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Government

  • Law targets animal care

    Gov. Bob McDonnell recently signed into law Virginia’s first agricultural animal care standards.
    The legislation sets a standard for agricultural animal care and was shaped by people familiar with accepted animal husbandry practices.
    “We believe that this law will demonstrate our farmers’ commitment to the welfare of agricultural animals,” said Lindsay Reames, assistant director of governmental relations for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

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  • Democratic candidates emerge for supervisors' seats

    Two Grayson County democrats seek party nomination to run for supervisors’ seats in the November election.
    Delmer Fields announced that he will seek the Oldtown district nomination.
    Steven Greif of the Fox Creek community, will seek the At-large seat nomination.
    No stranger to the Grayson County Board of Supervisors, Fields is seeking the party nod for the Oldtown district, a seat he previously held for one four-year term about eight years ago.

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  • Under federal law, most schools would fail

    By 2014, the federal No Child Left Behind Act will require that all schools across the United States must have a 100 percent pass rate on achievement tests.
    Local school boards this week joined a statewide effort to set more realistic goals.

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  • Supervisors tinker with bus fund

    If the Grayson County School Board can come up with at least $75,000 in any of its future budgets, then the Grayson County Board of Supervisors will help them buy school buses beginning in 2013.
    Supervisors agreed June 1 to change the guidelines of its new “School Bus Replacement Fund,” including that the fund be a dollar-to-dollar match.
    The county will allocate up to $75,000 per year or 25 percent of annual county decal collections (whichever is less) to be used by the school system as a matching amount for bus purchases.

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  • Take the bus, parents urge school board members

    Parents in the Mount Rogers community have challenged Grayson County School Board members to put themselves in their children’s shoes and see just how fun a bus ride from Mount Rogers to Independence really is.
    Sherry Perry, a teacher in the county, came to the board during its regular meeting earlier this month as a parent, instead of an educator.
    Perry had four points to discuss, one of which was that she was personally concerned about the amount of time her children had to spend on the school buses each day.

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  • Put brakes on unregulated buses

    Enough with the forums.
    Early last month, the National Transportation Safety Board hosted a two-day gathering of various federal regulators, safety experts and industry officials to discuss the implementation of longstanding recommendations to reduce bus and truck accidents. Among the items on the agenda: a proposal, dating back to 1968, to install seat belts on all passenger buses.

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  • Young earns VSI scholarship

    James “Junior” Young of Fries, was recently awarded a $500 scholarship by the Virginia Sheriff’s Institute (VSI). 
    Young, a graduate of Grayson County High School, plans to attend Wytheville Community College this fall where he will pursue a degree in criminal justice.
    Grayson County Sheriff Richard Vaughan said each applicant had to complete an essay, and must be majoring in criminal justice. Young is also a member of the Fries Fire Department and Rescue Squad.

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  • O'Quinn announces bid for Fifth District Delegate seat

    Press Release

    Washington County native Israel O’Quinn announced today that he is seeking the 5th District Republican nomination for the Virginia House of Delegates.  The 5th House District is comprised of the City of Bristol, City of Galax, Grayson County, Smyth County (part) and Washington County (part).

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  • Griffith staff to hold local office hours

    The staff of Rep. Morgan Griffith will have “traveling staff hours” to assist the public during late June.
    Staff will be available on June 21 in Hillsville, 10 a.m.-noon, at the Carroll County Administration Building, 601-1 Pine Street.
    On June 27, staff will be in Independence, 10 a.m.-noon, at the Grayson County Courthouse Administration Building boardroom; and in Galax, 2-4 p.m. at Galax Municipal Building, located at 111 E. Main St.

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  • Hines retires after 25 years of service

    Deputy Jeff Hines of the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office recently retired after 25 years of service.
    Members of the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office honored Deputy Hines during a retirement luncheon at the Independence Volunteer Fire Department.
    Hines served as a patrol deputy, and a school resource officer for Fries Middle School.

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