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Public Safety

  • Hillsville PD receives funding for advanced equipment

    HILLSVILLE – Police Chief Wesley Yonce and Town Manager Retta Jackson announced Thursday that the Hillsville Police Department (HPD) received two separate grants during the month of May.
    First, the Hillsville Police Department has received a Walmart Foundation Community Grant in the amount of $2,120, to assist in the purchase of officer safety equipment. HPD partnered with the local Walmart Supercenter in Galax in the application process to successfully obtain these funds.

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  • Lockdown drills prepare officers for the worst

    INDEPENDENCE — The Grayson County public school system has partnered with local law enforcement in recent years to further develop and strengthen security measures for students’ well-being.

    In the interest of being prepared for worst case scenarios, a plan of action for any and all threats are consistently discussed. Such was the case for a recent lockdown drill that was held by the county’s tactical team at Grayson County High School.

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  • Rabid skunk reported in Galax

    A rabid skunk possibly bit a cat on Parkwood Road in Galax, according to a statement issued by the Virginia Department of Health and circulated among local veterinarians.
    The cat is unidentified. The skunk, which was seen staggering, circling and falling over, may also have interacted with a dog. If anyone or their pets have had recent contact with a suspicious skunk in the Parkwood area, contact the city health department at (276) 236-6127. Please check them for wounds or injuries, and have their rabies vaccinations up to date.

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  • Parents, educators discuss school safety

    HILLSVILLE – Parents and citizens of Carroll County capitalized on the opportunity to express their concerns and ideas regarding school safety on a local level at the Parent Connect meeting that was held at Carroll County Middle School on April 5.

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  • Officers on lookout for stabbing suspect

    The Grayson County Sheriff's Office and the Virginia State Police are searching for a suspect involved in a reported stabbing on Beech Grove Lane in Galax that occurred Tuesday afternoon.

    David Lee Combs, 39, of 2212 Beech Grove Ln., is a suspect in the incident, which occurred at 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to the sheriff's office. Officers were called to the residence, where they found a victim with minor wounds.

    Combs was last seen running into a wooded area near Beech Grove Ln., wearing a camouflage jacket.

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  • Local school buses require safety retrofit

    The Virginia Department of Education has notified the Commonwealth’s 132 school divisions that as many as 4,000 school buses may need retrofitting to install a safety device that prevents the parking brake from accidentally disengaging.

    School officials said that a total of 23 buses in Galax, Carroll and Grayson need retrofitting for the brake interlock.

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  • Crime rate falling in Galax

    While the city had two homicides in 2016 — the first in several years — the Galax Police Department saw an overall decrease of 26 percent in total crimes reported last year, according to an annual report from Chief Rick Clark.

    Clark made his presentation at the Feb. 27 Galax City Council meeting. He said that last year, there were a total of 978 offenses, as opposed to 1,330 offenses in 2015.

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  • Lead found in Fries water

    Staff Report

    FRIES ― The Town of Fries alerted residents this month that a recent test of the water system found elevated levels of lead in drinking water in some homes and buildings.

    Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and children 6 years and younger.

    According to a news release from the town, lead was detected in water samples collected during a routine sampling in 2015 and again during special sampling in July.

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  • Victim in double shooting dies; suspect caught

    Staff Reports

    A man wanted for shooting two people in Grayson County on Sunday morning was caught early Monday morning in North Carolina, after wrecking his car during a police chase.

    One of the shooting victims, Karen Cates, died.

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  • Double shooting in Fairview; suspect at large

    UPDATE:

    The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a double shooting in Fairview, which occurred Sunday morning.

    Authorities have not released the names of anyone shot, or their conditions.

    Law enforcement has identified the shooting suspect as Greyling Dwayne “Beany” Davis, 52, of Fries Road in Galax.

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