Hot Springs & Monterey, VA

Bath County board meeting gets testy BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - Despite pleas from supervisors to "put this behind us," former county administrator Claire Collins and other Bath residents interrupted proceedings during last Thursday's meeting of the board. Disparaging remarks were exchanged as the tone of the discussion took a downturn, and one... More ... The "Golden Chase"      The "Golden Chase" eagle watching project has taken another huge step toward documenting golden and bald eagles in Highland County. March 13, a golden eagle was caught and banded with a telemetry device for tracking it via satellite. Here, Libby Mojica and Patti Reum prepare to release it on Bear Mo... More ... Schools recommend $4.5 million budget BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - The Highland County School Board approved a $4,545,178 budget after last Wednesday's public hearing. The budget, much the same as superintendent Gary Blair proposed earlier in the month, includes a 2 percent raise for teachers. Board members noted they had recognized the expenses liste... More ... Museum Hopping C&O Depot enjoys new life, celebrates history By Margo Oxendine, Staff Writer       COVINGTON - We've all been there thousands of times. Many of us recall the "good old days" in Covington - the vital, teeming downtown, the panoply of places to see and things to do. There's nothing new in Covington; nothing we haven't seen before, right? More ... Bath sheriff's accusations investigated BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER       WARM SPRINGS - Following four months of nearly continuous accusations, Sheriff Larry Norfleetis beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel. Supervisor Stuart Hall targeted Norfleetwith charges at a board meeting in late February. He accused Norfleetof a "blatant misuse of power and aut... More ... Commission surprised by loss of director By Geoff Cox • Staff Writer       MONTEREY - The Highland school budget for next year is near completion and if passed as proposed the schools will no long longer pay for an athletic director position. More ... Rec commission revisits pool project details By Geoff Cox • Staf Writer       MONTEREY - The Highland County Recreation Commission came to Monday's monthly meeting armed with questions and answers, eager to clear up any misinformation citizens may have about the evolving swimming pool project. Concerns were discussed as members shared information and educated themselves o... More ... Smoke fills skies from Bath prescribed burn       WARM SPRINGS - The sky midday Tuesday turned to a cloudy haze, but it wasn't from approaching bad weather. The Warm Springs Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service was burning about 600 acres of George Washington National Forest property on Back Creek Mountain near Hidden Valley. More ... In Brief . . . Bath County Board of Supervisors       ¦ Last Thursday, Bath supervisors accepted the Capital Improvement Plan as submitted by the planning commission. State code requires localities to have capital improvement requests reviewed by the commission for consistency with the comprehensive plan. The board is not bound by the recommen... More ... Eagle watchers succeed in banding birds       MONTEREY - The idea of holding a spring birding marathon to raise money for golden eagle research in Highland County was hatched in the minds of Patti Reum of Hightown, chairperson, and Kurt Gaskill, event consultant, of Northern Virginia, in January 2007. More ... Woodworkers organize in Highland BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - Twentytwo woodworkers, ranging from part-time hobbyists to full-time artisans, most from Highland, and two from Bath County, held the first meeting of the Allegheny Highlands Woodworkers Guild. Gary Johnson, Bo Aldredge, Tim Duff and Todd Frye formed the governing committee. More ... Weaver makes her home, business in Millboro By GINA HAMILTON • CONTRIBUTING WRITER       MILLBORO - In Japan, they're revered as living treasures, artisans who preserve and teach ancient arts and crafts. In Millboro, such an honor could be bestowed on Mary Barnes, who carries on the traditional crafts of hand weaving and bookmaking. More ... Donation      MeadWestvaco's Covington mill recently made a donation in support of the sixth annual Bath Bluegrass Jamboree. The event is being held on Saturday, March 29, at Bath County High School as a fund-raiser for Allegheny Mountain Radio. This year's performers include the Wright Kids, High Ground, Locust ... More ... Easter      The Rev. David Boger of McDowell United Methodist Church portrayed a moneychanger in the temple marketplace during Good Friday's Tenebrae observance. (Recorder photos by James Jacenich) More ... Warm Springs Ranger District campground updates       WARM SPRINGS - At the Bolar Mountain Recreation Area on the north end of Lake Moomaw, opening dates and reservation availability have changed from previous years. Campground 3 will be the first to open on April 3. Campgrounds 1 and 2, the new Sugar Ridge Campground, and the beach will open May 19... More ... Small Steps to Health & Wealth class to be held       MONTEREY- Have you thought about making changes in your life? Typically, these changes are made separately, such as "lose 10 pounds" and "save $1,000." Small Steps to Health and Wealth™ is a program that offers a better way to make changes: work on health and financial behavior changes toge... More ... On the Agenda       Highland County Supervisors Highland Modular Conference Center Tuesday, April 1 - 7:30 p.m. ¦ James White Jr., Verona residency administrator reports on county roads and projects. More ... Meet Your Neighbor       Sandy Hevener has lived in the Blue Grass area for more than 30 years, with her husband Edmund, in a pre Civil War white farm house. They have two children, Amanda and Randolph. In her kitchen there is a secret stair case that looks like a closet, a wood/gas stove in all it's iron glory, and an or... More ... Maple Festival      Bath County 4-H members Courtney Maddow (left) and Emily Black helped clean tables at this year's Maple Festival in Bolar. On two Saturdays, March 8 and 15, 33 4-H'ers and their parents came out to assist the Bolar Ruritans with their annual Maple Festival pancake breakfast. (Photo courtesy Patsye J... More ... ARH surgeon presents colorectal cancer program       Low Moor - According the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in men and women in the United States (excluding skin cancers). Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States with an estimated 52,180 deaths ... More ... Local TV stars battle on set       MONTEREY - If you are looking for a hilarious evening to shake off the last of the Maple Festival blues, The Kitchen Witches is the play for you. The most recent Highland County Arts Council production will be performed on Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m. at The Highland Center. More ... Wild fires a hazard this spring, USFS says       Charlottesville - Spring has sprung and people now spend more time out of doors enjoying the mild temperatures and spring blooms. They need to remember that along with the joys of spring, there are also some dangers. One outdoor danger, all too common, is wildfires. More ... 4-H members can register for upcoming '08 Congress       Monterey - Highland and Bath County senior 4-H members can register for the 2008 State 4-H Congress. This year's event will be held on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg from Monday, June 23 to Thursday, June 26. Many past 4-H members consider the Congress a capstone event and a highlight of... More ...