Business

By SHAINA STOCKTON, Staff
Vaughan-Bassett Furniture in Galax was scheduled to be operating at full capacity again April 17, after shutting down operations in the wake of a massive water tank collapse on April 10, which caused structural damage and multiple fires.
As of Monday, the plant was almost finished with repairs and debris removal, and the company reported that 75 percent of workers were back at their stations.
Operations were expected to be back at full capacity on Tuesday.

Appalachian Power Co. is seeking what would amount to a 1.5 percent increase in its electricity rates to cover higher generation and environmental costs.
In two filings Friday with the State Corporation Commission, the utility proposed updating rate adjustment clauses that cover certain costs, such as generation and environmental expenses, for a specific time period.
If approved, the rate increase would take effect early next year.

HILLSVILLE — Mohawk has chosen a natural gas marketer as construction will soon draw to a close on the service line, the Carroll Industrial Development Authority learned at its March 4 meeting.
Dennis Cole has been heading up Carroll County’s effort to connect the manufacturing plant to the Patriot pipeline as a job retention project.
He reported the nearly 1,000-foot gas line bore under Main Street has wrapped up. That leaves installation under Cherry Street in order to reach BMI/Sprague Electric and taking the line down West Grayson Street.

By SHAINA STOCKTON, Staff
It all began when John Ayers of Galax visited a brew pub in Charlotte, N.C.
He was used to beer that can be found in any grocery store, such as Budweiser, Coors and Miller, he said. But when he tried a variety of samplings at the restaurant, his enthusiasm for craft beer began.
After traveling and sampling the hundreds of brews that are available, he began crafting his own styles in preparation to start his own brewery back home.