Today's News

We've heard a lot of legislators griping lately about the amount of "pork" — spending that benefits a few, usually in the sponsoring politician's home district — in the new federal stimulus package.

But one man's pork is another's prize. Think about this: all the dire local needs in the Twin Counties — better roads, money for school construction and teachers, funding for utility projects to drive the economy — probably seem pretty porky to politicians from other parts of the nation, but this is the stuff we beg for.

Extensive work and marketing has gone into the redevelopment of the old Washington Mills site in Fries, and on Feb. 1, requests for proposals were sent throughout the country.

The requests mandate that a prospective developer be willing to complete at least three of the projects on the 13.3-acre site, and invest a minimum $6 million.

We urge the project's management team — comprised of Blue Ridge Crossroads Economic Development Authority, the Town of Fries and Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development — to seriously consider all proposals.

RICHMOND — The Virginia Department of Transportation will lay off 450 hourly employees across the commonwealth next month as a first step in reducing staffing costs.

Heidi Coy, VDOT spokeswoman for the Salem district that includes Carroll County, said the Hillsville residency is one of the 25 offices proposed to be cut.

After the closing, the Martinsville VDOT office would oversee Carroll. Floyd County — now covered by the Hillsville residency — would be overseen by the Christiansburg office.

INDEPENDENCE — How many people does it take to build a 252,088-square-foot state prison? According to Project Superintendent Rick Bandy, 229 people are working on the $104.5 million project just outside of Independence.

Bandy took The Gazette on a second exclusive tour of the prison site and provided updates on progress last week.

Since December 2008 — the last time The Gazette visited the site — nearly all buildings are under roof.