Hot Springs & Monterey, VA

A day of honor New veterans' memorial dedicated BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - The rain many had prayed for broke long enough for the Veterans' Day dedication of the Highland County Veterans Memorial and Walk of Honor Sunday. More than 300 people attended the formal 2 p.m. ceremony on the courthouse lawn in Monterey. Many donned coats and sweaters to ward off th... More ... Bath man dies while hunting BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       LAKE MOOMAW - A Bath County hunter was the first fatality during Virginia's deer season this year. Thirty-six year old Radcliffe Vernon of Hot Springs died Saturday morning while hunting on the eastern side of Bolar Mountain near Lake Moomaw. Vernon died from a gunshot wound to the arm, accordin... More ... Supervisors to start talks with Spectrum BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - Bath County supervisors took a bold step Tuesday, voting unanimously to negotiate with Spectrum Design of Roanoke to convert the old Millboro school buildings into apartments. Chairman Cliff Gilchrest passed the gavel to vice chair Percy Nowlin before making the motion. More ... Supervisor concerned about who has right to vote in Highland Co. BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - Highland County supervisor Jerry Rexrode is concerned about the kinds of folks being allowed to vote in Highland County. He wants the law changed to prevent those who do not live in the county from voting in the county, although according to residency regulations for voters, only those... More ... In brief . . . Highland County Supervisors       ¦ District ranger Pat Sheridan of the Warm Springs Ranger District told Highland County supervisors last Wednesday that fire restrictions are still in effect, despite the recent rains. "The rain brought fire conditions up from ultra-extreme to severe," he said. More ... Election update       Highland County ¦ The write-in votes have been counted and, unofficially, it appears that Joe Neil of McDowell has won a seat as a director of the Mountain Soil and Water Conservation District. More ... In brief . . . Highland County Economic Development Authority       ¦ Tuesday Highland's economic development authority discussed preparing a strategic plan. Member Trent Burkholder suggested the list of strategies assigned to the EDA by the draft Highland County comprehensive plan was More ...      Construction of the E-911 facility behind the Bath sheriff's office is moving forward. Tuesday Bath supervisors reviewed a list of change orders. Mike Fisher (l-r) and Travis Worrell of Lionberger Construction Co. work with Mark Edwards of Progressive State Plumbing to get the foundation forms ready... More ... Oil, gas options up for grabs on forest BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - George Washington-Jefferson National Forest Warm Springs district ranger Pat Sheridan told the Highland County Board of Supervisors last Wednesday that Patrick Petroleum of Tulsa, Okla. More ... Delegate Shuler briefs Bath on legislative action BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - "The elections are over and it's time to get to work," State Del. James M. Shuler told the Bath board of supervisors Tuesday. Shuler was at the top of the agenda for the meeting and spent 40 minutes reviewing the upcoming legislative session and responding to concerns from board m... More ... Wind project decision another step closer BY ANNE ADAMS • STAFF WRITER       RICHMOND - Whether Highland County becomes home to the state's first industrial wind energy utility is a decision up to the three members of the State Corporation Commission, who have a two-year record of testimony in hand. The SCC has no deadline by which it must grant a permit to Highland New W... More ...      Elaine Fry of Hot Springs (left) admires one of the attractive rooms at Safehome in Covington. Education Outreach Coordinator Ethel Adams (right) was one of the staff members giving tours of the facility Monday evening at the 20th anniversary celebration of Safehome. Girl Scout Troup #734 adopted th... More ... Community raising money for young man's funeral BY GINA HAMILTON • CONTRIBUTING WRITER       MILLBORO - Shock and tears mingled in this community Sunday morning, Nov. 11, as residents learned of the death of John Mace after an epileptic seizure. He was just 19 years old. Despite a difficult family situation - his father, Joseph B. Mace Sr., died when John was two years old and his moth... More ... Gardner graduates first in sub school       GROTON, Conn. - Everett D. Gardner, son of Harley and Donna Gardner of Monterey, has successfully completed Class A submarine training school as a machinist mate in Groton. On Nov. 9, he graduated first in his class. He is spending a week of recruiting duty with his recruiter, Keith Burch, in W... More ... Marine addresses memorial gathering       Editor's note: The following speech was presented at the dedication of the Highland County Veterans Memorial Sunday, Nov. 11 by Brig. Gen. James Laster, USMC and is repeated here in its entirety. "Senator and Mrs. Emmett Hangar, Distinguished Veterans, Citizens of Highland County, than... More ... Cobb recognizes work of citizens, veterans       Editor's note: Retired Col. James Cobb, U.S. Marine Corps was master of ceremonies and presented the following speech at the dedication of the Highland County Veterans Memorial Sunday. "I would like to welcome everyone here this afternoon and thank you for attending. More ... A tribute to the Walk of Honor       Editor's note: Mary Cantrell wrote the following poem and presented it at the dedication of the Highland County Veterans Memorial Sunday, Nov. 11. More ... Resort earns AAA honor       RICHMOND - AAA Mid-Atlantic has assigned its Five- and Four- Diamond Award ratings for 2008 and The Homestead in Hot Springs has earned a Four Diamond award for the fourth year. More ... Photos      Above: Pictured (l-r) are Melody Moats, Margaret Worth, Lisa Jacenich and Sharon Hevener admiring the wool scarf felted by Worth of Marlinton, W.Va. (Photo courtesy Lisa Jacenich) More ... Foundation lays new year plans       LEXINGTON - The Rockbridge Area Community Foundation will hold its annual meeting and reception on Nov. 15. The public is invited. The meeting will be held between 5:30-7 p.m. in the home of the Rev. and Mrs. David Cox, 106 Lee Avenue, Lexington. More ... Reedy to be deployed       DOE HILL - April Reedy of Doe Hill is being deployed overseas with the Army National Guard. She is a soldier in Support Battalion. She completed training of 30 days at Fort Pickett in Blackstone, and is now training at her mobilization station. She will deploy the middle to the end of July. More ... In brief . . . Bath County Supervisors       ¦ Extension agent Rodney Leech told the Bath board Tuesday there was "good news and bad news" regarding drought conditions in the county. The best news, he said, was the four inches of rain received recently. More ... Photos      Off they go! Participants at Saturday's Harvest Holiday hosted by the Millboro Ruritan Club head out for a hayride around the downtown area. More ... Millboro Happenings By Gina Hamilton       ¦ The community is reeling from the death of young John Mace, 19, last Sunday, Nov. 11, after an epileptic seizure (see related story, page 8). He was a 2007 graduate of Bath County High School and the only child of Rose Mace, a widow. Efforts are under way to raise money for funeral expens... More ... Photos      Left: "Feeding a Crowd" was sponsored by Virginia Cooperative Extension and Virginia Department of Health. Stephanie Diehl and Ken Hearst, environmental health specialists, registered 21 participants from Bath and Highland counties to learn how to handle food safely. Pictured are (l-r): Adaline Hodg... More ... Farm storage loans available in area       LEXINGTON - Christopher S. Ashby, Executive Director for USDA's Farm Service Agency office in Lexington, which serves Rockbridge, Alleghany, and Bath counties, reminded farmers and ranchers that FSA can help with their farm storage needs with a Farm Storage Facility Loan. More ... Non-insured assistance program reminders and deadlines       LEXINGTON - The Farm Service Agency's Non-insured Assistance Program can soften financial losses caused by natural disaster, but only if you've applied for coverage and paid the application fee. More ... Oak Grove church's 100-year history recounted       Editor's note: Caroline Deeds Wilson gave the following history of the Oak Grove Advent Christian Church at its 100th anniversary celebration Sept. 30. When Jim Deeds asked me to give a history of the church, he said to keep it short. So I will do my best to give you a history, with fact... More ... Weather report       This was the warmest October on record by 2 degrees and the maxium for the month of 85 degrees also broke the record by 2 degrees. Despite being dangerously dry for most of the month, precipitation was pushed above normal by the heavy rains on the 24th-26th, which puts the area six inches above no... More ... Alleghany Foundation awards more than $1.7 million       COVINGTON - TheA llegheny Foundation has announced it has awarded 13 grants totaling more than $1.7 million to support area projects designed to enhance the quality of life for citizens of the Allegheny Highlands. More ... Open house scheduled       MONTEREY - Cold weather has finally arrived, and with it come thoughts of the holidays. Giving gifts from the heart and enjoying home cooked foods are usually the first things that come to mind, and there is no better place to find both than at The Highland Center's Holiday Treasures Market and O... More ...