Hot Springs & Monterey, VA

Cowpasture tributaries earn Tier III status BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       MILLBORO - Four years after the Cowpasture River Preservation Association nominated the Cowpasture River and tributaries for inclusion in the Exceptional State Waters program, the Department of Environmental Quality presented the organization a certificate in recognition of its efforts. More ... Ill winds blow through Bath, Highland BY CHARLES GARRATT AND ANNE ADAMS • STAFF WRITERS       HOT SPRINGS and MONTEREY- Even with ninedegree temperatures and -20 wind chills, the sound of chainsaws and hammers filled the air around Bath and Highland counties Monday morning in the wake of near hurricane force winds that blew most of the day Sunday. More ... Bath supervisors renew coyote bounty BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - After spending $45,000 over the past six years on coyote bounties and hearing experts Tuesday say bounties don't help control the four-legged canine pest, the Bath County Board of Supervisors reduced the bounty from $100 to $50 and voted to begin paying out bounties from the $5,000... More ... Bath will get piece of the pie       RICHMOND - It appears Bath County might receive part of the communication sales and use tax collected by the state on landlines, wireless, E-911 and cable TV. Bath had not been eligible for part of the fund even though county residents pay the tax. More ... Presidential Primary Results       In Highland County the top two Republican candidates were McCain, with 33 percent of the vote, and Huckabee, with 56 percent of the vote. The top two Democratic candidates were Obama, with 54 percent of the vote, and Clinton, with 45 percent of the vote. There was a 13. More ... Debate over wind tax credits on again       WASHINGTON, D.C. - The production tax credits for wind energy utilities are set to expire at the end of this year, but a Democratic push in the House could extend them once again. Congressmen are introducing a renewable energy package to the tune of $17.5 billion this month, and hope to fund it ... More ... Highland County man charged with abduction       MONTEREY - Mark Siron, 37, of Monterey, was arrested Sunday for abduction, obstruction of justice, and threatening a law enforcement officer. According to Highland sheriff Herb Lightner, Siron called the sheriff's department and claimed to be holding hostages at his apartment in Monterey. More ... In Brief . . . Highland Economic Development Authority       ¦ Tuesday, the Highland County Economic Development Authority appointed Frank Marks to the Shenandoah Valley Technology Council. More ... Amended school funding bill passes       RICHMOND - The bill to give more localities an opportunity at increased education funding from the state has passed the Senate with changes, and Tuesday, it was communicated to the House. Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg) introduced Senate Bill 559. More ...      Yes, that is the rear end of a trailer sticking out of the hastily constructed building next to the power house in downtown Hot Springs. The front of the trailer sticks out of the other end of the building. In between is a portable boiler, brought in to supplement the boilers in the power plant afte... More ... In Brief . . . Monterey Town Council       ¦ Monterey property owner Ruth Ann Morrison paid her town property taxes on time this year for the first time in 11 years. More ... 'Homestead exemption' bill passes Senate, moves to House BY ANNE ADAMS • STAFF WRITER       RICHMOND - Legislation dubbed the "homestead exemption," watched closely by officials in Highland County for more than a year, was re-introduced in this session of the General Assembly, and has passed the Senate. It would provide tax relief for certain property owners in Virginia, allows localiti... More ... Millboro native on leave from war in Iraq BY GINA HAMILTON • CONTRIBUTING WRITER       MILLBORO - He's wearing civilian clothes while on leave from Fort Hood, Texas, but Army Spec. Gabriel Fuller, 24, is very much an Army man. In fact, he signed up between his junior and senior year in high school and completed basic training in the reserves during his senior year before graduating... More ... Tiptoe through the Tombstones Bath's oldest marked graves are in Warm Springs By Margo Oxendine, Staff Writer       WARM SPRINGS - High on a knoll in Warm Springs Cemetery stand the oldest marked graves in Bath County. Clustered as they are, one can stand there and see how the cemetery - also Bath's most populous - took shape. Once one knows a little about Warm Springs history, it is easy to understand the e... More ... Millboro Happenings By Gina Hamilton       ¦ Talk about wind on Sunday! While reading the Sunday paper that morning, I happened to look out a window and - snap! - I watched the top 30-foot section of a tall pine tree shear off like a broken pencil behind the house. Fortunately, it blew down between other trees and caused no proper... More ... Volunteers needed to transport cancer patients       ROANOKE - The American Cancer Society is searching for volunteers to assist with the Road to Recovery program in Alleghany and Bath counties. The Road to Recovery program is a free service for cancer patients who lack transportation. More ... Overcome effects of cancer treatment       ROANOKE - If you are a woman or you know a woman who is undergoing cancer treatment, the Look Good … Feel Better® program is here for you. The American Cancer Society is excited to announce this program is available in Alleghany County at Alleghany Regional Hospital and Bath County at ... More ... Jazz comes to Garth Newel       HOT SPRINGS - Jazz returns to Garth Newel Music Center on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m. with organist Joey DeFrancesco. Regarded by organ aficionados as one of the best, DeFrancesco has almost single-handedly put the Hammond B-3 organ back into the public eye. A great showman, Joey combines mons... More ... Legislative Update First half of session now complete Sen. Creigh Deeds       The first half of the 2008 legislative session is now over. At the end of the night work on all billsÑexcluding the budgetÑintroduced in either the House of Delegates or the Senate must be completed so the other chamber can consider them. More ... Alleghany Regional Hospital gets gold achievement award       LOW MOOR - On Dec. 4, Alleghany Regional Hospital received the Virginia Health Quality Center Gold Achievement Award, presented at the VHQC Outcomes Congress in Richmond. ARH received the award for excellence in quality improvement measures. More ...      The Healing Springs precinct was warm and fairly busy during Primary voting Tuesday. From left are poll workers Elva Carpenter, Ernestine Merchant and Dreama Martin. Not pictured, but working nonetheless, are Suzanne Green and Linda May. Obama and McCain were the Democrat and Republican victors in V... More ... Correction       Thank you to Mrs. Kenneth Post, granddaughter of Robert and Sarah Mustoe, for pointing out an error in the article, "The Carloover Community: Who Lived Where?" published Jan.24. The fourth paragraph up from the end should read, "Latter day residents were Robert E. More ... USDA grant funds are available       RICHMOND - The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is alerting all independent agricultural producers in Virginia that approximately $18.4 million in competitive grant funds are available through the USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service for fiscal year 2008 to help farmers... More ...      Left: Monterey Lions Club president Richard Shamrock (left) presents Highland High School Band Director Jerry Philp with a check in the amount of $750 to be used toward the Band Boosters' fundraiser for new band uniforms. Philp informed the club that roughly half of the approximate $20,000 has been ... More ... FFA member spotlight: Kari Obaugh By Jessie Siron, reporting for the Highland County FFA       MONTEREY - Kari Obaugh, the daughter of Kyle and Karla Obaugh of McDowell is a student at Highland High School. Obaugh is the chapter parliamentarian and has been a member of the Future Farmers of America for six years. She was asked the following questions about her FFA experience. More ... Master naturalist program accepting applications       MILLBORO - Are you curious about nature, enjoy the outdoors, and want to be a part of natural resource stewardship in Virginia? Then you will want to take note of this new and exciting volunteer opportunity. The Virginia Master Naturalist program is statewide training that will impact natural res... More ... Hevener reappointed to sheep industry board       RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced that Sandy C. Hevener of Bluegrass, a sheep farmer and mag- istrate for the Virginia Supreme Court, was reappointed to the Virginia Sheep Industry board on Feb. 8. More ...      Two kids run into a man-made snow storm on the ski slopes at The Homestead Monday morning. The cold, dry air arriving behind Sunday's high winds created pefect conditions for making snow. (Recorder photo by Charles Garratt) More ... Expo holds sport show       FISHERSVILLE - The 21st Annual Western Virginia Sport show will be held at Augusta Expoland in Fishersville (I-64, exit 91) on Feb. 15-17. Now starting its third decade, this event, known as "The Show Where the Pros Go," is an imperative show for the pros. It continues to be a unique world-class... More ... Big game show held at Rockingham Fair Grounds       HARRISONBURG - The Greater Virginia Sports and Big Game Show kicks off this weekend, Feb. 15-17, at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds in Harrisonburg. More ... Schneider joins Greenway's team to expand auction services       COVINGTON - Greenway's Real Estate and Auction Co. has announced that Steve Schneider has joined its team of real estate professionals and auctioneers to help expand the market for its services beyond the Allegheny Highlands. More ... 4-H camp counselor jobs are available       WIRTZ - Applications are now being accepted for the positions of Junior 4-H Camp teen counselor and counselor-in-training. Positions are open to youth 13-18 years of age in Bath and Highland counties. More ... Winter trees bare all       Have you ever been out in the woods, looked up at a leafless tree and wondered what kind of tree it was? Without leaves, trees can be challenging to correctly identify. As it turns out, there are plenty of clues on a bare tree - if you know where and how to look. More ...