Branham Appointed Chairman
Harris Named Vice Chair As New Board Organizes

by Scotty Wampler
News Editor   
    North Grundy Supervisor Carroll Branham and Hurricane Supervisor William P. Harris were named chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, of the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors during the board's organizational meeting Monday.
    Both Branham, nominated by Harris and seconded by Garden Supervisor Berlin Viars, and Harris, nominated by Rocklick Supervisor Frankie Landreth and also seconded by Viars, were unanimously voted to their respective posts.
    Branham, who was reappointed as chairman, has served in that role for the past year on the board. He was also appointed to the Coal Haul Road and Gas Improvement Advisory Committee Monday.
    Three members were appointed to the board's personnel committee, including Viars, Harris and Prater Supervisor Steve O'Quinn. Those appointments were unanimously approved on Landreth's motion and Harris's second.
    Two members were appointed to the board's insurance committee during the meeting, including Harris and South Grundy Supervisor Roger Rife. Those appointments were unanimously approved on O'Quinn's motion and Landreth's second.
    Appointments were made to the Cumberland Plateau Planning District, as well. Rife and Harris were unanimously reappointed to the CPPD Executive Board on the motion of O'Quinn and Viars' second. Likewise, Landreth and O'Quinn were unanimously appointed to the CPPD Board of Directors on Harris's motion and Viars' second.

For more of the story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at newsstands now.  To subscribe to the Mountaineer, call 276-935-2123 today.

Officials Seek Funds For Convict Hollow Waterline Extension

by Scotty Wampler
News Editor
     Grant funds are being sought to jumpstart a waterline extension project at Convict Hollow.
     The Board of Supervisors recently unanimously approved the submission of a $830,450 Virginia Southern Rivers Watershed Enhancement Program grant request with an eye toward providing additional public water service to Rt. 601 residents.
     Health Department testing recently revealed spring and well water residents of the area currently use is nearly 60 percent contaminated. Local officials and the county Public Service Authority have been working to find the resources for the project for some time.
     Existing samples of water collected by residents of the community, as well as additional samples that had not yet been tested, were analyzed recently for bacteria content, according to Brian Stanley, Environmental Health Manager for the Cumberland Plateau Health District.
     Stanley said 57 percent of the water was affected by various bacterial contaminates, adding 31 percent contained fecal coliforms. He also said it wasn't uncommon for spring water to produce poor bacteria results in tests.

For more of the story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at newsstands now.  To subscribe to the Mountaineer, call 276-935-2123 today.