Local News

Half of U.S. adults consider gas prices to be “too high” when it reaches $3.44 per gallon, indicating a potential breaking point on gas prices, according to a new consumer price index developed by AAA.
Roughly two-thirds of Americans (62 percent) offset high gas prices by changing their driving habits or lifestyle.
“It was not long ago that motorists were shocked to pay more than $3 per gallon for gasoline, but now that is standard at stations nationwide,” said Martha Mitchell Meade of the American Automobile Association Mid-Atlantic.

HILLSVILLE — Changes have come to the way that Hillsville Town Council members plan their budget — they have sworn off dipping into savings to balance the fiscal year 2014 proposal.
Adjustments to the real estate, meals and lodging taxes are also a part of making the proposal work, according to Town Manager Travis Jackson’s budget message.
Town officials needed to make up a shortfall of $519,501 in the budget, including the general fund and the water and sewer services.

HILLSVILLE — In a surge of activity on natural gas, Carroll officials continued to build up to the creation of a local utility service at their April 8 meeting.
With the expected completion of a connection to the Patriot pipeline this month, county officials held a public hearing and get natural gas rates, as well as scheduled a separate business and safety meeting for April 25.

When the Blue Ridge Parkway announced its seasonal openings for 2013, the big news was about the places that will stay closed because of the federal government’s automatic spending cuts.
Some campgrounds, picnic areas and visitor centers will remain closed this season, because of an across-the-board 5 percent cut to the National Park Service mandated by the federal sequester.