Surry County Schools April Employee of The Month Sarah Niten with Superintendent Dr. Travis Reeves. (Submitted photo)

Surry County Schools named Sarah Niten as employee of the month for April.

“Sarah has been a loyal custodian at Flat Rock for six years,” school officials said of the honor. “She has been an employee of Surry County Schools for 29 years. She exemplifies unwavering dedication to her school staff and students every day. We appreciate her continuous service and look forward to working with her for many years to come.”

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Four locals win State Track Titles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

City offices will be closed Monday for Memorial Day.

Dobson native Adam Marion will be honored by Stewart-Haas Racing and driver Aric Almirola at Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600.

Army Private First Class Marion, a 2000 graduate of Surry Central High School, was serving in Iraq with the North Carolina National Guard in April 2008 when he was killed in action.

Almirola’s No. 10 car is customized with the stars and stripes of the U.S. flag, as well as a banner with Marion’s name at the top of the windshield. Adam’s parents, Pam and Donnie Marion, will be among those recognized prior to the May 29 race.

“I’m just so glad that we can do something to recognize him for all that he did for us; there’s truly no way to repay it,” said Joel Edmonds, who serves as Almirola’s spotter and has been involved in racing for three decades.

Edmonds grew up around Marion’s family and has been connected with them for most of his life. He said he still remembers where he was when the call came in about Adam.

“You know, there aren’t many people that live 26 years and accomplish as much as he did,” Edmonds said. “You look at all the good he did, and he’s still having that kind of impact so many years after.”

In addition to his military service, Marion was both a volunteer and a staff member at the Children’s Center of Northwest North Carolina. According to the Children Center’s community relations coordinator Valerie Smith, the center operates two residential homes for youth in Surry and Yadkin counties, as well as youth, family, and behavior health programs and services for both youth and families in seven counties in Northwest North Carolina.

Beginning in 2009, the Pfc. Adam Marion Memorial Golf Tournament has been held in his memory to raise funds for the center. The tournament became an annual springtime event and has raised more than $1 million.

The 2022 tournament featured more than 260 golfers and saw contributions made by several local businesses.

Because of the impact Marion had and continues to have on the community, Edmonds said he’s been trying to get him featured by multiple race teams over the years.

“There are so many of these heroes that have passed, so I knew it was always going to be a longshot that we could get him recognized,” Edmonds said. “I realize I’m getting toward the end of my career in full-time racing, so it really makes me feel good to finally get it done for him. The Lord works in mysterious ways, and it finally worked out that this could happen for Adam at this time.

“I’m very grateful that Stewart-Haas Racing and Aric Almirola worked to get him on the car and honor him. You always hear people say never forget, and that’s so true. You never want to forget that people like Adam are the reason that we’re able to do anything.”

Almirola made an appearance on Fox’s “Racehub Live” on May 25 and said the following on the decision to honor Marion:

“My family came over from Cuba in 1966, and we are so grateful for our freedom here in this country and the men and women that fight for it. This weekend, Memorial Day weekend, [it’s] such an awesome opportunity to race and to honor the men and women that have made the ultimate sacrifice for us to have this freedom.”

When Edmonds heard the news that the race team approved his proposal, he said he immediately contacted Pam and Donnie to ensure they were okay with it.

“I just can’t imagine what strength it takes to put a smile on for all these tournaments, all these events,” Edmonds said. “I texted Donnie, and he replied two minutes later saying they would be honored. They didn’t know I’d been trying to do this for 10-12 years.

“I never did this for me, I just want people to know of Adam’s incredible life and sacrifice. Here we are 14 years later and he’s getting stuff accomplished that we can’t while we’re here.”

The Coca-Cola 600 takes place Sunday, May 29 at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a scheduled 6 p.m. start time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Earlier in May, Flat Rock Elementary’s fourth and fifth graders had an End of the Year Typing Competition.

With all of the typing lessons and all the fun typing games they completed during the school year, each student put their typing skills to the test, being scored on words per mintue as well as accuracy.

Fifth grader Chuck Wilson took the top spot recording 44 words per minute with 97% accuracy. Fourth grader Danielle Stevens was second at 39 words per minute with 96% accuracy while fourth grader Ryleigh Badgett was next at 28 words per minute with 99% accuracy.

Being crowned champion allows Chuck Wilson to move on to compete against the winner at Franklin Elementary School.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/MTA052622V.pdf

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bogenberger did not return additional emails sent with further questions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The schedule for Monday’s program will include:

• The call to order by Niland;

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

• Cassidy Mills’ rendering of the national anthem;

• A group recital of the Pledge of Allegiance;

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

• The reading of the proclamation by the mayor;

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

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

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

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

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

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

We are all in shock with the news of yet another mass shooting. This time in Uvalde, Texas. Then the news this morning (Wednesday, May 25) of a fight at a Circle K on Rockford Street that ended with someone dying from a gunshot wound.

What can we agree on? How do we react, or better act?

I think we can agree that more legislation is not the answer.

We have laws on the books that are not easy to enforce. It’s complicated.

We may have some agreement that background checks, sales of high-capacity magazines and the need for the average citizen to own a military style tactical weapon might be a small step in the right direction. However, the problem seems to be more personal.

It starts with us. Can we, as a member of society, slow down the anger? Anger fuels divisiveness. We seem to spend more time, as with our politics, throwing stones at the other political party in order to gain leverage. What would happen if we woke up every day looking for something positive to share and do — like Giving to Second Harvest Food Bank at Chick fil A. Wednesday, May 25? Making sure our children are taken to places such as Reeves Community Center, Surry Arts Council happenings, open air concerts on Market Street, the park, the library, activities in one of our 188 local churches and more?

Parents, you don’t have to repeat the failures and short comings of your past. You have the unique power to make positive change. In small ways at first, but the more you do, the more you learn and the better your life and those around you can be.

So I challenge you to act.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mount Airy High School senior Sydney Seagraves officially signed her NCAA National Letter of Intent and will continue her academic and softball careers at Concord University.

“I’m really excited,” Seagraves said. “Up until a couple months ago I didn’t want to play in college, but I loved Concord and how it felt. It made me want to play softball again.

“I like how small the college is and how you get one-on-one with the professors, and also the coaches. The coaches know what they’re doing; they’re not super old, but not super young. It’s perfect because they can relate to you and help you.”

Seagraves’ ability to play collegiate softball was never a doubt for Mack Hodges, who coached her all four years of high school.

“To see her growth as a pitcher, a leader and a hitter has been fun to watch,” Hodges said. “She’s a natural leader on the softball field. She’s our best player and she’s willing to work as hard as anybody; that’s what you ask of your best players. She’s played third, first, pitched and she’d catch if we wanted her to. She would play anywhere that we needed her to play. She’s been a big part of what we do.”

Sydney began her journey in the sport with tee-ball before joining a 10U softball team at age 8. She initially started as a second baseman, but tried pitcher when her coached needed someone to step in.

“Ever since then I’ve been a pitcher,” she said.

She moved into the ranks of travel ball later and competed for such teams as the Drillers and Firecrackers. When Seagraves and her fellow class of 2022 members reached middle school, they quickly made history.

“The middle school hadn’t won a game in years, then my seventh grade year we finally won one,” Seagraves said. “It was the same with high school.”

The class of 2022 knew it had an uphill battle when they reached high school in the fall of 2018 since Mount Airy did not field a varsity softball team the previous spring. However, Seagraves said she knew there were a few good prospects that were coming with her from the middle school that wanted to help establish a program.

“We’ve struggled with numbers over the years for sure, but that senior group has been big,” Hodges said. “They’ve been around for four years, and they’ve battled through the fact that we’ve had to struggle with numbers and had to play with a lot of inexperienced players year after year. But, it never affected how they played and how hard they worked.”

The Lady Bears went winless in 2019, but only had two upperclassmen on the team and returned nearly everyone. The next season, Mount Airy picked up its first win in close to three years.

“Sydney’s sophomore year, the COVID year, we had a team that could’ve been a decent little group,” Hodges said. “We went and played at East Wilkes, and they’re always a pretty good team; Derrick [Hill] always does a great job. We go down there and beat them 1-0, and Sydney has a really good game pitching. That’s when I realized how special of a player she was and really started to see her growth.

“I remember she came off the field so excited and was like, “wait, we won?”

Unfortunately for the Bears, the season would be postponed less than 48 hours after the win before eventually being cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 2021 Granite Bears won their first three games for the program’s best start in more than a decade. Mount Airy was in a tough situation though as the regular season was shortened to a maximum of 14 games. The Bears were originally only supposed to play conference games, but only four of the six schools in the conference fielded softball teams.

“After last year, she kind of had some doubts about the future,” Hodges said. “I didn’t put any pressure on her. The biggest thing I told her was to keep her mind open and don’t shut the door completely, and just let her come back to it naturally. I think as she got closer to the time she realized how much she would miss it.

“She’s had a lot of big games for us this year, and has helped give us opportunities to win.”

Returning for her senior season helped open the door for Seagraves to find her college of choice, of which she is extremely grateful.

“I want to thank all my coaches and just everybody who’s helped me get to where I am, especially my mom and my dad,” Seagraves said.

Surry Central High School is hosting the Eagles Nest Basketball Camp June 6-9.

The camp is open to boys and girls that are rising third through ninth graders.

Daily camp is from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. with the gym open at 8 a.m. each day. Cost is $110 and includes a t-shirt if registered after May 31. The early bird rate for the camp is $100 if registered by May 31.

Each day campers will take part in skill stations, instruction from coaches, individual competitions – such as Knockout, Hot Shot, 1-on-1-on-1 and free throw shooting) and daily league games.

The camp is sponsored by the Surry Central Basketball Programs. Counselors include: coach Marty Behrens and varsity boys coaching staff, coach Mandy Holt and the varsity girls coaching staff, coaches from Central Middle School and players from the Golden Eagle basketball teams.

Gatorade, water and concessions will be available all week, and pizza will be available to order each morning at $2.50 a slice.

Championship games and an awards ceremony will be held Thursday, June 9 around 2 p.m.

Registration forms can be found at bit.ly/3lJQ3ac

If you have questions, email Coach Mandy Holt (holtma@surry.k12.nc.us) or call Surry Central High School at 336-386-8842

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RANDLEMAN — East Surry’s baseball season came to an end Friday in a fourth-round playoff game against the defending 2A State Champion, Randleman.

The Cardinals were held to just two hits in their first true playoff road game in six years, while the home Tigers had 10 hits – including a trio of home runs. East couldn’t convert when it chances to put runs on the board, and Randleman made the Cards pay for any mistakes.

Randleman advances to the Regional Championship for the third-straight postseason with a 10-0 win.

“I told the kids that we had to play just about a perfect game to have a chance. We didn’t, and they made us pay,” said East Surry coach Chad Freeman. “You tip your hat because they are the better team. There’s nothing else you can say about it really.”

Friday’s game marked East Surry’s fourth-consecutive appearance in the fourth round of the state playoffs, which is the second-longest active streak in the state among all classifications. The only team with more consecutive fourth-round appearances is Randleman, who competed in its 11th-straight in 2022. Since 2011, the Tigers have won two 2A State Titles and finished 2A State Runner-up three times.

“They’re so good and just relentless,” Freeman said. “One through nine, every single kid that they’ve got in the lineup takes great approaches and they don’t get fooled very often at the plate.”

Luke Brown and Anthony Ayers served as the Cards’ two pitchers against the Tigers (29-1). Brown faced 25 batters in 3.2 innings on the mound, allowing nine runs – including four earned runs – on eight hits, with five strikeouts and three walks. Ayers faced three batters to close the fourth inning and open the fifth, allowing one run on two hits.

“The score won’t show it, but Luke didn’t throw a bad game,” Freeman said, referencing costly fielding errors by the Cardinals that contributed to the five unearned runs. Freeman also mentioned the shallow outfield fence on the lines of Joe Brookshire field.

“With those first two home runs that put them up 4-0…I mean, they hit them well, but if we’re at our field or many other fields it’s at most a 1-0 lead,” Freeman said. [Luke] pitched well, it’s just that playing in this environment, at this field against this team was a different animal. They’re defending state champs for a reason, and they’re going to win states again.”

East Surry (24-2) put runners on base in the first, third and fifth innings. Leadoff Luke Bowman singled to start the game and was sacrificed over to second base, but was left on after a strikeout and a flyout.

In the third inning, Trey Armstrong was hit by a pitch and Folger Boaz rocked a double to move Armstrong to third with no outs. The Tigers met at the mound to regroup and it worked, as pitcher Drake Purvis struck the next three batters out.

Purvis, a sophomore left-handed pitcher committed to N.C. State, finished with nine strikeouts in five innings.

“Gotta give credit to Purvis,” Freeman said. “He buckled down when runners got on base, and we didn’t do what we needed to and execute in good situational approaches. That’s the difference between being in a game and still having a shot, to getting beat 10-0.”

Another Cardinal, Brett Clayton, was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning with one out. Randleman forced a double play to end the inning by catching a fly ball and getting the out at first.

East Surry finishes the year 24-2, and Freeman said the players have a lot to be proud of looking back on the season.

“The feeling right now stinks because you’re coming off of a loss, but I told the guys after the game not to let this game diminish what all we accomplished this season,” Freeman said. “I told them: ‘you bumped up to a new classification even though we’re still 1A size. We went 24-2. We made it to the fourth round against the defending 2A State Champions. It’s been one heck of a year.’

“I’m so thankful for the kids that I’ve got. They’re wonderful young men, competitive players and most importantly they’re good people. That makes it even easier and even better as a coach when you’ve got players that will play hard and love each other. It was a special season with a special group, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

East Surry had to come ready to play night in and night out, Freeman said, and added that was what pushed the team to get even better. He spoke of the “tremendous talent” in and around Surry County, and said it was evident by the close games the Cardinals had against the likes of North Surry, Forbush, Surry Central and West Stokes.

Following Friday’s game, Freeman gave a final salute to the Cardinal seniors: Bowman, Ayers, Armstrong, Peyton Inscore, Tristen Mason and Anthony Ward.

“You look back and these kids were sophomores when COVID hit, and several of them would’ve been part of a big run with that strong group that never got to play their senior season,” he said. “They took us on an amazing journey last year to a state championship appearance and played two tight games in the state finals.

“Then, they took us to a 24-2 season this year with a conference championship, a conference tournament championship and a fourth-round appearance – again, all while we are still pretty dang small and going against some pretty big and very good 2A teams. It’s a great group of kids, and I’m blessed to be their coach.

No. 1 Randleman faces No. 15 Community School of Davidson (17-6) in the West Regional Championship. The winner of the best 2-of-3 series in the West advances to the 2A State Championship Series to face the winner of the East’s No. 4 Whiteville (21-3) and No. 15 North Lenoir (19-8).

Reach Cory on Twitter @MaNewsSports

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On May 5, Surry County Schools held its Annual Superintendent’s Art Contest at the Surry Community College Viticulture Center. Students in grades K-12 created pieces of artwork that could potentially be displayed outside Dr. Travis Reeve’s office.

Mountain Park Elementary School saw its students enter 14 pieces of artwork recently in the annual Superintendent’s Art Contest at the Surry Community College Viticulture Center in Dobson. Four of the entries earned honors at the show.

“The Farmhouse” by Gage Bell, in third grade, won the Superintendent’s choice award, the sole winner from all kindergarten through twelfth-grade entries.

Raygan Shores, in fourth grade, won first place for “Eye of the Dragon;” Shiloh Price won a second place award for “The Design;” and Syler Bryant won a third place prize for “Jelly Ocean!”

Rockford Elementary has chosen Kathie Scott as the 2021-2022 Bus Driver of the Year.

“In addition to driving a bus, ‘Ms. Kathie’ also serves as our lead custodian,” school officials said. “Kathie has developed positive relationships with the students, parents, staff, and the community. A staff member said, ‘She is always smiling, positive, and willing to help at all times.’

“Kathie is a dedicated employee, and her number one priority is the safety of all students. Rockford Elementary Schools is fortunate to have Kathie Scott as a Gator, bus driver, and lead custodian.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fire prevention is a worthwhile endeavor; and maintaining a top-notch fire department like we have in Mount Airy is a necessary and appropriate expense that should be borne by all city taxpayers. With that understanding, I read with interest the article “Fire-suppression grants to aid downtown housing” that appeared in the April 28 issue of The Mount Airy News.

The city’s newly developed initiative – creatively tagged the “Downtown Fire Suppression Life & Safety Grant Program” — is little more than an open spigot to steadily pour taxpayer-funded handouts (er, “grant awards”) into the wallets of select downtown business owners who choose to renovate the upper-floors of their buildings to create residential rental units. In a nutshell, the city will pay up to $35,000 of a portion of the each qualifying owner’s costs to install, as part of their new-construction or remodeling expenses, the sophisticated sprinkler system that is required, by code, for residential units.

The program was promoted as one designed to save and protect lives and historic property (make that lives and property within the Downtown Fire District only) while incentivizing downtown residential development. Using a combination of fear tactics and concessionary projections, the proposed program was quickly passed during the April 21 meeting of the city council — despite the fact that, at that meeting, nobody could say exactly how much money would ultimately be paid to business owners, which part of the budget would be used to fund the handouts, or whether or not there is an end date to this creatively marketed give-away program. Talk about fiscal mismanagement.

Fast forward two weeks: the proposed city budget for the next fiscal year was shared with city council members at the May 19 meeting; and, as reported in the May 21 issue of The Mount Airy News, $105,000 has been earmarked for the “grant” program. How was that arbitrary amount determined? Seems like three eligible owners have already applied for their full handout (3 x $35,000 = $105,000).

More importantly, given the propensity of the city to simply ignore its own budgeted numbers when those numbers prove inconvenient, taxpayers can expect the initial $105,000 to grow exponentially as more and more prospective landlords demand their piece of the promised pie. The Downtown Fire District includes more than 100 properties. Assuming, very conservatively, an average “grant award” of only half the allowed maximum to eligible applicants, the city is primed to give away $875,000 to 50 business owners, $1.3 million to 75 owners, $1.75 million to 100 owners, and so on.

Why should hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of city tax dollars be given to scores of downtown business owners to help them cover their code-compliance costs when they decide to voluntarily improve their property in order to make more money from rental income?

City officials justified this latest corporate welfare caper by touting the increased tax benefits that will come to the city. That may be so – but only if you define a good investment as waiting multiple decades to fully recover the total amount of money forked over.

Business owners – both within and without the Downtown Fire District — should shoulder their own costs for ensuring that their facilities meet or exceed all code requirements appropriate for their stated use and necessary to protect themselves and others from fire and other hazards. Rather than tossing cash at these owners, city officials should have encouraged them to do what they’d tell the rest of us to do – go to a bank and take out a loan!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GREENSBORO — Millennium Charter and Mount Airy took part in the 1A State Championship Track and Field Meet on May 21.

The meet, held at N.C. A&T University’s Marcus T. Johnson Track inside Truist Stadium, featured four three individuals and one relay team from local 1A schools. Another local relay team qualified for the state meet, but was unable to compete.

Results are listed below by school.

Team points were accumulated for each school’s top-8 individual finish: 10 points for first place, 8 for second, 6 for third, 5 for fourth and one point fewer through eighth place.

Millennium’s 4×800-meter relay team was the school’s second-ever state qualifier in outdoor track. One of the relay team members, junior Ava Utt, was the school’s first state qualifier in 2021. She was also the school’s first medalist by taking bronze in high jump last year.

Utt was part of girls 4×800 relay team that also featured Lion sophomore Clara Minix, as well as freshmen River Edge and Ruby Hoerter. The girls finished No. 11 in the race with a time of 12:00.42.

The Granite Bears had four state qualifiers in the boys competition: three individuals and one relay team.

Mount Airy’s 4×100 relay team of Mario Revels, Connor Burrell, Caleb Reid and Tyler Mason qualified by finishing fourth in the 1A West Regional Championship, but wasn’t able to compete at states due to an injury.

The three individual state qualifiers all finished just off the podium in their respective events.

Sophomore Deric Dandy competed in his first state championship meet and took fifth in the discus throw. Dandy’s best mark was 134-04.

Sophomores Blake Hawks and Caden Ratcliff also finished fifth in their respective events. Hawks competed in the triple jump as a freshman and finished No. 6 with a mark of 40-03.25. He improved to 41-02.00 in 2022 to finished fifth.

Ratcliff competed in the 800 meters as both a freshman and a sophomore. He took the No. 15 spot in 2021 with a time of 2:22.70, and improved to No. 5 with a time of 2:05.53 in 2022. The top-5 finishes in this year’s race were separated by less than six seconds.

Mount Airy’s boys were tied for No. 20 as a team with 12 points.

Members of the Surry Homeschool Basketball program are set to compete in North Carolina’s 2022 Home Educators All-Star Game.

Both the Surry Runnin’ Patriots boys and girls teams compete in the North Carolinians for Home Education Athletic Commission (NCHEAC). The NCHEAC East-West All-Star Game is scheduled for May 27 and will take place at Salem Baptist Christian School in Winston-Salem.

Four members of the Runnin’ Patriots will compete in the all-star game: Joshua Bunke will represent the boys team, and the trio of Faith McClary, Lindsay Cooper and Karlie Effler will represent the girls.

The Runnin’ Pats will team with other players from the NCHEAC’s Western Conference, which includes teams from Forsyth, South Guilford, Cabarrus and South Charlotte. The NCHEAC East features teams from Wilmington, North Wake, Rocky Mount/Wilson, South Wake and Wake Forest.

Joshua Bunke was named All-Conference for the third year in a row in 2022. He was also named to the All-Tournament team at the Triad Baptist Christmas Tournament.

For the season, Bunke averaged 17.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. He shot 83% from the free throw line and led the Patriots’ attack with leadership on and off the court.

Josh achieved the 1,000 point milestone last year, and finished his career with 1,905 points.

Faith McClary, an excellent shooter herself, changed roles this year and became primarily a distributor as she repeated on the All-Conference team.

McClary ran the Lady Pats’ offense and worked constantly to get other players involved. She scored 204 points on the year while also dishing out 86 assists.

Faith will continue her basketball career at Bob Jones University in the fall.

In addition to being a repeat All-Conference selection, Lindsay was selected as conference’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2022.

Cooper usually drew the toughest defensive assignment and led the team in steals with 111. As good defense often turns into offense, Cooper also scored 314 points, assisted on 101 baskets and had five double-doubles.

Another repeat All-Conference selection, Effler is a versatile and creative scorer that can also get teammates involved.

She finished the year with 465 points and 113 assists. Often drawing the other team’s best defender, Karlie still managed to score consistently as an excellent outside shooter who can also drive to the basket, score in close and draw fouls.

Karlie is a 1,000 point scorer, having achieved this feat during last season.

She is also a lockdown defender who also surpassed 100 steals during the 2022 season.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“It’s nice,” Burchette said.

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

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

GREENSBORO — Four local student-athletes won gold medals at the 2A State Championship Track and Field Meet.

East Surry, North Surry and Surry Central competed in the 2A Championship Meet on May 20 hosted at N.C. A&T University’s Marcus T. Johnson Track inside Truist Stadium.

Two of the local state champs hail from East Surry, while North Surry and Surry Central and each had one. The three schools combined to have 12 state qualifiers.

Results are listed below by school.

Team points were accumulated for each school’s top-8 individual finish: 10 points for first place, 8 for second, 6 for third, 5 for fourth and one point fewer through eighth place.

Senior Clara Willard and sophomore Isaac Vaden swept the 2A Discus Throw Championships.

Willard competed in the 2021 1A Discus Championship and finished No. 11 with a mark of 79-01 feet. She jumped to the top 2A spot in 2022 with a championship throw of 118-09 feet. Willard tied Camden County’s Kennedy Lighty for the No. 1 spot, but won the tiebreaker with her second-longest throw.

Clara is just the third female state champion in outdoor track in East Surry history. She joins Suzanne Shelton, who won the 1A 1,600-meter Run Title in 1994, and Maya Bennett, who won the 1A High Jump Title in 2003.

Willard’s 10 championship points put East Surry tied for No. 25 in the team standings.

Like Willard, Vaden had a huge leap from last year’s 1A championship to this year’s 2A meet. Vaden finished No. 15 of 16 competitors in 2021 with a throw of 95-01. He left no doubts this season by throwing a championship distance of 145-01 – which won the 2A title by more than eight feet.

Vaden is the first male outdoor track state champion in East Surry history.

Also competing in the state championship for East Surry was senior Cooper Motsinger. Motsinger finished No. 6 in the 3,200 meters with a time of 10:27.20.

Vaden and Motsinger’s 13 points helped East Surry finish tied for No. 17 in the team competition.

Ella Riggs competed in her first outdoor track championship this year as a freshman.

Riggs took part in shot put and finished just off the podium in fifth place. Her throw of 34-08.50 was less than two feet behind the fourth-place finish, and she was the only freshman to finish in the top-8.

Riggs’ four points helped the Lady Greyhounds finish tied for No. 41 as a team.

Junior Jared Hiatt was the only local male competitor to compete in two different events at the state championship. He competed in long jump at the 2021 2A State Championship, but competed in both long jump and high jump at this year’s meet.

Hiatt captured the Long Jump State Championship with a final mark of 22-10.75. He narrowly defeated the defending 2A State Champion and the highest seed coming into this year’s championship, Terry Hayes of Wilkes Central, by 1.5 inches.

Hiatt wins his second overall state championship and first in outdoor track; he previously won the 2021-22 Indoor Track State Championship for long jump.

Jared is the second outdoor track state champion in North Surry history, joining 2018 2A Shot Put Champion Ryan Eldridge.

In addition to his gold medal in long jump, Hiatt won a bronze medal in high jump with a leap of 6-04. There was a three-way tie for second place in the event, and the final order was decided based on number of attempts needed to clear a mark.

Hiatt’s 15 points helped the Greyhound boys finish No. 15 as a team.

Golden Eagle senior Mia McMillen was one of only two local competitors, male or female, to compete in four events at the state championship level. She was also the only local athlete competing in their third outdoor track state championship meet.

McMillen had two finishes on the podium on Friday, including a gold-medal performance in the 300 hurdles with a time of 45.08 seconds. Her championship win comes after two second-place finishes in the event as a freshman and a junior (no state championship was held in 2020).

Surry Central girls have now won a total of 25 outdoor track state championships since 1990; 20 individual titles and five relay titles. Mia wins the school’s first outdoor track championship since Sarah Brown won the pole vault title in 2019.

Like Hiatt at North Surry, McMillen added a bronze medal to go with her gold. Mia took third in the 100 hurdles with a time of 15.16, which was .09 seconds behind second place.

McMillen had two other finishes just outside the top-4. She finished fifth in long jump with a mark of 17-06.50, actually tying for fourth in distance but dropping to fifth due to number of attempts, and sixth in the 4×200 relay at 1:48.48 with teammates Aylin Rodriguez, Ella Priddy and Ivy Toney.

Toney, a sophomore, joined McMillen as the only other local competitor to compete in four events at the state meet. Also making multiple appearances at the state meet were Lady Eagle teammates: Priddy with three, Rodriguez with two, Madelyn Wilmoth with two and Yeira Munoz with two.

Toney, Munoz and Cassie Snead competed in individual events for the Lady Eagles. Snead was No. 9 in discus with a mark of 100-01.00, Toney took the No. 10 spot in pole vault with a mark of 7-06 and Munoz was No. 13 in the 3,200 meters with a time of 14:30.13.

Central’s 4×400 and 4×800 relay teams each finished sixth.

Wilmoth, Rodriguez, Toney and Priddy finished the 4×400 in 4:23.35, and the team of Wilmoth, Toney, Munoz and Priddy finished the 4×800 in 10:45.63.

Surry Central’s girls had the highest team finish of any local school. The Lady Eagles racked up 29 points to finish No. 8 of more than 50 teams.

Two Surry Central boys competed at the state championship as well: sophomore Ignacio Morales and freshman Allen Huffman. Both boys were competing in the outdoor track championship for the first time.

Morales took part in the 3,200 meters and finished third with a time of 10:05.43. He was the only sophomore to finish in the top-8.

Huffman competed in the 300 hurdles and finished No. 15 with a time of 44.82.

Surry Central’s boys tied for No. 31 in the team standings with six points.

Surry County Schools named Sarah Niten as employee of the month for April.

“Sarah has been a loyal custodian at Flat Rock for six years,” school officials said of the honor. “She has been an employee of Surry County Schools for 29 years. She exemplifies unwavering dedication to her school staff and students every day. We appreciate her continuous service and look forward to working with her for many years to come.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Board of Directors of Surrey Bancorp (Pink Sheets: SRYB) has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 10.5 cents per share on the company’s common stock. The cash dividend is payable on July 8 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 17.

Ted Ashby, CEO of Surrey Bancorp, stated the dividend was based on the company’s operating results, its “strong financial condition and a commitment to delivering shareholder value.”

Surrey Bancorp is the bank holding company for Surrey Bank & Trust and is located at 145 North Renfro Street, Mount Airy. The bank operates full service branch offices at 145 North Renfro Street, and 2050 Rockford Street and a limited service branch at 1280 West Pine Street in Mount Airy. Full-service branch offices are also located at 653 South Key Street in Pilot Mountain, 393 CC Camp Road in Elkin and 1096 Main Street in North Wilkesboro, and 940 Woodland Drive in Stuart, Virginia.

Surrey Bank & Trust can be found online at www.surreybank.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In recording deeds, the state of North Carolina does not require that the amount paid for a parcel be stated on the deed. However a tax stamp at the rate of $2 for every $1,000 in value is affixed to each deed.

Recent real estate transfers recorded in the Surry County Register of Deed’s office include:

– Estate of Grady Cooper Jr., The John Cooper Living Trust, John Cooper Living Trust, Caroline Cooper Lamm, Grady Cooper Jr., Daniel Kent Lamm, Grady Cooper III, John Stephen Cooper, David Samuel Cooper, Joseph Vann Cooper, Mary Campbell Cooper, Larry R. Hazelwood, Harvi Collins Cooper, Daniel G. Dobbins, Angie T. Dobbins, Grover C. Dobbins and Martha Dobbins to Kevin Burcham; 0.672 acres PB 40 115 Dobson estate of Grady Cooper Jr. 21 E 595; $48.

– Estate of Donald A. Blackburn, Thomas C. Flippin and Donald A. Blackburn to Regina Blackburn Reavis; 1.85 acres Bryan estate of Donald A. Blackburn file 22 E 144; $0.

– Estate of Fred Dupree, Daniel Dupree, Amee Dupree and Fred Dupree to Hector Nieto and Julian Nieto Castillo; 0.64 acres Mount Airy estate of Fred C. Dupree file 22 E 126; $270.

– William L. Thompson Jr., Irma D. Delany and William L. Thompson to Maurice A. McKinney; 1.02 acres lot 8 and 1.02 acres lot 10 Thompson Estates Pilot; $13.

– L&T Tree Service of Elkin, Inc. to Nicholas A. Wood and Summer Wood; 0.27 acres Elkin; $238.

– Christopher Mark Stevens and Cathy Stevens to Jorge Lopez Gastellum and Sagrario Guadalupe Pena Martinez; two tracts 231 Galloway Street Mount Airy; $598.

– Ricky Wayne Seamon and Kati Marie Seamon to Maria De La O Investments; 11.896 acres tract one PB 40 58 South Westfield; $150.

– Estate of William David Dressman, Teresa Dressman Remaley, William D. Dressman, William John Ramaley, Diane Dressman Whited, Ronald Whited, Patricia Dressman Cain, Alan Cain and Michael David Dressman to David P. Hiatt and Maria B. Hiatt; lots 27-28 Woodside Estates PB 7 125 Mount Airy estate of William David Dressman 22 E 267; $518.

– Estate of Kathaleen Cox Smith, Kandy Smith Hudspeth and Kathaleen Cox Smith to Traci Lynn Watson; 0.790 acres estate of Kathaleen Cox Smith file 2022 E 301; $210.

– Wu Lin and Xu Mei to Aracheli Guerrero and Primitivo Guerrero; lot 2 Fairfield subdivision section 2 PB 6 101 Mount Airy; $458.

– Ricky Wayne Seamon and Kati Marie Seamon to Shelby Lyn Atanacio; 14.948 acres tract two PB 40 58 South Westfield; $184.

– Carol N. Lowe to Joe Howard Melton and Charlene S. Melton; 0.053 acres tract two PB 40 87 Stewarts Creek; $1.

– Gentry Living Trust, Coney O. Gentry and Claire Gentry to Robert Henderson Stone and Katherine Taylor Stone; 12.817 acres PB 9 107 Elkin; $116.

– Shirley Jean Noah to Paulette Davis and Gary Davis; 0.3528 acres lot 3 section 4 Town & Country Woods PB 7 73; $364.

– Scottie Lee Davis and Jimmy R. Gillespie and Mackenzie Gillespie; 0.33 acres Dobson; $226.

– Rex Joel Marion Jr. and Donna T. Marion to Erik R. Bruce and Carrie H. Bruce; lot 20 Windsor Park subdivision section 2 PB 12 149 Dobson; $670.

– Estate of Anthony Duane Saul, Gary E. Saul, Anthony Duane Saul and Christine Peters Saul to Sandra Farley Nichols; condominium deed unit 6 A Pilot Echo Condominiums BK 1 94-97 Pilot estate of Anthony Duane Saul; $430.

– R&S Nichols, LLC and S&T Nichols Properties, LLC to Jarod Allan Wilson and Morgan Nichols Wilson; tract 4 96/100 acres; $54.

– R&S Nichols, LLC to Jarod Allan Wilson and Morgan Nichols Wilson; three tracts Dobson; $200.

– Doris Stein and Doris Robinson Stein to Dutch Maritime Investments, Inc.; tract Mount Airy; $306.

– Eduardo Luque Sanchez to Austin D. Ragland and Olivia K. Ragland; tract Elkin; $4.

– Maria P. Hicks to Michael William Hicks; tract 127 Young Street Elkin; $0.

– Richard Harold Layne and Angela N. Layne to Briseida Alcala Ibarra and Ruben Alcala Rivera; 1.811 parcel 2 PB 40 182 Rockford; $18.

– Jewell Thomas to Paula Johnson; tract Stewarts Creek; $0.

– James Warren Harrell Jr. to Christopher Burkhart and Lisa A. Brady; tract Mount Airy; $30.

– Lucille M. Doyle and Kathleen Ann Kaye to James M. Lewis and Teresa Donathan Lewis; unit 14 A Greystone Condominium bk 1 251 and 342 and 397-399 and PB 23 134 and 192 Mount Airy; $758.

– CEL Investments, LLC to Allie Grace Leonard and Brandon Wesley Faw; lot 37 section 4 Knollwood subdivision PB 12 186 Stewarts Creek; $396.

– Brian Grey Bowles to Richard Caudill; lot 8 Nichols Acre PB 13 169 and recorded PB 13 169 and 184; $286.

– Max R. Hiatt and Dorothy F. Hiatt to Leon G. Hiatt; tract Noel Lane Mount Airy; $6.

– Brenda Ann Snow to Kimberly Snow Reynolds; tract one 2 acres and tract two 2.70 acres Stewarts Creek; $0.

– White Rock United Methodist Church, James Steve Wright and Clinton McCann to Robert L. Hutchins and Renee H. Hutchins; portion of lot 1 Brookridge development PB 8 18 Bryan; $20.

– Mitchell Lane Surratt and Tamara Dawson Surratt to Cameron William Spencer; condominium deed unit E-7 Country Club Condominiums bk 1 17-19 Mount Airy; $260.

– Clara S. Yokley Revocable Living Trust, Oscar H. Yokley Jr. Revocable Living Trust, Laura B. Yokley Scott, Oscar H. Yokley Jr., Clara S. Yokley, Oscar H. Yokley, Megan Elizabeth Gillespie and Dustin Dale Roberson to Megan Elizabeth Gillespie and Dustin Dale Roberson; condominium deed unit 100 Hazelwood Plantation Condominiums phase 1 bk 1 143-149 Mount Airy; $640.

– Dorothy Law Currin to Christopher Ryan Henson and Alicia Wallace Henson; lots 19-22 Farmbrooke subdivision PB 6 138 Mount Airy; $590.

– Donald Nelson Gardner and Sarah Elizabeth Gardner to Wallace E. Geiger and Theresa M. Geiger; tract Mount Airy; $1,190.

– Lonnie O. Jackson and Rachel S. Jackson to Ricky Utt and Sheila N. Utt; lots 33-36 block A PB 3 80 Mount Airy; $186.

– Patricia Newton Miner to Ramone Chavez and Antonia Arellano Anselmo; tract one 1.0302 acres tract four and tract two 1.0305 acres tract five Haystack Acres PB 13 170 Franklin; $80.

– Joshua A. Addington and Emily N. Addington to William Chad Johnson and Emily Paige Harmon; 2.606 acres PB 29 3 Rockford; $386.

– Wiley Edwards and Louise Edwards to Kathryn Blair Miller and Clayton Carroll Miller III; lots 15-16 Mountain Manor Estate development PB 7 6 and PB 26 118 Franklin; $0.

– Blaine M. Montgomery to Feliciana Ventura Vico Cervantes; 2.91 acres Marsh; $160.

– Timothy Dale Hodgin, Robin Hodgin, Gary Wayne Hodgin, Dianne Hodgin, James Marshall Hodgin and Denaye J. Hodgin to Jimmie McMickle; 2 parcels Mount Airy; $0.

– Estate of Alice Joleen Lawrence, Donna L. Shelton, Jeff Shelton, Anita Kaye Hull, Brent Hull, James Wafford Lawrence, Lisa Lawrence and Alice Joleen Lawrence to Dale A. Chess and Penny L. Chess; tract one 1 acre and tract two tract 301 Quaker Road Mount Airy estate of Alice Joleen Lawrence file 22 E 208; $260.

– Susan Law and David Rosenfeld to Mark Gigliotti; tract one 0.6896 acres; $21.

– Benjamin Davis Whitaker, Laura Moser Whitaker, Ben D. Whitaker and Laura M. Whitaker to Brittany Leann Johnson; 1.056 acres PB 23 96 Siloam; $201.

– Estate of Gloria Jean Green, Gregory Green and Willie T. Green to Charlene Marie Nicholson and Donnie A. Nicholson; 1.00 acres Mount Airy estate file 20 E 475; $191

– Kayla Beth Mabe, Joshua Shelton, Josh J. Shelton, Kayla Shelton, Ashley Shelton and Kayla Mabe to Faith Longworth; lot 5 block A PB 7 35 Michell Bluff Estate; 241.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The following marriage licenses were issued in Surry County:

– Andrew Wilson Hatcher, 28, of Patrick County, Virginia, to Jamia Chanel Tunstalle, 25, of Surry County.

– David Lee Dowell, 34, of Surry County to Laurie Anne Beeson, 55, of Surry County.

– Dalton Gray Payne, 23, of Surry County to Hannah Faye Roberts, 22, of Surry County.

– Daniel Simon, 76, of Surry County to Martha Gray Harrelson, 71, of Surry County.

– Wade Blakley Sutphin, 62, of Surry County to Annette Jane Handy, 63, of Surry County.

– Johnathan Logan Mabe, 26, of Surry County to Sabryna Lynn Wall, 23, of Surry County.

– Jodie Leon Stanley, 22, of Surry County to Hannah Lillian Shore, 23, of Surry County.

– Wilson Jesus Serrano, 35, of Surry County to Tamika Suarez, 37, of Surry County.

– Jose Luis Rodriguez Martinez, 42, of Surry County to Nytcyvette Matos Hernandez, 50, of Surry County.

– Christopher Dale Arnder, 45, of Wilkes County to Amber Delight Golding, 38, of Carroll County.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A container, pot or tube of portulaca

The unusual and colorful portulaca, which is also known as cactus rose, desert rose, rose moss and cactus flower, features colors of red, yellow, pink, orange, tan, wine and white. The plants are small and will sprawl over the sides of their containers and you can plant them close together. They are sun-loving plants and absorb plenty of sunlight each day. On cloudy and rainy days, not many of them will bloom. Different flowers bloom each morning for a varied display of colors. For the portulaca, you can use cactus medium instead of fine potting medium. Feed them with Flower-Tone organic flower food each month and water them when rain is not in the forecast for several days. My Northampton County grandma always had a tub of rose moss on her front porch that bloomed all summer long.

The Irish potato row may have new potatoes

The Irish potato row or bed should now have plenty of lush green foliage and also some white blooms which may signal that there are some new potatoes under the vines at the bottom of the hills. Do not disturb the hills, but scratch around and harvest one or two from several hills. Don’t peel them but place in a pot and cover with water. Boil until you can stick a fork through them. Add salt, pepper and half stick light margarine. Serve with a bowl of green beans.

Strawberry harvest still in progress

The strawberry harvest in Surry County still has about two weeks remaining. There is time to harvest a few gallons of fresh strawberries to freeze for winter enjoyment. Don’t allow the season to pass by without freezing some strawberries. You can pick your own or purchase them already picked if you call ahead. Ready-picked costs about a dollar more per gallon. They are defiantly worth the time and effort.

Strawberries: ingredients of this crumble

For this recipe you will need one quart of fresh strawberries, capped and cut into quarters and coated with three-fourths cup sugar and one-fourth cup plain flour. Stir together and pour into a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish or pan sprayed with Pam bakers spray. Mix the plain flour and one cup sugar and one stick of light margarine. Beat mixture until it is crumbly. Add one-fourth cup milk and a teaspoon of strawberry flavoring. Mix with a large spoon and spread over the strawberry mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, covering the baking dish or pan with a layer of aluminum foil. Remove foil after 30 minutes and bake until the crumbs are light brown. This recipe makes six servings.

Warm days and nights pave way for tomatoes

With days and nights beginning to warm up, a row of tomato plants can be safely set out. They will thrive in the warm May temperatures. When you purchase tomato plants, buy those that do not have blooms on them or that have very long stems, and please do not buy plants with green tomatoes already on them, they are born losers and have been pampered and already produced. Buy strong, healthy plants with olive green stems that will adapt well to your garden soil. Choose from proven varities such as Big Boy, Better Boy, Early Girl, Rutgers, Marglobe, Homestead, Mountain Pride, Celebrity, Parks Whopper, Beefsteak, Beefy Boy, Mortgage Lifter and Pink Girl. Use great organic plant foods like Tomato-Tone organic tomato food and Dr. Earth tomato food and Alaska Fish Emulsion. Add a handful of calcium carbonate (powdered lime) to each tomato plant to prevent blossom end rot as the plants develop. Set plants about 18 to 24 inches apart in a 5- or 6-inch deep furrow and hill up soil on both sides of the row. About every three weeks, side dress the tomato plants with Tomato-Tone organic tomato food. Apply a handful in the furrow when setting out individual tomato plants. You can also give tomato food with enriched calcium to prevent blossom end rot.

We are reaching further in the month of May and the days and nights are getting warmer and soil temperatures are getting ideal for planting and sowing warm weather vegetables. The risk of frost has passed and warm weather is consistent. Any vegetable related to warm temperatures can now be planted in the spring garden plot.

American history in a bee balm plant

The American bee balm is an important part of early American history that lives today in the form of the American bee balm plant. You can purchase open at most nurseries and garden departments. Buy a larger container to transplant it in a bag of fine potting medium because it will grow quickly in the warm weather of late spring. Some have pink blooms and the taller varities have lavender blooms. Birds will love their seeds and tea can be made from the leaves.

The front porch on a spring morning

The front porch on a spring morning with a piece of toast and a cup of coffee is a great way to start a day. The aroma of sweet honeysuckles and the first annuals of summer getting ready to bloom and trees greening up for a long summer. The birds are plenty active at the feeder and the birdbath and also searching for nesting materials. The sun warms up the Carolina blue sky. It is a great privilege to breathe in that fresh air of spring. Is there anything as rare and wonderful as a warm, sunny spring morning?

Planting a row or bed of cucumbers

Cucumbers love warm nights and also warm May soil to get them off to a good start. They perform well in beds or rows. You can choose from many varities. Choose from Ashley, Long Green, Straight Eight, Boston Pickler, Eureka, Goliath, Sweet Slice, Summer Dance, Muncher, Marketmore, Diva, Poinsett 76, Bush Pickler and Armenian. Most cucumber varities will produce a harvest in 60 to 70 days. Its a good idea to plant a row or bed now and another row or bed in about two weeks from now to extend your harvest. Sow cucumber seed in a furrow about four inches deep. Apply a layer of peat moss in the bottom of the furrow. Sow four seeds per hill about a foot apart. Cover the seeds with another layer of peat moss or Black Kow composted cow manure and then an application of Plant-Tone organic vegetable food. Hill up soil on both sides of the furrow and tamp down soil on top of hill for good soil contact. When seeds sprout, they develop two leaves. Thin the plants to two per hill. Feed by side dressing every two weeks with Plant-Tone organic vegetable food. Keep soil hilled up on both sides of the row after feeding. Water with water wand in spray mode each week if no rain is in the forecast.

Planting hills of summer squash

A row or beds of summer squash will produce a harvest in 50 to 60 days. Squash will produce a large harvest in a short period of time. We like to can plenty of them because in winter they make great sonkers as well as casseroles and squash fritters. You can choose from the straight neck or crookneck varities. We prefer the straight necks because they have smaller and less seed and are more suitable for canning. Another factor is they don’t have as much moisture in them as crooknecks and they are also much meatier which makes them ideal for sonkers. In squash varities, you can choose from yellow crookneck, Early Prolific Straight neck, Saffron Straight neck or Enterprise Straight neck. Plant squash in a furrow about four inches deep. Apply a layer of peat moss in the bottom of the furrow and sow seed on top of the peat moss. Sow four seeds per hill about a foot-and-a-half apart. Cover seed with another layer of peat moss and an application of Plant-Tone organic vegetable food. Hill soil up on each side of the row and tamp the soil on top of the hill down for good soil contact. When the squash plants develop two leaves, thin them to two plants per hill. Apply Plant-Tone or Garden-Tone organic vegetable food on each side of the row and hill up soil to cover the plant food. Water each week with the water wand on spray mode if no rain is in the forecast.

-“Last minute prayer.” The cruise ship was sinking and the captain shouted, “Does anybody on board know how to pray?” A minister on board said, “I do.” “Good,” said the captain, “You start praying, the rest of us will put on life jackets. We are one jacket short.”

-“May I have this dance?” A clumsy and rather awkward high school freshman finally got up enough nerve to ask a cute girl to prom. “I never dance with children,” said the cute snob. The freshman gave her a critical look and said, “Please forgive me, I did not realize you were pregnant.”

-“Getting your act together.” Patient: “Doctor, I’m worried, I think I’m a curtain.” Doctor: “Stop worrying, pull yourself together.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Books available for check-out at the Mount Airy Public Library:

The Stranger in the Lifeboat – Mitch Albom

Mrs. Lincoln’s Sisters – Jennifer Chiaverini

The Appalachian Trail – Phillip D’Anieri

Mrs. Rochester’s Ghost – Lindsay Marcott

The Lincoln Highway – Amor Towles

Today a Woman Went Mad in the Supermarket – Hilma Wolitzer

The Stranger in the Lifeboat – Mitch Albom

Learning in Public – Courtney E. Martin

E.R. Nurses – James Patterson

Made in China – Anna Qu

The summer programming will be getting underway soon, lasting from May 23 to Aug. 8. Explore the theme of the week through stories, crafts, games and more. Spaces are limited for some events, call or come by to register to secure a spot. Call 336-789-5108. The schedule is:

• Monday at 6 p.m. – teens, ages 13-17;

• Tuesday at 2 p. m. – kids ages 8-12;

• Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. – Toddler Time for children ages 2 and 3;

• Thursday at 9:30 a.m. – Book Babies for children ages birth to 2 years old;

• Thursday at 11 a.m. – Preschool Storytime – ages 4-5;

• Friday at 9 a.m. – Adults, age 18 and older;

• Friday at 1 p.m. – Family Movie Series, popcorn and water will be available. Feel free to bring your own snacks.

• June 11 at 2 p.m. Author Meet and Greet – Come by and meet Sarah McCoy and listen as she talks about her new book Mustique Island.

• July 21 at 4:30 p.m. Brightstar Children’s Theatre Presents “Treasure Island.” Get a crash course on this Robert Louis Stevenson classic tale of treasure, pirates and ocean adventure. For all ages.

Surry Community College is offering a fun and free English as Second Language (ESL) class at the Mount Airy Public Library Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Anyone interested should contact Jennifer Pardue at 336-386-3674.

Hooked – Come join our crochet and knitting club, every Wednesday at 3 p.m. Bring your own yarn and make the group project or bring your own project to work on.

Tai Chi has returned to the library. Join us each Wednesday and Friday at 10 a.m. This class is beneficial for those with limited mobility.

The Community Book Club meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m. This month we will have local author Tasha Greer speaking on May 25 at 1 p.m. She has written two books, Grow Your Own Spices and Weed Free Gardening.

It’s Yoga Y’all – Yoga with Ms. Heather will be the third Saturday of every month at 10:30 a.m. unless otherwise noted.

Pages and Petticoats Book Club — meets on the last Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m.

Happy Birthday and Summer Learning Kickoff on May 27. The library has been at its current location for 40 years this month. To celebrate, we will have fun and games outside, hot dogs and cake. Come join us to celebrate this milestone and get signed up for Summer Learning.

Keep up with all events on our FaceBook pages, https://www.facebook.com/groups/fmapl and https://www.facebook.com/mtapublibrary or our website https://nwrlibrary.org/mountairy/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Local vendors will offer food, beer and wine.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

© 2018 The Mount Airy News