Hot Springs & Monterey, VA

State approves wind plant permit Residents, supervisors consider next moves BY ANNE ADAMS • STAFF WRITER       RICHMOND - More than six years after residents were introduced to the idea of wind energy generation in Highland County, the State Corporation Commission Dec. 20 granted developer Henry T. "Mac" McBride of Harrisonburg and his family a permit to build Virginia's first industrial wind facility her... More ... Monterey approves landscape business BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - The Highland County Planning Commission and Monterey Town Council held a joint public hearing Dec. 20 on a variance request for an additional directional sign for Monterey's Alcoholic Beverage Control store and a conditional use application for David Botkin's proposed landscape supply ... More ... Highland planners conduct initial reviews BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - The Highland County Planning Commission held its final meeting of the year Dec. 20. In addition to two public hearings (see related story), the commission reviewed a variance application, two existing conditional use permits and an amendment to the zoning ordinance. More ... Supervisor still wants vote law changed BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - Highland is unique, say county supervisors, and laws that apply to the rest of the state shouldn't apply here. For example, voter residency - officials suggested the state require people in Highland live here at least 186 days a year (51 percent of 365 days) to qualify to vote in the ... More ... What will the county do next? BY ANNE ADAMS • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - Now that Highland New Wind Development has the go-ahead for building its 39-megawatt commercial wind plant, county supervisors are revisiting the conditions they imposed on the company's local conditional use permit, and what Highland's role will be in protecting the county's interests... More ... Permit contains strict conditions for environment BY ANNE ADAMS • STAFF WRITER       RICHMOND - The State Corporation Commission' s final order granting a permit to Highland New Wind Development was issued in a 31-page document outlining the background and arguments of the case, and adding conditions mostly steeped in recommendations from the state Department of Environmental Qua... More ... Monterey Garden Club announces lighting contest winners       MONTEREY - The winners of the Christmas decoration and lighting contest, sponsored by the Monterey Garden Club, are as follows: Winners in the business class: first, Morning Glories and Moonflowers on Water Street owned by Terri Hevener and Margy Rexrode; second, First and Citizens Bank; third,... More ...      Jerry Liptrap's decorated old wrecker has been a beacon on the hill on U.S. 220 north of Warm Springs for many Christmas seasons. This year, Liptrap added more lights and moved the truck up further, making it an even more impressive holiday greeting. (Recorder photos by Charles Garratt) More ...      A giant Christmas bear sits on a lawn along Forestry Lane in Ashwood. The colorful display was one of many around Bath County still lit New Year's Eve. More ...      Partygoers at The Highland Center welcomed in a New Year for a good cause: money raised from tickets purchased for the party went to the American Cancer Society. (Recorder photo by James Jacenich) More ... Hinkle sentenced for his part in robbery BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - Carol "Bill" Hinkle Jr. of Blue Grass was sentenced Dec. 21 to three years in the penitentiary for his part in the Oct. 6, 2006 robbery of the Blue Grass Valley Bank in Blue Grass. All three years of Hinkle's sentence was suspended; he was placed on one-year supervised probation and or... More ... Pool bid accepted BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - "That is the cheapest bid you're going to get," said Highland County supervisor Jerry Rexrode at the Dec. 21 supervisors' meeting about the bid for building a new swimming pool. "I recommend you accept that." The board did, but not without making it clear that accepting the bid did not... More ... Millboro Happenings By Gina Hamilton       ¦ Many folks enjoyed watching a fine Christmas parade in town on Saturday, Dec. 22, and kids were eager to pick up candy tossed out along the parade route. The weather cooperated, too, with rain in the forecast holding off during the event. More ...      Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine spent the New Year's holiday in Hot Springs with his wife, Ann. They were celebrating the 55th wedding anniversary of former Virginia Governor Linwood Holton and his wife, who are Ann's parents. While here, they visited Shrine of the Sacred Heart, and posed for this photo wit... More ...      Suzie Landrum cranked up the old Victrola for some holiday music circa 1930s at the Highland Museum and Heritage Center's Christmas open house Dec. 8. (Recorder photo by James Jacenich) More ...      Allison Stump, third grade, performed "Sleigh Bells," a traditional Russian carol at the Highland Elementary School "Carols from around the World" concert Dec. 12. More ... Correction      The information published with this photo Dec. 20 was incorrectly. The caption should have read: "Pictured (l-r) are Henry Reeves, Small Business Development Center counselor; David Blanchard of Monterey, recipient of the SCORE chapter No. 427 Small Business of the Year award; Ralph Denick, chair; a... More ... Achievement Jessica Young       HOT SPRINGS - Jessica Young, daughter of John and Debbie Young of Hot Springs, graduated Basic Combat Training for the U.S. Army on Oct. 12, 2007. Training at Fort Jackson, S.C., near Columbia and was a member of the Alpha Company, 313th Infantry Regiment, under the command of Capt. Luaro and F... More ... Correction       In the article in the Dec. 13, 2007 issue about Donald McCaig, The Recorder his book went to No. 12 on the New York Times Best Seller list. It actually was at No. 5. All errors in fact brought to our attention will be quickly and gladly corrected. More ... Health Connection Home safety for the elderly By Sheryl Lyle, PT Bath Community Hospital       Home Sweet Home. I never gave this sign in my grandmother's kitchen much thought, but the older I get, the more significance it has for me. For more than 20 years, I have worked with aging Americans, in their homes, the homes of their children, skilled nursing homes, and in hospitals. More ... Births ZOEE ADDYSON HAZELWOOD       HOT SPRINGS - Caleigh Jo welcomed her new sister, Zoee Addyson Hazelwood into the world on Aug, 18, 2007. Zoee weighed six pounds, 10 ounces. Caleigh Jo and Zoee are the daughters of Roger and Mandee Hazelwood of Hot Springs. More ... Outdoor classroom kits available to local schools       WILLIAMSBURG - At its 69th Annual Meeting, the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts announced a new project aimed to bring elementary school children closer to nature with use of an innovative means of teaching the outdoors on the school yard. More ... Library Notes Tomi Herold • Highland County Public Library       As 2007 winds down I wanted to share with you some of the highlights of the year at the library. ¦ Our local authors series has been a great success. We've had book readings and signings by Donald McCaig, Will Crisp, Paul Klein and Will Vaus. We look forward to continuing the series in the... More ...      Santa visited residents at The Springs Nursing Center Dec. 20. There were lots of presents under the lovely tree, along with cake, punch, cookies, and lots of Christmas carols. (Recorder photo by Margo Oxendine) More ... 4-H kicks off 2008       MONTEREY - Four-H is celebrating the start of a new year. The Highland County Cloverbud 4-H Club is growing and the group would like more youth to join. The club is open to youth ages 5-8. The Cloverbud program is a child's introduction to 4-H. More ... Millboro Christmas day parade      A 'John Deere' green tractor fits right in with the colors of the season in the Millboro Christmas parade. More ... Millboro parade results       MILLBORO - The Millboro Volunteer Fire Association has announced the following award winners for the Dec. 22 Christmas parade entries. All were first- place trophies. The Judges Choice of the whole parade was the biggest trophy of all of them. More ... What's new in nature BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - Some plants are easier to find in the winter than during the growing season when they are hidden by or blend with the thick foliage of trees and shrubs. Bittersweet stands out particularly well in winter because of its decorative red and orange berries. More ... On the Agenda Bath County Board of Supervisors       Bath County Courthouse Room 115 Tuesday, Jan. 8 - 7 p.m. Closed session - 6 p.m. ¦ Closed meeting for consultation with legal counsel and discussion of personnel matters regarding assignment, More ... Wedding Woosley - Greco       HOT SPRINGS - The marriage of Dr. Kristen Paige Woosley to Dr. Justin Greco took place Sept. 1, 2007 at Hot Springs Presbyterian Church, Hot Springs. The Rev. Glenn Coleman officiated at the double-ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Larry and Ellen B. Woosley of Waynesboro. She is the g... More ...