Hot Springs & Monterey, VA

Wintertide      Autumn Warner sits on Santa's lap at Highland County Crafts last Saturday as Brianna Wimer waits her turn. Adults walked past the elder elf on their way to check out the many handmade goods the store has to offer this holiday season. By the looks of things, Santa's helpers (Highland Division) were b... More ... Charger success spurs athletic facilities talk BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - There was plenty of praise for Bath high school athletes this week, and plenty of concern among citizens and officials as to how best to improve the facilities the students need. Following the Charger football team's terrific season, Bath school board members seemed poised to start... More ... Where to vote up to citizens, board told BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - "It's as clear as mud," said county attorney Melissa Dowd Tuesday. Dowd reported to Highland supervisors on the definition of "residence" for the purposes of voting, as requested last month. "That's the best I can do without reading case after case that tries to tweak it," said Dowd. More ... See a show! 'Plaid Tidings' full of holiday cheer By Margo Oxendine • Staff Writer       LEWISBURG - Make a little more room in your holiday schedule: You don't want to miss "Plaid Tidings." The Christmas-themed spin-off of the popular show "Forever Plaid" brings not just glad tidings, but hilarity, high jinx, even pathos. More ... Swearing in ceremonies set in Bath       WARM SPRINGS - The newly elected sheriff and circuit court clerk are unable to attend the scheduled swearing in ceremony for elected officials on Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. Arrangements have been made to swear in R. Larry Norfleet and M. Wayne Winebriner in an individual ceremony, Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 3 ... More ... Conservation vs. transportation: Who trumps in property taking? BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - In recent months, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation sent courtesy notifications for proposed conservation easements in the vicinity of the McDowell Battlefield and U.S. 250 to the Highland County Board of Supervisors for comment. More ... Blagg felt gagged by legal issues BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - In what may have been his last regular board meeting, the usually reticent Lee Blagg, Highland County supervisor, took one last opportunity to speak his mind. "I haven't said a whole lot in the last four years," he said Tuesday. "I've enjoyed my stay on the board. It has been quite an... More ... Saxman sets 2008 agenda BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - Del. Chris Saxman, 20th district, was guest speaker at a meeting of Highland Republicans in the Carlisle Room of the Mountain Hideaway Tuesday. "We are trying to get back on the winning track," said Saxman. "We have stemmed the tide in the last election. More ... Teach kids, naturally BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - If Jessica Stephenson can impart a fraction of the enthusiasm she has for nature to the kids who will attend the Wildlife in Winter nature camp, those kids may end up with one of the most valuable gifts they receive this holiday season. And it will be a gift that may last a lifetim... More ... In Brief . . . Highland County Board of Supervisors       ¦ As he usually does each new term, Hightown resident Jacob Hevener advocated a pay raise for members of the board of supervisors Tuesday, from $1,800 a year to $5,000. More ... On the Agenda Bath County Board of Supervisors Bath County Courthouse, Room 115       Tuesday, Dec. 11 - 7 p.m. Tree lighting ceremony and seasonal treats - 5-6 p.m. Swearing in ceremony - 6 p.m. Regular Meeting ¦ Pre-General Assembly meeting with the Hon. Creigh Deeds, State Senator. More ... Millboro Happenings By Gina Hamilton       · A pine tree in front of the old Millboro school on High Street is lit again for the holiday season after several years of darkness. The colorful lights cast a warm glow in the night. Millboro Ruritan Club members received help from BARC electric cooperative in getting the lights on the ra... More ... Police offer tips on shopping       RICHMOND - At the same time you are making your holiday list and checking it twice, thieves and fraudsters are putting together a different kind of list. Avoid falling victim to these criminals by being observant and taking a few extra precautions while enjoying the season's festivities. More ...      Front (l-r) Highland Elementary School students Cassie Hoover and Hannah Adams received $10 gift certificates to Dollar General from Highland Telephone Cooperative for their fire safety posters. Back row (l-r) is art teacher Heather Scott and HTC general manager Philip Munchel. (Recorder photo by Ja... More ...      Christmas Mother Trudy Woodzell is popping up everywhere these days to collect generous gifts she and her staff will pass along to deserving families this Christmas. Here at the First National Bank office on Main Street in Hot Springs, Woodzell collects a $250 donation from the bank. Pictured with W... More ... Love Lights Tree Lighting Ceremony      Cassie Brie, social worker and volunteer coordinator for Bath Community Hospital's Hospice of the Highlands, conducts a Love Lights tree lighting and remembrance ceremony at the Highland Medical Center Friday. More ... Correction       Last week The Recorder incorrectly stated newly appointed planning commissioner David Keyser represented the Cedar Creek district. Keyser actually represents the Valley Springs district. Lucille Swink continues to serve as commissioner from Cedar Creek as she has done for more than a decade. More ...      Though it's technically still fall for several more weeks, winter displayed its wonderland in Bath and Highland's first snowfall of the season this week. Here, the view overlooks The Homestead's entrance on U.S. 220. Schools in both counties closed on Wednesday (Recorder photo by Cynthia B. Coleman)... More ... Send holiday cheer to area nursing home residents       MONTEREY - As in years past, The Recorder hopes to publish the names and addresses of Bath and Highland loved ones and former residents who are now living away from their homes in nursing facilities. Please help add to the list by sending information to The Recorder by fax, (540) 468-2048, email... More ... Youth leadership forum set       MONTEREY - The Bath and Highland Disability Services Board announces the 2008 Virginia Youth Leadership Forum. The forum will be held Jul. 14- 18, 2008, at Christopher Newport University, Newport News. The YLF is a leadership development opportunity for those students with physical and sensory d... More ... Tidbits       ¦ Norma Jean Echard of Monterey returned home after knee surgery at the University of Virginia hospital and two weeks of therapy at AMC. More ... Mother, elves getting into high gear BY MARGO OXENDINE • STAFF WRITER       HOT SPRINGS - The sign for the Christmas Mother Shop in St. Luke's Church says it closes at 2:30 p.m. But, just like Santa's North Pole workshop, the place is a hive of activity well into the shank of the evening. Christmas Mother Trudy Woodzell and Debbie Kincaid, her sister-in-law and right-ha... More ... Learning to map Virginia wildlife       DOUTHAT STATE PARK - A small group of Virginia Master Naturalist candidates gathered recently at Douthat State Park to learn the art of Wildlife Mapping. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries developed the program to help put citizen observations into its database and keep up with... More ... Small Business Administration announces disaster loans available       ATLANTA, Ga. - The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced that federal disaster loans are available to small businesses in Virginia as a result of drought that occurred May 15 and continuing. More ... Hunting fatality update BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       LAKE MOOMAW - The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries online Outdoor Report for Nov. 28 reports the death of a Bath County hunter, previously reported in The Recorder Nov. 15. The Outdoor Report article says the 36-year-old man was "allegedly mistaken for a game animal. More ... Be careful of check scam       MONTEREY - The Highland County Sheriff's Office has received a report of a check scam. Officials at the Blue Grass Valley Bank reported receiving what appeared to be a legitimate check on bank letterhead. However, the check had a false account number but did contain the correct bank routing numbe... More ...