Hot Springs & Monterey, VA

Breaking News - Supreme Court rules in favor of county supervisors on wind project case By Anne Adams Staff Writer      RICHMOND - "I can't tell you how sick I feel," said attorney David Bailey. Bailey represents Highland County citizens who sued the county over its decision to grant a conditional use permit for an industrial wind energy utility. He lost his case at the state Supreme Court level this week. Highland ... More ... Shhhh ... Can Monterey be a quiet zone? BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - Who will enforce a noise ordinance and what, exactly, is noise? Who should enforce the fire code and is a town fire ordinance necessary? These questions and others were brought up at a discussion of around 20 town residents at last Thursday's meeting of the Monterey Town Council which w... More ... Last of arguments on wind energy plan submitted to SCC BY ANNE ADAMS • STAFF WRITER       RICHMOND - The series of events surrounding what could be Virginia's first industrial wind energy utility are converging this month. Final briefs have been filed with the State Corporation Commission, and a second report from the SCC's hearing examiner is expected soon. More ... Horses herded back to planning commission BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - In an action that didn't surprise any of the two dozen citizens still around for the late public hearing Tuesday, the Bath County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to direct the planning commission to research and clarify a controversial sentence on animal husbandry included in the re... More ... In Brief . . . Highland County School Board       ¦ The school board met Monday, Sept 10. The next meeting is 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1 at the Highland High School library. School board candidates Kirk Billingsley, Jim Blagg, and Larry Held attended. More ... In Brief . . . Monterey Town Council       ¦ Town council met Thursday, Sept. 6 at the Highland County Public Library. Mayor Janice Warner reported the sewer treatment plant project probably would not go to bid until late October or early November, More ... Old school decision suspended, again BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - The fate of the Old Millboro School continues to hang in limbo after a two-hour public hearing Tuesday night. The board of supervisors, faced with limited choices for the aging structures, directed county administrator Bonnie Johnson to solicit firm bid prices for abating the asbe... More ... In Brief . . . Bath County Board of Supervisors       ¦ On a motion by supervisor Stuart Hall, the Bath board of supervisors declared the county a drought disaster area and requested Virginia Cooperative Extension agent Rodney Leech assist the county with becoming eligible More ... Telephone companies call on EDA BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - The Highland County Economic Development Authority gathered more information on what Highland has to offer businesses Tuesday with presentations by Highland Telephone Cooperative and MGW Telephone. "Are we limited in any way as we go forward in trying to approach people in moving to t... More ... Club sees film on bird's eye view       MONTEREY - The Monterey Garden Club met on Tuesday, Sept. 4, in the Mountain View Room at the Highland County Public Library. The film "Winged Migration" was shown. Amazing cinematography and music fill this documentary and adventure created by French filmmakers Jacques Cluzaud, Michel Debat an... More ... Past praised, future promised at chamber BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - "We are at a crossroads," said Highland County Chamber of Commerce executive director Carolyn Pohowsky at the chamber annual meeting Sunday. "Think progressively, adapt to and adopt change to avoid stagnation," she told chamber members. It was more of a statement of common purpose than... More ... Wool becomes 'ewe,' too BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - The new wool and fabric store in Monterey isn't on Main Street. It's in a part of town the average tourist may not find right away, but that's OK, says Wool Becomes Ewe owner Theresa Wagner. Her store is meant to primarily serve the needs of local fiber artists. More ... Millboro Happenings By Gina Hamilton       ¦ There is a cat missing in Millboro - Toby, a white and yellow male, with a marking on his nose. He belongs to Misty Lowry and disappeared Aug. 31, and is very much missed by his family. To help in the search for this beloved cat look for one that is playful and jumps at your feet wanting... More ... British Invade, costumes, dancers take the night       Saturday the sounds of electric guitars filled Herter Hall as 150 people danced the night away celebrating the British Invasion of the '60s. More ... What's blooming in Bath, Highland BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - Mixed in with chicory along many roads and in many fields in late summer are the delicate white flowers of Queen Anne's lace. The flower head is actually many smaller flowers clumped together into a slightly rounded umbel. More ... Fair follow-up Sheep costume contest winners listed       (All winners listed 1st, 2nd, 3rd, except as noted) Theme Junior division - Sydney Armstrong (1st). Intermediate - Luke Leech, Patricia Lindsay, Zack Lindsay. Senior division - David Leech (1st), Britanny Young (1st). More ... Bow shooting runs in the family       A family affair - Jennifer and Ernie Hise, son Troy and cousins Melissa and Kevin Paddy all participated in the Highland County Fair bow tournament on Saturday, Sept. 1. More ... Youth tobaccouse prevention project returns       WARM SPRINGS and MONTEREY - The Virginia Rural Health Resource Center, in cooperation with the Bath and Highland counties public school systems, will be conducting tobacco use prevention programs for youths at all schools, in Bath and Highland, for the sixth consecutive year. More ... Seniors announce raffle winners      Katie Smith left, on behalf of the Bath Senior Center presents $75 to Annalee Jones for the 50/50 drawing winnings. She was visiting Mary Ann Corbett of Mustoe. Drawings were held at the Highland County fair. More ... Appraisal fair at Museum set for Saturday, Oct. 13       McDOWELL - ºThe Highland County Museum and Heritage Center will host an Appraisal Fair on Saturday, Oct. 13, from noon until 3 p.m. during the Hands and Harvest Festival. More ... First Alpaca farm day set in Millboro       MILLBORO - Don't miss out on the first National Alpaca Farm Day Saturday, Sept. 29. This is a brand new, nationally-designated holiday, and many farms throughout the United States are participating, including Diamond Triple C Ranch in Millboro. The ranch will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on that... More ... Bear captured; campground reopens       WARM SPRINGS - Last week it was reported the Blowing Springs campground was closed due to an aggressive bear roaming the grounds searching for food. The bear had threatened campers because of the lack of food in the surrounding forest. More ... Homestead ranked one of nation's top 10 golf resorts       HOT SPRINGS - The readers of "Cond NasTt raveler" have ranked The Homestead in the top 10 of the"Top 100 Golf Resorts In North America, The Caribbean, and The Atlantic, and Ireland and Scotland." The historic resort boasts three championship golf courses and has been honored with the No. More ... Dog Obedience Classes Offered       Master trainer Susan Tucker gets down to the dogs' level Saturday at the first of a series of obedience classes offered by the Bath Animal Welfare Foundation. More ... Bloodmobile Visits Bath County       The Bloodmobile visited Bath County at the Hot Springs Firehouse on Monday, Sept. 10. An amount of 55 pints was the expected and hoped for quota, but only 43 pints were received. More ... "Abby" Celebrates Her 106th Birthday       Mrs. Lena F. Bonner, better known as "Abby," recently celebrated her 106th birthday with a picnic held in her honor at the Hiner family farm in Mountain Grove. Mrs. Bonner was born July 15, 1901 in Knapp's Creek, W.Va. More ... Woodrow Wilson Ruritan District Dictionary Project      Pictured (l-r) Vaughn Ashby, Woodrow Wilson Ruritan District dictionary project chairman and Pioneer; Betty Jo Clemmer, Woodrow Wilson Ruritan District Governor; and Frankie Hicklin, Ruritan Zone IV Governor prepare to give each third grade student at Valley Elementary School a dictionary. On Monday... More ... From trendy to cheeky: Roanoke's market Day Trippin' By Margo Oxendine • Contributing Writer       ROANOKE - "To market, to market, to buy a fat pig." A fat pig is one of few things you won't find on the market in downtown Roanoke. You will, however, find a fat bun with pork barbecue, and a fat Cuban sandwich with roast pork and ham. More ... Don't let fire safety go up in flames       RICHMOND - According to the National Fire Protection Association, home heating is the second greatest cause of house fires after cooking. In 2003, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 53,200 reported U.S. home structure fires, with associated losses of 206 occupant deaths, 1,260 occupan... More ... Reassessments getting under way in Bath       WARMS SPRINGS - The Bath County Board of Supervisors selected Blue Ridge Mass Appraisal Company, LLC of Staunton and Winchester to perform the general reassessment that will become effective July 1, 2008. The company has been performing general reassessments throughout Virginia since 1978. More ... Bath jury commissioners send out questionnaires       WARM SPRINGS - Bath County Circuit Clerk, Darlene W. Carpenter, announces that three jury commissioners have been appointed to randomly select prospective juror and mail out jury questionnaires to 300-400 persons to serve on juries in the circuit court within the next year. More ... E.T. Pittman at Mill Alley Courtyard in Monterey      E.T. Pittman performed classic rock and roll songs on Mill Alley Courtyard in Monterey as part of last weekend's Second Saturday celebration. Second Saturday is an effort by local citizens and business owners to promote Monterey businesses. (Recorder photo by James Jacenich) More ... Highland FFA gears up for busy year       MONTEREY - The Highland FFA chapter has been working hard since school started, and the chapter has a new slate of officers. They include: President Sean Duff; vice president Michael Botkin, secretary Kate Obaugh, treasurer B.J. Lightner, reporter Jessie Siron, sentinel Chad Lightner, student adv... More ... Farm real estate values continue to climb       WASHINGTON - The average per-acre value of farm real estate in Virginia has increased more then 16 percent over last year's average. That's slightly more than the nation average increase of 14 percent cited this month by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Servi... More ... $88,000 raised during livestock sale at county fair       MONTEREY - The 2007 Highland County Fair Livestock Sale held Saturday, Sept. 1 grossed more than $88,000 in support of local 4-H and FFA youth livestock projects. According to Bath/Highland County Extension Agent Rodney Leech, more than 80 businesses, organizations, and individuals participated ... More ... Farm, environmental groups urge Bay funding       RICHMOND - The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation has joined several other farm and environmental groups in urging Gov. Tim Kaine to include $100 million a year in the state budget to fully find state cost-share programs that help farmers reduce the runoff to Virginia river and streams and the Chesa... More ... Building permits       Bath County WARM SPRINGS - The following building permits were issued by the Bath County Department of Building and Zoning in the month of August: Bath County Board of Supervisors, foundation repair; Industrial Development, amusement permit for Millboro Carnival; John C. and Cathy B. More ... Loan program available for household wells       ROANOKE - Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, Inc. has created a new Individual Household Well Loan Program. This program is designed to assist low to moderate income individuals needing loans to construct, refurbish and service their household well. More ... Court Cases Highland County       MONTEREY - The following decisions were handed down in Highland County General District Court on Sept. 5. Criminal and traffic divisions: Dallas Barnett Bailey Jr., speeding 70/55, fine $75, costs $61; Thomas D. Brett, speeding 65/55, fine $50, costs $61; Armiste Burwell Jr. More ...