Jacob Haywood got ahead on college classes at Surry Community College through the Career & College Promise program, a free tuition program for high school juniors and seniors. (Submitted photo)
Jacob Haywood of Westfield started the fall semester at North Carolina State University with 31 college credits from Surry Community College.
As an East Surry High School student, he took Calculus II, Calculus III, Differential Equations, Physics I, Physics II, C++ Programming, Linear Algebra, Art Appreciation and General Psychology at Surry Community College through the Career & College Promise program. These classes are tuition free for high school juniors and seniors.
“The class sizes at Surry Community College were great. I was able to interact with my instructors on a one-on-one basis,” Haywood said.
Haywood plans to double major in Mechanical Engineering and History at NC State, and by transferring so many credits to NC State, he has an incredible head start.
NC State is a family tradition for the Haywoods. His grandpa and uncle were also part of the Wolfpack.
“I want to work in automotive design,” Haywood said. “My dream job is to work in Germany for Porsche, Volkswagen or BMW. I have always been interested in vehicles. I fixed up a 1976 Volkswagen Transporter. I just like working on the parts and trying to fix them up.”
Haywood is a Ben Franklin Scholar at NC State, a program that allows students to simultaneously pursue bachelor’s degrees in both engineering and the humanities or social sciences. The program provides students with broad training and equips them with unique skills to solve complex problems.
While a dually enrolled high school and community college student, Haywood was an active student athlete. He played tennis, soccer, cross country, indoor track, and wrestled his junior and senior years.
He became an Eagle Scout when he built a sign at his church, Westfield Baptist. He also volunteered as a scout at Camp Raven Knob where he taught automotive courses to fellow scouts.
On top of all those extracurricular activities, Haywood was employed at 13 Bones in Mount Airy as a cook and dishwasher while in high school.
Haywood is a great example of what a high school student can accomplish as a community college student, athlete, and community servant.
Climber Leaders for August, September named
Bennett, Medvar receive championship rings
November 25, 2021
Several members of the North Surry High School Varsity Cheerleading squad spent a recent Saturday morning volunteering at RidgeCrest Retirement and Assisted Living. They sat up displays and strung lights for the upcoming Holiday Walk of Hope.
This is the second year that RidgeCrest has sponsored the walk-through holiday light show. It runs Thursday Dec. 2-4 and Dec. 9-11, each night from 6-8 p.m. All proceeds go toward the Alzheimer’s Association.
The cheerleaders are coached by Hope Ward
November 25, 2021
The Small Business Center at Surry Community College was designated as a Small Business Community Champion for 2021 by American Express. This designation is given to business associations and community organizations to spread awareness of the importance of shopping small to support small business.
This is the third year in a row that SCC’s Small Business Center has received this recognition. This year’s designation will allow the center to support Pilot Mountain. In previous years, the organization has supported the towns of Boonville and Elkin.
This recognition comes leading up to Small Business Saturday, being held on Saturday, Nov. 27. American Express Neighborhood Champions will work nationwide to build excitement about shopping locally within their communities.
“We will receive various banners, signs and other marketing material from American Express that will be shared with Pilot Mountain for use in leading up to Small Business Saturday,” said Mark Harden, director of the Small Business Center at SCC. “It’s a pleasure to serve the many communities in Surry and Yadkin counties.”
For information about confidential, one-on-one counseling and resource referrals, contact Harden at [email protected] or call 336-386-3685. To learn more about the Small Business Center at Surry Community College, visit www.surry.edu/sbc.
The Small Business Center provides seminars, workshops, resources and counseling to prospective business owners and existing business owners. The SCC Small Business Center has facilities in Dobson, Elkin, Mount Airy, Pilot Mountain, and Yadkinville
November 25, 2021
Through the magic of Christmas, an event combining a music extravaganza with a traditional tree lighting is scheduled on Thursday, Dec. 2, in downtown Mount Airy — where North Main Street will be closed for the occasion.
Rather than ushered in by Santa’s elves, the gathering — to begin at 6 p.m. — has been organized by the Mount Airy Appearance Commission to achieve the best of both worlds, one involving a tree-lighting program at City Hall it’s long spearheaded.
Meanwhile, the musical element debuted last year in response to COVID-19 curtailing both the tree lighting and the annual Mount Airy Christmas Parade, forcing the city to “redo Christmas” in the words of Mayor Ron Niland.
The result was a drive-through caroling event in the downtown area where various musical groups provided live entertainment at various stations along the way as people rode by, capped off with a scaled-down tree lighting outside the Municipal Building.
“And there were some challenges with that, with traffic lined up all the way out West Lebanon and up North Main (streets),” Interim City Manager/Parks and Recreation Darren Lewis recalled regarding unintended consequences posed by folks being restricted to vehicles.
“People came from four counties,” Mayor Niland said during a council meeting last week when plans for the new-and-improved Christmas get-together set for next Thursday were aired.
New format
“It’ll be similar to last year when where we had multiple music groups all up and down the street,” said Jenny Smith, a member of the Appearance Commission who also is on the staff of Mount Airy Visitors Center — but with no vehicular traffic involved.
“All of this will kind of be situated all around downtown.”
About 10 different groups are expected to perform in all, among them the Grace Moravian Church Band, Surry Sings Community Chorus, old-time jammers, a blues band, a Mormon church choir, MAUI (the Mount Airy Ukelele Invasion), the Nonesuch Playmakers Singers, the Voce choral ensemble and others.
They will be set up at venues stretching from Independence Boulevard to Pine Street such as the gazebo on the corner of North Main and West Oak streets, Canteen Alley, Lowry Park at the corner of Main and Pine, Mount Airy Visitors Center, the Robby’s store and a rest area where an Easter Brothers mural is located.
A jazz band also is slated to perform in the Market Street Arts and Entertainment District just west of North Main.
“It’s going to be special because what they’re going to do is allow people to park and walk up and down the streets,” the mayor said of a setup in which they can enjoy the music in a casual setting with North Main Street closed downtown.
“This year it’s going to be kind of neat,” Niland added of the family oriented event resulting from the 2020 experience, “a really nice community celebration.”
He praised the innovation involved. “It’s going to be kind of an exciting new thing.”
The musical groups are scheduled to perform from 6 to 7 p.m., when the Mount Airy High School Marching Band will join the festivities and lead the groups and spectators to the City Hall grounds for the traditional tree lighting.
“Everyone can follow behind the band,” Smith said.
The tree-lighting program will begin sometime between 7 and 7:30 p.m., to also include music, free hot chocolate served by representatives of First Presbyterian Church and a visit by Santa Claus to greet kids.
Activities are slated to continue later in the evening on Market Street.
The Appearance Commission member indicated that the upcoming event will celebrate both the holiday season and a return to normalcy in light of COVID-19 issues.
“I think the overall goal would be just to create that sense of Christmas spirit in our community — especially since we’ve been through so much,” she said.
November 24, 2021
Four Surry Early College High School Interact officers were pinned in a ceremony held by the Mount Airy Rotary Club at Cross Creek Country Club earlier this month.
The 2021-2022 Interact officers are president, Victoria Hernandez; vice president, Emanuel Urquiza; secretary, Yuridia Gallegos-Echavarrieta; and treasurer, Jacqueline Trejo. The teacher sponsor for the club is Erin Jones.
Interact is a high school service club that works with the Mount Airy Rotary to complete service projects in the community. This year, the school’s Interact Club has sponsored Purple Pinkie Day to raise money for polio vaccinations, led the campaign to wear red for Red Ribbon Week, and held a car wash and haunted hallway to raise money to sponsor children for the Salvation Army Angel Tree.
Upcoming events for Interact members are organizing a blood drive sponsored by the American Red Cross and collecting canned food to be donated to the Foothills Food Pantry.
November 24, 2021
It is one of the best-known, and most respected, honors in the area. Certainly the highest individual honor given by the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce, and one that has a history dating back nearly six decades.
It is the chamber’s Citizen of the Year Award, and the deadline to nominate folks for consideration this year is fast approaching. December 8 is the final day area residents can nominate a person for the recognition.
“The first one was given in 1962,” said Randy Collins, executive director of the chamber. “The chamber was founded in 1959, they have presented one every year for nearly 60-some years.”
Collins said the award is meant to recognize an individual who “has done a lot to serve their community, on a lot of different levels.” He said, given that it is a chamber award, the recipient has generally been someone active in the business community, but he said the recognition is really about “overall service to the community…perhaps someone who has gone overlooked.”
For those wishing to nominate someone, Collins said the nomination form can be found online at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sv/ZBIJTua/2021CitizenoftheYear. If a person wishes to make a nomination and cannot do so electronically, he said it is fine for the nominator to hand-deliver or mail a typed or written nomination.
“Tell us their story,” he advised of what to include. “We really rely on these nominations to tell us the story. A lot of people who have gotten the award over the years, you just mention their name and you know what they’ve done. But there are a lot of unsung heroes over the years, that not everyone knows their story.”
He said the winner does not have to be a chamber member, but they are looking for someone from Mount Airy, Surry County, or from the towns in Surry — Pilot Mountain, Dobson, and Elkin.
Collins said generally the chamber gets eight to ten nominations every year, although some years there are more. So far, he said three or four have been submitted. Once the nomination deadline passes, he said a committee will review every submission and choose one winner.
“The difficult part on this…there are so many people who are deserving, it’s difficult every year to choose. And, there’s many people who should be nominated who never are. We want to encourage people to nominate someone in the community that you feel is way overdue for recognition.”
While there are no specific criteria for nominees, the award has “Generally been for a lifetime of work…These are people who have spent a lifetime serving their community in some way, or certainly for a long period to time. We don’t put any parameters on that, we accept all nominations.”
The winner is named during the chamber’s annual meeting in January, and Collins said officials try to keep it a secret until the announcement.
In 2020, David Rowe, who has since passed away, was named the award winner. He was co-founder of Smith-Rowe, LLC and former Mayor of Mount Airy.
The first winner, in 1962, was Joe Johnson Sr. Winners since then include: 1963 Archie Carter, 1964 John E. Woltz, 1965 Floyd Pike, 1966 C.B. Roberson, 1967 Dr. J. Dale Simmons, 1968 George A. and Marguerite Kallenbach, 1969 Rev. James Powell, 1970 Jim Grimes, 1971 Frank Smith, 1972 C.B. Roberson, 1973 James E. Johnson, 1974 Jerry Beverly;
1975 Stan Rogge, 1976 Bill Breedlove, 1977 Don Nance, 1978 Larry Wright, 1979 George Summerlin, 1980 Dr. Swanson Richards, 1981 Steve and Mary Petlitz, 1982 Floyd Rees, 1983 Bobby Galyean, 1984 Jack Zonneveld, 1985 Barbara Summerlin, 1986 Tanya Jones and Zack Blackmon, 1987 David Pruett, 1988 Thurman Watts, 1989 Ruth Minick;
1990 Richard Vaughn, 1991 Howard Woltz Jr., 1992 Ann Vaughn, 1993 Jim Andrews, 1994 Teresa Lewis, 1995 John Springthorpe III, 1996 Gene Rees, 1997 Burke Robertson, 1998 Susan Ashby, 1999 Jack Greenwood, 2000 Dr. Wilford Lyerly, 2001 Gary York, 2002 Pat Gwyn Woltz, 2003 Ed Woltz, 2004 Craig and Michele Hunter, 2005 Sandy Beam;
2006 Marion Venable, 2007 Virginia Rogers, 2008 Mike Bowman, 2009 Kate Appler, 2010 Charlie and Ed Shelton, 2011 Carol Burke, 2012 Deidre Rogers, 2013 Alan Connolly, 2014 Berta Glenn Springthorpe, 2015 Ben Cooke, 2016 Catrina Alexander, 2017 Robert Moody, 2018 John Priddy. 2019 Curtis Taylor, and 2020 David Rowe.
November 24, 2021
Much trash talking was going on, but no taunting penalties resulted — just a decision by Mount Airy officials to buy a second grapple truck to aid sanitation collections while scrapping an earlier proposal for brush carts.
Shirley Brinkley, a former city commissioner, also weighed in on a new automated garbage system that is part of this mix during a meeting last Thursday night.
All those developments occurred after an update by Public Works Director Mitch Williams to the city council on the automated system implemented earlier this year, which the council had requested after the system got up and running.
Williams said it is working well overall, including meeting one goal of reducing personnel costs through the acquisition of two side-loading automated garbage trucks at a total cost of $760,000.
This allows the emptying of trash carts to be controlled inside the cab, rather than by workers on the outside who faced dangers filling trucks from the rear under the old method.
“We’re down to 11 from 15,” Williams said of the number of employees in the sanitation division, which has occurred due to attrition with turnover in the department.
This is saving about $150,000 per year in personnel costs, he added.
Brush carts nixed
Last January’s decision by city officials to buy the automated trucks was accompanied by another proposal to provide 4,500 brush carts — costing $270,000 — for residents to place yard waste in such as clippings and tree limbs under the new process.
The idea was that homeowners would cut up limbs, for example, into small pieces that could fit into the carts and be side-loaded into the automated trucks.
The majority of commissioners didn’t believe there was a wholesale need for those carts among the citizenry, but elected to see how the new system progressed over the course of the year and revisit this topic after further study.
And the final verdict is thumbs down for the brush carts, Williams recommended Thursday night in his update, with which the commissioners subsequently concurred.
“These automated trucks are not made for brush,” he explained.
About 60% to 70%t of brush piles put out for collection each week are either too large or long to fit into carts, or cans on the automated trucks.
This requires employees to manually load the brush or it must be picked up by the city’s lone grapple truck at a later date.
It‘s difficult for workers to lift even smaller brush into the front receptacles of the vehicles, based on Williams’ presentation. And once in a truck can, the brush does not dump easily into a hopper in back and sometimes topples out from the top of the truck into the street.
Instead of adding the brush carts, Williams suggested buying a second grapple truck at an estimated cost of $185,000. A grapple, or knuckleboom, truck is a specially designed vehicle featuring a retractable arm with a “grappling” hook that picks up bulky items.
This would allow large brush piles around town to be removed quicker and more efficiently, along with bulky items such furniture discarded during spring cleanup campaigns.
The target collection time is one week for “typical-size piles,” according to the presentation. That can intensify during the spring events — complicated by a breakdown of the one grapple truck this year and relying on a private contractor at a cost of about $7,000.
“Nobody likes to see couches and mattresses out in the street,” the public works director said in describing the need for a backup vehicle.
The commissioners agreed with Williams’ recommendation to buy the grapple truck while sidestepping the brush carts, which can still be purchased by citizens wanting those containers at $65 each.
Board members approved 5-0 a budget amendment Thursday night for the truck acquisition.
“Challenges” of automation
The implementation of the new automated system has been smooth overall, although there have been snags — some literally.
“Drivers have quickly adapted to the new trucks,” said Williams, who acknowledged certain adjustment issues along the way.
“We have had some overhead utility line conflicts,” he said, resulting from the new trucks being tall and encountering low-hanging wires. This included a telephone line being hit and also an electrical line that caused poles to fall and interrupt service to a half-dozen residents.
Williams said the sanitation unit has worked with utility providers to get lines raised in problem areas.
Meanwhile, there have been issues with trash cart lids being left open and carts turning over after being emptied, especially along streets lacking curbs that provide some stability.
Former South Ward Commissioner Shirley Brinkley addressed this during a public forum at the meeting.
“I’ve seen more with the lids open than closed,” Brinkley said of the carts, which causes problems including the containers being filled with rain water.
It is difficult for residents with physical limitations to turn the carts upright after they are turned over and left that way, the former commissioner mentioned, citing a wrist injury to one person. Brinkley also said broken glass littered one street.
Williams says crews are trying to minimize this problem by becoming more skillful with the joystick controls inside the automated trucks in an effort to leave carts and lids in the proper position.
“Hopefully as time goes on, that will go better.”
Williams said there also have been problems with carts awaiting emptying being improperly placed by residents.
Officials have said the carts should be positioned along streets with handles facing toward the residences, since the automated trucks can’t turn the carts around to the proper side. Requiring personnel to leave the cab and move the carts to that position defeats the purpose of the automated system.
Just like most other aspects of society, COVID-19 has been an obstacle, including multiple drivers having to be quarantined.
“It has been a challenge to keep drivers on the trucks,” the public works director said.
“We could not have started automation at a worse time because of COVID.”
November 23, 2021
• Cell phones have been a target of thieves recently in Mount Airy, according to city police reports.
This included a larceny discovered Saturday in which a Samsung Galaxy phone valued at $700 was stolen at Walmart. It is owned by Tammy Lea Waldrop, a King resident. The phone is described as black in color, with a blue case also stolen during the incident.
Another cell phone and case with a total value of $1,019 was taken last Wednesday from the Speedway convenience store on West Pine Street, where the victim of the crime, Travis Neil Schell of Crystal Lane, is employed.
The phone, described as a Samsung Galaxy Note20 model in a black and purple case, was stolen after being left in a restroom at the business.
• A civil disturbance call Saturday on Renfro Street near Moore Avenue resulted in Ashley Michelle Hicks, 31, of 1621 S. Main St., being charged with driving while impaired.
Hicks was seen stumbling to her car and starting to drive away by Officer J.R. McLamb, who then conducted field sobriety testing that indicated the woman was impaired, police records state. She later consented to a blood draw at Northern Regional Hospital and was released on a written promise to appear in Surry District Court on Dec. 20.
• The Tractor Supply Co. store on Rockford Street was the scene of a theft Friday, when an unknown suspect walked out of the business with two large 12-volt car batteries in a shopping cart without paying. The Traveller heavy-duty batteries are valued at $150.
November 23, 2021
Jacob Haywood of Westfield started the fall semester at North Carolina State University with 31 college credits from Surry Community College.
As an East Surry High School student, he took Calculus II, Calculus III, Differential Equations, Physics I, Physics II, C++ Programming, Linear Algebra, Art Appreciation and General Psychology at Surry Community College through the Career & College Promise program. These classes are tuition free for high school juniors and seniors.
“The class sizes at Surry Community College were great. I was able to interact with my instructors on a one-on-one basis,” Haywood said.
Haywood plans to double major in Mechanical Engineering and History at NC State, and by transferring so many credits to NC State, he has an incredible head start.
NC State is a family tradition for the Haywoods. His grandpa and uncle were also part of the Wolfpack.
“I want to work in automotive design,” Haywood said. “My dream job is to work in Germany for Porsche, Volkswagen or BMW. I have always been interested in vehicles. I fixed up a 1976 Volkswagen Transporter. I just like working on the parts and trying to fix them up.”
Haywood is a Ben Franklin Scholar at NC State, a program that allows students to simultaneously pursue bachelor’s degrees in both engineering and the humanities or social sciences. The program provides students with broad training and equips them with unique skills to solve complex problems.
While a dually enrolled high school and community college student, Haywood was an active student athlete. He played tennis, soccer, cross country, indoor track, and wrestled his junior and senior years.
He became an Eagle Scout when he built a sign at his church, Westfield Baptist. He also volunteered as a scout at Camp Raven Knob where he taught automotive courses to fellow scouts.
On top of all those extracurricular activities, Haywood was employed at 13 Bones in Mount Airy as a cook and dishwasher while in high school.
Haywood is a great example of what a high school student can accomplish as a community college student, athlete, and community servant.
November 23, 2021
The Mount Airy City Schools Board of Education recently appointed Catherine Dollyhite as facilitator of the Mount Airy City Schools Micro-School. Dollyhite joined the city school system in January of 2020 as curriculum facilitator of Jones Intermediate School.
The micro-school began in August with less than 10 students, though more than 30 have now moved into the program. The micro school offers virtual instruction to students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
“With the rapid growth of this program, more support is needed to ensure students and families are well connected with the district and resources needed for success,” the school system said in announcing her appointment. “Ms. Dollyhite will be working with Ms. Penny Willard, director of innovative programming, to structure and develop the school’s offerings while serving the increasing enrollment. She will transition to this role beginning Jan. 3.”
“The Mount Airy City Schools Micro-School has allowed our district to expand our innovative practices,” Willard said. “Ms. Dollyhite’s skill set will ensure that targeted and engaging lessons are designed and delivered to meet every child at their point of need. She will be a strong asset to our team and I look forward to serving our students and families with her in this new journey.”
With the vacancy created with her transition, Dalton Tedder will serve as interim curriculum facilitator at Jones beginning Jan. 3. Tedder has been interning at Jones this semester as part of his work with High Point University (HPU). He is the third educator in Mount Airy City Schools to go through HPU’s Leadership Academy. He will graduate from the program in May 2022 when he will have earned a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership and be eligible for North Carolina licensure as school administrator.
“I am excited to continue working with the Jones Intermediate School family,” Tedder said. “Working alongside the administrative team and staff members has been an incredible experience. My internship has allowed me to learn from Mrs. Payne and build relationships with the students and staff.”
“I am excited about the opportunities in store for students and families affiliated with the Mount Airy City Schools Micro-School, who will be served by Ms. Dollyhite, and equally excited for the students and staff at Jones Intermediate, who will benefit from Mr. Tedder’s leadership,” said Jones Intermediate Principal Chelsy Payne.
Learn more about the city micro-school by visiting http://bit.ly/MACSmicro
November 23, 2021
With the end of the year in sight and their October meeting having been postponed, the Dobson Board of Commissioners met last week to go over agenda items that needed attention. The American Rescue Plan funds were the main topic of conversation for the board as shovel ready water & sewer projects were discussed.
Dobson Town Manager Laura Neely advised she and her staff were still getting guidance on the ever-changing landscape of the ARP. With rules on the disbursement on ARP funds still changing, Neely sought to reassure the board that moving forward and approving projects was safe. “Anything we were to set money aside for right now, if it follows the current guidelines right now, that would be OK.”
Town Finance Officer Marlene Lopez and Neely have been receiving copious training on the ARP funds, sometimes with contradictory messaging. Some guidance tells towns to wait and see if there may be grant money available to use instead of ARP money, but then what becomes of the allotted ARP funds develops into a new question. “Because there are a limited number of things you can spend (ARP) money on, it’s kind of a catch-22,” Neely described.
Essentially what Neely is hearing is that “there is an excess of money out there right now so look at all avenues. Thankfully, we have a lot of people looking out for us and giving us guidance… or earmarks and later projects.”
Ready to go water and sewer projects are what Dobson is targeting for their first action. Michael Frazier from Public Works described their monthly effort at converting manual water meters over to radio read meters, a process of around a dozen a month. Frazier needs to replace around 300 additional old manual read water meters to current tech radio read models and estimated that cost around $200/each. These costs would fall comfortably under the umbrella of ARP, were already needed, and could save the town a nice chunk of change in the future.
Efficiency in reading water meters alone would improve the productivity of the workers, it would also correct improper meter readings. Neely said was told some of the old meters are not capturing the reads properly and may only be capturing 90% of usage. “That was a light bulb moment,” the Town Manager said of the potential increased revenue from making the chance to radio read water meters.
Frazier gave the board a detailed recounting of how this new tech can help spot leaks and waste in real time. Sometimes that may help locate a burst pipe, but in the example given a urinal running all weekend could also spike water usage and bring it to someone’s attention. “A running toilet can waste a lot of water.”
The first big water line break of the season has already occurred on Blessing Drive, a location known for its issues. Neely and Frazier have been planning out the water and sewer projects including boots on the ground inspections of the sites like on Blessing Drive. Both encouraged the board to move ahead on these proposals, the most important projects for Dobson, because final authorization and disbursement of funds could take some time.
The “Motion to appropriate the ARP funds to move forward with the sewer project off of Blessing Drive behind Saddle Brook, and move forward with applying for the appropriate permit from the state to get authorization to construct” language took more time to hash out than the vote: a unanimous passage of the motion.
November 22, 2021
Members of the local judicial community are mourning the loss of longtime District Court Judge Spencer G. Key Jr. from complications of COVID-19.
“I can tell you that certainly we’re all reeling,” attorney Ben Royster said of Key’s death on Sunday.
“We got notification about a week ago (on Nov. 13) that he had been admitted to the ICU,” Royster advised Monday regarding the judge’s treatment at a Winston-Salem hospital. Key, who was in his mid-50s, had served as a District Court judge for Surry and Stokes counties since 2000.
Qualities that made him special were apparent both in and outside the courtroom, added Royster, a member of a family legal practice with offices in Mount Airy and Pilot Mountain who is president of the District 23 Bar for Surry-Stokes.
“Judge Key was as good and kind as any person you would ever meet,” said Royster, who believes this view was shared by attorneys, court staff members, law enforcement officers, crime victims and even defendants coming before him.
“He was just a kind person,” the District 23 Bar president recalled of Key’s many relationships built over more than 30 years among those in the area legal profession. “You could see that when he was on the bench as well.”
Similar comments were shared by Denise Pardue, another local attorney.
“Judge Spencer G. Key Jr. was so much to so many,” Pardue said in a Facebook posting. “For many people he was light in their darkest hour.”
Another local lawyer praised the huge intellect possessed by Key, while also mentioning his eccentricities and a certain lighthearted demeanor that could take the hard edge off the drama sometimes faced with court cases.
This was referred to by Pardue in her Facebook posting mourning Key:
“He always had a kind word, or a grin, maybe a raised eyebrow, a snicker, sometimes a barber shop song, sometimes a rap song, some dance moves, more times than not a happy laugh and always a kind heart,” she wrote in light of Key’s passing.
“It is a loss for his family, his church, his friends, our community, the Surry/Stokes County bench and bar and to all the others who loved him.”
Key grew up in Pilot Mountain and graduated from East Surry High School, where he earned a scholarship to attend Wake Forest University.
After graduating from Wake Forest, Key received a juris doctor degree at the University of North Carolina which paved the way for his entry into the legal field in 1992 as a general practice attorney.
He served as an assistant district attorney from 1994 to 2000.
Key was last elected as a District Court judge in 2018 and would have been up for reelection in 2022.
The process for filing the vacancy created by his death was unclear this week, which possibly will include a special election along with action by Gov. Roy Cooper.
“Ultimately, the governor will make the appointment,” Royster said of replacing Key. “His loss will have a tremendous impact on our district bar.”
Three other District Court judges serve Surry and Stokes counties, William Southern, Marion Boone and Tom Langan.
Among the survivors of Key, who resided in Mount Airy, is his wife.
“Please remember his wife Erica and his mother Shirley as they deal with this heartbreaking loss,” Pardue posted on Facebook.
The Surry County clerk of court office issued an announcement conveying the impact also felt by the judge’s professional loved ones: “Our court family is heartbroken over the loss of the Honorable District Court Judge Spencer Key Jr.”
“Many prayers to all those who are grieving the loss today,” stated Pardue.
“He will be sorely missed.”
November 22, 2021
The Mount Airy Public Library will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 25 and Nov. 26 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
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New releases available at the Mount Airy Public Library:
Fiction
The Tannery – Michael A. Almond (a local author)
Mercy – David Baldacci
The Last Shadow – Orson Scott Card
The Dark Hours – Michael Connelly
The Last Thing He Told Me – Laura Dave
Game On: Tempting Twenty-Eight – Janet Evanovich
Dark Tarot – Christine Feehan
Never – Ken Follett
The Joy and Light Bus Company – Alexander McCall-Smith
Harlem Shuffle – Colson Whitehead
Large Print Fiction
The Santa Suit – Mary Kay Andrews
The Ballad of Laurel Springs – Janet Beard
Yours Cheerfully – AJ Pearce
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The library story times are open for anyone who would like to come in and join us. Adults must wear a mask. Mondays at 4 p.m. Bilingual storytime for children — listen to a story in English and Spanish); Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., Toddler Time for children ages 2 and 3; Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Book Babies for children aged birth to 2 years old; Thursday at 11 a.m., Preschool Storytime, birth to preschool.
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Surry Community College is offering a fun and free English as Second Language (ESL) class at the Mount Airy Public Library Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Anyone interested should contact Jennifer Pardue at 336-386-3674.
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Hooked – Come join our crochet and knitting club, every Wednesday at 3 p.m. Bring your own yarn and make the group project or bring your own project to work on.
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Tai Chi has returned to the library. Join us each Friday at 10 a.m. This class is beneficial for those with limited mobility.
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It’s Yoga Y’all – Yoga with Ms. Heather will be on Nov. 20 at 10:30 a.m.
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Classic Movie Monday returns on the last Monday of the month with “I’ll Be Seeing You,” starring Ginger Rogers, Joseph Cotten and Shirley Temple.
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The Community Book Club will meet the third Wednesday in December at 1 p.m. due to the Christmas holiday. At this meeting, we will have guest speakers, author Calvin Vaughn and editor Heather Elliot talking about their book, Life On MAin.
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LACE — Romance Readers Book Club meets this Tuesday at 6 p.m. The book chosen for October is “Notorious” by Minerva Spencer. Copies are available at the desk.
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Friends of the Library Annual Fall Book Sale – Come by Monday for the last day of the book sale. It’s grocery bag day. Fill a grocery bag for $2. Bags provided.
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A handmade quilt has been donated to the Northwestern Regional Library system by Carol McDowell to use as a raffle prize. We and our sister libraries will be selling raffle tickets one for $1 or 6 for $5. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of eBooks for the region. Tickets are available now, you can come by the library to purchase the tickets and see a picture of the quilt. The drawing will be Nov. 24.
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Come shop at the Scholastic Book Fair, Nov. 29 – Dec. 4. The fair will be open during regular library hours. There will be lots to choose from, for kids in preschool to middle school. Books make the perfect gift or stocking stuffer. Gift wrapping available upon request.
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Cookies with Santa -Dec. 21 at 4 p.m., for stories and cookies with Santa. You can also have your picture taken with Santa.
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Keep up with all events on our FaceBook pages, https://www.facebook.com/groups/fmapl and https://www.facebook.com/mtapublibrary or our website https://nwrlibrary.org/mountairy/
November 21, 2021
Long nights with low temperatures are waiting for the homeless and with winter approaching there is an ongoing lack of shelter space. For single men, there simply are not many options to be found – and so they make their own.
Ann and Jim Simmons have some ideas on the matter and have heard a calling to make them happen.
Local women and families can seek shelter at the Shepherd’s House which has been serving hundreds annually since 2003. When Shepherd’s House broke ground on an expansion from 18 to 48 beds in 2018, that was a cause for celebration.
As Executive Director Mary Boyles noted in a statement at the time, “The Shepherd’s House is the only homeless shelter in a four-county area, and we desperately need to increase our capacity to serve.” Focusing on women and families leaves a gap that other organizations had been working to bridge.
Then, social distancing and stay at home orders caused disruptions to daily life; across the board, few people were not affected in some way. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many civic and charitable groups to shutter their operations as well.
The Mount Airy Rotary Club heard from the Simmons, with Ann highlighting a few initiatives she has in mind. She presented an assessment of what her group needs right now to get The Mount Airy Men’s Shelter off the ground.
“We were called to serve,” Simmons told the Rotarians, and her group had a location selected for a “Room at the Inn” for this winter.
“We were set to purchase the property, it’s a church parcel, with the pastor retiring in December. The price was agreeable,” Simmons explained of their targeted location on Worth Street. “There is also on the property a two-bedroom parsonage that we were going to use for families and women.”
Circumstances beyond their control such as remodeling, up-fits and the uncertainty of special use permits meant that location has fallen through, and with their initiatives in motion what Simmons’ group needs most is space.
A lack of housing during winter for the homeless often leads them to find shelter and warmth wherever they can. Sometimes that may mean surreptitiously entering a business posing as a customer, as was described at the meeting.
As the general manger for Hampton Inn in Mount Airy, Lenise Lynch has had to deal with the emotions that come from seeing a need and not being able to help. “There are so many men in our community that are homeless. They try to sleep in our lobby area or under our stairwells and we have to ask them to leave with no option to give them.”
Upon hearing Lynch’s description, it was Jim who perked right up, “Call us, once we’re open – we’ll come get them for you.” Lynch expressed her gratitude for the new project to the Simmons, it is just this level of involvement that is going to need to be needed.
There is a desire to serve for the Simmons, but they need help to get things going. In years past First Presbyterian Church has been host to A Room at the Inn. Concerns over COVID transmission put a stop to that given it was a shared space. Thankfully, the Mount Airy Men’s Shelter was a beneficiary of that change as they inherited the cots and linens previously used there.
For the bitter cold months ahead, Simmons needs a place for the cots she already has. Ideally a space at a church such as a fellowship hall would be ideal, but any facility with a kitchen and restrooms will do. “It doesn’t have to be a church; it could be in a country club hall. It just needs to be within the city.”
Long term goals look different to Simmons as she sees a need for collaborating with the men to help change situations, not just locations. Simmons has discussed this with Mount Airy Mayor Ron Niland and in presentations with groups like the Rotary Club.
“We are going to have to get involved and spend some time with these men. We want to offer them AA or NA meetings, hear from speakers who have overcome and succeeded,” Simmons told the group. “We want to have options available for women, and maybe a room for families. We don’t want to turn anyone away.”
Lynch has seen what cold and hunger can do to men and, “I am thankful that we will have a place that we can recommend to these individuals. I wish Mrs. Simmons the best of luck in helping these men and working towards a healthier community.”
Residents can help the Mount Airy Men’s Shelter in a variety of ways, most notable would be to house the Room at the Inn for January and February. Financial contributions can be made to this 501(c)(3) organization and as with any shelter, there is going to be a need for supplies too. Simmons has compiled a list of items ranging from toiletries and clothing to kitchen wares for cooking.
Volunteers can also help at the shelter itself as assistance will be needed with meal prep, cleanup, transportation, as well as someone to sit with the overnight guests.
Some donations will cost nothing but mean the world, “Most of all, we need your prayers that God will touch lives and provide the support to make this mission happen.”
Find out more, contact: Mount Airy Men’s Shelter @ 336-708-5777, and [email protected].
November 21, 2021
Residents living in and around the Mount Airy can learn about their risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and other chronic, serious conditions by taking part in upcoming healthcare screenings by Life Line Screening.
Cross Creek Country Club will host this community event on Dec. 1, at 1129 Greenhill Rd in Mount Airy.
Screenings can check for:
· The level of plaque buildup in your arteries, related to risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke and overall vascular health.
· HDL and LDL Cholesterol levels
· Diabetes risk
· Bone density as a risk for possible osteoporosis
· Kidney and thyroid function, and more.
Package pricing starts at $149, but consultants will work with clients to create a package that is right based on age and risk factors. Call 1-877-237-1287 or visit the website at www.lifelinescreening.com. Avance registration is required.
November 21, 2021
The Surry Arts Council will be subgranting funds from the North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots Arts Program to Surry County nonprofit groups who provide arts programming. The subgrant application is available online at www.ncarts.org.
Applications must be received in the Surry Arts Council office by 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 10. Award notifications will be made on or before Dec. 31.
Applications may be mailed to the Surry Arts Council, PO Box 141, Mount Airy, NC 27030, emailed to [email protected], faxed to 336-786-9822, or dropped by the Surry Arts Council office at 218 Rockford Street.
Call 336-786-7998, or email [email protected] if you have questions regarding this application.
November 21, 2021
For anyone who has ever thought about running for local office, 2022 could be a big year, with more than 20 local offices up for election — not to mention some state and specialized posts that will be open.
And the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce will soon be holding a seminar to learn a little more about what it takes to make a run for — and hold — a public office.
The seminar, called Candidate 101, is set for Dec. 1, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express in Mount Airy.
“The effort is to educate people, to show that if you plan to run here’s what’s involved,” said Randy Collins, president of the chamber.
“We’ve got two experts to speak. Michella Huff will kind of go through the mechanics of paperwork, filings, what the state requires and what is required locally,” he said. Huff is the director of the Surry County Board of Elections.
“We wanted to invite a former elected official who can say from experience how it was to put together a campaign, how to run it, and what I call the good, bad, and ugly of public service. What you need to prepare for should you be elected and serve on a public body.”
That speaker is scheduled to be Larry Phillips, a former member of the Surry County Board of Commissioners.
“The Candidate 101 seminar is a bipartisan event and not affiliated with any candidate or political party,” the chamber said in announcing the event. “The objective of the seminar will be to educate individuals who may be considering a current or future run for public office at the local or state government level.”
“I think people want to serve their community, this is one way for them to do it,” Collins said of running for office. “For some people, it can be a very intimidating situation having to go around and knock on doors. There’s a fundraising element to it, you have to raise money to pay for a campaign.
“There’s financial disclosure, you have to let people know how your campaign money is going to be spent, not to mention your own personal financial disclosure, to make sure everything is done in an honest, open, transparent way,” he said of seeking office.
The seminar, he said, is a way for people to learn all that might be involved, to equip them with the knowledge to help them decide if they want to run, and if so, how to go about it.
“It’s free,” he said of the gathering. “It’s really open to anyone that might want to run. Maybe it’s not this year, maybe it’s in a few years they’re thinking about running for a commissioner’s slot, or a school board seat”
This will be the second such seminar held by the chamber. In 2019 Collins said the chamber held it’s first such event. Among those who took part is Marie Wood, who since then successfully ran for a seat on the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners.
“The chamber is running it as a non-partisan, non-affiliated educational event. People should not be concerned they’re being recruited in any way. It really is an educational event, we invite people to come out and find out what’s involved and we’d love to have a crowd there.”
“There are some key elections coming up in 2022.We hope people will find out what it’s all about and come join us.”
Among the local offices open in 2022 are three seats on the county board of commissioners, the county and Mount Airy school boards, the Mount Airy mayor’s seat and three slots on the board of commissioners. The mayor and two board seats will open in both Pilot Mountain and Dobson, along with a trio each of Elkin commissioner and school board positions. For a complete list of local offices open for election, visit the Surry County Board of Elections website at https://www.co.surry.nc.us/departments/(a_through_j)/board_of_elections/index.php
In order to participate in the candidate seminar, the chamber is asking folks to register at the chamber website www.mtairyncchamber.org, click on “Events”, then “Candidate 101.” Questions on the event can be directed to Collins via email at [email protected].
November 21, 2021
The following marriage licenses were issued in Surry County:
– Paul Frances Miller, 39, of Surry County to Heather Jean Willoughby, 36, of Surry County.
– Casey Drew Bowman, 31, of Forsyth County to Jodi Lynn Willford, 36, of Surry County.
– Robert Lawrence Schupp Jr., 63, of Surry County to Peggy Maureen Spinelli, 67, of Surry County.
– Brian James Rector, 31, of Surry County to Justine Kamille Gillian Jackson, 30, of Surry County.
– Jackson Cramer Smith, 23, of Surry County to Caroline Grace Westmoreland, 25, of Surry County.
– Samuel Gordon Hall, 33, of Wilkes County to Kelly Jo Wyatt, 33, of Wilkes County.
– Kris Brian Slavey, 50, of Surry County to Carrie Ann Sturgil, 47, of Surry County.
– Samuel Lee Barker, 25, of Wilkes County to Jessica Rae Eldridge, 21, of Surry County.
November 21, 2021
After voting in early October to designate $295,000 in city funds for an array of projects downtown, the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners has made it a done deal.
The board voted unanimously in favor of a budget amendment to actually provide that funding during a meeting Thursday night.
It is targeted for an updated downtown master plan; public restrooms in the 400 block of North Main, to be installed in an area of a municipal parking lot between Brannock and Hiatt Furniture and Old North State Winery;
Also, improvements to outdoor spaces centered around public art, including a large-scale Andy Griffith mural on a wall at Brannock and Hiatt Furniture and further work in Melva’s Alley now containing a mural of late local singer Melva Houston; public alleyway improvements involving a sanitation and security camera initiative for which the key component is repaving an alley on Oak Street and implementing sanitation solutions there; and new banners for Main and Market streets.
Those projects have a total price tag estimated at $592,000. The group Mount Airy Downtown Inc. has agreed to supply $297,00 of that using revenues from a special Municipal Service District tax levied on property owners in the central business district.
Some Mount Airy officials were wary of allocating such a huge sum of city dollars without knowing where the funds will come from to foot the bill.
Thursday’s night action authorized the money to be taken from the municipality’s fund balance, which also has been referred to as its surplus or savings.
However, officials hope that this can be recouped through the $3.2 million allocated to Mount Airy in the federal American Rescue Plan Act passed earlier this year, which the allowable uses of are still being studied by city staff members.
Koch questions plan cost
Thursday’s passage of a budget ordinance amendment designating money for the downtown improvements originally was part of a consent agenda in which items considered routine are lumped together for approval with a single vote minus discussion.
However, at the request of Commissioner Tom Koch, one project, the updating of the downtown master plan, was moved to the regular agenda to allow such discourse.
He mentioned an initial arrangement calling for the city government to pay $75,000 toward a total $125,000 cost for the update, with the group Mount Airy Downtown Inc. to supply $50,000.
The downtown plan, to modernize a previous one in 2004, will include identifying development opportunities downtown to guide public and private investments in a cost-effective manner; public parking solutions; a traffic-flow analysis and possible changes such as the removal of stoplights along North Main Street, making it two-way rather than one-way and burying overhead power lines, among others.
Koch pointed out that the actual cost of the plan update — to be performed by the Benchmark firm already providing in-house planning services to the municipality — is listed as $67,000.
The board member suggested that the city’s funding input be adjusted to conform to the percentage of the original cost-sharing arrangement with Mount Airy Downtown, and questioned the accuracy of all the projects’ costs.
Main Street Coordinator Lizzie Morrison, who is associated with the group that works to improve the central business district and attended Thursday night’s meeting, offered an explanation.
Morrison advised council members that the downtown organization has committed its share as promised.
“To date, we’ve spent $50,000 on downtown planning documents,” she said. Morrison added that that the $8,000 difference between the actual cost of the master plan update to the city and the earlier estimate will go toward further such expenses.
“Beating it to death”
After Morrison spoke, Commissioner Marie Wood — who had asked that the budget amendment designating the city’s share of funding be placed on Thursday night’s agenda — said enough was enough.
“I think it’s time to vote on this,” Wood said of the issue that had been discussed during multiple meetings and earlier approved in theory, albeit a 3-2 vote in early October.
Wood, who is on the board of directors of Mount Airy Downtown Inc., serving on an ex officio basis as a liaison between the municipal government and that group, said she trusts its financial planning.
“They’re not going to spend money that they can’t justify and fit within the categories,” added Wood. “So I think it’s time we vote on this and quit hashing it out and bringing it up and beating it to death.”
“I had no idea they’d already spent $50,000,” Koch responded in reference to Mount Airy Downtown, saying he was satisfied with Morrison’s explanation.
He subsequently voted in favor of a motion introduced by Wood to actually supply the city funding.
November 21, 2021
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Erica Smith has switched over to a run for a northeastern North Carolina congressional seat after veteran Rep. G.K. Butterfield announced this week that he wouldn’t seek reelection.
Smith’s campaign updated its organizational documents with the Federal Election Commission late Friday to indicate she is now running for the redrawn 2nd Congressional District seat.
Smith, a former state senator, finished second in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary in 2020 to Cal Cunningham. She entered the 2022 Democratic field early but has been outraised handily by the campaigns of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley and current state Sen. Jeff Jackson. Smith has portrayed herself as the most progressive candidate in the primary.
News by Butterfield on Thursday that he would not run in 2022 would give Smith a potential landing spot in a district that includes her Northampton County home. Calls or texts to Smith and her campaign office, as well as an email to her campaign manager, weren’t immediately returned late Friday. Official candidate filing begins Dec. 6 for the March 8 primary.
In his retirement video, Butterfield, who has served in Congress since 2004, criticized Republican redistricting for drawing excessively partisan maps while announcing it was time for “the torch to be passed to someone who shares the values of the district.”
Butterfield, a former leader of the Congressional Black Caucus, has usually won by comfortable margins in his rural district, which has often contained majority-Black counties. But the latest redrawn U.S. House map in North Carolina places him in a toss-up seat, making it challenging for any Democrat to win.
Smith’s move also shakes up the Senate race, especially as Smith’s supporters must determine to whom they will shift their allegiances before the primary.
State Sen. Don Davis, a Democrat who represents Pitt and Greene counties, has signaled his interest to succeed Butterfield, saying Thursday that he will share more about his future plans “in due time.”
Republican Sandy Smith of Pitt County, who lost to Butterfield in the 2020 general election by 8 percentage points, is already seeking the GOP nomination in the district.
The enacted 2nd District covers all or parts of 18 counties, stretching from Washington County in the east, stretching inland to as far as Caswell County.
November 20, 2021
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A judge on Friday delayed when the key player in an absentee-ballot fraud case in North Carolina must report to federal prison for crimes involving benefits fraud because of the defendant’s health issues.
Leslie McCrae Dowless Jr. of Bladen County was supposed to report to a South Carolina prison by Dec. 1 to serve a six-month term, but his lawyer asked that it be pushed back to April 1 because of his expanding health problems. U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle granted the extension.
Dowless, who is in his mid-60s, had a stroke in August and learned earlier this month that he may have lung cancer, according to a federal court filing earlier this week. He needs time for follow-up medical appointments to determine his course of care, his lawyer wrote.
Boyle sentenced Dowless in early September after he pleaded guilty in June to obtaining illegal Social Security benefits while concealing payments for political work he performed.
The counts were tangentially related to a broader state probe into unlawful absentee ballot activities for the 2016 general election and the 2018 primary and general elections — activities in which authorities have identified Dowless as a primary figure.
Dowless is charged with 13 state counts in that case, including obstruction of justice, possessing absentee ballots and perjury.
A State Board of Elections inquiry into the 9th Congressional District election in 2018, when Dowless worked for then-Republican candidate Mark Harris, led the board to throw out the results and order a new election. No charges were filed against Harris, who didn’t run in the subsequent election.
During an appearance in Wake County Superior Court on Monday, Dowless rejected a plea agreement offered by District Attorney Lorrin Freeman that would have required him to serve one year in prison, half of which would run simultaneously with his federal term. A judge set a trial date for next August.
Freeman said in court that the plea offer would remain available until Nov. 30, presumably the day before Dowless would enter prison in Salters, South Carolina.
Freeman said in a phone interview late Friday that the deadline would remain in place. She said she may discuss with Dowless’ attorney whether a trial could now be held before his new April reporting date.
Dowless’ recent medical challenges were relayed during Monday’s court hearing to Superior Court Judge Keith Gregory, who asked that he and Freeman be kept informed moving ahead.
November 20, 2021
The long-awaited passage of a state budget in Raleigh is being hailed close to home, since it includes funding for projects in Mount Airy and at the local airport.
“As part of that good news there are several good things that are going to help our community going forward,” Mayor Ron Niland announced Thursday night during a general comment period near the end of a city council meeting.
These include projects to replace aging utility lines in Mount Airy, for Ararat River restoration and terminal and taxiway work at Mount Airy-Surry County Airport.
The total earmarked for those needs in the new state budget is about $6.5 million, according to figures presented Thursday night regarding city projects and information from the airport Friday.
Earlier Thursday, Gov. Roy Cooper had signed what was considered an overdue spending package, the first comprehensive state budget in three years. It was supposed to be in place by July 1.
North Carolina had been the last state in the country without an enacted budget in place for this year and Thursday’s breakthrough came after weeks of negotiations between Cooper and legislative leaders.
The budget projects spending $25.9 billion this year, $27 billion next year and several billion dollars more in federal coronavirus relief aid, according to state sources.
Despite the delay, local officials seem pleased with the final results, based on appreciative comments by Mayor Niland and Commissioner Steve Yokeley during the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners meeting.
“Ticking time bomb” defused?
Niland was especially excited about a $1.5 million grant in the budget to address aging water and sewer lines in and around the downtown area.
“This is replacing 80-year-old lines that have been in the ground since almost the first lines put in in the city,” Niland explained.
Aging underground utility pipes have been a major concern in Mount Airy for years, with a former official once referring to their presence as “a ticking time bomb” threatening the municipality.
The state grant targets lines in a number of key areas.
“Our plan is to replace water and sewer (along) Oak Street from Main Street to Market Street,” Public Works Director Mitch Williams explained, then on Franklin Street from Main Street to South Street.
“Which will essentially finish all the underground water lines necessary for redevelopment — whatever happens in the future long after I’m gone,” Niland said.
Some utility needs will still exist in the city, based on an earlier capital needs summary listing long-range water and sewer rehabilitation projects totaling about $4.3 million through just the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Overall, the new state budget contains $1.7 billion for water and sewer improvements.
Another $650,000 is earmarked locally for restoring eroded stretches of the Ararat River near Riverside Drive where an extension of the Granite City Greenway is in the works.
While Niland indicated Thursday that this money also will fund a one-mile extension of the city greenway system, Parks and Recreation Director/Interim City Manager Darren Lewis said afterward that this eventually might occur through the state funding.
But for now river restoration is the focus, Lewis added. There are no plans to further expand the greenway beyond a project now at hand to extend the asphalt pathway 1.2 miles north of Riverside Park to the area of SouthData Inc. on Technology Lane.
Funding for airport
Mount Airy/Surry County Airport is a big beneficiary of the state funding, being allocated a total of $4.4 million for two different projects.
“In the state budget we had an approval of $2.9 million for the construction of a new terminal building,” Airport Manager George Crater disclosed Friday.
“We have been awarded $1.5 million for the completion of the parallel taxiway,” Crater added regarding another project. “We are currently in the process of getting plans approved with the Division of Aviation.”
The completion of a full parallel taxiway is a safety improvement. A parallel taxiway typically is a path for aircraft which connects a runway with aprons, hangars, terminals and other facilities. This allows planes to vacate the runway quicker, permitting others to land or take off in shorter time frames.
“After approval we plan to put the project out for bids in early 2022,” the airport manager advised Friday.
As for the new terminal building, Crater has not received any formal documentation from the N.C. Division of Aviation on the timeline for that project, but expects it to also be in process during 2022.
“As always, all of our timelines can change due to the delivery of materials and could easily be pushed back six months,” he mentioned. “I am hopeful to get both projects moving as soon as possible.”
Mayor Niland said the airport measures are important economically to the community at large, whether citizens realize that or not.
“It is sort of out of sight and out of mind for most of us, because we don’t own an airplane or fly an airplane,” he acknowledged.
Yet when it comes to corporations in America, “that’s how they get around,” Niland remarked, noting that some local companies have business ties to far-flung parts of the country which must be reached quickly.
Seven corporate jets are now hangared at the local airport, according to Niland, who represents the city on the facility’s governing board along with Commissioner Jon Cawley.
November 20, 2021
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Developers of COVID-19 treatments, a champion of public school integration, a folk musician and authors are among the nine latest recipients of North Carolina’s highest civilian honor.
Gov. Roy Cooper emceed Thursday night’s formal presentation of the North Carolina Awards for 2020 and 2021 at an event held at the North Carolina Museum of Art. The award was created 60 years ago to recognize significant contributions to the state and the country in several fields. Each of the recipients live or work in North Carolina, or have so previously.
The 2020 recipients are National Institutes of Health director Dr. Francis Collins; Ralph Baric, a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill coronavirus researcher; and Kizzmekia Corbett, a North Carolina native now on Harvard University’s faculty. All three were honored for work on COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.
This year’s honorees include public service award winner Dudley Flood, a former Department of Public Instruction administrator who worked to desegregate the state’s K-12 schools; and fine arts award winner David Holt, a Grammy Award-winning musician and storyteller emphasizing the culture of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Literature awards went to teacher and historian Timothy Tyson, known for writing books about race and civil rights, including “Blood Done Sign My Name,” and longtime fashion writer and editor André Leon Talley.
Another public service honoree for 2021 is Maria Spaulding, a government health, human services and natural resources administrator who helped develop the North Carolina Zoo; and this year’s science award winner is Blake Wilson, a Duke University professor and former Research Triangle Institute researcher who helped develop the cochlear implant.
November 20, 2021
• A Siloam man was jailed under a $50,000 secured bond Wednesday on felony charges involving a stolen vehicle and drugs, according to Mount Airy Police Department reports.
John Lee Purvis, 31, of 185 Steve’s Way, was encountered by officers during a traffic stop in the 300 block of South Franklin Road, who discovered outstanding warrants for him on charges of larceny of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and altering/destroying stolen motor vehicle parts. These had been issued through the Surry County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 21.
Purvis also was wanted on felony drug charges filed by Yadkin County authorities on Sept. 28, including possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and maintaining a drug vehicle/dwelling. The Wednesday traffic stop led to him being further accused of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, a felony, and possessing drug paraphernalia.
He is scheduled to appear in Surry District Court on Nov. 29.
• Adam Wayne Cagle, 38, listed as homeless, was charged with second-degree trespassing Thursday due to being on property from which he had been banned. That location was unclear in police records. Cagle is facing a Dec. 20 court date.
• Dollar General on North Renfro Street was the scene of a larceny Monday, when Cordova gloves were taken by an unknown suspect.
• Tammy Lee Willis, 59, of 1259-D W. Lebanon St., was charged with driving while impaired and displaying fictitious registration on Nov. 10 during a traffic stop for driving left of center in the 2100 block of Riverside Drive.
Willis was released under a $500 unsecured bond and is to be in District Court on Dec. 6.
November 20, 2021
The coming of Turkey Day on Thursday will affect sanitation schedules in Mount Airy.
This includes no residential garbage collection on the holiday itself, with Thursday’s routes to be collected Wednesday instead, on a curbside-only basis.
Wednesday’s residential routes will be collected on schedule, curbside only.
And the route normally serviced on Friday will be run next Monday.
No commercial garbage collection will occur on Thanksgiving Day or Friday.
Meanwhile, the Thursday and Friday industrial roll-off routes will be collected early, on Wednesday.
As a result of the schedule juggling, no yard waste pickups are to occur next Monday.
City offices will be closed both Thursday and Friday in observance of Thanksgiving.
November 19, 2021
MOUNT AIRY – The Board of Directors of Surrey Bancorp (Pink Sheets: SRYB) has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 10.5 cents per share on the company’s common stock.
The cash dividend is payable on Jan. 10 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on Dec. 17. Ted Ashby, President/CEO of Surrey Bancorp, stated the dividend was based on the company’s operating results, its strong financial condition and a commitment to delivering shareholder value.
Surrey Bancorp is the bank holding company for Surrey Bank & Trust and is located at 145 North Renfro Street, Mount Airy. The bank operates full service branch offices at 145 North Renfro Street, and 2050 Rockford Street in Mount Airy and a limited service branch at 1280 West Pine Street in Mount Airy. Full-service branch offices are also located at 653 South Key Street in Pilot Mountain, 393 CC Camp Road in Elkin and 1096 Main Street in North Wilkesboro and 940 Woodland Drive in Stuart, Virginia.
Surrey Bank & Trust can be found online at www.surreybank.com.
November 19, 2021
Nearly five years ago, on Jan. 5, 2017, Myra and Nathan Edwards’ lives changed forever.
Their son, Bentley, came into the world, a bouncing baby boy. At least that is what they thought.
Two days later, as the young couple was preparing to leave the hospital and take their son home, an alert nurse noticed not all was well, though she couldn’t quite put a finger on it.
“Something just looks off to me,” Myra recalls the nurse saying before taking Bentley to the newborn intensive care unit for tests. While there, little Bentley experienced seizures, and the hospital staff discovered he had suffered a pediatric stroke during birth.
He was transferred to Brenner Children’s Hospital, where doctors confirmed he had experienced significant brain damage.
“On the (MRI) images, the doctor showed us the parts of Bentley’s brain which had died off,” Myra Edwards said.
Doctors then prepared the couple for what they said lay ahead of them — a lifetime of caring for Bentley, whose brain damage was so extensive he would never be able to care for himself.
“Based on the parts that were damaged, Bentley would have a movement issue like cerebral palsy on his left side, his left side would be weaker, he could have developmental delays, as well as some vision impairment,” she said.
Funny thing was, no one explained that to Bentley. Over the coming days he acted largely as a child who had suffered no stroke — eating well, acting alert, moving and developing as a baby is expected to in his first days of life.
Eventually, they were able to take Bentley home, though he remained under regular care with in-home therapy sessions and doctor-office visits for 18 months, when his medical team decided it was time to stop the treatments.
“They said ‘There is literally nothing else we can do for this kid, he doesn’t need us,’” Edwards said recently when recalling Bentley’s early treatment. “They said ‘He’s progressing faster than a kid his age should.’”
Edwards clarified — the doctors were not saying he was ahead of what they expected from a stroke victim his age, but that he was ahead of any healthy child’s normal development.
“Bentley is great, we call him our miracle baby,” she said. “He is very sweet, very affectionate, very loving. He loves to play sports, he loves girls, bless his heart he’s a little lady’s man. There are no movement issues, no vision issues, nothing but a normal toddler who picks and chooses what he wants to hear.”
Edwards said it was their faith that helped them through those dark days when they feared for Bentley’s health and future.
“As soon as they told us that, we prayed just as hard as we could pray,” she said of when doctors first broke the news to them. “There was nothing else we could do. We just had to let go and let God. I know that sounds like a cliche, but that’s all we could do.”
It is also that faith, and what they’ve learned about pediatric stroke, that has led them to hold an annual fundraising event to benefit pediatric stroke victims and, this year, to help a local child awaiting a kidney transplant.
Last weekend, the couple hosted Stand With Bentley at The Barn at Heritage Farms in Dobson. It was the third such event — it would have been the fourth, but the 2020 version was cancelled because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Myra Edwards said the gathering serves a dual purpose — to raise awareness of pediatric stroke, as well as to raise money to help defray costs for children attending UNC Children’s Hospital’s summer camp, Helping Kids with Hemiplegia, held in Durham each summer.
This year, however, Myra said they decided to change the focus, raising money for Zoe Hall, a local 2-year-old diagnosed at birth with the rare kidney disease, congenital nephrotic syndrome.
At first, Edwards said she and her husband wasn’t sure what they were going to do, other than keep the proceeds local.
“We didn’t know who we were going to give it to, but we wanted to keep it local…when we went through our struggles, we had a huge support system…now we wanted to be that for someone else.”
They started planning the event — Stand with Bentley: Pediatric Stroke Charity Event — still looking for a recipient.
“Zoe Hall popped in my head,” she said. “Her mom and I went to school together.” She said that she and Zoe’s mom weren’t particularly close, but they knew one another and she knew of Zoe’s condition.
“God laid this sweet girl on our hearts,” she explained. “Zoe is not a pediatric stroke survivor, but she is a survivor in her own right. She is a fighter, an overcomer, and a miracle. When you see her, you see God’s loving kindness.”
Edwards said area people truly rallied around the cause this year.
“This was our biggest year. We had a little over 2,000 people.”
She said there were 60 craft vendors on hand, along with sponsor tables, five food trucks, along with The Flying Hatchet, an ax-throwing troupe from Greensboro.
“They donated all of their proceeds from the event straight to Zoe,” Myra Edwards said. “We had lots of vendors donate their proceeds to Zoe. That was phenomenal.”
The best news of all was that Zoe was not able to attend — because she had finally reached the necessary weight needed for the transplant, and received a new kidney just a few days before Sunday’s gathering in Dobson.
“We were able to Face Time them, so she got to see the crowd,” Edwards said.
While Zoe and her family were not available to talk — they were preparing for a possible discharge this week — Edwards said all was well as of Wednesday.
“Zoe is a strong-willed, brave girl who loves life to the fullest. She’s filled with love, laughter, sass, and spunk. Her parents are extremely thankful for the love and support that is continuously shown by our community, and they thank you all.”
November 19, 2021
Nestled behind the Pike building by the Mount Airy/Surry County airport is a big operation with a name that is known, yet many struggle to pronounce. The Altec Industries logo is splashed on the side of work trucks all around the area, whether they be the TruGreen spray trucks or the familiar Asplundh crews cutting limbs off power lines.
A big contributor to the local tax base and a major employer in the area, Altec has been family owned in Birmingham, Alabama since 1929. The Alabama Truck Equipment Company (Altec) has been manufacturing and finishing facilities across the country as they assemble and customize the working fleets that companies depend on.
The Altec facility in Mount Airy is a multi-unit operation with several divisions of Altec located under one roof. General Manager of Mount Airy Operations Ben Simmons said that with seven profit centers on one campus, space can be tight.
He made his comments during a recent tour of local facilities by the Surry County Board of Commissioners.
Inside the cavernous facility headphones and safety goggles adorned the commissioners as they were guided through the building. In orderly work bays were vehicle chassis waiting for components with workers attending to each.
In Mount Airy, Altec is making spray trucks and cable hauling trucks, but they also are finishing items manufactured in other locations. The same works in reverse, “We often cannot send to final assembly as much as we manufacture on site,” Griffin said. Having distribution centers and manufacturing spread across the country helps them stay nimble and responsive.
One of the two North Carolina Altec service centers is also located here. Offering service after the sale on repairs, and even further upfitting or customization can be done right here. “We try to surround the customer and give them everything they need,” Griffin said. Any manufacturer’s truck can be upfitted, and Altec has been known to fix their competitor’s trucks as well.
Weaving around racks four to five high of parts and Honeywell boxes, the tour lingered as a dozen adults got belly up to the window of a giant paint machine so they could watch paint dry. It would seem the wonderment with big toys does not go away with age.
To that end, the description of a new powerful laser raised an eyebrow or two. Innovation is key to an industry leader, so Altec acquiring and deploying a new 10kW laser that cuts steel at five times the current speed is something worth noting.
Innovation also means culling the herd and therefore some product lines made locally will be phased out over time. As the business needs dictate, their focus will shift to where the market drives business. The future for Altec remains bright though as Griffin pointed out their growth in overhead cabling trucks and buried cable as well.
Commissioner Eddie Harris asked if burying cables may hurt Altec’s business as many towns and cities across the county have a problem with aging power systems, and overhead power lines contribute to that problem.
Griffin acknowledged, “We have wondered if the cable machines may become irrelevant, but it hasn’t happened. With so many power lines overhead, this will take a long time.”
The future for Altec was of interest to Commissioner Larry Johnson, and Griffin described having the permits in hand and being ready to “start moving dirt” on an expansion. As busy as they are, every inch of space in the facility is in use. Griffin has plans to move some of his parts and distribution to another part of the campus to allow for more manufacturing space.
Having the workspace they need will be critical to growth for Altec, but having the right people on staff is also critical. County Commissioner Van Tucker was curious as to what sort of relationship they have had with Surry Community College. SCC not only offers the skills training that in areas of need such as welding, but also in “soft business skills” for managers and team leaders too.
“The workforce here is conducive to what we need,” Griffin said of the local labor pool. Altec draws the majority of its more than 200 employees from Mount Airy, King and Winston-Salem but a surprising 20-25% is estimated to be from Southern Virginia. “It has been great, I feel like we have gotten a lot from them,” he said of SCC.
Running two daily shifts at their facility, Altec is trying to make theirs a worker friendly environment. Plant Manager Mike Reed said right away employees can tell a difference, “You won’t be turning a wrench on day one.” Rather, learning about the culture of the company and what they stand for takes precedence. “If you don’t know who you’re working for, you can’t deliver.”
Learning the culture means appreciating the past, which suggests to the customer that attention to quality is of concern. The good people of Pre-Delivery Inspection take the spray truck, the cable hauler, the chippers out for a shakedown cruise before delivering to the end user. No surprises will be awaiting the recipient of a new backyard digger derrick from Altec.
When Altec trucks roll off the line, they are ready to work, the company said. TruGreen, Pike, Asplundh, Exelon Baltimore Gas & Electric, or whomever the customer they can be confident in their new purchase because of the people in Mount Airy – or any other Altec location – who put it together.
When executing models built around safety and customer satisfaction, everything else “takes care of itself,” Reed said.
Just remember this, as thec ommissioners were told on their tour: The state where the company was born is not called “All-abama” it is called “Al-abama” and their company is therefore Altec and not Alltec.
November 19, 2021
DOBSON — This was not an election year in Mount Airy and Surry County, but 2021 will not not escape politics altogether, with the candidates’ filing period to open early next month for various elections in 2022.
It begins on Dec. 6 at noon and ends on Dec. 17 at the same time at the Surry County Board of Elections office in Dobson.
That will set the stage for a possible primary in March leading to the general election in November 2022.
Next year has extra significance in Mount Airy from a political standpoint. Municipal balloting in 2022 will be the first held in an even-numbered year after state legislative action approving a locally initiated request to shift city elections from odd-numbered ones.
That move added an extra 12 months to the terms of office holders elected to four-year terms in 2017, who otherwise would have faced voters in 2021.
At stake in the upcoming municipal election are the seats now held by Mayor Ron Niland and three members of the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners.
These include North Ward Commissioner Jon Cawley, South Ward Commissioner Steve Yokeley and Joe Zakescik, the city’s at-large board member. Zalescik recently was appointed to fill an unexpired term for that position, last subject to an election in 2019.
State law prescribes that a person appointed to a board vacancy will serve until the next municipal election, in this case 2022, when he or she can seek a full four-year term.
Early interest shown
Zalescik has said he intends to file to run for a full term.
As its name suggests, the at-large commissioner seat is open to residents from all parts of the city, which also is the case with the mayoral post.
Teresa Lewis, a former at-large commissioner, is openly campaigning for mayor, including the placement of campaign signs all around town.
Commissioner Cawley said in June that he would run for mayor in 2022, and Niland is expected to, also.
This would free up Cawley’s North Ward seat, since he would not be able to seek both the mayor and commissioner positions at the same time.
Residents must live in that ward in order to file for commissioner there.
At last check, Commissioner Yokeley had not decided if he will seek re-election in the South Ward, where candidates also are limited by its boundaries.
The number of other office-seekers could grow significantly in the coming weeks, based on checks with local political insiders.
Those tossing their hats into the ring for mayor must pay a filing fee of $113 and for a commissioner seat, $96.
If three or more candidates file for a particular seat in the non-partisan city election, a primary is required in which the two top vote-getters will square off in the general election next November.
The primary, if needed, is scheduled for March 8, a staff member in the elections office said Thursday.
Along with council hopefuls, candidates for three seats on the Mount Airy Board of Education will file in December, including Districts A and B and an at-large position.
County, state races
The Dec 6-17 filing period also affects county government offices including that of Surry Sheriff Steve Hiatt, who is now in his first term.
Three seats on the Surry County Board of Commissioners additionally will be part of that process, including those now held by Bill Goins in the Mount Airy District; Mark Marion in the Central District, who is the board’s chairman; and South District Commissioner Eddie Harris.
The District 2, 3 and 4 seats on the Surry County Board of Education also are included in next month’s filing period, as are those of Surry/Stokes district attorney, clerk of court and three judge seats for Surry and Stokes. The District 3 school board race involves filling the unexpired term for a vacancy recently created by the resignation of Early Coe.
State offices involved include the local delegation of the N.C. General Assembly, the 90th District seat in the House of Representatives and the 36th District Senate seat.
Before Nov. 5, two House districts encompassed Surry, including District 90 served by Rep. Sarah Stevens and the 91st District of Rep. Kyle Hall from Stokes County. That was changed to District 90 alone, which includes all of Surry County and part of Wilkes, according to the Surry Board of Elections.
Senate-wise the county previously was included in districts 30 and 45, served by Phil Berger and Deanna Ballard, respectively, but that has been changed to District 36 alone covering Surry, Yadkin, Wilkes and Alexander counties.
While other candidates will file in Dobson, the district attorney and judge hopefuls are required to do so at the state elections headquarters in Raleigh.
November 18, 2021
• A store in Mayberry Mall has become the victim of a felony false-pretense crime, according to Mount Airy Police Department reports.
It occurred Tuesday at Enmar Accessories, where a known suspect exchanged stolen property valued at $400 for cash. It is listed as Dell Latitude computer hardware and software products.
In addition to the mall business, Millennium Charter Academy is listed as a victim in the case that was still under investigation at last report.
• A break-in and theft incident, discovered last Saturday, targeted Dusty’s Car Wash in the 300 block of East Pine Street.
A coin-operated machine was forcibly entered and an undisclosed sum of money stolen from within. The crime targeted a vacuum machine and also involved the loss of a propane cylinder and car-cleaning wipes. Four metal latches for vacuum machinery at the car wash also received damage put at $60.
• The Aldi supermarket on State Street was the scene of a larceny on Nov. 9, with packaged ham, Tide laundry detergent pods, Downy laundry scent booster and a six-pack of AA batteries listed as taken. The loss totaled more than $25.
November 18, 2021
ARARAT, Va. — Christmas has yet to arrive, but community organizations in Patrick County have received some early presents.
This involves monetary donations made by members of the Ararat Ruritan Club during a meeting earlier this month in the clubhouse at 4711 Ararat Highway.
The money will aid the missions of several groups making a difference in the lives of community residents in need, according to information from Mary Dellenback Hill of the Ruritans’ board of directors.
Included were the Patrick County Food Bank, a county Rotary Club backpack program and a Home Alone effort that serves residents in the Willis Gap and Ararat communities.
Representatives of those organizations were special guests of the recent meeting that featured a covered-dish supper in addition to the presentation of checks.
The Ruritans hold fundraising activities during the year which allow them to support such community causes.
A new member of the Ararat Ruritan Club, Ray Smith, also was welcomed during the recent meeting.
November 18, 2021
In all the fast-paced excitement of Christmas, one segment of society — senior citizens — sometimes gets lost in the shuffle, but an annual gift program has been launched in Mount Airy to help fill that void.
The national Be a Santa to a Senior campaign targets older adults who might live isolated existences and otherwise would receive no gifts at all. At the same time it provides basic necessities that some might have trouble affording in inflationary times.
“It is under way now,” Mary McHugh, a spokesman for the effort here, said Thursday. It is regularly spearheaded locally by Home Instead Senior Care, which provides in-home services to that population.
Home Instead works with non-profit and community organizations to identify older residents in this area who can benefit from the gift program now in its 10th year in Mount Airy. It will run through Dec. 3, according to information from McHugh.
The mechanism for making this happen involves Christmas trees that have been placed at various locations around town which are decorated with ornaments containing seniors’ first names and presents desired by them.
Trees are located at:
• Pages Books and Coffee, 192 N. Main St., Mount Airy;
• Belk at Mayberry Mall, 388 Frederick St.;
• Chick-Fil-A at 2007 Rockford St.;
• The C.F. Jones dining establishment, 976 W. Pine St;
• Goin’ Postal at 707 W. Pine St.
Individuals simply visit the holiday trees at the locations listed, choose an ornament, buy the requested gift and return it wrapped or unwrapped to the store with the ornament attached.
Blankets, adult diapers and toiletries are just a few of the basic necessities on the holiday wish lists of seniors as part of this year’s program, information from McHugh mentioned. Other gifts can include clothing and general items that brighten one’s day.
Shoppers are encouraged to buy as many gifts for seniors as they would like, which are to be delivered to recipients in time for the holiday season.
Even with the pandemic raging, about 500 people were assisted in the Mount Airy area in 2020, up from more than 400 the year before.
“We were able to satisfy the need and that was great,” McHugh added Thursday.
And this year, the program reach has been broadened with about 600 people expected to benefit.
Along with the physical aspects of the gifts, organizers say the program is a way of reminding older adults that they are cherished by the community while ensuring overlooked seniors feel the warmth of the holiday season again this year.
This can help eliminate cases of the holiday blues, in the view of Van Lankford, owner of the Home Instead office serving Surry and surrounding counties, who says small acts of kindness make a big impact in that regard.
“We’ve all experienced feelings of loneliness during the pandemic, and seniors are at a particularly high risk for isolation,” Lankford said in a statement.
“Be a Santa to a Senior shows the older adults in our community that they are valued and thought of during the holidays,” he further stated. “Finding ways to care and support one another is important now more than ever and we are grateful for the community’s involvement every year.”
November 18, 2021
The Jones School project brought many speakers to address the Surry County Board of Commissioners meeting during the public forum this week. The board heard from graduates who want to keep the school property in local hands and from another service provider who is currently renting out space in the Jones Resource Center.
At the heart of the matter is the fate of the former Jones School which operated as an all-Black school during the last century. The county government is attempting to sell the former Jones School property after a decision was made in July on its fate. The aging building is in need of vast repair and “extensive maintenance costs” have brought about the potential sale.
County Manager Chris Knopf walked the board members through different options they have for dealing with surplus property. There is interest in members of the community to keep the historically Black school in the hands of the community rather than see it sold off. The building is listed for sale, and while offers are being accepted none has been made.
“This is not going to be a fast-track process,” Knopf said. “Regardless of what happens, it will be very deliberate and very thoughtful and take into consideration as many opinions as we need.”
The current physical status of the building is of concern as the roof, boiler and windows of the Jones high school building will all need replacing soon, as well as asbestos abatement. Knopf reminded that if a local group took ownership that the costs would fall to them as the county simply cannot afford to aid in the repairs that are needed on an aging building.
Each commissioner spoke on the historical importance of the school for the community it served and for its architectural significance as well. There was consensus among the board that more information on a public private partnership should be sought out. One such model is for a tax credit housing project that could see the school converted into residential use.
City Attorney Ed Woltz also told the board that if a public private partnership model was adopted, it may allow the county the opportunity to build into the agreement terms with the new owner. To be able to have a say in the future of the building without having to keep the costs on the county’s ledger was intriguing to the board.
There are also agreements in place with the Jones alumni group who own the auditorium that would need to convey to the new owners, stipulations such as these could be built into the sale agreement Woltz said.
The Jones Resource center is the repurposed home for several county organizations such as YVEDDI and Smart Start. Knopf said it is too early to know what the fate of these services may be, but that the county would help in the costs of relocation if needed.
“We are not going to be kicking anyone out in the cold,” Commissioner Larry Johnson said of the services currently in the Jones Resource Center. He said that he had just utilized the services found there recently for rental of a wheelchair he needed for his wife. “There is no mad rush. This is still in the early stages; we need to ponder this.”
The most important statement for those of the community who attended came from Chairman Mark Marion, “We all want to preserve that building and we haven’t lost focus on it.”
November 18, 2021
RidgeCrest, a Mount Airy senior living center, will be awarding area high school seniors with cash prizes up to $2,500 toward their post-graduate plans in the annual Silver Pen Writing Competition.
The contest typically involves eligible students writing an essay around a topic chosen by RidgeCrest’s parent company, Senior Living Communities.
This year’s writing contest will be built around the topic “How have the extracurricular programs such as music, art, clubs, and/or sports teams benefited your education and personal growth? How do you feel it would affect the education system if they were taken away?”
“The Silver Pen Scholarship is an extraordinary opportunity for our members to connect with the local community and support these talented students,” said Wendy Guy, executive director at RidgeCrest.
Members at Ridgecrest form The Silver Pen Committee, choosing the essay topic, evaluating the submissions, and awarding three prizes.
“Our members enjoy the responsibility that comes with this competition,” Guy said. “It’s a unique and meaningful way for them to give back to students who have worked hard and showcased their writing skills in their essay submission.”
Submissions are being accepted through Feb. 11, with award recipients being announced in spring 2022. According to the Silver Pen website, the winner will be awarded $2,500, with second place garnering $750 and third place winning $500. For full rules and to submit an essay, visit www.silverpen-slc.com/
November 18, 2021
Shoals Elementary School fifth grade students recently campaigned and prepared speeches to present to the student body hoping to get their vote in the Student Council Elections.
The hallways were lined with campaign posters asking students to vote for their favorite candidate. The candidates presented their speeches over the Google Meet morning announcements.
November 18, 2021
Meadowview Magnet Middle recently recognized eight schoolwide science fair winners.
The sixth grade winners are Dare King and Parker Slate for their project “Unmasking the Truth!”; Audrey Collins for “Water vs. Water,” Caden Ward with “Speedy Seeds,” and Rosalie Wilds with “Which Propeller is More Efficient at Making Energy?”
Seventh grade winners were Ryland Taylor for “Play Your Heart Out,” Bailey Ray for “How to Mow Faster,” and Emmamae White for her project, “Erosion and Stormwater Management.”
The winners will move to the District Science Fair, which will be held on Nov. 23.
November 18, 2021
With the goal of helping to make Christmas bright for area children and youth who might not otherwise have a good holiday, The Marine Corps League of Surry County, Detachment #1322, Toys for Tots campaign is underway.
Throughout the county, the group has scattered the familiar white Toys for Tots boxes where folks can drop off new toys to be given to area children in need for Christmas. For folks leery about getting out in public because of COVID-19, the group has ways individuals can help.
“Since COVID is still active in our county … there are a number of people still doing their shopping remotely,” said Debbie King, Toys for Tots coordinator. “Last year, we tried a Drive-by Toy Drop Off and it worked well.”
This year, she said there will be three such drop-offs, the first this Saturday, Nov. 20, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
“We will be located at the corner of Route 601 and Forest Drive,” she said. “A friendly face will greet each vehicle and remove any toys that person or family wants to donate to the less fortunate children in Surry County.”
Individuals donating the toys never need to leave their vehicle.
The other Contactless Toy Drop Offs are set for Dec. 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., running simultaneously at the Farmer’s Market just off Atkins Street in Dobson and at Cousin Gary’s Parking Lot, just off Key Street in Pilot Mountain.
“I have it on a reliable source that Santa is going to try to visit all three events,” King said.
Even with a little Santa magic, she said last year was challenging because of the pandemic. The group was able to collect or purchase almost 4,900 toys, “which was a little less than half what we normally collect or purchase,” she said. Still, the group was able to help 950 area children, down from more than 1,300 from the year before.
She said Toys for Tots opens up applications from area families once the Salvation Army closes its application sign ups, although online applications are active now.
”Toys for Tots applicants last year increased by 250%,” she said. “Each family that signed up with Toys for Tots in 2020 received a book, an education item for each school age child, a game and then another couple of items. We hope to be able to do that well again this year.”
Toys for Tots also gives toys to other charities in the area. The Salvation Army, various other ministries, a couple of churches, Easter Seals, and the Children’s Home in Dobson are among those the group helps.
”We also have helped police departments in towns in the county and the sheriff’s department,” she said. Toys for Tots is a 501 (3)c charity and of each dollar donated, she said 96 cents is used to purchase toys, with the rest going to purchase items such as batteries and bags to put each child’s toys in.
In addition to individuals making donations, she said Toys For Tots gets support from area businesses.
“This year, we have a few repeat businesses that hold a fundraiser for us. Jason Detailing is one of those businesses. Talley’s Custom Framing Shop is holding a raffle again this year. They are raffling a homemade Rocking Horse, a picture of Santa with a lantern and a hometown Carousel. The tickets are $5 for one and $20 for five chances.
“Four of the vehicle dealerships in our area are competing in a Fill the Truck Challenge,” she said, listing Mount Airy Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Fiat; Mount Airy Toyota; Simmons Nisson; and Kevin Powells Foothills Ford as participating.
“We have tried to challenge the trucking companies to donate. William E. Smith has donated to Toys for Tots for the last five years. Insteel Manufacturing, Eagle Carports, Surry Communication and many more, never fail to donate to Toys for Tots and we appreciate each and every person that donates.”
For more information, visit [email protected], or the group’s Facebook page, Toysfortots SurryCounty. For those who might need some help from Toys for Tots this year, online applications are being accepted until noon on Dec. 13
November 17, 2021
A sure sign that the yuletide season will soon be here is the Mount Airy Christmas Parade, which is set to roll through downtown Mount Airy on Nov. 27.
James Easter has been chosen as grand marshal for the event that officially kicks off the Christmas season locally. Easter is a longtime local businessman who operates a music store on North Main Street and also is known as a member of The Easter Brothers, a popular bluegrass gospel group.
In 2020, COVID-19 resulted in a limited drive-through parade in Mount Airy with no floats or other units involved, but this year organizers are set to return to a traditional format.
However, one key difference between the 2021 event scheduled for Nov. 27 and parades of years past will involve its timing.
“It’ll be a nighttime parade,” President Phil Marsh of the Downtown Business Association, which spearheads the event, said Tuesday. “We’ll be leaving Veterans (Memorial) Park at 5 p.m.,” with the procession expected to reach the central business district about 30 minutes later.
The evening parade concept was first tried in 2019, with organizers explaining then that this represented a desire “to try something new.” No one could remember the last time a nighttime parade had occurred in Mount Airy, if ever, with the annual events typically held on the first Saturday morning after Thanksgiving.
And the late-day idea stuck after being tried in 2019. “Everybody liked that,” Marsh recalled regarding the change.
“A lot of people wanted to start doing a nighttime parade,” he said of downtown merchants and others, “and there was a huge turnout.”
One reason evening parades are popular is that floats can be adorned with lights which show up better in the dark and create a more visual experience that unlit decorations.
“It really makes it more like Christmas to do it at night,” Marsh observed.
About 35 entries have been lined up so far for the upcoming event, with more expected.
A parade application and rules are available at http://www.mountairydowntown.org/christmas-parade.html
Applications can be mailed to the Downtown Business Association, P.O. Box 535, Mount Airy, NC, 27030. Applications also can be dropped off at Mount Airy Visitor Center, 200 N. Main St. downtown.
The parade typically features floats sponsored by businesses, clubs, churches and other organizations, including one manned by Santa Claus; local high school bands; costumed characters; public safety vehicles; local dignitaries; unusual vehicles; and other entries.
About 100 were involved in the last regular parade in 2019.
A rain date of Nov. 28, a Sunday, has been set for the event, also to originate from Veterans Memorial Park at 5 p.m.
November 17, 2021
An unusually large crowd assembled Monday evening for the regularly scheduled meeting of the Surry County Board of Commissioners. The commissioners’ agenda included a recognition event for Surry County emergency services, a presentation from Mount Airy Mayor Ron Niland on the Spencer’s Mill project and a discussion on a potential new historical installation for the county.
Members of the Surry County emergency services ranging from paramedics to field training officers were brought before the board to be recognized for their “demonstration of high integrity and outstanding service” to the citizens of Surry County in saving lives.
“When I talk about our paramedics, we are very proud of them in Surry County,” Board Chair Mark Marion said. “I have said it before and I will say it again, when you call 911 in Surry County, you know the best is coming. You know they are on their way.”
Those recognized for their live saving efforts this year were:
Award for five saves: Scott Gambill, Katie Cooper, Mark Vogler, Chris Draughn, Heather Poindexter, Lane Bolatto, Ted Radford, Zach Murphy, Caysee Perkins, David Whitfield, Luke Stevens, Lakyn Booker, Taylor Dollyhigh, and Austin Holloway.
Award for ten saves: William Wall, Justin Jarrell, Castin Dickerson, Corey Carson, Chandler Bodenhamer, Andrew Casstevens, and Lance Earley.
Award for twenty five saves: Dale Harold and William Crigger.
In other Board of Commissioners news:
– The board heard a presentation from Foundations Forward: Charters of Freedom about a proposed location site for a new exhibit setting displaying the nation’s founding documents.
Ron Lewis began by explaining that a monument is something to memorialize what is no longer with us, and what Foundations Forward wants to do is display the still living documents of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights in free public forums in central locations that are that are easily accessible to all.
Lewis asked the board members who among them had been to the National Archives to see these documents and was pleased to see the board had. In his experience he has found most Americans have not had the chance to see the founding documents.
Having access to these documents will, Lewis said, add to the natural curiosity citizens have about them. Future field trips and guided talks based around the installation could provide even more chances to increase understanding and appreciation for the founders’ work.
Of special note to the board was that the foundation has funds to pay for the project with all private money. In exchange for in-kind services to get the project landed, the foundation would pay for the installation. The installations are already found in 25 of North Carolina’s 100 counties.
The board voted unanimously to move forward with considering the Foundations Forward project.
– Mount Airy Mayor Ron Niland addressed the board to give an update on the Spencer’s Mill project. Niland said he is “excited” about the project and that there will be more to announce firmly in the early part of next year. What he could tell the board now was that there was an agreement in place with a national chain for the new hotel.
Eight hundred thousand dollars has been authorized for the design work for the new project, and Niland went on to say that there is even more interest in additional downtown development as Spencer’s Mill continues moving forward. At one time the potential financial benefit from the hotel and associated development were estimated at around $10-12 million, whereas now Niland sees potential “leveraged investments now totaling closer to $40 million.”
Mayor Niland gave an estimated construction start date of June 2022 and completion in December 2023 for the Spencer’s Mill project which, he said, would have investment from the city of Mount Airy totaling upward of $4.5 million.
– Surry County Department of Social Services asked for and received permission to reallocate funds it has on hand for a trial of new workflow management software. Daysheets are detailed timesheets describing how employees spend their time during the workday and help to correctly draw down funds from the federal or state government based on the work that the employee did. The new software will streamline processes and improve efficiency for the department in scheduling and maintenance of daysheets.
DSS Director Kristy Preston also gave the board an update on staffing levels for the agency’s child welfare program. She reports several new employees are moving through their state mandated training and then shadowing before being assigned caseloads. There are still four positions open, and Preston encouraged those with MSW, BSW or Bachelor of Science in Human Services credentials to apply.
– The board heard about redistricting that has happened in Surry County recently. The atate’s district lines for Surry County did not match the ones on file locally, so a correction was made. Only 1,230 voters were impacted, at around 600 unique addresses, by the change to the district lines. Those residents have already been notified of the change by mail.
This redistricting will correct the boundary line issues seen with the state but is not related to the district population imbalance that the board was made aware of recently.
November 16, 2021
• A vehicle was discovered stolen in Mount Airy Monday, according to city police reports.
The 1996 Ford Explorer owned by Nathaniel Kyle Sawyers of McBride Road was taken from 2000 Woodland Drive, the former Sagebrush Steakhouse location, and was said to be secured at the time. The SUV, valued at $1,200, is purple in color and was bearing Virginia tag number 2707XE.
• More counterfeit currency surfaced in town last Wednesday, when a known suspect attempted to pass a bogus $100 bill at the Tractor Supply store on Rockford Street.
The incident is listed as still under investigation.
• Harold Lee Allison, 52, of Galax, Virginia, was charged with second-degree trespassing last Wednesday after he was encountered by officers at a residence on Virginia Street in a public housing neighborhood. Allison had been banned from all city housing authority property in May 1997.
He is scheduled to be in Surry District Court next Monday.
• A license plate, number TAK3119, was discovered stolen Thursday from a 1981 Chevrolet Camaro owned by Debra Lynn Blizzard. The tag was stolen while the car was parked at Blizzard’s residence on East Lebanon Street.
• Misty Prim Hull, 46, of 223 Faye Trail in Siloam, was charged with driving while impaired on Nov. 5, stemming from a traffic crash on West Pine Street near Franklin Road.
Hull is free on a written promise to appear in District Court on Nov. 29.
November 16, 2021
The Mount Airy Board of Commissioners is poised to allocate nearly a half-million dollars Thursday night for improvements along Willow Street near a proposed hotel site on former Spencer’s industrial property downtown.
This is resulting from a recent bid-solicitation process during which three companies submitted proposals for the infrastructure work involved, with Mayor Ron Niland saying Tuesday that city officials are pleased with the results.
“It was well within the parameters,” Niland said of how the lowest bid received lines up with preliminary cost estimates for the Phase II Spencer’s infrastructure project that has been in the planning stages for months.
“In fact we were pleasantly surprised with these bids.”
A local company, Greenfield Utility Construction, submitted the lowest offer of $448,428, significantly less than bids from the other two contractors, Smith-Rowe of Mount Airy and C.W. Cauley and Son Inc. of Patrick Springs, Virginia.
Those firms bid $817,898 and $997,795, respectively.
City officials initially questioned the huge price difference between the highest and lowest proposals.
“We were a little concerned about that,” the mayor said, adding that Public Works Director Mitch Williams was especially worried about the whether the prospective contract recipient could do the work for the sum bid.
However, Greenfield Utility Construction provided assurances that this would be the case, Niland said. Along with the city staff, The Lane Group, a Galax, Virginia, engineering firm that assists the municipality on various projects, recommends that Greenfield be awarded the job.
During their next meeting Thursday at 6 p.m., the commissioners will consider approving a resolution to that effect.
The total budgeted figure is $493,270, which includes a 10% contingency fund to cover unforeseen costs related to the work.
Based on city government documents, it targets a section of Willow Street stretching from its intersection with Oak Street to Franklin Street, near the Sparger Building on the former Spencer’s textile mill property owned by the municipality since 2014.
The infrastructure improvements to be undertaken by Greenfield Utility Construction include the replacement of water lines along with sewer line and storm drain work and the demolition/removal of asphalt and concrete on Willow Street, according to city documents.
Sunhouse Hospitality, a private group headquartered in Cary, is seeking to develop a boutique hotel in the towering Sparger Building with the help of historic tax credits available to preserve the architecture of old mill facilities.
The hotel is to contain 70 to 80 rooms and operate under a national brand, states a redevelopment agreement between Sunhouse and the municipality which was approved in August.
Sunhouse, which presently owns and manages Hampton Inn by Hilton on Rockford Street, also is looking to make use of another former Spencer’s building nearby, “The Cube,” as part of an expected $10 million investment overall.
This involves plans for a convention-type market center including meeting space in an old dye house portion of that structure.
The Phase II Spencer’s infrastructure project also is to include parking areas for the hotel and public, provided by taxpayer dollars.
Niland said the parking element will be the subject of a separate bid process later.
The group Mount Airy Downtown Inc. has agreed to foot the estimated $150,000 expense of developing a “pocket park” on Willow Street near the Sparger Building.
Officials have projected that the Phase II infrastructure work would cost around $3 million altogether, including an estimated $1.63 million for the parking facilities.
The county government has committed $1.5 million for the improvements, with both local government units to benefit from future property tax revenues generated by the hotel and market center additions.
A Phase I infrastructure effort was completed last year to aid a new apartment complex next door to the Sparger Building.
November 16, 2021
Members of the Alpha Xi Tau Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society of Surry Community College recently met at the Bray Ford public access to the Fisher River to clean the area. The initiative to clean local waterways was one of the service projects selected by Carolinas Region PTK for the year.
Nine chapter members and five family members enjoyed the weather as they collected approximately eight bags of trash. They collected the trash from the parking lots, trails and riverbanks.
Surry Community College’s PTK Chapter Advisor Dr. Kathleen D. Fowler said “Our chapter officers decided to focus on cleaning a local river and selected the Bray Ford Access of the Fisher River because it was close to the college and easy to access. We are glad we did. The park is beautiful and allows great access to the Fisher River for fishing or canoeing. We had a great turn out, and everyone had a wonderful time fellowshipping and helping to keep our waterways clean.”
Phi Theta Kappa is an honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The society is made up of more than 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 nations.
For more information about Phi Theta Kappa and their projects, contact PTK’s Faculty Advisor Fowler at 336-386-3560 or [email protected] or go to www.ptk.org. Follow the local chapter on Facebook @surryPhiThetaKappa.
November 16, 2021
Shoals Elementry School has chosen its leaders of the month for October, thos the school says has “shown great leadership skills both in their classrooms and throughout the school. Congratulations and way to go Mountaineers.”
November 15, 2021
Spread across several ceremonies held 31 months ago, local county and school officials gathered for ground breaking ceremonies signalling the start of work on much-needed renovations at three area schools.
Franklin, Mountain Park, and Dobson elementary schools were all targeted for the work, with ceremonies then marking the start of work on each facility.
Last week, many of those same local officials gathered to celebrate the end of work at one of the schools, with a ribbon cutting ceremony at Dobson Elementary School.
Many former students and staff members were in attendance, along with Surry County Commissioners Mark Marion and Larry Johnson, school board members Dr. Terri Mosley and Clark Goings, Assistant County Manager Sandy Snow, and those who assisted directly with the renovation project. Officials from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction were also onhand.
The Dobson Elementary school project was years in the making, with much of the work beginning before the 2019 groundbreaking. In 2014, a facility review was conducted Bill Powell, LT Consulting, LCC., looking at needs of all school campuses in the Surry County School system. Afterward he worked with the Board of Education to determine priority order of the work.
Powell placed Franklin Elementary, Mountain Park Elementary, and Dobson Elementary schools at the top of the list. While the Franklin Elementary and Mountain Park Elementary projects finished in the spring, the Dobson Elementary project was delayed until this fall.
Superintendent Travis L. Reeves noted the patience of the school community in his remarks by saying “There has been a lot of planning, scheduling, moving, hard work, and patience put into the renovations and construction here at Dobson. Much of the work occurred during a worldwide pandemic, so I want to extend a special thank you to Principal Sharia Templeton for her leadership throughout this project and all those who have lent their support over the course of this project.”
The ribbon cutting featured remarks from student council members, Templeton, Marion, school board members Dr. Terri Mosley and Clark Goings, and a performance from members of the Surry Central High School chorus.
Templeton recounted her own history at Dobson Elementary and mentioned how “special” the school is.
“I am so proud to be a former Dobson student and now the principal of such a fine school. A school that was founded on the concepts of learning, leading, and collective efficacy long before those were the buzzwords in education. I know what a special place we have here in our community. I believe that those of you in the audience, particularly current and former students and staff in the school, know this as well. I say it often now as the principal and I will believe it forever; there is nothing better than being a Dobson Tiger,” said Templeton, who attended the elementary school from 1983 to 1990.
Freebird McKinney, legislative director of government and community relations for the NC Department of Public Instruction, was also among the speakers. He and Marion, chairman of the Surry County Board of Commissioners, both celebrated the completion of the project in their remarks, heralding the renovation as a win for the children of Surry County. Walter Robbs Callahan & Pierce Architects and Coram Construction were recognized along with the Director of Surry County Plant Operations, Robert Draughn. The Surry County Board of Education and Reeves all reiterated the same sentiment that “we could not have done this without any of you.”
“I think about where we were to where we are now. I think about how fortunate we are to live, learn, and work in Surry County. I think about how fortunate we are that our county commissioners were willing to commit resources to support our school system because they believe in our students and what they will contribute to the future of this county,” Superintendent Reeves said. “Not only were our commissioners making an investment in the physical structures of the school but most importantly an investment in our students and their future. That is what today is all about. It is about the ribbon cutting, which symbolizes a new beginning…a new beginning for students, current and future, and what these facilities will mean for them and their learning opportunities.”
November 15, 2021
DOBSON — Eight teachers from the Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation service territory have been awarded Bright Ideas Education Grants. Employees with Surry-Yadkin EMC made surprise stops to the winning teachers during the previous few weeks.
A three-judge panel of retired educators from the Surry-Yadkin EMC service area blind-judged the applications in late September. The grants provide funding for innovative classroom projects, with $6,250 being awarded overall.
Two teachers from Gentry Middle School in Mount Airy have been awarded grants for two separate projects. Jamie Mosley will use her $840 grant toward “Growing with Water.” The project will allow students to use a hydroponic growing system to grow produce that is genetically identical to its parent plants. Stephanie Bode has been awarded $704.50 for “SWITCHing Up Learning.” The project will include the purchase of Nintendo Switches and Nintendo LABO kits for hands-on interactive experiences.
A teacher at C.B. Eller Elementary School in eastern Wilkes County, Jamie Williams will use her $650 grant to “Light Up Our Learning.” The project will include the purchase of a light table for her classroom to enhance her students’ STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) skills.
In Mountain View Elementary School’s first Bright Ideas grant, Katie Hodge will use her $999 grant to make sure her students are “Growing in Science and Literacy Together.” The funding will allow the entire student body to create vertical gardens and integrate science and literacy.
Copeland Elementary School’s DeAnna Walker told her students, “UKE Can Do It!,” when she won her $989.93 grant. It will allow her to purchase ukuleles for her music classes to expand the students’ musical skill set as well as learn about numerous cultures.
Courtney Elementary School also will be getting ukuleles through Keena Moxley’s $898.50 grant, “Strumming for Success,” with a focus on learning to play the instrument and promoting cultural awareness.
At North Wilkes High School, Teresa Watkins’ project, “Pathogen Growth? Stop It!,” was awarded a $963.56 grant. Students will learn the five-step washing method used in food service and the importance of sanitizing after washing by incorporating test strips and microscopes to look at bacteria.
Jennifer Jones at Mount Airy High School was awarded $204.50 toward her project, “All is Calm, All is Bright.” She will use the project to incorporate Calm Strips in the high school to help reduce fidgeting, increase focus and regulate anxious energy, while promoting social and emotional wellness among the school’s 400 students.
The eight projects will touch the lives of 1,925 students in the Surry-Yadkin EMC service area of Surry, Yadkin, Stokes, Wilkes and Forsyth counties.
Since 1994, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have awarded more than $12.2 million in Bright Ideas funding for nearly 11,700 projects supporting teachers and benefitting more than 2.3 million students.
November 15, 2021
The library story times are open for anyone who would like to come in and join us. Adults must wear a mask. Mondays at 4 p.m. Bilingual storytime for children — listen to a story in English and Spanish); Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., Toddler Time for children ages 2 and 3; Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Book Babies for children aged birth to 2 years old; Thursday at 11 a.m., Preschool Storytime, birth to preschool.
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Surry Community College is offering a fun and free English as Second Language (ESL) class at the Mount Airy Public Library Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Anyone interested should contact Jennifer Pardue at 336-386-3674.
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Hooked – Come join our crochet and knitting club, every Wednesday at 3 p.m. Bring your own yarn and make the group project or bring your own project to work on.
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Tai Chi has returned to the library. Join us each Friday at 10 a.m. This class is beneficial for those with limited mobility.
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It’s Yoga Y’all – Yoga with Ms. Heather will be on Nov. 20 at 10:30 a.m.
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Classic Movie Monday returns on the last Monday of the month with “I’ll Be Seeing You,” staring Ginger Rogers, Joseph Cotten and Shirley Temple.
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An adult craft class will meet the third Monday of every month at 3 p.m., craft materials will be provided. Registration recommended.
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The Community Book Club meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m. The book for November is “The Ghost at the Table” by Suzanne Berne.
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LACE — Romance Readers Book Club meets this Tuesday at 6 p.m. The book chosen for October is “Notorious” by Minerva Spencer. Copies are available at the desk.
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Friends of the Library Annual Fall Book Sale – Nov. 17 – Nov. 22, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 17. Come out and buy some books and movies, there is something for everyone.
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A handmade quilt has been donated to the Northwestern Regional Library system by Carol McDowell to use as a raffle prize. We and our sister libraries will be selling raffle tickets one for $1 or 6 for $5. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of eBooks for the region. Tickets are available now, you can come by the library to purchase the tickets and see a picture of the quilt. The drawing will be Nov. 24.
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Keep up with all events on our FaceBook pages, https://www.facebook.com/groups/fmapl and https://www.facebook.com/mtapublibrary or our website https://nwrlibrary.org/mountairy/
November 14, 2021
Efforts to battle the drug problem rose to new heights — literally — during a recent gathering at Camp Raven Knob in Surry County.
The Boy Scout camp located near Lowgap hosted what was billed as a “Climb Up to Fall Back” drug-prevention event earlier this month to highlight the role scouting involvement can play in steering youths in the right direction away from drugs.
It was attended by about 25 people, including Rotary Club of Mount Airy members and other supporters of Camp Raven Knob, a 3,200-acre reservation operated by the Old Hickory Council of Boy Scouts of America.
Among its facilities is a new fire tower that attendees were invited to rappel down to highlight the “fall back” portion of the event’s name incorporating the “spring forward, fall back” reminder accompanying the recent end of Daylight Savings Time.
The “climb up” element was realized when participants hiked the namesake peak at the scout complex led by Camp Raven Knob scout leader Chris Lawson.
Four intrepid souls accepted the challenge of rappelling down the tower, including Tonda Phillips, Doug Yarboro, Carol Burke and Leah Main.
“For me, rappelling was exciting,” was Phillips’ reaction to the experience. “You have to trust the ropes.”
Phillips, who is the 2021-22 president of the Rotary Club, mentioned that Burke went first “and made it with ease,” although Burke’s summation was less heroic.
“I’d never been so petrified in my life,” she admitted Friday, “because it is pretty frightening.”
But everyone safely made it to the ground and credited the guidance provided atop the tower by Paul “Mongo” Menccini, the camp’s certified lead instructor for rappelling activities.
“The whole exercise is meant to build confidence and help people overcome their fears,” Phillips observed “It works.”
Burke indicated that those choosing to “fall back” did so to illustrate their commitment to the drug fight and emphasize how the confidence needed for such a maneuver can provide a good example for youths. They might become Eagle Scouts or achieve other great things as a result, she said.
A goal of the rappelling/hiking event was showing people in action rather than simply telling youngsters not to abuse or misuse drugs, organizers explained.
To further aid the mission, the Rotary Club recently allocated $10,000 to tackle the local opioid crisis.
Camp Raven Knob is viewed as a key tool in the fight with its enrichment resources offered in a full scouting program each summer. These include swimming, hiking, boating, shooting sports and leadership training in addition to high-adventure activities.
The “Climb Up to Fall Back” drug-prevention event also included a hot dog supper.
November 14, 2021
After a two-year absence, the autumn book sale at the Mount Airy Public Library returns this week, starting Wednesday night with a first choice sale.
The sale, held by the Friends of the Library, has for decades been a twice-a-year affair, with a spring and fall event with thousands of books for sale. As has been the case with most every public event, the pandemic prevented the Friends from holding its regular sales last year and this spring.
“We did have an August sale, kind of a prequel to the fall sale,” said Christi Stevens, president of the library. “It was the first sale we’d had since COVID hit. We actually had a really good sale in August, we’re really excited about the November sale, we feel like it’s going to go over really well.”
Most of the books that will be on offer are ones folks in the community have donated to the library. Occasionally, she said people will buy the books at a sale, read them, then donate them back to the library so the books can be sold again.
“We’re going to have pretty much everything you’d typically see at one of our sales,” Stevens said. “Best-seller hardback fiction to do-it-yourself books to reference, biographies.” There will be a wide selection of children’s books, as well as DVDs, audio material and movies.
The sale begins on Wednesday, from 5 to 8 p.m., during what Stevens said is called the first-choice portion of the event. On Thursday the hours are 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The library is closed on Sunday, but Monday, Nov. 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. will be the bag sale.
Stevens explained that the prices change at different parts of the sale. Wednesday, when the best picks are available, hardbacks are $3, paperbacks are three books for $2, children’s books are five for $3, and DVD’s, audios and videos are $1 each.
Thursday through Friday, hardbacks are $2, paperbacks are $1, while prices remain the same on children’s and DVD’s, audio, and videos. Saturday the hardbacks and paperbacks drop to half price, while children’s books change to 10 books for $1.50.
On Monday, the bag sale is $2 for everything a person can fit into a grocery bag.
The book sales are the major fundraisers for the Friends group, with all of the money raised going to meet library needs.
“Proceeds all go toward library programming, books, whatever their needs are, this is for their support,” she said. “We’re really excited about this sale, there’s a lot going on at the library right now. A lot of new programs, a lot of new staff. We’re excited about that.
“The book sales are a good revenue source. Book sales have been going on for years, for more than 30 years. It’s kind of a household name. A lot of people look forward to it, I look forward to it.”
Stevens, who is in her 12th year as president of the Friends, said the group is always looking for additional volunteers who want to help the group in its mission to support the library. The group meets the first Monday of every month at 9:30 a.m., with no meetings in June and July.
November 14, 2021
The following marriage licenses were issued in Surry County:
– John Wesley Hunter II, 43, of Surry County to Elizabeth Ashley Poteat, 41, Surry County.
– Adam Paul Eldridge, 37, of Surry County to Rebecca Joeleen Surratt, 34, of Surry County.
– Alexander Reed Bullins, 27, of Surry County to Caitlyn Paige Macemore, 23, of Wilkes County.
– Tucker Zane Mackie, 21, of Surry County to Mary Joanne Lowe, 22, of Surry County.
– Victor Gustavo Santiago Gallardo, 26, of Surry County to Lorena Gonzalez Diaz, 21, of Surry County.
– Donald Gray Fulton Jr., 25, of Surry County to Brianna Faith Nichole Simmons, 26, of Surry County.
– Jaye Ward Cheek, 57, of Wake County to Cynthia Loretta Wester, 60, of Wake County.
– David Aaron Worrell, 30, of Surry County to Keisha Nicole Martinez, 25, of Surry County.
– Hector Omar Zuvietta, 24, of Surry County to Julianna Cabrera Torres, 25, of Surry County.
– Joshua Keith Payne, 27, of Patrick County, Virginia, to Ashley Alene Puckett, 31, of Patrick County.
– Cory Todd Shelton, 33, of Surry County to Melissa Ann Newsome, 42, of Surry County.
– John Gregory Stump Jr., 43, of Roanoke County, Virginia, to Lindsey Alexandra Mowles, 31, Roanoke County.
– Garvie Roe Dixon IV, 24, of Surry County to Myah Angelene Brown, 22, of Surry County.
– Fermin Macedo Morales, 35, of Surry County to Felipa Xec Guonon, 27, of Surry County.
November 14, 2021
Similar to any competitive race, Saturday’s Mayberry Half Marathon, 10K and 5K in Mount Airy produced an array of winners — but the community at large arguably took home the biggest prize.
“This event is huge for our sports tourism efforts here in Mount Airy,” city Parks and Recreation Director Darren Lewis said Saturday morning while standing near the starting line for the trio of races on North Main Street downtown.
Minutes later, nearly 300 runners would hit the pavement in earnest for the half marathon (13.1-mile) portion of the event, as those in the 10K (6.2 miles) and 5K (3.1 miles) races awaited their turn under a staggered format.
Despite temperatures in the upper 30s greeting the start of the first race at 8 a.m., more than 800 runners participated altogether, whose presence not only benefited local parks and recreation but the city as a whole, Lewis said.
That was an especially welcome development for two facets of the local economy which have suffered during the pandemic, dining and lodging establishments. This was aggravated by the fact that the Mayberry event was not held in 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions.
“All the restaurants were extremely busy,” Lewis, who also is serving as interim city manager, said of the extra Friday night traffic generated by the influx of participants for the Mayberry Half Marathon, 10K and 5K.
They came from near and far — “twenty different states right now,” he said as registration continued.
The impact also was realized with the hotel sector, including Hampton Inn on Rockford Street, Lewis added in relaying reports from Lenise Lynch, the general manager there.
“She said they were about sold out,” he related.
With standard entry fees for runners ranging from $25 to $60 depending on one’s age and the event involved, the Mayberry Half Marathon, 10K and 5K generated well more than $20,000, with proceeds typically used for local parks and recreation programs.
Nearby competitors excel
Along with the economic victory for the community, Saturday’s gathering provided a chance for local athletes to distinguish themselves.
Although competitors came from many states, the top male and female finishers for the half marathon were folks close to home.
Eli Roberson, 29, of Stuart, Virginia was the overall winner of the 13.1-mile event with a time of one hour, 20 minutes and 48 seconds — a pace of 6:10 per mile.
“Well, we started out fairly conservative,” Roberson said of negotiating the course often described as flat and fast which started downtown, headed to Riverside Park and then continued along the city greenway system before looping back to the park.
“I thought I had a comfortable lead,” he said of the distance between himself and second-place finisher Chuck Inman, another Virginia runner from Chesapeake.
But Roberson realized Inman was closing in “and really had to push it,” he said of going into a final kick to finish 11 seconds ahead of Inman.
It was Roberson’s first Mayberry half marathon.
Megan Ballentine, 41, of Mount Airy, competing in her first-ever half marathon, proved to be the top female finisher Saturday with a time of one hour, 37 minutes and 55 seconds.
That was good for 23rd place overall.
Marshall Love, 17, of Concord, won the 10K race at a time of 35 minutes, 55 seconds.
Maleah Pinyan, 33, of Salisbury, was tops among females and fourth overall at 39 minutes, 7 seconds.
The 5K winner was another local resident, Kevin Pack, 25, of Dobson, whose time was 17 minutes, 32 seconds.
Sharon White, 58, from Lenoir City, Tennessee, was the top female finisher at 23:57 and 22nd overall.
“Deputy” takes part
Perhaps the most notable example involving the merger of sports and tourism on display Saturday was the attire Vanessa Martin of Charleston, West Virginia, chose for running the half marathon.
Martin came dressed in a deputy’s uniform that could have been worn by Barney Fife on “The Andy Griffith Show” — with her ensemble also including a gun holster, badge and hat.
While the ongoing popularity of the television series starring the local native is often what draws many people to town, Martin chose to mix that with her participation in the half marathon.
“It’s Andy Griffith — it’s the Mayberry race, baby,” the longtime fan of the show said in explaining her choice of running apparel. “This is the first time I’ve done this race.”
And Lewis indicated that someone wearing a deputy’s uniform also was a first for the run.
However, Martin, 48, who works for the Konica copier company, was not on hand Saturday just to provide comic relief — she is a seasoned runner with a long list of half marathons on her resume.
“This is my third one in five weeks,” she said of Saturday’s event.
Successful return
Saturday’s Mayberry Half Marathon, 10K and 5K drew almost as many total runners as the last, 12th-annual event in 2019, 822, which stands as the all-time record turnout.
Lewis said challenges were posed in resurrecting the race after its cancellation in 2020.
He explained that extra marketing was employed for this year’s event, which also faced an obstacle due to other races normally held in the spring being cancelled in early 2021 as the pandemic persisted.
“So everybody rescheduled their dates to this fall,” Lewis said of the competition the Mayberry Half Marathon, 10K and 5K faced from other areas.
Yet once again, a happy outcome was realized in “Mayberry.”
November 13, 2021
The Surry County Health and Nutrition Center has begun offering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children in accordance with CDC guidelines. At this time only the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for children in the age range of 5 to 11.
Surry County’s percentage of vaccinated population over age 18 sits at 59%, but that number falls to 49% when considering the total population. With the addition of a new age range to the eligible vaccination pool, there is renewed hope of raising that total vaccination percentage even closer to the statewide vaccination percentage of 56% of total population.
The newly approved two dose vaccine for children is made from the same ingredients as found in the teen and adult versions. What has changed for children is the size of the dose which at one third of the size of adult versions requires a smaller needle as well.
Like what was seen in adult vaccine trials, the vaccination was nearly 91% effective in preventing the virus among children aged 5 to 11 years.
Side effects for the smaller children’s dose are expected to be like those found in older age groups according to Dr. Peyton Thomas, a pediatrician at UNC Health. However, there is evidence to suggest that fewer children are developing side effects due to the smaller dose.
“It could be the lower dose,” said Dr. Daniel Donner of Novant Health. “They are less likely to have the startup side effects – feeling tired, having fevers, just not feeling well in general – for that 2–3-day period after the shot.”
In clinical trials, vaccine side effects were mild, with the most common side effects being a sore arm, tiredness, headache, and muscle pain. Doctors say these side effects are normal signs that the body is building protection.
Some though have concerns about vaccinations for themselves, an issue that has caused stagnation in vaccination numbers. Those parties are even more concerned about what the shot could do to young people.
“We tried it on one half of humanity before we gave it to 5 to 11 year olds,” Dr. David Wohl of UNC Health said. “We gave it to half the people on the planet: you can’t do much better than that to prove how safe and effective it is. To me this really is a no brainer, the vaccines are safe.”
COVID vaccines have undergone, and will continue to undergo, rigorous testing and safety monitoring. To that end, the efficacy of the Moderna vaccination for children and teenagers is still under investigation. U.S. regulators are delaying their decision on Moderna while they study the rare risk of heart inflammation. Moderna was told by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that its review could last until January.
Vaccinating the younger population will help protect them from getting the virus and therefore reduce their risk of hospitalization or long term COVID complications. Getting children vaccinated can also help allow for more in-person learning by helping reduce community transmission in schools.
What may get more people’s attention though is the upcoming holiday season. “Thanksgiving may be tough this year. There are a lot of folks who are tired of distancing,” UNC’s Wohl said. Children getting their first of two doses soon could have built up their immunity in time for Christmas and New Year’s, although caution is still advised.
Fatigue in masking and distancing is not the only danger facing North Carolina, lagging vaccination numbers are also of concern. In a press conference last week, Dr. Mindy Cohen, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, reported initial vaccination rates for the 5 to 11 age group were around 24,000 within the first five days, a number falling under 3% of those eligible. She pointed out that her children have gotten their vaccinations and hopes other families will follow suit.
Cohen also encouraged North Carolinians who received a single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago to come in now for a booster. She received a J&J vaccine earlier this year and chose to get a Moderna booster to gain extra protection.
In discussing whether adults under 65 need a booster before holiday travel, Dr. Cohen said, “I think there is some opportunity for folks to assess their own risk and to know whether or not they are at higher risk for exposure to COVID and whether or not a booster is right for them.”
© 2018 The Mount Airy News
