Happy 1st Birthday to The Botetourt Bee
One year ago today, The Botetourt Bee was born! The hum of the Botetourt Community.
It’s been a fun year and many thanks for your support. Yes. There is a sense of community here on our digital walls. Using our Facebook page as a portal, we have posted an easy way to the website. We have had thousands of individual users make our acquaintance and stick by us.
Here is a recap of some of our stories over the first year. All can be found on the website, thebotetourtbee.com. We never line a bird cage, but remain forever in easy access with a brief search and all of our stories will re-appear!
Interestingly, the Sheriff’s Dept. has garnered many of the biggest stories of the year. They include the retirement story of Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle, the candidates running for the Republican spot to replace him, the retirement story of Maj. Delbert Dudding, and the new Chief Deputy Maj. John Mandeville.
Other heavy hitters have been the painted snowblades painted by the elementary schools submitted by VDOT, the possibility of a PUD off Etzler Road, and Botetourt County moving the offices from Fincastle to Greenfield and the story of the passing of Fincastle Supervisor Jack Leffel.
The biggest personality story was Jesse Hanson and his football scholarship to VA Tech. Happy stories included the new YMCA, the Addie Grace All Abilities Playground at the Y, Football at LBHS on the trip to the state semi -final, the LBHS volleyball repeat state championship, FFA at any of the secondary schools made you proud, the Carnival, Botetourt County Fair and the Sunflower Festival rounded out many of your favorite things.
Our associated staff Anita Firebaugh, Courtney Henderson, Priscilla Richardson and sports by Thomas Ayers have brought out continued hits throughout the year. We say thank you from all of us!
The most shares on FB, Sheriff Candidate Matt Ward, hands down. Most comments: The possibility of the PUD, anything about VDOT and especially Exit 150/ I -81, Sheriff candidate Matt Ward, the saga of Troutville resident Joe Sell and his illness and transplants. Fire and EMS information has brought notice each time posted.
Every month school board meetings bring interest as well as the Board of Supervisors. Much interest continues in the new Colonial School construction.
As for business, Botetourt citizens love local businesses. Stories about the banks, the new local business and the old, are acknowledged by our readers. The new Sheetz opens today and has many fans and a few not so happy readers. From the Botetourt Farmers Market, to local eateries, to Food Lion and the grand re-opening, Botetourt has read all about them! The biggest new business story of the year, hands down, Donnie D’s Bagels. It beat out by a landslide anything over in Greenfield Center. Donnie is tangible!
In Botetourt, everyone loves a bear. The Kroger bear story had plenty of hits and FB comments. Eagles are big as well.
Most recently, the Central Academy Middle School garden and the donation to the Botetourt Food Pantry has been a big community builder as have the stories addressing the upcoming 250th anniversary of Botetourt County.
Submitted photos? Snow fascinates our citizens. Our pet contest had a wide variety of loved animals. The favorite videos we posted included our patreon video, the football videos, the Botetourt Fair horse pulling video and the video of kids at Cloverdale Elementary running and raising money for the school playground. Band videos from both high schools were very big as well.
You can support The Botetourt Bee by joining our Patreon. We do not charge you for all the coverage, but we like any business, need funds to run. Patreon basic info is any donation from $3 per month on up, secure and Patreon sends you a receipt each month via email. Please consider it! www.patreon.com/thebotetourtbee
We are seven days per week and have reasonable rates for advertising and as stated before if you advertise on our page even searches bring up your ads! Contact advertise@thebotetourtbee.com.
We encourage more reader submissions. Submit@thebotetourtbee.com
The Botetourt Bee belongs to the community. Beginning the second week of August we will hold a photo contest to find your favorite spot that represents Botetourt County. Later today, we will run the first Mountain Breeze from August 1, 2018. It covers our launch and we have tried to stick to it. Going to try to stick to it for year two as well.
Thank you readers!
Cathy Benson, Editor, Reporter, Photographer thebotetourtbee.com
