The third major winter storm of the season hit Franklin County Friday leaving a mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain.

It started early Friday morning as snow and dropped about 6 inches before sleet and freezing rain was added to the mix around 1:30 p.m. Then the mix continued off and on throughout the night and until around noon Saturday.

The heavy cloud cover gave way to the sun for a brief period of time Saturday afternoon.

Total accumulations varied throughout the county with the official National Weather Service reporting 7.2 inches.

However, the melted accumulation amounted to .18, which would have been just less than 20 inches of snow if the sleet and rain had not started. The NWS formula used is a tenth of an inch of rain equals 1 inch of snow.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) has placed The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail on the 2010 list of "America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations."

A special ceremony to mark the occasion was held Wednesday at the Floyd Country Store, one if the Crooked Road's major venues.

James A. Baldwin, president of TCR board of directors, accepted a plaque from Robert Nieweg, director of the southern field office of the NTHP.

The Crooked Road was selected for blending eco-tourism and small town charm with the Appalachian region's musical heritage, providing visitors with a unique cultural experience that spans more than 250 miles across 19 towns.

Tom Malishaucki, the pharmacist at the Free Clinic of Franklin County, has been named "Volunteer of the Year" by the clinic.

"Tom is a jewel," said Executive Director Lois Macdonald. "You just don't find that many people any more willing to go not one, but 10 extra miles."

Malishaucki helped coordinate the clinic's golf tournament. He approached businesses to request support and donations for the clinic. He emceed the Fiddle Fest and outsold every volunteer in raffle tickets. He parked cars at the Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour. He solicited donations from his friends and colleagues throughout the U.S. All total, he brought in around $10,000 in donations.ﾠ

Linda Edwards-White, partnership specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau, met Wednesday with members of the Franklin County "Complete Count Committee" at The Franklin Center.

Edwards-White said the committee is working with the bureau in an effort to make sure every person is counted in the 2010 census.

"It is very important that the census is as accurate as possible because the results will benefit Franklin County in many ways," said Kathy Hodges, committee chairperson.

Edwards-White noted that census figures compiled during the 2010 census will affect county residents for the next 10 years when it comes to receiving grants and allocations from state and federal governments.