Hot Springs & Monterey, VA

Gas prices hit Highlands By Cynthia B. Coleman an d James Jacenich • Staff Writers       MONTEREY and HOT SPRINGS - We all play the gas game: Drive around on that last quarter tank, looking for the station with the best price per gallon. It's a national pastime these days. Individually, people know how the impact of the rising fuel costs feels - their wallets weighs much less. More ... Ag center proposed for Forks of Water area BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - Highland County is one step closer to becoming the home of the Alleghany Highlands Agricultural Center. The project to bring an animal processing facility and agricultural training center to the Highlands began four years ago as a study initiated by The Highland Center and paid for by... More ...      The home of the late Sadie Craven, on Forestry Road near its intersection with Ashwood Drive, was a total loss, after an early morning fireTuesday. No one was in the house at the time of the fire, which was reported by a neighbor about 6 a.m. The Hot Springs Fire Department was at the scene for near... More ... Hot Springs drug store burgled - again By Mar go Oxen dine • Staff Writer       HOT SPRINGS - For the third time in six weeks, Hot Springs Pharmacy was burgled early Saturday morning, April 26. And again, the Bath County Sheriff's Office has a suspect in custody. Randall J. Rivenbark, 22, was arrested outside his Ashwood apartment less than three hours after the burglar al... More ... Alleghany Highlands Agricultural Center Steering Committee       MONTEREY - The Alleghany Highlands Agricultural Center Steering Committee is made up of the following members: Jason Carter Virginia Cooperative Extension Jon Donaldson Highland Sheep and Wool Producers Association Fane Irvine West Virginia University Extension Service, More ... Fish kills still a mystery, DEQ says By Anne Adams • Staff Writer       HOT SPRINGS - Last year, state biologists took to the waters here, searching for explanations as to why fishwere turning up dead and diseased. And while several causes have been ruled out, no one thing has been found as the culprit. More ... Bath supervisors adopt school budget By Cynthia B. Coleman • Staff writer       WARM SPRINGS - After many meetings and work sessions, the Bath County Board of Supervisors finally met to vote on the advertised 2008-09 school budget. After a heartfelt and thoughtful opening prayer, where he prayed for guidance, supervisor Richard Byrd made a motion to approve the school budget... More ... Who's really steering wind project?       By Anne Adams • Staff Writer MONTEREY - Highland New Wind Development is making some progress in meeting permit conditions to build Virginia's first wind energy utility, but according to state officials, there's no state coordination for the process under one agency. More ... Achievement Deidre A. Hiner       STAUNTON- Mary Baldwin College, at Staunton, has announced that Deidre Alison Hiner of Monterey has been awarded the title of class marshall. Class marshalls are students who maintain the highest grade point averages in their class. More ... Baptism, English minister couple highlight St. Luke's Sunday       HOT SPRINGS - Two members of the Church of England will visit St. Luke's Episcopal Church this Sunday at the 11 a.m. service, which also features the baptism of the daughter of a longtime resident of Hot Springs and member of the parish. More ... Correction       n In last week's article on the old Millboro school property, an incorrect statement was made by Robin Sullenberger of Shenandoah Valley Partnership from a meeting with the residents' group trying to retain local ownership of the school site. More ... VCSB director resigns       STAUNTON - At its meeting on April 29, the Board of Directors of Valley Community Services Board voted to accept the resignation of W.J. Thomas, executive director. More ... Survivors lap begins Bath's Relay For Life       MILLBORO - In a community where the American Cancer Society has estimated that 160 individuals will be diagnosed with cancer this year, Bath County is invited to celebrate life. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a fund-raising event in which teams of participants take turns walking a... More ... Fire escape plan protects children       AURORA, Ill. - While a significantnumber of Americans believe they have more than six minutes to safely get out of a home once a smoke alarm sounds, statistics indicate there can be as little as two minutes before a firecan become life-threatening. More ... 8th annual health fair serves 225       eighth annual health fair April 22-24. Two hundred and twenty fivepeople attended the event (an increase of 25 over last year), taking advantage of free and low cost services offered as a community service to promote wellness. More ... Shifflett,Sampson crowned 2008 Miss Bath      The Junior Miss Bath County top fivefinalists and winner (-r) are: Laken Lenea St. Claire, second runner-up; Allison Taylor Williams; Whitney Morgan Shifflett,Junior Miss Bath County; Hannah Marie Lee, first runner-up; Chelsea Ann Cook. (Recorder photos by Cynthia B. Coleman) More ... Memories of the old truck Pritchard House Tales By Ludford Creef       Life was so warm, wonderful and simple when I was 5 years old. Except for tying my shoes and feeding my dog "Duke," there were very few demands. The pressure to be a good example began to increase, though, as I was the oldest of the brood of three (en route to six). More ... Highland County Public Library News ... Tomi Herald Librarian       ¦ At the Highland County Public Library we offered our first Family Movie Night on Friday, April 18. It was a huge success and I believe that everyone had a great time. I know I did. We showed "Bee Movie" to more than 40 people, from preschoolers to grandparents, and all ages in between. More ... On the agenda       Highland County Board of Supervisors Highland Modular Conference Center Spruce Street, Monterey Tuesday, May 6 - 7:30 p.m. n James White Jr. More ... Millboro Happenings By Gina Hamilton       In Millboro Elementary School students topped their $900 goal in the recent Quarters for a Cure fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society's annual Relay for Life in Bath County, which will be held on Saturday, May 24, at the school. They collected $978.65, according to organizer Sharon Madison, ... More ... Highland FFA competes in contest       MONTEREY - The Highland FFA is competing again. The chapter has not competed in many contests this winter but it has been busy in April. It competed in cattle working in early April and on April 15, Savannah Hevener competed in the Augusta Federation FFA Creed Contest at Beverly Manor Middle Scho... More ... Achievement Caitlin M. Anderson       HOT SPRINGS - Caitlin M. Anderson has been awarded a $500 educational award in a national competition with other students who are members of Modern Woodmen of America. Modern Woodmen, a fraternal benefit society offering financial services, has local representatives and is based in Rock Island, Il... More ... Monterey town elections to be held Tuesday       MONTEREY - Time again for the election of Monterey's Town Council and mayor Tuesday. Since no one has registered to be an officialcandidate on the ballot, voters will have to fillin the blanks with hand-written choices. More ... Bath's Meals on Wheels celebrates 20 years By Margo Oxendine • Staff Writer       HOT SPRINGS - While this dateline reads "Hot Springs," one might pick any spot in Bath - Mountain Grove, Millboro, as well as Hot, Warm or Healing Springs. From Burnsville to Bolar and beyond, Meals on Wheels has covered Bath County for 20 years. More ... People would tap retirement savings if disability arose       SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - There is a troubling prospect for people who become disabled and unable to work: many would be forced to make choices they would "hate-raiding their retirement savings, according to a survey by Harris Interactive for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual). More ... On the agenda       Bath County Public Schools Closed meeting 5:30 p.m. Regular meeting 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 6 Valley Elementary School ¦ Attendance, cafeteria, main ten transportation reports. More ... Pocahontas Woods offers summer classes       MARLINTON, W.Va. - Pocahontas Woods will offer two intensive week-long classes during the month of June. The first, to be offered at Snowshoe's Shaver Center June 16-20, will be on making Shaker oval boxes. Students will learn how to make this classic hand-crafted piece. This simple but elegant ... More ... Wedding Hull - Phillips       KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Lindsay Kate Hull and Zack E. Phillips III were united in marriage on July 28, 2007 at the Chapel at The Preserve Resort in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee, by the Rev. David Faulkner. The bride is the daughter of Tom and Barbara Hull of Hightown, and the groom is the son o... More ... Engagement Bussard - Wimer       MONTEREY - Isabell Bussard of Monterey, and Allen Bussard of Mountain Grove, announce the engagement of their daughter, Trish, to Tim Wimer, son of Virgil and Linda Wimer of Blue Grass. Both are graduates of Highland High School. More ... Director of archaeology at Mount Vernon to speak       MONTEREY - In his own words, George Washington described his home overlooking the Potomac River this way: "No estate in United America is more pleasantly situated as this." His 8,000 acres was basically divided into fiveworking, individual farms. More ... HCPL rewards volunteers       MONTEREY - The Highland County Public Library hosted a lunch for volunteers at The Highland Inn on April 24. The library depends heavily on volunteers throughout the year, especially for the annual book sale. "The book sale is our biggest fund raiser," said Tomi Herold, librarian. "We couldn't d... More ... Downer promoted to senior lending officer-Virginia at FNB       WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. - First National Bank has announced the promotion of Dawn C. Downer to senior lending officer-Virginia. Downer is a lifetime native of the Highlands and resides in Alleghany County with her husband Michael and daughter Faith. She has been in the banking industry for 2... More ... Shenandoah Valley celebrates bike month       STAUNTON - Did you know that May is National Bike Month? What better time to get out and enjoy riding your bike around than during the beautiful month of May? The weather is warm, the flowers are blooming - it's perfect. You can also take part in Bike to Work Week May 12-16. More ... Raise your harvests with raised bed gardens       Lift up your garden yields, your flower views and your gardening skills by adding raised beds to your landscape this spring. The soil in raised beds drains better, warms up sooner in the spring and cools down later in the winter. More ... Tips to save your back while gardening       It's springtime and millions of gardeners will return to their yard to tend their lawn, grow flowers, fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, for most gardeners, come Monday, their reward for their effort will be a strained back and sore muscles. This doesn't have to be. More ... Helpful tips for planting trees       Whether doing it to be more environmentally conscious or to make your home's landscape more aesthetically appealing, planting a tree or trees around your property can be a great way to spend some time outdoors while making a positive impact on your surroundings. More ... Making the most of small space       For gardeners everywhere, finding enough landscape to start your dream garden is often a big hurdle to clear. Unless you live on a farm or own a large amount of property, your landscape is likely more limiting than you'd prefer. More ... What's blooming in your backyard? By Cynthia B. Coleman • Staff Writer       Hot Springs - Lowly little weed, the dandelion. Most people would hack, dig, and spray to rid their yards of the bright, yellow blight, the blaring imperfection of their yards. Yet dandelions hold within their brilliant yellow a secret, a secret perhaps known only to a few: they can fly.Yes, dan... More ... Photos      Bath County Chamber of Commerce sponsored its fifth annual employee appreciation breakfast on Wednesday, April 23 at 8 a.m. at Country Café in Hot Springs. A total of 43 people attended this event and 28 employees were recognized with gifts and a buffet breakfast, courtesy of their employers. S... More ...