Cathy Benson | The Botetourt View

Grace Blaylock and Kelly Dill have been friends, teammates and in class together for years.

"Kelly and Grace" go together in many sentences spoken about the two LBHS seniors -- Kelly Dill is the Valedictorian and Grace Blaylock one of the Salutatorians of the Class of 2009. They met on an AAU basketball team, the Botetourt Volunteers, when they were in the fourth grade. Said Blaylock, "We have been in every class together since fifth grade."

Both have the two highest averages in the senior class that are over 4.0 because of the weighted classes and Governor's school they have taken in high school. With graduation they go their different ways after years of watching each other's back in Governor's school and playing basketball together up until the past season. Dill didn't play this year.

Blaylock had a superb season in basketball and Dill stayed on top of the class.

Next year Blaylock will attend UNC Asheville on a basketball scholarship and study pre med to be a family practice physician or a pediatrician. Dill will head to UVA to study pre med in hopes of becoming a plastic surgeon. As far as after graduation immediate plans, Blaylock will head to summer school at UNC and Dill is going to Singapore and Japan to visit family. Best friends now head into the world in different directions but plan to keep in touch.

International Day at Greenfield Elementary School

The students at Greenfield spent Friday, June 5, visiting exhibits and learning about other cultures.

Even the Vikings arrived to talk about their part in exploring the world and conquering a bit of it, too! Pearl Fu of Local Colors had a beautiful display on China. Foreign foods were served and art projects helped along by LBHS foreign language students.

The Book Bag Santa Gary Hunt was there, and principal Beth Umbarger and her son Jake will go with him to distribute back packs and school supplies in Belize at the end of July. To donate to the project contact Gary Hunt at 342-2083.

Trades students shed

Phillip Simmons submitted the following information about a utility shed built by the second year Building Trades Students of Botetourt Technical Education Center:

The second year Building Trades Students of Botetourt Technical Education Center are proud to announce the opportunity for you to own a nice 12' x 16' utility shed and for them to sell a top notch product they have constructed with their own hands.

The building is constructed from the following materials:

2x6 treated floor system with 6x6 treated runners

¾ inch Advantech floor sheathing with a 50 year product warranty

2x4 wall system on 16-inch centers

½ inch OSB wall sheathing

Recycled window unit that students constructed a new jamb and trim

Shop built double doors with a seven foot opening

3/8 inch Kames Hardy cement plank siding

2x4 rafters and ceiling joist

½ inch OSB roof sheathing w/ 30LB roofing felt underlayment paper

30-year architectural shingles

Vent-a-ridge system for roofing ventilation

Electrical outlets protected by a GFI

Ceiling light

All this building needs is a coat of paint and a new home. We will be taking sealed bids until the 19th of June with the bid opening on Monday, June 22. You are welcome to come by BTEC and look at the building. It will be the responsibility of the purchaser to move the building.

If you would like to bid on this nice building, please send or bring your bid in a sealed envelope addressed to:

Utility building Sealed Bid
Botetourt Technical Education Center
253 Poor Farm Road
Fincastle, Va. 24090

Cosmetology grads

Seventeen James River and Lord Botetourt students have completed two years in the BTEC Cosmetology Program and many are now licensed Cosmetologists. To qualify for permission to take the Virginia State Board Exam for Cosmetology, the students must complete all hands on and test requirements set by the State of Virginia. They then will be tested at BTEC by State Board Examiners on the hands on (practical) part of their State Board but must go to Roanoke to take the theory part of the exam. All 17 students have passed the practical part of their exam, 10 students have passed the theory exam, and the remaining seven students have scheduled their theory test. Nine of the students are working in area salons including Mane Perfection, Hair Plus, and Smart Styles. Eleven have made plans to attend college and will be working in salons while attending. Phyllis Pratt, their teacher, states, "This has been an exceptional class with a very good work ethic and good people skills. I am extremely proud of them."

The names of the graduates from Cosmetology are: Amanda Anderson, Anne Marie Boothe (working at Hair Plus), Amanda Bridges (working at Mane Perfection), Whitney Burton, Brooke Caldwell (working at Great Impressions), Mallory Denison (working at Hair Plus), Rachel Frantz (working at Smart Styles/Bonsack), Brittany Fridley (working at Mane Perfection), Meagan Hale, Brittany Hildreth, Jessica Jones, Stephanie Lawson (working at Smart Styles/Valley View), Samantha Matherly, Ashley Sawyer (has been hired at Hair Plus), Brittany Wilson, Samantha Wu (working at Hair Plus), and Amber Young.