Local News

HILLSVILLE — The appeal Tuesday by the owner of Horton's Pups for his prior 40-misdemeanor-count conviction had the same outcome in Carroll Circuit Court as the original trial, which resulted after a puppy mill investigation last fall.

After hearing about six hours of testimony, evidence and arguments by the attorneys, Judge Brett Geisler upheld the conviction against Hillsville resident Lanzie "Junior" Horton of 25 counts of neglecting animals at his commercial breeding facility, 14 counts of cruelty and a single count of exceeding his county-issued kennel license.

WYTHEVILLE — Four Carroll County residents have been charged in connection with beating a father after he asked them not to curse in front of his children at a convenience store, according to the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office.

Three of the suspects are being held in the New River

Valley Regional Jail in Dublin without bond.

Wythe Sheriff Doug King said 30-year-old John D. Mullins of Birchleaf told officers he had stopped to get gas at the store at Exit 24 off Interstate 77 just after midnight on July 19.

The federal minimum wage rose from $5.85 to $6.55 per hour beginning Thursday.

The increase is part of legislation approved last year, which raises the minimum wage over two years to eventually reach $7.25 per hour by July 2009.

"Americans who work hard and play by the rules should be able to earn enough to provide for their families," said Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Abingdon) in a press release.

Area churches have joined together for a community-wide four-day Bible school called “Praisin’ In The Park,” for rising kindergarten through sixth grade students.

The event starts Sunday and continues through July 31 from 6-8 p.m. each day in Felts Park in Galax.

Robin Pack, organizer of the event and member of participating church Mount Vale United Methodist, has a vision to use an outreach program to get children involved in church, setting denominations and backgrounds aside to help people get to know the Lord.