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Business

  • Darco celebrates 35 years in business

    Darco Southern, Inc. recently celebrated 35 years in business.
    On Dec. 19, the Independence manufacturing facility celebrated its 35th anniversary.
    Darco Southern was incorporated in April 1976 by William “Bill” McAllister. McAllister led Darco for 20 years as president and retained ownership until 2003 when a group of local investors purchased the plant and operations.
    In 2005, Darco agreed to be acquired by the owners of Davlyn Manufacturing Co, Inc., a Pennsylvania business with a complimentary line of products.

  • Local Nursing, Rehab Center among ‘Top of 2011’

    GALAX — Waddell Nursing and Rehab Center recently was recognized as one of America’s Top Nursing Homes for 2011, according to the Consumers’ Research Council of America, a private company in Washington, D.C., that evaluates various professional industries.
    The selection process is based on a point valuation system that awards points on various areas, such as health care practice standards, educational levels of key leadership, years in practice, affiliations and other award recognitions from other professional associations.

  • Beginning beekeeper course begins Feb. 14

    WYTHEVILLE — Mountain Empire Beekeepers Association will hots its annual Beginning beekeeper course Feb. 14.
    The five-week class meets 6:30 p.m. on consecutive Tuesdays at Wytheville Community College Smyth Hall, Room 122.
    Fee is $35 and covers textbook and all classroom materials.
    Class size is limited and pre-registration is encouraged.
    For more information or to register for the class, call Bernie Bradley at (276) 655-4495.

  • Job fair set for school divisions

    SALEM — Many Western Virginia school divisions will participate in a job fair Feb. 3-4 at the Salem Civic Center.
    Participants include schools for Carroll and Wythe counties and Galax.
    Hours are 4-8 p.m. on Feb. 3 and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Feb. 4. Inclement weather makeup dates are Feb. 10-11.
    The location is at 1001 Boulevard in Salem. Check for updates at (540) 831-6399 or www.wvpec.org.

  • Vaughan, Reyes join team of certified diabetes educators

    Tracie Vaughan and Adel Reyes of Twin County Regional Healthcare achieved status as certified diabetes educators, the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators announced.
    They successfully completed the certification examination for diabetes educators. Candidates must meet rigorous eligibility requirements to be able to take the exam.
    Achieving certification demonstrates to people with diabetes and employers that the health care professional has specialized knowledge for promoting quality of care for diabetics.

  • Stamp prices increase beginning Jan. 22

    It’s going to cost you more to mail a letter beginning Jan. 22.
    The United States Postal Service (USPS) said the cost of mailing a first-class letter will increase to 45 cents, the first price increase in more than two years.
    The cost to send magazines, standard mail and some package services will also increase, but prices for Express Mail and Priority Mail will stay the same.
    Postal officials said the price increase is expected to generate an additional $888 million in revenue.

  • Arts School welcomes program director

    GALAX — Chestnut Creek School of the Arts’ programming and marketing director, Karin Carlson Saul, has left her position to devote time to her jewelry design business and metalsmithing career.
    She will be succeeded by Marianne Kovatch, who brings a business and training background along with strong computer experience from previous work in business/systems analysis and instructional design.
    Kovatch is an accomplished banjo player and is involved in many artistic pursuits.

  • 2012 conservation programs seek applicants

    The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service in Virginia encourages farmers to visit their local NRCS office now to request conservation technical assistance and apply for possible financial assistance.
    Farmers can sign up for Farm Bill conservation programs throughout the year, but funding selections are made at specific times. The first cutoff date for 2012 funds is Feb. 3.

  • BB&T board of directors declares dividend

    The board of directors of BB&T Corp. recently declared a first-quarter 2012 dividend of 16 cents for each common share.
    BB&T, based in Winston-Salem, N.C., will pay the dividend to shareholders registered on Jan. 6.
    The bank has paid a cash dividend to shareholders every year since 1903.
    Locally, BB&T has branch offices in Fries, Galax, Hillsville, Cana and Sparta, N.C.

  • Virginia named one of best wine travel destinations

    RICHMOND – Wine Enthusiast Magazine has named Virginia as one of the 10 best wine travel destinations for 2012.  The article, available online and in the February issue of Wine Enthusiast Magazine, highlights Virginia as one of only three domestic destinations to make the list of wine regions that are ideal for wine lovers to visit in 2012.