Smyth County’s supervisors will continue water conservation efforts by asking fire departments not to use county water to fill swimming pools.
While the U.S. Drought Monitor reports lingering moderate to severe drought conditions in the county, frequent rains so far this summer contrast markedly to the arid late spring and summer last year. Consequently, county water supplies are in better shape.

Building on Saltville’s growing outdoor recreation opportunities featuring trails for hikers, bikers and birdwatchers, the town council on Tuesday voted to add boating to the list.
Council member Stanley Cahill proposed a return of paddle boats to the ponds in the town’s well fields, similar to an enterprise run years ago, successfully, Cahill said.
“Boots Rectors had boats and did well,” Cahill said. “Why not rent boats to fish, or bird watch or whatever?”

Saltville Police Chief Steve Surber faced opposition to his reappointment during the town’s council meeting Tuesday. But he kept his job and moments later he and his department received an award from a statewide police organization.

Brown steel beams stand among the broom sage like the ribs of some unimaginable beast long dead on the hill overlooking downtown Chilhowie from the north.

Over objections by citizens, a sitting council member and a former council member, Marion Town Council reappointed Marion Police Chief Mike Roberts Monday.

Local artisans who have gone out on their own to make at least some portion of their livelihoods with their skills will soon have a new marketing tool available to them.

Bomb technicians have recovered the remains of an improvised explosive device that when detonated blew holes in both sides of an abandoned Wassum Valley trailer Friday.

A Sugar Grove man is facing 485 sex-related charges for incidents that court records say extended over a three-year period.

A Smyth County grand jury last week indicted both Michael Shane Fitzgerald and Pamela Lail Fitzgerald, of 714 Spruce St., Marion, on eight identical felony charges related to an abduction and arson case Marion police worked May 6 and 7.

Stephen Phillips of Saltville is hoping his fellow landlords whose properties are connected to the county water supply will join him Tuesday in opposing a new billing procedure the county started this spring.