Local authorities were unaware of a puppy mill the Humane Society of the United States found in Atkins during a five-month investigation that triggered in Hillsville a dog rescue said to be the largest in U.S. history.

In Smyth’s uncontested races, Sheriff David Bradley returned to office with 99.15 percent of the vote, or 5,063 ballots cast. Commonwealth’s Attorney Roy Evans received 4,774 votes. Treasurer Thomas Burkett II was returned to office with 5,022 votes. Commissioner of Revenue Jeff Richardson received 5,011 votes.

Former Chilhowie Police Chief Dwayne Sheffield took an Alford plea to a charge of object sexual penetration Monday in a deal to avoid prosecution on four other related charges.

Homelessness looms as early as the coming new year for part of the Smyth County Museum and Historical Society’s collections of local artifacts, and museum officials have not found a solution.
The situation has been tentative for months as the county began looking at the 1908 school building property on Strother Street as part of its answer to State Supreme Court’s demands for increased parking availability near the courthouse.

The 14-year-old boy held in the shooting of a Groseclose truck stop clerk last week may be charged as an adult, and Southwest Virginia Mental Health Institute is reviewing its procedures in the tragedy’s wake. 

Del. Bill Carrico (R-5th) is looking forward “to two weeks from now,” when the Nov. 6 election will be over and the voters will have decided whether to send him back to Richmond for a fourth term. Seeking re-election on top of the duties of the office has made for a hectic spring, summer and fall.

Susie Dixon Garner believes her skills as an accountant suit her to represent the 5th District in Virginia’s House of Delegates.

A former Northwood High School teacher pled guilty Tuesday in Smyth County Circuit Court to 17 felony counts of a sexual offense against a girl who was a student of the school when the incidents occurred.

Mount Rogers Shelter Home is back in business, welcoming its young residents for their first night on Friday, opening for public tours Sunday. The open house was a celebration of renewal and of the staff and residents’ safe escape last winter of an upstairs bedroom fire.

Despite an emergency services dispatcher’s urgent “we have a plane crash,” a minor incident at Mountain Empire Airport Monday afternoon left no serious injuries and little damage as a gust of wind tipped over a gyroplane on the runway. Curtis Pennington, who runs an aircraft maintenance service at the airport, called it “a little bad luck” and said Groseclose pilot Fred Purdue has “a lot of years flying.” Airport staff member Charlie Hoofnagle said that during the afternoon, the windsock “would stand straight out,” filled with wind, and 15 seconds later, just hang there.” Several Virginia State Police troopers responded to the incident.