Today's News

    Smyth has eliminated seven positions at its Bedford Plant. This brings its workforce down to 128 employees.

    “We are battling increased costs,” said Ben Witt, the plant’s general manager who said that the plant has also implemented some plant-wide short work weeks.

    Witt said that the plant is paying more for electricity, raw materials and fuel.

    “That’s what we are struggling against right now,” he said.

Goode’s Country Kitchen closed its doors for the last time Sunday.

    The restaurant has stood on U. S. 460, on the eastbound lane just east of Bedford, since 1981 when Betty and Norris Goode acquired the shell of a building and turned it into Bedford County’s first country buffet. It finally closed, a victim of steeply rising food prices and the passage of time.

The world of professional music can be just as competitive as any sporting event.

    Just ask Michael Inge.

    The former Bedford resident makes a living creating music in Nashville, Tenn., and is now one of two finalists in the Duke’s Mayonnaise jingle contest.  And the fact is, his hometown can help him win that contest.

Although the cut in state funds for schools is the largest single hit that the Bedford area will take, other areas will also see reductions.

    According to County Administrator Kathleen Guzi, Bedford County will get $300,000 less for constitutional officers and libraries. Constitutional officers include the sheriff, the clerk of the circuit court, the county treasurer and the commissioner of the revenue. Of these, the sheriff’s office will take the biggest reduction, a cut of $130,000 in state money.