Hot Springs & Monterey, VA

Battlefield preservation planning on fast track BY JAMES JACENICH + STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - After two years of often heated discussion, it looks like the McDowell Battlefield will finally get a preservation plan - and it will be done over the course of five meetings. More ... Ashwood school to host archaeological dig BY CHARLES GARRATT + STAFF WRITER       ASHWOOD - Young people will have an opportunity to explore the history of the nearly 100--year-old Ashwood school and learn about archaeology next Friday at a field day sponsored by 4-H. The archaeology field day will continue the explorations and discoveries made by Pat Broyles and Dean Humphri... More ... School renovation will test patience, principal says BY TYLER DIAMOND + CONTRIBUTING WRITER       HOT SPRINGS - Construction is under way at Bath County High School. With more than $8.9 million earmarked for renovations, the final results are anticipated to be high-quality improvements. More ... Ryder returns as Bath planner       HOT SPRINGS - Former Bath County planner Sherry Ryder has been hired by supervisors to assume that role again next month. Ryder served as Bath's planner from 2003-05, and has most recently been working in the office of Bath attorney Peter Judah. More ... Employees shift at Bath schools       WARM SPRINGS - Following a closed session to discuss personnel, the Bath County School board voted Tuesday to make two appointments and accept one resignation. The board appointed Amy Gwin to the position of bookkeeper/secretary at Bath County High School. Gwin will replace Donna Campagna, who i... More ... On the agenda       Bath County Public Schools June 26, 2007, 7:30 p.m. - Regular meeting Superintendent's report - Presentations/reports: Career & Technical Education Report, April Goff; Comprehensive Plan Development Presentation, Dr. More ... Contractors be aware: State permits required BY CHARLES GARRATT + STAFF WRITER       HOT SPRINGS - Contractors and developers already familiar with erosion and sedimentation plans found out about Virginia regulations for managing stormwater during construction at a presentation in Hot Springs Monday. More ... New athletic/recreation director job supported       MONTEREY - A combined athletic/recreation director position was supported by Highland supervisors last week, but how the job's duties would be filled and how its salary would be paid remains undecided. On a 2-1 vote, the Highland County Board of Supervisors approved a request from Highland Coun... More ...      Second Saturday on Mill Alley Courtyard witnessed the opening of a new store - Mariah Boone. The custom, estate and vintage jewelry store is the second enterprise Tate Swecker has opened in Monterey in the past year. Mariah Boone, named for Swecker's grandmothers, will focus on jewelry, while Sweck... More ... Area artists showcase watercolors      Monterey's Barbara Hevener captured the essence of a barn in her watercolor, "Country Barn Exercise." More ... Climbin' the vine: Bath theatre wows crowd      The 2007 Bath County Missoula Children's Theatre presented two showings of the musical "Jack and the Beanstalk" Saturday, June 16, with a cast complete with giant Mexican jumping beans, merchants and farmers, a three-ringed circus, and of course the characters Jack, his mother and cow, the giant and... More ...      Bath County Public Library began it's summer reading program last week with storyteller Barry Mines. Pictured are the very enthusiastic children who attended. For more information on remaining programs, call (540) 839-7286. (Photo courtesy Bath County Public Library) More ...       The Sundance Studio presented "In Concert at The Highland Center" Sunday. About 50 people attended. Proceeds from the concert help the Sundance Express clogging team attend the Clogging Beach Jam in Myrtle Beach, S.C. More ...      A special exhibit has opened at the Virginia Quilt Museum, Harrisonburg, featuring more than 50 pieces, including clothing, blankets, quilts, cloth and other bedcovers, along with a selection of related accoutrements. How did early settlers make their own cloth? Learn about real homespun and the dif... More ... Cowboys, cowgirls take to the trail in Doe Hill       The McDowell Volunteer Fire Department put on one of its annual trail rides during beautiful weather last Sunday in Doe Hill. Nearly 30 riders enjoyed a three and a half hour ride through the forest to the top of the mountain and back. More ... Highlander named Virginia Orchestra Director of the Year       McLEAN - Gretta F. Sandberg, orchestra director of McLean High School in McLean, and a part-time resident of Highland County, has been named the 2006-07 Orchestra Director of the Year by the Virginia Chapter of the American String Teachers Association. More ... Event planner hopes to be invited to parties BY JAMES JACENICH + STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - Gail Arnott wants to be invited to weddings and parties. The Highland native is starting a wedding and event planning business serving Bath and Highland counties. Arnott left her job at Hospice of the Highlands in Mitchelltown May 5, where she worked for two years with clients in the ... More ...      Susie Newlen of Blue Grass is the new owner of Highland Mountain Flowers in Monterey. A native of Highland County, Newlen has worked in the flower industry for 10 years. (Recorder photo by James Jacenich) More ...      The Beverage garden on Spruce Street is growing. Two weeks ago, gardener Conley Colaw finished planting. The showcase garden promises a bountiful harvest of color and a variety of vegetables before long. (Recorder photo by James Jacenich) More ...      Left, Chris Swecker, who graduated this year from James Madison University, stopped by the Highland County Arts Council summer camp to show students his Sculpey clay creations. Caroline Smith, arts camp director, is in the background and Josey Bolling is on the right. (Recorder photo by James Jaceni... More ... FSA acreage reporting deadlines approaching       LEXINGTON - The Rockbridge/Alleghany/Bath County Farm Service Agency reminds producers that acreage reports are now being accepted. The final reporting dates are as follows: Monday, July 2 - all other crops except small grains, tobacco, grain sorghum, hay, pasture, and soybeans. More ... What's blooming in Bath, Highland BY CHARLES GARRATT + STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - Mid- June begins the blooming season for many of the prettiest native orchids found in the Highlands. Large purple fringed orchid, platanthera grandiflora, is rare in the Highlands but can be found in both Bath and Highland counties. More ...      Arin Sime, Libertarian candidate for senator from the 24th district, stopped in Monterey on his figure-eight motorcycle tour of the district. Sime passed the site of the new Highland pool on his way into town from Bolar. "The pool is a wonderful testimony to the community," said Sime. "The pool show... More ... Bath reading club begins Library Notes Sharon Lindsay, Librarian, Bath County Public Library       WARM SPRINGS - June 20 marked the beginning of the free Summer Reading Club at the Bath County Public Library. Story teller Barry Mines will be here to captivate and entertain us. This year's program is titled, "Virginia Trails," and revolves around the 400th anniversary of the settling of Jamest... More ... Garden club watches 'Truth'       MONTEREY - The Monterey Garden Club held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 5, in the Mountain View Room of the Highland County Public Library. After the business meeting, the film, "An Inconvenient Truth," was shown. In the film, former vice president Al Gore presents his ideas on the cause a... More ... Event planner hopes to be invited to parties Read the Story... Man pleads guilty to bank robbery Read the Story... Vision for Bath's future satisfies county board Read the Story... This Week in Print Read the Story...