Montgomery County is among the 28% of Virginia school divisions that don’t provide behind-the-wheel instruction, which is provided by private companies.
Jeff Lester
Jeff Lester served for five years as editor of The Coalfield Progress in Norton, The Post in Big Stone Gap and the Dickenson Star in Clintwood. He has worked in rural community journalism in Southwest Virginia for nearly 35 years, beginning as a Coalfield Progress staff writer in early 1990. Lester grew up in Marion and in the Glade Spring area and is a proud graduate of Virginia Intermont College and Virginia Highlands Community College. He has won numerous Virginia Press Association awards, including the 2002 statewide best in show writing award for nondaily newspapers. Under his guidance, Coalfield Progress reporters won the same award in 2008. He can be reached at jeff.c.lester819@gmail.com.
Montgomery County to consider moving 7 acres into Blacksburg
The agreement between the town and county looks to correct errors and eliminate some situations where parcels are split by the town/county boundary.
Montgomery dumpsite for construction waste adjacent to residences could get five times bigger
Expanding operations would allow for disposal of 2 million cubic yards of debris over a 40-year period, including soil, brick, concrete block and broken concrete.
Montgomery County supervisors, school board begin process to find new superintendent
The board of supervisors and school board will also discuss the annual budget and begin a school facilities study at their joint meeting.
Montgomery County supervisors to discuss fee changes, plat approval
Supervisors will also consider appropriations for the county’s school system and radio cache maintenance, among other items.
Big Stone Gap set to start construction on first skate park in Virginia’s southwest corner
The closest facility to the town’s planned skate park and bicycle pump track are about an hour away in Tennessee.
Montgomery Regional Economic Development Commission meets Thursday to discuss job creation through collaboration
Several community partners are scheduled to share reports and take part in discussion.
More Montgomery subdivisions up for approval at planning commission Wednesday
Two subdivisions enter new phases of development offering over 50 new single-family residences along with acres of open space.
Montgomery County supervisors seek to protect local control over data center siting
Protecting local control over the potential siting of data centers in the county, tax exemptions for the elderly and disabled and water and sewer service funding will be on the agenda when Montgomery County supervisors meet Monday night. The data center item will be considered during approval of legislative priorities for the next General Assembly […]
In Wise County, 9 people seek 4 school board seats
Only three counties in Southwest and Southside have contested races for every school board seat on the ballot this fall.

