Hot Springs & Monterey, VA

Bank robber gets 12 years BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - Tommy Lee Brewer of Durbin, W.Va. was sentenced Friday in Highland County Circuit Court to 23 years in prison for the Oct. 6, 2006 armed robbery of the Blue Grass Valley Bank in Blue Grass. Judge Thomas H. Wood suspended 11 years of the sentence. More ... First Annual Bath County Skateboard Competition      Cody Phillips gets some serious air and shows off for the crowd at the first annual Bath County Skateboard Competition. Skaters competed in four divisions at the Zach King Memorial Skate Park in Ashwood, where Phillips took a third place in the beginner's category. More than 20 young athletes wowed ... More ... When your own home isn't safe Area shelter helps victims of violence get back on their feet BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - Where do you go when you fear physical abuse or sexual assault at home? For 20 years the answer for residents of Alleghany, Bath and Highland counties has been Safehome in Covington. Operated by Safehome Systems, Inc. More ... Town makes more noise over noise Ordinance would make it illegal to get loud 10 p.m.-6 a.m. in Monterey if passed by council members BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - Last Thursday Monterey Town Council reviewed a draft noise ordinance and voted to hold a public hearing on the ordinance at its Nov. 1 meeting. More ... In Brief . . . Monterey Town Council       ¦ Town council discussed a possible flooding hazard on Mill Alley near U.S. 250. Strait Creek bisects Monterey from west to east, then turns north as it leaves the east side of town. More ... From robbery to sentencing       MONTEREY - Bank robbery is a rare occurrence in Highland County; in fact, no one can determine a robbery ever happening here before. A chronological listing detailing the Blue Grass Valley Bank Robbery Oct. More ... Cox seeks state senate seat as Democrat BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - "I think this is the most beautiful district in all of Virginia and they need strong representation in Richmond," said state senate candidate David Cox. "There are a number of issues of great concern that require forthright leadership. More ... Hanger seeks fourth term for 24th district BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - Sen. Emmett Hanger of Virginia's 24th district is seeking a fourth term in office this election. "I am a responsible conservative and I have sought out leadership opportunities in a large range of policy issues to represent my area more effectively," said Hanger. More ... Sime challenges Hanger as Libertarian candidate BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - "When we talk about the issues, we find a lot in common," said senate candidate Arin Sime of his visits with voters in Highland County. Sime is running for state senator from the 24th district, which includes Highland County, Augusta County, parts of Rockingham, Greene, Albemarle and ... More ... Correction       In the last week's Hunting, Hiking and Hearthside Fall Guide, the Recorder story on Anderson Cottage should have made clear the main house and separate kitchen cottage have a total of 18 rooms, rather than 18 bedrooms, as stated. As a bed and breakfast, Anderson Cottage has two suites and two room... More ... Health Connection Dealing with diabetes, depression By Sally Howard Bath Community Hospital       A diabetes diagnosis can be an overwhelming, life-changing experience for you and your family. You learn that diabetes can be affectively managed, but you need to make lifestyle changes to delay or prevent serious complications caused by the disease. It's a challenge to make changes to your diet, ... More ... Local couple feeding the fatherless BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - Matthew and Joanna Novack, both 25, departed the United States Sept. 13 to spend the next two years helping orphaned children in Llano Verde, Guatemala. They are partnering with Hope of Life Ministries, founded by Carlos Vargas and based out of Providence, R.I. More ... Wood Ministry      Members from Columbia Baptist Church of Falls Church, Culpeper Baptist Church and Highland Baptist Church joined forces as they do every October for their wood ministry. On Friday and Saturday there were 40 loads of firewood cut, split and delivered to folks in surrounding communities unable to get ... More ... Hands and Harvest festival offers something for everyone       MONTEREY - This weekend the Highland County Hands and Harvest Festival celebrates the fall foliage season with arts and crafts, bluegrass music, hay rides and seasonal foods. For more information call (540) 468-2550. More ... Highland's SPCA celebrates 10 years BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - The Highland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The organization incorporated in Highland County on Oct. 22, 1997. The Rev. Frances Nunn was instrumental in organizing the group, says long-time treasurer and founding member ... More ... Walk a mile . . .       This month, Safehome will sponsor a special "Walk a Mile in Their Shoes" event to remember victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence. ¦ When: Sunday, October 14 from 1-4 p.m. More ... Shelter appeals to community for supply donations       COVINGTON - Due to an increased need for services, Safehome is in need of supplies. Over the past six months, there have been several families that have needed services from the shelter, thus increasing the amount of supplies needed. More ... Trudy Woodzell named this year's Bath County Christmas Mother       HOT SPRINGS - Trudy Woodzell has been named Bath County Christmas Mother for 2007. As such, she will preside over the two-month-long program that for 16 years has brightened the holidays for several hundred individuals and families throughout the county. More ... Supervisors approve Mitchelltown rezoning BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - The Bath County Board of Supervisors approved rezoning 18 acres in Mitchelltown Monday, and approved selling the old green box site on Crooked Spur in Millboro. Traywick and Carol Duffie applied to have the property they own in the north end of Mitchelltown rezoned from R-2 reside... More ... In Brief . . . Bath County Supervisors       ¦ Donna Brown, VITA public safety communication analyst, made a brief presentation to Bath supervisors to alert them to some of the concerns they would need to address if the county purchases a "Reverse 911" system. More ... Drug charges placed       During the month of September, indictments, petitions and arrests were conducted by the Alleghany Highlands Drug Task Force against the six individuals. More ... BARC chain saws stolen       On Sept. 24 at about 7:30 a.m., the Bath County Sheriff's Office received a call from BARC Electric Cooperative in Millboro reporting a theft of six chain saws. Lt. W.D. Sexton responded to BARC and investigated the theft. Sexton has recovered two of the chain saws and has returned them to BARC. More ... Highland County Crafts cuts hours, needs support BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - "The margin of available funds to keep Highland County Crafts Cooperative going is narrowing," said Marianne Wilson. "We've had to go into our reserves to keep the place going." Highland County Crafts, on Main Street in Monterey, is a nonprofit cooperative that provides space for craf... More ... Home delivery a blessing BY MARGO OXENDINE • STAFF WRITER       ALMOST ANYWHERE - It's an exciting sight: the creamy yellow Schwan's truck, lumbering up the driveway, or grinding into the parking lot. Dinner is served! Or lunch, or a tasty treat, or a yummy dessert. Chances are, you've supped or snacked on something from Schwan's. More ... Oktoberfest made for fun filled afternoon BY GINA HAMILTON • CONTRIBUTING WRITER       STAUNTON - Hearing about an Oktoberfest celebration brings back memories of my German heritage and of growing up there. So I couldn't resist a trip to Staunton last Saturday to soak up the music and dance performances all afternoon at the Frontier Culture Museum, which hosted the event. I didn't ... More ... Fitness center growing BY GINA HAMILTON •CONTRIBUTING WRITER       MILLBORO - What started out last spring as a program to bring residents together for fun and fitness has evolved into a fullfledged exercise facility with 177 members ranging in age from 9 into their 70s. While most are from the Millboro area, others come from Covington, Goshen, Hot Springs and ... More ... Millboro Happenings By Gina Hamilton       ¦ Calvary Baptist Church will hold a community yard and bake sale on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 8 a.m. to noon, at the top of the straight Spur, Route 39 and TC Walker Road. The event is a fundraiser for the Community Fitness Center located at the church to add more exercise equipment and begi... More ... Area residents plan Grand Canyon trip       MILLBORO - "Live your life for the stories you can tell later" is perhaps the motto of two longtime friends, Pam Hepler Pace and Joy Cooper. In their earlier life, they were big fans of white-water canoeing and this was their adventure of choice when they first became good friends. More ... Mayor says town shortchanged by Griffin's delays BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - "We have again been unable to get from the commissioner of the revenue the information we need to do our tax tickets," said Monterey mayor Janice Warner last Thursday. "I wrote them a letter to remind them, but there has been nothing forthcoming. I've been to the office to talk to them... More ... Virginia announces 2007 scenic award winners       RICHMOND - Scenic Virginia has selected the winners of its 2007 scenic awards, which recognize excellence in the field of scenic conservation. Individual winner was Bill Larkins, a retired U.S. More ... Reunion Simmons       MONTEREY - A family picnic was held Sunday at the home of Maxine and Charles William Simmons on Airport Terrace Road. More ... Achievement Bobby Persinger       MOORESVILLE, N.C. - Bobby Persinger of Hot Springs graduated Aug. 24 from NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, with a 3.7 GPA. He is currently employed by Morgan Dollar Motorsport with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series as a fabricator, in Statesville, N.C. More ... Sandwich shop open for business BY MARGO OXENDINE • STAFF WRITER       HEALING SPRINGS - It's lunchtime on Monday, and the Healing Springs Sandwich Shop is busy, busy. It's all Gale Robinson and his wife, Jackie, can do to keep up with the steady stream of customers. That's a good thing, Gale notes with a smile. More ... Apple butter festival to be held Oct. 20       HOT SPRINGS - Sometime around the 1950s there wasn't anywhere to buy old-fashioned apple butter. Claude and Ruby Broce at Bacova Junction owned kettles and had family who loved to get together in the fall, using apples from there own tree and any others around that would eventually fall to the gr... More ... Byrd steps up at Bath County Historical Society       WARM SPRINGS - Byrds have been a part of Bath history since 1747, long before the county was founded. One of Bath's earliest legends concerns the September 1756 massacre of John Byrd, and the kidnapping of his family by marauding Shawnees. Since then, Byrds have played a part, and often a starrin... More ... Mountain Grove VFD Appreciation Dinner       An appreciation dinner in recognition of the Mountain Grove Volunteer Fire Department was held Saturday, September 15 at the community center. Over 55 people attended with fire department volunteers, family, and friends joining together for this special event. More ... What's blooming in Bath, Highland BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       LAKE MOOMAW - Some late summer wildflowers will persist well into fall if the weather stays warm through September and October. Most common mullein plants in the Highlands have flowered, scattered seed and turned brown by the second week in October. More ... Horse trials to be held at Millboro Springs       MILLBORO - Brian and Penny Ross of the Virginia Horse Trials will hold a Combined Test and Dressage Schooling Show at Camp Mont Shenandoah in Millboro Springs on Saturday, Oct. 20. More ... Conservancy speaks to garden club       MONTEREY - The Monterey Garden Club met on Tuesday, Oct. 2 and Keith Carson, a land steward for The Nature Conservancy presented a program about wildflowers native to this area of Virginia. He talked as well about invasive species threatening the area. More ... Jubilee to feature Faith Harmony Boys       WARM SPRINGS - The Faith Harmony Boys, a southern gospel quartet, will perform at Allegheny Mountain Radio's fifth annual old fashioned gospel jubilee on Saturday Nov. 3. The Faith Harmony Boys are based near Charleston, W.Va, and members include Mike Maggard (tenor), John Cole (lead), Roger Com... More ... Reunion Middle Mountain       MIDDLE MOUNTAIN - The Middle Mountain Reunion was held on Sept. 2. A nice warm day invited the descendants of those who attended school at Middle Mountain to return for a visit. In attendance were: Janet, Richard and Sharon Mullen; Carl and Judy Hull, all of Blue Grass. More ... Douthat State Park hosts apple day       MILLBORO - Douthat State Park will host its annual "Apple Day: A Celebration of Appalachian Heritage and Bluegrass Festival" on Saturday, Oct. 13. Apple Day is sponsored by the park, with Douthat State Park Environmental Education Group. Activities will get under way at 8 a.m. and take place at D... More ... Candidate forums set       MILLBORO and HOT SPRINGS - The Bath County Republican Committee and the Bath County Democratic Committee will host a candidates' forum for all candidates running for local election in November. All registered candidates for this falls election have been invited to participate. More ... Legislative Update 'Angels in Adoption' highlighted Congressman Bob Goodlatte       Adoption offers a wonderful opportunity to bring children in need and caring supportive parents together. More ... Births       Orion Niilo Robertson SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Ian and Ashley Robertson of San Diego. announce the birth of their first child, a son, Orion Niilo Robertson on Sept. 20, 2007. He weighed eight pounds, two ounces and was 22 inches long. More ... Court Cases Bath and Highland Counties       HOT SPRINGS - The following decisions were handed down in Bath County General District Court on Sept 12. Criminal and traffic divisions: Molly Anderson Aichele, speeding 70/55, guilty in absentia; Jean Marie Apgar, speeding 48/35, continued to Dec. More ...