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Local News

  • TCRH going smoke-free

    Wednesday morning, there was no one taking advantage of Twin County Regional Hospital's designated smoking area, a small glass booth beside of the facility that reads “Smoking Booth.”

    The only “smoke” was the steam puffing from people in the chilly morning air.

    That's a good sign, said TCRH marketing director Martha Cole.

    But by 2010, no tobacco use of any kind will be permitted inside or outside of TCRH, including inside vehicles, said a press release issued last week by the hospital.

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  • Carroll works to silence nuisance dogs

    HILLSVILLE — It appears that Carroll County officials may be moving toward a noise ordinance in order to deal with barking dogs.

    The board packet for the Carroll supervisors’ November meeting contained a draft ordinance to deal with “risks to public health and safety posed by excessive an unreasonable noise...”

    The supervisors said little about this matter at the meeting, except to set a public hearing in December to get input on it.

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  • Ring announces retirement

    INDEPENDENCE — It's been a rumor for some time now, but Thursday night it was made official — Grayson County will lose an employee of nearly 30 years when County Administrator Bill Ring retires next year.

    Ring notified the Grayson Board of Supervisors during a two-hour closed session Thursday night that he would retire effective Jan. 31, 2009.

    “After prayerful consideration and much thought, I respectfully notify you of my intent to retire,” Ring's  letter read.

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  • Police raid alleged puppy mill

    WOODLAWN — Virginia State Police conducted a search last Thursday at 4207 Coulson Church Road after receiving a report of dogs living in "substandard conditions" there, according to Sgt. Mike Conroy.

    As a result, authorities seized 63 dogs from the property, owned by David Winesett.

    No charges have been filed and the investigation continues, Conroy told The Gazette on Friday.

    Investigators filed a search warrant in Carroll courts in order to check on conditions of an outbuilding where the dogs were kept.

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  • New Grayson school not overspent

    INDEPENDENCE — Recent budget numbers appeared to show that more than $2 million had been overspent on a new school in the western end of Grayson County, but school officials are adamant that it's not so.

    “We are actually $4 million under our facility studies projection,” Grayson Schools' Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Thomas told the board of supervisors earlier this month. “And we are spending significantly less per square foot than any school in Virginia.”

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  • Surveys reveal support for Carroll prison

    HILLSVILLE — Though Carroll Prison Study Committee members were disappointed with the overall turnout at their nine public meetings, they received enough response from the community to make a recommendation to the county supervisors.

    Committee Chairman J.B. Gardner reported the findings at the November supervisors' meeting, after holding the community meetings, seeking input through surveys, visiting Pocahontas State and Keens Mountain correctional centers and getting advice from Tazewell County Administrator Jim Spencer.

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  • School projects progressing

    INDEPENDENCE — One school is under construction in the western end of Grayson County, while another is ready to be renovated in Fries.

    Frank Williams of Pinnacle Architecture updated the Grayson County School Board on the progress of both projects during the Nov. 10 regular meeting.

    Pinnacle Architecture of North Carolina was the firm hired to design both the Grayson Highlands School near Volney and the remodeling of Fries Middle School.

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  • Burke convicted of double homicide

    HILLSVILLE — Clinton Eric Burke was convicted by a jury in Carroll County Circuit Court last Thursday for two counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of Dustin Bond and George Adam Fulton last November at Fulton’s residence in Fancy Gap.

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  • Police raid alleged puppy mill

    WOODLAWN — Virginia State Police conducted a search last Thursday at 4207 Coulson Church Road after receiving a report of dogs living in "substandard conditions" there, according to Sgt. Mike Conroy.

    As a result, authorities seized 63 dogs from the property, owned by David Winesett.

    No charges have been filed and the investigation continues, Conroy told The Gazette on Friday.

    Investigators filed a search warrant in Carroll courts in order to check on conditions of an outbuilding where the dogs were kept.

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  • Others charged in macing incident

    A man and woman charged with assault in the alleged macing of five Republican campaign workers last month have filed charges of their own.

    According to court documents, Daniel Cason Meinecke, 29, and Cara Annis Hindman, 26, have filed misdemeanor assault charges against Galax Republican Party Chairman Mike Stevens and another man at the scene that day, David Matthews, respectively.

    In court documents, Meinecke says that, “during a heated conversation about stolen political yard signs, Michael Stevens grabbed me by my sweatshirt and chest.”

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