Public Safety

The Mount Rogers Health District is advising citizens and visitors to avoid areas of New River following an accidental spill of about 40,000 gallons of manure into Eagle Bottom Creek on Monday.
Eagle Bottom Creek in Grayson County is a tributary of the New River.

Carroll County has had two confirmed cases of rabies during the past week.

The Carroll County Health Department investigated a May 22 report of a possible rabid fox in the north end of Hillsville.

At just 72 degrees, the temperature inside a car can rise to more than 100 degrees in a short amount of time, making it dangerous to leave pets in vehicles, warned Galax Animal Control Officer Veronica Bryant.
“As warm weather approaches, I want to make people aware of the dangers of leaving pets in cars, because it can get hot very quickly,” she said. “Some aren’t aware that dogs can get heat stroke like we do.”
Bryant averages about 15 to 25 calls per year on animals that are in danger due to being left in parked cars.

The City of Galax is seeking a grant to hire a bilingual police officer to better serve the Hispanic population in Galax.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS) awards grants to economically disadvantaged communities.
If awarded, the COPS grant would fund the position for three years at a total of $135,993 for salary and benefits. This is an entry-level position that would also pay to put a candidate through the police academy.