Hot Springs & Monterey, VA

A show to beat the bands!      Bath County High School Band color guard captain Morgan Lindsay (center) is mirrored by color guard Kortney Lindsay (center, back) as the tenor saxophones await their cue. The band set records at a recent competition. Playing saxophones are, from left: Kaitlyn Miller, Joseph Ingram, and Mason Ailsto... More ... Conservation impedes development, board says BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - The Highland County Board of Supervisors Tuesday night tabled a request for review of two pending applications for conservation easements from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation and in a separate issue voted to table a request for participation in an application for inclusion in the fede... More ... Testing the waters, treading carefully Cowpasture may not be 'impaired' BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       SCOTCHTOWN DRAFT - The morning air is brisk and cool under the trees along the Cowpasture River as five members of the Cowpasture River Preservation Association set up to begin taking samples. CRPA member Dave Peters passes out bags of homegrown shiitake mushrooms. Member Kent Ford has provided ... More ... In Brief . . . Highland County Board of Supervisors       ¦ VDOT Verona residency administrator James White Jr. informed the Highland County Board of Supervisors Tuesday that a public meeting of the Commonwealth Transportation Board on the 2008-13 six-year improvement program, More ... National 4-H week celebrated       WARM SPRINGS and MONTEREY - Bath and Highland counties youth will join others in Virginia and across the nation to celebrate National 4-H Week, Oct. 7-13. This year, 4-H will focus on its programs that teach youth about science, engineering, and technology. More ... School bus rear-ended BY CYNTHIA COLEMAN • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - A Bath County Public Schools' bus was rear-ended by a truck Tuesday as it waited to turn into the high school campus from the southbound lane of U.S. 220. Eleven students were on board, and none were seriously injured. More ... Correction      This photo ran two weeks ago with the wrong music fans named. Shown enjoying Doyle Lawson are (l-r) Mildred Frye, Pat Cash-Noel and Jonnie Noel. More ... Camp Accovac hosts family weekend       MILLBORO - Camp Accovac will host a family camp weekend Oct. 12, 13 and 14. The speaker will be the Rev. Bill Millinor of Taylorsville, N.C. Millinor is the son-in-law of Janet DuBois whose husband served as pastor at The Lone Star Advent Christian Church on Nicelytown Road in Alleghany County a... More ... Alpacas still crowd-pleasers      A spacious barn is open to visitors last Saturday at the Diamond Triple C Ranch in Millboro - complete with a shrub sculpted in the shape of an alpaca - where a herd of 22 alpacas is housed. The ranch, managed by Vanessa Minnick, participated in National Alpaca Farm Day. (Recorder photos by Gina H... More ... Baltimore is, well, more! Weekending By Margo Oxendine, Staff Writer       BALTIMORE - Welcome to "Weekending," where we'll hop off someplace different and fun and then tell you all about it. Our weekend trip might include things you'd never do, or never think of doing; things you'd love to do, and places you just might like to visit. More ... Millboro Happenings By Gina Hamilton       ¦ The Youth Club at Windy Cove Church will begin on Thursday, Oct. 11. (Students in grades five through seven are invited to participate. This is the 25th (anniversary year for Youth Club at Windy Cove, so we are guessing there are a number of parents out there who attended Youth Club when ... More ... Second Saturday hosts pumpkin carving contest       MONTEREY - In May of this year, local business owners, headed by Tate Swecker, pulled together to form Second Saturdays, a gathering on the second Saturday of every month from May to October in the Mill Alley Courtyard. This month the Second Saturday event falls on the weekend of the Hands and H... More ... Bath County writer is back to The Recorder BY MARGO OXENDINE • STAFF WRITER       Well, it's "back to the future" for Margo Oxendine. After a seven-year hiatus, I am happy to be back on the full-time staff of this great paper. If you remember my work from what I call the good old days, forget that. Things will be different this time around. I hope to leave news and politics t... More ... Alleghany Craft Network       Local community leaders, shop owners and artisans listen to Stephen Clerico, the project coordinator for the Alleghany Craft Network. More ... Legislative Update FDA act protects consumers Congessman Bob Goodlatte       The Food and Drug Administration is charged with protecting the public health by assuring the safety and security of prescription and over-the-counter medicines, medical devices and many additional products commonly used by all Americans. Recently, the House of Representatives worked in a bipartis... More ... A Party of One Goombahs get the 'party' started By Margo Oxendine, Staff Writer       Well, here we are again. Are you ready to party? From time to time, you'll find "A Party of One" in this esteemed newspaper. The Recorder and I are no strangers, as old-time readers know. But this time around, the accent will be on fun. I'm hoping not to have to grab any politicians by their coll... More ... Land Transfers Bath County       WARM SPRINGS - The following transfers of land were recorded with the clerk of the Bath County Circuit Court for the month of September. Valley Springs District: Warm Springs Investment LLC to Virginia Hot Springs Building Co., lot; Albert V. Carr Jr. to Montgomery L. Blizard, interest in lot; P... More ... Agency reserve payments begin       RICHMOND - Jacquelin Easter, state executive director for USDA's Farm Service Agency in Virginia today announced that USDA will begin issuing $3,760,264 in Conservation Reserve Program payments to eligible producers in Virginia. More than $1.8 billion in CRP payments are being made on 36.2 millio... More ... On the agenda       Bath County Board of Supervisors Bath County Courthouse, Room 115 Tuesday, Oct. 9 - 6 p.m. closed session; 7 p.m. regular meeting 6 p.m. More ... Highland Homemakers Tea Party      An English Tea Party was given in honor of the Highland Homemakers on Aug. 20 at the Presbyterian church in Monterey. Fun was had by all with food, fun games and a drawing of names for gifts. Over $1,400 was raised for the American Cancer Society during Relay for Life day. A yard and bake sale was h... More ... Samuel Adams American Homebrew Contest      Charles "Tommy" Dever of Monterey won first place in the Samuel Adams American Homebrew Contest for the Boston region (which covers the East Coast) May 12 for his strong ale. The judge, J. Anthony Wilson, said Dever's ale was sweet, vinous and malty for flavor. It was Dever's English Barley wine, th... More ... Bee a Star! raises $820      Pictured (l-r) are Tim Craft and James Folks. At Friday's Highland Elementary School talent show, they performed a song they wrote. (Recorder photo by James Jacenich) More ... Fourth annual 'Bubbles, Bands and Brunch' held at DSLCC       CLIFTON FORGE - A sunny day greeted guests two weeks ago at the Dabney S. Lancaster Community College Educational Foundation's scholarship fundraiser, "Bubbles, Bands, and Brunch- An Afternoon in Tuscany," held on the college's Clifton Forge campus. More ... MeadWestvaco Donates School Supplies      MeadWestvaco's Covington mill recently donated a large supply of notebooks and binders to schools in Bath and Alleghany counties, and the city of Covington. Pictured (l-r) are: Jon Fitzgerald, MeadWestvaco quality assurance; Becky Johnson, MeadWestvaco public affairs; Les Balgavy, Valley Elementary ... More ... Meals on Wheels      Thursday, Sept. 27 was the last day for the Bath Senior Center and Meals On Wheels to get lunches from dietary at Bath Community Hospital. The seniors and volunteers brought cake and gifts to thank them for all they have done. Both Bath and Highland senior centers and Meals on Wheels will combine al... More ... McKenna Nicole Hedrick       UPPER TRACT, W.Va. - Jeremy and Kayla Hedrick of Upper Tract announce the birth of their first child, McKenna Nicole Hedrick, born Aug. 6, 2007 at Rockingham Memorial Hospital, Harrisonburg. More ... Tristan Thomas Carpenter       MONTEREY - John and Candi Carpenter of Monterey announce the birth of their son, Master Tristan Thomas, who was born at Augusta Medical Center on Sept. 16, 2007 at 4:13 a.m. He weighed seven pounds, two ounces and was 18 and one-half inches long. More ... Andrew Thomas Efird       BRIDGEWATER - George and Harriet Wilson of Bridgewater announce the birth of their eighth grandchild, Andrew Thomas Efird, on Monday, Sept. 24, 2007, at Rockingham Memorial Hospital in Harrisonburg. The Wilsons now have four grandsons and four granddaughters. More ... Engagement Marshall - Will       Mr. and Mrs. D. Wayne Marshall of Mill Gap and Mr. and Mrs. Joe Will of Blue Grass annouce the engagement of their children, Courtney D. Marshall and Justin K. Will. Will is the owner and operator of his own logging company. More ... What's blooming in Bath, Highland BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - Teardrops of the gods. Such is the fabled origin of the fall asters painting the roadsides with shades from near white to deep purple. The daisy-like flowers of asters are part of the fall color throughout the Appalachian Mountains and over much of the United States. More ... Governor requests statewide drought disaster declaration       RICHMOND - Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has requested that the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture declare Virginia. a statewide disaster area due to reductions in farm production caused by drought and high temperatures in 2007. A statewide designation would make farmers with qualif... More ... Door Prize Winner at Highland Farmer's Market      Linda Holman of Monterey was the door prize winner at the Highland Farmers' Market Friday, Sept. 28. She was presented a Highland County Farmers' Market hat and a tea towel by Scott Smith, The Highland Center's market master. This past Friday was the last regular farmers' market for the season but t... More ... Boys' Home Christmas Tree finds success at competition       COVINGTON - On Friday, Aug. 24 an eight food White Pine entered the Boys' Home Christmas Tree farm took second place in the all pines class and earned the distinction of the second best White Pine in the state of Virginia. The contest, sponsored by the Virginia Christmas Tree Growers convention,... More ... Highland Elementary School      Highland Elementary School PTO STAR students for September were Dylan Clevinger, kindergarten; Damiaen Mullenax, first grade; Johnathan Shaner, second grade; Jami McCarty, third grade; Trent Gutshall, fourth grade, and Steffanie Mitchell, fifth grade. (Photo courtesy HES) More ... Bath special education advisory committee meets       WARM SPRINGS - The Local Special Education Advisory Committee is a group of parents of children with disabilities who volunteer to represent the school division in which their child attends. The committee assists Bath County Public Schools by identifying and addressing the unmet needs of children... 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 September: Hot Springs district - Gale W. and Jacquelynn Robinson, building and addition; Franklin and Kathryn Johnson, remove and remodel; Viktor and Zinaida S. Zonov,... More ... Bank dividends on the rise       RONCEVERTE, W.Va. - The Board of Directors of First National Bankshares Corp. has declared a third quarter cash dividend of $0.17 per share payable on Oct. 19 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 5. The dividend compares to $0.16 per share declared in the third quarter of 2006. Year to date, divi... More ... Land Transfers       WARM SPRINGS - The following transfers of land were recorded with the clerk of the Bath County Circuit Court for the month ofAug. Valley Springs District: Jane A. Bennett to Jane A. Bennett, lot; Eric A. Kirsch to Thomas R. Terry, interest in lot; Steven E. Conroy to John M. Claytor, interest in... More ... Weather report       Precipitation was more than an inch below normal for the month and fell on only five days. High temperatures were well above while lows were somewhat below normal, a result of the clear skies that predominated all month. John R. More ... DMV offices closed       RICHMOND - All Virginia Department of Motor Vehicle customer service centers will be closed on Monday, Oct. 8, in observance of Columbus Day. Although DMV offices will be closed, the agency offers a variety of services for routine transactions. The agency's Web site, www.dmvNOW.com, is available... More ... Achievement Josef G. Hohn Jr.       TACOMA, Wash. - Josef G. Hohn Jr. has graduated from the Army ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) Leader Development and Assessment Course, also known as "Operation Warrior Forge," at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash. The ROTC cadet has been commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army. More ...