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Today's News

  • Grayson to borrow money

    INDEPENDENCE — Grayson supervisors will explore their financial options as the county looks to make up a potential $2.7 million deficit at the end of the current budget year.

    Corbin Stone of Robinson, Farmer, Cox Associates — the accounting firm compiling a financial forecast for Grayson County — and Dan Siegel of law firm Sands, Anderson, Marks & Miller were on hand April 13 to discuss a few options supervisors need to consider.

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  • Water on the way in Carroll communities

    SYLVATUS — A community that has asked Carroll for water for more than two years — will tap into an overflow of money from another public utility system being constructed in the county.

    Carroll County officials from the Board of Supervisors and the Public Service Authority, along with Rural Development Regional Director Travis Jackson, shared the news with the community at the Sylvatus Ruritan Club over a tall, cool bottle of water Monday morning.

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  • Two arrested in connection with drug operation

    HILLSVILLE — Federal court documents describe an investigation into a substantial illegal drug operation that led to the arrest of two Hillsville men April 14.

    The Carroll County Sheriff's Office recently reported that Rigoberto Ruiz-Ruvalcaba of 328 Saddle Up Trail and Stacey Harold Bullion of 63 Lewis Lane face federal charges of distribution of methamphetamine.

    These charges cap off a two-year investigation by the Twin County Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

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  • Galax to hold candidate forum

    The 2010 Galax City Council election, which will be held on May 4, is a race between five people for four seats.

    The four-year terms of council members John Garner, Derrick Davis, C.M. Mitchell and Willie Greene are set to expire on June 30, and all four are seeking reelection. Margaret “Margo” Crouse, owner of Margo's Interior Decorating in downtown Galax, is also seeking election.

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  • An Affordable Option

    When it comes to construction, the Great Recession has caused the bottom to fall out of the housing market.

    This slowdown has caused surviving construction companies to clamor for work — and increased competitiveness for remaining projects.

    As a result, the construction projects that have gone forward have actually benefitted from lower-than-normal prices.

    The earth-moving project for the runway safe area at the Twin County Airport is a good example, as it came in at about half the initial engineer's estimate, or a little less than $700,000.

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  • Airport breaks ground for runway safe project

    HILLSVILLE — The earth shifted in a way for the Twin County Airport last Friday, as government officials broke ground for a project that will launch a new safety effort at the facility.

    Regional and state officials, as well as a representative from 9th District Rep. Rick Boucher's office, converged on the airport in Carroll County to break ground for a runway safe area project.

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  • VDOT reduces staff, begins reorganization

    The Virginia Department of Transportation is completing major portions of its reorganization this week to reach a mandated staffing reduction to 7,500 full-time employees by July 1, and to streamline the way it does business.

    VDOT’s restructuring program changes business practices and alters the way citizens, developers, localities, businesses and transportation industry contacts will do business with the agency.

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  • Jessup, Walls run for town council seat

    HILLSVILLE — Sulphur Springs ward voters going to the polls May 4 will have the choice of casting ballots for Frieda Jessup or Billy Walls Sr.

    This is the only contested race in Hillsville, where two candidates are vying for the same seat on town council.

    Voters can return to office Jessup, who was appointed to fill the vacancy created when former representative Bill Tate was elected mayor two years ago. Or, they can select Walls, the co-owner of B&T Garage.

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  • Arson charge filed in Grayson

    INDEPENDENCE — An Independence man has been charged with arson for allegedly setting fire to his deceased neighbor's home.

    On April 22, deputies from the Grayson County Sheriff's Office responded to a suspected arson at 7052 Carsonville Road in Independence.

    Grayson County Sheriff Richard Vaughan said that the owner of the residence, Oscar Lee Young, had been hospitalized in Winston-Salem, N.C., and passed away that same day from an unrelated illness.

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  • Massive tax increase could be required

    INDEPENDENCE — A 120-percent increase in Grayson’s real estate tax levy would be necessary to pull the county out of its financial hole in a 12-month period, supervisors learned last week.

    County officials have cited a possible deficit of $5.5 million by year’s end in previous meetings, so it comes as no surprise that Grayson would need to increase its traditionally low tax levy.

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