People from all walks of life in Buchanan County have come together to preserve a town flooded with memories, despite frequent flood waters.
   "The Grundy that we know is gone," local volunteer Margaret Wakeland says. "We want future generations to know what we had."
   With that in mind, work has been underway to develop a mural to be painted on the side of the Vansant Food City building which calls to mind the Grundy which is now in the process of being razed.
  But, just because the mural will depict the Grundy of old does not mean it will not represent the county's youth.
   The mural project utilizes the artistic skills of 15 Buchanan County high school and college students. Not only focused on their academic careers and the 12-credit scholarship in mural and large scale painting that most received, some students are looking ahead to what playing a role in this project will mean to them years down the road.
   An open house is planned June 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Vansant Food City at which time the mural drawings to be painted on the side of the building will be displayed for the public to view.

   Asphalt bids were awarded Monday during a continued meeting of the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors.
  Board members agreed to award low bids for asphalt paving to Vandyke Construction when the county needs 10 tons or less; and to Mac Const. Inc. when jobs call for more than 10 tons.
  The bids relate only to miscellaneous paving jobs which come up during the year, and not to the main coal road bids, which will be opened next week.
  County Road Engineer Marcus Stiltner noted the paving bids save time in getting various small paving jobs done in the county, since the standing bids are acquired in advance.
  North Grundy Supervisor Carroll Branham made the motion to approve the low bids and Garden Supervisor Buddy Fuller made the second. The vote was unanimous.
  In other business, board members welcomed new Assistant County Attorney Lee Moise to the board.
  "We welcome you to our team," said South Grundy Chairman Roger Rife.
  Moise thanked board members for the welcome and added, "I’m happy to be here."
  In other action, board members approved renewal insurance quotes from the Virginia Association of Counties for property, computers, general liability, auto liability and physical damage and crime coverage.
  Board members also okayed Shawn Owens, Jonathan Brown and Russell Street to be added to a list of county grass/weed cutters; agreed to allow the Cumberland Plateau Regional Housing Authority to continue administration of the Indoor Plumbing Rehabilitation Program; and okayed a reimbursement to the Virginia Department of Fire Programs for $227.75, representing funds not expended in six local fire departments.
  Animal Control Officer Larry Bailey approached the board to request a raise for him and for Michael Dean Childress. He said he had been with the county for eight and a half years and was still making $3,000 less than his predecessor in the job.
  South Grundy Supervisor Roger Rife told Bailey the board would look into the matter.

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by JoBeth Wampler
Staff Reporter
    North Grundy Republicans nominated Bob Horn as their candidate for the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday at a mass meeting.
    Held in the board of supervisors' meeting room in the basement of the Buchanan County Courthouse, the meeting drew in around 30 Republicans, who voted in Horn to face Democrat incumbent Carroll Branham in the November 7 special election.
    Branham was officially named the Democrat nominee for the post during a Democrat convention May 27.

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!