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Local News

  • Fries hopes funds flood new pool effort

    FRIES — After losing millions of gallons of water and thousands of dollars in expenses, the Fries Recreation Department has decided to raise funds to build a new pool.

    The rec department board held a meeting in April to notify the public how bad the situation was.

    Board member Tom Guy said that in the past five years the 60-year-old pool cost the town $15,125.17 and more than 3.1 million gallons of water.

    “We are constantly losing money by repairing the pool,” Guy told The Gazette last week. “We need a new one.”

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  • Galax martial artist to appear on NBC show

    You may have noticed several cars driving through the area, painted with red, white and blue decorations promoting Galax's very own Alexandra Pyles’ upcoming audition for the national reality television series “America's Got Talent.”

    Eleven-year-old Alexandra of Galax will perform her choreographed karate stunts on the show, which airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC.

    On the talent show, auditioning individuals in a wide range of skills and performances are judged and compete for the $1 million grand prize.

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  • Fries proposes utility tax hike

    FRIES — Residents of Fries could pay more for water and sewer service beginning July 1 — but the increase is minimal.

    During Fries Town Council’s public hearing to take comments on the proposed 2008-09 budget, figures showed a 50 increase in both water and sewer use for the first 2,000 gallons, beginning July 1.

    No other increases were noted in the budget, but a few categories did go down.

    Mayor Mike Spears said the federal government has mandated a new water test, which will cost the town an additional $250 per month.

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  • Permit recommended for new Grayson school

    INDEPENDENCE — The Grayson School Board jumped another hurdle on June 10 when the county planning commission recommended that the board of supervisors approve a special use permit on land to build the new Grayson Highlands School.

    Nobody spoke in opposition at last Tuesday’s meeting about the school, but Dennis Hill — adjoining landowner to the proposed location — did have some questions about the rights of way.

    Hill said in the past couple of weeks, surveyors had been on his land with equipment.

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  • 'Virtual school' proposed in Carroll

    HILLSVILLE — A virtual Carroll school could allow public educators to partner with parents of home-schooled children to provide new learning opportunities.

    The discussion took place at the Carroll County School Board meeting June 10, when Superintendent Greg Smith expressed an interest in reaching out to households that home-school their children in Carroll.

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  • Four facing drug charges

    Four locals have been arrested and charged with violations of the Drug Control Act due to possession of methamphetamine, according to the Galax Police Department.

    Galax Police Officer Chris Hines, who was on bike patrol in downtown Galax, made a routine traffic stop in relation to a noise violation on June 13. After the stop, Hines discovered methamphetamine in the vehicle, operated by Michael Lee Moss, 33, of Fries.

    Moss was sent to the New River Valley Regional Jail on a secured bond.

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  • Youth group headed to national competition

    A local church won several competitions at the conference level in April and now needs funds to send its youth to Daytona for nationals.

    Galax Pentecostal Holiness Church — off U.S. 58 near the old Papa John’s building — will hold five fundraisers to pay for sending nearly 20 people to the competition, held the week of July 20.

    The youth who won competitions in music, drama, dance, singing and other performance categories will advance to the national level. Other students going on the trip to Florida will attend Youth Quest spiritual training.

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  • Home invasion suspects caught

    IVANHOE — Two suspects in a home-invasion robbery who sped off with a trunk full of guns are in custody at the New River Valley Regional Jail.

    Deputies from the Carroll and Wythe sheriffs’ departments and the Virginia State Police cooperated to track down Donnell Edward Callahan, 26, of Blacksburg, and Korie Leigh Hodges, 18, of Fries. Each faces multiple charges.

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  • Treasurer says county can't cut state-mandated salaries

    INDEPENDENCE — Grayson Treasurer Fields “Junior” Young was upset with the board of supervisors after several cuts to his department and pleaded his case during a public hearing for the 2008-09 budget on June 12.

    “I’m quite upset,” said Young. “I unleashed my terror on the county administrator this morning. The last place I thought I would be would be here to talk about my budget.”

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  • Funds denied, but school planning proceeds

    HILLSVILLE — Given permission to plan — but nothing else — Carroll School Board members will do what they can to map out updates and upgrades to the county’s three remaining schools.

    Even as the educators moved ahead with efforts to plan the final phase of facility improvements — despite the denial of a request for $500,000 from the county supervisors — School Board Member Reginald Gardner asked the board to prepare for a systems failure that might take Carroll High, Carroll Intermediate or Woodlawn School out of commission.

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The Galax Gazette is your source for local news, sports, events and information in Galax, Grayson, Carroll, and surrounding areas.