CofC Installs Officers, Directors

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor
      Officers and directors to lead the Buchanan County Chamber of Commerce were installed last Tuesday during the chamber’s annual membership meeting at the Breaks Interstate Park.
        Garnette Owens was installed as president; James L. Keen, first vice president; Chris Shortridge, second vice president; and Shea Shrader, immediate past president. Shrader was presented with a plaque of appreciation for his service to the chamber.
        Members of the board of directors installed included Billie Campbell, Agnes Mullins, Roger Powers, Bill Raines, Pat Ratliff, Jodi Reynolds, Jon Rife, Ginger Robertson and Geraldine Shortridge. Also serving as directors, but unable to be present at last week’s meeting, were Jeremy Davis, Susan Mayhew, Lyle Mutter, William Neeley, Jay Rife, Roger Rife, Reid Scott and Oliver Upchurch Jr.
          Guest speaker for the event was Del. Dan Bowling.
         Bowling updated chamber members on the legislative session and current efforts between the House and Senate to arrive at a balanced budget.
         Bowling said there were some 1,700 bills submitted during the current legislative session, 1,685 of which were submitted to committee and about half of which made it to the floor. More than 800 of those made it the governor and Bowling said the governor had vetoed seven and amended several others.
          The delegate praised the chamber, as well as county and town officials, for their support and for being strong advocates with which to work.
          He spoke briefly about the Coalfields Expressway and efforts to free up federal dollars for the project and noted the road would do much to open up the region, once built.
          Bowling also lauded the coming of fiber optic cable, adding it could mean additional job opportunities will follow.
       Commonwealth Transportation Board Member James Keen also addressed the gathering, talking about the transportation budget.
          Eddie Hannah conducted the installation of officers and directors.

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

Town Voters Head To the Polls May 2

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor
         Town of Grundy voters will head to the polls Tuesday, May 2 to select three council members and a mayor.
       Voter Registrar Vicki Clevinger noted the polls will open at 6 a.m. Tuesday and close at 7 p.m.
       Town voters vote at the Grundy Plaza in the Southwest Virginia Community College building on the plaza’s west end.
         Clevinger noted her office will also be open on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to allow for absentee ballot voting in person.
        Clevinger reminded voters that on election day they need to bring some form of identification with them or to be prepared to sign an affidavit stating their identity on site.
         Four candidates are vying for three seats on council, while the mayor’s seat is unopposed.
         Town Council members serve for four years and are elected to staggered terms. The mayor serves for two years.
        Roger Powers is seeking election to the post of mayor. He has been serving as Grundy’s mayor since Willard Owens’ death while he was serving as mayor.
       Town council candidates include incumbents Robert E. (Bob) Hale; Rebecca Short-ridge-Elkins; and William N. (Bill) Stokes, Jr. Becky Stevenson is a newcomer to the council race, challenging the three incumbents for a seat on council. The top three vote-getters in Tuesday’s balloting will win a seat on council and will join three holdover members, Diann Hagy, Gary Prater and Chris Mitchell.
        For additional information , interested persons may call the registrar’s office at 276-935-6534.

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