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Today's News

  • Manager hired for Day Report Center

    INDEPENDENCE — A former board of supervisors candidate in Grayson was chosen from among more than 30 applicants to lead the county's Day Report Center. The program would reduce the escalating cost of sending prisoners to the New River Valley Regional Jail.

    County Administrator Jonathan Sweet said that Emil Butler, a 30-year resident of Grayson County, was hired last week as the new manager of the DRC.

    Butler served in the U.S. Navy before retiring from IBM, where he worked as an engineering manager for 30 years.

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  • When the wall came down

    Susan Gleason of Fries is German Director of the German-American ePal Program. She wrote this account of witnessing the fall of the Berlin Wall to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the event. Gleason was 27 years old and working as an interpreter and translator in Cologne, West Germany, when the Berlin Wall came down.

    On November 9, 1989, I was sitting at a stoplight, two blocks from my apartment.  Suddenly, the music stopped and an announcer cut in, saying, “Folks, you’re not going to believe this, but the Berlin Wall is down.” 

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  • Serving a noble cause

    For nearly three decades, the Galax Y's Men Club has undertaken a project that helps hundreds of local families have a brighter Christmas.

    Through the annual Community Christmas Chest fundraiser, the Y's Men work hard to solicit funds from the community to pay for food boxes delivered to needy families at Christmas.

    It's truly a case of neighbors helping neighbors, as the majority of funds come from individuals. Businesses, churches, schools and civic organizations also chip in to help the Christmas Chest reach its goal.

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  • Letters to the Editor for 11/30/09

    Hospital provided outstanding care

    I recently had eye surgery for cataracts at the outpatient department of Twin County Regional Hospital.

    Everyone — Dr. Davis, the receptionist, secretaries, nurses and the ones in the operating room — were so outstanding and caring. I was treated with special care.

    I wish more people would use our local doctors and Twin County Regional Hospital.

    The old saying, “They need to try it, and they might like it,” is good.

    (Lizzie) Jane Newman

    Fries

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  • Hillsville man barricades himself in, shoots up apartment

     A 36-year-old Hillsville man faces charges after barricading himself in the Hillcrest Apartments on Nov. 27, according to a press release from the Hillsville Police Department.

    Police officers received a report at approximately 11:30 p.m. after the man had reportedly fired a weapon inside his apartment and barricaded the door with furniture to prevent anyone else from getting in.

    When officers arrived, they found the man's girlfriend and juvenile daughter had already fled the apartment.

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  • Conservatory begins 'Nutcracker' rehearsals

    While most children are eating bowls of cereal in front of the television watching Saturday morning cartoons, students of The Conservatory of Dance & Theatre in Galax are busily rehearsing for their upcoming ballet, “The Nutcracker.”

    Composer Peter Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz of the Flowers” blares from a stereo system, overpowering the excited voices of more than 40 children, dressed in leotards and tights and pale, pink ballet shoes.

    “Circle, circle,” instructs Conservatory owner and artistic director Barbara Johnson.

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  • Man charged with graffiti tagging

    Mac Ray Sizemore, 21, of Galax, has been arrested and charged with five counts of vandalism in connection with graffiti tagging that was reported on Nov. 12, according to the Galax Police Department.

    The reported cases occurred at Cissy’s Food and Friends and a city-owned building, both on Oldtown Street; Persinger's and Suzi's Auto Clean Up, both on Grayson Street; and Sure Flo Inc. on Depot Avenue.

    Galax Police Chief Rick Clark said Sizemore tagged the buildings with different phrases, none of which the police department would associate with gang activity.

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  • Galax parade, Christmas tree lighting on Friday

    The Galax Christmas Parade, with the theme “Music, Memories & Miracles,” will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday on North Main Street in downtown Galax.

    The event will kick off with the Galax High School jazz band, beginning at 6:10 p.m., and the lighting of the Christmas tree in front of the Harold Snead Public Safety Building, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

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  • Keeping the New pure

    HILLSVILLE — A new group will work to clean up the New River and protect the future drinking water source for most Carroll County utility customers, the Public Service Authority learned Nov. 16.

    That's when Nancy Carr, a representative of the Virginia Rural Water Association, appeared before the authority members to tell them of her efforts for the New River Regional Water Authority, in which Carroll has partnered with Wythe County and Wytheville on a major water supply project.

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  • Grayson finds trash solution

    INDEPENDENCE — Holding true to a promise to find an alternative to a public-access Dumpster site at its Public Works Department, Grayson County has found a solution.

    County Administrator Jonathan Sweet said the county is now accepting household trash on Fridays and Saturdays in the Guynn Shopping Center.

    Sweet said the trash collection will be in conjunction with the county's recycling operation and will be at no additional cost to the tax payers.

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