A closer view of the ring. —Courtesy of Diane Hennessy

On behalf of the Botetourt County Parks, Recreation & Tourism Department and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to those of you who contributed, volunteered and participated in the 2009 Botetourt Children's Fishing Carnival. Without your continued support, we would not be able to host this event on an annual basis. The weather may not be very consistent but the community support from the volunteers, sponsors and participants is unwavering.

For this, we again THANK YOU and look forward to hosting another successful event in 2010. Volunteers and Sponsors include but not limited to:

Bank of Botetourt, Gander Mountain, H & H Outdoors, Frito Lay, Buchanan Fire Dept and Rescue, Boblett's Plumbing, Harlow Insurance, Olde County Store, Hilltop Market, Blue Ridge Farm Center, Brugh's Mill Country Store, Old Buchanan Family Restaurant, Natural Bridge, North Star, Reddy Ice, Kroger, Camp Eagle, NWTF, Sunset Video, The Frame Shop, DJ's Produce, Austin Electric, Airgas, Mt. Joy, Orvis, Cahoon's Florist, Girl Scouts of America, Trout Unlimited and Boy Scouts of America.

Submitted by W. Shannon Smith, Virginia Conservation Officer, and Angie Crawford, Program Coordinator for Botetourt County

2009 Botetourt Childrens Fishing Carnival winners

Coloring Contest: Peyton Reese and Madison Helms

Goldfish Eating Contest 6 and under: Leah Germain

Goldfish Eating Contest 7 - 15: Taylor Campbell

Minnows Counting: Heather Sheridan

Worms Counting: Katelyn Newcomb

NWTF Jakes membership: Jordan Epperly

Turkey Call: Amanda Caldwell

Trout Unlimited 7 and under: Leah Germain

Trout Unlimited 8 and up: Matt Caldwell

Dover England flies: Kaleigh Wilhelm

Casting Competition 7-9 year olds: 1st - Devon Fowler, 2nd - Hayden Paskell, 3rd - Daniel Holter

Casting Competition 10-12 year olds: 1st - Brandon Ogle, 2nd - Jacob Herrell, 3rd - Brandon Lam

Casting Competion 13-15 year olds: 1st - Taylor Campbell, 2nd - Andrew Lee, 3rd - Blake Sawyer

Fish Factor: 7-9 year olds 1st - Caleb Smith, 2nd - Rachel Epperly, 3rd - Ethan Smith

Fish Factor 10-12 year olds: 1st - Mitchell Williamson, 2nd - Gavin Vess, 3rd - Travis McKinney

Fish Factor 13-15 year olds: 1st - Ian Corvin, 2nd - Jordan Epperly, 3rd - Caleb Corvin

Lord Botetourt grad contestant in Miss Virginia pageant

The Miss Virginia pageant will be at the Roanoke Civic Center this weekend and one of the contestants is Madison Van Duyne, a 2005 graduate of Lord Botetourt High School.

She is the daughter of Dale and Kathryn Beard of Fincastle, and Jon Van Duyne of Atlanta.

She's competed in the past as Miss Roanoke Valley and Miss Apple Blossom Festival; this year, she's competing as Miss Central Virginia.

Want to help Madison? The Miss Virginia pageant has an online voting component this year. Each vote costs 99 cents. After the field is narrowed to 10 finalists, the top Internet vote-getter is added as the 11th finalist. (If she's already in the Top 10, then the next highest vote-getter gets in.)

For more information, including a link to the voting, and more photos, see The Notebook on botetourtview.com

Class ring mystery

We have an update on the Botetourt class ring that was found near a pier in San Clemente, California. The ring says "Botetourt" and the finder originally thought the ring might have said 1987, leading to speculation it was a Lord Botetourt Class of '87 ring.

However, on closer inspection, the ring says 1937. However, there was no Lord Botetourt High School then, so which school was this from?

The finder, Diane Hennessy, shares these new photos. The word "Botetourt" is in the engraving on top of the jewel -- best seen in the image in the upper left. The initials inside the ring appear to be VEJ, but the script is faded and hard to read so possibly the letters are different. Any idea where this ring is from? If you think you know whose it is, call Rebecca Smith at the Fincastle Library at 473-8339. Hennessy originally called the library hoping to track down the owner.

Stoots gets master's from ESTU

Margaret L. Stoots of Cloverdale recieved a Master of Education, Educational Media and Educational Technology degree from East Tennessee State University on May 9.

Roanoke College graduates four from Botetourt

Four students from Botetourt graduated from Roanoke College on May 2.

They are:

Derrick Lucas Brookshier of Fincastle, son of Ricky and Patricia Brookshier, Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Business Administration. Derrick is a graduate of James River High School.

Natalie Marie Krause of Daleville, Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Business Administration, cum laude. Natalie is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School.

Mary Lou Campbell of Blue Ridge, Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Business Administration. Mary Lou is a graduate of Andrew Lewis High School.

Michael William Reichelt of Blue Ridge, son of Peggy Reichelt, Bachelor of Science with a major in Computer Science. Michael is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School.

Holland named to dean's list at Ferrum

Kelly Holland, a junior at Ferrum College, was placed on the Dean's List for the Spring Semester. To be named to the Dean's List, a student must achieve a GPA of 3.4 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Kelly, an agri-business major, was asked to serve as president of the Honors Agriculture Society, Delta Tau Alpha. She was also elected president of the Ferrum College Agriculture Club.

Kelly is the daughter of Barry and Cindy Holland of Buchanan and a 2007 graduate of James River High School.