Hot Springs & Monterey, VA

'You have to get it' New Homestead chief settles into 241-year-old Virginia tradition BY ANNE ADAMS • STAFF WRITER       HOT SPRINGS - The Homestead was bustling Monday morning. Families checked in while children played on the grass under the hotel's landmark tower. Porters shuffled golf bags and luggage with purpose in and out of the lobby, while vans chauffeured visitors to activities for the day. More ... Old Millboro school facing doom or bloom BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       MILLBORO - The decision whether to tear down all the old Millboro school buildings or turn them over to a developer to be renovated into apartments drew closer last week when Bath supervisors set a public hearing on the question for Aug. 23. More ... School board discusses laundry list of issues BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - The Bath County School Board took little action Tuesday night at a five-hour called meeting to discuss concerns. More ... Dreama Burns: Seeking first term General Election 2007 BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       MILLBORO - School board chair Kaye May will face competition from Dreama Burns, another small business accountant, in the Millboro district this November. Burns decided to run for the seat not because she thought she could do better than May, she said, but because she has different concerns. More ... Jake Cleek: Seeking second-term General Election 2007 BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - Jake Cleek took a long shot four years ago when he ran for the Warm Springs district school board seat as a write-in candidate. This November, he runs unopposed. "It's going to be an awful rough year," Cleek said, referring to changes at Bath County High School. "I felt like I cou... More ... Krystal Criser: Seeking first term General Election 2007 BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       BURNSVILLE - For Krystal Criser , putting herself in front of the public by running for the Williamsville school board seat is a big step. "I think you (school board member) are the overseer, caregiver, protector of every student, faculty member," Criser said of the duties of the office. More ... Joyce Hevener: Seeking first term General Election 2007 BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       BURNSVILLE - Joyce Hevener already wears multiple hats in the Burnsville community and will don another if elected to represent the Williamsville district on the Bath school board. "I can do a good job and am willing to put in the time," said Hevener. "People know that I am honest, hard working ... More ... Kaye May: Seeking second term General Election 2007 BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       MILLBORO - Incumbent school board member and board chair Kaye May laughed when asked why she is running again to represent the Millboro district. She knows the long hours required, but wants to stay with the work begun during her first term on the board, she said. More ... Eddie Ryder: Seeking 5th term General Election 2007 BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       HOT SPRINGS - With 16 years experience on the school board representing the Cedar Creek district, Eddie Ryder is by far the senior member of the Bath school board. "I feel like I am dedicated to the office. I have only missed one meeting in 16 years," Ryder said. He was in the hospital at U.Va. ... More ... Barbara Waldeck: Seeking first full term General Election 2007 BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       HOT SPRINGS - Retired teacher Barbara Waldeck joined the school board early this year as the appointed representative of the Valley Springs district. She replaced former member Sarah Redington, who resigned early from her elected term. More ...       Bub Rexrode (left) and assistant, Lynn Turk, are applying a primer coat to the roof of the sheriff's office in Monterey. They'll follow up with black paint to match the top of the social services building, which Rexrode also painted. More ... Board adopts standards of student conduct BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - Following a year-long process assisted by consultant Dr. John Eller, the Bath school board has adopted a new parent/student guide for standards of student conduct. The new guide will be included in student handbooks distributed this fall to every student at each of the county's th... More ... Maddock has 30-year career in hospitality       HOT SPRINGS - Sean Maddock arrived a month ago to become The Homestead's third general manager in four years. He has been with KSL Resorts since 2004, and most recently spent the last three years as vice president and general manager of the Arizona Biltmore, a resort built in 1929, on which Frank... More ... Peeling back the corporate layers       HOT SPRINGS - In a sale finalized Dec. 26 last year, KSL Capital Partners, an investment group, acquired nearly all of Dallas-based Club Corp assets, which included The Homestead. More ... Everyday heroes Family sticks together through transplant BY CYNTHIA COLEMAN • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - After his accident, actor Christopher Reeve said, "I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. More ... Pictorial       In general, Highland County residents are used to getting where they need to pretty easily around town. More ... Millboro Happenings By Gina Hamilton       The annual firemen's Carnival continues through Saturday, Aug. 4, from 7-11 p.m. each day, at the Millboro Industrial Park. Another family night is tonight, Aug. 2, with one price for all rides. Plan ahead now for the Ruritan club's chicken barbecue on Saturday, beginning at 4 p.m., and the ... More ... Dispatchers look forward to new Enhanced-911 equipment BY CYNTHIA COLEMAN • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - Last Wednesday, Bath County's dispatchers watched a presentation on the new enhanced 911 system. "We were all really impressed by the demonstration," said Teresa Shelton, 911 coordinator. Currently, anyone dialing 911 will reach a dispatcher who must write down the information tak... More ... Millboro pipe bursts BY GINA HAMILTON • STAFF WRITER       MILLBORO - A small leak in a section of the town's water line made it necessary to close off a short portion of the line along of Lower Yard Road last Friday. The leak was repaired Monday by 11:30 a.m. "It's the first leak we've had in a long time. It wasn't severe," said John Mayberry, a member... More ...       Many members of the Woodrow Wilson Ruritan District recently participated in the 4th of July parade at Gypsy Hill park in Staunton. Tammy Hicklin (left) Lt. Governor, and Betty Jo Clemmer, District Governor, stand in front of the float. More ...       A team of auditors from the Virginia Department of Corrections visited the Bath County sheriff's office June 14 to inspect its lock-up facility. After reviewing records required to be kept, auditors toured the lock-up accompanied by Capt. Richard L. Armstrong. More ... Photos      The Highland Ballet Academy, under artistic director Anna Sides Gregory, presented its first spring performance at The Highland Center June 2. Pictured (l-r) are pre-ballet students Brianna Ricketts, daughter of Sarah and Lon Ricketts of Halterman Hollow; Hannah Burch, daughter of Deborah and John B... More ... Free spay, neuter offered in Bath       HOT SPRINGS - Thanks to Hot Springs Pharmacy, Bath Animal Welfare Foundation volunteers held an "Adoption Day" at the pharmacy entrance Saturday. Present and on display were a variety of healthy, active homeless dogs and puppies available for adoption. More ... Wedding Piner - Grant       STAUNTON - On Saturday June 2, 2007, Anna Marie Piner and Shawn Adam Grant were married at the Light House Church in Churchville. Mrs. Grant is the daughter of Floyd and Doris Piner of Churchville. Grant is the son of Jeffrey and Susan Grant of McDowell. More ... Birth Evan Spencer Kimble       BLUE GRASS - Chad and Sueanne Kimble of Blue Grass announce the birth of their son, Evan Spencer, who was born May 18, 2007 at 7:43 p.m. at Rockingham Memorial Hospital, Harrisonburg. He weighed seven pounds, 14 ounces and was 19 inches long. More ... Hands-on expression: Art for kids a hit BY GINA HAMILTON • CONTRIBUTING WRITER       BATH COUNTY - Kids and art projects tend to go together enthusiastically, and last week 15 children had the opportunity to get creative with paints and paper in a special summer program at Valley Elementary School and Millboro Elementary School. More ... Wedding Forbes - Burke       MILLBORO - Matthew Daniel Scott Burke and Amanda Kaye Forbes were united in marriage on Saturday, June 8, at the Millboro Christian Church, officiated by Pastor David Williams. The bride is the daughter of Dennis and Stephanie Forbes and the sister of Nathan Forbes, all of Millboro. More ... Learn car seat safety       SALEM - Bath County deputy Diedra R. Shriver attended a class on the "operation kids" law enforcement child passenger safety program last month at the Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy. It consisted of one day of classroom work, and four hours of practical application. More ... Clock chimes again BY MARGO OXENDINE • CONTRIBUTING WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - It's 11 a.m. You've forgotten your watch. How do you know the time? If you're out and about in Warm Springs, a missing watch is no problem. The clock on the courthouse tower chimes on the hour. Every hour. Folks who live in or visit Warm Springs can't stop talking about the fact ... More ...       Teen musician and vocalist LeAnna Michelle Armstrong will perform at the West Virginia State Fair Friday, Aug. 10 along with her band, The Back Creek Express. More ... State convention a success for Highland FFA       MONTEREY - The summer has flown by. It has been busy for students and the Future Famers of America advisor. The Highland FFA chapter spent a week at Blacksburg at the FFA state convention and the advisor spent a week at the Virginia Association for Agriculture Educators convention in Warsaw. More ... On the agenda Bath County Board of Supervisors Bath County Courthouse, Room 115 Tuesday, Aug. 7, 7:30 p.m.       Transportation report Maintenance report Summer school report and school opening updates - MES, VES, BCHS. More ... Computer classes offered       CLIFTON FORGE - Three information systems technology courses have been scheduled for the fall semester at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, according to Sam Benke, program head, information systems technology. Basic computer literacy, a three-credit course, will use the new Microsoft Office... More ... On the agenda Highland County Board of Supervisors Highland Modular Conference Center, Spruce Street Tuesday, Aug. 7, 7:30 p.m.       Jennifer Whetzel - Presentation of award to Jim Thompson from Coordinated Area Transportation Service. Laura Dasher and Ted Edlich on Total Action Against Poverty. More ... What's blooming in Bath, Highland BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - During the day, the flowers of evening primrose are mostly closed, but as the sun begins to set, the beautiful yellow blooms open. Evening primrose, Oenothera biennis, is a native of North America. In the early 1600s seeds were transported to Europe from Virginia. More ... Earning the Eagle takes hard word, dedication BY MARGO OXENDINE • CONTRIBUTING WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - Josh Peters is a marked man. At least, that's what the Boy Scouts of America tell him. Josh recently earned his Eagle Scout rank from the organization. In doing so, he joins a brotherhood that marks him as a paragon of hard work and strong character. As a letter from BSA presiden... More ... Schools announce policy for providing free, reduced meals       HOT SPRINGS and MONTEREY - Highland and Bath public schools have announced its policy for providing free or reduced price meals for children served under the national school lunch, and/or school breakfast programs. Each school and/ or central office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed... More ... Two more counties join SVP       HARRISONBURG - The Shenandoah Valley Partnership has announced the addition of Page and Shenandoah counties to the Partnership's membership roster. The addition of Page and Shenandoah will expand the partnership's regional marketing program and the inventory of available sites and buildings mark... More ...