The North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Adult Correction is seeking information on the whereabouts of the following individuals:

• Jonas Garcia, 26, a hispanic male is wanted on probation violations and is on probation for felony conspiracy and felony to sell & deliver cocaine;

• Jennifer Nichole Sawyers, 43, a white female is wanted for failing to appear in court on probation violations and is on probation for use/possession of drug paraphernalia, no liability insurance and display revoked tag;

• Marbel Garcia Alberto, 34, a hispanic female wanted on probation violations and is on probation for child abuse and driving while impaired level 1;

• Terry Lee Bramlett, 48, a white male is wanted on probation violations and is on probation for felony possession of a schedule II controlled substance and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.

View all probation absconders on the internet at http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi and click on absconders. Anyone with information on any probation absconders should contact Crime Stoppers at 786-4000, county probation at 719-2705, or the Mount Airy Police Department at 786-3535.

The Surry County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information on the whereabouts of the following people:

• Gabriel Delgado, 39, a white male wanted for felony possession of methamphetamine, felony financial card fraud, felony identity theft, felony flee to elude arrest with motor vehicle, misdemeanor unauthorized use of motor vehicle, resisting a public officer, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and several additional traffic charges;

• Bobby Lee Hawks, 35, a white male wanted for felony possession of firearm by a felon, felony discharging a firearm in a motor vehicle to incite fear, along with several failure to appear charges including several felonies;

• Sparkle Harris Hughes, 35, a Black female wanted for felony possession of a counterfeit instrument and felony obtaining property by false pretense as well as failure to appear for misdemeanor charges and a criminal summons for worthless check;

• Thomas Michael Watts Jr., 49, a white male wanted for felony identity theft, and felony larceny of chose in action.

Anyone with information on these individuals should call the Surry County Sheriff’s Office at 401-8900.

Surry County Schools ALL IN on 2022-23

In a draft statement of its legislative goals for the coming year the Surry County Board of County Commissioner have identified a one-quarter cent increase to the county’s sales tax as their No. 1 priority.

To make this happen will require a change in the rules governing what a county can do with such a sales tax increase under Article 43 of the state’s general statutes. That article sets conditions on such tax revenues being used for local transportation projects. It is in this area that the commissioners are seeking remedy from the General Assembly to allow for more flexibility in the issuance and use of such a tax increase. Surry County voters would then see the issue on a ballot before seeing any changes to a receipt.

This is not the first time the board has discussed levying an additional sales tax and Commissioner Larry Johnson made it an even more appetizing target when he attached to such a change a potential $3 million windfall for the county.

Vice Chair Eddie Harris mentioned an increase of one quarter-cent to the sales tax rate when County Manager Chris Knopf asked the commissioners to consider what their future legislative goals should be. Commissioners Johnson and Van Tucker agreed with their colleague that they would like to explore raising the sales tax in the county and the board went on the discuss internet sales tax and retail tax revenue.

It was the board’s consensus that the extra quarter-cent sales tax shall be the top legislative priority for the county and Knopf said he would draft the statement as such. The priorities list will be shared with both the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners as well as Surry County’s delegation in Raleigh.

Harris said, “We have had this for many, many years as a goal and I think it is a good option for counties like us. Instead of putting all the burden for revenue on the property owners, which we are very glad to have the property tax rate we do but having the option to (levy an additional quarter cent sales tax) is another tool in our kit that would allow us to keep property taxes down.”

Tucker surprised some with insight into who is paying what portion of property taxes in the county. “There is less than 50% of the people which actually paid property tax. That’s hard to imagine, but if you ask the tax office, they will tell you it is that percentage – or lower. So, it takes a whole lot of burden off a whole lot of people who are paying the biggest part of the load, so I echo the sentiments,” of Commissioner Harris.

“I agree, this is an interesting economy, and we know that inflation is here, but our internet sales have continued to be great,” Tucker said suggesting the inflationary impacts on store shelves may be harder to stomach than prices seen while sitting on the couch in slippers at home. “I think people are still going to buy and they are going to buy from their homes, this is a way to capture some of that activity. It was well worth the effort when a previous board passed a resolution to do a special quarter cent tax. It has been a big boost for the county taxpayers.”

Harris noted that the proposed sales tax increase has been on their radar for some time and is seen as a more palatable and equitable to raise taxes in the county. Not everyone is paying property taxes, as the 40% number cited by Tucker reflects. Everyone from Surry County’s lifelong residents to Mayberry weekenders getting lost on the Sonker Trail will pay a quarter-cent sales tax increase, none will be spared meaning none will be unfairly taxed either.

“Sales tax is the fairest tax, and everybody pays it — the deadbeats, the dope dealer, the working people, the just, and the unjust pay the sales tax. You can’t keep soaking homeowners, especially at a time like this. To put the burden on homeowners just doesn’t seem fair to me, and people who own large tracts of land that are in agriculture or forestry get the present use value. So, it’s the homeowner who gets the stick and that is what the sales tax does is help that situation,” he explained. Harris, among the most fiscally conservative members of the board, has routinely been an advocate for fairness on behalf of home or landowners.

With tourism on the rise in Surry County, the potential revenue to be gained from a one-quarter cent sales tax increase could add big bucks into the county’s coffers.

“Commissioner Tucker, as I recall when you and I came on the board that quarter-cent sales tax increase would have yielded $2 million, now it looks like… we are going to hit right at $3 million,” Johnson noted.

Tucker agreed and said he has been astonished at that time to find the same one-quarter cent sales tax increase in Wilkes County would have netted them only one-fourth the economic impact the same sales tax increase would have in Surry County. “I couldn’t believe it and I verified it with a town manager at that time.”

Harris chimed in that the estimate for Wilkes County at that time had been a $500,000 increase to the county’s coffers from the same sales tax increase.

“With Highway 52, our I-74 connector, and I-77 interchange and with our municipalities as they are, and the sales that they create, and the tourism they bring in: Surry County has a lot to be thankful for on retail sales. A quarter-cent on capturing some of those gains is really big and has been really big for this fiscal budget for this board,” Tucker said.

Surry County has enjoyed a low and stable property tax rate for many years and the board said they want to keep it that way. A quarter-cent change to the sales tax rate, they feel, would be the more egalitarian way for to the county raise additional funds that may benefit all residents.

The Shepherd’s House and Helping Hands will be holding on Sunday what officials there hope will become an annual fundraising event — Freedom Fest.

Although Shepherd’s House Executive Director Jana Elliot said she and others have been working on the event since spring, there was quite a bit of last-minute shuffling caused by the forecast of rainy weather, with the event now set for Cross Creek Country Club from 2 to 7 p.m.

“Weather was just a huge factor in making the change,” she said, referencing plans to hold the gathering at RagApple Lassie Vineyard in Booneville. Elliot said the owners there had offered the facility free of charge, but Sunday’s weather forecast of rain and cool temperatures forced the late scrambling.

“Cross Creek came to our rescue,” she said. “They stepped right up and said ‘We will help you out.’ The entire country club has graciously been opened up to us. We have been treated like royalty for sure.”

The event will feature music by three different acts — Teddy Barney Castle, Red Dirt Revival, and the Crossroads Band — along with musical guest Phil Ray who will be performing between the band sets.

Music is far from the only offering.

“We have a big variety of things available to do,” Elliot said. There will be 16 vendors on hand, with antiques, wood designs, face painting for the kids, ceramics, yard crafters, and a host of other goods for sale.

There will also be three food trucks, as well as food and beverages available for purchase from the Cross Creek dining facilities. Freedom Fest will take place inside Cross Creek, although the outdoor patios and pavilions are available to those attending.

She said all proceeds will go to Shepherd’s House and Helping Hands, and she would like to see enough of a turnout to make this an annual fundraising event.

“We’ve got high hopes for it,’ she said.

Admission cost is $25 per person, $10 for those age 12 and younger. Cash and credit/debit cards will be accepted, and people simply pay at the entrance.

For more information, visit the Shepherd’s House Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=shepherd%27s%20house

DOBSON — Well over 100 runners from 23 schools competed in the second Millennium Charter Academy Cross Country Meet on Sept. 8.

Eighty high school-aged boys and fifty girls competed in 5,000-meter runs on Thursday. Public, private and home schools ranging from Independence, Va., to Jamestown, N.C. competed in the meet.

Elkin, Mount Airy, Surry Homeschool and White Plains Christian School represented Surry County in the meet. Other local schools competing included East Wilkes, Starmount, South Stokes and North Stokes.

Though Millennium Charter hosted the event, the Lions did not have any competitors in the high school races.

The boys ran first and Oak Hill Academy (Va.) came away with the team victory. Among schools with at least five boys competing, Oak Hill had finishes in the Nos. 3, 6, 8, 10 and 14 spots for a total of 41 points.

Forsyth Home Educators finished second with 56 points, Elkin was third with 57 points and Surry Home Educators finished fourth with 127 points.

Elkin’s Connor Ball had the highest finish of any local competitor, taking third place with a time of 18:32.61. Mount Airy junior Caden Ratcliff wasn’t far behind at fourth with a 5K time of 18:49.33. Of the 80 runners in the boys race, only five finished in less than 19 minutes and only seven finished in less than 20 minutes.

Mount Airy freshman Freddy Hernandez also beat the 20-minute mark with a seventh-place finish at 19:49.41.

Wheatmore’s Zach Hazelwood won the race with a time of 18:05.71, followed by High Point Christian’s Cole Johnson in second 18:19.08.

Results for local competitors in the boys race are listed below. Results are listed by finish, name, grade, school and then time.

15 Nathan Luther 9 Surry Home E 21:00.45

23 Steven Hendrickson 11 Surry Home E 21:59.86

49 Sam Steinbruegge 9 Surry Home E 25:29.69

51 Isaac Richland 9 Surry Home E 25:37.97

60 Noah Richland 9 Surry Home E 27:13.24

63 Caleb Luther 11 Surry Home E 27:54.59

65 Daniel Bunke 10 Surry Home E 28:06.89

Forsyth Home Educators won the girls team competition with 47 points. South Stokes was second with 66, followed by Wheatmore at 99 at Mount Airy at 103.

Forsyth also had a runner take the top spot. Senior Sami Portman was the only runner to finish in less than 22 minutes by crossing the finish line at 21:54.85.

A pair of Surry County runners rounded out the podium. Mount Airy freshman Brooke Haynes finished second at 22:49.29, and Elkin junior Ragan Speer finished third at 23:06.40.

Only nine girls finished before the 25-minute mark. In addition to Haynes and Speer, there were three other local girls to meet this standard: South Stokes’ Hayley Fultz at 24:12.22, Mount Airy’s Emilee Corn at 24:13.06, and Surry Homeschool’s Lindsay Easter at 24:44.39.

Results for local competitors in the girls race are listed below. Results are listed by finish, name, grade, school and then time.

9 Lindsay Easter 9 Surry Home E 24:44.39

30 Lydia Jarrard 12 Surry Home E 29:10.72

46 Maddie Gambill 9 Surry Home E 32:49.80

50 Alie Gullion 10 Surry Home E 35:56.08

DOBSON — Surry Central hosted its first cross country meet of the 2022 season on Sept. 6.

The Eagles came away with team victories in both the high school boys and girls’ competitions, while having the top finisher in the boys 5000-meter race.

Runners from four schools in the Foothills 2A Conference competed in the meet: Surry Central, North Surry, East Surry and West Wilkes.

For the boys, Surry Central took the first and third spots on the podium while North Surry occupied the No. 2 spot. Surry Central sophomore Brangly Mazariegos was the only runner to finish in less than 19 minutes, doing so in 18:55.52.

North Surry sophomore Miguel Vega clinched second place with a time of 19:31.05, and Central junior Ignacio Morales took third at 20:20.82.

The future is bright for the FH2A as only two of the top-11 runners in the boys competition were upperclassmen. There were no seniors, two juniors, six sophomores and three freshman.

Schools needed at least five runners in order to compete in the team competition. Only North Surry and Surry Central had enough runners, and Central took the advantage by a single point 27-28.

Full boys results are below and listed by result, name, grade, school and then time.

Each of the top three spots in the girls competition were occupied by a runner from a different school.

North Surry senior Cynthia Chaire won the 5,000-meter run in her first season with the team. Chaire posted a time of 23:34.51, which won the race by 15 seconds.

Surry Central senior Abigail Hernandez was the only other runner to finish in less than 24 minutes, taking second at 23:46.89. Next was East Surry sophomore Addison Goins at 24:15.75.

The Golden Eagles were the only team with at least five members, giving them the automatic win in the team competition. East Surry had four girls, and North Surry and West Wilkes each had three.

Unlike the famous line from a poem, “This is the way the world ends — not with a bang but a whimper,” the Koozies building demolition in Mount Airy has generated much noise and nary a whimper.

“I would say I’ve had lots of people who’ve called me to say they’re glad to see that thing coming down,” Mayor Ron Niland said Friday of the project that got under way this week to raze the dangerous structure at 455 Franklin St.

Housing and commercial uses are among the possibilities for the land left behind, Niland disclosed regarding what he painted as an expected happy ending to a long-troubling situation.

After years of inactivity at the site — accompanied by gradual deterioration of the building also bordering West Pine and North South streets — he and other observers appreciate the haste displayed there since its late-August sale to local businessman Bobby Koehler.

“I’m impressed that he’s moved so quickly,” City Manager Stan Farmer said Friday of the spot where a former private club called Koozies once operated — which now has been reduced to piles of rubble that crews were addressing Friday.

This was echoed by the mayor.

“I’m extremely excited and pleased with the progress Bobby Koehler’s making down there,” Niland added Friday.

Koehler owns Ultimate Towing and Recovery in Mount Airy, which is part of J&E Properties of North Carolina LLC based on Park Drive, the official buyer of the Koozies building. It also acquired the former Mittman body shop during a public auction on April 1.

As was the Koozies structure, the old Mittman shop had been declared unfit for occupancy due to its unsafe condition along with a large red building beside Worth Honda.

City government officials were especially concerned about the Koozies location that was deemed the most dangerous of the three and had been the site of two fires in recent months linked to its occupancy by homeless persons.

In February, the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners voted to issue an ultimatum giving the Koozies building owner, National Decon Holdings of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, 90 days to either correct code violations there or raze the structure.

A failure to do so subjected it to being demolished by the city, and just before its recent purchase the commissioners had voted to seek bids from contractors to carry out the task of clearing the property. The municipality was poised to seize the land in court to help recover the cost involved.

Niland, as he had previously, commended the commissioners again Friday for their action in serving as a catalyst for the sale.

The injection of Koehler into the equation has been a plus, both city officials say.

“He’s pretty much a straight shooter,” Farmer said of Koehler doing what he promises on projects.

New use may be housing

Koehler has not disclosed publicly what the plans are for either the Koozies site or the former Mittman property, but shared some thoughts along those lines with the mayor.

“He’s looking at several things,” Niland related Friday, including possible commercial or residential projects.

“And all of them would be good additions.”

However, no firm decisions have been made at this point, according to the mayor, who is hopeful about what ultimately transpires.

“I want to commend Bobby Koehler for putting something of value there going forward, whatever that might be.”

Meanwhile, it is not known how long it will take to remove all the debris from the former Koozies property and when nearby streets that have been closed for the project might be reopened.

A second-half comeback fell one goal short for North Surry in a Sept. 7 home match against Starmount.

The visiting Rams built up a 2-0 lead by halftime of Wednesday’s match. The Greyhounds got on the board less than 30 seconds into the second half, but weren’t able to strike again despite the team’s collective improvement from the first 40 minutes of play.

Starmount improved to 5-1-1 with the victory, while North Surry dropped to 2-3.

“We are a very young team, so we’re trying to find our chemistry,” said North Surry coach Kevin Shore. “In the first half of tonight’s game specifically, we were off; we didn’t win very many 50-50 balls and our defense just got beat a few times. Our keeper did an outstanding job keeping us in the game.

“We kind of got our feet back under us and found a defensive lineup that would work for the second half. We had some good shots on goal, it’s just their keeper did a really good job of keeping them out.”

While Shore didn’t make any major schematic changes at halftime, he said that he and the team, “called it like it was,” during the break since the team wasn’t playing up to its potential.

Junior Edgar Vazquez led the charge in the second half and only needed 16 seconds to put one in the back of the net. The Hounds played with new energy in the half, but failed to equalize before the final whistle.

“We didn’t play North Surry’s style of soccer in the first half,” Shore said. “We did a better job of it in the second, we just couldn’t close out the game. I’m not upset with our effort in the second half because we took a lot of shots at the keeper, and there were some really good shots.

“Tonight came down to the fact that we just didn’t play well in the first half and that cost us.”

Even with a young team, North Surry has had moments in which everything clicked this season. The Hounds ground out a win over West Stokes in the season opener, had close games in both meetings with Starmount and defeated Alleghany 10-1.

Three Greyhounds – Vazquez, Hector Hernandez and Emiliano Calderon – recorded hat tricks against the Trojans. Salvador Rodriguez and Jonathan Lopez each added one goal in the win.

“The Alleghany match was one where we really put it all together,” Shore said. “We practiced well that week and were able to make good passes while spreading the field.”

Game experience is the No. 1 thing that North Surry needs to build chemistry between the experienced players and younger players, Shore said. When playing as a collection of individuals instead of a team, North Surry has halves like they did against Starmount.

The Rams came into Wednesday’s match riding a four-match winning streak. Starmount averaged 3.3 goals per match during the streak, which wasn’t hard to believe after seeing how many shots the team got off right out of the gate at North Surry.

Starmount peppered shots at the Greyhound goal, including one from Anthony Real that made it past everyone but hit the post, until Christian Maya scored in the 17th minute. An assist from Manny Ferretiz set Maya up for the goal.

The North Surry defense, anchored by keeper Josh Garcia, kept Starmount from running up the score in the first half. Starmount had 14 shots to North Surry’s seven in the first 40 minutes, but only scored twice.

The latter Ram goal game with just two minutes left in the half. Keeper Sebastian Rodriguez saved a shot from North’s Vazquez, then punted well-beyond the midfield line. A few opportune bounces set up Pablo Alvarez for a goal.

North Surry emerged from the halftime break looking like a different team. Vasquez’s strike 16 seconds in got the hounds on the board, then follow up shots from Olivio Vega and Bali Raya nearly gave the Hounds the edge. The Greyhounds took a 5-1 shot advantage in the second half and were able to keep pressure on the Rams’ back line.

“On our shots in the first half we did not strike the ball well,” Shore said. “Then in the second we struck the ball well and were getting more opportunities.”

Starmount regrouped by weathering the second-half storm of North Surry. Alvarez and Ricardo Mendoza each made threatening runs in the second half for the Rams, but struggled to put shots on target.

The Hounds also found it difficult to put shots on target late as the Rams switched their formation to a 4-4-2. By crowding an already narrow defensive third, Starmount took away the possibility for North to take shots from 30 yards and back. This played in the Rams’ favor and helped them hold on for the win.

“We didn’t play bad in the second half, we just didn’t play well in the first,” Shore told his team following the match. “We’re not doing bad, but we can’t come out and play a terrible half and expect to win ball games.”

Shore said he think that when North Surry enters conference play on Sept. 12 that the team will be much better off. By playing multiple matches a week, as opposed to a somewhat sporadic nonconference schedule, North will gain valuable game experience.

“We’re definitely getting closer to a starting lineup and finding where everyone fits best on the field,” Shore said. “The kids need some experience when it comes to the game situations. These are what we call growing pains. We’re going to be fine, we just need to get our feet under us a little bit.”

Goals: Christian Maya (ST) from Manny Perretiz assist 17’, Pablo Alvarez (ST) from Sebastian Rodriguez assist 38’ | Edgar Vasquez (NS) 41’

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/MTA090822V.pdf

Taking a risk – the definition of the word “risk” is “the possibility of loss or injury.” Business leaders have used risks to try new measures for growth. Brave. Strategic. Analytical. Determined. Those words definitely describe someone who would think on the terms of taking chances in order to solve a problem.

In the book of Judges, chapter 15, Sampson was a risk-taker against the Philistines. According to Scripture, Sampson had angered the Philistines by burning a field of grain. As a result, the Philistine leaders were in pursuit of Sampson. They invaded a Hebrew town of around 3,000 men, and insisted on the delivery of Sampson or face harsh punishment.

Philistines. Oppressive. Brutal. A maritime society that sailed from Crete and invaded Israel’s coastal communities in order to take over land for themselves. In order to dominate the nearby Hebrew villages, the Philistines raided the farms and removed any type of weapon that the farmers owned. Their blacksmith establishments were stripped of their sharpening instruments to force the farmers to travel into Philistine towns in order to sharpen farm tools, for a hefty fee.

As a result, life for the Hebrews was rather depressive. Unlike the Philistines, there was no national king. Each tribe had leaders that on occasions would meet together in case of national emergencies. There were a few prophets that would engage various tribes in prayer or military campaigns when needed. Each tribe has its own militia which had the right to call on the militia of neighboring tribes when security issues arose. They were free to travel and engage in business from one tribe to another until the Philistines became a force and often monitored their travel.

Although the Philistines were briefly mentioned in Exodus, very little was written about that nationality until the story of Sampson in the book of Judges. According to Jewish scholars, the Philistines must have sailed from Crete to the west coast of Israel between the years from Gideon’s leadership to the judgeship of Sampson, a period of around 75 years.

After the destruction of their grain fields by Sampson, the Philistines marched to Lehi, a town in Judah and demanded the location of Sampson. Three thousand men traveled to the rocks of Etam and delivered the message to Sampson, “Do you not know that the Philistines rule over us? What is this you have done to us?” (Judges 15: 11) They continued, “We have come to deliver you to the Philistines.”

Now, this passage seems to be rather interesting. Imagine 3,000 men in one place having a dialogue with Sampson about surrendering to the enemy. Think about that for a minute. If those men had remembered their Hebrew history, then they would have remembered that just 75 years prior, Gideon used 300 men to defeat a massive army, by just using torches and trumpets.

What if the dialogue included Hebrew history that reminded them that the number 3,000 in Hebrew meant, “God blesses?” What if, in their dialogue, they had asked Sampson to teach them how to use whatever was available to them, since they were forbidden to own weapons to defeat their enemy? What if they encouraged one another to do battle with their enemy and had asked for prayer for God’s intervention in the battle? What if they had said to Sampson, “Show us what to do and we will follow you into battle and regain the land that God promised us through Moses?” Would there had been a Delilah to tempt Sampson, or a Goliath to taunt Israel?

Obviously, we could only speculate at the outcome. However, remember that strong citizens help to forge strong leaders. One person cannot solve all problems because it takes support from all parties involved. What if we became more engaged in prayer and in service for our own community and nation? What would happen if we became more engaged in praying for our own local and state leaders? What if we prayed for our schools and businesses as we drive throughout our communities? We could only speculate at the outcome.

Wendy Carriker, of Mount Airy, was installed as the first vice president of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs in New Orleans, Louisiana, earlier this summer, for a two-year term extending from July 2022 through June 2024. During her tenure, she will travel to the organization’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., to complete federation business.

As first vice president, Carriker will serve as coordinator and liaison for state federation presidents and hold a seat on the club’s strategic planning committee, among other responsibilities.

Founded in 1890, General Federation of Women’s Clubs address issues affecting the well-being of women, children, and families. With clubs in every state and several countries, today’s nearly 70,000 members work strategically to draw attention to and prevent the persistent problems of domestic and sexual violence and child abuse. Members also undertake a wide range of community impact programs, including support of the arts, advancement of education, preservation of the environment, promotion of health and wellness, and engagement with civic affairs.

For Hope Trumpie, Saturday’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Mount Airy can dredge up some painful memories.

But the annual event also is a chance for her to share her story, and hopefully spread the word that the Alzheimer’s Association has vital information and help for those dealing with the disease. And the walk serves to keep the disease front and center in the public consciousness to keep research dollars coming in.

The basic definition of Alzheimer’s, according to the Oxford Dictionary, is that it is a “progressive mental deterioration” which leads to degeneration of the brain — eventually leading to dementia and death.

For people such as Trumpie, it is also a cruel disease which steals a loved one, a little bit at a time, as their ability to drive, shop, do all the basics of taking care of one’s self erodes. At some point, those suffering from the disease will even lose the ability to remember life-long friends and family members.

Trumpie has had to watch three people close to her go through that process before eventually passing away: her mother, a close family friend who she helped care for, and her sister, although her sister died from Lewy Body disease, another form of dementia.

With her mother, Trumpie said there were no major sudden changes that caused great concern at first.

“They were just subtle changes that a lot of times you’d write off as someone being in their early 80s,” she said recently. “But it wasn’t Momma, she wasn’t the type to make mistakes with finances, she wasn’t the type to forget things,” she said. “One summer, Daddy and I noticed she was forgetting things, she was repeating things which was really the big thing. She was still managing the household budget but there were things that were off.”

She had recently had knee replacement surgery, so they wondered if some of the issues were related to that, but her mom’s physician ruled that out.

Afterward she said was a gradual decline.

“For months, everything would seem fine, then there would be another turn. She would forget more things; she would get confused. She would be out driving and say, ‘I’ve never been here before,’ when she had been there many times. Or she might say ‘I wonder how so and so is doing, I haven’t seen them in months’ when she had seen them last week.”

Eventually, she said her mom’s forgetfulness became more serious.

“Then you’re riding with her, and you realize she can’t drive. That was the hard thing — taking away her driving. We had to hide her keys.”

Then came the inability to recognize people.

“She might talk with someone then say, ‘I don’t have a clue who that person is…and it was someone she had been sitting in a church pew with every Sunday.”

“And then, she forgot who we were.”

Trumpie said watching her mom fade meant every few months, or every few weeks, they would have what she called “A new normal.”

Her mom would ask questions about when her dad was going to pick her up — her father had been dead for 55 years at that point — or she might talk about her small family dog that had been dead for years, wondering where the dog was.

Sometimes, Trumpie said her Mom was, in her mind, a little girl again, or at some other point in her life, without any idea the years had gone by.

Trumpie said as if watching the deterioration of someone with Alzheimer’s or other dementia wasn’t bad enough, there are other stresses that go with caring for someone.

“If you’re working, if you’re having to work to pay your bills, you are always worried. How am I going to support my family and take care of my loved one?”

In her case, Trumpie said she was fortunate. She and her siblings, along with their dad, were able to handle most of the care giving issues, while her husband took on all of the household duties to free her to spend time with her mom.

Trumpie also worked for a company involved with dementia research, so she had access to information many others may not.

But it was still a stressful time.

“Take care of yourself, get some sleep and get some rest,” she advised those serving as caregivers. “Realize getting flustered is part of the game. They were there for you, they took care of you. Now you take care of them.

“Cherish every minute, try to take a deep breath, realize they are still your parent. They are lost somewhere, they are scared, they don’t know what’s going on, you just really have to be patient. It’s a virtue for sure, it’s easier said than done.”

Watching her mom fade was not the only time Trumpie dealt with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Two years earlier, in 2016, she said her sister died from Lewy Body Disease, which is a degenerative condition that is always fatal.

“It’s a fast-moving dementia that robs them of their cognitive ability, their speech, their ability to move, they lose everything. That’s very hard to work with,” she said. Initially, she said her sister was being treated for Parkinson’s, but they learned she had been misdiagnosed as her condition continued to deteriorate.

And there was a family friend.

Trumpie said her mom was serving as a caregiver for their friend when her mom became ill. After her mom passed away, Trumpie said she assumed the caregiver duties for their friend, watching the same progression of the disease.

Whether Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, she said diseases such as these are among the most difficult conditions on those around the person suffering from the affliction.

“It’s the most heart-wrenching of diseases,” she said. “You lose them over and over and over again. I can clearly remember exactly where I was the last time I heard my mother say my name. I don’t want anyone to go through that, to go through months and months and months without a parent knowing you.”

Despite some somber observances scheduled to be part of Saturday’s gathering, Trumpie said it’s also a time to support one another, to educate others about Alzheimer’s, and to raise money for research.

For her part, Trumpie said she and a number of her family members will be there walking and encouraging folks to donate money to the cause.

“Even if you can’t support us financially, support us through prayer…. just wear the color purple Saturday and think about all those caregivers going through what my family went through.”

Saturday’s walk is at Riverside Park, located at 350 Riverside Drive in Mount Airy. Check-in opens at 9 a.m. with an opening ceremony at 10 a.m. and a walk start at 10:30 a.m.

Mount Airy soon will be getting a full-time fire inspector, but funding the new position won’t require additional revenue above what the city Fire Department already is being allocated.

Fire Chief Zane Poindexter believes the addition will improve the level of service to the community, including a “huge boost” in customer service and providing for less wear and tear on fire engines along with adding needed manpower for emergencies.

He said Wednesday that the change involves new ground being broken by the Mount Airy Fire Department in terms of designating one individual to handle inspections at schools, restaurants, industries and other locations to ensure safety.

“The first one ever,” Poindexter said.

“We’ve had fire inspectors, but they’ve been firefighters, lieutenants and captains,” the chief said regarding how other department personnel have performed inspections along with their regular duties with engine companies.

The Mount Airy Board of Commissioners approved the creation of the position during a meeting last Thursday night.

“Our department and responsibilities continue to grow and with that the need to rethink certain aspects of our service delivery,” Poindexter stated in a three-page needs assessment that was presented to the commissioners making the case for the new job.

Its main responsibilities will include coordinating and maintaining various fire inspections and re-inspections for about 1,200 occupancies in the city limits, according to information from Poindexter.

In 2021, 426 company-level inspections were conducted which turned up 881 violations, according to an annual report for the Mount Airy Fire Department which also lists 101 re-inspections. Inspections are done in accordance with state code and insurance schedules, including every six months at all public and private educational facilities.

Places such as restaurants, churches and bars with “assembly occupancies” are inspected annually, with two-year inspections done at factory or industrial sites. Inspections of conventional businesses such as those on North Main Street or in strip malls occur every three years.

Among the listed benefits of the new fire inspector function are ensuring that the visits occur on schedule while also lessening the compliance window.

The public further will be aided by having only one person to deal with as opposed to arranging inspection schedules with different staff members for various properties someone might own around town.

Poindexter says the change will be easy on fire engines due to inspections being a large part of a platoon’s work load during a shift and the need to drive engines to the locations involved so firefighters can be ready to respond to any emergency.

“The fire inspector would be utilizing a much-smaller vehicle that costs a lot less to operate, would take a lot less fuel and have a significant decrease in the wear and tear of the larger fire engines which would help them last longer,” Poindexter noted in the needs assessment.

Aside from streamlining inspections, the new position will add manpower to fire-suppression ranks during the inspector’s 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule.

The job will come with the requirement that the inspector be certified to drive all pieces of fire apparatus within the department while on duty, such as deploying its ladder truck to a call if needed.

The new position will cost $61,955 annually, according to a breakdown from the fire chief, including a starting pay of about $40,000 and a benefits package.

In explaining how it will be funded without additional revenue, Poindexter said this will be achieved by cutting three part-time jobs in the department for which funding already has been allotted but are vacant.

These include one part-time inspector and two part-time firefighter positions.

The Mount Airy Fire Department now has 41 full-time and part-time members, which will go to 38 with the cut.

Poindexter’s plan is to eventually have two full-time fire inspectors in the city, but for the present fiscal year only one was sought as a starting point.

This is in reference to Their View article, “Biden flip-flops on fighting inflation” in the August 30 edition of The Mount Airy News. To Mr. Hood’s comments, amen !

For those tired of big government, a Convention of States is the solution. Join the legislative fight to put our runaway federal government back in its box by using Article V of the U.S. Constitution to impose fiscal restraints (i.e., balance federal budget), propose term limits, reduce size and power of the federal government.

Sign the petition, learn more, and volunteer at http://conventionofstates.com/?ref=65894

I attended the city council meeting where the New Main Street Plan was discussed. Many merchants as well as townspeople spoke one after the other against this plan. But after hearing from the people and the merchants, the New Main Street Plan was passed.

It was apparent to me that the town council had already made up their minds to pass this plan regardless of what the merchants and townspeople wanted. Jon Cawley tried to slow up the process of passing this plan but to no avail. I along with many others were saddened and left the meeting as soon as the plan was approved.

This town is unique and represents a part of what small towns in America were like. We are not Ashville nor Raleigh and I for one don’t want to be.

North central North Carolina has a water quality issue — the latest most recent example is right here in our neighborhood, the Mitchell River.

This summer the Mitchell River has seen excess sediment flowing into the river after rain storms. This is happening due to a change in planting from no till crops like corn to tilled crops like cabbage and tobacco. This loosens the soil and brings it up to the surface. Then if you have a very narrow buffer zone, it’s a recipe for lots of sediment to flow into the river when it rains. So far two agricultural operations are the major contributors, a big cabbage field just above the delayed harvest section and a tobacco field around the devotion area.

If enough sediment flows to cover the bottom of the river, that will be the death sentence for the Mitchell River. The Mitchell River is the host of wild trout in its upper region, around Devotion and is also the host for the endangered Brook-Floater mussel. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has been planting the mussel in the river in an attempt to increase its numbers and habitat range.

Surry County recognized the importance of the Mitchell River with its pure and cold water many years ago. It put in special regulation to protect the river and mandated a 75-foot buffer zone from Kapps Mill Road all the way up to the county line. Over the years this got watered down by ordinances exempting agriculture. Unfortunately, these fields run almost the whole length of the same protected section currently. The river barely has a 25-foot zone or less in many areas.

In the past two years North Carolnia has lost five trout streams due to sediment from agricultural run-off. The Mitchell may be number six.

Many in Surry County are worried about the river’s health and have been voicing their concern to the county commissioners, the Department of Water Quality and other state regulators. Blue Ridge NC Trout Unlimted has filed complaints to the Department of Water Quality and NC wildlife resources asking them to investigate the source of the sediment and take action to protect the river.

However, the Department of Environmental Quality’s budget has been cut consistently over the past decade and is now roughly a third smaller than it was before the 2008/09 financial crisis. This is very worrisome given the emergence of new threats to water quality and public health since that time.

There are more than 1,000 impaired rivers and streams in North Carolina, and the department does not have the capacity to meet and help address the numerous threats that these streams are facing. Regional offices are under-resourced and desperately need more staff capacity to provide prompt customer service to citizens who are impacted directly by toxic algal blooms, PFAS/PFOA (Gen-X) contamination of drinking water supplies, excessive stormwater runoff, increased sedimentation, and deterioration of aquatic habitats. So the Mitchell River waits in line for DWR staff to go inspect the river.

• A Mount Airy man has been jailed on felony burglary and larceny charges, according to city police reports.

Michael Dean Myers, 45, of 1220 Banley St., was encountered by officers at his residence Sunday during a domestic investigation and found to be the subject of two outstanding warrants for arrest for burglary/breaking and entering and larceny.

The charges had been issued on July 31, stemming from a July 22 incident in which a gold pocket watch and a wallet were stolen during a break-in at a residential property on Galloway Street, with Jennifer Withers of Northwood Drive as the victim.

Myers was held in the Surry County Jail under a $1,000 secured bond and slated for a Sept. 29 appearance in District Court.

• Two Hillsville, Virginia, residents were arrested as fugitives from justice in Mount Airy on Sept. 1, David Wayne Pullen, 55, and a woman listed as his fiance, Jacqueline Marie Joaquin, 37, both of 309 Spencer’s Mill Road.

Pullen and Joaquin were taken into custody after a traffic stop on North Renfro Street led to the discovery that their names had been entered into a national crime database as being wanted on an unspecified matter in Carroll County, Virginia, where Hillsville is located.

Each was confined in the Surry County Jail under a $10,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in District Court in Dobson on Monday.

• Randy Allen Dillard, 32, of North Wilkesboro, was charged with second-degree trespassing Monday after he was encountered by police during a trespassing call at Northern Regional Hospital, from which Dillard had been banned by security personnel.

The case is set for the Oct. 10 session of Surry District Court.

A series of open house events at a local historic site is concluding this weekend.

The Edwards-Franklin House will be available for visitation by the public on Saturday and Sunday, from 1 to 5 p.m. both days. The open house events are free to everyone and provide the chance to see a unique example of architecture in the region up close.

Located at 4132 Haystack Road west of Mount Airy, the Edwards-Franklin House was constructed in 1799 and is considered to be the finest example of its design in the Piedmont.

The house was built by Gideon Edwards and later occupied by his son-in-law, Meshack Franklin, a member of Congress and brother of North Carolina Gov. Jesse Franklin, who served in the 1820s.

The structure was bought in 1972 by the Surry County Historical Society and restored to its grandeur, with many unique architectural components featured.

This weekend’s events are part of a monthly Saturday-Sunday open house series that resumed in May after a two-year shutdown prompted by the coronavirus. “This is the last monthly open house for 2022,” Dr. Annette Ayers, a Surry Historical Society official, confirmed Wednesday.

The open house series has proven to be popular, Ayers added.

“We have been very pleased with the attendance,” she advised.

“Some visitors are discovering the Edwards-Franklin House, cemeteries and (log) water pipes for the first time — other repeat visitors are rediscovering its beauty, architecture and peaceful surroundings.”

This year’s series has been a welcome bounce-back from the two-year COVID-forced shutdown, according to Ayers. “It has been a very successful season from May to September.”

Although the open house events are ending, another opportunity to experience what the Edwards-Franklin House has to offer will come on Oct. 1, when the Surry County Sonker Festival is scheduled there from 1 to 5 p.m.

The annual event that celebrates a deep-dish fruit dessert native to this area has not been held since 2019, also due to the coronavirus.

Surry County Attorney Ed Woltz had a rare follow up item on the agenda for Tuesday night’s meeting of the Surry County Board of County Commissioner that needed their attention.

He said the county and Mount Airy had been offered a settlement of $90,000 from CK Technologies that would repay both parties for incentive benchmarks that were not achieved.

Woltz explained to the board that in 2005 Surry County agreed to appropriate up to $700,000 for grading and site improvement to the property located at 710 Piedmont Drive.

An additional tax incentive of not more than $286,176 over an eight-year period to match a Mount Airy incentive was also authorized. This funding was to be tied to the benchmarks of capital investment and employment.

While the employment benchmarks were met for most of the term of the agreement, Woltz said, CK Technologies had failed to meet the investment benchmark. Since the pandemic and a decline in business, he said their Mount Airy facility had been sold to another company with a similar name, CK Tech Acquisitions LLC.

He advised the board the new owner was willing to accept the existing terms of the agreement and maintain it as such but suggested it would be easier to end the prior agreement than to add a new party onto it.

“I am tasked with attaining the best deal we could to undo the incentive agreement. The reason being is that the purchaser of CK Technologies was not an original party to the agreement. They are ready to assume the CKT’s liabilities, but it is awkward to bring someone in who was not a party into things.”

“As part of the unwinding process the city of Mount Airy and the county have approved a mirror agreement where the city and county will each receive $45,000. CK Technologies, the county, and the city would then be relieved of further responsibilities under the 2005 contract.”

Along with his Mount Airy counterpart Hugh Campbell, Woltz agreed to the settlement with CK Technologies and needs the board to sign off on the amount of $45,000 to both the county and Mount Airy for a total of $90,000 in repayment for not meeting the benchmarks of the incentive plan.

At a previous meeting CK Technologies had offered $9,000 as a settlement to both parties – combined. “They increased their proposed settlement amount exponentially,” Woltz advised.

At the heart of the matter here is whether the pandemic falls under force majeure, was it an “act of God” level occurrence that would allow CK Technologies to break free from the terms of the incentives package, Woltz said, “There is a cloud over act of God issues.”

The board was told that prior to COVID the company had been meeting the employment benchmarks “by a wide margin.” However, since the pandemic the company has jobs listed and positions open that they cannot fill, a situation to which Commissioner Van Tucker said he can relate. He said at his own business he had jobs he cannot fill right now although he was unsure whether it was the pandemic or the drastically shifting labor markets at play.

CK Technologies settlement offer of $90,000 split between the county and Mount Airy would in essence buy CK Technologies out of those terms of the incentive agreement free and clear. It is a settlement offer however and not the full amount they owe.

Commissioners Eddie Harris and Tucker both said that a company that was too large for the Payroll Protection Program assistance could surely absorb the full amount rather than settle.

Commissioner Larry Johnson from his perch at the end of the dais suggested, “We are going to spend time and money in trying to receive another $7,000? I would be willing to accept the offer.”

“I don’t like it,” Tucker said, “I don’t like it a bit but since we hired (Woltz) to cut this deal and we are in partnership with Mount Airy, rather than squabble over $7,000, I don’t like it, but in the spirit of going along to get along, I won’t vote against it.”

The board voted unanimously to accept the settlement and release CK Technologies and the new owner from the incentive agreement

In other county commissioners’ news:

– The commissioners handled two procedural matters for the coming year in approving their 2023 commissioners’ calendar and setting the Surry County Board of County Commissioner Legislative Goals for 2023-2024. Goals include looking at sales tax flexibility and road improvements along US 52 between the airport and the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway that connects Kernersville to Rural Hall and US 52.

– North Carolina general statute gives the county authorization to transfer property, at no cost, which is deemed surplus, obsolete, or unused from the county to a non-profit corporation. As the county continues to see a potential benefit to the public in repurposing such property, two surplus county vehicles will find new life with local volunteer fire departments.

The commissioners agreed to transfer a 2016 Dodge Charger to the CC Camp Volunteer Fire Department and a 2009 Ford Focus will be joining the ranks of the Four Way Volunteer Fire Department.

– Finally, in the open forum local resident Mark Barr rose to give a suggestion to the board on a change that would improve traffic safety for drivers but more importantly for law enforcement and first responders. “We are in danger,” Barr said grabbing the attention of those listening in the process.

Barr, a former first responder, said that drivers are becoming increasingly distracted and that causes a danger to all parties on the roads as drivers glance down at the phones for text messages and notifications.

He also relayed his experiences on the roads of Galax, Virginia who have a system that he would like to see implemented in Surry County which takes control of stoplights when emergency vehicles are approaching and can change red lights to green to allow emergency vehicles to cross the intersection unencumbered.

“If someone here, right now, had a heart attack and that ambulance just finished a call around North Surry High or Lowgap, that is going to take a while to get here,” Barr said. He added that catching every red light along the way could slow down response when minutes or even seconds can be a life changing difference.

Perhaps the county and Mount Airy could join in incurring the costs of such a system he said. He also said that the costs of the system would theoretically be recouped in the prevention of such an accident with county or city emergency vehicles.

Barr apologized for arriving right from work on the farm, but the cause is important to him. “This is a safety issue, and I will be back. I am not going to give up on this.”

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has partnered with Crisis Text Line (CTL) to encourage mental health support for teens across the country.

Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, high-quality text-based mental health support and crisis intervention in English and Spanish by empowering a community of trained volunteers to support people in their moments of need.

This partnership aligns with the 2021-2025 NFHS Strategic Plan and the NFHS Board of Directors Priorities, both of which have identified Student Mental, Emotional and Physical Wellness as one of the most important areas of concern in high school sports and performing arts programs.

“The last several years have been particularly challenging for many students in high school activity programs, with the pandemic and other pressures felt by students today,” said NFHS CEO Karissa Niehoff. “We are glad to be able to offer another avenue of help for students nationwide through this partnership with Crisis Text Line. We need to let students know there are individuals who can help in times of need.”

Crisis Text Line promotes mental well-being for individuals, wherever they are. Individuals are encouraged to text a keyword to 741741 if they are experiencing a mental health crisis – anything from suicidal thoughts or abusive relationships to difficult conversations with parents or anxiety about school workload. At any time, texters can connect with volunteer Crisis Counselors who will provide confidential support. Crisis Text Line recently expanded its service to include Spanish language support, becoming the first organization to provide free, text-based mental health support for Spanish speakers in the United States.

“We truly admire the work NFHS does for student-athletes by promoting respect, integrity and sportsmanship as well as fostering the inclusion of diverse populations,” said Dena Trujillo, CEO at Crisis Text Line. “Our goal is to provide all teens with text-based mental health support 24/7 so they never feel alone.”

This agreement furthers the relationship between the NFHS and Crisis Text Line that began at the 2019 NFHS National Student Leadership Summit in Indianapolis. Attendees of the Summit were provided bag tags advising those in crisis to text the keyword “SHIELD” to 741741. The NFHS will continue to promote the use of “SHIELD” as its keyword through this agreement.

While individuals of any age can utilize the service, approximately 70 percent of Crisis Text Line’s texters are under the age of 25.

“The NFHS is excited about this relationship because it provides an exceptional resource not only for the young people in our nation’s schools, but for our member state associations who will be able to receive data on the issues affecting students in their states,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS Director of Sports and Student Services. “Identifying these issues greatly impact the targeted response. We want to promote this option to those who need support and encouragement.”

When voting last month to support Pilot Mountain in seeking the reinstatement of PART bus service to Surry, Mount Airy saw it as assisting a sister city — but the big brother in the local governmental family wasn’t amused.

“The Surry County commissioners, we were very displeased in your decision,” Larry Johnson, one of those five individuals, told Mount Airy officials during a meeting at City Hall last Thursday night.

Commissioner Johnson, who represents the Mount Airy District on the county board, said he was speaking on the behalf of the other Surry commissioners in responding to city officials’ Aug. 4 action regarding the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART).

The Mount Airy Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution of support then, at the request of a Pilot Mountain official, to join that town to the east in asking that the public transportation service to Surry be reinstated.

It was discontinued by the county officials effective with the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, citing the cost required compared to the ridership involved — specifically local revenues from a rental car tax which went to support the program.

County did its “homework”

Johnson reiterated that ridership was “very, very low” when speaking during the public forum portion of last week’s city council meeting.

“We did a lot of homework on this,” Johnson added. “It wasn’t spur-of-the-moment.”

That evaluation process centered on the PART parking lot at the Big Lots shopping center just off Carter Street in Mount Airy, but did not involve counting vehicles in the lot but the persons actually getting on and off the buses.

“We used our own eyes,” the county commissioner said, explaining that some parking in the lot are doing so to use the city greenway nearby.

Johnson said since the service was discontinued, only a handful of citizens have complained, including some from Pilot, one from Cana, Virginia, and “zero” from Mount Airy where the bulk of car-rental tax revenues are generated.

The visiting county official remarked that the county could pay each rider a couple of hundred dollars and still come out to the good with the funding equation involved.

Although he voted for last month’s resolution in support of Pilot Mountain, Joe Zalescik, a city commissioner, also voiced some of the same concerns then about low ridership.

While the city council seemed somewhat swayed by a stated need for local residents to have a means of transportation to medical facilities in Winston-Salem — among the stops on the regional PART routes along with shopping venues — this was questioned by Johnson.

He suggested last Thursday that if citizens need a ride to and from a medical procedure that would preclude them from driving themselves, then family members, friends or church members can provide this.

Johnson also took aim at people who used the transportation service as a low-cost means of going shopping or eating out, saying they were being subsidized by those renting cars to the tune of $100,000 annually to fund the program.

“They should do that on their own,” the county official said of such passengers paying their way.

The fate of the rental car revenue is yet to be decided, Johnson advised. He mentioned that PART officials have money coming “out their ears” from various governmental sources to fund the system rather than taxing Surry motorists.

What will become of the parking lot off Carter Street is another question to be answered, based on discussion Thursday.

Another motivation for Mount Airy officials’ support of Pilot Mountain was the notion by recent high gasoline prices would result in greater use of the bus service by the public if it were reinstated.

But comments by Commissioner Johnson indicate that such a reversal is not likely to occur.

“The county commissioners are firm in our decision,” he said.

American Legion Post 123 is sponsoring a Veterans Appreciation event this Saturday, Sept. 10, that will also feature the placement of a 50-year time capsule on the grounds of Veterans Memorial Park located at 691 W Lebanon Street in Mount Airy.

Event organizers ask those participating to arrive at the park at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and the program will begin at 11 a.m. With so many other events in town this weekend, organizers did not want to keep people from enjoying other events as well.

There are invited guests from local government and law enforcement to speak. Organizer Jerry Estes said to look for the ticket booth that will be visible from the road and the event will be taking place there.

The time capsule is being prepared to be placed and organizers say it has artifacts donated to it that are both focused on local veterans but also on Veterans Memorial Park. Estes said there have been a variety of items added into the time capsule for posterity including medals, dog tags, and press clippings. He said there are medallions from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Operations Desert Storm and Enduring Freedom representing more than 75 years in defense of the Constitution of the United States.

The purpose of the event is to show thanks to local veterans and to ensure veterans are not forgotten. In 50 years when the Veterans Memorial Park time capsule will again see the light of day, Estes said, “I hope it can show who we were and the things we have done. We made an impact locally, not just in our service, but afterward as well.”

“I want people to know we were here, and we cared enough to give back even after we served.”

East Surry High School held an open house and East District Night to welcome students and parents to campus at the start of the school year. On these days students and parents were able to meet with faculty and staff and tour the campus.

East District night was an evening of food, fellowship, and festivities. The community was invited to East Surry High School to partake in games, food trucks were on site, watch both the football team and band practice, along with other activities.

KING — A five-touchdown second quarter helped East Surry conquer West Stokes in the 20th edition of the “Battle for the County Line.”

The Cardinal defense held the Wildcats, who averaged 32.5 points through the first two weeks of the season, scoreless for three quarters while amassing a 42-0 lead. The Cats scored a touchdown late to make the final score 42-7.

East Surry (3-0) was clicking in all three phases as it posted the largest margin of victory in the history of the East Surry-West Stokes rivalry. East leads the all-time series 12-8 and has won five of the past seven meetings.

The Cardinals started the Sept. 2 game with a score on the opening drive. Despite playing without their leading rusher from the first two weeks of the season, East was able to move efficiently on the ground. Six Cardinals combined for 123 yards rushing and two touchdowns, including an early touchdown run from Colby Johnson.

Brett Clayton added a touchdown run in the second quarter, and a pair Joshua Parker PATs put East up 14-0. Zinn led the team with nine carries for 53 yards, followed by Clayton with two carries for 41 yards, Johnson with five for 20 yards, Lindann Fleming with six for 11 yards and Boaz with two carries for two yards.

The Cardinals did the most damage offensively in the air. Quarterback Folger Boaz completed 16-of-22 passes (72.7%) for 300 yards and three touchdowns, which earned him the honor of being WXII 12 News’ Standout Stat of Week 3.

With his 300-yard performance, Boaz has surpassed the 6,000-yard mark for career yards passing. He is just the third Surry County athlete to do, joining 2020 North Surry graduate Chase Swartz (7,059) and 2020 East Surry graduate/older brother Jefferson Boaz.

Colby Johnson, Matthew Keener and Stephen Brantley all logged touchdown receptions from Boaz. Johnson was the team’s leading receiver with six catches for 161 yards, followed by Keener with four receptions for 86 yards and Luke Brown with three receptions for 31 yards.

Clayton, Brantley and Kyle Zinn each had one reception and combined for 22 yards receiving.

Zinn scored the remaining Cardinal touchdown by returning an interception 19 yards. Will Jones picked off the Wildcat QB twice to bring the Cardinal defense’s turnover total to three.

Daniel Villasenor led East Surry with two sacks, while Parker and Anderson Badgett each had one.

East Surry returns home for the first time since Week One to face South Stokes (1-2) on Friday.

North Surry overcame a slow start against Forbush to win Tuesday’s Foothills 2A Conference match 3-1.

The visiting Falcons, eager for their first victory of the 2022 season, came out of the gate and led for the majority of the opening set. The Greyhounds turned around and played one of their best sets to even the score at one set apiece.

The final two sets were back-and-forth, but North utilized late runs in both to come away with the overall victory. The Hounds won the match with set scores of 22-25, 25-13, 25-21 and 26-24.

North Surry and Forbush are used to playing close matches the past few years. Neither team has swept the other since 2019, when members of the Class of 2023 were freshmen. In the six matches during that time, three have been five-set matches and the other three have been four-setters. Two of North Surry’s three five-set matches in 2021 were against Forbush.

Match results have also been more balanced the past few seasons. North Surry won 20 consecutive matches against Forbush from 2008-17, then Forbush had two stellar years and won six-straight versus North.

Since 2020, the Greyhounds have won 4-of-6 meetings against the Falcons.

The win over Forbush gives North Surry its first win in the FH2A Conference.

The Falcons (0-7, 0-2 FH2A) came into Tuesday’s match having not won a set all season, though that would quickly be changed. Forbush took advantage of North Surry errors to take a lead in the first set, then saw its offense come alive to clinch it.

North (4-5, 1-2 FH2A) gave away nearly half of the set’s 25 points with errors: five from service errors, four from attack errors and three from other violations, including net and double hit violations. Kills from Katena Morrison and Mallory Chapman helped the Falcons secure the set win 25-22.

North Surry led for just one point in the first set. Then, in the second set, Forbush only led twice: at 1-0 and 2-1. Everything else went the way of the Hounds.

North took its initial lead after an Aniya Joyce kill and a pair of aces from Sadie Badgett. Joyce continued to be the Greyhounds’ leading attacker throughout the night, finishing the set with four kills and the match with 17.

North Surry led 14-10 when Joyce dropped the hammer for a momentum-shifting kill that started a 5-1 run. Haylee Smith added a kill to put the home team up 19-11 and force a Forbush timeout. The Falcons scored two of the next three points before North Surry closed the set with a 5-0 run, winning 25-13.

The third set featured eight lead changes after just two in the first two sets combined. The largest run by either team in the set was four uninterrupted points, which North used to win the set.

The Falcons took a 20-19 lead in the set to force a Greyhound timeout. Callie Robertson came out of the timeout and evened the score with a kill, then a Forbush attack error forced the final lead change of the set. The Falcons briefly tied the score at 21, but North used a 4-0 run to win 25-21.

On the run: Joyce won the first point with a kill, Ella Riggs served back-to-back aces, then Forbush hit an attack into the net.

The final set only had three lead changes, but the score was tied seven times.

A block from North’s Kyra Stanley tied the score at 15-15 before a Falcon attack error forced the final lead change of the evening. From here North Surry went on a 7-3 run to lead 23-18.

Forbush refused to quit and won the next three points: Chapman and Ellie Southern had kills, and another point came from a Greyhound attack error. Joyce interrupted the run with a kill for North Surry, but then Forbush scored another three points to tie the score at 24-24.

A well-placed attack from Stanly landed in the back corner of Forbush’s court and the Falcons weren’t able to return the volley, giving North the 25-24 lead. Riggs set Stanley up for a kill on the next point to cement the match victory.

Both teams continue conference play on Sept. 8. North Surry travels to West Wilkes, and Forbush hosts Surry Central.

The long ordeal of the vacant and oft aflame former Koozies building is closing one chapter.

Demolition began Tuesday on the site of the former Koozies at N. South Street, W. Pine Street, and Franklin Street in Mount Airy.

Residents of Mount Airy have been anxiously awaiting the demolition of the vacant building that has been a magnet for the homeless seeking shelter. There have been two fires at the site since last fall that were attributed to illegal entry into the building by the homeless.

Signage and attempts to keep people from entering the structure have proved fruitless. Commissioner Tom Koch said at a meeting of the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners last month that there could be liability implications if anyone were to enter and then be injured within the location of the former Quality Mills site.

He told his colleagues at that time, “It will be our fault, because we’ve been dragging our feet.”

The building located at 455 Franklin Street was condemned by the city who cited it as a safety hazard to the community. In February Mount Airy commissioners voted 4-1 to give the building’s owner National Decon Holdings 90 days to make repairs the structure. Mount Airy had tried unsuccessfully to make contact with the owner to ascertain if they had plans to make repairs to bring the building up to code. Mount Airy Mayor Ron Niland said that the pressure put on National Decon Holdings helped, “I think they finally saw the light.”

In a surprise move early this month it was announced Bobby Koehler of Ultimate Towing and Recovery in Mount Airy had purchased the site. In April, his bid of $38,000 survived the upset bid process and he also won the auction for the Mittman Paint and Body Shop across West Pine Street at 109 S. South Street. What Kohler has in mind for his new property is unknown.

What is clear is that based on honking horns from cars driving by and folks standing in the bright sun to get one last look: the skeleton of Koozies won’t be missed.

The annual Francisco FarmFest will be returning this year, with the festivities set for Sept. 17.

FarmFest Along the Sunflower Trail is typically held on the third Saturday of each September, according to organizers, so the community can pause to celebrate its “…farming heritage along with their homegrown and handmade traditions.”

Among the treats awaiting those who attend are the ability to watch antique farm tools in action, shopping for handmade items from local crafts people, visiting an apple orchard, and food for sale to enjoy.

Maps of the Sunflower Trail along with a list of raffle prizes available will be on hand at the FarmFest Welcome Center adjacent to the Francisco Community Building at 7104 NC Hwy 89 West.

Food will be available to purchase — tenderloin biscuits will be available from nearby Southern Classics, while a hot dog lunch with a treat will be available from the Baker’s Corner in the visitor center at lunch.

At the community building will be barbeque sandwiches for sale, and the chance to listen to bluegrass music.

Along the trail is the historic Jessup Mill. Built in 1910, the mill served the community until the late 1970s. The flood of 1979 was the nail in the coffin for the mill. According to local lore, the mill owner, Porter Jessup, was never able to get the mill back up and running after the flood.

At the mill, visitors can listen to Francisco storytellers share tales about growing up in the community, and learn of farming, country stores, and community churches with dinner on the grounds.

The Dan River Basin Association will have a tent where visitors can learn about about wildlife living in the river near the mill.

“Learn how they help us to know how clean the water is,” organizers say of the event. “See water bugs big and small and learn which ones will tolerate some pollution and which ones won’t. While you hold a crawdad (or not), learn about how citizen scientists and DRBA monitor waterways all along the Dan to help address water quality in the basin.”

Before leaving the area, visitors can also check out tobacco being harvested across the road from the mill.

At the George Family Farm will be a display of antique tools, some of which were fashioned in a forge. Delana Bigg will be demonstrating the walnut cracker he designed and built. Biggs’ Nut Buster is a highly functional cracker that is used every winter to crack many, many pounds of local walnuts.

His wife, Glenda Bigg, will be at the farm with some of her handmade doilies, dishcloths, and hats. She also makes a variety of yard art; this year, she will have a crocheted butterfly on sale. There will also be local honey on sale.

The Kordick Family Farm features more than 175 varieties of heirloom apples in its holistic/organic orchard. Visitors will be able to taste a variety of dried apples and see what it takes to make these trees flourish. In addition to fresh apples, a variety of pumpkins will be offered for sale.

The FarmFest celebration always includes a raffle, and this year is no exception. Local artisans contributed a variety of prizes: a handmade Shaker table built from a walnut tree harvested from a local homeplace, a quilt featuring tractors, an owl sculpture, a gourmet Italian dinner for four, an heirloom apple tree, a fabulous basket of treats from Southern Classics, and several pieces of art. Proceeds from the raffle go directly to support the community.

”You can view the prizes and purchase a raffle ticket at the Francisco Community Building,” event organizers said. “The drawing will be held Saturday afternoon, and you do not have to be present to win.“

For more information about FarmFest Along the Sunflower Trail and to see the raffle prizes visit the Francisco FarmFest Facebook page.

Flat Rock Elementary School received grant funds from Surry County Educational Foundation for the Book Bus to run routes over the summer.

Students visited the Book Bus on six Tuesdays, starting at the end of June till the first of August. The Book Bus made six stops throughout Flat Rock’s community. All students chose a free book, read with an adult, and received a bag of healthy snacks

“Flat Rock Elementary School is grateful to all the employees who rode the Book Bus,” officials there said. “Flat Rock Elementary wants to give a big thank you to our bus drivers, Ed Niten and Dawn Solomon, as well as our custodians, Sarah Niten and David Jones, who prepared the Book Bus each Tuesday and also rode to assist with reading to students.”

The role moonshine played in launching stock car racing is well-documented, and the two will come together again Saturday during an annual event in Mount Airy.

Now in its third year, the Moonshine and Racers’ Reunion will be held downtown from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is scheduled to feature appearances by NASCAR Hall of Fame member Bobby Allison and others from the motor sports world who will be signing autographs.

The event is free and open to the public.

Reunion activities including the autograph session will be centered in the municipal parking lot between Old North State Winery and Brannock and Hiatt Furniture Co. More than 100 race cars, some driven by famous drivers over the years, are expected to be on display along sections of street, eclipsing the number in 2021.

The moonshine component of the reunion will be supplied by individuals who have appeared in the “Moonshiners” reality-television series, such as Big Chuck, with distilleries and demonstrations also planned.

A band, Sons of Bootleg, is scheduled to perform a free concert from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, with a silent auction further slated.

On top of the previous popularity of the Moonshine and Racers’ Reunion, which lost one year of its annual series due to COVID-19, in 2020, organizers are expecting Saturday’s event to take the checkered flag in terms of success.

“It’s going to be bigger than it has been being,” Gail Hiatt, one of the coordinators involved, said of the reunion’s overall scope.

Along with Bobby Allison, racing figures to be on hand include Ronnie Thomas, the 1978 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year, and Marilyn Green, the first Miss Winston Cup, along with a lengthy list of other drivers.

Family members of deceased racers also are scheduled to be at the reunion, including those representing such legends as Wendell Scott, Curtis Turner, Tim Flock and J.D. McDuffie.

Phil Marsh, another reunion organizer, said one individual signed hundreds of autographs during last year’s well-attended session that reflects the ongoing popularity of racing in this area — and yes, the moonshine culture.

“Several thousand had to attend,” he estimated regarding the fan reception for the 2021 event. “As far as the crowd, they were lined up everywhere.”

Another highlight of the reunion will be a visit to the site of the Mount Airy Speedway/White Dirt Race Track, located on Race Track Road off N.C. 89 west of town. This is expected to include a makeshift parade there of street-legal race cars present.

Upon arriving, participants will park in a field and hear about the history of the track from Howard Hull, who is in his mid-90s.

That facility, which opened in 1946, was the first organized dirt track anywhere around. One of its competitors was Curtis Turner, who was among the fastest and most-colorful racers in NASCAR’s early years — called by some the “Babe Ruth of stock car racing.”

In more recent times, the abandoned track near Mount Airy has been used for agricultural purposes.

“Its part of history,” another event organizer, Bill Blair, said of the collective reunion activities to rev up Saturday.

Habitat for Humanity will be holding a Drive Us Home drive-through hot dog sale on Saturday.

The event is one of several fundraisers Habitat undertakes to help fund the group’s efforts to build affordable homes for area residents who might not otherwise be able to afford home ownership.

This particular fundraiser will be Saturday, Sept. 10, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Greater Mount Airy Habitat for Humanity Re-store, at 217 S. South St.

For $6 a dinner, the meal includes two hot dogs — including chili and slaw — chips, drink and a dessert. There will also be a 50/50 raffle drawing, at $1 per ticket, as well as door prizes inside the store for $1 per ticket.

The Mount Airy Board of Commissioners has made a final decision on which local non-profit organizations will receive a portion of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money allocated to the city — totaling $600,000 for five different entities.

In some cases, recipients that had been recommended for the federal funds by City Attorney Hugh Campbell in August were left out of the final 5-0 vote by the commissioners last Thursday night. And in others, organizations initially omitted were included in that action.

Those approved for a portion of the city’s $3.25 million ARPA appropriation include Tiny Tigers Rescue Inc., the Mount Airy Rescue Squad, Surry Medical Ministries, the Shepherd’s House homeless shelter and Mount Airy Museum of Regional History.

That final list differs from one presented last month by the city attorney in several ways. He had recommended disqualifying certain applicants from among the 16 total that had applied for the first-of-its kind funding opportunity last winter per an invitation from municipal officials.

Campbell did so based on strict guidelines for use of American Rescue Plan Act funds, granted to help communities nationwide recover from the COVID pandemic, including that the money be used for legitimate public purposes.

This led to non-profit requests related to public-owned buildings or property gaining favor, while those privately held generally were not recommended because the sites involved later could be sold to other private parties not providing public benefits.

That was seen in the initial list recommended by the attorney, which included a $357,500 request from the Surry Arts Council to repair termite damage, replace toilets and renovate restrooms and the entrance to the Andy Griffith Playhouse, a city-owned facility.

Under the same criteria, Rotary Pup Dog Park along the Granite City Greenway had been recommended to receive $18,200 for various uses including signage and benches; Mount Airy Public Library, $20,105 to acquire four early literature stations;

Also, the Mount Airy Junior Woman’s Club, $47,000 for a new playground at B.H. Tharrington Primary School, and Veterans Memorial Park, for which $7,000 was requested to upgrade restrooms and showers to aid special events there. Though privately owned, the park project was considered a public purpose by Campbell.

Meanwhile, Mount Airy Museum of Regional History, also not owned by the municipality, was tapped for funding in the August listing because of museums being considered essential parts of a community under the federal ARPA guidelines.

And the rescue squad also was included in the initial list because of the public purpose it serves.

When the original recommendations were presented in August, Mayor Ron Niland had advised that these would be subject to a final decision by the commissioners after further deliberations.

And this was evident in the final list that added the Shepherd’s House homeless shelter and Surry Medical Ministries while leaving out applicants recommended last month including the Surry Arts Council, Rotary Pup Dog Park, Mount Airy Junior Woman’s Club and Veterans Memorial Park.

In outlining that breakdown Thursday night, City Manager Stan Farmer explained that it reflects a different criteria, which eliminates the public-owned property requirement and instead grants funding for operational uses rather than building-related needs.

This led to Surry Medical Ministries and the Shepherd’s House homeless shelter being approved for operations funding and not facility needs as first applied for by those agencies.

Surry Medical Ministries, which maintains a free clinic serving people without insurance, is getting $125,000, with the Shepherd’s House ARPA funding put at $80,000.

Tiny Tigers Rescue Inc. is designated for $20,000 to help reduce the cost of animal adoption, spay and neuter services by the licensed animal shelter, which officials agree is a worthy item.

Mount Airy Museum of Regional History, with its favored funding status, is getting $225,000 for a sprinkler system and another $100,000 for structural improvements, while the Mount Airy Rescue Squad is receiving $50,000 for new radios to improve emergency communications.

In each case, the five non-profits’ share is less than what was requested.

The city manager said the final list was determined with input from council members.

SAC still may get aid

Money for the Andy Griffith Playhouse improvements could still be in the mix through the remaining funds from Mount Airy’s $3.25 million American Rescue Plan Act appropriation once the assistance is supplied to the non-profits.

In late March, a list of city government projects targeted with ARPA money was released totaling nearly $3 million, mostly for major building and equipment needs.

The Andy Griffith Playhouse improvements are on that list.

Farmer said in August that the money left over from the non-profit requests would be applied toward city projects.

Concern was expressed Thursday night among the commissioners about the Mount Airy Rescue Squad allocation of $50,000 falling short of the $117,349 it sought for mobile radios — even counting another $40,540 approved by county officials though an Invest in Surry program.

The city manager indicated that this could mean squad leaders having to seek assistance elsewhere.

“I don’t know what other fundraising they’re doing.”

Whether the mission is to Save Jones School or rescue the tiny tigers of Surry County, non-profit organizations step in to fill in where gaps are found.

The United Fund of Surry, which helps fund many local non-profit agencies, has received funding from the Surry County Board of Commissioners for enhanced programming directed to marketing and public education to help local organizations.

United Fund will be using those ARPA dollars to host two Leadership Education Bootcamps in October on the topic: Building Dynamic Boards.

“The United Fund is thrilled to provide leadership education opportunities to our community nonprofits,” Executive Director Melissa Hiatt said. “Often leadership education is not possible due to cost for many nonprofits.

“This would not be possible without the support provided from the Surry County Commissioners. We are thankful the commissioners understand the need to support local nonprofits and the services they provide.”

The bootcamps each day are to be split into two sessions. The camp Wednesday, Oct. 5, will hold its opening session “Four Cornerstones of Nonprofit Board Governance” followed by “Capacity Building – the Board’s Role in the Strategic Planning Process.”

On Thursday, Oct. 6, the first session will be “Executive Committees in Action” with the bootcamp culminating in “Balance of Power – the Board Chair and Executive Director.”

These programs offer non-profit leaders tools to develop a “high-functioning, high-performance leadership team.” The sessions also will ask how non-profits can plan to both build and sustain an effective board of directors.

Hiatt said the purpose of the leadership education bootcamps is to help local non-profits resolve some of the questions that surround effective leadership and management of such groups. The seminars can help to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the board chair and executive director of a group which can help foster the peaceful coexistence between both.

Friction at the top levels of a non-profit may trickle down and result in the actual functional apparatus of the group being hindered. Therefore, being able to understand where the role of a board chair and the director begin, and end, can help each leader be more effective with less redundancy of effort or oversight.

As nonprofit organizations grow and hire professional staff the role of their staff and board become more clearly separated. Learning each’s individual roles helps the organization be steered in the right direction by the board but operated and run with the expertise of the staff.

No matter if a nonprofit board runs all of its programs with no paid staff, or if a nonprofit has a robust staff, defining roles and expectations clearly can both ensure smooth operation of the company and achieve greater outcomes for the community.

Also, the bootcamp participants will discuss how to create what Hiatt referred to as “communication norms” that may help reduce conflict and increase an organization’s impact. These norms will further improve the balance of power dynamic and grow participation in meetings by fostering them as collaborative efforts where ideas are welcome.

Speakers for the bootcamps include Mandy Pearce, a certified fundraising expert and the owner of Funding for Good. Joining her will be Marie Palacios, who is the lead consultant of Funding for Good.

Funding For Good has been operating for more than 13 years to assist non-profit groups in streamlining their processes so they can plan their futures and “untangle problems so non-profits can keep creating impact.”

Organization and operation of a non-profit can be tricky work and they assist their non-profit clients in areas like grant writing, fundraising, donor relations, and development of both team and leaders.

With a lot of learning to do on two days split between four sessions, bootcamp participants will be provided with a lunch to fuel afternoon learning.

The United Fund of Surry is excited to present these sessions to local non-profit leaders, but Hiatt says space for the bootcamps will be limited. Registration is ongoing and participation is being capped at 40. There is no cost to attend.

Contact the United Fund of Surry for more information and registration: www.unitedfundofsurry.org/nonprofit-bootcamp

The anticipated guest of honor couldn’t attend a celebration outside the historic J.J. Jones High School auditorium in person — but her spirit filled the summer air accompanied by even warmer memories of “Miss Sadie.”

Sadie Strickland George had died on Aug. 26 at age 100, shortly after organizers of a school reunion announced her possible appearance for the official unveiling of a plaque recognizing the auditorium’s addition to the National Register of Historic Places.

This was appropriate since Miss Sadie was the oldest-living graduate of the high school that opened in 1936 to serve African-American students in the area and saw its last graduates depart in 1966 with the advent of integration. She was in the Class of 1941, as war clouds gathered.

The plaque unveiling was held Friday night, when the grounds around the auditorium were filled with people attending Family Day there in conjunction with the J.J. Jones High School Reunion scheduled every other year.

This past weekend’s reunion was special since the one that normally would have been held in 2021 was cancelled because of the coronavirus.

And in the interim since the last reunion in 2019, both the auditorium — owned by the J.J. Jones Alumni Association — and the rest of the campus — owned by the African-American Historical and Genealogical Society of Surry County — achieved National Register status.

The latter group held a plaque observance in July and reunion organizers appropriately scheduled the auditorium portion of the recognition Friday night as part of the weekend gathering of former Jones students from near and far.

Being chosen for the National Register of Historic Places means a building or plot of land has been designated by the government as possessing significant historic, artistic or aesthetic value.

All that seemed to be missing Friday night was Sadie George, who still had a presence there all the same.

“I want to dedicate this ceremony to a young lady we were hoping would be with us today,” J.J. Jones Alumni Association President Nancy Bowman Williams (Class of 1965) told those assembled for the official unveiling of the plaque. It had been mounted on a wall of the auditorium earlier.

“She loved and was proud of her alma mater,” Williams said of Mrs. George.

Although Miss Sadie wasn’t there, she was amply represented by her daughters who carried on the family tradition embodied by the campus.

“She never missed a day (of school),” Sylvia Amaker said of her mother, who excelled in academics. “She was an honor student.”

Her mom also played basketball at the school, according to Sylvia, who has a twin sister, Goldie.

And as was the case with many students of yesteryear, she walked seven miles to school, related Amaker and another daughter present Friday night, Yvette Jones, who won the 1979 Miss Mount Airy Pageant.

Six of Miss Sadie’s eight children are still living and her life spanned five generations — numbering 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

In the years after graduating from J.J. Jones High, Miss Sadie would attend a cosmetology school in Roanoke, Virginia, and enrolled at Surry Community College, where she received certificates in office machines and child care.

The Jones grad was employed by Proctor Silex Inc. in Mount Airy, from which she retired, was active in her church and supported many community causes.

Along with acknowledging the role of Sadie George in the school’s heritage during the plaque unveiling, Williams, the alumni president, spoke about the auditorium at the center of Friday night’s event which was erected by school-based talent.

“In 1947, the students and staff that began the task of constructing this building were, I believe, inspired by one of the proven and basic beliefs: that if you want something, if you work hard and are determined, you will be successful,” she said.

“They were successful — this wonderful building is the product of their determination, hard work and belief that they could do it,” Williams remarked. “Here we are, seventy-five years later, looking at this building.”

Friday’s Family Day also included a car show, fish fry, a wrapping of the maypole that perpetuated a campus tradition, music and a time set aside for the former students to share memories from their class days.

And one couldn’t help but think Sadie George was surveying the scene with an appreciative eye.

“J.J. Jones will never forget you, Miss Sadie,” Williams said during the program.

“We thank and honor you.”

The staff at the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History have been hard at work preparing for classes to start back in Surry County.

Last week, Programs and Education Director Cassandra Johnson went on a county wide trip to more than 20 schools in a single day to invite educators back into the museum.

“We already have six schools signed up for a field trip this year, and I’ve already started getting the traveling trailer out to teach with. I have high hopes that more children from all over the county will be able learn about their history this year with us,” she said.

The museum takes pride in offering field trips, new and updated exhibits, free history talks, the traveling history trailer, a new traveling exhibit, more STEAM focused education opportunities, and much more this year. They are also excited that the award-winning Tar Heel Jr. Historians Club is starting back.

The Jr. Historians first meeting will be held at the museum on Thursday, Sept. 8, at 3:30 p.m. and students in fourth through 12th grades are encouraged to join. The club meets weekly on Thursday, and kids get to learn more about local history while having “lots of fun.”

While spreading the word to schools, Johnson also got to stop at Surry Central Middle School to congratulate Alisha Griffin for winning the museum’s Treat-A-Teacher grand prize. “Thank you to all of our local educators who visited us over the summer, and we’re looking forward to seeing teachers as they visit us with their students this year,” Johnson said.

For those with questions about scheduling a field trip, tour, or any of of the museum’s other opportunities, contact the museum at mamrh@northcarolinamuseum.org or call 336-786-4478.

Editor’s Note: Community Comment is a feature of The Mount Airy News, presenting commentary from community leaders in Mount Airy and Surry County.

On Aug. 15, students and families were welcomed back to our school campuses by staff who have been eagerly awaiting their arrival. Over the past month, teachers have been setting up their classrooms. Child Nutrition staff have been busy planning menus. The Transportation Department has been ensuring that our safe routes to school are ready with pick-up, drop-off, and adjustments for each school around the district. Our maintenance and custodial teams have been hard at work throughout the summer, and the schools are looking great. On behalf of the district, I would like to send appreciation to all who worked throughout the summer to make sure our schools were ready for students on day one.

This new school year brings with it the opportunity for our district to introduce a new yearly theme: “ALL in.” “ALL” stands for Achievement, Leadership, and Life, which are pillars of the Surry County Schools strategic plan. Our strategic plan serves as the compass for our district, directing us to follow the path that best serves our students. We are “ALL IN” every day as we focus on providing for the whole child.

Academic focus areas this school year begin with improving literacy instruction through the state required LETRS training for PreK-5 classroom teachers, elementary exceptional children’s resource teachers, multilingual teachers, and reading specialists. We are certainly excited about the launch of the new elementary Reveal Math textbook. Additionally, all other educators will be participating in their choice of professional development sessions led by teacher leaders from across the district focused on increasing student engagement in all content areas. All of these efforts are aligned to increasing student academic achievement outcomes.

A new year brings the opportunity for growth in our career and technical education offerings. Along with classes, students can look forward to the addition of a new poultry lab at Surry Central High School. Through a partnership with Wayne Farms, Surry County Schools will be able to offer students the opportunity to learn the process of raising a broiler until it is processed. Surry Central High School will also be the site of a new live animal lab, further solidifying the partnership between Surry County Schools and Surry Community College. Teachers will use the facility at Surry Central High School in the animal science program and instructors at Surry Community College in the animal science degree program to offer hands-on instruction on raising calves, goats, piglets, and other small animals. Students from the high school and college will receive valuable training in the field of animal science in this cooperative lab.

The new school year also brings the opportunity for students to continue to grow through our leadership framework, which introduces attributes that help students lead with self, lead with others, and change their world. Surry County Schools believes our students can go out into the world and truly make a difference. The same sentiment echoes with our dedicated employees. Last year, we launched this program within schools for our students and were excited to see the growth that occurred as they learned leadership skills individually and collectively.

Along with welcoming returning students and staff, the district is excited to welcome new students and staff members to the district. Surry County Schools has seen a boost in enrollment, growing from 7,303 in 2021-2022 to 7,552 this year. Many families are returning to our schools this year from homeschooling and hybrid learning environments and we are excited to welcome them. Additionally, principals worked hard during the summer to recruit and hire the best of the best for their schools. Today, we only have 4 certified openings in Surry County Schools! We realize that opening schools this year has been a challenge for some due to staffing but we are thankful to be in a school system where principals have worked tirelessly to staff their schools with talented educators.

In Surry County Schools, we are dedicated to making an impact through our strategic plan in our schools, in our communities, and in our world. We are “ALL IN” on strengthening our approaches to safety in schools, Career and Technical Education, leadership opportunities for staff, and additional enrichment programs for students. I look forward to being ALL IN with our students, staff, and families this year!

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Adult Correction is seeking information on the whereabouts of the following individuals:

• Jonas Garcia, 26, a hispanic male is wanted on probation violations and is on probation for felony conspiracy and felony to sell & deliver cocaine;

• Jennifer Nichole Sawyers, 43, a white female is wanted for failing to appear in court on probation violations and is on probation for use/possession of drug paraphernalia, no liability insurance and display revoked tag;

• Marbel Garcia Alberto, 34, a hispanic female wanted on probation violations and is on probation for child abuse and driving while impaired level 1;

• Terry Lee Bramlett, 48, a white male is wanted on probation violations and is on probation for felony possession of a schedule II controlled substance and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.

View all probation absconders on the internet at http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi and click on absconders. Anyone with information on any probation absconders should contact Crime Stoppers at 786-4000, county probation at 719-2705, or the Mount Airy Police Department at 786-3535.

The Surry County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information on the whereabouts of the following people:

• Gabriel Delgado, 39, a white male wanted for felony possession of methamphetamine, felony financial card fraud, felony identity theft, felony flee to elude arrest with motor vehicle, misdemeanor unauthorized use of motor vehicle, resisting a public officer, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and several additional traffic charges;

• Bobby Lee Hawks, 35, a white male wanted for felony possession of firearm by a felon, felony discharging a firearm in a motor vehicle to incite fear, along with several failure to appear charges including several felonies;

• Sparkle Harris Hughes, 35, a Black female wanted for felony possession of a counterfeit instrument and felony obtaining property by false pretense as well as failure to appear for misdemeanor charges and a criminal summons for worthless check;

• Thomas Michael Watts Jr., 49, a white male wanted for felony identity theft, and felony larceny of chose in action.

Anyone with information on these individuals should call the Surry County Sheriff’s Office at 401-8900.

Each year the United Fund of Surry publishes a Request for Proposals to nonprofits in the county to make a proposal for funding from the group. The United Fund is a non-profit organization whose mission is to strengthen and serve this community by helping meet the needs of all its neighbors.

Allocations are made to local non-profit groups across four areas of priority: crisis, seniors, medical and family/youth. Melissa Hiatt, Executive Director of the United Fund of Surry, reported that this year 28 applications were received for membership and funding.

What makes the United Fund different from the other organization with a similar name, The United Way, is that contributions made from workplace campaigns, fundraising, individual donations, and grant dollars all stay local. The United Fund of Surry does give some support to organization outside Surry County whose mission serves those in the county.

To make the difficult determination as to which of the applying organizations will receive funding from the United Fund, Hiatt said an allocations team of five board members reviews applications and determines if a non-profit is eligible for membership into the United Fund as a whole before a funding decision can be made. Once an agency is a member, they then can be considered for financial support through a disbursement.

The application process not only requires sharing the applying organizations history, financial records, and services they provide, but how the United Fund dollars will be utilized. The funded agencies are required to submit a year-end report of services provided as well as collaborate with other member agencies and attend United Fund events.

One new agency was admitted into the membership this year, Positive Wellness Alliance. PWA assists individuals diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, to help ensure a good quality of life through confidential, person centered case management. “We are very excited about our new member,” Hiatt said.

“There are over 70 individuals living in Surry County that are HIV positive that deserve personalized, attentive, and compassionate service in their home community.”

Hiatt said that while fundraising events like the recent Rocks and Runs races help her group, more funding is always needed. “Although the United Fund was successful in surpassing its fundraising goal, it was still an exceedingly difficult process. Increased cost of doing business for our member agencies and developing needs of citizens, creates a need for increased funding each year.”

The United Fund serves a wide swath of residents from across age groups and income level. From the annual report for 2021, United Fund organizations aided 26,458 residents of Surry County in delivering 103,537 units of service. Hiatt said that is the equivalent of nearly one-third of the population of Surry County having received at least one benefit from a member organization of the United Fund.

Last month, the United Fund announced a goal of $500,000 for their 2022-2023 Campaign and their Campaign Cabinet. Hiatt said, “Although $500,000 is a lofty goal, I am certain the always amazing citizens of Surry County will step up to the plate in this campaign and help meet this goal.”

The half million-dollar goal will help a lot of people across the county. To that end the United Fund announced the following agencies who will receive funding and the categories each group falls under. Agencies receiving funding are:

Crisis: American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, The Shepherd’s House, Surry Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Program, Surry Homeless and Affordable Housing Coalition, and Yokefellow Cooperative Ministry.

Medical: Ararat Rescue Squad, Blue Ridge Rescue Squad, Dobson Rescue Squad, Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care, Mount Airy Rescue Squad, Pilot Mountain Rescue Squad, and Surry Medical Ministries.

Family & Youth: Armfield Civic Center-Camp Pilot Mountain & Scholarships, Boy Scouts -Old Hickory Council, Childrens Center of Northwest North Carolina, Girl Scouts-Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont,

Reeves Community Center Foundation, Surry Arts Council-Special Needs Program, Surry Friends of Youth, and Parenting Path.

Seniors: Meals on Wheels/Senior Center/RSVP and Webb Southern Carroll Community Club.

In keeping with the intent of Labor Day, Mount Airy’s sanitation personnel will not be running routes on that holiday honoring the American worker with a day of rest and relaxation.

This will include no yard waste collections on Monday. The next such pickups are scheduled for Sept. 12 a week later.

In addition, commercial garbage routes normally run on Monday are to be serviced on Tuesday instead.

The same one-day delay also will be in place for the city industrial route in being moved from Monday to Tuesday.

Municipal offices also will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

Gardening in autumn requires less work

Working in the garden in autumn is more comfortable with less humidity, lower temperatures, workable soil, less insects and also a slow down of weeds. All cool weather crops that will last through the winter can now be planted in the September garden plot. One thing that makes autumn gardening pleasant is the soil is workable and has just enough moisture in it to promote growth of the vegetables of autumn. Certainly the heat is not a factor in autumn’s garden.

Watch out for September wet dew

The wet dews of each morning now carry over from August into the month of September. Many are heavy and linger until the afternoon. The sun of September takes its time in burning off the cold morning dew. Avoid the mistake of mowing dew laden grass because it is not only wet but also sticky and will rust your mower as well as stick to your feet as well as pile grass clippings all over the lawn, it may take until mid-afternoon, but wait until the sun dries the dew from the lawn. Your lawn will be easier to mow and will also look a lot neater.

Onion sets can now be set out in garden

Onion sets are now available at most hardware’s, garden centers, and seed shops. A pound costs around three dollars and you can choose from white, yellow, or red sets. They can be set out in rows or beds. They will grow in cold temperatures and can be harvested all the into spring. Plant onions in a furrow about four inches deep and about three or far inches apart. Spread a layer of peat moss in bottom of the furrow before setting out the onions. Set the onions with the root side down. Apply another layer of peat moss on top of the onions and then apply a layer of Garden-Tone organic vegetable food on top of peat moss and hill up soil on each side of the furrow and tamp down with the hoe blade. They will sprout in about two weeks. When they sprout, hill up soil on both sides of the row after applying an application of Garden-Tone organic vegetable food. Water with water wand each week when no rain is in the forecast.

Keeping humming birds fed in September

As September arrives, the annuals of the summer are slowing down and cutting down on the source of nourishment for the hummers. Keep the feeders filled with nectar twice a week. In about a month, they will be leaving on their flight to Mexico for winter. Your nectar will help build the energy for the journey ahead. You can prepare your own nectar with a quart and and a half of water and four cups of sugar with several drops of food coloring (red). Store the nectar in the refrigerator in a half-gallon milk plastic jug. The nectar will last longer in the September temperatures that are more comfortable and most likely the appetites of the hummers will also increase.

Setting out a row or bed of turnips

Turnips are a root crop that needs a long growing period to produce a harvest. They need to be sown at least during the first half of the month of September. Purple top turnips are the most popular variety but you can also choose white turnip varieties, but we prefer purple tops simply because of their royal color! An ounce of turnips will sow a 4×8 bed or a 40 foot row and cost about two dollars. Sow thinly in a row or furrow about three inches deep. Apply a layer of peat moss in the bottom of the furrow and sow seeds on top of the peat moss and another layer of peat moss on top of the seed. All root crops need this double application of peat moss to retain moisture and improve texture of soil to develop healthy turnips. On top of the layers of peat moss, apply an application of Plant-Tone organic vegetable food and hill up soil on both sides of the furrow and tamp down with the hoe blade for good soil contact. After turnips sprout, side dress with a layer of Plant-Tone organic vegetable food on each side of raw and hill up the soil.

Making New England salmon chowder

Cool evenings in September pave the way for hot soups and chowder. This recipe calls for canned salmon which makes it simple and easy to prepare. You will need one envelope of beefy onion soup mix (Recipe Secrets), one can (large) Double Q Salmon, two cans Campbell’s cream of potato soup, one pack fried chopped bacon, two cans evaporated milk, half teaspoon black pepper, one tablespoon Old Bay seasoning. Fry the bacon and chop into small pieces. Add the canned salmon and liquid and chop or mash up the salmon. Add all other ingredients and boil over medium heat until hot and steaming. Thicken the chowder to the consistency you desire by placing eight to twelve ounces of cold water in a glass and adding six teaspoons corn starch to the water and mixing until creamy. Add two ounces at a time to the chowder until chowder reaches thickness you prefer. Serve with crackers, bread, or oysterettes.

September is the month of colorful sunsets

The days of September are getting shorter and paving the way into the makings of beautiful sunsets on the Western horizon. Cooler temperatures plus the sun going down earlier produces more and varied colors as the sun sets a minute earlier each evening. The earlier darkness causes these colors to have an enhanced glow in the western sky. Purple clouds also add to that display. Colors of red, orange, yellow, pink, and lavender add extra majesty. The rays of the setting sun produce a glow on the leaves of autumn and give them fiery glory.

Garden residue and autumn leaves equal up to great compost ingredients

The vines, stalks and foliage of spent summer crops are great ingredients to add to the compost pile or bin. Autumn leaves will soon fall and make another compost ingredient. Add to them the grass clippings from the lawn and you have the makings of a compost bin or pile. We have found out a pile is actually great because the sun shines down on it and it is easy to turn with a pitch fork. It can easily be watered to cool it down and it improves the soil underneath the pile.

Starting a row or bed of Siberian kale

The cooling soil of the month of September is receptive to a row or bed of Siberian kale which is one of America’s favorite greens simply because it can be prepared as a green and made into a salad. It is one of the most winter hardy of all the greens, and also the most tender and flavorful. It can even be harvested when snow is on the ground. An ounce costs a little over two dollars and will plant a 4×8 bed or a 40 foot row. Sow the seed in a furrow about two or three inches deep. Spread a layer of peat moss over the seed and hill up soil on each side of furrow after applying an application of Plant-Tone organic vegetable food. Tamp down the soil in the row with a hoe blade for solid soil contact. When they sprout, use a sprinkle can of water mixed with Alaska fish emulsion according to directions on the bottle and pour over the kale. Repeat this a month later. In late October, place a layer of crushed leaves between the rows of kale as a blanket.

Setting out cabbage, collards and broccoli

Cool September soil and also cooling nights make conditions ideal for setting out collards, cabbage, and broccoli. Plants are still plentiful at hardware’s, garden centers seed shops and nurseries. Make sure stems are bluish green and that plants have not damped out or legged out. Set plants in a furrow about five inches deep. Apply a layer of peat moss in the bottom of the furrow and set the plants about two to two and a half feet apart. Apply a layer of Plant-Tone or Garden-Tone organic vegetable food in the furrow and hill up soil on each side of the furrow. Keep soil hilled up every two weeks. Feed with Plant-Tone or Garden-Tone once a month.

The almanac for month of September 2022

The moon reaches its first quarter on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. We will be celebrating Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 5, 2022. The moon will be full on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. The full moon of September will be named “Full Harvest Moon.” Patriot’s Day will be Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. Grandparents Day will be celebrated on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. The moon reaches its last quarter on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. Autumn begins on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. The new moon occurs on the evening of Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022.

“Home Cooking”- Customer: “Mam, do you serve breakfast here?” Waitress: “Yes sir, we do, what will you have?” Customer: “Let me have watery scrambled eggs, some burnt toast and some weak lukewarm coffee.” Waitress: “Well, whatever you say, sir.” Customer: “Are you doing anything while the order is being prepared?” Waitress: “Why, no sir.” Customer: “Then sit here and talk to me I’m home sick!

“Getting older!”- You know you’re getting older when you sit in a rocking chair and can’t get it going. You burn the midnight oil after 8:00 p.m.. You look forward to a dull evening! Your knees buckle when your belt won’t. Your little black book contains names of those that only end in M.D. Your back goes out more than you do. You decide to procrastinate and never get around to it. Dialing long distance makes you tired. You sink your teeth into a steak and they stay there!

Mount Airy rebounded from a tough two-point loss by trouncing Surry Central 54-6 on Sept. 2.

The Granite Bears forced three takeaways and scored eight touchdowns – all in the first half. Mount Airy ended the game with more than 400 yards of offense while holding Surry Central in the negative for most of the night.

Mount Airy (2-1) operated almost entirely on the ground. Junior Tyler Mason set new career highs by finishing with 209 yards rushing and five rushing touchdowns. Even more impressive was the fact that Mason did all that on just 11 carries.

On a night in which the Bears rushed for 403 yards, Taeshon Martin and Traven Thompson also set career highs.

Martin, a freshman, scored a career high three times on just four carries, also adding 54 yards rushing. Thompson set a career high in yards rushing with 92 on eight carries.

Nassir Lemon and Ian Gallimore rounded out Mount Airy’s 403 yards rushing. Lemon rushed five times for 34 yards, and Gallimore rushed six times for 15 yards.

Gallimore add 39 yards passing on three completions. Mario Revels caught two passes for 35 yards, and Connor Burrell had one reception for four yards.

Mount Airy’s rock-solid defense caused all kinds of problems for Surry Central’s young offensive core. The Eagles’ quarterback, top four running backs and second-leading receiver are all sophomores, while the No. 1 and No. 3 receivers are juniors.

Granite Bear Blake Hawks picked off Mason Jewell on the first play from scrimmage. Six plays later, Mount Airy got on the board with a Mason touchdown.

Central was held to one yard of offense. The Eagles (0-3) rushed 19 times for a loss of 23 yards, then added 24 yards passing on three completions. Not counting the two fumbles Mount Airy caused – one recovered Lemon and the other Cam’Ron Webster – the Bears held the Eagles to no gain or a loss of yards on 12 plays.

Gallimore, Revels, Josh Chavis, Walker Stroup, Deric Dandy and Logan Fonville were among the players to force tackles for a loss.

The only time Central moved the chains was late in the third quarter. The Eagles’ Ayden Wilmoth recovered a Mount Airy fumble deep in Bears territory, then Central moved into the red zone with a first down.

Mount Airy pushed Central back four yards to the 22 on the following first down, then Wilmoth caught a touchdown pass from Jewell to begin the fourth quarter.

The one area Mount Airy struggled with Friday night was penalties. The Bears were flagged 13 times: eight times on offense, three times on defense and twice on special teams.

Surry Central was flagged once each in all three phases.

Mount Airy concludes the nonconference portion of its schedule on Sept. 9 by traveling to Ashe County (2-1). Surry Central has a BYE next week, but will begin Foothills 2A Conference competition the following week against West Wilkes (1-2).

8:41 MAHS 7-0 – Tyler Mason 9-yard rushing TD, Walker Stroup PAT

6:33 MAHS 13-0 – Tyler Mason 38-yard rushing TD, PAT no good

4:33 MAHS 20-0 – Tyler Mason 12-yard rushing TD, Walker Stroup PAT

2:29 MAHS 27-0 – Tyler Mason 48-yard rushing TD, Walker Stroup PAT

1:18 MAHS 33-0 – Taeshon Martin 10-yard rushing TD, PAT blocked by Graden Spurlin

8:40 MAHS 40-0 – Taeshon Martin 34-yard rushing TD, Walker Stroup PAT

3:27 MAHS 47-0 – Tyler Mason 51-yard rushing TD, Walker Stroup PAT

2:30 MAHS 54-0 – Taeshon Martin 2-yard rushing TD, Walker Stroup PAT

11:41 SCHS 54-6 – Ayden Wilmoth 22-yard TD reception on Mason Jewell pass, 2-point conversion no good

Labor Day 1910 dawned bright and pleasant as people loaded up and headed in to town.

“People from the country came in wagons, buggies and carriages and hey came in great numbers,” reported the Mount Airy News that Thursday. “By nine o’clock the streets were thronged. All the factories and Quarry closed down in honor of the day and all the folks were out in the best of spirits.”

The Stone and Paving Cutters Union from the granite quarry allied with the Farmers Union to put on a celebration worth traveling for. There was a parade, a brass band brought up from Winston playing popular tunes, boys selling ice cream, watermelon and lemonade.

Speakers included the local Baptist pastor, Dr. Carter, and US District Attorney A.E. Holton who encourage those present to organize and work in cooperation. “Little he declared has ever been accomplished where there was no Union or cooperation.”

The farmers put out a spread on two long tables and, it was reported, “the young people sparked” while the older folks lounged and talked for hours, watching a series of athletic competitions at the “Gentlemen’s Driving Park” just outside of town.

Labor Day is a day to celebrate the workers of the nation. Made official by Pres. Grover Cleveland in 1894, the holiday has its roots in a New York City union workers’ march organized by Peter McGuire in 1882. He chose the first Tuesday in September because it fell nicely between the July 4th and Thanksgiving Day holidays. Two years later it was moved to the first Monday and it’s observance has been growing ever since.

America was a young, growing nation as the Industrial Revolution swept the Western World in the 19th century. With so much open land, immigrants expanding the work force, and a bounty of nearly-untapped natural resources, factories opened at a fast rate.

Labor unions in the US appeared in the late 1700s but really took hold in the mid- to late-1800s in an effort to improve workplace conditions and limit the length of workdays and weeks. The oldest union I find records of in this region is the Mount Airy Branch of the Granite Cutters International Association of America. It was at least nine-years-old in Jan. 1904 when the stone-workers’ trade journal, The Monumental News, reported “A settlement has been effected with the Mount Airy Granite Company, of Mount Airy, NC which provides that only union granite cutters shall be employed and that union wages and hours shall prevail.”

There were 14,000 granite cutters in the US at the time with 97% in unions. They worked 8-hour days, earned $3-$6 per day according to locality, and had emergency family, health and death benefits provided by the union.

Support for unions doesn’t seem to have been strong in this region. Newspaper articles, when they can be found at all, seem disdainful of the efforts as with the editor of the Elkin Tribune writing about the 1919 labor strikes in High Point. “Thousands of workers who are now idle because they joined the union will participate (in Labor Day celebrations) since there is little else left for them to do. Practically all factories, except the six or seven operating as ‘open’ shops are closed and the ‘open’ ones will be shut out of deference to union labor on Monday.”

The United Textile Workers called a general strike in 1934 but little mention can be found of it in Surry County papers. Asking around Mount Airy and on the “If You Grew Up In Mount Airy Then You Remember…” Facebook Group, a few strikes are mentioned; Elkin’s Chatham Blankets in the late ‘60s over wages and benefits, Fredrickson Motor Express and Federal Motor Express perhaps as part of the nationwide 1973 trucking strike, Essex Wire in the late ‘70s or early ‘80s, and United Elastics in the early ‘90s. But there doesn’t seem to be a very tumultuous labor history here.

Regardless, we here at the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History hope you and your friends and family enjoy a safe and happy Labor Day Weekend and, remember, the museum is open regular hours. Come on in and see us. We’ll have the AC turned on!

Perhaps fittingly right after Labor Day, workers are scheduled to begin the monumental task of tearing down the Koozies building in Mount Airy which has long been a concern locally over its deteriorating condition.

This is coming on the heels of a recent sale of the property at 455 Franklin St. condemned by city officials as a major safety hazard and deemed unfit for occupancy.

That transaction broke a stalemate between them and National Decon Holdings, a Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, entity that owned the structure and ignored repeated notices to either bring it up to code or have the building razed.

It was announced last week that the 1.34-acre site had been bought by Bobby Koehler, owner of Ultimate Towing and Recovery in Mount Airy, which is part of J&E Properties of North Carolina based on Park Drive.

“That is where the thanks needs to go,” City Manager Stan Farmer said Thursday night during a meeting of the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners regarding how the persistent problem is being solved.

Both Farmer and Mayor Ron Niland also applauded the board for voting in February to give the out-of-town owner 90 days to act or else the city government would proceed with the razing and seize the land left behind to help cover that expense.

Just before the sale, the commissioners had directed the city manager to seek bids from contractors for the job.

Officials agree that this seemed to spark action by National Decon Holdings which otherwise wouldn’t have occurred, culminating with the purchase.

The city manager added Thursday night that he is looking forward to seeing what is developed on the vacant site once housing a Quality Mills facility and most recently a private club called Koozies which has been closed for years.

Koehler has not disclosed what if any plans are being pursued along those lines.

Meanwhile, work has been occurring on the property in recent days in preparation for the tear-down. This included the removal of doors and windows and outside walls being painted with messages including “do not enter” and noting the demolition starting date.

Since last fall, the building has been the site of two fires linked to occupancy by the homeless.

Yellow caution tape also encircles the entire building, which is bordered by North South and West Pine streets in addition to Franklin Street.

Richard Herber, MD, has joined the medical staff of Northern Regional Hospital to serve as a family medicine physician for outpatients at Northern Family Medicine. Dr. Herber has more than 30 years of clinical practice experience in general adult medicine and pediatric medicine, as well as experience in occupational medicine and urgent care practice in Charleston, South Carolina, and more recently in areas in and around Winston-Salem and Kernersville.

A board-certified Family Medicine specialist, Dr. Herber will be responsible for diagnosing and treating a wide range of medical conditions, as well as referring patients to specialists, as needed. Dr. Herber is excited about joining Northern Family Medicine, a clinic of Northern Regional Hospital.

“I am excited to have Dr. Herber join the Northern Family Medicine team,” said Dr. Danal Snyder, MD, medical director of Northern Family Medicine. “His experience, insight, and enthusiasm toward patient care make him an excellent fit for our busy practice. Welcome, Dr. Herber.”

Dr. Herber’s healthcare journey started at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, now Atrium, Family practice residency. “I started out in local emergency room work in Davie Community Hospital, followed by urgent care work at Romedical Urgent care in Salisbury…as well PrimeCare in Winston-Salem. I began my family medicine career at Kernersville Family Medicine with Novant Health in 1994 and continued at Lewisville Family Medicine in 2001. I then started my own family medicine practice, Old Town Family Medicine, in 2004 which lasted seven years. My family and I moved to Charleston, South Carolina and I worked in urgent care again at Doctor’s Care and Concentra Health for about a year before joining Medical University of South Carolina Family Medicine West Ashely campus in 2013. My family and I returned to the Triad in 2016 at which time I joined Wake Forest Baptist Health… I’m looking forward to a new chapter with Northern Family Medicine next month.”

Drawn to the Pilot Mountain area after his oldest daughter moved to the Westfield area, Dr. Herber and his wife have farmland there. “I chose to continue practicing with Northern Family Medicine due to the uniqueness of the history Northern Regional Hospital (I like the fact that it independently owned/ operated), the personable staff, and management team, as well as the practice model of Northern Family Medicine. It seems to offer patients a more personal,family focused environment. I am looking forward to being a part of that experience,” said Dr. Herber.

When not treating his patients, Dr. Herber might be found listening to and playing various genres of music including classic rock, folk, bluegrass, and Indie music. He plays guitar, piano, some bass guitar, and a little mandolin. He also enjoys various sports, including softball, tennis, golf, and swimming, and plays basketball with his grandson.

PILOT MOUNTAIN — Even after losing a few multi-year varsity starters to graduation, East Surry has set its expectations high for the 2022 season.

The defending 2A West Regional Runners-up reloaded and are ready to make a repeat run at the Foothills 2A Conference Championship. The Cardinals took step one in that process by sweeping its first two FH2A games.

The Cardinals went on the road and topped North Wilkes 3-0 on Aug. 30, then beat North Surry 3-0 at home on Sept. 1.

“There was definitely a lot we still need to clean up, but it did feel good to start off 2-0 in the conference,” said East Surry coach Katelyn Markle, who is 40-6 as the Cardinals head coach.

“We’ve had moments this year where everything came together and we looked really good, like when we played at North Wilkes. Other times it’s been a little up-and-down, but we’re getting better and getting used to playing with each other so that’s the most important thing.”

The win over North puts East at 5-2 on the season.

Coming off a 26-2 season in which the Cardinals started 16-0, went undefeated in the conference play and came within a few points of a state championship appearance, Markle said she wanted to test the girls early with a tough nonconference schedule.

East Surry opened the season in the most challenging way possible: a road game at 4A Ronald Reagan High School. Reagan – who won the match 3-0 – is currently 9-0, hasn’t lost a set all season and is ranked No. 1 in the state by MaxPreps.

The match vs. Reagan was one of the 4A opponents the Cards have faced this season. East Surry also won a five-setter against Davie, and lost a five-set match against West Forsyth – ranked No. 15 in the 4A division.

North Surry coach Shane Slate is no stranger to grueling nonconference schedules meant to challenge a promising team. Slate is in his 24th season as North Surry head coach, during which he has guided the Greyhounds to more than 500 wins, multiple state titles and countless player of the year awards.

The Greyhounds, who drop to 3-5 with the loss to East Surry, began the season with matches against Davie and West Forsyth as well. The junior-heavy Hounds recently opened conference play with a loss to Wilkes Central, though every set was decided by four points or fewer.

In Thursday’s match, East Surry never trailed in either the first or third set.

The Cards led 4-3 early in the first before going on a 6-1 run. East Surry’s arsenal of attacking players took turns sending attacks over the net that were set up by Kate McCraw, though Greyhound libero Reece Niston and the North Surry back line did well to weather the early storm.

Callie Robertson and Aniya Joyce rallied the Hounds back by putting away Ella Riggs’ sets, though a service error derailed the team’s momentum. East capitalized with a 4-1 run that forced a Greyhound timeout, then put away the next two points to force another timeout.

The regrouped North Surry squad crossed into double digits to make it 18-12, but East closed the set with a 7-1 run to win 25-13.

The Hounds took their only lead of the night early in the second set. A kill from Madeline Dayton was East Surry’s only point during a 3-1 North run. The Greyhound girls held on to their lead until up 4-3, then East rattled off seven-consecutive points.

Bella Hutchens and Merry Parker Boaz combined for nine kills in the second set. The duo finished the night with a combined 21 kills.

North Riggs and Haylee Smith rallied the team back within a handful of points before East Surry went off. The Cardinals ended the set on a 13-3 run to win 25-10.

The final set began with a 4-1 Cardinal lead. East Surry service errors allowed North to fight back within two points at 6-4, then Lily Watson had a block and a kill to go with a Maggy Sechrist kill on a 3-0 run.

The Cards and Hounds continued to scrap until East took control late in the set. East Surry led 12-9 before going on a 5-0 run. For the remainder of the match, East earned two points for every point North scored, winning 25-14 to complete the sweep.

East Surry and Surry Central are the only FH2A teams undefeated in conference play. The Cards and Eagles are both 2-0, followed by Wilkes Central and West Wilkes at 1-1. Forbush and North Wilkes are both 0-1, and North Surry is 0-2.

East Surry is set to host Wilkes Central (3-5, 1-1 FH2A) on Sept. 6, and North Surry hosts Forbush (0-6, 0-1 FH2A) the same day.

Ralph Hardy of Hardy Brothers Trucking is seen celebrating ahead of his 90th birthday on Friday afternoon at the company’s facility in Siloam.

A group photo was taken with the man of honor Ralph Hardy, seen in center with birthday sash.

A vintage truck was on display during the birthday celebration of Ralph Hardy of Hardy Brothers Trucking.

Ralph and Payge Hardy, Jan Bowen, Jill Dockery, and Eddie Hardy pose for a photo at the 90th birthday celebration for Ralph Hardy.

Sometimes you must spend a little to get a lot and the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History has an upcoming event allowing the public to do just that.

What has been described as the chance to make a generational investment in this community is being cleverly disguised with some glitz and glam with a dash of roulette at the 2022 Casino Royale to be held at the museum on Saturday, September 17, from 6:30 – 10:30 p.m.

Executive Director Matt Edwards is excited for the upcoming event that he says is their single largest fundraiser annually. The casino night brings in around 12% of their total operating budget for the year and is the only event that puts dollars directly into the operating budget.

Having one big casino night fundraiser is a winner in his book as it helps him with the ease of planning the event, but also combats donor fatigue, something to which any fundraiser can attest is a real thing. Keeping money flowing into the museum from sources beyond tickets at the door is essential for its continuing growth.

“This is the big annual fundraising event of the year for the museum. All the sponsorships and money raised goes to museum,” board member Calvin Vaughn said. “We are currently in process of updating, expanding and building new exhibits that will benefit not only the community now, but the next generation.”

Games and adult libations will be found in the courtyard of the museum while dinner service and opportunities to enjoy the museum and its exhibits await players for whom Lady Luck went home to tuck the kids in.

This is the chance for anyone who has wanted to try their hand at games of skill, chance, and luck with the confidence that as Edwards said, “Its play money. Once people get over that and realize it’s all for fun – it makes it more fun, and the wagers get more interesting.”

What’s more he said it is a learning opportunity for people to really learn how a game like craps works, from the professionals who are running the table side of things. Caesar’s Palace is not going to teach people how to gamble, Edwards offered.

Entry is $100 which gets one ticket for the events and an entry in Drawdown which Edwards said was the raffle’s cousin. He said instead of drawing one winner, they are drawing 299 losers from the fixed number of entries. A package of two event tickets with one Drawdown entry will cost $125.

All the hullabaloo is well worth it with a meaty $5,000 cash prize going to the winner. Consolation cash prizes will be found during the Drawdown with the first number drawn confirmed to be among consolation winners.

Players do not have to be present to win the Drawdown only the ticket needs to be present. Edwards said if you plan to attend a football game that night or you’re going to sit under the lights for short track racing in Bristol to get a ticket all the same and send it to Casino Royale in your stead.

Wheeling and dealing may happen during the drawdown when the last five standing will have a choice to end the game and pool the winning between them. Or the ante may be upped again with one of the last standing players can make offers to buy remaining drawdown tickets from other players. That is high level maneuvering on a night meant to be fun and to fund the future of one of the cultural gems of this area.

Casino Royale was a 1920’s theme last year and it is a 1960’s theme this year, Edwards said that skinny suits and thin ties may be the dress code for some – but is not required. Dress for comfort and luck – if that is such a thing.

Businesses still have time to get involved and be a sponsor for one of the tables. Sponsorships are $500 and include praise, recognition, two event tickets and a Drawdown entry.

After missing a couple casino night in recent years due to some fuzzy law changes that made non-profit casino nights as these legally nebulous and the pandemic, getting back down to the business of having fun in welcome for Edwards and staff.

Fun and games will await players, but it is their long-term gift back to the museum and Surry County that is really no gamble at all. As Vaughn said, “With over twenty-five thousand artifacts, we have captured our history of buildings, events and individuals.”

“Thousands of school kids, hundreds of families, and more come and with what is being built, expanded, and improved upon it is a generational investment benefiting our kids and grandkids.”

• Two people were arrested on assault charges after a recent incident in the city, according to Mount Airy Police Department reports.

Patrick Wayne Robinson, 40, and Jennifer Diane Draughn, 32, both of 445 Culbert St., were encountered by officers during a domestic disturbance on Aug. 26 at that location, where Robinson allegedly shoved Draughn to the ground and she is accused of hitting him in the face and back with her hands.

Robinson was charged with assault on a female and Draughn, simple assault. Both were held in the Surry County Jail without privilege of bond, standard procedure in such incidents, with the case set for the Sept. 23 session of Surry District Court.

• Police were told on Aug. 13 that a Nintendo handheld game system valued at $550, owned by Elisabeth Danielle Kaye, had been stolen from her residence in the 400 block of Granite Street by an unknown party.

• Gary Carson Leake, 54, of of 706 Hamburg St., was charged with second-degree trespassing on Aug. 10 after he was encountered by officers during a civil disturbance at a residence on Linville Road from which he was found to have been banned on June 20, police records state.

Leake is scheduled to be in District Court on Sept. 19.

PILOT MOUNTAIN — East Surry and West Stokes got all tied up during a nonconference soccer match on Wednesday.

Both squads were looking for their first wins of the 2022 season, but instead both added a “one” to the tie column. East Surry is now 0-2-1 on the season, and West Stokes is 0-4-1.

“We’ve definitely still got work to do,” said East coach Samuel Lowe. “I’m not unhappy about the outcome, of course 0-0 was not what we wanted but it wasn’t a loss either. But, I’m still happy about how the boys are working. They’re still working hard at practice.”

East and West have been evenly matched for nearly a decade in the boys soccer chapter of the “Battle for the County Line.” Since 2013, the Cardinals and Wildcats have played 15 times: East Surry won four times, West Stokes won six times and the teams tied five times.

“That’s a well-coached team over there,” Lowe said. “They’ve got a great coach and they’re a disciplined team, so I knew it was going to be a tough game. But, I’m extremely happy with the way my boys played tonight.

“Tomorrow, we just have to go back to the drawing board, maybe watch some film and get some pointers to see where we messed up at.”

Both sides looked to utilize their speed up top, leaving each back line on their toes for the better part of all 80 minutes. For East, Alex Galvan and Logan Fagg were the primary center backs while Kevin Blakeney and Levi Watson manned the outside. Michael Youngblood earned his first clean sheet as East Surry’s keeper.

Lupe Chavez rotated to the back line when needed, but spent most of his time in the midfield.

The Cardinals struggled to time their runs throughout the game and were often called offside. East retaliated in the second half with a modified offside trap of their own that caught the Wildcats off guard multiple times.

East thought it broke the scoreless tie as early as 12 minutes into the first half. Fagg floated a free kick from midfield to the top of West Stokes’ 18-yard box where it was received by striker Jonathan De La Cruz. Cruz one-touched a pass to Mario Flores who placed a shot into the back of the net, but the goal was called back due to an offside call.

Galvan and Chavez each sent through balls to Cruz in the first half, but most were intercepted by the Wildcat keeper (note: West Stokes’ roster was not available on MaxPreps). Cruz had a few shots deflected out for corner kicks, but none of the corners led to shots on goal.

West Stokes pushed into East territory late in the first half and put a number of shots on goal. The Cardinals defense fended off some of the attacks up the middle, but the Cats’ best weapon was utilized when attacking up the wing. A West Stokes player with a cannon-like throw-in could place the ball inside the six-yard box easily, leading to a number of 50-50s in dangerous territory.

East Surry’s best chance to strike came in the 62nd minute. Chavez took a throw-in near the Cards’ bench and the throw was passed back to him on the sideline. The junior crossed into the 18 to Kade Talton, who redirected the lob to Cruz. Cruz zigzagged through three defenders to face the keeper one-on-one, but sent the shot over the crossbar.

“We’ve still got to work on our touches,” Lowe said. “Our touches let us down some tonight. We definitely should’ve had a goal; Jonathon, he got a little excited there and kicked the ball through the uprights. That’s something that we’ll get more comfortable with after more playing experience.”

The teams fought until the final whistle. West Stokes even had a long throw in as the announcer counted down the final 10 seconds of the game, but it was headed out by the Cards to keep the tie alive.

Though the Cards have yet to win a match this season, Lowe said he isn’t concerned and is instead focusing on the team’s progression from match to match.

”I really do think that we’ll be fine. We just need time and things will work out,” Lowe said. “I’ve got freshmen, and I’ve got kids that – I’ll be honest with you – have never played before that want to play, which is fine. I’ll take anybody that wants to come out here and play with us. But, it’s going to take time. Touching the ball always comes with time.”

The Cardinals do have experience mixed in with youth, but it’s been difficult to build team chemistry with only three matches through the first three weeks of competition. Two of those matches were against Mount Airy, a perennial powerhouse that’s only lost four matches since the beginning of the 2019 season.

“I hate that we didn’t have a better schedule than we had,” Lowe said. “Hopefully we can get another game scheduled next week. We’re working on that so we can give them some more practice before we actually start in the conference.”

Two schools of thought regarding downtown Mount Airy— a need to plan for the future vs. a “leave Main Street alone” sentiment — collided head-on during a passionate public hearing Thursday night.

And after listening to 18 speakers for more than an hour — most opposing or skeptical about a downtown master plan update — the commissioners voted 3-2 to adopt that document considered a blueprint for major changes in the central business district.

The unusually large number of citizens offering comments was matched by a huge crowd of spectators jammed into the Municipal Building for the occasion — which overflowed into an adjoining lobby.

After the split decision for which Commissioner Marie Wood was on the winning side, she attempted to allay fears by some in the massive audience that the outcome will serve to severely transform North Main Street — the key downtown artery.

“I have no problem with this plan because it is a plan,” Wood said in arguing that a guideline is simply involved and not set in stone as far as definite changes. “It is a step forward for this city.”

Commissioner Jon Cawley — who voted against the proposal along with the board’s Tom Koch — offered a more-ominous view and wondered why it was so important to hold a vote on it Thursday night.

“It seems like we’re in a rush tonight to pass it — and I can’t figure out why,” Cawley said of the plan, pointing out that he likes many of its aspects, but also is concerned about what happens next.

“We could start tearing up the streets next week — I know that sounds facetious, but it could happen.”

The downtown master plan update, prepared by the Benchmark consulting firm based in Charlotte, has been in the works since last fall, when city officials agreed that an original one from 2004 needed refreshing.

Benchmark, a firm that has handled similar projects for other cities, completed the document earlier this summer and made it available for public consumption.

The Mount Airy Board of Commissioners voted last November to commit $67,000 in city funds for the update along with money from the group Mount Airy Downtown Inc. for a total cost of about $125,000.

After being commissioned for the project, Benchmark conducted a series of meetings to gain local input for the final document along with formally surveying the community.

But multiple speakers opposing the adoption of the updated master plan pointed out Thursday night that the citizens involved in that process represent only about 4 percent of the city’s population.

“Mayberry tourism is growing,” Main Street Coordinator Lizzie Morrison of Mount Airy Downtown, a plan backer, said during the hearing. “The charm of Mayberry remains on Main Street because downtown growth is planned, it’s intentional, it’s purposeful and it takes into consideration who we are and where we are going.”

After her comments, Morrison asked other supporters in the audience to stand.

This was followed by plan skeptic Martha Truskolaski, owner of the Spotted Moon gift shop downtown, asking those against it to do the same thing during her time at the podium.

There were conflicting opinions about whether the “anti-plan” group outnumbered the “pro” contingent, or whether their numbers were about equal.

Many speakers’ statements were greeted by applause.

While the downtown master plan update proposes major changes in the downtown area as a whole, including new housing, parking and other developments on adjoining streets such as Franklin and Renfro, its main drag was the primary concern of hearing speakers.

A key part of the update focuses on vehicular travel downtown and new streetscape configurations, with the plan recommending that one-way traffic be maintained along North Main Street — the chief artery through the central business district.

However, the new plan includes five different one-way options, three of which would involve switching from the present two lanes of travel to one with either angled or parallel parking on one side. The street itself would be 20 feet wide.

This reflects a desire to create “flex space” to allow more outdoor dining and other changes on sidewalks which would be accomplished by providing a 20-foot space on each side of the street.

Sidewalks of 12 to 20 feet wide are eyed, along with the addition of trees, burial of above-ground utility lines, strategically placed loading zones, new decorative street lights and a removable bollard system.

Many of those speaking Thursday night see such changes as detrimental to a downtown area they say is already appreciated by local residents and tourists alike who appreciate its quaintness and hometown qualities separating Mount Airy from large cities.

The opinion of Gene Clark, also embraced by others, was, “Why do we think we need to change the appearance?” of Main Street.

“We don’t need to look like Asheville or Charlotte,” added Clark, a city council candidate this year. “We need to look like Mount Airy.”

That was echoed by John Pritchard, another council candidate. “I don’t want us to be like a cookie-cutter town — we are what we are and it works.”

“Your downtown is a blessing — it takes you back in time,” said hearing speaker Devon Hays, who moved to the Pine Ridge community nearly two years again from California.

Hays praised the “nice wide street” existing now.

“You’ve got something special — don’t blow it,” he said, a comment that drew a shout of “Amen!” from a woman in the back of the room along with applause.

A similar view was expressed by Norm Schultz, who moved to Mount Airy one year ago because of its down-home qualities. He objected to the “gentrification” that seems to be involved with the master plan update — defined as a process to make something more refined, polite or respectable.

“I’m not against growth,” Schultz continued in reference to the suggestion that the proposals would foster economic gains.

“If you change the street, you take away small-town America.”

“The way it is now it’s so perfect,” hearing speaker Karen Armstrong remarked. “But to take it and change it completely, that’s heartbreaking to me.”

Also weighing in Thursday night was Shirley Brinkley, a former city commissioner who acknowledged that the updated master plan seems to contain good elements and ones not so good while also expressing a specific concern.

“I am totally and completely against making Main Street one lane,” said Brinkley, who is concerned how this might affect deliveries to businesses along that route and the hilly terrain of side streets which would preclude their use as alternatives.

And two downtown businessmen, Corky Fulton of Fancy Gap Outfitters and Mark Wyatt of Wyatt’s Trading Post, each expressed concerns about parking spaces on North Main being lost.

“The one thing you don’t want to do is take a single parking space away from downtown Mount Airy,” Fulton said.

Randy Collins, the president and CEO of the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce, another hearing speaker, supports the update, invoking the old saying “failing to plan is planning to fail” in doing so.

Collins said he initially was concerned about how streetscape changes might hamper large downtown events such as the Autumn Leaves Festival sponsored by the chamber, but said he was assured these wouldn’t be harmed.

“All of our questions and concerns were addressed,” Collins said.

“Change is inevitable, and we have to plan for it,” the chamber official observed, a point of view also offered by two other speakers favoring the plan update, Len Fawcett and Lauren Jennings.

Yet former Autumn Leaves Festival Director Travis Frye, now tourism coordinator for both Dobson and Surry County, was not as optimistic as Collins.

Frye questioned whether enough definitive study on how events will be affected has been undertaken.

“My concern is we don’t have enough detailed information,” said Frye, who believed this should be supplied before the adoption of the plan.

“Progress is not progress just because we want it to change,” he added. “The streets are a concern to me, especially where it affects tourism.”

Frye also said the street must be wide enough to accommodate a fire truck.

Local business owner Donna Hiatt said during the hearing that repairs to existing infrastructure — such as streets, sidewalks and the water system — should be undertaken before changing North Main Street.

There also were concerns Thursday night about where the money needed to do that would come from.

“Who is going to pay for it? — I think it’s going to be the taxpayers,” hearing speaker Grant Welch said.

The staff at the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History have been hard at work preparing for classes to start back in Surry County.

Last week, Programs and Education Director, Cassandra Johnson, went on a county wide trip to over 20 schools in a single day to personally invite educators back into the museum.

“We already have six schools signed up for a field trip this year, and I’ve already started getting the traveling trailer out to teach with. I have high hopes that more children from all over the county will be able learn about their history this year with us,” she said.

The museum takes pride in offering field trips, new and updated exhibits, free history talks, the traveling history trailer, a new traveling exhibit, more STEAM focused education opportunities, and much more this year. They are also excited that the award-winning Tar Heel Jr. Historians Club is starting back.

The Jr. Historians first meeting will be held at the museum on Thursday, September 8, at 3:30 p.m. and students in grades 4th — 12th are encouraged to join. The club meets weekly on Thursday, and kids get to learn more about local history while having “lots of fun.”

While spreading the word to schools, they also got to stop at Surry Central Middle School to personally congratulate Alisha Griffin for winning our Treat-A-Teacher grand prize. “Thank you to all of our local educators who visited us over the summer, and we’re looking forward to seeing teachers as they visit us with their students this year,”

For those with questions about scheduling a field trip, tour, or any of of the museum’s other opportunities, please contact The Mount Airy Museum of Regional History at mamrh@northcarolinamuseum.org or call 336-786-4478.

The staff at the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History are hard at work preparing for classes to start back in Surry County! Last week, Programs and Education Director, Cassandra Johnson, went on a county wide trip to over 20 schools in a single day to personally invite educators back into the museum.

“We already have six schools signed up for a field trip this year, and I’ve already started getting the traveling trailer out to teach with. I have high hopes that more children from all over the county will be able learn about their history this year with us.”

The museum is proud to be offering field trips, new and updated exhibits, free history talks, the traveling history trailer, a new traveling exhibit, more STEAM focused education opportunities, and much more this year. We are also excited that our award-winning Tar Heel Jr. Historians Club is starting back!

The Jr. Historians first meeting will be held at the museum on September 8 at 3:30 and students in grades 4th-12th are encouraged to join. The club meets weekly on Thursday, and kids get to learn more about local history while having lots of fun!

While getting this information out to schools, we also got to stop at Central Middle School to personally congratulate Alisha Griffin for winning our Treat-A-Teacher grand prize! Thank you to all of our local educators who visited us over the summer, and we’re looking forward to seeing teachers as they visit us with their students this year!

For questions about scheduling a field trip, tour, or any of the museum’s other opportunities, please contact The Mount Airy Museum of Regional History at mamrh@northcarolinamuseum.org or call 336-786-4478.

The Mount Airy Museum of Regional History is located at 301 N. Main Street in the heart of the downtown Mount Airy.

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