Today's News

RICHMOND — A Senate committee on Jan. 30 killed legislation aimed at requiring Virginia unemployment recipients to perform volunteer service work to remain eligible for benefits.
On a voice vote, the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee shot down Sen. Bill Stanley’s bill amid concerns that passing it would put Virginia out of conformity with federal law and jeopardize a credit that state employers receive on their federal unemployment taxes.

INDEPENDENCE — Two members of the Grayson County Board of Supervisors have come up with a proposed plan to eliminate the trash fee and save the taxpayers money.
Board Chairman David Sexton, the at-large member, and John Brewer, the Providence District supervisor, unveiled the plan last week in a prepared statement.
The statement is in line with popular speculation in Grayson that the county created the trash fee to pay off school construction and renovation debt — something the county administrator says is not entirely accurate.

MAX MEADOWS –– After being hammered by 24 points the last time out on its home floor, one big question about Fort Chiswell was how would the Pioneers respond.

Quite nicely, as it turned out. Now the same must be asked of Galax.

The Maroon Tide saw its 31-game winning streak come to a halt Wednesday night as Fort Chiswell used a strong finish to take a 54-50 win in a Mountain Empire District game. The loss was Galax’s first since a one-point setback to Grayson County on Jan. 25 of last year.

The Wired Road is expanding its service in Galax and the Twin Counties through a variety of
ongoing projects, Galax City Manager Keith Barker told city council on Monday.
Through a Virginia Tobacco Commission grant, fiber was recently run to the Galax City Schools and the Crossroads Institute and each is selecting an Internet provider at this time.
There will be additional projects with these remaining funds including some wireless service and possible additional fiber.