Elementary School in Blue Ridge rang the final bell at its old building Friday afternoon. Students will move further down Route 460 to a brand-new building when they return from remote learning in two weeks. Principal Tammy Riggs says she has pushed for a new school complex for a decade because the old Colonial building is too small for the growing student population. The elementary school has been in the same building since 1939, and Riggs said it is emotional to leave it behind.

Feeding Southwest Virginia will open a Pop-up Mobile Food Distribution site today in Franklin County. The Roanoke and Alleghany Health Districts hold a drive-thru COVID-19 testing clinic today. The New River Health District holds drive-thru flu shot clinics today. Tomorrow, the Pittsylvania-Danville Health District holds a flu vaccine clinic from 8 a.m. to noon at the Danville Community Market. It will hold a drive-thru appreciation event today at the school from noon to 1 p.m.

BLUE RIDGE, Va. – One staff member tested positive for coronavirus at Colonial Elementary School. Botetourt County Public Schools announced on Sunday that the elementary school will remain open during this time since the staff member wasn’t on school ground this past week. They said they have been working with the health department to identify staff members who may have come in contact with the confirmed case while on school premises. Officials said no students were deemed as close contacts or had any potential exposure to the staff member. They said they have been working with the health department to identify staff members who may have come in contact with the confirmed case while on school premises.