Hot Springs & Monterey, VA

Citizens vote for changes Highland residents get new supervisor; all new school board BY JAMES JACENICH AND CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITERS       Voter turnout in Bath and Highland was solid Tuesday as citizens took to the polls, and while most seats were retained by incumbents, some of who were unopposed in their races, there were a couple of surprises that will bring fresh perspective to count government. More ... Council tables noise law BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - Monterey Town Council tabled a proposed noise ordinance last Thursday following a public hearing and weeks of discussion by town citizens. More ... Many families in need of adoption       HOT SPRINGS - "Our numbers appear to be up - many new people in the program," says Bath County Christmas Mother Trudy Woodzell. "Applications have been taken and there are many needs in our community." Donations are appreciated, says Woodzell. More ... Highland principal to retire this June BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - Longtime Highland High School principal Randy Hooke has chosen to retire at the end of the school year. Highland County Public Schools superintendent Gary Blair said, "Mr. Hooke represents a lifetime of dedication to students. He is committed to service, has integrity, and treats peop... More ... Walter Failes: A man who lived for his community BY MARGO OXENDINE • STAFF WRITER       ASHWOOD - All of Bath County lost a friend last Wednesday when Walter B. Failes Sr. died. Failes, who had been ailing for awhile, went to the Hot Springs Post Office to pick up his mail that afternoon; before his task was done, the Lord had called him home. More ... Upsets, new faces, old regimes in Bath Co.       WARM SPRINGS - Election Day in Bath ended with a mixture of messages from voters as some incumbents did well against solid opposition, predicted write-in challenges failed to materialize in strength, hard fought open races stayed unpredictable to the end and one school board seat changed hands in... More ... Halloween Festivities      Millboro Fire Chief Bob Burke, center front, accepts an award of appreciation from John Green, right, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Millboro Springs, during Halloween festivities Oct. 31. The Millboro Volunteer Fire Association was recognized for its service to the community, which included pr... More ...      Jared Heavner (left) and Sean Staunton place the memorial walk bricks in place in preparation for the 2 p.m. Sunday dedication of the Highland County Veterans Memorial. Monterey residents and visitors have watched the steady progress on the new memorial for several weeks. (Recorder photo by James Ja... More ... In Brief ... Monterey Town Council       ¦ Town employee Mike Isles said the town will clean out the culvert at the west end of Mill Alley along Strait Creek. More ... Bath animal foundation gets award BY CYNTHIA B. COLEMAN • STAFF WRITER       HOT SPRINGS - Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Hot Springs Fire House, eight dogs completed a special program. For six weeks, the dogs and their owners worked to prepare for the American Kennel Club's "Canine Good Citizen Program. More ... On the agenda       Bath County Board of Supervisors Bath County Courthouse, Room 115 Tuesday, Nov. 13 - 7 p.m. Closed session - 6 p.m. More ... Millboro Happenings By Gina Hamilton       ¦ A steady stream of residents moved in and out of the polling place at the Ruritan Club Tuesday morning. About 90 had voted in just over two hours after polls opened at 6 a.m. Several candidates or their representatives braved the chilly morning to greet voters in the parking lot. Democrac... More ... Garden club learns how to winterize Garden klutz just gets confused by the details BY MARGO OXENDINE • STAFF WRITER       RAPHINE - Fall is here and winter is on it's way. It's time to put your garden to bed. Ladies from the Warm Springs Valley Garden Club spent a pleasant afternoon at the Buffalo Springs Herb Farm recently, learning just how to do that. More ... Old garage gets new ownership BY GINA HAMILTON • CONTRIBUTING WRITER       MILLBORO SPRINGS - After commuting to work in Stuarts Draft for more than 12 years, Dale Thompson Jr. has found a way to work close to home. More ... Building permits Bath County       MONTEREY - The following building permits were issued by the Bath County Department of Building and Zoning in the month of October: Johnny and Jane Wright, replace four foot deck and build roof over porch; Hugh and Jane Dunnagan, replace porch and make smaller; Allegheny Adobe Inc. More ... Healing Waters Lodge set to de-stress BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - Healing Waters Lodge is a retreat center in Highland County hoping to attract frazzled visitors living the fast-lane life of urban America. It is for people looking for that special place that will not only provide the rest and recuperation they need, but the stimulus and challenge the... More ... Tidbits       ¦ Among those attending family night for Bill Hinkle were Bobbie and Rick Griffin; Arnet and Mary Ellen Gutshall; Jim and Jean Hiner; Ron, Devonia and Lydia Rexrode; Dot and Ez Halterman; Ruth Anne and Owen Mullenax; Ruby and Steve Rawley; and Ruby Jeane and Don Rose. More ... Community Thanksgiving fest on again in Hot Springs BY MARGO OXENDINE • STAFF WRITER       HOT SPRINGS - Every year about this time, thoughts turn to turkey. And dressing and cranberries. And yams and yeast rolls. Yet, behind dreams of laden plates and ladles of gravy, we all know the true reason for the season: To give thanks for blessings that, once we try to count them, turn out to... More ... Gem of a shop found in Warm Springs BY MARGO OXENDINE • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - McGraw Minerals is a labor of love. And beauty. The shop, open for two years, sits across the road from the Bath County Courthouse. There's no splashy, garish sign; no flashing neon beckoning to passersby. In fact, if one weren't looking for it, the shop might be easy to miss. More ... VSU receives grant to assist farmers, ranchers       Virginia State University's School of Agriculture has been awarded a grant in the amount of $300,000 by USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service to provide technical assistance to small, limitedresource and socially-disadvantaged Virginia farmers and ranchers. More ... Bryan hired as Bath clerical assistant       WARM SPRINGS - The Board of Supervisors of Bath County has announced that Janet Bryan has accepted the position of clerical assistant in the county administrator's office, effective Nov. 5. Bryan is a resident of Bath County, along with her husband, Jay, and their children, Stephanie and Jamie. More ... Births Allana Sage Black       ROANOKE - Maggie Miller and Chris Black of Roanoke announce the birth of their daughter, Allana Sage Black. Allana was born Aug. 16, 2007 at 12:21 p.m. at Carilion Community Hospital in Roanoke. She weighed seven pounds and was 19 and one-quarter inches long. More ... VDOT       STAUNTON - The following is a list of highway projects that may affect traffic in the Staunton transportation district during the coming week. Work scheduled is subject to change due to inclement weather and material supplies. More ... Building permits Highland County       MONTEREY - The following building permits were issued by the Highland County Department of Building and Zoning in the month of Septemeber: Blue Grass district - Linda Himot, new home/cabin; Robert V. Baringer, agricultural building. More ... Meet Your Neighbor Alfred Olen Armstrong      Alfred Armstrong was born in the same house, in 1933, where he lives today with wife, Shirley. They married in 1957. They have eight children and all but two live in Highland County. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong met at the school they both attended in Doe Hill. The school house is still standing and is no... More ... What's news in nature? BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       MARES RUN - The diminutive little teaberry is a favorite forest snack for those who know the refreshing wintergreen flavor of the berries. While the berries can be dry and pulpy, they contain enough oil of wintergreen to be full of flavor without being toxic. More ... Program open to provide farmers assistance in using poultry manure as fertilizer       RICHMOND - A new program will offer farmers from across the state $600,000 over the next three years to transport and use poultry litter as fertilizer on their farm fields. More ... FSA election under way       LEXINGTON - The annual election for the Farm Service Agency county committee began Nov. 2. The Local Administrative Areas which are having an election this year are LAA 4 and LAA 5. LAA 4 consists of all Alleghany County. More ... Deadline nearing for apple, peach growers       LEXINGTON - The final date for Virginia apple and peach growers to obtain crop insurance on next year's crop is Nov. 20. Current policyholders likewise have until Nov. 20 to make any changes to their existing contracts. Price elections for 2008 will be $8.65 per bushel for fresh apples and $13 p... More ... Diesel mechanics program off to successful start       CLIFTON FORGE - Dabney S. Lancaster Community College is offering its first diesel mechanics courses this fall and the response has been overwhelmingly positive, with students attending evening classes in a well-equipped lab in Scott Hall on the main campus in Clifton Forge. More ...       Warm Springs Gallery owner Barbara Buhr and painter Chris Burch stand in front of Burch's painting "River Cloud" Saturday evening at a reception for the artist. More ...      Miles Dean, a teacher, is riding his Palomino down Route 84. He has ridden from Pennsylvania to Virginia on U.S. 220 and went down Route 600 to pick up Route 39 to ride on into West Virginia and Kentucky. He started his ride in New York City and plans to ride across the country tracing the history o... More ...