Today's News

HILLSVILLE — Opening up the pool this year would drain too much revenue from the county, members of Carroll’s finance committee discussed last Wednesday.

The committee, which includes Supervisors’ Chairman David Hutchins and Supervisor Wes Hurst and county staff, decided to recommend the pool remain closed this year.

The committee members met to consider concerns raised by citizen Jamie Waters, who spoke at a public hearing for the 2009-2010 budget, as well as a petition against the pool closing that gathered more than 150 signatures.

INDEPENDENCE — A two-month investigation by the Bureau of Drug Enforcement Services (DES) of the Virginia State Police has resulted in charges against an Independence dentist.

Sgt. Mike Conroy of Virginia State Police said that Dr. Gordon J. Miniclier, who operates a dental office at 150 W. Main St., was arrested June 4.

Conroy said special DES agents executed search warrants at Minclier’s office and his home at 1690 Rim Rock Road.

Some unemployed workers in Virginia are eligible for a seven-week extension of benefits, but the Virginia Employment Commission needs a computer programming update before it can distribute checks.

It’s unclear how many of the more than 100,000 Virginians collecting unemployment checks could be caught in the delay.

The VEC says extension payments should be made by June 26, after needing almost two months to complete new computer programming.

INDEPENDENCE — Citizens could have an opportunity to express their concerns about twice-a-year tax collection during the Grayson Board of Supervisors regular meeting June 11.

Supervisors tentatively set that date to hold a public hearing regarding the ordinance change that would switch tax collections from once a year — due Dec. 5 — to twice a year — with due dates of Oct. 5 and April 5.

If approved, citizens would pay the same amount of taxes they do now, but that amount would be split into two equal payments.