Hot Springs & Monterey, VA

Alleghany Free Clinic settles into new offices BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       LOW MOOR - The Alleghany Highlands Free Clinic moved into bright and spacious new offices in Low Moor in October after occupying various offices on the Alleghany Regional Hospital campus since 1998. More ... Highland wind project largely 'symbolic,' SCC commissioner says BY ANNE ADAMS • STAFF WRITER       RICHMOND - With nearly 19 years under his belt as a commissioner for Virginia's State Corporation Commission, Judge Theodore "Ted" V. Morrison Jr. knows a thing or two about electric utilities. He was one of three, serving with Judith Williams Jagdmann and Mark C. More ... County postpones decision on slaughterhouse zoning change BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - The Highland County Planning Commission sent back to the board of supervisors and Monterey town council a proposed change to the zoning ordinance adding slaughterhouses as a conditional use in general agriculture (A-2) and light industrial (M-1) zones. The decision followed a joint pub... More ... What is the definition of property?       MONTEREY - Part of the discussion at the Jan. 24 hearing on slaughterhouses involved the definition of property. Supervisor Jerry Rexrode asserted that property line and lot line were not the same. County attorney Melissa Dowd said property and lot were the same, at least as far as the county's ... More ... Planners send horses back to supes BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - The Bath County Planning Commission voted 3-1 Monday to send a draft land-use regulation allowing horses in residential districts as a conditional use to county supervisors. With Lynn Ellen Black casting the dissenting vote, the commission sends a proposed new section of the land ... More ... One client's personal story BY GINA HAMILTON • CONTRIBUTING WRITER       MILLBORO - I am a client of the Alleghany Highlands Free Clinic, one among the more than 2,000 active patients the facility has served since opening in 1998. And I credit the caring staff with arranging for the medical care that has restored my health. More ... Friends of Pendleton reply to U.S. Fish & Wildlife BY ANNE ADAMS • STAFF WRITER       FRANKLIN, W.Va. - When Larry Thomas submitted a request for information on a pending wind energy project in Pendleton County, he was surprised to learn there was another utility being explored in his area. More ... FOBPC weighs in on wind energy in national forests       Editor's note: The following letter was written Jan. 20 by Larry Thomas, vice president of Friends of Beautiful Pendleton County, and sent to the U.S. More ... 35 indictments from Bath grand jury BY MARGO OXENDINE • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - Bath County's grand jury last week returned 35 indictments; many of them multiple charges against individuals. This week, Bath Sheriff Larry Norfleet's deputies arrested four people on a total 24 counts; more arrests are slated. More ... Highlanders promote youth oriented discussion BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - The years 1968 to 1988 were a time of great change in American history. From the height of the Vietnam War to the fall of the Iron Curtain, the children born during that period entered a world experiencing upheavals economically, politically, and socially. More ... Millboro Happenings By Gina Hamilton       ¦ The Rescue Squad meeting on Thursday, Jan. 24, had good membership attendance. It was reported the squad responded to five calls in December and had a total 290 service hours. Jackets and shirts are on order that will identify EMTs and other members as volunteers of the Millboro Area Resc... More ... Hevener tours Spanish ag plants BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - Thomas Hevener Jr. leaned forward in his chair as he talked about his trip to Spain with Future Farmers of America. Hevener, the son of Tom and Lisa Hevener of Monterey, is state FFA secretary and was invited to go to an international leadership conference for state officers. He is ser... More ... It's a tree! It's a tower! It's a steath pine tree?      It's a tree! It's a tower! It's a stealth pine tree? Smack dab in the center of downtown Hot Springs, behind The Homestead laundry, a tree has grown up quite rapidly. The very large tree or tower was erected by Verizon under a conditional use permit on The Homestead property, which assisted Verizon ... More ... Utility bills concern Highlanders BY ANNE ADAMS • STAFF WRITER       RICHMOND - Of the two Senate bills introduced in this session of the General Assembly related to wind energy, one still sits in committee and another has been withdrawn. Sen. Frank Wagner (R-Va. Beach) introduced the two pieces of legislation that affect renewable energy facilities. More ... FFA member spot light       MONTEREY - Brandon James Lightner, 18, the son of James and Carol Lightner of Mill Gap, is a senior at Highland County High School and has been a member of the Future Farmers of America for seven years. He has been the treasurer for the past two years. Lightner was asked the following questions a... More ... Shumate pursues broadcasting career       NORFOLK - Lauren Shumate made the dean's list at Norfolk State University, Norfolk, with a 3.5 GPA. In May, she will graduate with a degree in communications. For the last two years Shumate has had her own sports program on Hot 91 FM, WNSB radio station, broadcast by Norfolk State University. S... More ... Seasonal weather greets Winterfest revelers      Artist Chris Wyer works on an ice scupture of a woman skating. Wyer turned an ordinary block of ice into a work of art using a chain saw and grinders with an assortment of bits. (Recorder photos by Geoff Cox) More ... BCPL has high-speed BY NANCY SMITH       WARM SPRINGS - Bath County Library continues to be the hub of the community. Many people use the library every day for different reasons. Some just come to check out the latest bestseller or to read the newspapers. But lately, the library's public access computers are the big draw. More ... DSLCC scholarships for firefighter dependents       CLIFTON FORGE - The Dabney S. Lancaster Community College Educational Foundation announces the availability of the Virginia Firefighters Foundation Scholarship. The scholarship was established in 2001 by the Virginia Firefighters Foundation to provide tuition assistance to dependents of Virginia ... More ... On the Agenda Highland County Board of Supervisors Highland Modular Conference Center Wednesday, Feb. 5 , 7:30 p.m.       ¦ James White Jr., Verona residency administrator reports on county roads and projects; scheduling public hearing on secondary road construction improvement program and budget; revenue sharing. More ... What's news in nature       WARM SPRINGS - Winter in the Highlands is a difficult time for plants and animals. But winter also offers some opportunities to plants adapted to the cold. Two of those winter-adapted Highland natives are orchids. More ... Dairy barn restoration recognized by preservation association       WARM SPRINGS- Last week the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities presented Homestead Preserve the 2008 Outstanding Adaptive Use Award for its $6 million restoration and renovation of the Old Dairy Community Center in Warm Springs. More ... USDA disaster eligibility extended       LEXINGTON - Christopher S. Ashby, County Executive Director for USDA Farm Service Agency in Lexington, announced that eligible farmers and ranchers who suffered livestock, livestock feed and crop losses that occurred before Dec. 31, can apply to receive disaster payments beginning today. More ... Non-insured assistance program deadline       LEXINGTON - The Farm Service Agency's non-insured assistance program can soften financial losses caused by natural disaster, but only if you have applied for coverage and paid the application fee. More ... Wildlife conference held Feb. 23       ROANOKE - The Woods and Wildlife Conference for owners of large and small tracts of land will be held on Saturday, Feb. 23 in Roanoke for individuals, families, managers and interested persons to learn about woods, wildlife and other natural resources. More ...