Hot Springs & Monterey, VA

McDowell Methodists perform Easter drama BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER      MONTEREY — The McDowell Charge of the United Methodist Church will depict the final days of Jesus in a passion play 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Good Friday, March 21, at the Stonewall Ruritan Building in McDowell. The classrooms of the former school become Jerusalem and Highland County residents become the pe... More ... Hydro Generator      The intake tower at Gathright Dam in Alleghany County will be equipped with an electric generation turbine under a proposal by W.V. Hydro, Inc. The look of the tower would change only slightly according to plans presented at a public meeting last week. The company says operation of the turbine would... More ... Bath cancels reassessment BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - Bath county property owners can throw away the reappraisal notices received in the mail three weeks ago. Tuesday, the board of supervisors voted to terminate the contract with Blue Ridge Mass Appraisal for the current reassessment, barely two weeks before it was scheduled to be com... More ... Who pays for pool building? BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - Those attending Monday's hearing about the proposal for a pool accessory building were clear about one thing: No government money should be spent on this project. If only it were that simple, county officials said. More ... $1.5 million donated to Nature Conservancy Gift to go toward Conservancy's 'mortgage' on Warm Springs Mountain Preserve       WARM SPRINGS - Former Gov. Mark R. Warner and former first lady of Virginia Lisa Collis have given $1.5 million to The Nature Conservancy to help advance its conservation work in the Allegheny Highlands of western Virginia. More ... Editor's Note      Editor's note: This photo was published as the cover of The Recorder's Spring Guide on March 6. Many have requested information on the photo, which follows: Keith Carson (left), Land Steward in the Warm Springs office of The Nature Conservancy, names the distant peaks for the lucky people enjoying t... More ... Former magistrate guilty of embezzlement BY MARGO OXENDINE • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - Following a trial last Sept. 7, Judge Humes Franklin has found J. Cristina Stinespring, formerly of Bacova, guilty of four counts of embezzlement. Stinespring, who served as a magistrate, as well as Bath's Christmas Mother, will be sentenced April 18. She pleaded not guilty to the ... More ... Access: Bath, Highland officials 'open up' BY ANNE ADAMS • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY and HOT SPRINGS - Last year , a teacher concerned about her job wanted to know what school administrators had said in her personnel file. Could she ask to see her records? One principal told her no; a different administrator told her yes. More ... Senior trip committee suggests alternatives BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - Whether Highland High School seniors get to take a senior trip, and what that trip might be, is still up for discussion. The previous school board - based on school staff recommendations - had changed the policy on senior trips, and now, parents and students say the new requirements... More ... Moomaw may get hydro generator BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       COVINGTON - A proposal to place an electric generating turbine in the intake tower of Gathright Dam moved forward last week after a public hearing at the Charles P. Jones Memorial library in Covington brought little opposition. More ... Drug store burglary solved in record time BY MARGO OXENDINE • STAFF WRITER       HOT SPRINGS - It took less than 24 hours for the Bath County Sheriff's Office to solve the March 11 break-in at Hot Springs Pharmacy. Lt. Noel T. Dunnagan, fellow deputies, and members of the Alleghany Highlands Drug Task Force were questioning a suspect by the late evening hours that night and,... More ... What are your rights? Frequently asked questions       MONTEREY and WARM SPRINGS - The Virginia Coalition for Open Government provides a helpful citizens' guide on the Freedom of Information Act. The following questions and answers are based in part on the information in that guide, which notes, "Virginia's FOIA starts from the presumption that all g... More ... Recorder takes top state press award       ROANOKE - The Recorder won Virginia Press Association's highest state honor for newspapers Saturday during the VPA's annual conference, held in Roanoke. The VPA Award for Journalistic Integrity and Community Service was given in recognition of The Recorder's work in 2007, for newspapers with a c... More ... In Brief . . . Highland County Board of Supervisors       ¦ The board of supervisors Monday night appointed Bud Cook to the Highland County Planning Commission, to fill a vacancy left by Crysta Stanton late last year. More ... Correction       The Highland County Economic Development Authority did not nominate Robin Sullenberger for the Shenandoah Valley Technology Council's High Tech Leadership Award as reported in last week's paper. More ... Maple Festival      Vendor Helen Nash talks with a visitor at Saturday's Maple Festival in Monterey. Selling Anna Lee Candles, she said her husband, Robert, makes the candles and named the business after his mother. (Recorder photo by Gina Hamilton) More ... Bluegrass Jamboree coming up March 29       HOT SPRINGS - Allegheny Mountain Radio's annual Bath Bluegrass Jamboree is set for Saturday, March 29, and this year it features two Virginia bands new to the event. High Ground from Mount Sidney and the Locust Mountain Boys, who hail from the Roanoke Area, will perform, along with an old favori... More ... Virginia farmers asked to exhibit in Saudi Arabia       RICHMOND - From the first shipment of tobacco from Jamestown to today's exports to Mexico, Turkey, Cuba, Egypt and China, Virginia's farmers have always found a worldwide market eager for their products. More ... Wiley joins Homestead as director of food, beverage       HOT SPRINGS - Perry Wiley has been appointed director of food and beverage at The Homestead in Hot Springs. In his new role, Wiley will oversee operations of the resort's dining outlets, including the Main Dining Room, 1766 Grille, Sam Snead's Tavern and the President's Lounge. More ... First National Bank promotes Stanley to branch manager       COVINGTON - First National Bank announces the promotion of Anne Stanley to branch manager of the Covington office. Stanley is married to Roger L. Stanley and lives in Covington. More ...      Lucinda Beverage of Monterey attended the centennial convocation of James Madison University March 14. Beverage is a 1940 graduate of JMU. She taught home economics at Highland County Public Schools after teaching at Rockingham County Public Schools. Attendance at the convocation was by invitation o... More ... What's blooming in Bath, Highland       MILLBORO SPRINGS - Ranging in color from white to purple, hepatica flowers have won the race to be the second early spring flower to grace the moist, rich woodlands of the Highlands this year. More ... Prevention leaders, schools team up against inhalant abuse       LEXINGTON - National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week is March 16-22. Rockbridge Area Community Services and the Rockbridge Area Prevention Coalition urge parents and concerned citizens to join with them in this observance. More ... Chamber Music Retreat      Twenty-four musicians spent last weekend at Garth Newel Music Center participating in the annual Chamber Music Retreat. The workshop is designed for amateur musicians to spend a few intensive days working on their chamber music skills and sharing their enthusiasm for music with friends. The long wee... More ... ARH offers New York city trip       LOW MOOR - The H2U program at Alleghany Regional Hospital will offer a three-day and two-night motor coach tour to New York, N.Y. The tour will take place from Tuesday to Thursday, December 2-4. More ... Births Emma Grace and Alison Paige Hooke       GROTTOES - Billy and Amy Hooke of Grottoes announce the birth of twin daughters, Emma Grace and Alison Paige, on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at Rockingham Memorial Hospital. Emma weighed six pounds, five ounces and was 18 inches long. More ... Highland Co. 4-H'ers compete at local contest       MONTEREY - Highland County 4-H members competed at the local 4-H contest day held Saturday, March 1. Contestants competed in nine contest categories and three age divisions. Highland High School teacher Terry Duff assisted extension staff with judging. Serving as the masters of ceremonies were 4... More ... Engagement Smith - Woodzell       WARM SPRINGS - Diana Woodzell of Warm Springs would like to announce the engagement of her son Justin Woodzell to Cora Smith. Justin is also the son of Charlie Woodzell of Covington and the grandson of Mack and Sis Hickman of Warm Springs. More ... Seniors teach seniors about computers       LEXINGTON - The Rockbridge Regional Library in Lexington is offering oneon one sessions on a first come, first served basis for senior citizens who are interested in learning to use computers. Taught by seniors for seniors, the classes gently introduce participants to the computer. More ... Homestead Preserve's Old Dairy gets 'Virginia Green' status       HOT SPRINGS - Homestead Preserve's Old Dairy Community Center was recently named aVirginia Green Conference Center by the Department of Environmental Quality. More ... Millboro Happenings By Gina Hamilton       ¦ For some of us, the first day of spring today is a much-anticipated calendar event. This year it almost coincides with Easter, so the sense of renewal is doubly gratifying. More ... Bull sale held April 4       CULPEPER - The 50th annual sale of the Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association Culpeper, junior bulls, will be held Friday, April 4 at 2 p.m. The sale will be held at Culpeper Agriculture Enterprises, located on Route 29 just south of Culpeper. More ... FFA member spot light By Jessie Siron, reporting for the Highland County FFA       MONTEREY- Chance Massey, the son of Darren and Sandy Massey of Monterey, is a 16-year-old sophomore at Highland High School. Massey is the chaplain of Highland's Future Farmers of America and has been a member for two years. He shared the following about his FFA experience. More ... Clarification       In the building permits for Bath County in last week's Recorder in the Warm Springs district, Frank and Amanda Pritt were listed as doing alteration and renovation, when it should have been Patrick Haynes Jr. More ... Local campground fees have increased       ROANOKE - George Washington and Jefferson National Forests officials announce fee increases for Hidden Valley and Blowing Springs family campgrounds in Bath County. Beginning April 1, the fee for each campground will be $10 per campsite per night. The previous fee of $6 had been in effect since ... More ... Hospital offers teen volunteer program       LOW MOOR - Alleghany Regional Hospital, in partnership with Southwest Virginia Area Health Education Center and the Alleghany Foundation, will offer the Youth Volunteers in Partnership Program again this summer. More ... Sam Rasoul      Sam Rasoul (center) , a Congressional candidate in Virginia's Sixth District, was at Country Cafe recently at an event sponsored by the Bath County Democratic Party. Rasoul talked with a small group of Bath County residents about the major issues facing America today, including immigration, Iraq, he... More ...