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Local News

  • City eliminates decal fees, raises personal property taxes

    Decal fees are out, but personal property taxes are up in Bedford as a result of action taken by City Council Tuesday.

    Following the lead of surrounding communities — including a recent decision by Bedford County — Council voted 6-0 to drop the city's vehicle decals and fees, while raising the personal property tax from $1.80 to $2.17 per $100 of assessed value. Councilman Tom Padgett was not at the meeting.

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  • After a decade of discussions and 2 1/2 years of work, JFHS has upgraded facility

    The Forest community got a look Tuesday at the completed work of the $38.5 million Jefferson Forest High School Renovation Project.

    A dedication ceremony and open house for the project were scheduled to take place at the school yesterday. What those attending were scheduled to see — in addition to a project that finished up under budget and some eight months ahead of schedule — was a school featuring both practical construction and showcase facilities.

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  • Stabbing leads to charges

    Charges against a Montvale man for stabbing a woman at least 15 times, and setting fire to her home, were certified to the grand jury following a preliminary hearing in General District Court Tuesday.

    Buford Lee Musselman, 31, is charged with malicious wounding, abduction, arson and aggravated malicious wounding.

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  • Bedford residents deal with bogus checks

    Laurie Burgin was excited when she got a letter and check from Direct Financial Services. According to the letter, Burgin had won $450,000 and the initial check of $4,800 was provided to help pay for the taxes she would incur.

    “You talk about a high. ...I had a bubble built up you wouldn't believe,” said Burgin about her supposed good fortune. “But I went from an extreme high to an extreme low.”

    That occurred after she began to check into the truthfulness of the letter and the check. Neither checked out.

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  • School board looks at changes to Top 10 rankings

    Last year Jefferson Forest High School had 35 students with a grade point average of better than 4.0. Only 10 of those students, however, were on the stage to help lead graduation ceremonies.

    “Twenty-five of those didn't get any recognition,” JF Principal Tony Francis told Bedford County School Board members Thursday.

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  • Microboard concept allows family to make sure loved one's needs met

    Providing for a severely disabled child who will require lifetime care is a challenge for a family. Harvey Clarke, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and engineer, found a solution that works for his daughter.

    Clarke's 34-year-old daughter, Melanie, has cerebral palsy, the result of oxygen deprivation during birth. The resulting damage left her able to think just fine, but unable to control her body. She can't live without a caregiver and Harvey Clarke, who is 71, and his wife won't be able to do this forever.

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  • Reenactment brings war correspondent back to life

    Ernie Pyle paid Liberty High School a visit last week.

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  • Sheriff earns state honor

    According to Nathaniel Young, director of the Virginia Division of Child Support Enforcement, Bedford County has the best record in the state when it comes to parents paying court-ordered child support.

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  • Event highlights work of Farm Bureau

    According to Stephanie White, Bedford County's project manager for 21st Century Agricultural Curriculum, Virginia Tech has a two-year agriculture program because of Farm Bureau. White was the keynote speaker for Farm Bureau's local dinner meeting last week.

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  • Big Island woman pleads guilty to embezzlement charges

    A Big Island woman pleaded guilty to 13 felony embezzlement charges during a hearing in Bedford County Circuit Court Tuesday.

    Christina Carmichael Poore, 38, was arrested in April. She originally faced 27 embezzlement charges that spanned a time period between July 1, 2005, and Dec. 1, 2007. In each charge she was accused of embezzling more than $200 from H & H Food Market off Lee Jackson Highway.

    As part of the plea agreement, 14 of the charges weren't prosecuted.

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