Hot Springs & Monterey, VA

Preserve cuts staff in tough times 'Perfect storm' of factors in down economy blamed By Anne Adams • Staff Writer       HOT SPRINGS - Not a single Homestead Preserve building site has been sold this year. General managers Charles Adams and Don Killoren held a full Preserve staff meeting Monday to educate the Preserve's 60 employees about the mix of economic events that has brought sales in the ongoing upscale deve... More ...      Excavating for the new Monterey swimming pool began Wednesday morning by Walter Adams Construction of Hot Springs. Vincent Thomas and John McKee from National Pools of Roanoke were on site to direct the digging and said construction of the pool shell is expected to take six to eight weeks. Jerry Rex... More ... Merits of commercial wind power undecided statewide BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - The proposed 39-megawatt wind utility Highland County played a central role last week in the statewide debate on the merits of generating power with wind. More ... Senior planner to take leave from Central Shenandoah PDC By Anne Adams • Staff Writer       STAUNTON - Senior planner Darryl Crawford of the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission will take a 15-month leave of absence from the PDC starting Friday. A former Bath County planner expert closely tied to Highland and Bath on issues like wind energy and comprehensive plan reviews, Cr... More ... Nowlin to serve as superintendent in Highland By M.K. Luther • Staf Writer       MONTEREY - Percy "Buzz" Nowlin will serve as acting superintendent of Highland County Schools starting Aug. 1, replacing Gary Blair, who resigns effective July 31, one year before his contract ends. Nowlin previously served as acting superintendent in 2005 after the departure of Dr. Nancie Light... More ... Highland recreation commission seeks new director       MONTEREY - Highland recreation commission members, as they have for years, will again ask county supervisors to pay for a full-time director. At next week's supervisors' meeting, the commission will offer the $20,000 allocation it receives yearly to pay for the position. More ... Citizens' alerting system is topic of work session By Mike Bollin ger • Staff Writer       WARM SPRINGS - Bath County officials participated in a Code Red Thursday afternoon. No, it wasn't an actual emergency, but the end result could help save lives should one occur. They heard a presentation on CodeRED, a citizen alerting system that would help emergency services officials inform th... More ... In Brief . . Bath County Planning Commission       Monday night, the Bath County Planning Commission discussed an upcoming joint public hearing with the board of supervisors. More ... Correction       The June 12 article about noise in Monterey coming from David Botkin's landscape business quoted mayor Janice Warner as saying Botkin's business was allowed to operate from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Councilman Tony Stinnett made a suggestion following a public hearing Dec. 20 that Botkin not operate his bu... More ... Bath planners learn about wind energy By Mike Bollin ger • Staff Writer       WARM SPRINGS - High winds are hard to come by in Bath County. County planner Sherry Ryder reviewed maps at the Virginia Wind Energy Symposium last week in Harrisonburg, and learned most of the high-wind areas in Bath County are currently unavailable for commercial electric wind plants. More ... Views on wind power clash at symposium BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER       MONTEREY - Jonathan Miles and Rick Webb disagree when it comes to the viability of wind energy on the ridgelines of Virginia. Miles is a sciences and technology professor at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, on sabbatical to work on wind energy issues with the Department of Energy. More ... Highland board cleans up accounts for end of year close-out on budget By M.K. Luther • Staff Writer       MONTEREY - The Highland County Board of Supervisors Tuesday adjusted the school fund by more than $100,000 for the 2007-08 fiscal year to close out accounts. The school fund was amended from the budgeted amount of $4,255,477 to the revised amount of $4,363,419. More ... Bath school board debates $80,000 surplus By Cynthia B. Coleman • Staff Writer       WARM SPRINGS - Tuesday, the Bath County School Board closed out it fiscal year with a remaining surplus in the general fund of $80,433. The amounts of each category are: Instruction, $79,577; administration, $409; transportation, $119; and maintenance, $326. More ... In Brief ... Bath County School Board       After Tuesday's Bath County School Board meeting, the board approved or accepted the following: n Classified personnel in the following categories - Aides: Carol Adkins, Tameria Ailstock, Brenda Altizer, Charmain Black, More ... Photos      Under the charred r emains of the prescribed burn tender shoots of rhododendron emerge. Keith Carson explained that while the plant structure above ground may burn and die, the roots will remain strong and hardy, ready to send up new growth. More ... Land Transfers       Highland County Stonewall District, Nancy W. and Arthur B. Davies to Bullpasture LP of Monterey, 5 acres, $0; Qualification, Benedict Bocchicchio, will; Qualification of executor, Ronald T. Malcolm, will; Youth Development Inc. to Youth Development Inc., of Head Waters, $0; YDI to YDI, oversized... More ... DMV offices closed for Independence Day       RICHMOND - All Virginia Department of Motor Vehicle customer service centers will be closed on Friday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day. CSCs open on Saturdays will re-open for service on Saturday, July 5. For a list of DMV customer service center locations and their operational hours, go... More ... Chamber members enjoy annual picnic By Mike Bollinger • Staff Writer       WARM SPRINGS - A perfect June evening greeted members of the Bath County Chamber of Commerce for the group's annual meeting and picnic Thursday, June 19 at the Homestead Preserve Dairy Barn. Four new directors were chosen at the meeting. More ... Record 'Camp Night' at Blue Grass       BLUE GRASS - Camp Night in Blue Grass, a fund-raiser for the Blue Grass Book Bank, brought a record crowd last weekend. The annual event, hosted by Betty Mitchell and Brian Richardson on their farm, attracts motorcyclists and residents alike, offering a night of live music and camping in the Blue... More ... Wrights - Cauley       HOT SPRINGS - Rick and Alicia Wrights of Hot Springs announce the engagement of their daughter, Ashley, to Clinton Cauley, son of Tommy Cauley of Millboro and Norma Angel of Covington. Wrights is a recent graduate of Radford University with a B.S. in psychology. More ... Gutshall - Good       CROSS KEYS - Doug and Mary Gutshall of Monterey announced the engagement of their daughter, Dana Marie Gutshall of Cross Keys, to Matthew Dwayne Good, also of Cross Keys. More ... Red Cross looking for volunteer instructors       COVINGTON - The Jackson River Chapter, American Red Cross is in need of volunteer instructors for their Health and Safety Programs. We're looking for smart, motivated people who truly want to make a difference. More ... Bath County foods featured in Millboro Growth Spurts By James Jacenich       Summer is here and local foods are kicking into high gear with the opening of the Bath County Farmers' Market at Lickety Splits near the intersection of Routes 39 and 42 in Millboro. "It's all about building community," said market co-organizer Harmony Leonard. She stood out from the crowd with he... More ... Cat and Owl: Eclectic decor, delectable food Dining Delights By Margo Oxendine, Staff Writer       LOW MOOR - Sometimes, a restaurant has been in business for so long, it becomes, well, almost forgotten. I "rediscovered" the Cat & Owl last week, and the reunion was certainly joyous. No wonder Roanoke City Magazine called it the region's "Best Kept Dining Secret" in 2006. The place has an ecle... More ... Missoula's 'Snow White' a pure delight By Margo Oxendine • Staff Writer       ASHWOOD - Absolutely delightful. Sparkling. And so well done! The Missoula Children's Theater production of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" premiered, reprised and closed Saturday at Valley Elementary School. To those who missed it, well, those of us who saw it can only shake our heads in pity... More ... Millboro Happenings       By Gina Hamilton n This weekend marks the fifth annual quilt show and open house at Tender Heart Quilts on Route 42. On Friday and Saturday, the event will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a God Bless America quilt show, children's games and rides around the property on the Quilt Express train... More ... On the agenda       Highland County Board of Supervisors Highland Modular Conference Center Tuesday, July 1, 7:30 p.m. ¦ Tim Fitzgerald, acting residency administrator, report on county roads and projects. More ... Home & Property      Ryan and Darrah McDermott of Charlottesville were the winners of the door prize at The Highland Center's Healthy Lifestyles Farmers' Market. Bruce Folks of Bruce's Syrup and Candies presented them with A Little Bit Of Sweetness Basket. (Photo courtesy The Highland Center) More ...      Four generations recently celebrated Randolph Hevener's 90th birthday. Pictured are (l-r): Edmund Randolph Hevener Sr., Edmund Randolph Hevener III, Edmund Randolph Hevener II and baby Joseph Randolph Hevener. (Photo courtesy Sandy Hevener) More ... Court Cases Highland County       MONTEREY - The following decisions were handed down in Bath County General District Court on June 4. More ...      The Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) recently presented awards honoring Law Enforcement Officers for their Excellence in Community Service and Public Safety. The ceremony was held at the Holiday Inn - Tanglewood in Roanoke, on June 10, 2008, during which ... More ...