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Local News

  • City council splits on budget resolution

    By SHAINA STOCKTON, Staff
    After months of waiting for a statewide budget to be agreed upon by the Virginia General Assembly, localities such as Galax are stepping in with opinions of their own in favor of the problem’s resolution.
    A final draft of a letter of resolution to the General Assembly was discussed and approved at council’s April 28 meeting, sparking some spirited debate among council members about the Medicaid expansion issue that’s holding up the budget.

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  • Hearing set Thursday on zoning revisions

    INDEPENDENCE — The Grayson Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the proposed changes to the county’s zoning ordinance on Thursday at 7 p.m., during the regular May meeting.
    The Grayson County Planning Commission has been working to make revisions to the 75-page ordinance since it was tasked by the supervisors in February with making the ordinance more “user-friendly” in time for a May deadline.

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  • Could old school be used for housing?

    HILLSVILLE — An idea to turn the old classrooms at the former Woodlawn school into housing has been added to the list of what Carroll County supervisors could do with 100-plus-year-old facility.
    The future use of the building hasn’t been clear since it reverted to Carroll’s ownership recently and ended its long run as an educational institution.

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  • New town manager plans to finish father's work

    HILLSVILLE — The new Hillsville town manager plans to continue the practices of the official she’s replacing — her father, Travis Jackson — and she also has fresh ideas of her own to share.
    Hillsville Town Council named Retta Nichole Jackson to fill the position at the April 28 meeting, and she is scheduled to start work May 16.
    In an April 30 e-mail to The Gazette, Jackson said she feels comfortable with the comparison to her father.

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  • MAY 6 ELECTION RESULTS

    Unofficial results from Virginia State Board of Elections:

     

    HILLSVILLE

    Mayor

    • Greg Crowder — 338 (49.9%)

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  • Family loses home to fire

    AUSTINVILLE — A family with a home on Loafers Rest Road near the Wythe-Carroll border lost their home to an April 30 fire, according to officials with the American Red Cross.
    The American Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers responded to the fire in the Austinville community, the news release said. “The family of four, two adults and two children, were displaced by the event.”
    Red Cross officials have been providing the family assistance and will continue to coordinate recovery efforts, the news release said.

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  • Carroll looking at debt refinancing

    HILLSVILLE — Expecting large hits in future budgets, Carroll officials plan to look for ways to save, including the possibility of refinancing debt, according to a discussion at the April 14 county board meeting.
    In a meeting largely devoted to financial matters — including presentations on the 2014-2015 budget proposal and future needs for replacing fire trucks — supervisors also wondered if they should hire a consultant to study their books to find possible savings.

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  • Citizen questions Hillsville mayor's residency

    HILLSVILLE — Citizen’s time at the April 28 Hillsville Town Council meeting brought a question for the mayor about his residency status.

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  • Three towns in Grayson will hold elections

    Independence, Fries and Troutdale will hold town council elections on May 6, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
    Polling locations are the Independence Fire Department, Fries School and the Troutdale Fire Hall. Voters are required to be a citizen of the town they are voting in, and must present a valid ID. Absentee voting can still be done through May 3 at the Grayson County Registrar’s Office.
    “We encourage everyone to get out and express their right to vote,” said Registrar Cody Wingate, who also noted it was possible for write-in candidates to win.

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  • Webb to seek 20th District nomination

    Effective today, Wednesday, Bill Webb will retire as manager of the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) office in Galax, and will seek election for the role of state senator for the 20th district.
    Webb is in the middle of his second term as a member of Galax City Council, and said he doesn’t plan on seeking a third term when it expires in 2016.
    “I expect to win the state senate,” Webb said.

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