Hot Springs & Monterey, VA

Be cool in school       Highland Elementary School kindergarten teacher Ann Foster, kneeling at left, goes over Playground 101 rules while her new class of students listen attentively. More ... Residents push debate on livestock in neighborhoods Looking for a little horse sense BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - The Bath County board of supervisors scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday Sept. 11 to discuss removing a controversial statement from the new comprehensive plan that could allow horses and other livestock in residential districts. More ... In Brief . . . Hghland School Board       Wednesday, Aug. 15, the Highland County School Board met to take action on appointments and personnel. More ... Family History Research Library to open this week       McDOWELL - A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place, Friday, Aug. 24 at noon to celebrate the opening of the Family History Research Library at the Highland County Museum and Heritage Center. After much purchasing and assembly during the winter months and throughout the spring, the research lib... More ... Retirees host open house at Mountain Crest BY MARGO OXENDINE • CONTRIBUTING WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - There was an open house Sunday at the Mountain Crest Retirement Home, behind Bath County High School. What was most apparent is this: the name should be changed. Mountain Crest Retirement Village would be more apt. The words "retirement home" conjure a scenario of old folks, sitt... More ... Commissioner of the Revenue: Bath candidates Mary Ann Bogan: Seeking first term BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS- Mary Ann Bogan is running for Bath County Commissioner of the Revenue because she enjoys working in the courthouse. "I like to work for the public," she said. "Having worked in the courthouse for 22 years (with the U.S. More ... Leta G. Norfleet: Seeking third term BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - "I love my job and I love what I do. I'm not ready to retire," said Bath County Commissioner of the Revenue Leta Norfleet in February. At the time, she didn't know if she would have any competition for her position. Now she has two others seeking the job she has held for nearly eig... More ... Reunions       Varner family STAUNTON - The descendants of Luther and Eva Lena Eckard Varner held a reunion on Sunday, Aug. 19 at Montgomerey Hall Park and Recreation building in Staunton. The welcome and announcements were brought by Bob Warner. The devotion was led by Betty Varner. The prayer was given by ... More ... Research resources available       A History of Highland County, A to Zax, Abstracts of Bath County Va Will Books 5 & 6, Annals of Bath County, Va, Augusta County, Virginia Marriages 1747-1850, Bath County 1870 Census, Bath County Births 1853-1870, Bath County Death Records 1853-1867, Bath County Death Records 1868- 1895, Bath Coun... More ... Janet F. Plecker: Seeking first term BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MILLBORO - "Several people approached me and said they thought I would be a good candidate for this office," said Bath County Commissioner of the Revenue candidate Janet F. Plecker. "I thought about it and thought I would give it a try. More ... Farmers need to use caution       RICHMOND - A new report from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that nationwide, 14 percent fewer farmers involved in crop production died in 2006 than in 2005. In Virginia, farm fatalities have spiked. More ... On the agenda       Bath County Planning Commission Bath County Courthouse, Room 115 Monday, Aug. 27 - 7 p.m. Public hearing Hugh and Jane Dunnagan/ Bacova Investments, More ... Jason's Pizza and Subs: Well worth the wait Dining Delights BY MARGO OXENDINE • CONTRIBUTING WRITER       POND HILL - Loyal. And hungry. Those two words probably best describe the clientele of Jason's Pizza and Subs, just north of Warm Springs at Pond Hill. Hit Jason's any Friday during lunchtime, and chances are, you'll have to wait for a table. It's well worth the wait. More ... Photos       Millboro residents Calvin and Zora Hefner (left) enjoy their Canna lilies now coming in bloom. These beauties take work to grow, as Calvin says. More ... Millboro Happenings By Gina Hamilton       Parents of students from preschool to grade seven have an opportunity to tour Millboro Elementary School during an open house next Wednesday, Aug. 29, from 6:30-8 p.m. They can meet the principal, Martha Reish, and teachers, and ask questions they may have. School opens on Tuesday, Sept. 4. More ...       Kim Manion's summer school students tend the garden at Millboro Elementary School. The garden was planted this spring with direction from Ellen Reynolds from Mountain Soil and Water Conservation District. More ... Summer reading program sets record Library Notes By Tomi Herold       I'm pleased to say this year's summer reading program was indeed our most successful program ever. A record 93 children registered. Forty of those completed the program and received prizes, some of them as many as five times. We offered a total of 11 activity and movies programs and the average a... More ... Gypsy moth program coordinator named       HOT SPRINGS - Robert E. Grace, president of Valley Gypsy Moth Program Inc., has been selected to provide the services of gypsy moth coordinator for Bath County. He and his associate, Debbie Layman, will provide an assessment of the need for gypsy moth spraying in the spring of 2008. Grace and Lay... More ... Highland fair kicks off Wednesday, Aug. 29       MONTEREY - The Highland County Fair Association is working hard to be ready for the fair to start on Wednesday, Aug. 29.Volunteers from the local Ruritan clubs, Lions club, chamber of commerce, and general community will clean out the barns, set up tables, prepare the elementary school gym for ex... More ... Alleghany Highlands Children's Chorus offered for second year       COVINGTON - The Alleghany Highlands Children's Chorus will resume its program of choral singing and music education on Monday, Aug. 27, at 4 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Covington. This kick off rehearsal and orientation will last until 6 p.m. More ... Bath building supervisor named       HOT SPRINGS - The Bath County Board of Supervisors has announced that Percillia H. Robertson has been promoted to the position of building and grounds supervisor. Since 2003 she has served as building and grounds assistant. More ... USDA announces high energy grants       WASHINGTON - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced the availability of $21.9 million to help rural communities cope with extremely high energy costs. Communities have until Oct. 1 to apply for grants under this program. More ... Academic Honor J. Lawrence Minetree       NEW ORLEANS - J. Lawrence Minetree IV, a 2004 graduate of Bath County High School, has been awarded a $20,000 academic scholarship by the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University, in New Orleans, La. He is the son of Lt. Col. and Mrs. J. Lawerence Minetree III of Grace Hill Farm in M... More ... What's blooming in Bath, Highland BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - In lawns and fields and pastures and roadsides, beautiful little orchids have been blooming for the past week or two. The small ladies' tresses orchids are often overlooked. Most of the ladies' tresses species that bloom in the Highlands appear in the late summer and fall. More ... Bath pros place high on card BY MARK GRIFFIN •CONTRIBUTING WRITER       WILLIAMSBURG - A pair of Hot Springs golf pros were among the winners at the Mid-Atlantic PGA Section Championship last week at the Golden Horseshoe. Cascades golf pro Mark Fry shot rounds of 71-74-73- 218, 4-over-par, and finished 14th while Barry Ryder, director of The Homestead Golf School, s... More ...       On Thursday, Aug. 16, BB&T Bank celebrated Client Appreciation Day. The Hot Springs branch served hot dogs and drinks to their clients. BB&T teller supervisor Bobby Spurgeon left, hands to lucky winning client, Sue Ellen Williams, a BB&T cooler filled with goodies. More ...       Kimberly Ann Cauley, 21, of Warm Springs, joined the staff of the Bath County Sheriff's Office on July 16 as a communications officer. Cauley is a 2004 graduate of Bath County High School. More ... Wilson, Schmidt perform at The Highland Center       MONTEREY - Internationally renowned musicians from the Staunton Music Festival will make their Highland County debut at The Highland Center on Sept. 8. Music will be performed by two baroque music specialists; cellist James Wilson and harpsichordist Carsten Schmidt. More ... Births       Cole Anderson MORGANTOWN, W.VA.- Cole Robert Anderson was born to Bob "Charles" and Stephanie Anderson of Morgantown on May 12, 2007. He weighed eight pounds, one ounce and was 20 inches long. Paternal grandparents are Bob Anderson Sr. of Taylors, S.C. and Gail Stallings of Virgina Beach. More ... Engagement Kling - Hughes       HOT SPRINGS - Mr. and Mrs. Wiley B. Kling Jr. of Hot Springs announce the engagement of their daughter, Karen Elizabeth Kling, to Jason Francis Hughes, son of Michael Hughes and Janet Gould of Benzonia, Mich., and Sandy Archer of Dataw Island, S.C., and the late Steve Archer. More ... Photos      It's 84 degrees on a sunny Monday afternoon, and a crew from Rexrode's Masonry and Tile is building the veteran's memorial on the Highland County courthouse lawn. Pictured (l-r) are Jarod Heavner of Cherry Grove, W.Va., Sean Stanton of Monterey, and Larken Dean of Hillsborough, W.Va. Owner Jerry Rex... More ... Second Saturday: A 'healing' journey      Thai yoga bodywork specialist Liz Delahoussaye (left) demonstrates her art on Susan Applegate at Mill Alley Courtyard. More ...       On Thursday, Aug. 9 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Susan Gezelschap, owner of Grandview House, hosted a Cheers for the Chamber event for the members of the Bath County Chamber of Commerce. More ... DMV expands online services for customers       RICHMOND - Renewing your identification card just got easier. Customers no longer have to visit a Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles customer service center; they can go to ww.dmvnow.com to renew I.D. cards. DMV is committed to offering customers a variety of alternatives to visiting a custom... More ... Agency election getting under way       LEXINGTON - The annual election for the Farm Service Agency county committee is coming up. The local administrative areas which are having an election this year are LAA 4 and LAA 5. LAA 4 consists of all Alleghany County. LAA 5 consists of all Bath County and the Goshen area of Rockbridge County... More ...