Officials are moving forward with changes to the way Madison County residents pay their taxes. The public has one last chance to voice its opinions before the board of supervisors vote on proposed tax-related revisions, including a switch from billing residents’ taxes annually on Dec. 5 of each year, to billing citizens half of their typical tax bill twice each year – with bills due on June 5 and Dec. 5 of each year.

The Middle River Retreat community near Hood is abuzz with spirited—but unconfirmed—talk about sightings and pet attacks by a mountain lion, but authorities continue to insist the animal has been extinct in the eastern U.S. since the 1800s.

A controversial senior housing development project will come before Madison County officials yet again this coming week. A public hearing regarding revisions to a previously approved plan for construction of an elderly community off of Courthouse Mountain Road (Route 660) is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3.

Local residents will head to the polls for a special election this coming year. Madison County Circuit Court Clerk Caroline Watts will resign from her post early – with seven years still left in her unfinished term. “I’ve put in 25 years serving the community and the time has come for me to focus on some other things of a personal nature,” Watts told The Eagle last week. Her resignation is effective Jan. 1, 2009.

During a time when landing a loan seems close to impossible, Madison County has secured a $5 million line of credit toward its courthouse renovation project. Officials recently approved a resolution to go forward with borrowing the money through a commercial paper loan program offered by the Virginia Association of Counties and the Virginia Municipal League finance program.

Since mid-summer, Madison County’s main gun supplier – MWP Supply Inc. – has seen its gun and ammunition sales jump by 70 percent, store representatives reported last week. “We sort of suspected it would happen because obviously [President-Elect Barack] Obama is sort of anti-gun,” said Charlotte Hoffman, president of Madison County-based home-building outfitter MWP Supply Inc.

More than turkeys are getting stuffed this time of year. Many Madison County mailboxes are chock-full of multiple tax bill envelopes. Despite local officials’ plans to send out real estate and personal property tax bills together in one envelope – this didn’t happen. Unfortunately, a company hired to send out the bills mistakenly sent out each bill within a separate envelope, according to Treasurer Stephanie Murray. (Tax payments are due by the close of business Friday, Dec. 5.)

Beautification-minded town officials have searched for years for some way to hide the ugly thick clumps of overhead utility lines that line Main Street. The subject re-surfaced at last week’s Madison Town Council meeting, but a solution remained elusive.

The recent economic downturn is forcing officials to rethink their future school building improvement plans. Since the school system first started looking at possible building renovation and construction possibilities, the economy has taken a turn for the worst.

The Madison County Eagle features a special full-color keepsake commemorative page entitled, “Madison cheers Obama win,“ in its Nov. 13 edition. The page features images of Madison County residents celebrating the historic election of the first-ever African-American U.S. president.

One local official is tired of the county covering for state budget shortfalls.Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine recently cut a previously promised two percent salary increase for county employees whose salaries are partly paid for by the state.

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama captured the most votes in Virginia and nationwide to win the Nov. 4 U.S. presidential election, but he came in second in Madison County. His Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain, received more Madison votes – 3,758 – to Obama’s 2,862. (This is according to unofficial results from the Madison County Registrar’s Office.)

Madison County officials are still fine-tuning proposed new rules regarding cell phone towers. The new policy aims to improve wireless communication in the county while protecting its “natural beauty,” according to drafts of the possible wireless communications ordinance.

Would you like to see bike lanes in Madison County? Or more carpooling opportunities to improve your daily commute? Officials are reaching out to area residents to find out how they feel their travel within the county and the surrounding area could be improved.

Election officials are warning local residents to keep T-shirts, bumper stickers, buttons and other campaign materials touting candidates away from the polls Nov. 4. Although the state law banning campaign materials within 40 feet of a polling place on Election Day has been on the books for years, state board of elections officials recently spelled out exactly what they mean by “campaign materials.”

In coming years, Madison County’s middle school may call Hoover Ridge home. Madison County Public Schools officials are working to develop a timeline for future school construction and renovation projects – including building a new middle school.

Officials may dip into the county’s “rainy day” fund to cover cuts in state money. Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine released a laundry list of items this month to be cut from the state’s current budget. Items on the chopping block include a previously promised two percent salary increase for county employees whose salaries are partly paid for by the state. Madison County’s current budget includes the previously expected Dec. 1 salary increases for these employees, which covers some positions in the offices of the sheriff, treasurer, social services, commissioner of revenue and others, according to officials.

Expansive views of sprawling farms, forests and mountains are the local resources most valued by many Madison County residents, according to a local group. The “Friends of the Hughes” organization aims to educate landowners about how they can protect these valued resources, according to one of the group’s organizers, Etlan resident Susan Cable.

Although the local health department will be offering free flu shots for some county children, it has scrapped public flu shot clinics from its usual schedule. 
“The primary goal of a health department is to meet a need for the public that’s not being met – but this need is being met with private doctors and drug stores,” said Jo Bond, the immunization coordinator for the Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District, which includes Madison County.

The blanket of bright green that has covered Madison County throughout the summer is giving way to shades of red, orange and yellow. “What I’m hearing and seeing is that fall color will be good this year,” said Madison County Extension Agent Adam Downing.

Even a light rain often leaves the walk in front of Miss Pattie’s House antique store full of water. The 70-year-old sidewalk at 203 S. Main St. in downtown Madison includes only a small water drain, which is regularly covered by fallen leaves or other debris, according to the store’s owner. Water frequently collects in front of his store, sometimes flooding his basement, he said.

As drivers head north along U.S. 29 in Oak Hill, the lot in front of Eddins Ford may appear a bit less crowded than usual. “People say to me, ‘You don’t have the inventory you used to have,’ and they’re right. When the market started to slow down, I adjusted my inventory,” President Gregory Fisher told The Eagle.

Madison County resident Terry Cover has only voted in one presidential election in the past, he said. “It was back when [Alabama] Gov. [George] Wallace was running,” the middle-aged, casually dressed man who lives near Wolftown told The Eagle. But come Nov. 4, he’s sure he will be at the polls.

After paying local taxes as usual this December, Madison County residents may receive another tax bill in the mail this coming spring. Officials are preparing for some upcoming changes to the way they collect taxes – including billing residents for half of their typical tax bill once in June and once in December. (This December, residents will pay their full tax bill amount as in the past.)

Two young women pretended they had car trouble, then pulled out pistols and robbed a Madison County man last week, authorities say, adding they are seeking the public’s help in finding the pair.

UPDATE
Madison County (4-0, 0-0) defeated Page County 21-14 in Sept. 26 homecoming football action at Eddie Dean Field.

Although a proposed program aimed at preserving Madison County’s farm and forest land appeals to many – it will likely raise local taxes, according to a county official. “I’m all for this program, I think it’s a great program, except for the fact of how you’re going to get the money,” Madison County Planning Commission Vice Chairman Pete Elliott said of a possible county “purchase of development rights” program.

Things escalated as two Madison County men argued Sept. 19, with one of the men eventually firing a shotgun, then stabbing and seriously injuring the second man, authorities say. The 54-year-old victim was transported to the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville.

Madison County officials discussed the cost, size and current status of the county’s Hoover Ridge athletic fields project at a meeting Tuesday night.