Local News

INDEPENDENCE – The Grayson County Board of Supervisors approved a new ordinance earlier this month allowing the county the option to provide bonuses to its employees.
County Administrator Jonathan Sweet prefaced the public hearing on Jan. 10 by pointing out that, according to state law, the county must pass the ordinance in order to provide any type of bonus above the salary for any of its employees.
Sweet said the ordinance was brought up by the fact that most jurisdictions provide their employees with some form of bonus, usually around the holidays.

UPDATE 1/15/13:

RICHMOND — Legislation endorsed by Gov. Bob McDonnell to return civil rights to nonviolent felons emerged from a Virginia Senate subcommittee without a recommendation Tuesday.

A motion to recommend the bill failed on a 3-3 vote, with all of the votes against the measure coming from McDonnell’s fellow Republicans. The tie vote was enough to keep the measure alive for the full Privileges and Elections Committee.

HILLSVILLE — Travis Jackson is retiring as the area director for USDA Rural Development after 32 years to become the new Hillsville town manager.
Town council members unanimously approved hiring Jackson on Monday night, after a motion by Vice Mayor Ed Terry, taking only a few short minutes to fill the position that had been vacant since June.
Town officials quietly celebrated the circumstances that led to being able to hire Jackson.

HILLSVILLE — There’s one main idea that Chief Greg Bolen wants to enforce about the Hillsville Police Department — that it’s a part of the community.
In the coming months, the department will have more police walking the beat, bike patrols will return to the streets, officers will assist with keeping school zones safe and the agency will launch a Facebook page. The goal of these programs is grounding policing and public safety efforts in the community.
It all goes back to the fact that the department exists to serve, Bolen said.