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Local News

  • Galax approves Life Center's request

    The Life Center of Galax, which began expanding its facility at 112 Painter Street in March, got approval from city council to receive a conditional use permit that would allow the drug and alcohol treatment facility to renovate a house next door for use as administrative offices.

    The house at 104 Painter Street adjoins the Life Center property and is located in a medium-density residential district, which permits hospitals.

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  • Suspects charged in motorcycle shop break-in

    Arrests have been made in connection with a break-in, grand larceny and destruction of property at Patton’s Motorcycle Shop in Fairview earlier this month.

    Grayson Sheriff Richard Vaughan said Kenneth Frank Kipp, 34, of Elkin, N.C. and Joshua Dean Kipp, 33, of Galax were arrested and charged with one count each of breaking and entering, grand larceny and destruction of property.

    Vaughan said on June 11, Patton’s Motorcycle Shop was broken in to — with the suspects gaining entrance through the garage area.

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  • Galax adopts $18M spending plan for 2008-09

    Galax City Council on Monday adopted the city's 2008-09 budget, which includes a proposed general fund of $17.97 million.

    The real estate tax rate will be reduced to 55 cents and the utility fund is set at $4.45 million.

    In other action council:

    • set the summer meeting schedule. Traditionally, council meets once per month June through October.

    Council decided to hold meetings the second Monday of each month — July 14, Aug. 11, Sept. 8 and Oct. 13, all at 7:30 p.m.

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  • 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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