Hot Springs & Monterey, VA

Jack Mountain wind permit denied Liberty Gap likely to appeal BY ANNE ADAMS • STAFF WRITER       FRANKLIN, W.Va. - It's counted as a victory, but the celebration will be brief. West Virginia's Public Service Commission has refused to grant a certificate for an industrial wind energy plant in Pendleton County. More ... Fish kill on river remains mystery 30% in Cowpasture show infection BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       MILLBORO - Fisheries biologist Paul Bugas is worried about the sick and dying fish in the Cowpasture River and he's concerned that more people aren't worried, too. More ...      After dropping off one of his daughters at camp in Bath County, former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner visited Monterey last Friday. Here, he shares a laugh with Highland supervisor Robin Sullenberger, who later said he believes Warner's political clout will continue to serve Virginia well into the future... More ... Another guilty of charges related to robbery BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - "I find him guilty," said Highland County circuit court judge Thomas Wood Wednesday at the trial of Carroll "Bill" Hinkle Jr. of Blue Grass. Hinkle was arraigned on charges of feloniously receiving stolen property, knowing it to be stolen, of a value of more than $200. The maximum pen... More ... 'I'm nobody's whipping boy,' says superintendent BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - At the end of a school year that saw Highland County Public Schools $107,000 in the black at year's end, teacher satisfaction high, and public perception of the system generally favorable, superintendent Gary Blair found himself defending his actions before the school board Monday. More ... Coursey Springs' role in fish disease not likely, but nothing's ruled out yet, state officials say BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WILLIAMSVILLE - Does Coursey Springs fish cultural station have a connection to recent diseased and dying fish in the Cowpasture river? "It's a fair question," says Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries biologist Paul Bugas. More ... Utility application lacking, state says BY ANNE ADAMS • STAFF WRITER       CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The 50-megawatt wind energy utility proposed for Jack Mountain was denied a state citing certificate primarily because key issues related to the project were not adequately addressed, according to West Virginia's Public Service Commission. More ... Report dead fish       Anyone with information related to the fish kills in the Cowpasture River is asked to call the Virginia Department of Environmental regional office in Harrisonburg at (540) 574- 7800 or toll-free in Virginia at (800) 592-5482. Information can be e-mailed to fishreports@deq.virginia.gov. More ... Bath officials prepare to vote on comp plan BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - With the state-mandated clock to take action running down, the Bath County board of Supervisors finished up changes to the new county comprehensive plan Tuesday. More ... Bath schools end with $300,000+ surplus Board wants to know where the money went BY CYNTHIA B. COLEMAN • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - During Tuesday's Bath County School Board meeting, members voiced repeated questions concerning the fiscal year close-out report where they learned of a $323,140 budget surplus and how the surplus was spent. More ... Court Cases Bath County       HOT SPRINGS - The following decisions were handed down in Bath County General District Court on June 6. Criminal and traffic divisions: Nichol Lynn Bednarczyk, speeding 46/30, continued to Sept. More ... Former governor visits Monterey BY ANNE ADAMS • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - It's not every day Virginia's least populated county seat entertains a nationally recognized leader, but Monterey residents siezed the opportunity last Friday to shake hands with former Gov. Mark Warner. More ... Photos      The last few weeks has been hay making time in the Highlands, but farmers find they're having to dodge a lot of late afternoon thunderstorms to attend to the task. At left, logger Pendleton Goodall had to run for shelter recently when two storms collided atop Allegheny Mountain. The first strike, pi... More ...      On June 5, the Bolar Ruritan Club held its annual family picnic, membership drive. It was held at the parks and recreation department in Hot Springs; 59 people attended, including club members, family, 2007 Old Glory essay contest winners and their families, teacher Marty Leech of Highland Middle Sc... More ...       Members of the Woodrow Wilson Ruritan District Cabinet attended the 2007 Ruritan National Summer Leadership Conference in Dublin June 20-22 to learn about new programs designed to improve communities. More ... Bolar Ruritan flag essay winners presented Seeing the 50 stars       When people look at the American flag they see 50 stars, red and white stripes, and a blue square. Each one of those things means something different to me. When I look at the American flag I see thousands of soldiers sacrificing their lives to keep me free. More ...      Ranger Pat Sheridan of the Warm Springs Ranger District and his wife, Peg, visited the Highland County Public Library Tuesday to share a presentation of animal skulls and antlers with children. The library's summer reading and nature trails program continues throughout July and August with movies at... More ... Highland native releases new book       KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Highland County native Ray Bussard has released a book, "Spizzerinctum, the Ray Bussard Story," about his life. It chronicles his childhood in Highland County, his college days at Bridgewater, his athletic and coaching careers. More ...      Bath senior citizens recently took an overnight trip to Lancaster, Pa., where they toured Amish country and went to the Sight and Sound Millenium Theater to see "In the Beginning." The trip was arranged with the help of Bath County Parks and Recreation, and 28 seniors attended. (Photo courtesy Jeann... More ...      Thursday, June 14 the Bath County Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual membership meeting and picnic at the Dominion Generation Recreation Area at Back Creek. Although the weather was a little cool, about 85 guests enjoyed an evening of food, toetaping music by Grit City Grass Band, children's game... More ... On the agenda Highland County Board of Supervisors       Highland Modular Conference Center Tuesday, July 3 7:30 p.m. Raymond Lightner, Highland County Transportation Superintendent - Report on county roads and projects. More ... Court Cases Highland County       MONTEREY - The following decisions were handed down in Highland County General District Court on April 4. More ... Highland Center to host reunion of 44 classes from Monterey High School       MONTEREY - The Highland Center will host the Monterey High School Reunion of classes 1922-1966, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 13-15. Generations of alumni, attendees and staff will gather at the old building for reminiscing and reconnecting during the weekend-long celebration. More ...      Twenty years and 17 inches equals Locks of Love. Recently, Fern Pritt cut Caroline Pritt's hair at The Springs Nursing Center in Hot Springs. Caroline, after letting her hair grow and wearing it in a bun for 20 years, gave the 17-inch ponytail to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization providing ha... More ...      On Thursday, June 14, the Bath County Chamber of Commerce held a 50/50 raffle to benefit the Bath County Meals on Wheels program. The raffle winner, Mary Susan Blankenship, donated her half of the money to the program. A total of $80 was given to Louise Carpenter on behalf of the chamber and Blanken... More ... What's blooming in Bath, Highland BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - Warm summer sun and afternoon showers bring many colorful wildflowers to fields and roadsides in late June and early July. Viper's bugloss, Echium vulgare, often grows in clumps of tall plants covered with blue to purple flowers. The colorful spikes of flowers are easily spott... More ... Reunion Carpenter family       BOLAR - The descendants of Joseph Carpenter and his wife Martha Wiley held their 17th annual family reunion Sunday, June 10, at the Bolar Ruritan Hall, in Bolar. President Otis Carpenter, Jr. welcomed everyone. Norma Botkin gave the grace and a meal was served. More ... Library notes By Nancy Smith, Bath County Public Library       We want to thank each and every one of you who came out to our annual open house for National Library Week. We were pleased with the number of people who came to see their library and learn of the many items that can be obtained and operations that can be done at the library. More ... Former governor visits Monterey Read the Story... Another guilty of charges related to robbery Read the Story... Fish kill on river remains mystery Read the Story... This Week in Print Read the Story...