Prater Is Named Chairman of New Administrative Board

by Scotty Wampler
Staff Reporter 
  Knox District Department of Social Services Board Member Tolbert Prater was elected chairman of the newly organized DSS Administrative Board, but the election saw three members of the seven-member board not given an opportunity to vote.
  The new administrative board met for the first time Monday night. County Administrator W.J. Caudill called the meeting to order after some confusion as Prater, a hold-over member from the advisory board, attempted to open the meeting.
  Caudill corrected Prater, letting him know he would call the meeting to order since a chairman had not yet been elected.
  After receiving four votes -- a majority of the number present -- Prater was formally declared the chairman although the remaining three board members weren't given an opportunity to vote for the other nominee for chairman.
  South Grundy Board Member Henry Farmer was also nominated for the post.
  Rocklick District Board Member Emogene Elswick nominated Prater for the chairman's post and Prater District Board Member Paul Hayes nominated Farmer. Hurricane District Board Member Ruby Ratliff Hale seconded Prater's nomination, although, under Robert's Rules of Order, a second is not required.
  In succession, Elswick, Hale, Prater (voting for himself) and Garden District Board Member Laura Elkins gave the nod to Prater. The four votes represented a majority of those present.
  Hayes, North Grundy District Board Member Harold Thornsbury and Farmer were told by Caudill, as a result, they did not need to vote.
  In selecting a vice chair, Elswick made a motion nominating Elkins. Hale seconded the motion. With no other nominations made, Prater opted to "appoint" Elkins to the position. No roll call was taken.
  Prater also established two committees, appointing Elswick, Hayes and Farmer to the finance and insurance committee and Hale, Elkins and Thornsbury to the personnel committee.
  The board also unanimously voted to retain Vern Presley as board attorney.
  Lastly, board members interviewed three candidates for the director's post , despite recommendations passed on by the regional office related to the state office recommendation to re-advertise the post (see related story, this issue).

Parking Violations Prompt New System for Appeals

by JoBeth Wampler
Staff Reporter  
  The parking issue in Grundy was addressed last week at a meeting of Grundy Town Council last Tuesday.
  Buchanan County Sheriff Ray Foster had asked to be put on the agenda to speak on downtown parking during the public comments portion of the meeting, but, when he did not show up, Mayor Roger Powers encouraged anyone else with comments on the situation to come forward.
  With only one member of the public present, Grundy Police Chief Mike Cox was asked for his input.
  On Monday last week alone, Cox said, the department issued 50 parking tickets.
  He later explained the details of a new system he created to handle public complaints or comments.
  Since the town has cracked down on parking violators in the last several months, Cox said appeals to parking tickets have become a problem.
  Those interested in appealing parking tickets must now file a written complaint with the town within seven days of the violation.
  They may do so by visiting the town office in the Grundy Plaza Building or by calling (276) 935-2551.
  The chief or lieutenant with the department will then contact the appellant as soon as possible. After a review of the appeal, the appellant will be notified with an outcome of the investigation, Cox said.
  Cox said this will enable the town to handle complaints more efficiently and serve as the first step in ensuring all complaints and comments receive the attention they deserve.
  The second step, which is specifically focused toward citizen suggestions or complaints, identifies a chain of command that citizens will follow regarding their complaints/comments.
  According to Cox, written complaints or suggestions must be filed with his department. However, if the complaint is against him or the police department as a whole, it will be issued to the mayor.
  Investigations will be conducted internally unless the nature of the offense dictates involving an external agency, he added.
  Cox also addressed the continued traffic problem on Maple Street and informed council he has again brought the issue before TAB Construction, which is in discussion with John Bock, Grundy Project Manager with the Corps of Engineers.

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.

Rabies Case Verified
Rabid Raccoon Found at Council

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor  
  Buchanan County residents and pet owners have been reminded of the importance of keeping their pets vaccinated against rabies with the announcement this week that a case of rabies has been confirmed in Buchanan County.
  The Virginia Department of Health issued a news release Tuesday confirming that a rabid raccoon was collected from the Council area, near Big A Mountain in Buchanan County on January 10.
  The animal was confirmed as rabid on January 11.
  "The presence of rabies underscores the need for area residents to have their pets receive rabies vaccinations and avoid contact with wild animals or domestic strays," said VDH Cumberland Plateau Health District Director Dr. John Dreyzehner.
  The rabid raccoon is the first known positive rabid animal in Buchanan County on record in recent history, though neighboring counties have had frequent confirmed animal cases through the years, the health department news release indicated.
  Dreyzehner said a resident in the Council area noticed the raccoon behaving strangely and reported it to health department officials who responded and collected the animal for testing.
  He added there were no known exposures to people or pets related to the raccoon captured.
  He attributed the successful outcome of collecting the raccoon without further risks to people or pets to the citizen who spotted and reported the raccoon.
  "This case emphasizes the need for all of us to be aware of the potential presence of rabies in domestic or wild animals regardless of exactly where we live," Dreyzehner said. "Rabid animals confirmed in our region in recent years have included dogs, cats, horses, bats, raccoons, and skunks."
  "Please vaccinate your pets and tell everybody, especially children, to avoid direct contact with strays and wild animals,” Dreyzehner continued. “It can save your family not only the high financial costs of prevention after a rabies exposure but also the emotional distress of losing your family pets.”
  Rabies is caused by direct introduction, most often through a bite, of the saliva or nerve tissue of an already rabid animal into the skin or, more rarely, a mucous membrane (thin, moist skin of the eye, nose, and mouth). The disease is almost invariably fatal and while there have thankfully been no human cases in the region, they have occurred in the state, two in recent years.  In addition many people with exposures or possible exposures to rabid animals have to be advised to undergo a costly series of vaccinations in order to prevent the disease.
  Rabies is caused by a virus that most commonly affects bats, raccoons, foxes, skunks, cats and dogs. Animals can survive for up to six months after exposure to rabies but once clinical signs appear and the animal is behaving strangely the animal is contagious and usually dies within a week. A pet, when bitten by a rabid animal, usually develops symptoms within three to eight weeks.  Rabies is almost always a fatal disease. Once signs and symptoms appear, there is no cure for rabies in humans or animals, health department officials noted.