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Today's News

  • Road deaths and injuries down over past five years

    In 2007, the number of people who died on Virginia roads surpassed 1,000 for the first time in nearly two decades.
    That grim toll marked a turning point. Traffic fatalities statewide have exceeded 800 only one year since.
    Safety advocates point to a multitude of changes and trends in explaining the drop. Among them: stricter licensing for young drivers, anti-DUI laws, educational and law enforcement campaigns, increased seat belt use, safer roads and better vehicles.

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  • Locals go Hollywood, on screen and behind the scenes

    A Ford Double Model A truck has carried a local antique car collector into the world of independent cinema, and he’s enjoyed the ride.
    Tom Littrell’s love of antique vehicles has seen him take off on the cross-country Great Race, made him a partner in Old Cranks Museum in Galax and now garnered him a bit part in the production of “Wish You Well.”
    The movie is a screen adaptation of the 2001 book of the same name by David Baldacci.

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  • Readers' Hotline 10/29/12

    Catch the speeders
    Instead of the State Police having so many road checks up here at Pipers Gap, they need to set out radar. They could write 100 tickets a day, easy. I wish the mailboxes were on the same side of the road as houses at Pipers Gap. People in Pipers Gap think this is the Indianapolis Speedway and it is dangerous to even go to your mailbox.

    Public meddling

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  • Technology keeps Galax students engaged

    Galax teachers are using the same technology that kids use for recreation to keep them interested in learning.

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  • Public hearing set on volunteer force idea

    HILLSVILLE — Carroll County officials will seek public comment on the idea of setting up a volunteer force to work with the sheriff’s office.
    The hearing will be at the board of supervisors’ November meeting.
    The supervisors initially approval the concept at their September meeting.
    Sheriff J.B. Gardner explained that the force would consist of veteran officers who have retired or those who have graduated from the police academy but haven’t found a job.

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  • Are we ready for the 'Frankenstorm'?

    Hurricane Sandy.
    The Frankenstorm.
    The Snoreastercane.
    Whatever you want to call it, the storm hitting the East Coast this week is a freak of nature, says Kevin Myatt, weather columnist for The Roanoke Times.
    For Southwest Virginia, the merging of two extreme weather systems likely will mean high winds, heavy rain and possibly a record October snowfall.
    Anything is possible, Myatt says, but the storm is bringing more tricks than treats.

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  • Hillsville takes aim at deer

    HILLSVILLE — Conservation officials don’t want to stand in the way of Hillsville’s aim to control deer, but it’s not as easy as granting a town-wide kill order, said Department of Game and Inland Fisheries representatives.
    Allen Boynton, regional wildlife manager, and conservation officer Ryland Cox gave the town options in addition to targeting deer by hunting, including going after deer on public property and the state issuing more kill permits to individual land owners.

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  • Police, family organizing search for missing man

    FRIES — Family members of Samuel Joseph Sheehi are asking for community assistance in finding the missing Fries man.
    The family is working with Twin County law enforcement to find Sheehi, who has been missing for two weeks.
    Family members say 32-year-old Sheehi was last seen Oct. 10.
    He is about six feet tall and weighs 180 pounds, with a medium build, blue eyes, and buzz cut blond hair. He wears oversized clothing and has several tattoos.

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  • Scam involves sweepstakes, debit cards

    INDEPENDENCE — A legitimate contest or sweepstakes will never ask a winner to pay money in advance to get their prize, cautions Grayson Sheriff Richard Vaughan.
    A local woman almost fell for such a scam, but a family member and the sheriff intervened before any money was lost.
    The Grayson Sheriff’s Office is warning of a scam involving a sweepstakes award and pre-paid debit cards from Walmart.

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  • Hillsville continues search for new town manager, police chief

    HILLSVILLE — Town council continues its headhunting for two leadership positions, and one citizen says the best candidates already work for Hillsville.
    Filling the vacant town manager and police chief jobs received only a few minutes of attention from Hillsville Town Council members during the open session of the Oct. 22 meeting.
    After a 40-minute closed session, Mayor Greg Crowder announced that interviews for the top candidates for police chief will occur at the beginning of November.

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