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Local News

  • Mission of Mercy

    Dina Slusher, Barry Newman and Dwayne Harmon can't get the horrific images of Haiti out their heads, after going on mission trips to the country in 2009 and early this year.

    The places where they provided assistance and stayed during their weeks in Haiti have now been lost in the earthquake.

    Some of the children and families that they grew attached to died in the disaster.

    So many children that they've seen, touched and fed have died.

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  • Guardian cuts 52 workers

    Guardian Industries of Galax, also known as Consolidated Glass & Mirror Corp. laid off 52 employees Tuesday.

    This reduction was directly related to the challenging economic conditions facing the country over the past three years, according to a press release issued today, Wednesday.

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  • Public record for 2/24/10 edition

    Editor’s Note: This information is taken from open court records and is a matter of public record.

    The listings are complete. The newspaper, as a matter of fairness, will not honor requests to omit any listing. 

    For more information on this column or questions, call 236-5178, ext. 213.

    Circuit Court

    These sentences were recorded in October in the office of Susan M. Herrington, clerk of the Grayson County Circuit Court, Independence. Sentences may be appealed:

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  • Federal loan will buy 6 buses

    HILLSVILLE — A federal loan will help Carroll schools add six new buses to update its fleet.

    The Carroll County School Board signed off on the idea at its Feb. 9 meeting with a resolution that will allow the division to roll off some of its older buses.

    The Carroll Industrial Development Authority provided assistance, too, in administering the loan.

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  • Grayson to pay more

    INDEPENDENCE — The bad news for Grayson County's upcoming budget season got worse last Monday afternoon when Gov. Bob McDonnell announced he will undo a proposed freeze of the Local Composite Index, a formula that determines how much a locality can afford to spend on education.

    In December, Grayson Public Schools' Finance Director Julie Bear told the school board that the school system's composite index had risen nearly 22 percent, which means the state calculated that Grayson should be able to pay more towards the school system's budget than it has previously.

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  • Food stamp use on the rise in Galax

    The number of local households receiving food stamps is gradually increasing, according to Susan Clark, director of the Galax Department of Social Services.

    With the state of the economy, it's hardly surprising that the number of those seeking assistance is growing.

    As of December 2009, 924 households (or 1,767 people) received food stamp assistance, which is now being called Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). That's up from 854 households, or 1,664 people, at the beginning of last year.

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  • Enterprise zones approved

    HILLSVILLE — An idea to add economic development tools to two Interstate 77 exits in Carroll County did not get stalled by the wayside, as elected officials announced that the state has added the two interchanges to the county's enterprise zones.

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  • Chamber computer seized

    HILLSVILLE — A search warrant details the seizure of a computer from the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce office in an investigation of a cyber invasion of privacy and identity theft.

    Virginia State Police Trooper Troy Dalton sought the search warrant for computers and other electronic equipment after a complaint in December from a New River Community College student, according to the court paperwork.

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  • Va. traffic fatalities decrease

    Virginia recorded the fewest traffic deaths on record in 2009, an accomplishment officials attributed to a mixture of police work and driver behavior.

    Locally, the Grayson County Sheriff's Department reported two traffic-related fatalities last year, up from none in 2008; Carroll County had three, compared to 13 the year before; and Galax had no wrecks resulting in death — making two years in a row with no traffic fatalities.

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  • Thor's golden opportunity

    HILLSVILLE — Thor the golden Labrador had a tough time.

    His owners were unable to afford to keep him, so they gave him to a friend.

    Thor crashed through a window to get back to his family, cutting his face.

    It got worse before it got better. When push came to shove, his old family couldn’t keep him.

    So, they left him tied to the Carroll Veterinary Clinic sign, with a bag of dog food, pedigree papers and a note.

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