Local News

Though originally set at 5.8 percent, the Bedford County School Board still hopes a 4.25 percent pay raise for teachers approved Thursday will help make the school system's salaries more competitive with other area districts.

The board approved its $108 million budget on a 7-1 vote. District 3 board member David Black cast the dissenting vote, stating the raise was inadequate.

"We're just not doing it," he said of funding the needed increases.

Bedford prosecutor running for council in Vinton

Next Tuesday, Bedford County Chief Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Wes Nance hopes to be elected as the newest member of the Town Council in Vinton.

A long-time resident of the town, Nance decided to throw his hat in the ring after being encouraged to do so by several current council members. Five Vinton residents are running for the two open seats.

Nance's family moved to the Vinton area when he was 9. He's served on the board of Zoning Appeals since 1996 and has been the board's chairman since 2002.

A city of Bedford public works department employee was electrocuted Monday morning while changing out a transformer.

The Bedford Police Department is investigating the industrial accident that injured 41-year-old Garth Morck of Bedford. Morck works for the City of Bedford Electric Department. The accident occurred while a transformer in the area of the Second Street Apartments was being changed.

?They do that periodically,? Bedford Police Chief Jim Day said of changing transformers, ?and during that transfer process the accident occurred.?

On Aug. 11, 2005, Jocelyn Earnest wrote in her journal that if she was killed, it would have been "Wesley Earnest, my cheating husband" that did it, according to testimony offered by Bedford County Investigator Mike Mayhew during a preliminary hearing held Monday.