Greenway arch dedicated to Steve Driver

Steve Driver died in April 2020, but his presence is still greatly felt in Mount Airy’s tight-knit running and cycling community, which was evident during an event this week at Riverside Park.

About 90 people gathered Wednesday afternoon at the park’s northern end near the starting point of the Granite City Greenway system there to dedicate an archway in Driver’s memory.

This was deemed an appropriate gesture to honor a man considered the best runner in Mount Airy history, who competed in about 40 marathons during his career — grueling long-distance races of 26.2 miles — including the 2019 Boston Marathon.

And Driver probably logged more miles on the local greenway system than anyone else, according to Assistant City Manager Darren Lewis, who also is the former director of Mount Airy Parks and Recreation and a longtime runner himself.

In addition, Driver was known as one of the best bicyclists in the community.

“He was probably one of the most-active individuals we have ever known,” Lewis said of Driver’s stature in local recreation circles. In a 2019 interview, Lewis had even gone so far as to refer to Driver as “a legend.”

His life that was so inspirational to many ended at age 71 on April 16, 2020, when Driver was fatally injured in a cycling accident. At the time, Kim Felts Ross, his niece, found some solace in the fact that her uncle had died doing something he loved.

Yet Driver’s spirit has continued to live on among his fellow runners and cyclists, friends and family members — many of whom ventured to Riverside Park Wednesday to witness the arch dedication.

And after the brief program attendees cycled, ran and walked the greenway in remembrance of Steve Driver.

“Some of the runners and cyclists had spoken to me about doing something in his memory,” Lewis said of efforts that led up to this week’s dedication of the arch.

Other options had been suggested, such as buying a metal park bench in tribute to Driver through an ongoing program in which donations can be made to name that and other fixtures such as picnic tables in honor or memory of someone.

“We felt like a bench would not do him justice,” Lewis said of what prompted the archway gesture ultimately decided upon by local recreation advocates, given Driver ‘s active life during which much of the sitting he did was aboard a bicycle.

“He was one of the least-sedentary people (around).”

Steve Driver was defined by more than just his individual sporting achievements, however.

He also was known for helping other people get started with their running careers, including a young lady present Wednesday, Teresa Grey, whom he had met while running on the greenway.

As he did with legions of others, Driver supplied Grey with tips about the sport and she later became a marathon runner herself.

“He helped so many of us,” Lewis recalled during Wednesday’s observance. “That was just the person that he was.”

Driver also played a key role in coordinating the quality running events held locally along with serving in a leadership capacity with Reeves Community Center and aiding a center foundation that provides scholarships for underprivileged students in the area.

“He had no idea how much he had affected other people,” Driver’s widow Judy said Wednesday when given the ceremonial honor of unveiling a plaque mounted on a brick support for the archway which bears his name.

“This arch is dedicated in memory of Steve W. Driver, Oct. 26, 1948-April 16, 2020,” its inscription states. “Forever in our hearts, always in our thoughts.”

“Steve would have been so surprised,” Judy Driver remarked while surveying the crowd gathered Wednesday afternoon to celebrate his life and continuing influence.

“He was an amazing man,” Lewis said.

Tom Joyce may be reached at 336-415-4693 or on Twitter @Me_Reporter.

Northern Regional receives top safety rating

DOBSON — Fifty students were awarded scholarships by the Edward M. Armfield Sr. Foundation College Scholarship Program during a ceremony that took place at the Shelton-Badgett North Carolina Center for Viticulture & Enology on the campus of Surry Community College in Dobson recently

These scholarships, over a four-year period, will be contributing $766,000 to the educational pursuits of the scholars.

SCC President Dr. David Shockley welcomed the scholarship recipients, their families and friends along with school administrators from local high schools. SCC Foundation Executive Director Sheila Franklin introduced guest speaker Jewel Parker, who was a 2015 Armfield Scholarship recipient.

Parker spoke about the importance of education and her time as a student at Surry Community College and receiving the Armfield Scholarship, which helped her transfer to Appalachian State University to major in history with a minor in women’s studies. Parker went on to earn a master’s degree in history and is pursuing a doctorate degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

“The Armfield Scholarship allowed me to transfer to a university with my associate degree. I completed my general education requirements at Surry Community College,” Parker said. “Now, my educational aspirations are perhaps unique in the sense that I determined as a first-year student at Surry Community College that I wanted to go to graduate school.

“I’d say that most people probably do not determine that attending graduate school is something that they want to do until much later in their college education, but if the Armfields had never donated money and if I had never received a scholarship, I wouldn’t have had that cushion of having had my undergraduate degree paid for, and it would have made entering and financing a master’s program that much more difficult.”

Bedford Cannon, nephew of Edward M. Armfield and founding board member of the Edward M. Armfield Sr. Foundation, spoke on behalf of the Armfield Foundation Board of Directors. Mindy Oakley, executive director of the Armfield Foundation, announced a special award in honor of Bedford Cannon as he retires from the board.

The Bedford Cannon award is presented to the Armfield Scholar with the most outstanding scholarship application each year. It provides an additional $2,000 scholarship per academic year provided a 3.0 GPA is maintained. Kailey Myers of the Surry Early College High School was announced as the winner of the inaugural Bedford Cannon Award.

The 2022-2023 Edward M. Armfield Sr. Foundation College Scholars are:

Millennium Charter Academy: Max Oakely;

Mount Airy High School: Paxton Reece, Jessica Sawyers, Amelia Radford, Devyn Joyce, Saverio Lennon and Kylie Hollingsworth;

East Surry High School: Haley Chilton, Rose Craven, Megan Hutchens, Alyssa Johnson, Hannan Johnston, Citlali Martinez-Arellano and Samuel Whitt. Whitt also received the John C. McKenzie Award, which is named in honor of a respected employee of Mr. Armfield, is awarded to the top-ranked scholarship applicant from East Surry High School and includes an additional $1,000 scholarship per academic year;

North Surry High School: Callie Allen, Raegan Amos, Maleigha Brintle, Nydia Cabrera Cabrera, Madalyn Edwards, Ronald Hudson, Isabella Jones, Colby Mitchell and Jacey Ward;

Surry Central High School: Austin Cave, Brady Edmonds, Jacob Edmonds, Mia McMillen, Katelyn Patterson, Sebastian Sanchez Aguilar, Kennedy Smith, Jaylyn Templeton and Dante Watson;

Surry Early College High School of Design: Britza Chavez-Arellano, Nancy Garcia Villa, Abigail Garza, Jennifer Hernandez, Peyton Jones, Jacob Mills, Kailey Myers, Chloe Snow and Jonathan Williams;

Elkin High School: Addison Blackwelder, Laura Couch, Emerson Gonzalez, Luis Hernandez-Matul, Daniel Islas, Thomas McComb, Kayla Nguyen and James Owings;

Surry Community College: Jordyn Coe.

The Edward M. Armfield, Sr. Foundation has awarded $13.8 million in scholarships to students graduating from the public high schools in Surry County since 2005. Each year, scholarships are awarded for students at East Surry High School, North Surry High School, Surry Central High School, Mount Airy High School, Surry Early College High School, Elkin High School, and Millennium Charter Academy. Scholarships are given to students who will be attending four-year colleges and universities or Surry Community College, and to students at Surry Community College who will be transferring to a four-year school to complete their undergraduate degree.

Scholarships range in value from $3,600 per year for Surry Community College attendees to $12,500 per year for students attending higher-cost private colleges and universities. Scholarships are renewable for one additional year for Surry Community College students or students transferring from Surry Community College to a four-year institution, and for three additional years for students attending four-year schools immediately out of high school.

Fifty students were awarded scholarships by the Edward M. Armfield Sr. Foundation College Scholarship Program during a ceremony that took place at the Shelton-Badgett North Carolina Center for Viticulture & Enology on the campus of Surry Community College in Dobson recently. These scholarships, over a four-year period, will be contributing $766,000 to the educational pursuits of the scholars. The Edward M. Armfield Sr. Foundation has awarded $13.8 million in scholarships to students graduating from the public schools in Surry County since 2005.

Steve Driver died in April 2020, but his presence is still greatly felt in Mount Airy’s tight-knit running and cycling community, which was evident during an event this week at Riverside Park.

About 90 people gathered Wednesday afternoon at the park’s northern end near the starting point of the Granite City Greenway system there to dedicate an archway in Driver’s memory.

This was deemed an appropriate gesture to honor a man considered the best runner in Mount Airy history, who competed in about 40 marathons during his career — grueling long-distance races of 26.2 miles — including the 2019 Boston Marathon.

And Driver probably logged more miles on the local greenway system than anyone else, according to Assistant City Manager Darren Lewis, who also is the former director of Mount Airy Parks and Recreation and a longtime runner himself.

In addition, Driver was known as one of the best bicyclists in the community.

“He was probably one of the most-active individuals we have ever known,” Lewis said of Driver’s stature in local recreation circles. In a 2019 interview, Lewis had even gone so far as to refer to Driver as “a legend.”

His life that was so inspirational to many ended at age 71 on April 16, 2020, when Driver was fatally injured in a cycling accident. At the time, Kim Felts Ross, his niece, found some solace in the fact that her uncle had died doing something he loved.

Yet Driver’s spirit has continued to live on among his fellow runners and cyclists, friends and family members — many of whom ventured to Riverside Park Wednesday to witness the arch dedication.

And after the brief program attendees cycled, ran and walked the greenway in remembrance of Steve Driver.

“Some of the runners and cyclists had spoken to me about doing something in his memory,” Lewis said of efforts that led up to this week’s dedication of the arch.

Other options had been suggested, such as buying a metal park bench in tribute to Driver through an ongoing program in which donations can be made to name that and other fixtures such as picnic tables in honor or memory of someone.

“We felt like a bench would not do him justice,” Lewis said of what prompted the archway gesture ultimately decided upon by local recreation advocates, given Driver ‘s active life during which much of the sitting he did was aboard a bicycle.

“He was one of the least-sedentary people (around).”

Steve Driver was defined by more than just his individual sporting achievements, however.

He also was known for helping other people get started with their running careers, including a young lady present Wednesday, Teresa Grey, whom he had met while running on the greenway.

As he did with legions of others, Driver supplied Grey with tips about the sport and she later became a marathon runner herself.

“He helped so many of us,” Lewis recalled during Wednesday’s observance. “That was just the person that he was.”

Driver also played a key role in coordinating the quality running events held locally along with serving in a leadership capacity with Reeves Community Center and aiding a center foundation that provides scholarships for underprivileged students in the area.

“He had no idea how much he had affected other people,” Driver’s widow Judy said Wednesday when given the ceremonial honor of unveiling a plaque mounted on a brick support for the archway which bears his name.

“This arch is dedicated in memory of Steve W. Driver, Oct. 26, 1948-April 16, 2020,” its inscription states. “Forever in our hearts, always in our thoughts.”

“Steve would have been so surprised,” Judy Driver remarked while surveying the crowd gathered Wednesday afternoon to celebrate his life and continuing influence.

“He was an amazing man,” Lewis said.

Northern Regional Hospital received an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for spring 2022. This national distinction recognizes Northern Regional Hospital’s achievements in protecting patients from preventable harm and error in the hospital.

“I am honored to be part of the Northern Regional Team where providing safe care is at the forefront every day,” said Lynn Lambert, director of quality management at Northern Regional Hospital. “Patient safety is intentional with every encounter. Receiving a Leapfrog Grade ‘A’ is recognition that we can all be proud of.”

The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on more than 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries, and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.

“I am extremely proud of the entire NRH team of 1,000 caregivers. An ‘A’ grade confirms our efforts to deliver the highest quality of care and places NRH in the top tier of all hospitals in the United States. Job well done,” said Chris Lumsden, president and CEO of Northern Regional Hospital.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harms to patients. The grading system is peer reviewed, transparent, and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.

“As our health care system continues to feel the strain of the pandemic, I thank the workforce and leadership of Northern Regional Hospital for sustained commitment to patient safety, day in and day out,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “An ‘A’ Safety Grade is an outstanding achievement, and one that is not possible without a 24/7 effort by the entire health care workforce to protect patients from harm. This community should be proud.”

To see Northern Regional Hospital’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter, Facebook, and via its newsletter.

• A case involving the obtaining of property by false pretense surfaced Thursday, according to Mount Airy Police Department reports.

It concerns a known individual using a cell phone app to send money from the crime victim, Delma Ann Bryant of Lambsburg Road in Lambsburg, Virginia, to another person without permission, with the sum not listed. The location of the incident was an unspecified department/discount store at 1448 Edgewood Drive.

The crime constitutes a felony.

• Rodney Tyrone Travis, 48, of 509 Worth St., was jailed without privilege of bond Wednesday afternoon for allegedly violating a domestic-violence protective order. Travis was arrested after being encountered at that residence — also listed as the address of his ex-spouse, Kimberly Duncan — by a probation officer seeking to serve him with probation violations.

In checking for outstanding warrants against Travis during that process, he was found to be the subject of an active domestic-violence protective order taken out by Duncan and she was located there, making him in violation of that order.

Travis is scheduled to appear in Surry District Court on June 6.

• Police learned on May 19 that property valued at $2,090 had been stolen in a vehicle break-in at the residence of Lois Elizabeth Lingerfelt on West Oakdale Street, where her 2002 Buick LeSabre was entered after a window was pulled down. In addition, damage put at $500 was caused to the car’s fuel system due to sugar being poured into the gas tank.

The items taken included medical supplies, four comforter sets, Rocky work boots, miscellaneous winter clothing items, a large suitcase, Justin cowboy boots, a kerosene heater, a snow shovel, a toaster oven and miscellaneous dishes.

• Two people were jailed without privilege of bond on May 19 on assault charges. Erika Yaquelin Rosales Martinez, 32, of 115 Locust Ridge Trail, is accused of simple assault, while Walter Enoc Garcia Duarte, 41, of the same address, is charged with assault on a female.

The two were arrested after officers responded to a domestic disturbance at the residence, with both slated to be in District Court on June 27.

• Carie Pressnell Beck, 45, of 236 Woodbridge Drive, was charged with hit and run on May 19 after she was identified as the driver of a 2004 Toyota Sequoia that was involved in a collision on Rockford Street near Forrest Drive.

Beck failed to yield the right of way and the vehicle she was driving struck another in the left-front quarter panel, with Beck then leaving the scene, police records state.

The case is set for the June 13 District Court session.

• An incident involving both larceny and the obtaining of property by false pretense occurred at Walmart on May 16, when a known suspect stole merchandise from the store — listed as three LED (light emitting diode) strips with a total value of $74 — which a second known suspect later exchanged for a gift card of that sum.

No charges had been filed against the pair at last report.

• Rachel Nicole Chamberlain, 25, of 115 Bitting Ave., was served with a criminal summons for a larceny charge on May 16, which had been issued earlier that day with Elaine Janice Schlosser of Pittman Street listed as the complainant and no other details given.

Chamberlain is scheduled to appear in District Court on June 10.

The Mount Airy Men’s Shelter has been on Ann Simmons’ mind for many months. She has been trying to find the right piece of land or vacant building that she could convert into a homeless shelter for the men of the Mount Airy.

It is an area that has been identified as in need of attention for while women and children have the Shepherds House as their dedicated shelter, men have no such option.

“We got the idea for the shelter last summer. It was my son’s idea, given to him when he asked what he could do to give something back to the community. He came to me with it and really has a passion for it,” Simmons said.

“He asked me to pull it together for him and I have been fast and furious ever since then trying to get something to happen so these single men, who have no other decent place to go in Mount Airy, can find a place out of the weather — hot or cold — and someone who will follow through to get them the help they need. We will be those people.”

Getting the shelter off the ground though has not been easy. “We face many obstacles. Board members are needed, and funding streams need to be found. Getting the word out to the people of Mount Airy so they can help us.”

To aid in her efforts to get the Mount Airy Men’s Shelter launched, Simmons has organized the what she hopes will become an annual Summer Festival and Motorcycle Fundraiser. The event is to be held Saturday, June 11, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park in Mount Airy.

“Our First Annual Fundraiser is to help with the expenses of getting the shelter ready to occupy. Moving some walls, adding some showers, and getting the kitchen together.”

“Along with these beautiful motorcycles on display and the scenic motorcycle ride, there will also be lots of great vendor booths and a raffle for a grill,” she said. “The kid’s area will feature a sack race, twisty balloon guy, giant slide, kids’ removable tattoos, water balloon toss, obstacle course, football toss, corn hole, rock and craft painting, ice cream, shaved ice, and kids’ hot dogs.”

“The event we will also have over 40 vendors, live music, BBQ sandwiches from Aunt Bea’s, dessert trucks, dance teams performing, and an awesome motorcycle ride with the CCI Paul Jr. Bikes on display,” Simmons said.

Santo Chessari Jr., aka “The Neil Diamond Guy,” will be there as a singer, performer, and DJ, with a little karaoke mixed in for good measure. Local singer Kinston Nichols of the Greyhound Sounds from North Surry High will also be on hand to entertain the crowd.

When it is cold outside, it is easy to think of those in need shivering under a bridge or taking refuge in a vacant building. However, during the summer months the need can be just as great as the daytime heat and humidity follow wherever one goes, and escape can feel impossible.

For that reason, Simmons wants to open a full-time shelter, as opposed to the emergency cold weather shelter she aided in opening this past winter.

Finding a location for the shelter did not remedy the challenges either. “We have a piece of land on West Lebanon we thought to purchase, however the cost of building materials is $150-$200 a square foot — that equals millions. It would be a long, long time before we could have a place.”

“I found, by the Grace of God, a medical building that we hope to purchase that is close to the hospital, medical ministries and the housing authority. Not to mention easy access to jobs for the men. We hope to buy them, or get donated, bicycles to get to work. “

Even without their own building, Mount Airy Men’s Shelter has been doing the work of helping those in need. “We have recently given away our 100th sleeping bag and backpack filled with essentials. We will use some of the money raised to re-stock the needed items for the homeless we encounter.”

For more information, visit: facebook.com/Mt.AiryNCMensShelter

The observance of the Memorial Day holiday on Monday will be accompanied by some changes in Mount Airy sanitation schedules.

This will include no yard waste collections that day. The next such pickups are scheduled for June 6.

Also, the commercial garbage routes normally run in the city on Monday are be serviced on Tuesday instead.

Another change involves the Monday industrial roll-off route, which also has been shifted to Tuesday.

City offices will be closed Monday for Memorial Day.

Mount Airy City Schools recently announced its Teachers of the Year and Employees of the Year at each school, while the district has named its Beginning Teacher of the Year, Bus Driver of the Year, Central Office Employee of the Year, Career and Education Teacher of the Year, Exceptional Children’s Teacher of the Year, School Nutrition Employee of the Year and Manager of the Year.

District, school leaders, and school board members joined forces to create a prize patrol that traveled to the individual schools and and office to surprise each employee with the announcement and flowers. Students and peers alike joined in with cheers on the pop-up celebrations that took place across the district.

Roger Pilson was the first employee to be surprised. In the bus parking lot following his morning route, he learned he had been named Mount Airy City Schools Bus Driver of the Year.

Transportation Coordinator Jon Doss mentioned that “Roger is a friend, co-worker, and team player. He is an on-time driver who cares about all of his students and works to be in tune with the students assigned to his route. This led him to notice one of his students needed medical assistance and was ultimately credited with saving the child’s life.”

B.H. Tharrington Primary School named second-grade teacher Kelly Johnson its Teacher of the Year and teaching assistant Jackie Gonzalez as Employee of the Year. Teresa Phillips was surprised during lunch as the district’s School Nutrition Employee of the Year.

Johnson’s nomination noted, “Kelly’s commitment and work with others in the school is remarkable. She is committed to providing her students with the love and attention they need in order for each of them to reach their full potential.”

Gonzalez’s nomination included, ”As a first-year teacher assistant, Jackie has performed like a seasoned veteran. Working in one of the most challenging areas of education, Jackie comes in each day with energy, enthusiasm, a willingness to learn, and love in her heart for all students.”

School Nutrition Director Celena Watson stated, “Teresa Jane is one of our newest school nutrition staff members, but has done an outstanding job….She is a food service cashier and absolutely loves her job and all her students. She is an amazing lunch lady and we are proud she is part of our team.”

J.J. Jones Intermediate School named third-grade teacher Melissa Martin as Teacher of the Year and finance officer Ronalda Parries as Employee of the Year.

Martin’s peers noted, “Melissa has an excellent knowledge of the curriculum and works hard to differentiate all lessons to meet the needs of her students. She enjoys creating digital activities for students and shares her creations with her colleagues. She builds and maintains strong relationships with her students by attending games, competitions, and recitals.”

Parries’ peers shared, “Ronalda not only does her job well, but she takes on tasks to help the school grow and improve. Ronalda is incredibly hard-working, super organized, and wears so many hats for Jones while working behind the scenes.”

Mount Airy Middle School named exceptional children’s teacher Amanda Sechrist as its Teacher of the Year and school counselor Kelly Anders as Employee of the Year. Amanda Sechrist also earned the district’s EC Teacher of the Year. Sabrina Moore was recognized as being Mount Airy City Schools Beginning Teacher of the Year while Vickie Bowman was honored with School Nutrition Manager of the Year.

Sechrist’s peers shared, “Amanda is extremely deserving of this honor. She wears many hats well and pours love and encouragement into students throughout the school. She is also a huge support for many of our staff members as she is always encouraging and offering assistance.”

Exceptional Children’s Director Scott Dollyhite added, “Amanda has proven to be an invaluable asset for the district throughout the entirety of her career. Her compassion and empathy for the students that she serves are readily evident and allow her to connect with kids in an extraordinary way. Amanda is more than deserving of all of the accolades that have come her way.”

Anders’ fellow educators noted, “Kelly goes above and beyond every single day. She is constantly checking on students and teachers. Not only does she care and support students through counseling, but she does our innovation schedule and helps students with missing work.”

Penny Willard, director of innovative programming, supports beginning teachers and shared, “We are honored to have Mrs. Moore represent our beginning teachers’ group for the upcoming school year. She is committed to her own professional growth and understands that by investing in herself, she is ultimately investing in our students. As a new educator, Mrs. Moore already exhibits the mindset of a lifelong learner and a reflective practitioner that will continue to serve many generations of our Mount Airy City Schools learners.”

Watson noted, “Vickie is a wonderful cafeteria manager and does a great job leading her staff, preparing meals, and serving students. She is always going the extra mile. She will be retiring at the end of May and we will miss her but wish her the very best.”

Mount Airy High School named exceptional teacher Abby Gallimore its Teacher of the Year and teaching assistant Jennifer Gentry as Employee of the Year. Greg Taylor, Trade and Industrial Education teacher, was named Mount Airy City Schools CTE Teacher of the Year.

Peers of Gallimore included in their nomination, “Mrs. Gallimore goes above and beyond for her students every day. Her passion, performance, and commitment to her students and teaching assistants is inspirational. The impact she has on the lives of others is truly a privilege to witness.”

Gentry’s peers stated, “Jennifer works incredibly hard to ensure the success of our OCS students and the Blue Bear Cafe. She perseveres through adversity with poise and grace. She maintains high expectations for her students and pushes them to be their best.”

Taylor’s CTE colleagues mentioned, “Greg Taylor is a father figure to his students. He teaches them how to do woodwork and how to be good, productive people in society. He has used his craft to guide and empower so many students over the years.”

Finance department employee Amy Sawyers was named the Central Office Employee of the Year.

Superintendent Dr. Kim Morrison noted, “Amy Sawyers is an outstanding employee and it is easy to see why her peers voted her Employee of the Year. She has worked for the district for many years meeting and greeting all new employees and helping them navigate their way in our district. She goes above and beyond to help make sure all staff members are paid on time as well as helping them navigate the payroll system. Amy supports our staff every day which makes our staff prepared and ready to care for our children.”

In addition to these recognitions, the district surprised an administrator earlier in 2022. In March, Chelsy Payne, Jones Intermediate School principal, was named Mount Airy City Schools Principal of the Year.

Superintendent Morrison shared, “Chelsy Payne has done an amazing job during a difficult couple of years of pandemic challenges. She brings a joy and enthusiasm to her job that radiates out to her staff and students.”

The Thursday death of an inmate at the Surry County Detention Center was the second person to die in custody there within the past three months, and a report from the North Carolina Jail Inspector’s Office said nearly four hours had elapsed between the last supervision round and when the inmate was found in distress.

Fifty-year-old Timothy Norris Cox died in the jail at 6:48 a.m. Thursday, according to a Report of Inmate Death which Sheriff Steve C. Hiatt filed with the North Carolina Jail Inspector’s Office.

In a written statement released to the media on Thursday evening, the sheriff said that Cox “had a medical emergency.” Once detention staff members located the inmate they “immediately started emergency medical care. Surry County Emergency Medical Services was notified of the event by detention staff and arrived to assist a short time later,” he said, but Cox was pronounced dead at the scene.

The sheriff did not indicate the nature of the medical emergency, what may have caused it, nor how long after the incident occurred before medical help was administered to Cox. However, the report he filed with the state said a detention official making supervision rounds found Cox in “distress” at 6:14 a.m., and that a medical professional in attendance at the scene pronounced him dead at 6:48 a.m.

That same report said the most recent supervision round prior to 6:14 was conducted at 2:19 a.m., nearly four hours earlier than when Cox was found in medical distress. There were 189 inmates housed at the center at the time of his death, according to Capt. Scott Hudson — it is rated for 125 inmates.

The report Hiatt made to the jail inspector listed the preliminary cause of death as “natural.” The state medical examiner will conduct an autopsy and make a final ruling on the cause of death, which may take several weeks pending results of toxicology tests.

In addition to the jail inspector’s office, the sheriff said he called in the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), as is protocol when an inmate dies. He said the SBI is conducting an investigation, and he referred all questions to that agency.

On Friday Angie Grube, public information director for the SBI, confirmed her agency had been called in, but that the agency does not comment on investigations. She said the case findings will be turned over to the District Attorney’s office. If that agency determines any laws were broken, it may file charges, otherwise the case files will remain closed to the public.

Thursday’s death follows by slightly less than three months the death of Ashley Michelle Hicks, 31, who died while in custody at the detention center on Feb. 27. Hicks had been arrested earlier that day on charges of failure to appear in court.

As with Thursday’s death, the sheriff said Hicks had suffered a “medical emergency,” that jail staff found her and administered emergency care until EMS officials arrived. Hicks was also pronounced dead at the scene, with the case turned over to the SBI. The results of that probe have not yet been released.

The report Hiatt’s office filed with the state jail inspector after Hicks’ death indicated she died of natural causes at 8:23 p.m. that day, little more than three hours after being committed to the jail, which took place at 5:05 p.m. In that case, a supervision round conducted at 7:05 p.m. found Hicks was okay, but one completed 35 minutes later found her in distress.

An inspection report by the jail inspector’s office after her death found “there were no deficiencies determined during the compliance investigation,” and said no additional action was required.

A request for her autopsy results made to the state medical examiner’s office on Friday was not immediately answered.

Cox, the inmate who died on Thursday, had been in jail since May 18, awaiting trial on charges of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or distribute a schedule I controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a schedule III substance, and felony probation violation.

As recently as April 30 he had been listed in the Mount Airy News’ Most Wanted column, being sought by the Surry County Community Corrections for probation violations. He was on probation at that time for a felony possession of a schedule II controlled substance conviction.

Four years earlier, he was arrested on multiple charges, including felony possession of heroin; felony possession of methamphetamine; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Inflation may be giving people some trepidation every time they go to the grocery store, but area folks heading to the Post Office to renew their post office box may want to prepare themselves for some outright sticker shock.

That is because the cost of a post office box in Mount Airy and in Toast are doubling this year — even nearly tripling in some cases.

Phillip Easter, an officer with the Renfro Masonic Lodge, said that was his reaction.

“Our box is $116,” he said. “I went in and found a note saying our box payment comes due at the end of May….it’s going from $116 to $232.”

While that might not seem like a lot of money in pure dollars, he said it still hurts, particularly when you consider the percentage mark-up.

“We’re a non-profit. Every year I have to make a financial budget, I have to carry it in, read it, and it’s approved it,” he said of the process of spending the lodge’s limited funds.

“I get that other things are going up, I’m seeing that. Power, water, everything has gone up 10, 15, 20%. I understand that, but when you walk up and get a paper out of the box and there’s a 100% mark up, that’s what got me. That was a gut punch.”

He said postal officials really didn’t seem all that interested in explaining why the price was going up, either. After several attempts at getting someone to talk to about the rate hikes, Easter said he finally found a clerk at the local post office who would listen to him.

Still, she had no answers, according to Easter, other than to say ultimately the fault lay with “Mr. Biden.”

Another box holder, who rents a small box in Toast, said he was recently notified his annual box rate was nearly tripling, from $56 to $156.

What is even more maddening to Easter, he said, is the fact that it seems, at least in this region, to be affecting only Mount Airy and Toast. Costs for boxes in Dobson, Pilot Mountain, and across the border in Cana, Virginia, and Ararat, Virginia, are remaining the same.

Postal officials don’t seem eager to discuss the local increases. Locally, no one would answer attempts to gather more information. The only postal official who would respond to queries was Philip Bogenberger, who works in Charlotte. He would only respond to email questions, and even then he would not address specifically the rate hikes in Mount Airy and Toast.

“The price of a P.O. Box increases periodically to offset operational costs, and depends on the box’s size, payment period and whether its in a ‘competitive’ or ‘market dominant’ location. Boxes range from extra-large, which can accommodate multiple packages, to extra-small for letter mail and magazines. In between, there are small, medium and large boxes depending on what type of mail customers expect, how often they check it and daily volume. Payment options include a three-, six- and 12-month fee schedule,” was all he would say.

When queried further regarding why some boxes were doubling in price, how much notice patrons were given about the steep increases, or if non-profits could get any sort of discount, he replied simply “Please use the statement I provided as official comment from the Postal Service.”

Bogenberger did not return additional emails sent with further questions.

For his part, Easter thinks the size hikes, and the lack of answers regarding them, are what steam him.

“One hundred-percent mark-up, I just don’t…to me that’s price gauging. Everybody around us stayed the same, but Mount Airy and Toast had a 100% mark up. We’re paying for being Mayberry,” he said, believing the popularity of the city and demand for boxes is allowing the local rate hikes.

For now, he said the Masonic Lodge will stay with a post office box, but only for a limited time.

“Monday night, we decided we’re going to renew it for another six months, but we’re in the process of putting some type of reception box at the lodge the postman can put our mail in,” he said. Once that is up and operating, he said the lodge likely will not renew its box at the post office — nor will associated groups and lodges that share the building with the Renfro Lodge.

“Four different groups may put four different outside boxes there,” he said. “They’re free.”

The Surry County Office of Substance Abuse Recovery was in the Partner Spotlight of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration last month for being “prevention rock stars in their community.”

To be honored in the spotlight is no small feat, Charlotte Reeves, community outreach coordinator for the county, said. “I think this is an important milestone, because they are recognizing that work has begun in our county. I am extremely proud of this award because it takes a lot of work and coordination to get to this point.”

Established by Congress in 1992, the administrative was created to provide leadership, support programs, and devote resources to help guide national policy towards action based on the knowledge that “behavioral health is essential to health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover.”

When citing the good work of the Surry County team, the agency pointed to the goal of creating a continuum of care that “eliminates impediments for those seeking treatment and recovery.” Programs such as Ride the Road to Recovery are among the most visible of those services. It offers transportation to the doctor, to treatment, or to court so not having a ride need not be a roadblock to recovery — it can be removed as an impediment.

The Surry County Office of Substance Abuse Recovery was credited for its recent implementation of the “Talk, They Hear You” campaign messaging via postings on social media, podcasts, and in outreach columns in the newspaper. Also, for hosting trainings throughout the community, including a first staff training at Pilot Mountain Middle school, and Surry Central High School’s Addiction Awareness Week.

The “Talk, They Hear You” campaign aims to reduce underage drinking and other substance use among youths by providing care givers with information and resources they need to address these issues with children early and often.

Parents have a significant influence in their children’s decision to experiment with alcohol and drugs. The program materials tell parents, “Although it may not seem like it, when parents talk about underage drinking and substance use, their children do hear them.”

“Talk, They Hear You” was originally focused on helping parents with children ages 9–15 to prevent young people from starting to drink. However, research suggests the chances that children will try alcohol or other drugs increases as they get older.

“Around age 9, children begin thinking alcohol may not be just for adults. By the time they are seniors, almost 70% of high school students will have tried alcohol, half will have taken an illegal drug, and more than 20% will have used a prescription drug for a nonmedical purpose,” according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

“Research shows that if we can prevent or delay the onset of alcohol or substance use until after the age of 25, adult substance use disorder is significantly reduced,” Reeves said. “In other words, 90% of people with adult substance use disorder started alcohol or substance use as an adolescent.” The program has since expanded its resources to include tools to help them continue having underage drinking and substance use prevention conversations beyond age 15.

“Talk, They Hear You” aims to increase parental awareness of the prevalence as well as the risk of underage drinking or substance use. By equipping parents with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to prevent such behaviors, they also hope to increase parents’ actions to intervene in underage drinking and substance use.

“Parents’ Night Out” educational sessions were added to inform parents and caregivers about the realities of underage drinking and drug use. The goal is to prepare parents and loved ones to talk with kids about these issues that are often difficult to bring up organically.

Reeves led the first of these Night Out events at Pilot Middle School in May. She met with parents to discuss why their child may start to abuse, such as stress from grades, fitting in, or appearances and their desire to escape these through use of substances.

In the age range 11 – 18 kids are susceptible to peer pressure and with the addition of social media and “influencers” there are more avenues for these types of pressure to reach kids. Part of her Night Out messaging had to do with parents showing an interest in what their kids are doing and clearly expressing their disapproval of underage drinking or drug use to counteract those influences.

Parents were encouraged to have regular talks about drugs and alcohol, rather have than have “the talk.” Too much can be missed or glossed over if parents try to cram it all into one made for television heart-to-heart talk.

During these more regular talks parents are encouraged to not employ scare tactics, Reeves said the science can be scary enough. “Rather than scaring your children, tell them that alcohol and other drugs are bad for their growing brain and can make them sick,” she said. Leaning into facts and science can also show kids that parents can be a trusted source on these issues.

She reminded the attendees that transitions from middle to high school and then to college can be tricky for children of any age. Adding in the pandemic presented new challenges as well and Reeves asked the parents if they had noticed any changes during the past two years.

Parents have tools at their disposal to help have these talks with their children such as the “Talk, They Hear You” mobile app that provides practice scenarios. It can be used a resource to prepare and provides conversation “starters,” goals, possible reactions, “closers,” and other helpful information like statistics on the prevalence of underage drinking and other drug use.

To spread the message to a wider audience the All-Stars Prevention Group held a community event at Veteran’s Park called Vincent’s Legacy: Kindness Day. Reeves said, “We go to these community events mostly for youth and offer kid friendly activities, like face painting, to start a conversation with their parents. We share information with them about our office, The All-Stars Prevention Group, and ‘Talk, They Hear You.’

“We discuss the importance of starting the conversation with your youth early and having the conversation often,” she explained. “We also encourage and discuss the importance of parental involvement in an adolescent’s life.”

“Anywhere we can get to parents is where we will be. It all starts with the parents. The biggest protective factor for a young person is a loving and caring relationship with at least one parent or caregiver.”

The All-Stars Prevention Group are volunteers that aid with community events. They are parents, people in recovery, and just folks in our community that want to help. “We could not do it without them,” Reeves said.

ARARAT, Va. — When history is tarnished it can be difficult to undo — but at least highway markers denoting notable locations mustn’t suffer the same fate, based on a recent makeover in Ararat.

Concerned about the appearance of the sign greeting travelers crossing the Virginia-North Carolina border on Route 773, also known as Ararat Highway (N.C. 104/Riverside Drive when approaching from the Tar Heel State), Patrick County resident Ronnie Haynes took action.

The marker involved is one of the familiar fixtures bearing texts of black lettering against a silver background with a distinctive shape. But the one at the Virginia-North Carolina line was becoming noticeable perhaps because of its unsightly appearance.

So Haynes, the president of the J.E.B. Stuart Birthplace Preservation Trust group that maintains that site just up the road from the state line, removed, fixed and painted the Patrick County historical marker.

Its wording informs passersby about the county’s formation in 1790 from neighboring Henry County, and that Gen. Stuart was born there.

The marker at the state line is one of 12 such historical signs scattered across Patrick County, including one on Route 773 at the Stuart birthplace.

Others are located at additional entry points to the county along with markers drawing attention to the presence of landmarks such as Reynolds Homestead, Fairy Stone State Park and even the location of a former frontier fort.

The markers in Patrick are among more than 2,500 presently erected in Virginia to highlight people, places and events of regional, statewide or national significance.

Virginia’s historical marker program is the oldest such effort in the nation, dating to 1927 when a handful of signs appeared between Richmond and Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home.

“All these historical markers need cleaning,” said Tom Bishop, who also is associated with the Stuart birthplace, pointing to the value of ongoing maintenance.

The signs tend to become corroded and coated with pollination and other residue — with some in better condition than others, Bishop said regarding what he has observed on travels throughout Virginia.

Calling in the Marines always has been a viable option where military matters are concerned, and that will be the case this coming Monday when Mount Airy holds its annual Memorial Day observance.

City Manager Stan Farmer will be guest speaker for the 10 a.m. event at the Mount Airy War Memorial on the corner of South Main and Rockford streets. It will include a traditional slate of patriotic music, a wreath placement and other activities appropriately paying tribute to America’s military personnel who have died in service to their country.

Farmer won’t be speaking on his usual role with budgetary and other governmental matters, but from the perspective of a veteran who served five years in the U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune and on the island of Okinawa in Japan.

“I think it’s a good thing that we have an honorable man serving as manager who served his country as a Marine,” Mayor Ron Niland said Wednesday in discussing the role of Farmer, who started his job as city manager in January.

“And I think it is very fitting that he has been asked to speak at this event,” Niland added of this choice by program organizers. “It’s kind of a neat thing that they would ask him.”

The mayor also will be on Monday’s program, including calling it to order, reading a special municipal proclamation in recognition of the solemn holiday and serving as emcee.

“It’s an honor to be able to speak on behalf of Mount Airy and read a proclamation that honors not only those who have served, but Memorial Day also honors those who have passed,” said Niland. He has become a regular part of recent Memorial Day programs here.

Niland’s late father, Francis “Frank” Niland, served with the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict.

Another highlight of Monday’s program will be the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by local student Cassidy Mills, who also did so during the 2021 Memorial Day service in Mount Airy which was attended by about 125 people.

The schedule for Monday’s program will include:

• The call to order by Niland;

• A raising of the American flag by the Mount Airy Honor Guard;

• Cassidy Mills’ rendering of the national anthem;

• A group recital of the Pledge of Allegiance;

• An invocation delivered by Pastor D.M. Dalton, president of the Mount Airy Ministerial Association;

• The reading of the proclamation by the mayor;

• The keynote address by City Manager/Marine veteran Farmer;

• The placing of the wreath by the city Honor Guard;

• A flag-folding ceremony by the North Surry High School Air Force Junior ROTC led by Lt. Col. Corby Myles, USAF (Ret.), senior aerospace science instructor, and featuring cadets Lukcus Hawks, Garrett Keller, Trent Stanley and Ethan Seals;

• A rifle volley salute by members of two local Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Honor Guard units, from Mount Airy VFW Post 2019 and Pilot Mountain Post 9436;

• The playing of “Taps” by the two VFW groups.

Organizers are urging everyone to attend Monday’s program to recognize, honor and remember military men and women protecting the country today and in the past.

• Three people were jailed under large secured bonds this week after allegedly stealing building materials valued at $2,946 from the Lowe’s Home Improvement store on South Andy Griffith Parkway, according to Mount Airy Police Department reports.

In addition to taking that property Monday, listed as electrical wire and equipment, the trio attempted to steal more, arrest records state, with one of the three additionally charged with a felony drug violation and another inked to outstanding orders for arrest.

Rusty J. Carico, 34, of Germanton; Paul Michael Osborne Jr., 49, of Winston-Salem; and Crystal Powers Smith, 50, of Winston-Salem, are each accused of felonious larceny and attempted larceny, also a felony. Osborne further was found to be wanted on nine orders for arrest for failing to appear in court in both Forsyth and Davie counties which were filed last year and this year, and a felony larceny charge issued on April 24 by Guilford County authorities.

Smith additionally was charged Monday with possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, identified as methamphetamine. Both she and Carico were confined in the Surry County Jail under a $10,000 secured bond and Osborne, $25,000 secured, with all three facing a June 6 appearance in District Court in Dobson.

• Thomas Austin Hollingsworth, 22, of 145 Justin Lane, turned himself in Tuesday at the police station on charges of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, a felony; assault on a female; and second-degree trespassing stemming from a Monday afternoon incident at the residence of Annah Maria Martinez on Lovill Street.

Hollingsworth is alleged to have cut Christopher Allen Roberts of Knob Drive with a blade, causing severe lacerations, and pushed Martinez. He was jailed without privilege of bond due to the domestic nature of one of the charges, with the case set for the June 20 session of Surry District Court.

• A Cut Above, a business in the 400 block of North Andy Griffith Parkway, was the scene of a break-in and larceny that was discovered last Thursday.

It involved a door being kicked in to gain entry, enabling the theft of an undisclosed sum of money from a cash register.

• A case involving identity theft and obtaining property by false pretense was reported on May 17, in which a known individual is said to have used the personal information of victim Randy Leon Moore of West Wilson Street to change Moore’s mailing address with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

This resulted in the theft of medication, police records state.

• Johnny Ray Gwyn, 53, listed as a Mount Airy homeless person, was held under a $10,,000 secured bond on May 17, when he was arrested as a fugitive from justice after being encountered by officers during a suspicious-person call at what was described as a parking drop/garage on Merita Street.

Gwyn was found to be wanted in Patrick County, Virginia, on an unspecified matter, and is scheduled to appear in Surry District Court next Tuesday.

With the launch of a new budget season in Mount Airy has come the revelation that a consultant who was being paid $100,000 per year to provide financial advice to the city government is no longer engaged.

Mount Airy’s relationship with Doug Carter of DEC Associates Inc. in Charlotte dates to 2018, when Carter came aboard on a contractual basis to advise the municipality on matters including its redevelopment of the former Spencer’s industrial property downtown.

The services for which Carter has received $100,000 annually more recently involved helping the city plan financially for long-range capital (major building- and equipment-related) needs 10 years into the future. In March 2019 these had a $24 million price tag.

But that involvement officially has ended, according to Mayor Ron Niland.

“Doug is no longer under contract with the city,” Niland said Wednesday.

This included Carter not being relied on in the recent preparation of the city’s proposed budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year that begins on July 1.

That coincides with Mount Airy’s hiring of City Manager Stan Farmer late last year to replace Barbara Jones after she retired effective Oct. 1 with 12 years spent as manager and 30 years with city governmental overall.

Farmer joined the staff on Jan. 31 equipped with a long list of credentials, including a bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Texas and a master’s degree in public administration from Appalachian State University. Farmer additionally holds a master’s of executive public leadership degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas.

He also attended a municipal administration program of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the ICMA (International City/County Management Association) Senior Executive Leadership Institute at the University of Virginia.

“Doug did his job and Stan has picked up from there,” Mayor Niland said Wednesday. “At this point Doug has performed his contractual work and Stan has worked with the staff.”

Niland said Carter completed his tasks for the city last year and based on that doubts he was paid any money for the present 2021-22 fiscal year that ends on June 30. “I’m not sure.”

However, a check Wednesday with city Finance Director Pam Stone revealed that DEC Associates Inc. had indeed been paid $17,500 during that period for the agreement involving financial planning for the city’s capital needs.

“This completed all of the contracts we had with DEC,” Stone added.

The relationship had been a source of some controversy as to whether Carter earned what he was being paid — at a compensation level exceeding that of full-time municipal department heads.

This was evident at a meeting in the winter of 2019, when Commissioner Jon Cawley offered comments along those lines.

“I still have not seen $100,000 in value for this expense,” Cawley, who earlier had voted against engaging the adviser, said in reference to what Carter was getting from Mount Airy.

The veteran city commissioner also questioned the value of a specific piece of advice from Carter about a need to identify ways to fund long-range capital needs, including borrowing money or tapping into a city fund balance, or surplus.

“He said we have to make choices about our expenses and revenues — news flash!” Cawley said sarcastically.

Then-Commissioner Jim Armbrister also complained about Carter apparently lacking a thorough understanding of Mount Airy’s budget and speaking only in generalities, despite being paid $100,000 for his financial-adviser expertise.

Mayor Niland said Wednesday that the fact the city government depended so heavily on Carter’s involvement before Farmer entered the picture was not a reflection on the qualifications of previous personnel.

“I think the situation was different (then),” Niland explained regarding unique funding issues the city faced at the time, which included dealing with COVID-19 effects.

According to an old saying, rain is plentiful in April and flowers bloom in May because of all the water provided as a result — only Mother Nature didn’t get the memo this time around.

Not only did measurable rainfall occur during just eight of the 30 days last month, the total output was below the all-time April average for Mount Airy, based on a monthly statistical breakdown from F.G. Doggett Water Plant.

The area received 3.5 inches, falling short of that 3.95-inch norm for the fourth month of the year.

And a big chunk of this was measured for a single day, April 6, when .97 inches of rain was logged at the water plant, the city’s official weather-monitoring station.

For the year, precipitation is above average for Mount Airy, where weather records have been kept since 1924.

It stood at 16.44 inches as of April 30 — 1.42 inches, or 9.5%, above the all-time local average of 15.02 inches for that period.

April also was slightly cooler than usual — averaging 54.8, exactly one degree under the Mount Airy norm of 55.8 for that month.

This was aided by a temperature of 28 degrees on April 3, the low for the month, while at the other end of the spectrum, a 84-degree reading on April 26 took high-temperature honors.

The average high temperature last month was 70 degrees and the average low, 39.6.

Frost was noted on three days during April and fog on two.

Three Surry Arts Council Summer Concerts are slated for this week.

Fantasy Band will start off a music-filled weekend at the Blackmon Amphitheatre on Thursday. Holiday Band will play on Friday and Cassette Rewind will take the stage on Saturday. All three shows will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Fantasy is sometimes called “The Carolina’s most entertaining party band.” Whether it is beach music, motown, funk, soul, or smooth R&B, Fantasy does it all.

The Holiday Band blends soul, blues, funk, and Carolina beach music and has established itself as a premier entertainment package. The Holiday Band has played thousands of shows from Cincinnati, Ohio to Cozumel, Mexico, with the always-present theme “Keep The Music Alive.”

Born in the ‘80s and raised on radio, Cassette Rewind bills itself as “the ultimate authentic ‘80s experience.” Cassette Rewind provides dynamic performances of Prince, George Michael, Journey, Whitney Houston, and countless 1980s pop icons. Grab a Members Only jacket and put on some leg warmers because nothing’s going to stop folks from getting footloose and singing along.

Each concert will begin at 7:30 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Admission to each show is $15 or a Surry Arts Council Annual Pass. Children 12 and younger are admitted free with an adult admission or annual pass. The Dairy Center, Whit’s Custard, and Thirsty Souls Community Brewing will be at the concerts to provide food, snacks, drinks, beer, and wine for purchase. No outside alcohol or coolers are allowed to be taken into the Amphitheatre area. Those attending are asked to take a lounge chair or blanket to sit on.

Tickets are available online at www.surryarts.org, via phone at 336-786-7998, or at the Surry Arts Council office at 218 Rockford Street. For additional information, contact Marianna Juliana at 336-786-7998 or marianna@surryarts.org

Mount Airy Police and Surry County EMS officials are on the scene of an apparent shooting near the Shell Station on Rockford Road, in front of Walmart.

Few details are available — Surry County Emergency Service is referring all questions regarding the incident to the Mount Airy Police Department, and requests for information from the police were not immediately answered. The Surry County EMS Portal gave no details, other than to say the call to the site was for “medical” reasons.

Police were on the scene for several hours Tuesday evening, with the parking lot cordoned off with yellow police tape, but as of 10 p.m. officials had released no information. Additional information will be published here, at mtairynews.com, as details become available.

A Mount Airy man is dead today from a gunshot wound, and another city man is jailed, charged with his death, after a Tuesday evening fight broke out in the parking lot of a local convenience store.

Jesus Daniel Montoya Magallanes, 34, of Erie Lane in Mount Airy, was apparently shot during the altercation, which occurred around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Circle K Mart at 2227 Rockford Street. According to a statement released by the city police department, officers arrived on the scene after fielding calls about “several subjects fighting in the parking lot.” When officers arrived, they found Magallanes lying in the parking lot, suffering from the gunshot wound. Surry County Emergency Service officials transported him to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Hospital in Winston-Salem, where he died from his wounds.

According to a release from the police department, authorities arrested Eduardo Cabrera-Cano, 22, also of Mount Airy — no address given — and charged him with murder. Cabrera-Cano was jailed at the Surry County Detention Center, where he remains incarcerated with no bond.

Few details are being released by officials. On Tuesday night Surry County Emergency Service referred all questions regarding the incident to the Mount Airy Police Department. The police released a short statement by email this morning, but there is no indication of what caused the fight, how many individuals were involved, nor if additional arrests might follow.

Police were on the scene throughout much of the night, with the parking lot cordoned off with yellow police tape as authorities pieced together what happened and gathered evidence. Additional information will be published here, at mtairynews.com, as details become available.

Mount Airy City Schools has been named Tyler Technologies 2022 Tyler Excellence Award Winner. This award recognizes the district’s success in implementing its Smart Bus initiative that deployed Traversa software from Tyler Technologies on all district buses.

“The district’s innovative approach to keeping students and staff safe and healthy through ridership tracking, route tracking, GPS, and more has allowed the district to safely transport students during a worldwide pandemic,” the school system said in announcing the award. “The technology’s ability to reduce costs and increase efficiency will impact students and the district for years to come.”

Superintendent Dr. Kim Morrison and Transportation Coordinator Jon Doss were invited to Indianapolis, Indiana to accept the award at Tyler Technology’s Connect 2022 Conference. The district earned this award based on its organizational efficiency and productivity, responsiveness, business value, innovation, relevance, and COVID-19 response.

Traversa software provides turn-by-turn navigation, pre-and post-trip vehicle inspections, and communicates ridership information to Powerschool. These enhanced pieces of technology have provided additional layers of safety measures to keep families and schools informed.

“Transportation Coordinator Jon Doss and Smart Bus Specialist Latasha Hudson have been critical in learning, implementing, and maintaining the program,” school officials said.

“The work that the bus drivers, data managers, Latasha, and I have done has built the foundation for the whole state of North Carolina,” Doss said. “The collaboration and problem-solving that the team has gone through will positively impact students across our state for years to come.”

“We are thankful for the Traversa software that has allowed us to have electronic seating charts, tracking of how long students ride buses, more efficient routes, turn-by-turn navigation for bus drivers, parent apps that showed when a child will arrive at home, and cameras that provided a safe way for students to travel during a difficult time,” Morrison said. “This tool has been amazing and will continue to give us great strategies for getting students to school safely, with shorter ride times and less buses on the road even as we gain more riders.”

Thanks to funding from the General Assembly, the city school system was able to pilot this technology and work closely with Tyler Technologies through all stages of implementation. Doss and Hudson were able to provide feedback that allowed improvements to be made to better serve the educational community. As the piloting district for this technology, numerous districts across the state along with members from the Department of Public Instruction visited the district to see how this technology might help others. Visitors were able to learn how to check students’ temperatures, create seating charts for social distancing and contact tracing, put modifications in place that shortened ride times for everyone, and how to create efficient ways to save on transportation costs.

District officials aren’t the only ones who appreciate the improvements. One driver noted, “I never want to go back to the old way, Traversa is fabulous.”

A parent who uses the Ride 360 app shared, “The app is an easy way to see when my child gets on and off the bus, where the bus is on the route, and if there are any unexpected delays.”

Consultants typically don’t work for free, with their expertise often provided at a high price to governmental units engaging them — which is not the case with Bryan Grote.

Grote is a principal and co-founder of Mercator Advisors, LLC, a registered financial advisory firm that offers consulting services for various infrastructure, transportation and other projects.

But a role he has played in downtown Mount Airy, especially recent efforts to transform the former Spencer’s textile complex for new uses including a hotel and convention center now planned there, was on a strictly volunteer basis.

“People don’t realize how many thousands of hours that Bryan has donated to the city behind the scenes — donated,” Mayor Ron Niland emphasized last Thursday night when Grote’s contributions were recognized during a meeting of the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners.

This included leading an RFP (request for proposals) process that attracted the hotel developers, along with assisting with financial and other aspects of the Spencer’s project, Niland said. “He is truly a hero to this city.”

Grote also has lent his skills to many other projects in the central business district and serves as president of the governing board for the group Mount Airy Downtown Inc.

“He is committed to looking to the future of Mount Airy and is a vital part of revitalization in the downtown area,” the mayor said.

Earlier this year, Grote was named a Main Street Champion during a 2022 statewide conference. This was in recognition of his service to Mount Airy within the framework of the North Carolina Main Street program operated through the Department of Commerce to help communities develop thriving downtown areas.

And Thursday night, Grote found himself in the limelight at City Hall, where Mayor Niland presented Grote with a medal and certificate of appreciation for his volunteer work on behalf of the municipality.

When offered a chance to make remarks afterward, Grote modestly reminded that four other local residents had been named state Main Street Champions over the years, including Gene Rees, Jennie Lowry, Phil Marsh and Ted Ashby.

“We have a lot of great volunteers here for great organizations,” Grote added. “I just want to say hats off to all of the volunteers that help keep the wheels moving.”

• Three people have been jailed for possession of a stolen vehicle in Mount Airy, with one also charged with an additional felony involving drugs, according to city police reports.

This occurred on May 15 at what is specified in arrest records as The Hollows Motel location on South Andy Griffith Parkway in reference to the investigation of a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado pickup taken from David Pierce of Winston-Salem.

Those charged with the theft are Rainy Morgan Lowery, 28, of High Point; Eric Conan Lockhart, 39, of Archdale; and Nickolas Lee Rodgers, 25, listed as homeless. Lockhart further is accused of possession of methamphetamine due to a crystal-like substance being found during his arrest.

Lockhart was confined in the Surry County Jail under a $12,000 secured bond, with Lowery and Rodgers each held under a $7,500 secured bond. All three are scheduled to appear in District Court in Dobson on June 13.

• Francisco Hervert Rivera, 31, of 352 Hadley St., was charged with speed competition last Tuesday after he allegedly was observed racing against someone in another vehicle while behind the wheel of a 2012 Ford Mustang in the vicinity of Forrest Drive.

Both vehicles are said to have reached speeds of 90 miles per hour along U.S. 601-South before stopping in the parking lot of the Sheetz convenience store, where Rivera was charged. No arrest report has been issued for the other driver involved, with Rivera slated to be in Surry District Court on June 27.

• A counterfeit $100 bill was passed by two unknown suspects at the Speedway convenience store on West Pine Street on May 15, when they used it to buy miscellaneous goods including food items and received $24 in change. If located, they can be charged with obtaining property by false pretense, which is a felony.

• Damage to city property was discovered on May 15 at Riverside Park, where restroom fixtures were spray-painted. The damage was put at $400, which targeted the interior of restroom stalls along with toilets and the exterior of the building. This is the latest in a series of vandalism incidents occurring at the park in recent months.

The Surry Early College graduation was held Friday evening in the gym on the campus of Surry County Community College.

The Early College graduating class was not the largest class that will cross a stage in the coming weeks, however there was still an impressive amount of both scholarship dollars and certifications for these graduates. Graduates from the class of 2021-2022 received scholarship offers totaling $3,937,455.

Principal Colby Beamer advised that assembled friends and family that a four-year college or university is on the horizon for 43 of the graduates. Many students are staying in state and in the UNC system.

Community college is the chosen path for eleven of the graduates with several staying local to attend Surry Community College while nine of the graduates are planning to enter the workforce directly.

One student, Evelin Lara, took the road less traveled and will be joining the armed forces after graduation.

Today’s students are being given opportunities that graduating classes of decades past did not have. They are also not feeling the same firm push toward the four-year college system that had been identified for many years as the best path to future success and to improve one’s station in life.

Beamer reported these students took advantage of these opportunities with 43 of the graduates receiving not only their high school diploma but also an associate degree in arts, science, general education, and fine arts. Also, two graduates will receive their applied associates degree in science.

“It’s not often you can go get a post-secondary higher education degree before you get your high school diploma. What a wonderful opportunity this is,” Surry Community College President Dr. David Shockley said.

Fourteen graduates will earn diplomas or certifications in various applied degree programs such as accounting/finance, firefighter, mechatronics, automotive technology, community Spanish interpreter, and business administration.

“I’m here to tell you that is not normal, that is something very, very special,” Shockley said of the graduates before handing out recognition to Beamer and the teachers at the Early College for achieving a 100% graduation rate on behalf of the board of trustees of Surry Community College. Recognizing the Early College for this success, he said, “is becoming an annual thing.”

He told the crowd what it takes to get such an honor. “It’s pretty easy, perfection. It’s not excellence, it is perfection – you have to achieve a 100% either a test taking grade, or if it’s in a credential program… you have to have 100% students pass that examination of the first attempt. If it is an inspection or an audit, you have to receive a perfect score in order to get a resolution.”

Britza Chavez-Arellano was the Senior Speaker who noted that the pandemic slowed down life and made it feel like time stopped. She said however that “with time stopping we learned new things: who we are, who our real friends are, understood true resilience, learned how to properly procrastinate. The most important thing I learned how precious time is. This is such a treasurable moment in time for all of us.”

“I have already seen such a beautiful fire in our graduation class. We are successful in our own ways, and I am so proud of all of us. I may not personally know what you had to go through to be here today, but I am so happy to see you all here.” She went on to note how surreal it feels to be graduating and encouraged her fellow graduates to, “keep that fire burning, no matter what the cost.”

The Super Senior Speaker was Matthew Gillespie who jokingly warned the crowd that Beamer gave him no guidelines for his speech. The first draft he threw out because he had written a speech that he thought was not relevant anymore. “Then I realized we are all here because we have done that. I don’t need to tell you what you already know and have.”

Instead, he laid out the three most important things the graduates are taking with them with the diplomas and certifications being the least among them. Those documents are nothing more than “a bond of trust” from the institution that the graduates have the knowledge and skills needed. Documents and diplomas “can only get you in the door of where you want to go, it will take the other resources to get you there.”

Possession of the actual knowledge and skills from the Early College will be the second thing graduates carry on. Covid made these kids grow up a little faster and “the perseverance you have shown to get here will be something you have to call upon in the real world to succeed,” he told the crowd.

Interpersonal connections round out what the graduates take with them, and he encouraged his fellow graduates to keep learning and make new friends in college for those going that route. He encouraged students to stay in touch with one another and their teachers for they may make valuable allies later down the road.

Senior Class President Nancy Garcia-Villa gave the farewell address to the students in which she reminisced about the past 12 years and her own struggles. “I’ve heard numerous times that an education is not only the key to success, but also the answer to so many of our world’s problems.

“But, when states care more about our test scores than the mental and physical wellbeing; when teachers and staff are underpaid, and schools are severely underfunded to the point where you don’t have proper facilities or enough textbooks; when you have to continuously fight for institutions to be diverse, global, and inclusive because those spaces were not always welcome ones for all; when students of color are already branded by expectation of failure before they can even try; and when I spoke up about issues that students like me experienced and was invalidated by the people I trusted, I couldn’t help but wonder if school and an education was truly the solution.

“But I do see its promise and I call upon people in power to act whether they are school authorities or policy makers, I call on them to act. … I ask for your help on dismantling the issues that are deeply rooted and injustices in our education system. Give us the resources that we need to learn and create safe and inclusive spaces where students of all backgrounds and needs can flourish.”

Garcia-Villa, bound for UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall, also thanked those who helped get her there, naming several teachers who helped along the way.

“I want to recognize the new immigrants who walked miles in the blazing heat so we could walk across this stage today. And those who fought their way across turbulent rivers, so we can fight for a better future. Our immigrant families came here with nothing – they gave us everything. That isn’t magic – its innovation, its resilience.”

Farm animals, tractors seemingly of every make and model, antique agricultural equipment and bales of hay aren’t commonly seen in downtown Mount Airy — but for one special day those attractions and more were highlighted there.

Mayberry Farm Fest returned to the central business district Saturday after a two-year absence forced by the coronavirus, and despite hot weather North Main Street was filled with people who got a unique taste of rural life in an urban setting.

Along with numerous tractors — which kicked off the two-day event with a Friday night parade — and an array of animals in a petting zoo, those attending were treated to live entertainment featuring traditional mountain sounds, unique vendors and demonstrations. That included the opportunity to watch corn being ground the old-timey way.

The emphasis, of course, was on sheer enjoyment — including by many families with young kids attending, along with older folks snapping photos of tractors and other displays who seemed to be reminiscing about their former lives down on the farm.

Yet there also was an educational element sprouted by Mayberry Farm Fest — now in its 16th year — rooted in one of the event’s goals of keeping history and this area’s rich agricultural traditions alive.

That wasn’t lost on Bryan Howard of Rural Hall while watching his young son Cayden pour a container of shelled corn into an antique Fairbanks-Morse grinder, from 1919. Then Cayden inserted the ground corn into a nearby grain sifter further reminiscent of yesteryear to complete the process as the old machinery chugged along.

The working equipment was part of a display by Hal’s Old-Time Cornmeal, which also has exhibited at other locations including Horne Creek Living Historical Farm in Pinnacle.

“It teaches about history,” the elder Howard said of such activities offered by Farm Fest, which illustrate how food is produced, not just appearing magically on store shelves. “For me it’s real important.”

The same dynamic was evident Saturday among the legions of kids who experienced various animals up close and personal, courtesy of HDK Ranch of Jonesville.

It set up shop along Franklin Street for what looked to be one of the most-popular venues at the festival, where ponies, a chicken, alpacas, baby goats and bunnies, a mini-pig and even a miniature donkey named Molly were on hand.

HDK ranch employee Mary Brown, who was attending Mayberry Farm Fest for the first time, remarked about the thrill that can occur when a child directly interacts with an animal rather than just seeing one on a screen or in a book.

“I think it educates them and it does bring joy to these kids,” Brown said while observing the smiles. “They get to see animals they wouldn’t have a chance to see otherwise.”

Jamie Burchette of Sparta said it was great to have such an event where youths, including his small son, could pet animals and look at tractors — appropriate for a child wearing a John Deere cap.

Among a wide array of vendors lining North Main Street Saturday were ones offering items such as honey, tomato and flowering plants and blueberry products.

Meanwhile, Mayberry Farm Fest provided a chance for organizations such as Surry County Master Gardeners to greet the public and distribute information about their programs.

A watermelon seed-spitting contest additionally was scheduled Saturday as part of the day-long event spearheaded by the Downtown Business Association.

“It’s nice,” Burchette said.

Shoals Elementary recognizes April leaders of the month. The attribute for April was collaboration.

“These students showed their leadership skills by demonstrating this attribute in class and around the campus,” school officials said.

Outgoing Fire Marshal Doug Jones was honored Monday at the Surry County Resource Center in Mount Airy for 39 years of service to the county and its citizens. He had been similarly honored at a county commissioner meeting in February, but that was no reason not to heap a little more praise onto a deserving public servant.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey was on hand as were all five county commissioners, members of the county emergency service, and county staff to honor Jones.

“In recognition for the highest designation of appreciation for your years of service to the people of the State of North Carolina and Surry County. I want to thank you for all you have done for the fire service over the years,” Causey said.

“I want to thank God for making me a public servant in the Fire Marshal’s office,” Jones said in his remarks. “For allowing me the opportunity to help people when they need it the most. God proved to me many times that I was where I needed to be and doing what I needed to be doing.”

Jones said in the fire marshal’s office, they deal with people on one of the worst days of their lives. Both the good days and the bad days “take a toll on us.” To that end, he wanted to thank his wife Jan and kids Emily and Drew for their patience with him over the years.

“I want to thank them for all the support for all those years. I want to apologize for leaving many family dinners, movies, holiday get-togethers, and for missing those important events in their life because I received a call.”

In thanking his staff over the years, he wisely decided not to call anyone by name so that he would not leave anyone out. For his staff, the secretaries, and assistant fire marshals he owes a debt of thanks for, “working their tails for me.”

Whenever he was away or out of town, he said having such a strong staff and assistant chiefs meant he could rest easy. “They were all dependable and dedicated to the job. I never had to worry about anything when I was out of the county because I knew they had my back. I knew they had it covered.”

Surry County Emergency Service Director Eric Southern presented to Jones a shadowbox on behalf of the county that held a variety of patches and badges that reflect his lengthy career.

Commissioner Causey also had the treat of being able to present checks to Elkin Emergency Rescue Squad and the Mountain Park Rescue Squad for $5,000 each. This was part of a larger $250,000 contribution made by the N.C. Surplus Lines Association to help firefighters and rescue squads in North Carolina.

Rescue squads who had the smallest amount of funding were targeted for these grants, and it is needed badly. “It is an honor for me to personally present these surplus lines checks, courtesy of the NCSLA,” Causey said. “This money will help needy emergency units better respond to critical lifesaving situations.”

“Your rescue squads and volunteer fire departments who got this funding are some of the lowest funded in the whole state.” To the Elkin squad he said, “I believe the total funding for the county and the city combined was under $60,000. We know that it is well needed, and you will put that to good use. You can use it for bills, or whatever you need to, there is a lot of flexibility.”

A previous round of grants from Blue Cross targeted low funded volunteer fire departments, but the rescue squads got left out. Along with Mountain Park, the Wilkes County Rescue Squad and Alleghany Rescue Squad are also among the 17 rescue squads statewide to be receiving targeted grant money from the fund.

“We appreciate you being here, and the money coming to these rescue squads and fire departments, I know, is much appreciate by them,” Surry County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bill Goins said.

Causey and Surry County Commissioner Van Tucker each gave a gentle ribbing to Jones and reminded him that the county has plenty of job openings, should he want to go for an even 40 years of service.

Mount Airy City Schools is partnering with the company Grads Give to reach out to Mount Airy High School alumni, offering them a chance to keep up with what is happening at the high school as well as chances to support some of those efforts.

And the first project the city school system is tackling is the construction of a memorial to honor alumni who have served in the armed forces.

“We are holding a kick-off fundraiser for the memorial on Memorial Day,” said Carrie Venable, executive officer of communications for the city schools.

She said Randy Moore, a city board of education member, came up with the idea and the entire school board quickly supported the plan. Garrett Howlett, a career and technical teacher at the school, developed the design.

The memorial will be built on school grounds, at the corner of N. South Street and Orchard Street.

“Our goal is to have it built by next Memorial Day,” she said, with the fundraising effort for the money needed to build the memorial to officially begin on May 30, this year’s Memorial Day, at 9 a.m. “We don’t want to interrupt other Memorial Day plans going on. This ceremony will be a brief introduction to it.”

The fundraising goal for the memorial is $50,000 and, according to a new alumni page on the city school’s website — https://mountairyhighschool.gradsgive.org/ – the effort is already 30% of the way there.

While the monument is timely given its kick-off on the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, this will be far from the only effort the school system will undertake in its new effort to build stronger relations with alumni.

“We want to connect with the graduates,” she said. “In the day of social media, you’d think it would be easy. But connecting with graduates takes a lot of legwork…many of them have moved, changed their name, many of their parents have moved. This group (Grads Give), does the legwork for us. We’ll be able to keep our alumni connected to what’s going on.”

She said the school system could use stronger alumni relations to provide graduates a chance to come back to the school as speakers or in other roles. Partnerships with graduates have already been important to the school system.

“Our Richard Childress racing partnership has been a huge asset,” she said. That, according to Venable, was a city school graduate, Eric Warren, working at Childress and getting the NASCAR team involved with working with students from his alma mater.

“We want to stay connected with our alumni, to help our students grow and prepare for what lies ahead.” Using real-world partnerships through alumni is one way of doing that.

Besides the military, she said another group of alumni she would like to reach out to are those in the medical field who have come through he COVID-19 pandemic. “This is a group definitely deserving of recognition,” she said.

As for the first project, she said the Memorial Day gathering will be a brief ceremony, where a temporary structure or fixture will be erected that shows what the finished project will look like. She said the display will even include a QR code people can use in order to donate to the effort.

Those wishing to donate can do so through the alumni page on the website.

“They can make a one-time give, a monthly, annual, whatever works best for them, whatever they would like to do,” Venable said.

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 July 8 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 17.

Ted Ashby, 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 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.

DOBSON — The political signs recently infiltrating local roadways promoting candidates for this week’s primary election now are disappearing from the landscape as quickly and quietly as they came.

This includes ones placed at locations serving as voting precincts on Tuesday, which have been proactively and unceremoniously uprooted in the wake of the last ballots being cast.

“Our take-down staff removed signs today from Election Day precincts that were located on church and school property,” Surry County Director of Elections Michella Huff advised Wednesday night — about 24 hours after the totals for various races were reported.

Those items haven’t wound up in some political memorabilia graveyard, but are being stored temporarily in Dobson, Huff added.

“We have placed all signs collected behind the Board of Elections office against the outside of our building, where they will remain for 10 days, ” Huff explained in reference to the board’s headquarters at 915 E. Atkins St. in the Surry County Service Center.

Candidates and/or supporters can retrieve their respective signs until 5 p.m. next Friday, according to the elections official.

Any campaign signs or banners remaining after that date are to be thrown away.

That 10-day window observed by the Board of Elections also will be accompanied by signs being removed elsewhere in the county — if candidates/supporters obey the law.

The display period for campaign signs officially ends on the 10th day after the primary, which is May 27.

Signs still in the right of way after that time will be in violation of state law, and the N.C. Department of Transportation is authorized to remove and dispose of them, based on a set of guidelines issued last month by the agency. Those still in place then are considered abandoned.

Yet the upcoming deadline doesn’t mean the end of campaign signs this year, which are expected to make a reappearance ahead of the general election in November — involving cases where candidacies remain viable after the primary — and effectively recycled.

Wednesday at North Surry High School five seniors showed off in the Senior Art Exhibit.

Lanee’ Kyle, Jacey Ward, Danielle Ayers, Bella Jones, and Emily Keith each displayed a variety of their creations from their time at North Surry High where Jennifer Draughn is the art teacher

Some students were able to take a break from their normal studies to go to the media center and see the art on display. “I took my Spanish 1 students and they had an assignment. They had to compare the student’s art with a famous Spanish artist they have studied — Pablo Picasso. So it’s been a cool thing,” Hope Ward said.

More art from the Senior Art Exhibit here courtesy of Hope Ward from North Surry High.

Often History, with a capital H, is seen as highly academic. We, as humans, often overlook or dismiss day to day activities as historical; we discard little moments like fool’s gold to make way for the 24 karat events that are televised, tweeted, posted, and spread in mass media without truly seeing that these little experiences sometimes shine brighter.

Through the years, The Mount Airy News has documented the big and the small detailing the life of its readers and beyond. Vintage copies of the newspaper are treasure chests of local history. Some copies have small sections titled “Looking Back” that detail events from 25 and 50 years ago, much like the “Our History” columns do today. Here are some findings from the 1972 May issues.

Originally published May 16, 1947, 25 years ago in 1972, and 75 years ago this month, one blurb read: “Joe Dobson has sold his café business, operated as Main Street Grill to Neil Hennis and Lum Robertson who are now in charge of the place. Dobson is now spending this week catching up on fishing in the local stream.” With no Facebook to check in on our friends, local residents were informed via the newspaper. Social gatherings and events were shared in print, just as we do today. In an issue published on May 2, 1972, an observation was noted that on May 4, 1922 “Miss Fulton, Hedrick, and Bacon of the high school faculty and Mrs. Moorefield and children are camping at White Sulphur Springs.” A simple camping trip that is now 100 years was immortalized in print. Friends and family used this information to plan visits and outings. Granted this is much slower than our instant messaging now but it still got the job done.

Sometimes the news was so shocking that it was published outside the local sector. On May 23, 1947, a piece was entered about Sheffield, England. “Entering a dentist’s office to have a tooth pulled, George Henry Davison, 60, was given an anesthetic. He woke up a few minutes later with his teeth intact and found the dentist dead. He had suffered a heart attack.” After 25 years this type of story was still in favor to be printed.

Another story, originally printed on May 4, 1922, and is now 100 years old communicated that “The brick building on Moore Avenue formerly occupied by Billie Kings Cleaning and Pressing Business has been leased by J.L Banner and turned into an ice cream factory.” Now, if that’s not newsworthy, I don’t know what is.

So many other stories and community events have been recorded for all to see. If you ever find yourself wanting to step back in time and see what everyday folks in our area were interested in all you need to do is browse the newspaper archives, most of which are available online.

Emily Morgan is the guest services manager at the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History. She and her family live in Westfield. She can be reached at eamorgan@northcarolinamuseum.org or by calling 336-786-4478 x229

Two years ago, a customary meal held after the annual Veterans’ Day parade in Mount Airy was cancelled because of COVID-19 precautions.

So, Staff Sgt. William Arnder of the North Carolina National Guard, along with Mindy Chilton of Freedom Designs and Graphics, got together and were able to organize a gathering for the veterans. While not as big as the usual event, they were still able to give 150 veterans and their families a chance to gather, enjoy some food and fellowship.

A year ago, the two did the same thing. But with more time — the first year the hot dog cook-out was put together in two weeks — they were able to put on a bigger shindig, with nearly 600 veterans and family members filtering through.

“My goal is to feed 1,000 people,” he said of the November gathering.

The advance work for the effort to honor the veterans is going on now, though, and includes a cruise-in — what he is dubbing Cruisin’ with Honor — on May 28 to help raise money for the November veteran’s meal.

The event will include live music, several food vendors — including the Mount Airy City Schools Blue Bear Bus serving smoothies — and a bevy of trucks, motorcycles, and cars on display for fans to view, all to be held at the National Guard Armory at 185 Patrol Station Road in Mount Airy.

“We want to bring some life back to that armory. I hope to bring more events to the armory,” he said, recalling visiting the facility for a number of different community activities when he was a child.

“I grew up here, was born and raised here, graduated from East Surry,” he said. “I’ve recruited in the county for the Army National Guard. I want to bring back community activities to the armory. Any way we can give back to the community, honor our veterans, and do something nice for the armory is a plus.”

In addition to the funds he is hoping to raise through the car show entries, Arnder is selling sponsorship signs at the cruise-in. “They can put their business name on them, or the name of a loved one who served and passed on if they want remember them.” Those signs, which are on sale for $35, each net $28 to the Veteran’s Dinner Fundraiser after expenses are paid.

While he and Chilton are doing the bulk of the organizing of the May 28 event, he said there are others offering a big help.

The JROTC from East Surry is supplying volunteers, some of the soldiers he’s recruited from the area will be on hand to help, as will volunteers from the American Legion, the VFW and VFW Women’s Auxiliary, the Surry County Veterans Council, the local Marine Corps detachment, and helpers from Access Book Learning Center.

Arnder said the event will be family friendly, with no alcohol allowed. The cruise-in will be from 11 a.m. until 4 p .m.

“They can show up whenever they want to, although the earlier the better. I have a feeling we’re going to run out of parking,” he said.

He does suggest people bring a folding chair, and attend the event hungry, and wanting some good music and food to go along with viewing the autos on display.

For readers out there who are fans of gardening, or just beginning to try your hand at it, local author Tasha Greer is someone to get to know. She is the author of “Grow Your Own Spices” and “Weed- Free Gardening.” ‘

An epicurean homesteader and Master Gardener with the Surry County Extension Association, she focuses on basic principles of living a simple, yet sustainable lifestyle. Among her writing repertoire is the website blog-Simplestead.com, homesteading features for “Mother Earth News” and “Morning Chores,” and an educational series on how to raise chickens, ducks, and goats, for the Grow Network.

At the beginning of May, she taught an online course through the extension program that boasted 271 Master Gardeners in attendance. She also spends time appearing on radio shows and doing podcasts. Her property nestled in Lowgap spans 10 acres with two of those acres being transitioned to grow an abundance of healthy foods and spices through cultivation of once eroded soil.

This is how her first book, “Grow Your Own Spices” was born. There was a need for a book of this type to be written, and she was growing every herb and spice you could think of at the time. Her goal was to not have to buy many things at the grocery store. The book came out during the height of the COVID pandemic, hindering some of its press appeal in the US. However, being published in Dutch and French in addition to English, it has done well in foreign countries such as the UK and South Africa.

Her second book, “Weed Free Gardening,” made its debut in April. Being an environmentalist, she focuses this book’s theme around regenerating land, using the benefits of weeds.

How does that equate to weed free? She says “we should appreciate them and value them, but still control them when necessary for ecological reasons as well as personal gardening.”

In her own garden, Greer grows a large variety of annual and perennial edible plants including an abundance of mint, as well as those plants utilized for medicine and ecosystem support. Greer even goes so far as to say anyone — even those who have been infamous for their ability to seemingly kill plants instead of grow them, can be successful in the garden.

“Everyone has a green thumb, but they don’t have the gardening skills,” she said. Those have to be developed.” She also added that gardening is beneficial for everyone, no matter what plants individuals are raising because it helps the environment and allows people to interact with the environment on a broader level.

Greer wasn’t always gardening and sharing her skills with the world through teaching and writing. She is a native of Maryland, trading a career in Washington, D.C, as a legal administrator for intellectual properties, patents, and trademarks, for a simpler life in Lowgap. Suffering from asthma, her old career made her sick much of the time being indoors. She found being outside was healing and medicinal for her. Thus a master gardener and passionate writer came into being.

She’s been residing in Surry County for eight years, spending time with her partner Matt, and their “fur” children including chickens, goats, cats, dogs, ducks and one pet turkey. She lovingly cares for her 81-year-old father full time as well.

The author identifies as a “foodie,” enjoying fine dining in various local restaurants, with honorable mention going to Old North State Winery. Anyone wishing to meet Greer, hear about her books, and learn more about sustainable living and gardening, can do so during her author visit to the Mount Airy Public Library, on May 25 at 1 p.m. She is a big fan of the library, and appreciates the library helping local authors to have the opportunity to connect with their community.

Christi Stevens is president of The Friends of The Mount Airy Public Library.

On final approach and coming in for a landing soon at the Mount Airy/Surry County Airport will be the second installment of an event organizers hope will be a long-term addition to the local landscape.

Tamsen Beroth and Speedology Lifestyle Solutions, LLC are returning on Saturday, June 11 for the 2nd Annual Mount Airy/Surry County Airport Auto Show with the show vehicles directly on the tarmac of the airport while it remains open to air traffic.

Just as last year, the event is meant to be a family friendly destination for car enthusiasts of all stripes to come together and enjoy a common interest. Whether muscle cars, street racing, import, domestic, high-end performance, classic restorations, motorcycle, or even something unique – all will be welcome to show and view as planes come and go.

To combat some of the heat and humidity of the mid-day, she has moved her event forward an hour, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. “It’s not a ‘You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.’ If people are having a good time and enjoying themselves, we can stay longer,” she said.

There will be contests and trophies for the show cars including Best in Show and People’s Choice. The trophies are being made by Mount Airy High students in the Career & Tech Education (CTE) program under Garrett Howlett.

Beroth offered special thanks to Olivia Sikes, director of CTE, and Kevin Joyce, coordinator for Learning Enhancement and Global Partnerships, for helping bring the schools in on the project.

The price has been reduced from the previous show, it is $20 per show car which includes the fees for all the people in that car. General admission will be $5 each for those who are not showing. A rain date has been set that will not be needed, thanks to the power of positive thinking, for the following Saturday, June 18.

Knowing no such event is complete without the eats, the fly in auto show will be featuring food trucks including Cilantro & Tacos and Lobster Dogs. The Dapper Bean coffee truck and Opie’s Candy Store are also slated to be in attendance.

Beroth remembers the fun of going to auto shows in her youth, and her desire is to land some of that magic at the airport. The host location for the event was chosen again to accommodate take-offs and landings during the auto show and to highlight an often-overlooked economic driver for the area.

On the last attempt, the auto show was mired by hit or miss precipitation that kept some from coming to the event, and certainly reduced the numbers of takeoffs and landings.

However, when the sun popped through it was time to take to the skies. When the rumble announced an engine had fired up, quickly a line of folks formed next to the runway to watch the single engine prop plane take off.

For many, they only see the Mount Airy/Surry County airport on the way in and out of town, so to be on the tarmac and a stone’s throw from a taxiing plane was indeed a deviation from the norm. The engine powered up further and the plane accelerated down the runway before lifting gently off the ground and entering the troposphere to the delight of kids and the young at heart below.

Returning for another trip is Mayberry4Paws as the community partner for the event, and Beroth is thrilled to be supporting them again. She loves to give back and has a soft spot for animals, “Can someone benefit from it? Animals, babies, kids – anyone who can’t take care of themselves, I’m all for it.”

One of many animal rescue groups in the county, Mayberry4Paws is a local non-profit whose goal is to underwrite the expenses of spaying and neutering animals with the end goal of reducing the number of animals entering the shelter. To increase the likelihood of a successful rehoming, they also work to ensure that pets who enter rescue programs are going to ones that are reputable.

The auto show has been a learning process she said, and lessons learned from the first attempt are guiding some new practices this time around. “We are going to have a better system for cars coming in, and for those who are here to watch or to show their cars.”

Those who are there to view only will go down the road to the left of the terminal and hangars to find the parking area set back from main gate. Last year, Beroth and her team shuttled those who needed a lift to and from the parking area. “We got some gas-powered golf carts this year, so we don’t run out of juice going up and down the hill” to the parking area.

She said there will also be an expedited ticketing system where folks can purchase tickets beforehand to skip the line at the gate, another way she is seeking to improve the experience. Even the sharp looking flyer for this year’s event will feature a QR code that can ease in the purchase of tickets even more.

ELKIN — Plans have been announced for the Reevestock Music Festival in Elkin, which will feature Hiss Golden Messenger, a Grammy-nominated band specializing in Indie folk, blues, alternative country and country rock sounds.

Reevestock, now in its 11th year, has grown into a two-day musical celebration held in both downtown Elkin and the town’s Hidden Amphitheater.

The grassroots festival is slated for Aug. 5-6, with early bird tickets now on sale, according to information from Sam Tayloe, its director.

Reevestock is a signature annual event for Elkin which also draws music fans from throughout the Carolinas and beyond, festival organizers say.

The bulk of activities will take place during its second day on Aug. 6, a Saturday, at Elkin’s Hidden Amphitheater a privately owned entertainment venue with a main stage featuring a gazebo surrounded by a running stream with connected waterfalls.

Hiss Golden Messenger, led by Durham-based songwriter MC Taylor, will be the featured act that day, scheduled to perform at 8:05 p.m. Taylor conceived the name Hiss Golden Messenger for the folk music group, which has been described in the Washington Post as eliciting both biblical serpents and the white noise of cassette tapes.

Its 2019 release “Terms of Surrender”was nominated for the Best Americana Grammy Award.

“Sanctuary,” a single emerging in 2021, additionally has gotten much airplay.

Also slated to perform on Aug. 6 are Momma Molasses (1 p.m.), Handmade Moments (2:15 p.m.), Dreamroot (3:40 p.m.), host band Time Sawyer (5 p.m.) and Daniel Donato (6:30 p.m.).

Reevestock will kick off on Aug. 5 with the Downtown Get-Down Block Party at 5:30 p.m. in Elkin. The free outdoor party to launch the festival is to include music by Luke Mears and Robert Holthouser, billed as a “guitar-driven blues-influenced singer/songwriter duo.”

Reeves Theater will be open for drink purchases and food trucks are slated to be on hand for dinner.

After the block party, a ticketed show at the Reeves Theater will feature Stillhouse Junkies and Clyde Williams, with festivities continuing with a free late-night jam at Angry Troll Brewing featuring Pennsylvania’s Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers.

Cindy Baucom has been tapped to serve as emcee for the festival. She is a broadcaster, producer, promoter, singer, musician, writer and photographer whose radio show, “Knee-Deep in Bluegrass,” airs weekly in nearly 100 markets.

Organizers promote Reevestock as a relaxed, family friendly festival that features children’s activities during daylight hours, plenty of shade and free nearby parking along with free shuttle service.

Local vendors will offer food, beer and wine.

The festival benefits the Reevestock Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships to seniors at Elkin, East Wilkes and Starmount high schools seeking to continue their education through any four-year, two-year or technical program.

Ticket sale and other information is available at https://reevestock.com/

A ribbon-cutting was celebrated on Friday, May 13 to celebrate the opening of a new Coldwell Banker Advantage location, followed by a community-focused open house on Saturday featuring BJ’s Snack Shack food truck, music, and games.

“We are excited to be at this new centralized location. The space is very modern and fully equipped to serve our agents and clients,” said Suprena Fay, broker of record at the Mount Airy office.

The building at 1191 West Lebanon Street was erected in 2005 by JG Coram Builders for Webb Associates Interiors. Anne Webb is a trained interior designer for residential and commercial projects. She loves being in Mount Airy and has relocated her business next door to 1217 West Lebanon Street.

Coldwell Banker Advantage is part of the Coldwell Banker Advantage Family of Companies with approximately 1,900 agents, 57 offices, throughout the Triangle, Triad, Lake Gaston, Kerr Lake, Fayetteville, Southern Pines & Pinehurst, Wilmington, New Bern and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, marketplaces.

As the sestercentennial rolls along, the Surry 250 bus tour is preparing to tour the historic sites of Dobson and Northwestern Surry County.

In a newly announced change, Nathan Walls of the county manager’s office advised that the bus fare for the remaining three Surry 250 tours will be waived. A free lunch will still be provided, so the time has never been better to get on the bus and see the sights of Surry County from the cool confines of a tour bus.

“People are watching the dollars right now,” Marion Venable of the Surry County Historical Society said, “so this is wonderful that the county will help cover the cost.”

The date for the next tour is Saturday, May 28 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Arrival is 9:45 a.m. Buses will leave at 10 a.m.

Local historian Venable will be the tour guide for this event, and she advised tour stops for the Dobson and Northwestern Surry County leg of the tour include homes and sites around the historic Dobson downtown as well as the Allison tree.

She said other stops will include the Bartholomew Hodges home that was built in 1805 as well as a stop at Kapp’s Mill for a talk on its history and the loss of the dam.

A stop will be made to see the work being done at Isaac’s Mill before visiting the Edwards-Franklin House and Flat Top Primitive Church. “If time allows,” Venable said there may be some impromptu stops along the way. The tour will make its final stop at the Charlie Tucker house from 1914 which Emma Jean Tucker helped to restore.

All tours are to be provided by Black Tie Bus Charters and each will depart from the Surry County Service Center, 915 East Atkins Street in Dobson.

The sestercentennial celebration marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the county and had been on hold due to COVID-19. Due to rescheduling, it is technically no longer the sestercentennial but that will not stop the festivities.

There are still several events on the docket for the Surry 250 including two more bus tours and three more lecture series events.

Surry’s Natural Heritage – NC Trail Days, will be a presentation made in cooperation with the Elkin Valley Trails Association on Friday, June 3 at 4 p.m. The event will be held at the Elkin Public Library, 111 North Front Street, in Elkin, and is presented by Ken Bridle, ecologist/botanist with the Piedmont Land Conservancy.

Next will be a lecture on Native Americans of the Yadkin Valley to be held on Thursday, June 16 at 6:30 p.m. The Surry County Service Center, 915 East Atkins Street, Dobson will be the location for this lecture series event that is presented by professor Dr. Andrew Gurstelle of Wake Forest University.

Surry 250 will be taking it to the streets again with a bus tour of Elkin sites on Saturday, June 25 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This time the tour guide will be local historian Jason Couch.

Following the jaunt around Elkin, the bus tour will then tour Eastern Surry County historical sites on Saturday, Aug. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Venable will return as the tour guide for this final bus tour of the Surry 250 series.

The 250th anniversary of the founding of the county will wind down on Friday, Nov. 18, at 6:30 p.m. with the last of the lecture series events. Rounding out the lecture series is a presentation by Paul Brown, a musician, producer, radio host, and retired NPR reporter entitled “Surry County’s Traditional Music Legacy” in cooperation with the Surry Arts Council.

Hosting the final event will be the Historic Earle Theatre located at 142 North Main Street, Mount Airy.

More information can be obtained by visiting https://www.facebook.com/surry250.

— Update: As of Tuesday evening, the Surry 250 official Facebook page announced: “The bus tour for this Saturday, May 28 for Dobson/Northwestern Surry County has no more seats! Please sign up for the Elkin bus tour, scheduled for Saturday, June 25!”

Surry’s Sweetest, Type 1 Diabetes support group received a surprise donation from Sheriff Steve Hiatt at an event on May 14, 2022 at the Dobson First Baptist Church. Surry’s Sweetest is a support group for children living with Type 1 Diabetes and their families. The group is coordinated by the Diabetes Program at the Surry County Health and Nutrition Center.

Surry’s Sweetest began 10 years ago and was created as a partnership between Surry County Health and Nutrition Center and local school nurses. The support group is solely grant- and donation-funded and has been supported by the Surry County Health Foundation through the years. The group provides fun events and activities at no charge to participants and their families. Children make friends with other children living with Type 1 Diabetes, and it strengthens relationships between school nurses and families affected by Type 1 Diabetes.

The most recent event was held May 14 at the Dobson First Baptist Church. Children as young as age 3 through high school age attended with their families. Two area school nurses were also in attendance. At this event, Sergeant Jacob Wyse from the Surry County Sheriff’s Office, and father of Presley Wyse (who has Type 1 diabetes), allowed the children to get an up-close view of his patrol car. Joining Sgt. Wyse was Deputy Rachael Spainhour and her K-9 partner, Dixi. The attendees got to interact with Dixi and see her in action with Deputy Spainhour.

During the event, the group also received a surprise visit from Sheriff Steve Hiatt and his wife Rhonda who presented a donation of $1,000 to the group on behalf of the Surry County Sheriff’s Office. This is the second $1,000 donation from the sheriff’s office to Surry’s Sweetest.

Surry’s Sweetest leaders say they are grateful for all of the community support and welcomes children and families to join the group. For more information about Surry’s Sweetest, contact Kelly Whittington at 336-401-8419.

• Friday the 13th proved to be unlucky for a local business that was discovered broken into on that date and had property valued at $1,134 stolen along with an undisclosed sum of money, according to Mount Airy Police Department reports.

A pry tool was used to gain entry to Camping and Mobile Home Supply, a specialty store on Merita Street. This enabled the theft of the currency and an electronic cash register, a six-panel steel door, a Master Lock door lock, molding, a homemade screen steel door and dish rags.

• Damage put at $300 was discovered on May 12 at Riverside Park. The facility on Riverside Drive has been the site of a number of vandalisms in recent months, with the March 12 incident involving damage to locks on two doors to public restrooms.

• Brandon Michael Halstead, 26, listed as homeless, was jailed on May 9 on two counts of malicious conduct by a prisoner, a felony, along with misdemeanor violations of injury to personal property, assault on a female, possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana) and possessing marijuana paraphernalia.

Officers encountered Halstead at Walmart regarding the investigation of a domestic disturbance that had occurred earlier in the day at a location on Arlington Street where he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend, Brittany Michelle Bancroft, a resident of Milton Hollow Trail, by hitting her with his hands and fists. Minor injuries resulted.

As police attempted to gather information from him after being taken to the police station, Halstead is said to have grabbed a hard plastic case and hit himself in the head with it, breaking the case.

Officer Miles Caudle and Sgt. J.W. Watson restrained Halstead, who then spit on them, arrest records state. He also is accused of damaging fingerprint correction squares, with the drug items found on Halstead’s person as part of the arrest procedure.

He was confined in the Surry County Jail without privilege of bond in reference to the domestic-related offense and a $30,000 secured bond on the other charges. Halstead is to be in District Court on Monday.

• Angela Darlene Cumberlain-Oswell, 54, of 235 Lovers Lane, was charged with larceny on May 9 at Walmart, where she is accused of taking various merchandise valued at $430, which was recovered intact.

The long list of items included kites, a hand vacuum, an instant canopy, a shoe rack, a doormat, Olly energy gummies, clothing, a pet cleanup product, washcloths and more.

Cumberlain-Oswell is scheduled to appear in Surry District Court on June 27.

• Multiple vehicles were discovered on May 7 to have been broken into at a commercial/office building of NCFI Polyurethanes on Carter Street. Items including a Bluetooth headset, flashlight and straight-blade knife, valued altogether at $380, were stolen along with two gas cards.

In addition to NCFI Polyurethanes, Roy Gene Locke of Apostle Drive is listed as a victim of the crime.

In times of inflation and other economic uncertainty, at least there’s good news on the home front: Mount Airy residents are facing no property tax or utility rate increases in the next fiscal year.

The proposed general fund budget for 2022-23 totaling $18,437,250 — unveiled Thursday night by City Manager Stan Farmer — is actually about 24% higher than that adopted last June for the present fiscal year, $14.9 million, which ends on June 30.

And it is % higher than the adjusted spending plan for this year totaling $17,232,929 at last report, which includes additions made since the budget was adopted initially.

Despite this, municipal property owners will continue to be taxed at the rate of 60 cents per $100 of assessed valuation next year, under the latest plan, which is expected to produce revenues of $7.5 million.

“A large percentage of the revenue increase is due to the American Rescue Plan Act funding,” the city manager explained Thursday night when reading his budget message during a meeting of the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners.

The city was allocated about $3.2 million from that source in 2021 through legislative action in Washington designed to help states and localities recover from COVID, and must be reflected in the overall municipal budget even though local funding isn’t involved.

“This will enhance the services that the city will provide and will significantly impact our community through improvements to city-owned facilities,” added Farmer. He came to work in January after the retirement of Mount Airy’s longtime manager, Barbara Jones, and is involved in his first Mount Airy budget preparations.

Earlier this spring, Farmer had released a list of projects targeted for the federal funding mainly including major building and equipment needs. These total nearly $3 million, according to a revised breakdown presented Thursday night containing 19 line items altogether.

Among those proposed expenditures are projects in the city Parks and Recreation Department. These include $413,000 for the indoor pool HVAC/air system at Reeves Community Center, new pickleball and multi-use courts at Riverside Park ($200,000), building repairs ($91,000), bridge repairs on the Emily B. Taylor section of the Granite City Greenway ($100,000) and mowers/trailers ($32,000).

Another big-ticket item, $490,000, targets City Hall, constructed in the late 1970s, where needs include building repairs and seal coating and striping of parking lots.

Money also is recommended for fire-suppression grants to stimulate housing development in downtown buildings, with $105,000 earmarked for that purpose.

The budget proposes using $128,500 from Mount Airy’s fund balance, or savings, to finance the American Rescue Plan Act-designated projects.

Full-time municipal employees are recommended to receive a $1,500 raise for the next fiscal year.

Along with its general fund budget, Mount Airy maintains a separate budget for its water-sewer operations — which are supported by user fees under an enterprise fund arrangement.

The water-sewer budget for 2022-23 totals $7,409,750.

Each year, the city government allocates money to outside agencies that, while not part of the municipality, are considered to play vital roles in the community.

Last year this included $87,500 for the Surry Arts Council, $103,650 to the Mount Airy Public Library, $10,000 for Mount Airy Museum of Regional History, $7,500 to the Mount Airy Rescue Squad and $10,000 for Mount Airy-Surry County Airport, a total of $218,650.

For 2022-23, this category has a new look from a budgetary standpoint, with only the rescue squad ($7,500) and airport ($20,000) in the mix.

In lieu of a special appropriation, $206,996 is proposed for much-needed repairs to the Andy Griffith Playhouse, which houses the Surry Arts Council, and $197,322 for the library under the same scenario. Both buildings are owned by the municipality although the council and library operations are not under the city umbrella.

No discussion was held on the preliminary budget Thursday night among the commissioners.

A public hearing on it is scheduled for the board’s next meeting on June 2 at 6 p.m. It was mentioned Thursday night that citizens can review the proposed budget at the Municipal Building.

The commissioners typically adopt the annual spending package sometime during June.

“And I look forward to the rest of the process,” Farmer said.

The Surry Early College graduation was held Friday evening in the gym on the campus of Surry County Community College.

This will not be the largest class that will cross a stage in the coming weeks, however there was still an impressive amount of both scholarship dollars and certifications for these graduates.

Principal Colby Beamer broke down some of the information on this graduating class of 65 students. A four year college or university is on the horizon for 43 of the graduates. Many students are staying in state and in the UNC system, SUNY-Albany was one of the further away college destinations to be found.

Community college is the path for 11 of the graduates with several staying local to attend Surry Community College. Nine of the graduates are planning on entering the workforce directly and are carrying with them certifications in areas like firefighting, mechatronics, information technology, and paralegal tech.

Evelin Lara took the road less traveled these days, and will be joining the Marines.

“All those credentials, that’s not normal,” Surry Community College president Dr. David Shockley said before honoring the students and staff of the Early College for again achieving a 100% graduation rate. “This is becoming an annual tradition.”

Britza Chavez-Arellano was the Senior Speaker and Matthew Gillespie was the “Super Senior Speaker” leaving the Early College with 97 college credit hours.

Senior Class President Nancy Garcia-Villa gave the farewell address to the students where she recounted troubling experiences that influenced her. She also noted those who struggled mightily to get to the United States so that she may be standing on the stage.

More complete coverage of the commencement ceremony and speeches will be found in Tuesday’s Mount Airy News.

Hundreds of local high school students were able to experience farm animals and agriculture up close and personal during Surry Community College’s Agriculture Day held April 22, a perfect celebration for Earth Day.

Students could interact with kune kune pigs, a quarter horse, sheep, cattle and goats. Educational booths were set up where students could see models of animal anatomy, paint flowerpots, and learn more about the college’s animal science, sustainable agriculture, and viticulture and enology programs.

A plant sale in the college’s greenhouse coincided with the event. Students watched lasso demonstrations and could even try their hand at learning the roping technique. Students enjoyed playing cornhole, racing adult size tricycles around the clocktower, and giveaways.

Sponsors for the event included Southern States, Carolina Farm Credit, Shelton Vineyards, and Wayne Farms. Local businesses were in attendance to provide information about educational and career opportunities within the agricultural industry.

Surry Community College offers a diploma and certificate in applied animal science technology and a certificate in sustainable agriculture. The college offers a degree and several certificates in viticulture and enology. SCC is registering students for summer and fall classes. Check surry.edu for additional information.

DOBSON — Unlike some other Republican primary victors Tuesday, incumbent Surry County Clerk of Court Neil Brendle doesn’t have to worry about Democratic Party opposition come November.

That’s because no candidates of that party filed for the office, leaving the victor of the three-way GOP primary as the person who will occupy it for the next four years through 2026: Brendle, who now is completing his first term.

“It’s just a blessing, I tell you,” he said Wednesday while at his post in Dobson, after reflecting on the primary outcome that was settled Tuesday night.

Based on unofficial results, Brendle received 3,166 votes, 43.63 percent of the total, compared to 2,232 for Teresa O’Dell (30.76 percent) and 1,859 for Melissa Marion Welch (25.62 percent).

O’Dell was a previous clerk who served one four-year term before being ousted in a Republican primary in 2018, while Welch also has many years of experience as a clerk’s office employee.

“I’ve been blessed,” the incumbent added in discussing factors affecting this year’s race. “I really thank God more than anything.”

Brendle, 45, also credits support of family members and friends for playing a role during the campaign, along with those he leads in Dobson.

“I’ve got a great staff,” he said. “That’s one reason why I worked so hard to get re-elected.”

Brendle said he was impressed by the positive tone of the clerk of court race overall, with “amazing” camaraderie shown among both his supporters and those of other candidates. “It was really a great atmosphere.”

Citing the rigors of the political process along with meeting the day-to-day demands of overseeing local court operations along the way, Brendle says he is now focused on resuming a normal routine.

“I’m looking forward to keep doing what I’ve been doing.”

This includes being part of a challenging transition involving a transformation of court operations across North Carolina to a paperless system. Brendle will be serving on a technology committee comprised of a small number of clerks around the state to help implement the change.

Court processes will become more streamlined and efficient as a result, he has said.

• A Mount Airy man was arrested last Friday on a charge of assault inflicting serious injury, according to city police reports.

Daniel Joseph Murphy, 39, of 321 Andrews St., is accused of striking Michael Roy Fielders, of the same address, in the head with a closed fist on May 10.

Murphy was confined in the Surry County Jail under a $1,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in District Court on June 6.

• A break-in was discovered Friday morning at the office of Dr. Sid W. Spencer in the 400 block of North Andy Griffith Parkway. Entry was gained after a pry tool was used on a door, with nothing listed as missing.

• Television sets and other items with a total value of $2,950 were stolen last Thursday during a break-in of a room at Blu-Vue Motel on Fancy Gap Road occupied by Daryl Sutters.

The felonious larceny netted $400 in cash; miscellaneous jewelry; a smart TV with a 55-inch screen and another with a 40-inch screen, makes/models unknown; a Sony PlayStation 3 console; miscellaneous clothing; and a Samsung flat-screen tablet computer.

• Damage to city property was discovered last Thursday at Riverside Park, where plumbing fixtures were targeted along with a granite park bench. The damage totaled $600. The incident last week is the latest in a series of vandalism crimes involving facilities at Riverside Park in recent months.

• Ricky Mitchell Sheets, 36, listed as homeless, was charged with second-degree trespassing on May 9, when he was encountered by officers while sleeping in a unit at Davis Rooms on West Pine Street.

An employee there advised police that the owner of the property had banned Sheets from that location, which was confirmed by checking a ban list at the police station.

Sheets was released under a written promise to appear in Surry District Court on June 6.

• A case involving a breaking and entering and impersonation of a law enforcement officer unfolded on the evening of May 6 at the residence of David Bello Aguilar and Jennifer Rose Aguilar on Westfield Road.

After entering the home without permission while identifying oneself as a officer, the suspect left without taking anything, police records indicate.

Along with its own vehicle fleet, the Mount Airy Rescue Squad is now housing one from another agency at its headquarters on Frederick Street — a simple gesture that will pay big dividends for area hospitals and patients.

This involves a partnership forged between the rescue squad and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist AirCare in Winston-Salem.

Although the term “AirCare” is being used, the squad won’t be accommodating one of the helicopters for which the air ambulance program is best known, but aiding its ground-based Critical Care Transport Service instead.

For the first time ever, that program now has a full-time ambulance and crew stationed in Surry — available to transport area patients who require treatment at larger facilities including Wake Forest Baptist Health or hospitals in Durham or Charlotte.

This service not only will benefit hospitals in this county but others in Wilkes and Alleghany counties and also in Virginia.

Meanwhile, it will free up ambulances of the Surry Emergency Medical Service to respond to active emergency calls rather than being tied up with out-of-county transports from hospitals.

Based on comments at Tuesday’s gathering, this is resulting from county officials relinquishing a longtime franchise role that required such trips to be undertaken by the EMS, and allowing Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist AirCare to take on that task.

“This keeps our trucks in the county running 911 calls,” Surry Director of Emergency Services Eric Southern explained Tuesday.

A grand opening to celebrate the new partnership was held Tuesday at the squad headquarters, featuring a ribbon cutting, with about 25 representatives of both it and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist AirCare attending along with other interested parties. The arrangement actually began on March 1.

“They were looking for a location,” squad Assistant Chief Corey Scearce said of AirCare officials’ desire to maintain its unit locally.

The squad had an open bay at its facility, so the partnership worked out all around, Scearce added.

While the sparkling new AirCare ambulance based at the Mount Airy Rescue Squad isn’t meant to be deployed for emergency calls, its presence in this strategic point in the region will reduce times needed to reach and transport hospital patients. That could result in lives being saved, officials say.

The new arrangement also is more economical, reducing trips that normally might be made from Winston-Salem to outlying areas and back — to which the unit housed in Mount Airy can more quickly respond.

“It’s made a huge impact in the region,” AirCare Assistant Program Manager Mack Tolbert said during Tuesday’s event.

In one recent two-week period, the vehicle logged 2,500 miles.

The ground-transport ambulance — a Ford F-450 model costing $280,000 — is equipped with four-wheel drive to better negotiate snowy mountain roads that could be encountered during its various runs to pick up patients in far-flung sections.

Steve Scott, a local businessman who has been a member of the squad’s governing board for 25 years and now serves as its president, praised the win-win situation represented by its agreement with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist AirCare.

“This is wonderful,” Scott said Tuesday.

Three seats on the Surry County Board of County Commissioners were up for grabs on election night with Chairman Bill Goins, Vice Chairman Eddie Harris, and Commissioner Mark Marion all mounting successful defenses of their seats from challengers.

Put away the patriotic bunting and yard signs because the campaign season for Harris and Goins is now complete, neither have a Democratic challenger for their seat in the general election. Marion will face off against Ken Badgett, one of only three Democrats running for local office, in the fall.

There were races of note to be found up and down the ballot, but it was the sizeable field for the United States Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Sen. Richard Burr that undoubtedly was the biggest draw across the state. In Surry County 7,345 votes were cast in that Senate race. Rep. Virginia Foxx’s victory against her challenger brought in a total of 7,357 votes by comparison.

Locally, it was Commissioner Eddie Harris who had the big win last night with 5,853 votes over Elkin’s Tessa Saeli with 1,220. It is noteworthy that he brought in the most votes of any candidate in either party across the county – Rep. Foxx was next with 5,664, North Carolina House Representative Sarah Stevens with 5,494, and Rep. Ted Budd with 4,094.

Such a large vote total for Harris, yielding 82.75% of the vote, is a sign that his message of conservatism resonates with the people in his district who continue to send him back to Dobson as their representative.

There has been talk about Harris running for office at a higher level, but he gave a diplomatic response that while he has been approached, he has no current plans, adding that he would not discount anything and was keeping an open mind.

Now though, Surry County remains his focus, “I am happy just being a plain ole simple working man county commissioner.” For allowing him the chance represent them again, he thanked his constituents for the “overwhelming vote of confidence. I’ll never let you down.”

Chairman Bill Goins retained his seat garnering a total of 4,094 votes. Second place Steven Odum brought in 1,671 and Walter D. Harris 1,330. “It’s kind of tough when you’re in a three-person race,” he said by phone Wednesday, “but my hat is off to all the people who supported me and worked for me. Also, to the people working the polls.”

Commissioner Mark Marion admitted Wednesday that he had been feeling some heat of late. “I was nervous, I was a little anxious to see how the citizens would respond. We sent a clear message though,” he said alluding to the recent pressures that have been building on the board from the right flank of their own party.

Marion held off Landon Tolbert with 4,674 votes to 2,444. “I wish him nothing but the best, he’s a fine young man. I admire his courage and I thank him for running a clean race,” Marion said.

Previously Marion and Goins had each expressed a desire to depart the board of commissioners after this, what will be their second terms each. Goins said that “right now” he has no plans to run for office again, “I’m confident we’re going to have some good people to step up” and run for the board of commissioners in the future.

Marion spoke similarly post primary, saying that he currently has no plans to run again but, “Who knows what the future holds for Surry County?” He left the door propped open ever so slightly for another run saying if in four years he is needed, “Why wouldn’t I want to?”

A breakdown of the vote totals for these three races show that the Surry GOP was able to turn out around a third of their registered voters. County board of elections figures last updated May 16 show an estimate of 21,643 registered Republicans in the county. Democrats have a registered 10,148, while 14,987 are shown as registered Independents, and 215 Libertarians.

Students in Dr. Kathleen Fowler’s Writing Composition courses at Surry Community College’s Pilot Center recently had a hands-on opportunity to make writing a fun activity when tie-dyeing became a lesson in writing directions.

“The purpose of the project was to teach the students how to break down a complicated process into steps and write about it clearly, so others can understand and follow that same process. We call this type of writing process analysis,” Fowler said.

The instructor and students first talked about the steps involved in making a tie-dye design and had fun thinking about creative projects ranging from the usual T-shirts to other accessories such as hats, bags and socks. The students then tied their items and applied the colors. When the process was completed, each student wrote out the precise steps they followed to make their unique designs.

“The tie-dye project is an excellent way for the students to draw upon their individual learning styles. Many of them are very strong visual and kinesthetic learners which means that they understand and retain information better if they can see it applied and do it for themselves,” Fowler said. “All of the students were wholeheartedly involved in the project and that is reflected in the quality of their writing.”

An anonymous student wrote that one of the aspects of the class that helped them learn was Dr. Fowler’s “allowing us to relate back to what we’ve experienced as a person along with providing fun activities.”

The students who participated in the project are Liannette Chavez, Jamariah Lowery, Nick Lowery, Abby McHone, Logan Mitchell, Maria Chilton, Cadence Lawson, Ella Pearson, Angelle Phipps, Savanna Raths, Kenzie Shoffner Kyndal Talton, Chloe Ann Tew, Kaleigh Vaught, Jocelyn Vosher and Alisha Wineset of Pilot Mountain; Layton Allen, Morgan Bryant, Alyson Huybert, Mary Inman, Christina Seawell, Katherine Stevens and Brianna Whitaker of Pinnacle; Mallory Martin and Kaitlyn Wall of Westfield; America Chavez-Cabrera, Megan Hutchens and Sarah Taylor of Mount Airy; Olivia Doton and Jackie Dezarn of Siloam; Belle Bullington, Rose Craven and Emma Hutchens of Shoals; Citlali Martinez-Arellano of Holly Springs; Arianna Murray of Winston-Salem; and Alexander Arreola-Galvan of South Ridge.

Surry Community College offers many English courses each semester, and registration is currently open for summer and fall classes. Contact Student Services at 336-386-3264 or studentservices@surry.edu for additional information.

Deena Rhodes’ and Janna Blakeney’s eighth grade science classes recently worked in teams to build an effective igloo for their penguins (ice cubes). Each team had limited money to “buy” supplies from their teacher. Effectiveness is measured after applying heat for 25 minutes.

While the city council makeup won’t officially be determined until a Nov. 8 general election, the situation through this week’s primaries ensures the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners will welcome at least two new faces — and possibly a third.

With his last-place finish Tuesday in a South Ward race also involving Phil Thacker and Gene Clark, present At-Large Commissioner Joe Zalescik will be off the board at year’s end. Under the city’s non-partisan system, only the top two candidates in a primary advance to the general election.

Unofficial totals showed Zalescik, who was appointed to the at-large seat only last September to fill a vacancy, with 377 votes. He was seeking the South Ward position now held by Steve Yokeley, who was running for the at-large post.

As the candidate filing period for the primary got under way, Zalescik and Yokeley agreed to run for each other’s seats. This was due to a desire by Yokeley to possibly serve only a short time, which winning the at-large seat would allow since that involves filling an unexpired term of only two years.

On the other hand, the South Ward winner will have a full four-year term, which Zalescik sought.

But that was derailed by Thacker, a former longtime member of the Mount Airy Board of Education, who won Tuesday’s South Ward primary with 892 votes, 51 percent of those cast, and Clark. The latter’s 466 were good for second place and a ballot spot in November.

Meanwhile, Chad Hutchens won a primary for a North Ward seat on the council now held by Commissioner Jon Cawley, who opted to run for mayor this year instead of defend the office he has held since 2008. Cawley finished second in a mayoral primary Tuesday and will square off against the primary winner, Mayor Ron Niland, this fall.

Hutchens, 45, amassed 539 votes, edging out city government “watchdog” John Pritchard, who received 486. Farther down the ballot were a former city school board member, Teresa Davis Leiva, with 417 votes, and Joanna Refvem (an even 300).

The possible third element in the council shakeup involves Yokeley, who was first elected to the board in 2009. He finished second in a three-person primary for the at-large seat won by Deborah Cochran, a popular former radio personality locally who previously served as mayor and at-large commissioner and now works in the educational field.

Cochran, 60, drew 787 votes Tuesday (44 percent of the total cast), with Yokeley getting 524 and Tonda Phillips, 466.

Yokeley now will face Cochran in November in the race to become the city’s at-large representative.

Thacker believes his primary victory resulted from basic values.

“During this election, I have tried to stress the importance to be honest, to be conservative with our money (budget), have a positive attitude and treat everyone with respect,” he commented Wednesday.

“Of course, I am very pleased with the outcome of the election,” added Thacker, 67, who is retired from Renfro Corp., with which he worked in an engineering capacity. “I am blessed from all of the support I received.”

He reiterated Wednesday one of his goals voiced during the campaign in addition to exemplifying conservatism and honesty. “We also need to seek opportunities to establish new jobs.”

Thacker advised that in advancing toward the general election “I want to continue talking with the community, learning about the needs and the direction of Mount Airy.”

He mentioned that “it was great seeing so many voters out yesterday at our primary.”

Deborah Cochran’s successful election showing on Tuesday stemmed from genuine concerns for rank-and-file working folks expressed during the campaign and the need to keep taxes low as possible, she believes, a hallmark of hers during previous city government service.

“I think my views resonated with voters due to my history and experience,” Cochran asserted.

“The USA is nation of inflation, and I wonder how most people are surviving — grocery inflation is real,” she added. “Taxpayers live within their means and now more than ever government, on every level, must do the same.”

In looking ahead to the general election, “I will continue to be an advocate for citizens,” Cochran pledged.

The at-large primary winner had issued a general statement Tuesday night in which she thanked local native and Grammy-winning singer Donna Fargo for a role she played in the campaign on Cochran’s behalf.

“I would like to thank the voters for taking it to the streets and showing their strong support and continued confidence in me during the primary,” it reads. “I would like to thank my good friend, Donna Fargo, for recording radio commercials.”

Cochran also referred to Fargo’s signature hit single recorded in the 1970s, “The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA.”

“We both agree Mount Airy is the best hometown in the whole USA,” Cochran remarked.

Chad Hutchens is a career law enforcement professional who now is a sergeant with the Surry County Sheriff’s Office, heading its school resource officer unit.

“I think that the key to our success during the primary was what we will continue to do and that is to be a part of our community,” Hutchens listed as a factor behind the strong showing on Tuesday from his perspective and that of supporters.

“We feel that our citizens want representation from those that are involved and a part of our great community,” he added. “We will continue to be involved and engaged with the citizens.”

In proceeding toward the general election, his campaign will maintain “our focus and vision of fiscal responsibility, community and economic development and representing the citizens of Mount Airy and city employees,” Hutchens mentioned.

The Ararat Ruritan Club has sprung into action this spring, with lots of community service activities keeping the membership hopping.

Four members of the club braved the cold, windy, first Saturday of Spring and picked up trash alongside Ararat Highway, gathering 14 40-gallon bags of litter.

A barn quilt painting class was held in Aprilwith lots of spring designs provided by Lisa Martin, owner/operator of The Wormy Chestnut.

During the club’s March bingo, players donated items for the Redemption House-Surry for an extra coverall ticket. During the monthly business meeting, representatives from the organization presented their purpose and vision for the house, which among many other things, houses men who are recovering addicts. The collection of donated items were given to the house to help with their ministry.

The Ruritan club building is used in many ways — as a site for fundraisers, as well as being available for tent for reunions, showers, birthday parties, or other get-togethers.

On May 21 a cruise-in is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. for classic cars, trucks and local police, fire and rescue vehicles. Concessions will be available. Hot dogs will be served at the cruise-in and during the Jackpot Bingo later that evening. Doors open at 5 p.m. for the 6 p.m. bingo.

The club meets on the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.. The public is invited to visit and help the club help the community meet its needs. Follow the group on Facebook to keep up with the club’s activities.

Ron Niland said Wednesday that no magic formula or secret ingredients were responsible for his victory in Mount Airy’s mayoral primary, just a simple focus.

“I tried to run a very positive, forward-thinking campaign,” Niland said of Tuesday’s outcome in which he received 811 votes to defeat two challengers, North Ward Commissioner Jon Cawley (695) and former At-Large Commissioner Teresa Lewis (291).

This was the just preliminary for the main event, however, the November general election in which Niland and Cawley will go head to head.

Under the municipality’s non-partisan election system, a primary is held when three or more candidates seek a particular office, which narrows the field to the two top vote-getters.

“I was pleased with the results,” Niland — who had been appointed mayor in 2021 to fill the seat previously held by David Rowe — said of Tuesday’s primary and receiving 45 percent of the votes, “and look forward to November and hopefully we can win (then).”

The primary figures are technically unofficial at this point, awaiting a canvass.

With the tendencies of primaries to spread out the balloting — among three candidates in this case — a different dynamic is in play when the contest boils down to two.

Niland said he has “no idea” how the support garnered by Lewis affected that for either him or Cawley, but said his outlook moving ahead doesn’t change — “just positive.”

His emphasis on the positive could be viewed as a response to Cawley going on the offensive against Niland in the latter stages of the campaign.

This included being openly critical of the mayor’s handling of a recent 4-1 vote by the commissioners effectively allowing more outside dining and drinking of alcoholic beverages downtown, and an apparent memory lapse by the mayor during that process.

Niland declined Wednesday to address whatever negative or other role this might have played during early voting and at the five city polling stations on Tuesday.

“I’m not into that…to that side of it,” he responded. “I just want to serve my community with honor and integrity.”

The mayor did say he believed his experience in government, including being a former city manager in Mount Airy and serving as a consultant to other municipalities, played a role.

He further indicated that setting forth a vision for Mount Airy — evidenced by his formation of committees by that name to explore the future of economic development and other key areas locally — seems to have struck a chord with citizens.

The ultimate goal involves taking steps to make a great city even better and maximizing its potential, he explained Wednesday.

While on the campaign trail, Niland listed the two most important issues facing Mount Airy as housing and economic development. “How we deal with these will affect how we live, work and play going forward,” he predicted.

Niland added Wednesday that he appreciates everyone’s support and those who voted in the election overall, even if not for him.

When asked how his focus might change for the November showdown, the mayor said “it doesn’t at all.”

Cawley could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

© 2018 The Mount Airy News