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:

– Martha Lu James to Thachyin Properties, LLC; 4.08 acres; $223.

– Teresa A. Gerli to Eddie Ray Upchurch and Deana Easter Upchurch; 2.16 acres Mount Airy; $390.

– Mary B. Maney to Andrew Baker and Kallie Baker; 1 acre Bryan; $0.

– Advanta IRA Services, LLC, Mark Faris IRA #8007242 and Mark Farist to Jeremy Robert Huff and Shannon Dover Huff; 0.720 acres lot 1 and 0.808 acres and 0.895 acres lot 3 Autumn Woods subdivision PB 17 154; $1,520.

– Patrick Allen Armentrout and Jeannie Chilton Armentrout to Markus Lee Eaton and Kathy McDaniel Eaton; tract one 2.39 acres and tract two tract; $702.

– Mitchell B. Bottomley to MBB Land, LLC; 29.542 acres Stewarts Creek; $0.

– Marla H. Galyean and Joshua T. Galyean to Danny W. Taylor and Shannon S. Taylor; 1.758 acres lot 2 PB 14 74 Westfield; $129.

– Robert L. Hutchins and Renee Hutchins to Layla Payne and Jeffery Payne; 8.002 acres PB 41 76; $650.

– James Raymond Branson and Janet L. Branson to Jaymee B. Chandler and Jeff T. Chandler; 0.972 acres Mount Airy; $0.

– Margaret L. Bowles and Michael Keith Wall to Brian Delon Key and Joy Diane Key; tract Rockford; $210.

– Bill Norman Construction, Inc. to Branda H. Robertson Revocable Living Trust and Brenda H. Robertson; unit 26A bk 1 342 and 251 and 412-415 and PB 23 134 and 192 and PB 41 46 113 Cobblestone Court Mount Airy; $730.

– Sidney Whitaker, Crystal H. Whitaker, Steven W. Whitaker and Catrena H. Whitaker to Mountain View Poultry, LLC; six parcels; $0.

– Tony L. Martin and Phyllis Martin to Travis Scott Martin; tract Bryan; $0.

– Rex Hunter and Helen Hunter to Bridgette Yvette Watkins; 2.00 acres Siloam; $0.

– Jerry Phillip Jones, Michele D. Jones, Cynthia Jones Bowman and Mark Edwin Bowman to Michael Kenneth Carper and Vivian Ward Carper; lot 1 J. Matt Hines and Durham Poore property PB 1 115 Mount Airy; $470.

– Sharon Grey White, Sharon Grey Compton and Sharon Mayes White to Brandy Hiatt Dowdy and Timothy Joseph Dowdy; 1.53 acres Dobson; $200.

– Kenneth Griffin Gatewood and Elizabeth E. Gatewood to Luis Anibel Rios Jr. and Sarah Yolanda Rios; tract Mount Airy; $850.

– Kenneth Griffin Gatewood and Elizabeth E. Gatewood to Luis Anibel Rios Jr. and Sarah Yolanda Rios; quitclaim deed 0.392 acres PB 41 26 Mount Airy; $0.

– GHP Properties, LLC to Surry Medical Ministries Foundation, Inc.; 1.65 acres PB 21 54 and PB 41 92 951 Rockford Street Mount Airy; $5,400.

– Kelly M. Cave to Teresa K. Kearns and Ronald H. Kearns; 0.930 acres lot 131 section 6 Woodbridge subdivision PB 22 38 Mount Airy; $464.

– William W. Haynes Jr. and Donna M. Haynes to Ronald Thomas Dapp, Kelly S. Hensley and Kelly Suzanne Hensley Dapp; tract one Ivy Summit; $372.

– John W. Badgett and Christine D. Badgett to Joyce Farms of Mount Airy, LLC; 33.86 acres Eldora; $244.

– Tom E. Riggs and Judy L. Riggs to Joyce Farms of Mount Airy, LLC; 36 4/10 acres Eldora; $244.

– Tom E. Riggs and Judy L. Riggs to Joyce Farms of Mount Airy, LLC; tract one 57.367 acres and tract two 1.000 acres PB 41 88 Eldora; $584.

– Peggy Ann Melton Smith to Christopher Wayne Bryant and Amber Cope Bryant; tract Western Carolina Drive PB 6 150 Stewarts Creek; $4.

– Dragonfly View, LLC to Alexander Mazarredo and Bonnie Mazarredo; 1.57 acres lot 23 Paradise Mountain Estates phase 2 PB 27 6 Franklin; $0.

– Alexander Mazarredo and Bonnie Mazarredo to Dragonfly View, LLC; 2.09 acres lot 16 Paradise Mountain Estates Phase 2 PB 257 6 Franklin; $0.

– Pamela Jessup Davis to Apolinar Mendez; 0.826 acres Mount Airy; $55.

– Lupe Javier Jimenez and Sharon Ann Rose Jimenez to Michael J. Stinson and Suzanne G. Stinson; tract one 1 acre and tract two 12 1/2 acres PB 36 175 South Westfield; $180.

– Erica Billings to Kelsey Burns; 1.204 acres lot 55 114 and a portion of lot 115 section 1 Mountain Park Bryan; $0.

– JHS Master Capital, LLC to National Decon Holdings Gastonia, LLC; 1.351 acres; $0.

– Samuel Allen Simmons and Courtney Susan Simmons to Jeffrey Allen Stanley and Susanne Lynn Stanley; tract one lots 30-31 PB 9 150 and tract two lot 9 section 1 PB 7 69 Stonehenge subdivision Stewarts Creek; $718.

– Harold O. Brown, Mary Ellen Brown Smith and Edward T. Brown to Edward T. Brown and Brenda D. Brown; tract one 34.9 acres lot 2 and tract two 14.5 acres and tract three 24.55 acres Shoals; $320.

– David B. Albin and Dawn M. Albin to Sharon Ann Wheeler; 1.339 acres PB 41 68 Westfield; $20.

– Cynthia F. Cook, Christi M. Cook, Kimberly C. Williams and Jeff Williams to Melissa Baccari; 1.310 acres PB 41 75; $170.

Flea markets have long history

For the more than half a century, every Labor Day weekend, a sea of antiques, collectables, rare knick knacks, and keen-eyed shoppers flow through the quiet town of Hillsville, Virginia. Customers travel miles from up and down the East Coast and beyond, to attend the Hillsville Gun Show and Flea Market, which is said to be the largest gun show and flea market east of the Mississippi.

From its humble beginning as a fundraising event for the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post, it has grown into a spectacle in its own right.

Flea markets can trace their lineage back to ancient times, with the idea coming from open air markets. The first ever “flea market,” which more closely resembles what we envision today, is thought to have taken place in the 1800s in Paris, France. The term “flea market” comes from these early incarnations, thought to be due to the fleas that were said to infest the upholstery of furniture sold at the original French market.

It did not take long for the markets to make the jump across the Atlantic, and the first flea market in the United States is thought to have been set up in the late 19th century in Texas, though the exact location of the original American flea market is highly contested.

The Hillsville Gun Show and Flea Market was the creation of two area men, Glenn Jackson and Pierce Webb. In early 1967, the two were discussing the popularity of gun shows in the South and settled on the idea of opening their own in Hillsville. There was certainly a desire for such a thing, with both Gene Pack, the Hillsville police chief at the time, and Dennis Quesenberry, a local collector of fine guns, also considering the same idea at the time.

Jackson was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Grover King Post 1115, located in Hillsville, and wanted the flea market to assist the post in raising funds. The organization had begun on May 15, 1935 with 27 local veterans from World War One as well as a handful of veterans from other wars. The post was named in honor of the first Carroll County serviceman killed during World War One, Grover C. King.

The post first held meetings in the county courthouse and moved into the organization’s own specially built building in the mid 1950s. Only a few years later, the cost of the new building was paid off in full. But tragedy would strike not long after, when much of the building collapsed and was destroyed in 1968. This meant the VFW post would need to construct yet another building and was looking at ways to afford this new cost.

Knowing the VFW was looking for a new revenue stream and that a gun show would be a viable way of bringing in extra money and visitors to the county, Jackson approached the VFW with his idea, which was approved by the post, and the first Hillsville Gun Show and Flea Market was open for business in 1968.

Every year since 1968, aside from 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the gathering, the market has been up for four days over Labor Day weekend. The event started small, with its first year drawing in 100 vendors and 4,000 visitors. By 1989, there were 1,200 vendors and around 250,000 shoppers. These days, some estimates claim more than a half-million bargain seekers attend the market.

Jackson took a hands-on approach in the event’s early years, from helping vendors set up on the day of, to driving around the South handing out flyers and sticking up posters. Jackson’s marketing was such a success, and brought in so many people, that at one time some VFW members asked that the event stop being promoted as there were just too many people attending.

Another long running local flea market in North Carolina was the Sedgefield Flea Market, just a few miles south of Greensboro. Beginning operation around the same time as its Hillsville counterpart, the market was open one or two days every month. It eventually closed down in 2015.

During the 1970s, a fire broke out at the market, damaging much of the building it was housed in, and destroying thousands of dollars of inventory. At its height, the market saw thousands of customers stream through its gates, and close to 100 vendors.

In the western corner of the state, Asheville’s Dreamland Flea Market opened in 1971, and closed down in the early 2000s. Nearby, ​Smiley’s Markets & Malls, known as Smiley’s Flea Market, was formed in 1984, and remains in operation. In 1991, owner Ben Campen attributed the popularity of flea markets to the low overhead costs for vendors, since usually spaces are rented out for a flat fee.

From France to Texas to North Carolina, flea markets have had a long history. Through their grass roots organization, flea markets often brings communities together, with people ready to both buy and sell all kinds of goods. Throughout their long history, there’s always one thing flea markets have in common: you never know what you’ll find.

Katherine “Kat” Jackson is an employee at the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History. Originally from Australia she now lives in King. She can be reached at the museum at 336-786-4478.

The following marriage licenses were issued in Surry County:

– Joseph Carlton Lyles Jr., 42, of Surry County, to Jennifer Brooke Gregory, 43, of Surry County.

– Shawn Keith Leftwich, 30, of Surry County to Jessica Monique Dyal, 29, of Surry County.

– Christopher Lee Galyean, 22, of Surry County to Julia Lane Parker Grant, 21, of Surry County.

– Lewis Mitchell Smith, 33, of Surry County to Cathy Jo Bowman, 32, of Carroll County, Virginia.

– Marcus Rayvon Smith, 39, of Surry County to Canajoharia Ayesha Long, 40, of Surry County.

– David Woodrow Tate Jr., 39, of Surry County to Tracy Marie Wall, 35, of Surry County.

– Burl Edward Lewis, 61, of Surry County to Alicia Mason, 53, of Surry County.

– Joseph Joel Klingman, 25, of Alexandria County, Virginia, to Molly Anne Hulsey, 26, of Anderson County, South Carolina.

– Charles Edward Isaac, 54, of Surry County to Doris Ann White, 59, of Surry County.

– Cole Andrew Easter, 23, of Surry County to Kaylan Jeanette Faw, 24, of Surry County.

– Jacob Cain Shoun, 23, of Pulaski County, Virginia, to Morgan Mekenzie Ritter, 22, of Pulaski County.

– Griffin Lee Kendrick, 26, of Surry County to Kayla Mae-Lynn Stanley, 27, of Surry County.

– Christopher Steven Gomez, 30, of San Bernardino, California to Sophia Natalia Kostenko, 20, of Surry County.

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

• Bobby Keith Jessup, Jr., 42, a white male wanted on a post-release warrant who is on supervision for felony possession of methamphetamine and use/possession of drug paraphernalia;

• Abraham Gilbert Burns, 41, a white male wanted on a post-release warrant who is on supervision for felony assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, two counts of felony larceny of a motor vehicle, felony speeding to elude arrest, two counts of resisting arrest and reckless driving;

• Janie Lennette Waller, 40, a black female wanted on probation violations who is on probation for larceny, possession of schedule II and VI controlled substances and use/possession of drug paraphernalia;

• Tommy Darnell Heath, 57, a white male wanted on probation violations who is on probation for seven counts of felony breaking and entering motor vehicles.

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

Autumn is now only a month away. A row or bed of purple top turnips can be sown in the garden plot. Temperatures may be warm but the soil after sowing a turnip row or bed can be kept cool with the water wand by spraying water on the row or bed each evening. When sowing the turnip seed, place the seed in a three- or four-inch furrow and apply a layer of peat moss in the furrow before sowing the seed. Thinly scatter seed in furrow and cover with another layer of peat moss. Apply an application of Plant-Tone organic vegetable food and hill up soil on on both sides of furrow. Tamp down soil on top of the row for good soil contact. Keep turnip row or bed watered to cool the soil. The peat moss will absorb the moisture, and promote growth in the remaining warm days of the month of August.

Saint Bartholomew’s Day

Saint Bartholomew’s Day will be celebrated Wednesday, August 24. On his special day, something unusual occurs as the dews of summer mornings begin to become cooler and linger until the middle of the day. The fogs of August may contribute to the cooler dew, but also the fact that the days are getting shorter and late nights of August have a subtle nip that lets us know that autumn is on its way. Many leaves are seeing this subtle hint and have already developed tints of yellow and gold. Cold dew and subtle nip in the night air lets us know this is slowly paving the way for nippy air, Jack Frost, and falling leaves as we move closer and closer to a new season.

The Christmas cactus on the August porch

All four of the Christmas cactus are performing well on the front porch as they enjoy sun and summer as they bask in temperatures that will prepare them for blooms in December. They receive a drink of water each week and an application of Flower-Tone organic flower food once a month. They will be moved inside the sunny living room in late October.

Planting the colorful annuals of autumn

The pots and containers of summer’s annuals can now be replaced with the annuals of fall and winter such as pansies, mums and oriental cabbage and kale. When planting these annuals, add a layer of crushed leaves and water plants often so the leaves will stick to the soil and give added protection later on when temperatures get colder. The oriental cabbage and kale will survive through winter if they are kept out of the north wind in a protected area of the porch and cover with a towel or cloth on freezing nights. Mums will also need a small amount of cold weather protection. The pansies are tougher and will endure the extremes of winter.

Time to set out spring flower bulbs

Most hardwares, nurseries, garden shops, and Home Depot, Ace Hardware, and Walmart or Lowe’s Home Improvement now have displays and bins of spring flowering bulbs of jonquils hyacinth, tulips, daffodils, narcissus, and crocus. They can be planted from now and through the end of October. When you purchase bulbs of spring, choose from those in bins or mesh bags so that you can feel and inspect the bulbs for firmness and texture. You can buy hyacinths in individual and assorted colors. There are several types of jonquils but the King Alfred is most popular. Buy a bag of bulb booster and place a half handful under each bulb. Cover bulbs with a layer of peat moss and a layer of Flower-Tone organic flower food before covering with soil. Cover the area where the bulbs are planted with a layer of crushed leaves. Hyacinths come in the colors of red, pink rose, yellow, lavender, blue, and purple. They also have the sweetest scents of flowering spring bulbs.

Autumn care for the next azaleas

The beautiful green foliage of azaleas have performed well and we enjoyed their colorful blooms in spring. Their evergreen foliage is still lush and green. As August draws to a close they could use a bit of attention as we get closer to autumn. They can now be fed with Holly-Tone evergreen food to give them a boost. In September, a layer of crushed leaves can be placed around them. The foliage can also be trimmed and shaped. Give azaleas a drink of water every ten days.

Time to sow Siberian kale

Siberian Kale is the sweetest and best of all the greens. It can be used raw in a salad or cooked as a green or canned in pint and quart jars. It is sweet, crisp, tender, and quite different from turnip and mustard greens. It is winter hardy and will endure winter and produce all the way until spring. The leaves are a little larger than other greens. A great way to prepare Siberian Kale is to broil a pound of bacon and cut into half-inch chunks, boil Siberian kale in a pot until tender, chop it up after draining. Add mayonnaise to the kale and bacon and add two tablespoons of ranch dressing.

Lining the list of cool weather veggies

As we get well past the middle of August, it is time to plan the autumn garden plot. The seeds of turnips, Siberian kale, curly mustard, mixed greens, onion sets, and spinach can now be sown in the late summer garden. Plants of broccoli, cabbage, collards, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts can also be set out. Keep all cool weather vegetables watered with the water wand not only for moisture, but to cool down the soil.

Making a tasty roasted turkey loaf

When preparing a turkey, and you have any leftover turkey, make a special meal of turkey loaf with the leftovers. For a turkey loaf, you will need three cups of leftover turkey (run through the blender in “grate” mode), one small bag Pepperidge Farm cornbread dressing, one can Swanson chicken broth, small jar Heinz roasted turkey gravy, two large eggs, one envelope Recipe Secrets Beefy Onion Soup mix, one teaspoon poultry seasoning, one teaspoon celery seed, half teaspoon pepper, half teaspoon salt, one cup shredded carrots. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour the can of chicken broth over the Pepperidge Farm corn bread stuffing in a bowl and set it aside for fifteen minutes. Mix all other ingredients together in the bowl with dressing and broth. If too dry, add a little water. Form into a loaf or place in a loaf pan or baking dish. Bake for one hour or until loaf is firm. This loaf will serve six persons.

Keeping hummingbirds on the zoom

As the humming birds of mid-summer contend for space at the feeders and fight for domination, keep the feeders filled with nectar. They are now staying pretty active at the feeders and burning a lot of energy. The nectar in the feeders will boost their energy level. You can make your own nectar by mixing two quarts of water and three cups of sugar and several drops of red food coloring in a pitcher of water and pour into a half gallon plastic milk carton. Keep nectar in refrigerator and use as you need it.

August proves to be transition time

As we move through August, we see before us a transitional month with heavy dews, dense fogs, and a subtle hint of autumn in the air, along with the yellow tint in the maples and tiny berries forming on dogwoods. The annuals of summer are slowing down. Days are getting shorter every evening by a minute. The humidity is dropping a bit lower and the garden summer vegetable crops are reaching the harvest stage and some crops are slowing down. Thunder storms are not as frequent. The crickets are sounding off and katydids are less noisy in the mighty oaks. Slowly, silently the late days of August are fulling us into the approaching season of autumn.

“Toothy Sermon.” The pastor visited the dentist for a set of false teeth. The first Sunday after he gets the teeth, he preaches for only eight minutes. The second Sunday, he preaches for ten minutes. The third Sunday, he preached for two-and-a-half hours. As the pastor left the pulpit, many in the congregation asked him what had happened. The pastor replied, “This morning, I put in my wife’s teeth by mistake and I couldn’t shut my mouth up!”

“Return to Sender.” A son wrote a letter to his dad. “Dear Dad, Gue$$ what need most? That$ right. $end it $oon. Be$t wi$he$, Joey.” The father replied. “Dear Joey, NOthing ever happens here. We kNOw you like school, write aNOther letter soon. Mom was asking about you at NOon. NOw I have to say good-bye, Dad.”

“Dumbbells.”Professor: “If there are any dumbbells in the room, please stand up.” There was a long pause and then one student in the back of the stood up. The professor said, “Do you consider yourself a dumbbell?” Student, “Well, not exactly, but I hate to see you standing all alone.”

“The Last Supper” First husband: “When I am near death, I will ask my wife to cook my last meal.” Second husband: “Why would you went her to do that?” First husband: “Then I would feel more like dying!”

Editor’s Note: Community Comment is a periodic column in The Mount Airy News featuring commentary from community leaders in Mount Airy and Surry County.

Today’s culture and climate have changed from when most of us attended schools. There are more pathways to college and the workplace. There are opportunities to attend community college and even graduate before finishing high school. The teachers are still experts in their field but on average have more advanced degrees than ever before. Our schools provide flexibility to attend school at home, work full time while attending high school, and intern at area industries leading to full time employment.

All of the amazing opportunities have created great experiences accessible for all children. One of our top priorities in schools remains the ability to safely attend school so students can access these opportunities.

The Office of Justice at the federal level as well as National School Safety and Security Services agree that there are several steps schools can take to make sure they are as safe as possible. While we cannot prepare for every situation, we can work with safety experts and our local law enforcement to make sure our safety is the best it can be. We have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless hours with safety preparation but we also know that relationships, communication, and safety plans for staff and students are some of the best measures we can take to ensure everyone is safe and supported.

Some essential steps we have outlined in our school system include strong communication tools, mental health support, security cameras, locked and secure doors, threat assessments, training for emergencies, partnerships with local law enforcement and community partners, and enhanced crisis strategies.

Communication: Some of the steps recommended are to make sure all communication lines are open and every child feels they have someone to talk with at all times. We must create communication pathways that provide access to counselors, social workers, and caring adults. We have online monitoring of student computers, social media, and platforms to tell us if there is anything alarming on these platforms, while also giving us steps to resolve issues before they arise. We have an anonymous reporting system, See Something Say Something, that allows people who see something to get that information quickly to authorities. This gives everyone an avenue for sharing vital information to prevent a crisis. Our multiple ways to engage families through emails, phone calls, social media, and text alerts provides ongoing and up-to-date information is another way to make sure everyone has “on time” information. While the beginning of the year provides a great time to ensure your contact information is up to date, remember that anytime your phone number changes to let your child’s office know. Keeping your current phone number on file is a crucial part of our communication plan.

Mental Health Support: Each of our schools have access to licensed counselors and on-campus mental health support. We have threat assessments to help identify and screen potential issues as well as a road map to experts in our community who can help. Our detailed work on our campuses match up student needs with experts in the field who can help them with strategies to thrive. Although it is not the job of educators to provide mental health support, each of our educators are given tools to help students find the treatment they need that is available to them and their family. Some of our partners such as mentors, graduation coaches, Daymark, Easter Seals, and our See Something Say Something service can make sure students in crisis have the help they need.

Safe Campuses: Secure doors with keyless entry provides ways to control who enters and exits our buildings. These doors have buzz-in systems or systems that are accessed by key cards. It’s critical for all staff and students to keep all doors locked and make sure everyone enters through the main entrances where visitors can be screened. We have door latches that can be utilized without a key from inside a door at all times to secure doors from the inside. Each of our campuses have outstanding alarm systems throughout our buildings and money has been put into these systems in recent years to ensure they are active and working.

Transportation Safety: Smart Bus technology with Tyler Technologies was funded for Mount Airy City Schools by the General Assembly. Traversa Software allows us to have cutting edge cameras on the bus and outside the bus. We have electronic seating charts to make sure we know when students ride the bus, where they are seated, and when they exit. The Ride 360 application allows parents to know where students are at all times. This gives relief to parents to ensure they are at home when a child arrives or if there is a delay in the bus route. The tablet provided to drivers is much safer for them and works similar to GPS in our cars such as telling us if there are road delays ahead, changes in routes, or the most efficient way to travel between two points.

Camera Systems: Our systems have been upgraded over the past few years implementing more than 50 cameras on each campus. These cameras are critical to show all aspects of the campus accessed by your phone or computer system. This system has measures that only allow personnel “as needed” to have access to these cameras. But, they play a critical role in preparing for any emergencies and being able to secure areas quickly.

SRO Officers: Our community and school system feel it is critical to partner with law enforcement and our city government. One of the ways we have done this is to provide three School Resource Officers for our schools. These officers build relationships every day that prevent school incidents. They deliver a preventative curriculum that helps students choose positive ways to respond and help provide strategies that lead to good decision-making. Our SROs are critical in the day-to-day and would be essential in the event of a critical incident.

Emergency Protocols: How adults handle crises from a gas leak to a community threat to an incident on campus is critical. Adults must have training for emergency situations. We train for tornadoes, fires, and critical incidents as well as scenarios that are a surprise to us. These emergency protocols outline what everyone is required to do in the emergency situation. The drills throughout the year as well as resources provided help staff to respond quickly when a situation occurs that is beyond their control. The relief of emergency protocols, detailed with plans that are well throughout can make the difference needed in response time.

Community Relationships: Fire, rescue, EMS, police, churches, mental health support, and community involvement is absolutely critical for our school system. Each of these partnerships fill a need every day and especially during critical incidents. You, as a community member, can make a difference. One of the biggest ways is to volunteer in a school nearby, mentor an at-risk child, provide funds for struggling students, substitute teach, drive a bus, serve a meal, and support the school system. Your encouragement of our staff goes a long way. Attending our events to support children makes an impact and thanking an administrator will not be forgotten.

All of us can work together to make our campuses safe. We know that a lot of emphasis in the past few years has been on physical security. We also know that emphasis needs to be on emotional security. We can all do our part by supporting young people, providing thriving arts programs where they can show their talent, athletic teams where they can learn life skills and enhance their abilities, as well as academic pathways to success. We can all work together to make our community a thriving and safe place to be for the next generation.

Shortly before 9 a.m. Saturday morning Surry County EMS and local rescue units were dispatched to the area of Olde Pilot Trail and Black Mountain Road in Pilot Mountain for a report of a traffic accident.

Surry County Emergency Management Director Eric Southern confirmed Saturday evening that the single vehicle accident involved a motorcycle that collided with a tree.

The operator of the motorcycle was deceased when the first responders arrived on scene, he said.

Drivers had been advised that to use caution in the area during the removal and accident cleanup.

Southern said the North Carolina Highway Patrol would be making the death notification to the family but he could not confirm that notification had yet been made.

More details will follow upon conclusion of the accident investigation.

This week the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that across the county in the first quarter of 2022 over 9,500 lives were lost to traffic accidents. That represents a 7% increase in deaths versus the same period in 2021.

In North Carolina there have been 505 deaths from traffic accidents in the first quarter of this year compared to 334 in 2021. The state’s increase of 51.2% in year-to-year comparison was one of the highest percentage changes in the United States.

Connecticut, Virginia, Nebraska, Vermont, the District of Columbia, and Hawaii had percentage changes higher than North Carolina. Delaware reported a 163.2% increase in traffic fatalities in the first quarter of 2022 over the same period 2021.

The NCDOT states motorcycles represent about 2 percent of all registered vehicles in the state, but account for about 10 percent of all fatalities on North Carolina’s roads.

• A Mount Airy woman who attempted to flee from officers this week has been jailed on multiple charges, according to city police reports.

Bridget Ann Harris, 20, of 211 W. Oakdale St., was encountered by police Monday during a welfare check at a nearby location, 1401 N. Main St., the address for Grace Moravian Church.

An investigation revealed two outstanding warrants for her arrest on charges of attempted larceny and second-degree trespassing which had been issued on Aug. 11 through the Surry County Sheriff’s Office with no other details given.

Harris resisted arrest by pulling away and attempting to flee, police records state. She was held in the Surry County Jail under a $1,500 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in District Court on Sept. 19.

• Carlos Cruz, 39, listed as homeless, was arrested Sunday on a second-degree trespassing charge after police responded to a suspicious-person call at an unspecified location in the 1100 block of North Andy Griffith Parkway from which he had been banned by individuals including a property manager.

Cruz was jailed under a $100 secured bond and is slated to be in Surry District Court on Aug. 29.

• Damage to city property occurred on the afternoon of Aug. 12 at the Municipal Building on South Main Street, where a known individual spray-painted sidewalks. The damage was put at $100, with the case still under investigation at last report.

• A break-in was discovered on Aug. 11 at the home of Jacqueline Euvlla Robinson on Hadley Street, where a screen was cut and a window lifted to gain entry.

Nothing was listed as missing.

• Charges were filed against two people on Aug. 10 after officers investigated a shots-fired call at a residence on Hawaii Lane.

Shania Morique Wright, 24, of 134 Hawaii Lane, No. 5, was charged with discharging a firearm in the city limits and Shearin Jimmy Edwards, 51, of the same address, assault with a deadly weapon.

Edwards allegedly pulled a knife on Wright and came toward her with the weapon. He was held in the county jail under a $1,000 secured bond. Court date information for both individuals was not available.

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 Oct. 7 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on Sept. 16.

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 in Mount Airy and a limited-service branch at 1280 West Pine Street in Mount Airy. Full-service branch offices are also located at 653 South Key Street in Pilot Mountain, 393 CC Camp Road in Elkin, 1096 Main Street in North Wilkesboro, and 940 Woodland Drive in Stuart, Virginia.

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

A proposed economic-development project targeting city-owned land in Piedmont Triad West Corporate Park will have to wait awhile before getting underway, due to a delay.

This involves plans for a yet-unnamed company that does electronic repair and rebuilds for regional customers to locate there and provide up to 20 jobs at first.

The matter was on the agenda for a Thursday night meeting of the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners, specifically an expected vote by the board to sell land to a developer which would accommodate the project.

However, Mayor Ron Niland, who announces agenda items at the start of each meeting, said that decision had to be postponed.

Niland explained that this was occurring at the request of the proposed purchaser, BayFront Development LLC, a commercial real estate firm based in Pilot Mountain.

No reason for the seeking of the postponement was specified.

The mayor said the matter now is scheduled to be taken up during the next city council meeting on Sept. 1.

BayFront Development is seeking to buy two tracts of vacant land totaling 4.76 acres in the park, located just off U.S. 601 at the southern end of town. The parcels sit side by side along Piedmont Triad West Drive.

If the sale goes through, the proposed developer is planning to construct a building containing about 9,000 square feet to accommodate the electronic repair and rebuild company, with room available for growth.

The new company is planning to begin operations with the creation of 15 to 20 jobs.

Surry County Economic Development Partnership President Todd Tucker had said earlier this week that the entity involved is not a North Carolina company.

Local officials have been working with it for a couple of months in order to facilitate the project, Tucker added.

If the sale is consummated, city documents state that the developer will complete the design of the facility, prepare the site and construct the building within two years.

The proposed endeavor represents an estimated $1.2 million investment for the building and $700,000 in new equipment.

BayFront is offering $65,000 for the land.

Charles Atkins Stadium was packed to maximum capacity Friday to see North Surry host rival Mount Airy in the season opener for both teams.

Playing the Bears in Atkins Stadium for the first time since 2019, the Greyhounds came out of the gate and put six points on the board then forced a three-and-out. When Mount Airy finally got the chance to set its offense into motion the teams traded touchdowns through the third quarter.

The Granite Bears led by five entering the fourth quarter, but quickly ran away with the victory. Mount Airy not only scored on its first play of the fourth, but scored three times on just four offensive plays during the final 12-minute period.

Mount Airy outscored North 23-0 in the final quarter to come away with the 46-18 win. The Bears have now won 15 consecutive meetings against their crosstown rival.

“Charles Atkins Stadium is a special place with a fantastic community and fan base,” said first-year Greyhound head coach Jackson Smith. “The atmosphere is electric, and I can’t wait to get to work and experience a win in front of that crowd. This rivalry is one of the best in the state and I’m glad our kids got to experience it.”

Both squads looked to prove themselves in the season opener. Mount Airy returned most of its offense from the 2021 season, but was without key defensive cornerstones that were multi-year contributors for the team. This opened holes for a group of hungry athletes ready to continue the school’s winning tradition.

“Feels great to be back out under the lights watching our guys compete,” said JK Adkins, who enters his fifth season as Mount Airy head coach.

North Surry returned almost all if its starting lineup from 2021. The Hounds did, however, gain a new head coach, a new quarterback and were running different schemes in multiple phases.

North Surry challenged their fellow Granite City school in ways only one team did last season. In 2021, only the Bears’ fourth-round playoff opponent Mitchell – that went on to finish 1A State Runner-up – was the only one of Mount Airy’s foes to: score a touchdown in the first quarter, score more than six overall points, hold Mount Airy scoreless in the first quarter and take a lead against the Bears.

Coach Adkins acknowledged North Surry’s toughness in the game, and went on to praise his team for their resilience shown when challenged Friday night.

“Throughout the 2021 season, we were not in a close game until the last game,” Adkins said. “Lack of adversity can prohibit growth. The presence of adversity can be a catalyst for growth, and sometimes growth can be painful.”

Both teams faced adversity in the form of injuries and cramps, which forced coaches to try out new lineup combinations while players were being taken care of by the medical staff. While players are traditionally the focus of cheers from the crowd, a voice from the home sideline praised the medical team for quickly and efficiently tending to downed players on both squads.

The story early on was North Surry’s ability to keep Mount Airy’s offense off the field. The Hounds opened the game with an 11-play, 5:33 drive that ended with sophomore quarterback Colton Allen punching in a 2-yard touchdown run.

Ten of the Greyhounds’ plays on the drive were rushes, with Allen and junior running back Jake Simmons moving the chains behind their offensive line. The Hounds finished the game with 346 total yards, which included 47 rushes for 203 yards and two rushing touchdowns.

“North Surry did a good job of controlling the time of possession, especially in the first half,” Adkins said. “We did not play much offense in the first half.”

After the opening touchdown, the Greyhound defense forced a three-and-out and continued rushing through the end of the first quarter.

“I think we have an identity of both sides of the ball; I was really proud of our effort, attitude and physicality,” Smith said. “That is really motivating to get back to work this week and try to sharpen what we are doing.

“I thought Daniel Draughn had a really tough task as his first game as defensive coordinator and he got a lot out of our unit. Offensive Coordinator Tanner Hiatt has cultivated an offense that really maximizes our personnel.”

The regrouped Bears offense needed just two plays to respond and take its first lead of the year. Junior quarterback Ian Gallimore broke free for a 68-yard run, then Caleb Reid scored a 5-yard touchdown on the following play.

North incorporated the passing game more as the night progressed. On the drive after Mount Airy first scored, Allen found Jared Hiatt for a 47-yard touchdown reception on fourth-and-5.

The Bears also relied heavily on the ground game, with 342 of the team’s 432 total yards being rushes. Ian Gallimore and Landon Gallimore each completed one pass; Ian’s was a 59-yard completion to Walker Stroup in the second quarter, and Landon’s was a 31-yard completion to Mario Revels in the third.

Stroup’s touchdown paired with a 2-point conversion punched in by Ian Gallimore put the Bears up 15-12. Mount Airy’s defense halted North Surry on its final drive of the first half, then the Granite Bears extended their lead with a Landon Gallimore touchdown run to open the second half.

What followed was the longest drive of the game. North Surry traveled 80 yards in 15 plays on a drive that lasted 9:36 of game time. Simmons, who led the Hounds with 29 carries for 139 yards and a touchdown, rushed 11 times during the drive and scored a 1-yard touchdown. A failed 2-point conversion left the Bears lead alive at 23-18.

Big plays were the difference maker for Mount Airy. On the second play of the following drive, Reid took a handoff and ran 51 yards to enter the red zone. Two plays after that Tyler Mason started the fourth quarter with an 11-yard TD run. Reid’s 2-point conversion increased the lead to 18-31.

Smith and his coaching staff noticed Mount Airy’s offense making changes as the game progressed, but the coach said the Hounds’ attempts to counter the Bears weren’t enough in the end.

“We made adjustments as well that I thought gave us a chance to make some plays, but with that offense it’s give and take,” Smith said. “JK Adkins and Mount Airy are one of the best in the business running the triple. With the guys they have it’s really tough.”

North continued to fight and made it back to the red zone with less than eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Back-to-back penalties moved the Greyhounds back, and Mount Airy’s defense forced multiple incompletions as North Surry turned the ball over on downs.

Mason, who led Mount Airy with 101 yards rushing, scored his second touchdown of the night with a 73-yard run on the next drive. The Bears forced a Greyhound three-and-out, then freshman Taeshon Martin scored the exclamation mark with a 72-yard touchdown run.

Four Bears had at least 60 yards rushing in Friday’s game. Mason led the way at 101, followed by Ian Gallimore at 93, Martin at 72 and Reid at 60. Landon Gallimore added two rushes for 16 yards.

Simmons was the Greyhounds’ leading rusher with 139 yards. Allen was second with 56 yards, followed by Jahreece Lynch with 5 and Fisher Leftwich with 3.

Allen finished 9-of-17 passing for 146 yards and a touchdown. Lynch collected six receptions for 82 yards, Hiatt had one reception for 47 yards and a touchdown, and Simmons added two receptions for 17 yards.

“We had a lot of different guys impact the game tonight,” Smith said. “I can’t say how grateful I am for these kids and this staff. Everyone in this program has busted their tails this offseason. I’ll never be complacent after a loss, but I am fired up to get back to work.”

Both North Surry and Mount Airy continue nonconference play in Week Two. North Surry stays at home to face West Stokes (1-0), and Mount Airy makes its debut in Wallace Shelton Stadium by hosting East Surry (1-0).

6:27 NSHS 6-0 – Colton Allen 2-yard rush TD, 2-point conversion no good

10:05 MAHS 6-7 – Caleb Reid 5-yard rushing TD, Walker Stroup PAT

7:38 NSHS 12-7 – Jared Hiatt 47-yard TD reception on Colton Allen pass, 2-point conversion no good

1:42 MAHS 12-15 – Walker Stroup 59-yard TD reception on Ian Gallimore pass, Ian Gallimore 2-point conversion

10:32 MAHS 12-23 – Landon Gallimore 4-yard rushing TD, Tyler Mason 2-point conversion

0:56 NSHS 18-23 – Jake Simmons 1-yard rush TD, 2-point conversion no good

11:54 MAHS 18-31 – Tyler Mason 5-yard rushing TD, Caleb Reid 2-point conversion

6:58 MAHS 18-39 – Tyler Mason 5-yard rushing TD, Deric Dandy 2-point conversion reception on Landon Gallimore pass

3:58 MAHS 18-46 – Taeshon Martin 72-yard rushing TD, Walker Stroup PAT

Summer can be a fun time filled with leisurely activities that obscure the fact blood supplies are urgently needed, which officials are addressing through upcoming collection events across Surry County enhanced by the lure of prizes.

“This is always a difficult time of the year as people are enjoying vacation time with family and friends,” American Red Cross spokesman Chris Newman pointed out in highlighting how this leads to shortages resulting from fewer donations.

“Plus we do not have our school population in session, which normally each year contributes around 20% of our blood supply,” added Newman, who is based at the Winston-Salem office of the Red Cross.

It coordinates blood collections in Surry and other area counties.

“Now with school ramping up and schedules getting busier, it is so important for donors to remember to please take a moment and schedule some time to give blood to ensure it’s available for patients this fall,” Newman advised.

The Red Cross, the nation’s chief blood-collection agency, points out that every pint donated equals three lives saved.

In light of the demands, a full slate of blood drives that are open to the public is planned in Surry from late August through the end of September.

Opportunities to donate are listed according to these days/dates, times and locations:

• This Sunday at Bannertown Baptist Church, 1834 Westfield Road, Mount Airy, from 12:30 to 5 p.m,;

• Next Tuesday at the Copeland Community Ruritan Building, 975 Copeland School Road, Dobson, 2 to 6:30 p.m.;

• Wednesday, Mountain View Baptist Church, 8704 W. Pine St., Lowgap, 3 to 7:30 p.m.;

• Thursday, Surry County Government Center, 118 Hamby Road, Dobson, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.;

• Aug. 28, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, 1432 Highway 21, State Road, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.;

• Aug. 28, Slate Mountain Baptist Church, 3644 E. Pine St., Mount Airy, 1 to 5 p.m.;

• Aug. 30, Surry American Red Cross building at 844 Westlake Drive, Mount Airy, noon to 4 p.m.;

• Aug. 30, Pine Hill Church, 3968 N.C. Highway 268, Ararat, 2 to 6:30 p.m.;

• Sept. 2, Lowe’s Home Improvement of Mount Airy, 692 S. Andy Griffith Parkway, noon to 4 p.m.;

• Sept. 2, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 100 Windsor Drive, Dobson, 2:30 to 7 p.m.;

• Sept. 3, Friendly Chapel Church, 228 Friendly Chapel Church Road, Pilot Mountain, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.;

• Sept. 5, The Surry American Red Cross building at 844 Westlake Drive, Mount Airy, 12:30 to 5 p.m.;

• Sept, 7, East Surry High School, 801 W. Main St., Pilot Mountain, 10:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.;

• Sept. 7, Surry Communications, 819 E. Atkins St., Dobson, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.;

• Sept, 11, Salem Fork Christian Church, 2245 White Dirt Road, Dobson, noon to 4 p.m.;

• Sept. 18, Calvary Baptist Church, 314 S. Franklin Road, Mount Airy, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.;

• Sept. 19, Pilot Mountain First United Methodist Church, 210 Marion St., noon to 4:30 p.m.;

• Sept. 19, Elkin Rescue Squad building, 940 N. Bridge St., 1:30 to 6 p.m.;

• Sept. 22, Flat Rock Elementary School, 1539 E. Pine St., Mount Airy, 1 to 5:30 p.m.;

• Sept. 23, Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital, 180 Parkwood Drive, Elkin, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.;

• Sept. 23, The Surry American Red Cross building, 844 Westlake Drive, Mount Airy, noon to 4 p.m.;

• Sept. 28, Surry Central High School, 716 S. Main St., Dobson, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.;

• Sept. 29, Mount Airy Middle School, 249 Hamburg St., 2:30 to 7 p.m.

As if the satisfaction of helping one’s fellow man through the gift of life isn’t enough — invaluable during surgical and other procedures — special offers await those rolling up their sleeves this month and in September.

In noting an urgent need for donors, those giving in August will receive a a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice, according to information on the American Red Cross website.

Newman, the representative in Winston-Salem, mentioned that other incentives await in September.

Those donating next month will get a free haircut coupon from Sport Clips via email plus a chance to win a VIP NASCAR racing experience courtesy of Sport Clips, he reported.

Also, donors who give between Sept. 1-18 will receive a special Red Cross T-shirt.

Prospective whole blood donors must be in good health, feeling well and at least 16 years old in most states, along with weighing no less than 110 pounds.

An individual can give every 56 days, up to six times a year, according to information from the Red Cross.

Donation appointments can be made by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

This process also can allow one to determine the availability of appointments for drives on the schedule.

Surry County and its municipal governments are hungry to find ways to trim excess fat from their budgets. An opportunity has arrived to replace aging first responders’ equipment, regulate annual budgetary costs, and save the taxpayers monies by having counties join the Stryker ALS 360 leasing program.

Eric Southern of Surry County Emergency Management said the county is already enjoying considerable savings and he has plans to add to the savings going forward. He said prices on medical equipment, as with almost all other goods, have been on the rise recently. The inflation equates to roughly a 4% price increases from two years ago.

“If we purchased the needed equipment for all of our EMS vehicles it would cost $1,379,947.10 and we would have to purchase a maintenance contract to cover each item which could increase the cost over $175,000 especially if repairs are needed,” he explained.

“One perk with the contract is that older models will be rotated out when they release newer models, so maintenance is not a factor. However, if it is needed, it is also included in the contract price.”

Surry County only utilizes the equipment leasing program through Stryker for Lifepak Defibrillator / ECG monitor, Lucas compression devices, and McGrath video laryngoscopes. Southern estimates that as an estimated savings of $263,000 a year for Surry County. In the future he wants to look at adding additional items onto that list as costs to maintain equipment rise as the age does.

He listed out estimated costs for the Lifepak15 monitor/defibrillator currently priced at $43,248.28, McGrath scopes are $3,061.77, and MTS Power Load stretchers are $25,975.80 according to the latest numbers available. Today’s prices may not be tomorrow’s prices as any recent purchase of a gallon or milk, or gas has shown.

Keith Vestal made a presentation to the Yadkin County Board of County Commissioners Monday evening to present the benefits of joining the leasing program. He would like to join with Southern in taking advantage of the Stryker ALS 360 program saying it is a good option that will provide his teams with the same equipment that they already use.

“This program just gives us new equipment every five years with complete warranties maintenance to cover each piece for the life of the lease. If a newer or more advanced model is released our equipment is automatically up graded to the latest model,” the Yadkin County Emergency Management director said.

“Medical devices such as cardiac monitors, patient cots, and others are very expensive items and have strict FDA care and maintenance requirements. Having the latest technology in life saving equipment is a key component in protecting our citizens, and we want to do everything we can to help them in a time of need,” he said.

In presenting the leasing program to the Yadkin commissioners, Vestal was able to dangle in front of the board a savings in the amount of over one million dollars. Reducing the costs of emergency services means budgeted dollars can be stretched and used in other ways than replacing equipment like power lift systems and defibrillators.

“This program is a very good choice for Yadkin County because instead of purchasing each piece, the lease will give us new equipment and will save $1,078,600 over the 10 years of the lease. I think this could be a good fit for other EMS agencies in need of replacing several items of this type.”

The director of Stokes County Emergency Management concurred saying that he felt the equipment leasing program was a good idea. “I have looked into this leasing program and did ask for it in my budget for this fiscal year.”

“Due to some of our equipment has not reached the end of service life we have decided to hold off for another year. We will be looking at presenting this to board of county commissioners in the 2023/24 budget,” Brandon Gentry said. “It will save money and will keep up to date and new equipment on the EMS units.”

Replacing equipment means budgets can fluctuate greatly as different pieces reach the end of their useful life at different time. The leasing program will allow costs to be fixed over the ten-year period of the contract which will take the unknown of repair or replacement costs off the table for participating counties.

Ad hoc equipment replacement may also mean that not all ambulances have the same equipment meaning those first responders need familiarity with other versions of the same equipment. Uniformity in equipment, and therefore training on said equipment, may make a difference when seconds count.

When the Surry County Sheriff’s Office was explaining their need for pursuit-ready squad cars this spring, they mentioned that larger police forces with squad car orders of greater size may get priority. Stryker said leasing participants are prioritized for receipt of equipment, which is particularly important in a time of supplier uncertainty.

Gentry, Southern, and Vestal agree that the Stryker equipment leasing program is a benefit for the citizen they protect. Yadkin County soon will reap the savings as Surry County has and Stokes County hopes to follow suit.

Vestal did due diligence before presenting the lease to the county board, “I have done a lot of research on the Stryker ALS 360 Program and at this point do not see anything negative with it. Other Counties in North Carolina have gone with this program, and everything is going well.”

“Medicine is changing by the minute and equipment is changing by the minute. What we do to help preserve life in Yadkin County depends on us having the best equipment we can have,” he said.

With the potential savings of replacing equipment already at the end of its service, and again during the mid-point of the contract, for county emergency management leaders it seems a no-brainer to agree to the lease agreement and the Yadkin Commissioners agreed unanimously.

A lengthy regulatory battle involving a local auto racing legend and signage for a $2 million expansion of his body shop has ended in the businessman’s favor — amid support from a state legislator and former Mount Airy mayor.

Oh, there was also the crowd of friends and family members of Frank Fleming’s faithfully gathering each time the issue has been discussed by the city council recently.

It was the largest of all Thursday night when an ordinance amendment was approved allowing the previously denied sign that exceeded height limitations, thus eliminating a pending appeal of that decision in Surry County Superior Court.

“Frank fought City Hall and won,” Deborah Cochran, who served as Mount Airy’s mayor from 2009 to 2015, said after the city commissioners’ 3-1 decision approving boundary changes to permit the sign at the new body shop location on Merita Street.

In addition to Cochran, the audience included state Rep. Sarah Stevens of Mount Airy, who spoke in favor of the ordinance amendment during a public hearing preceding the vote.

Those who didn’t speak made their presence known by filling the council chambers, which contains 73 audience seats.

Metal folding chairs were brought in to accommodate the overflow crowd that included some people standing — with attendance nearing the 100-person limit for fire safety regulations.

The issue at hand involved a large sign left behind by the Winn-Dixie supermarket when vacating the site on Merita Street years ago, leaving a rundown parcel that Fleming bought.

Fleming, known for a distinguished career as a modified racer at venues including Bowman Gray Stadium, is relocating his body shop there from its present headquarters on Springs Road and will add about 10 new jobs as a result.

But he was prevented from re-facing and using the existing sign framework due to a 2016 update of a municipal ordinance aimed at preventing sign clutter.

It states that signage for new business may be no taller than 15 feet, which the old Winn-Dixie structure exceeds. Those already existing were grandfathered in under the measure.

Fleming worked through various city channels in an attempt to somehow be exempted from that rule, mirroring concerns about customers not being able to find the Merita Street site that is tucked away off U.S. 52-North.

In addition to drawing attention to the business, there was a safety concern about motorists missing the turn to the shop off that highway and having to double back by turning into heavy, fast-moving traffic.

Fleming ultimately was barred from re-using the sign through a vote by a powerful group known as the Mount Airy Zoning Board of Adjustment. It is a quasi-judicial administrative body whose decisions affect private property rights to the same extent as court rulings.

The businessman appealed the Zoning Board of Adjustment’s ruling to Superior Court, which was slated to hear the case in September, based on earlier discussions.

In late June, Fleming appeared before the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners to request an amendment to city nonconforming sign regulations which would allow the old fixture to be utilized.

This led to another group, the Mount Airy Planning Board, adding provisions addressing situations such as the Merita Street property.

These state that such signs which are set back a minimum of 300 feet and no more than 600 feet from U.S. 52-Bypass, U.S. 601 and Interstate 74 rights of way shall be exempt from other sign rules in the city ordinance. Fleming’s property is within those parameters.

In late July, the commissioners voted to set the public hearing on the proposed change which was held Thursday night.

“So the rest is up to you,” city Planning Director Andy Goodall told the commissioners then in setting the stage for the scheduled vote that would occur later in the session.

Only two people spoke despite the many in attendance, but their words seemed to resonate with everyone within listening range.

One was Fleming, who sensed the outcome in his favor.

He expressed thanks for the opportunity to adequately promote his shop with the sign ordinance change, and also asked those in the audience supporting him to stand — which included most of those present.

“You can’t explain what this means to me,” Fleming said in response.

Rep. Stevens also spoke during the hearing.

“I’m here to support Frank — he’s been my friend for many years,” said Stevens, who serves Surry County in the N.C. General Assembly, where she holds a key leadership position.

She also mentioned that Fleming had done repair work for her at his present body shop on Springs Road.

Cochran, who is a commissioner candidate this year along with being a former mayor, did not speak during the hearing, but offered a prepared statement.

“Frank fought City Hall and won,” it reads in part.

Cochran applauded Thursday night’s decision, which was greeted by loud applause from those assembled. She believes it “will have a major business impact” for the longtime shop owner due to sign visibility being “crucial” for the location involved.

The former city official also considers the decision a victory for the local business community in general, citing heavy attendance by others in that realm where she sat in the rear of the meeting room.

“There were so many business owners in the back, including construction company, two trucking companies, two auto towing companies, car dealers, car parts dealers, hardware company, sign company and more, all supporting Frank,” Cochran observed.

“When Frank wins, we all win.”

Fleming resembled a racer in Victory Lane at Daytona when receiving congratulatory remarks from those leaving the council chambers.

“I’m happy — I want to thank the commissioners,” he commented while standing near the exit.

Fleming said he had learned much during the process leading to the sign approval.

“I knew nothing about local government when I started this,” he said.

“It’s really been educational to me.”

Although Commissioner Steve Yokeley was absent from Thursday night’s meeting, he did issue a statement expressing his regret for that and also addressing Fleming’s situation.

While noting that he considered the updated sign ordinance to be comprehensive and fair, Yokeley did acknowledge the appropriateness of the new language to allow the taller sign in that circumstance.

In his statement, Yokeley further expressed thanks to Fleming for developing a new business within the city limits and creating jobs.

Mayor Ron Niland also read a statement to the crowd that he had prepared in anticipation of the positive vote.

“Tonight makes me proud to be part of our community,” it says.

“Mr. Fleming felt it was important to his business and went through the appropriate process to get a modification,” Niland added regarding the sign. “The Planning Board and the city commissioners this evening made that change, seeing it being in the best interest of the community.”

Another part of the mayor’s statement is an apparent counter to a charge made in recent months by Commissioner Jon Cawley, who said the Fleming sign issue suggests that the city is anti-business.

“This is a sign, no pun intended, that Mount Airy is a business-friendly community that tries to foster an environment of being flexible when needed,” Niland said while reading from his statement.

One person not happy about Thursday night’s decision is Commissioner Joe Zalescik, a former Planning Board member who cast the dissenting vote.

“I feel the sign ordinance was strong the way it was and I feel this is setting a precedent,” he explained after the meeting.

He said it sends a signal to those unhappy with a certain measure that they can circumvent the normal process. “They’re going to go to the commissioners and try to get the law changed.”

Zalescik said he would have preferred to see the sign matter go through the normal appeals process.

Mount Airy won a war of attrition over East Surry in Wednesday’s season opener

The young Cardinal team, who graduated seven of its 14 players from last season, had the defending 1A West Regional Runner-up in a 2-1 game with the first half winding down. The veteran Bears team responded with a third first-half goal with less than 60 seconds on the clock, then piled on three more goals in the second for the 6-1 win.

“Having this for our first full-speed game I think we did good,” said East Surry coach Samuel Lowe. Lowe is in his first season as Cardinal head coach after serving as an assistant to previous head coaches Andy Jessup and Neal Oliver.

“Of course we are young, but I thought they played darn good against a tough Mount Airy team – which I see probably at the state championship game when it’s all said and done. I really do. They’re that good.”

While the Bears would love to make another deep playoff run this season, coach Will Hurley said the team’s only concern is winning the game in front of them.

“It feels awesome to be back out here,” Hurley said. “It’s a good group of kids, and a lot of them of played for me for a long time.”

Mount Airy’s 2022 team features 10 seniors, many of whom were key parts of last year’s team that finished 26-1 and set numerous school records.

One thing this Granite Bear group isn’t very familiar with is giving up goals. In 27 matches last season, the 2021 team had 16 shutouts and only surrendered goals in seven regular season matches.

Mount Airy went up 1-0 after Gavin Guerrero scored in the 16th minute. Bear senior Agripino Perez added a goal off an assist from Jonathan Valadez in the 38th minute.

East Surry switched into attack mode after the second goal, as the Cards only had one shot on goal to this point. East drew a foul near midfield, and Logan Fagg floated a free kick into the 18-yard box of Mount Airy. Alex Galvan redirected Fagg’s kick to Jonathan De La Cruz to put into the back of the net.

“I think we got out of our shape on that free kick; we went back too far and didn’t hold our line, which led to that goal,” Hurley said. “It’ll be a good learning tool later on. We’ve started seasons off like that before where we don’t give up a goal until like the 10th or 12th game, then when you give it up it hurts so bad. Now, we’ve got that over with and I think that’ll help us.”

Mount Airy needed less than 60 seconds to strike again, with Perez netting his second goal of the evening.

Despite giving up three goals, Lowe said he was proud of team in the first half. The young Cardinals defense gave up 12 shots, but successfully defended five corner kicks and only allowed five of those shots to land on target.

The second half was all Mount Airy, though. The Bears pelted 14 total shots in the second 40-minute period, 10 of which were on target and three that got by the keeper.

“I thought we played great in the first half, but that was before everybody got their cramps – which just shows you what kind of shape we really are in,” Lowe said. “It’s a little different playing game speed than practice speed. We moved the ball a whole lot better in the first half than we did in the second half. We just got wore down. They beat on my defense more in the second half, that’s all it was.

“I’m just proud of the way my boys worked. We’ve got a little conditioning to do, but I believe we’re going to be okay as the season goes on.”

Even with the lopsided victory, Hurley said the Bears have a lot to improve on before facing East again on August 25. At the top of the list is creating more offense by advancing up the wings and using their passing as a weapon.

“We’re going to focus more on doing what we do,” Hurley said. “I don’t like the kick-and-run style, and that’s not our game. We can get an occasional run going like that, but to me a run starts on the outside and not up the middle like that. We’re doing that ‘indoor’ thing and we’ve got to spread it wide and play our game.”

The Cardinals have more than a week until playing again, and Lowe also has a list of changes the team can make before rematching their county rivals.

“Conditioning for sure is at the top of the list,” Lowe said. “A whole lot of us are out of shape, but that falls on me as a coach to make sure these boys are game-shape ready. I’d also like to see us maybe move the ball a little bit better. Let’s get the ball off our foot quicker, and let’s move through the midfield better. That comes with practice and game experience, and I think we’ll definitely improve as the season goes on.”

Goals: Gavin Guerrero (MA) 16’, Agripino Perez (MA) from Jonathan Valadez assist 38’, Jonathan De La Cruz (ES) from Alex Galvan assist 38’, Agripino Perez (MA) from Jonathan Valadez assist 39’ | Elkin Lopez (MA) 47’, Angel Osorno (MA) from Agripino Perez assist 62’, Gavin Guerrero (MA) 67’

All summer long, the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History has been sponsoring its Treat-A-Teacher event, and there are still a few days left to participate.

Educators are welcome to visit the museum for free as well as bring a plus-one for no additional cost, and they also get a treat bag, resource guide, and entry into our Back to Class Raffle just for visiting.

The last day to participate is Tuesday, August 22. The raffle will be drawn the next day, on August 23, at noon, and the drawing will be live-streamed over Facebook Live.

The raffle will have a single grand prize winner, but thanks to local support from Staples as well a number of area individuals, the raffle basket includes a collapsible rolling cart, office and classroom supplies, treats, museum gift shop goodies, and other items.

“It’s priceless having teachers visit us and helping us learn how we can best be a resource for them,” the library said in a reminder about the upcoming raffle. “We hope through events like this that we can show local educators how much we truly appreciate their hard work. Finally, we want to encourage teachers to visit us if they can before Wednesday, and good luck to all who have participated in our raffle.”

For more information, contact The Mount Airy Museum of Regional History at mamrh@northcarolinamuseum.org or call 336-786-4478, or drop by at 301 N. Main St.

A lot can change in a year’s time.

When Mount Airy and Surry Central opened the 2021 volleyball season, both squads were filled with seniors – most of which spent a good portion of their high school careers at the varsity level. With the teams graduating a combined 12 seniors from last season, the 2022 season opener was a fresh matchup featuring numerous new faces.

Mount Airy’s stayed in the driver’s seat for most of the first and third sets. Central kept things close, even holding a 24-23 advantage at one point in the second set, but came up short each time.

The Granite Bears emerged with a 3-0 victory, with set scores of 25-19, 26-24 and 25-21, for the program’s first straight-set win over the Golden Eagles since 2016.

Mount Airy graduated seven seniors from the 2021 season. This includes three of the team’s four All-Conference selections, 4-of-5 leading attackers, the assist leader and 4-of-5 leading blockers. One of the seven seniors signed to continue her volleyball career at the collegiate level.

The experienced Bears finished the year 18-9 overall and won the Northwest 1A Conference Tournament, which was the school’s first conference tournament championship in 29 years.

Surry Central graduated five seniors from the 2021 season. Like the Bears, last year’s Golden Eagle seniors accounted for four of the team’s five All-Conference selections, and the team’s only All-State selection was also a senior. Four of Central’s 2022 graduates signed to play collegiate sports, including three that extended their volleyball careers.

Central finished 18-7 overall and reached the Foothills 2A Conference Tournament Championship. Three of the team’s seven losses came against the eventual 2A West Regional Runner-up.

Mount Airy never trailed in the opening set of Tuesday’s match, but Central kept the score within arm’s length until the Bears took a 19-14 advantage. A timely Eagles timeout halted momentum, allowing Central to cut the lead to three, but then the Bears regrouped and won the set 25-19.

There were five lead changes and nine ties in the second set but the result was the same. Central rallied off back-to-back-to-back points late to take a 24-23 lead. The Bears’ Morgan Mayfield evened the score with a kill from the back row, then two attack errors by the visitors gave Mount Airy the 2-0 set lead.

Surry Central took a brief lead in the third set at 1-0 and 3-2, but it was all Mount Airy after this. The Bears scored seven of the next eight points to force an Eagles timeout.

Central managed to cut the lead to 16-13 at one point, however, Mount Airy scored the next six points to all but end the match. The Bears went on to complete the sweep with a 25-18 set victory.

The Mount Airy area musical group The New Dynamic Voices of Praise will be marking 15 years of singing together with what the group is calling a “pre-anniversary” slate of Christian and gospel music on Sunday.

The gathering, at Friendship Baptist Church, at 898 Wills Gap Road in Ararat, Virginia, will feature not only The New Dynamic Voices of Praise, but performances by other groups as well.

Pernell Webster said The New Dynamic Voices of Praise formed about 15 years ago, at the behest of his mother. She, Webster, and several of his relatives formed that first version of the group, which has shifted over the years to include cousins, uncles, his dad and mom, and two of his children. They travel to and perform at churches in the region.

This is the second year the group has had a “pre-anniversary” concert in August, he said.

“We used to do this in October, but the weather was sometimes cold, so we switched it to August.”

Other groups slated to perform include Divine Purpose of Mount Airy, Faithful Four from Galax, Virginia, Faithful Travelers from Martinsville, Virginia, as well as J. Soul and God’s Creation from Salisbury.

Doors at the church will open at 3 p.m., with the program set to begin at 4 p.m.

In Mark 4: 1-9 we read a parable that Jesus taught to his disciples of the sower and sowing the seed. In this parable we find some truths about being a child of God as we live in the world today. Notice that Jesus started in verse 3 with the word “Hearken” or “listen” because He had something important to teach His listeners. Let’s see some truths from this parable.

First, we see the responsibility of the sower to sow. Jesus used a picture of a farmer who went out into the field and took a bag of seed and when he got there, he began to broadcast or sow the seed. We, as Christians, have a responsibility to sow the seed of God’s word throughout the world in which we live. There are many ways to sow: some preach, some teach, some sing, some witness, and others pray for those who go out; but we all have a responsibility to be a part of the sowing process.

When we realize the responsibility to sow, I believe there are five ways that we are to sow:

– First, we are to sow plentifully. That means we are to sow a lot of seed. I learned on the farm that if you were going to have a bountiful harvest you had to put plenty of seed in the ground. We need to be constantly looking for opportunities to plentifully sow the seed of God’s word in the hearts of others.

– Secondly, we are to sow passionately. Farmers are always excited for springtime to come so they can get a new crop started. We need to have an intense desire to sow the seed of God’s word by telling others the Good News of Jesus Christ and constantly look for an opportunity to share what God has done for us.

– Thirdly, we need to sow compassionately. This is like the farmer who sows with such passion that he waters the seed with his sweat and tears. We need to bathe the seed of God’s word, which we sow in the hearts of others, with tears of prayer, love, and concern for those who are hearing about what Jesus has done for them.

– Fourthly, we need to sow patiently. I have never seen a farmer sow seed today and expect them to be sprouted and producing harvest the next day. We as Christians so often get discouraged if we sow and do not get an immediate harvest. Folks, we must remember it is our job to sow, not produce the harvest. That is God’s job, and He will do His job in His time.

– Fifthly, we are to sow expectantly. No farmer would ever go out and sow seed and say, “Well I am sowing this seed, but I know it will never produce a harvest.” Farmers sow expecting a bountiful harvest, usually more than ever before. That is the attitude that we need to have as Christians when we sow our seed. God will take that seed and produce a greater harvest than we have ever seen. It is when we understand our responsibility that we will begin to do what God has called us to do and that is: to sow the seed.

Second, we need to understand the reliability of the seed. What kinds of seed are we to sow? The Bible is plain in Mark 4: 14 “The sower soweth the word.” When a farmer goes out to plant his crops, he tries to find the very best seed to plant for the greatest harvest possible. We have the very best seed available for us to sow and that is God’s Holy, Inspired, Infallible, and Inerrant Word. In God’s word we have wonderful seed. It is wonderful because it tells us of God’s mercy, grace, peace, salvation and so much more.

The word is described as a fire that burns in our heart and must get out; sharp as a two-edged sword that can cut through sin; and so powerful that it can bring salvation and a change to every person who will hear and heed its message. God’s word is a penetrating seed that will penetrate the hardest of hearts and sprout forth the love of God to be shared with all that encounters it. God’s word is also a fruitful seed. Just as the seed goes in the ground and reproduces itself so does the Word of God. When we faithfully sow the seed of God’s word it will produce a harvest of souls that will cause all of heaven to rejoice.

Christians, if we are to make a positive impact on this world for the Lord, we need to heed what we have learned from this parable. We have a responsibility to sow the reliable seed of God’s Word and one day at judgment God will say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

Are you sowing for the Savior?

PILOT MOUNTAIN — East Surry won its season opener 55-7 against Starmount on Thursday.

The visiting Rams struck first and seemed to have the Cardinals figured out through the first quarter, but 55 unanswered points from the Cards – including 27 in just the second quarter – erased any doubts.

The win marks East Surry’s 10th-consecutive win in its series against Starmount.

“It’s great to be back,” said East Surry coach Trent Lowman. “There’s nowhere I’d rather play a high school football game than here at East Surry in David H. Diamont Stadium, and to get a win feels great. I’m proud of this group. They’ve put in a lot of work and had a great offseason. I’m just happy they got to begin the year like this; now, it’s time to go back to work.”

Lowman praised the leadership of his 21 seniors in the win. After facing an early deficit, the Cardinals were able to regroup and refocus late in the first quarter. East Surry then went on to put up 466 total yards while holding Starmount to 156.

The team shared the wealth in all three phases: six different players scored, 10 recorded carries or receptions, two forced turnovers and two converted PATs.

“We didn’t make any changes schematically, but I think our guys settled in and got some confidence,” Lowman said. “We narrowed down some things offensively and tried to get a little better at those things. We have a lot of work to do still. We have a lot to work on and get better at.”

Starmount’s defense came out of the gate hot by forcing a three-and-out, which was a rare occurrence for one of the 2A division’s top offenses in 2021.

The Rams played tight pass coverage forcing an incompletion, tackled a Cardinal receiver in the backfield for a loss then contained a quarterback scramble on third down.

“They did a good job of recognizing and adjusting to our formations,” Lowman said. “They are very well coached and play hard. They’ve been solid for a long time, and I expect them to have a really good year.”

Even after a booming 66-yard punt from Stephen Brantley put the Rams on their own 10 yard line, Starmount wasn’t deterred and was able to chip away at East to continually move the chains. The visitors also caught the Cardinals off-guard three times for offsides penalties as part of the 4:33 drive that covered 90 yards.

The drive concluded with QB Luke Kimmer finding AJ Pardue for a 17-yard reception.

With Starmount mounting a strong resistance to East Surry’s passing offense, the Cards adjusted and utilized more than a handful of running backs. East’s 290 yards rushing against the Rams is the team’s second-most in a game the past four seasons.

Devin Williams led the way for the Cardinals with 15 carries for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Hayden Sammons was next with seven carries for 45 yards and a TD, Lindann Fleming also surpassed 40 yards and scored a touchdown, and Kyle Zinn rushed for 21 yards and a touchdown.

The Cards also found their footing in the passing game as the game progressed. After being held to two completions for no gain through most of the first quarter, QB Folger Boaz connected with Brantley for a 31-yard touchdown with 1:49 on the clock. This was the longest play from scrimmage by either team Thursday night.

Boaz went on to finish 16-of-25 passing for 163 yards, three touchdowns, a 2-point conversion and an interception. He also rushed eight times for 45 yards.

Colby Johnson led all receivers with six catches for 55 yards and a touchdown. He also completed 1-of-2 passes for 13 yards.

Brantley added three catches for 41 yards and a TD, and Luke Brown had two catches for 17 yards to go with his touchdown grab.

Dylan Cox, Matthew Keener and Williams combined for the remaining five catches for 50 yards.

East’s defense started clicking around the same time as the offense. Starmount was held to just one first down in the second quarter, two in the third and one in the fourth.

The Rams also turned the ball over twice in the game, the first of which worked to heavily shift momentum in the Cardinals’ favor.

East Surry scored on four consecutive possessions in the first half, and the most recent of these saw Williams plug in a 4-yard run. This was followed by a Boaz-Johnson connection on the 2-point conversion as the first half was coming to a close.

Starmount’s leading back Zack Dezern, who was the Northwest 1A Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2021, had the ball knocked loose on the first play of the next drive and it was recovered by Fleming. East got the ball back with 52 seconds on the clock and only needed 36 to score again.

The second turnover came on the second play of the third quarter, when Williams picked off Kimmer.

Hatcher Hamm led East Surry with 10 tackles. Brett Clayton added seven tackles and a sack, and Fleming had four tackles to go with his fumble recovery.

Dezern was Starmount’s leading rusher with 12 carries for 75 yards. Pardue added three rushes for 24 yards, Zion Ramseur had two carries for 17 yards, Corey Armstrong had two carries for 15 yards, Preston Williams carried twice for five yards, Ryan Kimmer and Evan Shore each rushed once for no gain and QB Luke Kimmer was brought down behind the line of scrimmage twice for a loss of 12 yards.

Luke Kimmer completed 6-of-18 passes for 43 yards. Luke’s 17-yard TD pass to Pardue was Starmount’s only pass greater than 10 yards.

Though week one games are always tricky to game plan for, Lowman said he was happy with the result and said the team will look to tweak a few things to be ready for Mount Airy in week two.

“We have to be better at more things,” Lowman said. “We did a few things well, but we need to be cleaner and crisper in more areas than the few we were tonight.”

6:03 STAR 0-7 – AJ Pardue 17-yard TD reception on Luke Kimmer pass, Alex Mora PAT

1:49 ESHS 7-7 – Stephen Brantley 31-yard TD reception on Folger Boaz pass, Stephen Brantley PAT

9:21 ESHS 14-7 – Kyle Zinn 7-yard rush TD, Stephen Brantley PAT

4:07 ESHS 20-7 – Luke Brown 12-yard TD reception on Folger Boaz pass, PAT blocked by AJ Pardue

0:59 ESHS 28-7 – Devin Williams 7-yard rush TD, Colby Johnson 2-point conversion reception on Folger Boaz pass

4:07 ESHS 34-7 – Colby Johnson 18-yard TD reception on Folger Boaz pass, PAT no good

2:06 ESHS 41-7 – Lindann Fleming 13-yard rush TD, Stephen Brantley PAT

9:43 ESHS 48-7 – Devin Williams 4-yard rush TD, Joshua Parker PAT

2:18 ESHS 55-7 – Hayden Sammons 4-yard rush TD, Joshua Parker PAT

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/MTA081822V.pdf

Mount Airy officials are expected to take action tonight which could lead to a new company locating at Piedmont Triad West Corporate Park and initially employing up to 20 people.

“This is one of the first steps,” Surry County Economic Development Partnership President Todd Tucker said Wednesday regarding a proposed acquisition of municipal-owned property in the industrial park off U.S. 601 at the southern end of town.

BayFront Development LLC, a commercial real estate firm based in Pilot Mountain, is seeking to buy two tracts of vacant land in the park totaling 4.76 acres, according to city government documents. BayFront is offering $65,000 for the property located along Piedmont Triad West Drive.

If the sale goes through, the proposed developer is planning to construct a building containing about 9,000 square feet to accommodate an unnamed company that does electronic repair and rebuilds for regional customers.

“It’s not a North Carolina company,” Tucker added Wednesday. “We’ve been working with that company for a couple of months now.”

The Mount Airy Board of Commissioners is scheduled to vote on the sale during a meeting beginning at 6 p.m. today.

If the sale is consummated, city documents state that the developer will complete the design of the facility, prepare the site and construct the building within two years.

The new company is planning to begin operations with the creation of 15 to 20 jobs. Tucker said the amount of land acquired would allow it the ability to grow.

“They’ve got several months’ worth of due diligence,” the Economic Development Partnership official said of the process faced after the anticipated sale approval by the city commissioners.

The identity of the company will be announced when that process is further along, according to Tucker.

In speaking to the diversity of jobs it might entail, Tucker said a similar industry presently exists in the county. But Tucker mentioned that the new entity would provide more opportunities for workers possessing the skills involved.

The endeavor represents an estimated $1.2 million investment for the building and $700,000 in new equipment.

Should the proposed owner fail to begin construction within two years, the sale will be unwound or reversed, city documents say.

Once the facility is completed by the developer, the industrial client will buy and operate it, under the plans.

• A single-car crash in the Lowe’s Hardware parking lot last Saturday led to a Mount Airy man being jailed on multiple charges, according to city police reports.

Lewis Wayne Schumaker, 73, of 154 Duke Road, was operating a 2018 Kia Soul that struck a gate at the entrance to the lumber yard at Lowe’s, with an investigation determining that he allegedly was under the influence, records state.

This led to a driving while impaired charge against Schumaker, who also was found to be the subject of an outstanding order for arrest for failing to appear in court which had been issued on Aug. 10.

He was held in the Surry County Jail under a $5,500 secured bond and slated for an appearance in District Court on Wednesday of this week.

• Also Saturday, a fight investigation at 140 W. Pine St. resulted in Nicholas Gene Stevens, 39, of 174 W. Pine St., No. 4, being incarcerated on a three-year-old felony charge of possession of cocaine which had been filed through the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office in June 2019.

Stevens was confined in the Surry County Jail under a $5,000 secured bond and is scheduled to be in court in Cabarrus on Aug. 25.

• Marcos Antonio Duarte, 44, of 679 Maple St., was charged Sunday with hit and run, which police records indicate involved a 2019 Dodge Ram pickup operated by Duarte, with no other details listed.

The case is set for the Sept. 23 session of Surry District Court.

• Michael Ian Bailey was arrested on a felony drug charge last Friday after a traffic stop for a stop sign violation on Bluff Street at South Main Street.

Bailey was a passenger in the 2003 Jeep Liberty involved and after a consent search was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver due to a clear rock-like substance being located.

He further is accused of possessing drug paraphernalia, listed as a glass smoking device, and was served with an outstanding criminal summons for a charge of unauthorized use of a conveyance which had been issued on June 15.

Bailey was jailed under a $1,000 secured bond and slated for an appearance in District Court next Monday.

The General Assembly awarded $500,00 to Partners Health Management to specifically address the needs of Surry County residents battling substance use disorder or for those otherwise struggling with addiction. Partners has pledged to support the programs that have been designed and are being implemented by the county’s office of substance abuse recovery in education, counseling, workforce training, and community outreach.

Mark Willis, the Surry County substance abuse recovery director, asked the county commissioners to accept the funding from Partners that would fund $151,248 toward Vital Links Center. The center spearheads three programs including a return-to-work program for those reintegrating after incarceration, with the idea that successfully reentering the workforce is a way to significantly reduce recidivism.

Recovery Friendly Workplaces will receive training and support in how to assist current employees struggling with substance use disorder. Employers note lost productivity and excess absenteeism due to substance abuse and many are keen to find ways to help. Employee Assistance Programs are much more common now than in the past as employers want to aid and retain employees rather than hire and retrain.

With a Recovery to Work program the county hopes to identify employers with whom to partner to find where there are needs in the labor force that can be filled. The Vital Links Center will receive referrals from the community, treatment providers, law enforcement and the Department of Social Services for individuals to receive screening, vocational case management, and job referrals to approved participants.

Funding in the amount of $65,000 has been earmarked for a planning and implementation study regarding new treatment programs within the new Surry County Detention center. Another $96,400 of the funds provided to Partners from the state will be applied to outreach and education programs from the county. An “aggressive” campaign of education will be deployed across the county to spread the word that prevention is the best weapon against substance use disorder.

For local intervention and recovery support there is an additional $159,089 set aside to increase funding for the county’s Intervention Team and $27,600 to increase funding for community transportation options such as Ride the Road to Recovery.

The support from Partners coupled with funds from opioid settlements will be applied to the county’s long-range plan to combat substance use disorder through education, prevention, treatment, and recovery services.

– The commissioners heard during the open forum portion of Monday’s meeting from members of the public on issues regarding election integrity. Several members of the group marched around the Historic Courthouse in Dobson seven times before Monday night’s meeting recalling the Old Testament Battle of Jericho.

They asked the board for more communication and transparency about their requests and the status of any action to resolve their concerns. A major sticking point remains using paper ballots as opposed to the electronic voting machines they feel are susceptible to outside manipulation and cost former President Donald Trump the 2020 election.

Rachel Collins and Dan Childress each addressed the board with impassioned pleas to reconsider the hasty retreat of the county from the Pietmont Authority for Regional Transportation Authority, the regional bus service that had at one time be a preferred way to move people to work outside of the county.

Diminishing ridership was noted by the likes of Commissioner Van Tucker before the pandemic, and there is a concern among commissioners that the ridership will not return. Mount Airy Commissioner Joe Zalescik also raised ridership concerns before the city board voted unanimously to issue a resolution similar to Pilot Mountain’s asking the service to be restored.

Collins also noted that in exiting PART Surry County let $300,000 in federal dollars be redirected directly to Randolph County and the ballyhooed rental car tax all this was meant to fix remains in place.

– Tony Davis of the Surry Soil and Water Conservation District sent notice to the board that a funding offer for $261,666 for the StreamFlow Rehabilitation Project has been approved. The funds from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture will be used to clear debris from Surry County streams. David said those streams have been identified and that funds will come through as the work is completed. The commissioners gave their approval to sign the contract to being debris removal as part of StRAP.

– County Manager Chris Knopf suggested, and the board agreed, that the county not renew its Planning Services Interlocal agreement with the Town of Dobson. The county had been aiding in planning, zoning, and code enforcement for Dobson since July of 2017 and that agreement ended on June 30.

The county will continue to provide these services to the Town of Dobson on a month-to-month basis through the end of January 2023 or until Dobson has secured a new provider.

– The Department of Transportation will be doing work on North Bridge Street in Elkin and the sign for the Elkin Center needs to be moved or sold to the state so that work may continue. The sign is on the corner of N. Bridge St. and CC Camp Rd. on private land.

Surry County Public Works Director Jessica Montgomery recommended the county sell the sign to the state for $15,000 rather than work with the DOT to remove and later replace the sign, to which the board approved.

– Jerry Sawyers term as one of the public members of the Surry County Board of Health is expiring this month. Health board chair Eddie Jordan recommended reappointing Sawyers. Commissioner Larry Johnson said Sawyers has been a good member of the health board while moving to reappoint him for another term and the commissioners agreed unanimously.

– Finally, Sheriff Steve Hiatt made a request of the board to honor retiring members of the county’s force, “It has been the practice of the county of Surry and the Surry County Sheriff’s Office for a retired officer to receive their badge and service weapon upon retirement.”

North Carolina general statutes allow local discretion for decisions such as these for deceased and retiring members of law enforcement. Sheriff Hiatt has made the request on behalf of retiring Deputy Eric Latza, Deputy Jonathan Bledsoe, and Chief Deputy Paul Barker and he sends his thanks on behalf of the county to all three.

A long-vacant building in Mount Airy’s Westwood Industrial Park is getting a new lease on life with plans for another company to locate there in September and create about 25 jobs, according to a local business official.

This involves the former site of ASMO, which manufactured auto parts before shutting down in early 2009 and resulting in the loss of 86 jobs at the facility.

The property at 1317 Boggs Drive recently was acquired by Wise Storage Solutions LLC, a commercial real estate business based in Mount Airy which is a division of Bray’s Properties here.

That has paved the way for a company called American Building Network LLC to become a tenant of the former ASMO building next month. It manufactures metal commercial buildings and sheds and has a network of similar facilities across the United States.

“They plan on adding about 25 additional jobs to the marketplace,” Wise Storage Solutions Chief Operating Officer Neal Willard, its longtime property manager, said Tuesday.

Wise Storage Solutions had its eye on the former ASMO building for several years. When an opportunity arose to buy it, Willard said the commercial real estate group thought the property would be a good acquisition to its portfolio on top of similar moves in the area.

“We bought the Starrett building (earlier),” Willard said of another industrial facility on Boggs Drive which the commercial real estate group acquired, a transaction announced in January 2021. “We’ve just been in acquisition mode for the past several years.”

The ASMO building sat vacant for years, with Willard mentioning that it was used for an additional storage and parts overflow warehousing facility by another ASMO location in Statesville before the sale transpired.

It contains 62,000 square feet of space, 55,000 square feet of which is suitable for light manufacturing, with the remaining 7,000 designated for office use. Wise Storage Solutions acquired the building in June.

Readying it for a new occupant required extensive renovations, including addressing damage of the type naturally occurring from a building being largely unused for almost a decade.

Wise Property Services, an in-house unit of Wise Storage Solutions, upgraded the structure’s mechanical and water systems along with correcting cosmetic damage.

Surry County Economic Development Partnership President Todd Tucker Wednesday hailed the creation of jobs at an existing building and the role Wise Storage Solutions played in this.

“That’s good news for us,” Tucker said. “It’s great that we have a local group that can help out their existing clients when they need to grow.”

Such progress has been a key part of Wise Storage Solutions’ operations recently.

“We’ve been doing a lot of growing,” Willard said of a footprint that now includes owning and leasing more than 300 properties across the Carolinas and Virginia. “But that’s spread over several companies.”

Among other projects it is said to be involved with are a distribution facility in Rockingham County and corporate offices for various tenants including a trucking logistics firm and retail companies.

It’s hard to keep a good cruise-in down, even as the world around it seems to be falling apart — with one in downtown Mount Airy returning this Sunday after just such an episode.

The monthly Mayberry Cool Cars and Rods Cruise-In series was red-flagged last month due to a structural issue with the Main-Oak Building which has disrupted it and other activities in the central business district.

“I cancelled July because of the building collapse,” Downtown Business Association President Phil Marsh said of a July 5 incident at the corner of North Main and East Oak streets.

“For several days, the whole street was closed,” Marsh said of that intersection.

“I didn’t know how that was going to turn out,” the chief organizer of the cruise-ins added in terms of planning purposes for the event scheduled on the third Sunday of each month from May through September this year.

While East Oak remains closed at the collapse site, steps were taken early on to provide one travel lane on North Main Street as efforts continue to mitigate the building situation.

As a result, adjustments have been made in the cruise-in format, which Marsh explained will involve angled parking on the left side of the street heading south and straight parking on the right to maintain one through lane.

“It will be a few spots there that we’ll lose.”

The official cruise-in hours Sunday are 1 to 5 p.m., but Marsh says vehicle owners and spectators usually arrive early. Music, including oldies, is played from a DJ station at the Main-Oak gazebo during the events showcasing hot rods, antique, muscle and other noteworthy automobiles.

Sunday slate up to speed

The stalling of last month’s cruise-in came during a season when the series already was exploring new ground with a move to an all-Sunday schedule, a departure from the Saturday cruise-ins of years past.

There was some question about how this might affect attendance for the series that was launched by the Downtown Business Association in 2010.

The answer was supplied by the group’s president in commenting on the turnout so far this year — which hasn’t been hampered by high gas prices, including those attending from outside this area.

“Big crowds — I mean huge crowds,” Marsh said. “It’s really as big as it was on Saturday.”

About 300 unique rides were showcased during the last event in June, with fans also plentiful.

“Basically, Main Street was full, the side streets were full — they were everywhere,” the Downtown Business Association official said of the cruise-in vehicles.

Holding the events a day later actually was preferred by some of those displaying cars, due to work and other obligations on Saturdays. “A lot of them said, ‘why don’t you just move it to Sunday?”’ Marsh related.

One negative result of the new schedule has been a possible impact on local lodging and other establishments because of attendees not planning trips here for an entire weekend, he said.

PILOT MOUNTAIN — Recent hot weather has not curtailed activities of Pilot Mountain VFW Auxiliary Post 9436, which spearheaded a double event earlier this month that included efforts to aid veterans.

One involved a distribution campaign by Grant Carpenter, the latest Buddy Poppy King for the group, and six of its members, according to information provided by auxiliary President Margie Nichols.

They gave out Buddy Poppies for donations, along with flyers about the programs the auxiliary participates in, cards, tags and coasters with crisis telephone numbers for veterans who might need help.

The Buddy Poppy program of the Veterans of Foreign Wars provides compensation to former military members who assemble the poppies — replicas of vivid red flowers symbolizing the great loss of life during America’s armed conflicts.

Participants also passed out drink holders and “Support our Troops” bracelets to veterans and customers as part of the Aug. 6 double event that also included a VFW Auxiliary membership drive at various business locations in Pilot Mountain.

Grant is 12 years old and the son of Michael and Shelley Carpenter.

He is in the sixth grade and a student of Access Books and More, a tutoring service in Pilot Mountain.

Grant is a junior golfer who also enjoys offshore fishing, biking and other outdoor activities in addition to playing with his younger sister Madi.

His grandparents are Renee Bobbitt and fiancé Eric Isom of Woodlawn, Virginia; Joe and Darlene Carpenter of Ennice; and Mike and Debbie Burcham of Vinton, Virginia.

In conjunction with his role as “king,” Grant will now write an essay under the theme “Why it is important to honor veterans by promoting the Buddy Poppy.” He will be recognized after completion of his essay at the VFW Post home.

The VFW and auxiliary are wishing Grant much success with his essay at the next level of judging.

Nichols also expressed thanks to auxiliary members who helped with the two-fold project, Donna Sutphin, Sarah Mueller, Linda Cornett, Diana Cromer and Bryanna Isaacs.

Football season in Surry County will start one day earlier than originally planned due to potential bad weather on Friday.

East Surry High School announced Wednesday morning that its Week One varsity home game against Starmount was being moved from August 19 to August 18. The school cited the high percentage for inclement weather as the reason for the scheduling change.

The varsity Cardinals will play Aug. 18 at 7:00 at David H. Diamont Stadium. The JV game originally scheduled for Aug. 18 is being moved to Monday, Aug. 22 at Starmount High.

As of Wednesday afternoon, neither Surry Central, Mount Airy or North Surry announced plans to change their 7:30 kickoff time for Aug. 19.

All three season openers for local teams are rematches from Week One of the 2021 season.

East Surry hasn’t played, or defeated, any team more than Starmount in the past seven years

The Cardinals have won nine-straight games against the Rams, which is East’s longest winning streak in the rivalry that dates back to 1967. This includes six regular season matchups and three playoff games. East defeated Starmount in three-consecutive postseasons 2017-19.

Starmount holds the edge in the overall series with 30 wins to East’s 23. The Cardinals won the most recent game in the series 37-0 on Aug. 20, 2021.

East Surry has outscored Starmount 152-9 in the schools’ past three meetings.

East finished the 2021 season 13-1 overall and 6-0 in conference. The Cardinals won the Foothills 2A Conference Championship and finished 2A West Regional Runner-up. MaxPreps ranked East Surry No. 5 in the 2A West Preseason Poll.

Starmount finished this past season 8-5 overall and 5-1 in conference. The Rams finished second in the Northwest 1A Conference and reached the third round of the 1A State Playoffs. MaxPreps ranked Starmount No. 9 in the 1A West Preseason Poll.

North Surry vs. Mount Airy

One of the most anticipated season openers in recent memory will see Mount Airy travel to North Surry.

The county foes each return a big chunk of talent from the 2021 season. North Surry lost just four seniors, while Mount Airy graduated 13.

Mount Airy has won the past 14 games in the series against North Surry and 19 of the past 20. The Greyhounds’ lone victory over the Granite Bears since 2001 was a 27-26 home win in 2006.

Mount Airy leads the overall series against North Surry with a 42-19-1 record.

The Bears won the most recent rivalry game against the Hounds 43-0 to begin the 2021 season. This was Mount Airy’s fourth shutout victory against North Surry since 1963 and the eighth overall.

North Surry finished the 2021 season 5-5 overall and 4-2 in conference. The Greyhounds tied for second in the Foothills 2A Conference and reached the first round of the 2A State Playoffs. MaxPreps ranked North Surry No. 31 in the 2A West Preseason Poll.

Mount Airy finished the 2021 season 13-1 overall and 6-0 in conference. The Bears won the Northwest 1A Conference Championship and reached the fourth round of the 1A State Playoffs. MaxPreps ranked Mount Airy No. 2 in the 1A West Preseason Poll.

Surry Central takes the field on Friday for the first time since graduating 17 seniors from the Class of 2022.

The new-look Golden Eagles return just one player that received All-Conference Honors in the 2021 season. However, coach Monty Southern – who returns for his 16th season as Central head coach – said the team has a lot of young, hungry players ready to hit the field. The team also has a host of returning players that got significant minutes last season.

Central’s 2021 season opener at Alleghany was the first meeting between the schools since 2004. The Eagles won both matchups, with the latter being a 31-7 road victory.

Surry Central finished the 2021 season 6-5 overall and 4-2 in conference. The Greyhounds tied for second in the Foothills 2A Conference and reached the first round of the 2A State Playoffs. MaxPreps ranked Central No. 44 in the 2A West Preseason Poll.

Alleghany finished the 2021 season 2-8 overall and 1-5 in conference. The Trojans finished seventh in the Northwest 1A Conference and reached the first round of the 1A State Playoffs. MaxPreps ranked Alleghany No. 23 in the 1A West Preseason Poll.

The Law Enforcement Training program at Surry Community College will be offering multiple classes for law enforcement officers this fall.

Two different sections of Radar, Radar/Lidar Recertification courses will be held. The first section will meet on Thursday, Aug. 25 and Friday, Aug. 26, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Pilot Center, at 612 E. Main St. in Pilot Mountain. The second section will meet Monday, Dec. 5 and Tuesday, Dec. 6 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Yadkin Center, 1001 College Drive, in Yadkinville. This class is for those who are radar/lidar or radar certified or those who are within their 12 months grace period.

The class Basic SWAT will be offered starting on Thursday, Sep. 1. It will meet at the Center for Public Safety, located at 1220 State St. in Mount Airy, each Thursday through Oct. 6, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This course is for law enforcement officers seeking to become familiar with some of the individual skills and fundamentals of working as part of a team during a SWAT operation.

Two different sessions of Crisis Intervention Training will be held in Yadkinville. The first class will start on Monday, Sep. 12. It will meet Sep. 12, 13, 21, 22 and 28, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The second class will start on Monday, Oct. 17, and will meet daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 21.

Surviving the First Three Seconds will be held on Wednesday, Sep. 14, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Yadkin Center. This training will be presented by Retired Master Trooper Kirk Hensley and is designed to help officers at all stages in their career survive encounters with potential threats.

The training Human Behavior Analysis will be held on Thursday, Sep. 15, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Yadkin Center. This training will be presented by Retired Master Trooper Kirk Hensley and is based on years of research and analysis in the field of officer protection.

The class Basic Radar Certification will start on Monday, Oct. 17, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Pilot Center. This is a 40-hour class that is a commissioned recognized course of the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.

The Colt M4/M16 Armorers Course will be held at the Center for Public Safety, starting on Tuesday, Oct. 25, and will meet daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 27. Students can earn a three-year Colt Law Enforcement Rifle/Carbine/SMG Armorer certification. This class requires registration and payment through Colt’s website at colt.gosignmeup.com.

To register for these courses, go to surry.edu/lawenforcement. For more details about any of the classes mentioned, contact Barry Vanhoy at vanhoyb@surry.edu or 336-386-3696.

Former East Surry Cardinal Carson Willoughby was named the recipient of the first-ever Ty Montgomery Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarship was created to honor the legacy of Ty Montgomery, a 2021 graduate of North Surry High School that passed away in January 2022. Montgomery was a member of the football and baseball teams at North Surry, as well as the Post 123 Senior Legion baseball team.

Willoughby and Montgomery were teammates on the Legion team in 2020.

“Ty was the ultimate team player, and to be nominated by my fellow players and coaches for this special award is an honor,” Willoughby said.

The Ty Montgomery scholarship was funded by Foothills Senior Legion baseball games this past season. Despite being unable to play several home games during the final stretch of the regular season – including a scrimmage with the Carolina Disco Turkey’s semi-professional woodbat team – the team was still able to raise $750 for the scholarship.

Willoughby is a 2021 graduate of East Surry High School. He helped the Cardinals win the 1A West Regional Championship and reach the 1A State Championship Series his senior season.

Carson continued his baseball career at Gardner-Webb University this past year, then joined the Post 123 team while home for the summer.

“He has an excellent attitude and is a great team player with a very high baseball IQ,” said Post 123 coach Brian Hawks. “He gives his all in every game he plays in and never holds back.”

Willoughby played in 19 of Post 123’s 20 games this season, which was the most of any player. He also led the team in multiple offensive categories, including: hits (28), doubles (7), triples (4), RBIs (25), runs (18), on-base percentage (.526) and slugging percentage (.672).

Willoughby played multiple positions for the Senior Legion Team, including center field and pitcher. He only committed one error in 31 chances.

“He was a huge reason for our success and winning record this year,” Hawks said.

Foothills Post 123 finished the season 14-6 overall.

Nine students graduated earlier this month from Surry Community College’s Truck Driver Training Program at the Yadkin Center.

The graduates include Kevin Torres of Mount Airy; Brian Woodle of Dobson; John Sizemore of Boonville; John Sherrill of East Bend; Jesus Guzman of Elkin; Wesley Bell of Wilkesboro; Jorge Benitez, Jeff Brown and Garrett Silver of Yadkinville.

Chair of the Yadkin County commissioners, Kevin Austin, addressed the graduates at their ceremony. He spoke to them about his experience in the trucking industry, as well as the importance of trucking to the local and state economies.

Surry Community College will be offering another section of Truck Driver Training starting this fall. The class will run from Tuesday, Oct. 11 through Friday, Dec. 16 and will meet from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

College officials say that the median pay for truck drivers is $47,100 per year, according to the United States Department of Labor. “Drivers with experience can make more than $50,000,” the said. “With a shortage of up to 12,000 truck drivers in North Carolina and as many as 200,000 nationally, CDL-certified drivers will easily be able to find jobs. The U.S. Department of Labor says the profession is expected to keep growing – by 6% during 2020-2030.”

“There are currently job openings for truck drivers locally and nationally. We developed this program as a direct response to the requests from local truck driving representatives who need skilled applicants to fill job vacancies,” said SCC President Dr. David Shockley.

The SCC Truck Driver Training Program teaches proper driving procedures, safe driver responsibility, commercial motor vehicle laws and regulations, and the basic principles and practices for operating commercial vehicles. The coursework includes motor vehicle laws and regulations, map reading, vehicle maintenance, safety procedures, daily logs, defensive driving, freight handling, security and fire protection.

Highway driving training exercises and classroom lectures are used to develop the students’ knowledge and skills. Graduates are qualified to take the Commercial Driver’s License Test and are employable by commercial trucking firms. They may also become owner-operators and work as private contract haulers.

Admission requirements include official driving record; physical examination; reading placement test score of 40 or higher; disclosure form; high school transcript; and drug testing.

For more information about the Truck Driver Training Program, contact the Yadkin Center at 336-386-3580. The tuition is $1,999, but there are tuition scholarships available. To determine eligibility, visit www.surry.edu/funding.

Surry Community College has announced eight area students were named to the Summer Semester 2022 President’s List and Dean’s List.

Students qualifying for the President’s List must be enrolled for 12 or more credit hours and maintain a 3.8 grade point average for the semester with no final grade lower than a “C.” The Dean’s List students must be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours and maintain a 3.5 grade point average for the semester with no final grade lower than a “C.” S

Jessica Lynn Callaway of Mount Airy was the lone student named to the President’s List.

On the Dean’s List were Ashley Margaret Burrell, Carson McKinley Francis and Carly Grace Sheets of Mount Airy; Samantha Nicole Chattin of Elkin; Autumn Timora Hall of Ronda; Maegan Lanae Warren of State Road and Amy Madalyn Bray of Yadkinville.

A program has been launched allowing many North Carolinians to receive free COVID-19 tests shipped directly to them thanks to the expansion of a partnership between the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the Rockefeller Foundation through Project ACT (Access COVID Test).

“We remain committed to meeting the testing needs of priority populations across North Carolina —especially for historically marginalized communities,” said Dr. Susan Kansagra, Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Public Health. “Thanks to our partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation we’re able to establish another way for residents in high need areas to get tests.”

Residents in eligible zip codes can receive up to five at-home COVID-19 tests free of charge and shipped directly to their door. To determine eligibility, or to order the free tests visit the Project ACT website: accesscovidtests.org.

The state health department used county Social Vulnerability Index and analyzed zip codes for percent uninsured, median income and distance from other testing options to choose locations that are eligible for free tests.

Of the Surry County zip codes only two, 27031 and 27049, are shown as ineligible for receipt of free tests. These zip codes are associated with Post Office boxes, and anyone using these zip codes can call 888-892-1162 to requests tests.

This partnership is the latest way in which the state Health and Human Services is seeking to make at-home tests available to the people who need them most. In July, the department launched Community Access Points for residents to receive at-home COVID tests.

North Carolina had previously been enrolled in Rockefeller’s pilot program that provided tests in only four counties. There are 80 counties now fully covered by the program and 13 additional counties which are partially covered.

In the past two weeks Surry County has reported 724 new cases of COVID-19, and 334 in the past week. For Surry and its neighboring counties, the two-week case count is close to the one-week case count multiplied by two – meaning the infection rate held steady week to week.

Since the middle of May, the statewide weekly infection rate has been holding steady as well at between 25,000 – 30,000 new cases per week. In the last set of data available, the week ending July 16, there were 29,403 new cases reported.

Since the start of the pandemic North Carolina has lost at least 25,724 residents to the virus.

Therefore, the state is still advising getting tested for COVID-19 if you have symptoms or if you have come in close contact with someone who has or may have been exposed to the virus themselves – even if you are up to date on your vaccines. They urge people to get tested at least five days after the last close contact.

Variants are still infecting people, including many who were vaccinated and boosted, Individuals who have a positive result are urged to stay away from others and follow the CDC’s isolation guidelines. Seek medical care immediately if you have trouble breathing or experience other warning signs. There are treatments now available that can lower the risk of hospitalization or death from the virus dramatically.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said that staying up to date on vaccination and boosters offers the best protection for anyone 6 months of age and older. Those interested in finding a nearby vaccine location are directed to: MySpot.nc.gov or to call 888-675-4567.

This corresponds nicely with the kickoff of the Know Before You Go campaign, a statewide initiative reminding citizens to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters in time for the start of the school year, fall festivities, large gatherings and end-of-year celebrations and holidays. Surry County Schools have a first day of instruction that is earlier than many of their contemporaries, so in many communities this initiative is still trying to be executed before the first day of school.

The campaign promotes information on COVID testing and treatment, and it reminds North Carolinians of their rights to both services with or without insurance. “Know Before You Go is a reminder to communities that as we send kids back to school and head into fall activities, it’s important to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters and have access to testing and treatment,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley.

While the launch of Know Before You Go focuses on back to school and COVID-19 prevention, the campaign will help provide guidance and information about other communicable diseases.

“Whether it’s COVID-19, mental health and well-being or other public health needs, every North Carolinian should have easy access to the information they need to know to protect themselves and others before they go about their daily routines,” Kinsley said.

Milan Tomin is accustomed to covering long distances — after all, he came to North Carolina from Serbia six years ago and his most recent trek involved taking first place in the Downtown Rocks and Runs 10K.

But the former resident of that European nation — who broke the course record by the way — wasn’t the only winner during Saturday’s 14th-annual event in Mount Airy. In addition, there was the victor of a 5K race it included, along with all other runners who completed the respective courses and can feel good about themselves as a result.

Also in the winners’ circle was the community itself, due to the Downtown Rocks and Runs 5K/10K raising more than $16,000 as the kickoff event for the annual United Fund of Surry campaign that has a total fundraising goal of $500,000.

The United Fund provides financial support for 24 member agencies that meet various needs in the community, including crisis organizations such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and Shepherd’s House homeless shelter.

Surry Medical Ministries, area rescue squads and scouting units are among other recipients.

In all, 220 runners lined up for both the 5K (3.1-mile) and 10K (6.2-mile) races, which had staggered starting times beginning with the 10K scheduled at 7:45 a.m.

“We are excited about the turnout,” United Fund Executive Director Melissa Hiatt said of the crowd gathered Saturday morning at a staging area in front of the Municipal Building, which included the competitors along with enthusiastic spectators.

“This is very comparable to the race in 2019,” Hiatt added in reference to the “normal” year before COVID-19 disrupted things, including no Downtown Rocks and Runs in 2020.

Saturday’s event, which also included a fun run, benefited from cool temperatures of around 60 degrees as the races got under way, with clear skies overhead.

“This is perfect weather,” said Assistant City Manager Darren Lewis, one of the race organizers and former director of Mount Airy Parks and Recreation, which played a key role in staging the event.

Lewis, a veteran runner who has competed in about eight marathons, and others greeted the welcome departure from the sweltering conditions gripping this area in recent weeks. It was conducive to good finishing times Saturday with multiple course records falling.

“For summertime, this is great,” Mayor Ron Niland agreed regarding the conditions while preparing to compete in the 5K.

“This is chamber of commerce weather,” said Niland, who has “probably done a couple of hundred” 5Ks, 10Ks and triathlons, a regimen curtailed of late.

“I’ve been injured — I haven’t been able to train much lately.”

Still, Niland offered a “mayor’s challenge,” pledging to pay $1 for every runner who beat him Saturday to further aid the United Fund cause. Lewis and City Manager Stan Farmer also agreed to double whatever Niland raised.

Niland, 67, finished in 80th place with a time of 33:43.1 minutes.

Meanwhile, the city manager assisted at the event by distributing finisher medals to everyone completing the races.

Milan Tomin, the overall winner of the 10K run who hails from Serbia, was exploring uncharted ground Saturday upon venturing here from his new home in America.

“It’s my first year — I came from Charlotte,” said Tomin, who is 26.

“The course was difficult — I did not know what to expect.”

Both the 5K and 10K races began on Cherry Street, with runners making their way to Riverside Park and the Granite City Greenway for different course lengths to constitute the respective distances. They eventually made their way back downtown after negotiating a tough hill from Riverside Drive up East Independence Boulevard.

Despite his unfamiliarity with the 10K course, Tomin finished with a time of 34:18.1, thus besting the record for the event of 34:46 set in 2019 by Ediberto Crisanto of Rock Hill, South Carolina.

The top women’s 10K finisher Saturday was Gabriella Delay, 31, of Winston-Salem, whose time of 37:07.8 also broke the record for her gender (38:35), established by Kate Sanborn of Raleigh in 2019. Delay was third overall.

Stevven Anderson of Stokesdale was the top overall finisher in the 5K with a time of 16:20.1, which broke the men’s record for that race which had been set in 2017 by Dave Wottle of Elkin (16:25). Anderson, 37, explained that he is the owner of High Point Athletic Club and participates in such races to help promote the sport of running.

Sarah Buckliew, 35, of Gilbert, South Carolina, was the top female finisher in the 5K run with a time of 20:17.5 which was good for seventh place overall.

Alpha Theta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Educational International Society has selected Genevieve “Eve” Bodnar to receive the organization’s annual $1,000 grant-in-aid.

Genevieve is a 2022 graduate of North Surry High School. She plans to attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University to major in agricultural sciences. Genevieve’s goal is to become a high school agriculture teacher and FFA and advisor.

The United Fund of Surry announced a goal of $500,000 for their 2022-2023 Campaign and the Campaign Cabinet who will help facilitate the campaign which had its launch over the weekend in Mount Airy with the Downtown Rocks and Runs.

Melissa Hiatt, executive director of the United Fund of Surry was showing no fear in reaching that goal ahead of the races, “Although $500,000 is a lofty goal, I am certain the always amazing citizens of Surry County will step up to the plate in this campaign and help meet this goal.”

“Our agencies have faced an increase in demand and costs for their services over the past couple of years. We made the decision to increase our goal this year to $500,000, so that our agencies may continue to provide these important services. With the support of our local businesses and the citizens of Surry County, we are confident that we can meet this goal,” United Fund Board of Directors President Mark Royster said of the new goal.

The cabinet helps direct the campaign throughout the year and lead a community-wide effort to engage and recruit both individuals and businesses in raising funds to support the member agencies under the umbrella of the United Fund of Surry. Last year’s campaign goal had been set for $430,000 and the United Fund leaders reported they were able to beat that total by raising $469,000.

Joining the United Fund of Surry’s Campaign Cabinet will be Mount Airy Assistant City Manager Darren Lewis who will be serving as the United Fund Chairperson for 2022. A long-time resident of Surry County, Lewis and wife Rebecca have three sons and he said he cannot think about a better community in which to raise them.

He started working at Reeve’s Community Center full time in 1993 and then took on a role with Surry County Parks and Recreation from 2003-2005 after which he returned to the employ of the city this time with Mount Airy’s parks department. Lewis remained in the role until he shifted over to his current role earlier this year.

“I continue to strive to make a difference in the community and what better way than to be the chairperson for the United Fund of Surry.? Making a significant impact in our community is a goal of mine and supporting the amazing agencies of the United Fund is one of the more impactful things we can do as a resident in our community.”

“Rebecca and I have been supporting the United Fund of Surry for many years and we invite you to join us in the community effort.”

Traci George is also joining as one of the cabinet members for the campaign. She is the director of business development for Workforce Carolina where she has been employed for 27 years.

She was recently recognized as the 2022 Citizen of the Year by the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce and is the current chair of the board at The Shepherd’s House. George has been a long-term supporter of the United Fund of Surry for more than a decade and is known for her penchant for staying fit, spending time with family, and volunteering to give back to the community she loves.

Ron Sutphin Jr. is both a former board member of the United Fund of Surry and was its former chairperson. A native of Surry County he is managing partner of Bayfront Development, LLC, who now lives in Pilot Mountain with his wife Mamie McKinney Sutphin with whom he has two sons.

Sutphin graduated from Appalachian State University and has spent most of his professional career in real estate development.

He said that giving back to key organizations is important and he holds volunteer board positions with the Cardinal Foundation, East Surry Little League, and serves on the Planning Board for the Town of Pilot Mountain.

Steve Yokeley is a sitting member of the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners who has been serving since 2009. He is married to Ann Lowry Yokeley and is father to Tiffany, and grandfather to Coley.

A graduate of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he went back to school to earn his D.D.S. from the UNC School of Dentistry. Yokeley also had a Fellowship and Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry.

Yokeley served in the Navy rising to lieutenant commander before entering dental practice for more than 30 years. He taught the craft to other aspiring dentists during time in the faculty of the UNC School of Dentistry, Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University, and Wilkes Community College. He was also deputy examiner for the state, past president of the UNC Dental Alumni Association, and served in other roles for dental groups as well as Academy of Dentistry International.

More recently he took a turn as a broker of real estate and was the founder and past owner of Group3 Real Estate, LLC of Mount Airy. He was awarded Realtor of the Year in both 2007 and 2015 from the Surry Regional Association of Realtors.

He found time to also be active in Lion’s Club, First Presbyterian of Mount Airy, Mount Airy Sunrise Rotary Club, and the chamber of commerce to list only a few.

Lesa Hensley was born in Winston-Salem and resided for many years in Pilot Mountain until the age of 11 when her parents built on the family farm in the White Plains community of Mount Airy. She was a graduate of North Surry High School, Central Piedmont Community College, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and worked as a paralegal before joining Surrey Bank & Trust in 1999. Hensley is serving Surrey Bank & Trust as a vice present and commercial lender.

She has served as a member and past president of Surry Sunrise Rotary and is the treasurer for both YESurry and the Mount Airy City Schools Educational Foundation. When it is found, in her spare time, she enjoys attending Appalachian State football games, painting and decorating.

Hensley and husband Mark are members of First Baptist Church in Mount Airy and have two children, Blake and Meredith.

The cabinet will be helping Hiatt and the United Fund of Surry throughout the 2022-2023 Campaign in their attempt to reach a half million dollars which they will then reinvest into Surry County organizations that are making a daily difference for thousands of residents.

Hiatt said any business that does not hold a work-place campaign or that would like to have more information, should reach out at 336-789-3087 or email: office@unitedfundofsurry.org.

The Surry Arts Council’s Summer Concert Series has a full schedule this weekend starting with Band of Oz on Thursday. The Catalinas will take the stage on Friday with Blackwater R&B Band to follow on Saturday. Each show will take place at the Blackmon Amphitheatre at 7:30 p.m.

“The Band of Oz is one of the most successful groups in the Southeast and continues to get the very best reviews from the top people in the entertainment business,” concert series organizers said. “The band now features a full horn section to total a dynamic eight-member group. They still perform well over 200 shows per year for corporate events, festivals, concerts, wedding receptions, and many other public and private events.”

The Catalinas always play a variety of music for all ages. Though known for Beach music, regionally and nationally for the mega-hit “Summertime’s Callin’ Me,” The Catalinas play all styles.

The Blackwater Band is in its eleventh year and is based out of Clarkton. Playing Top 40, blues, funk, and country, The Blackwater Band is dedicated to live performance and making every event a party experience.

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 brought into the Amphitheatre area. Those attending are asked to bring 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

Although Mother Nature didn’t always play “fair” with it, the Surry County Agricultural Fair has wrapped up its 75th year with a 10-day run deemed successful overall.

“It’s went good, for the weather and everything,” Veterans Memorial Park President Doug Joyner said Saturday on the next-to-last day of the county fair held at that venue on West Lebanon Street.

The 2022 version of the annual event was accompanied by a major change from previous years, which involved a shift from its customary September appearance to the Dog Days period characterized by heat, humidity and maybe a summer storm or two.

Circumstances conspired to have an effect on attendance, Joyner acknowledged.

“It’s off a little bit,” he said, but not because of the merits of the fair itself. “The weather’s got a little bit to do with it, especially the heat.”

A bit of a break was provided for the proceedings on Saturday, which was noticeably cooler and less humid than previous days of the fair that had begun on Aug. 5. This was greeted by many people arriving during the afternoon to take in the fun.

This year’s scheduling change occurred due to the longtime provider of rides and midway entertainment for the Surry fair, Powers and Thomas, dropping the event, which forced another company to be secured, Amusements of America.

The Aug. 5-14 timetable was set in order to fit into the new provider’s busy schedule.

Other fair attractions included daily performances by The Majestik Spectacular Motorcycle Show, along with AIWF Mid-Atlantic Wrestling on select days in addition to fireworks.

Despite the weather, the fair had its high spots, according to Joyner.

“We’ve got more rides this time and the motorcycle show is a little bit bigger,” he said Saturday.

“I hope they had a good time,” Joyner added in reference to fair-goers.

The park president is already looking ahead to the 2023 Surry County Agricultural Fair.

“We’re going to do it again next year and try to make it bigger and better,” Joyner pledged. “We’re trying our best to get it back a little farther in the year, in September.”

Books available to check out at the Mount Airy Public Library include:

Listen to Me – Tess Gerritsen

The Best is Yet to Come – Debbie Macomber

The It Girl – Ruth Ware

Reading time is here for kids of all ages. Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. is Toddler Time for children ages 2 and 3; Thursday at 9:30 a.m. is Book Babies for children ages birth to 2 years old; and on Thursday at 11 a.m. is Preschool Storytime for ages 4-5.

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. In August we will be reading and discussing Elegy for Iris by John Bayley. This is a story of his wife, Iris Murdoch, who developed Alzheimer’s and how they managed. We will also meet to watch the movie based on the book.

Pages and Petticoats Book Club — meets on the last Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. For August, we will be reading Southern Comfort by Fern Michaels.

Classic Movie Monday on Aug. 29 at 5:30 p.m. to watch Key Largo. Popcorn and water provided.

The summer backpack reading program winners were: Johannah Brown for-second grade, Ryan Karpenko for grades 3 – 5, Kaitlyn Hollady for grades 6 – 8 and Caleb Brown for grades 9 – 12.

The Kindle winner was Noah Feuerberg, who logged 18,066 minutes of reading this summer. The participating youth logged in a total of 62,373 minutes this summer.

A special thank you goes to the Friends of the Library members. With their hard work in raising funds we were able to provide programming, crafts, pizza, the backpacks full of goodies and the Kindle. This group does an amazing job. If you would like to join, come by the library for a pamphlet.

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/

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/TRI073122M-OnTheVine-Online.pdf

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:

– Ronald Britt Cave and Kathryn Cave to Terry White and Betsy Cook; tract Dobson; $70.

– Tracy Hull and Virgie Hawks Hull to Amy Linville; tract Stewarts Creek; $0.

– Jason Lee Linville and Ida Ann Linville to Randy J. Kottwitz and Crystal M. Kottwitz; 6.916 acres PB 34 134; $95.

– Crystal Cox and Robin H. Cox to Louisa Smith; 3.99 acres Mount Airy; $0.

– Teramore Development, LLC to Norman Cheney and Marilyn Cheney; 3 acres PB 39 191 3350 Cook School Rd Pilot; $4,047.

– Georgia L. Webb and Robin Hodgin to Lynn Jackson Lambert; tract one portion of lots 8-9 J. Matt Hines and Durham Poore Property PB 1 115 and tract two tract Mount Airy; $320.

– Kevin Hooker and Melissa Hooker to James Michael Whitt Jr. and Tasha Lee Whitt; 1.79 acres lot 3 Dobson; $450.

– Brandon Lee Jessup and Leigh Ann Jessup to Samantha Pack and Anne Wiley; tract one .90 acres and tract two 23/100 acres; $400.

– Vernon P. Medley and Martin Allen Medley to Andrew Moore; 0.974 acres PB 34 41 Marsh; $0.

– Bray Properties, LLC to 405 Fieldstone, LLC; first tract Mount Airy; $550.

– Mary O’Quinn, Mary Beall and Michael Andre to Michael Andrea and Tiffany Andre; lot 57 section 1 Burkewood subdivision PB 4 125 Mount Airy; $0.

– Lee Chilton Rierson and Nancy Marinette Rierson to Alexander Vance Tilley, Emily Susanna Evans, Perry Van Tilley and Stephanie Hazelwood Tilley; 7 acres PB 34 105 and 4.000 PB 32 94 Eldora; $97.

– Betty Lou Chilton Rierson and Lee Rierson to Alexander Vance Tilley, Emily Susanna Evans, Perry Van Tilley and Stephanie Hazelwood Tilley; 11.83 acres PB 34 105 Eldora; $104.

– Estate of Clarence Lloyd Hawks, Brenda R. Bailey, Clarence Llyod Hawks, Shanna H. Stoltz, Ethan Stoltz, Amanda H. Lukas and Roger Lukas to Rickey Shane Paige; lot 11 block C Westwood development PB 6 28 estate of Clarence Llyod Hawks file 21 E 964; $410.

– AMN Properties of Surry, LLC to Kandra McBride; .73 acres PB 5 7 3227 Wards Gap Road Mount Airy; $216.

– Jimmy W. Hall Jr. and Teresa A. Hall to Jimmy W. Hall Jr.; 1.69 acres lot 11 A PB 15 47 481 Oak Ridge Drive Mount Airy Stewarts Creek; $0.

– Billy Ray Surratt, Michelle Leigh Hart and Michelle Leigh Hobbs to Jose Alexis Sanchez Tinajero; lots 6-8 PB 12 126 South Westfield; $92.

– Andrew Moore to Martin Allen Medley and Vernon P. Medley; 0.111 acres tract one and 0.024 acres tract two PB 40 156 Marsh; $0.

– Derrick M. Puckett to Montana L. Handy and Ryan T. Key; lots 3 and 5 Fisher River Park development PB 7 66 Stewarts Creek; $464.

– The Bonnie H. Stuart Revocable Trust Agreement, Bonnie Stuart and Robinette S. McLeroy to Joseph Keith Van Dyke Jr. and Barbara Fencl Van Dyke; four tracts Elkin; $1,050.

– Jerry Dean Johnson and Judy Rebecca Cline to Phillip B. Tilley and Penny S. Tilley; lots 3 block 1 Highland Park subdivision PB 1 28 Mount Airy; $20.

– Robert Anthony Kirsch and Crystal Lynn Kirsch to J&R Properties of Mount Airy, LLC; 0.503 acres Mount Airy; $40.

– Kenneth F. Marshall to Jesus Grande Salgado and Rosa Cortes Grande; 0.242 acres Rockford; $6.

– Lorene S. Dockery to Kenneth L. Flinchum and Jessica M. Hauser Flinchum; 14.165 acres PB 41 71 Dobson; $790.

– Estate of James Franklin Penley, James Dale Penley, James Franklin Penley, Tammy Dixon Penley, David Carroll Penley, Tammy Jones Penley and Donna Whitaker to David Carroll Penley and Tammy Jones Penley; tract one 27/100 acres and tract two 56/100 acres Eldora estate of James Franklin Penley 22 E 483 Iredll; $120.

– TYDDYN Management, LLC to Turtle & Crab, LLC; tract PB 4 126 226 E. Lebanon Street Mount Airy; $263.

– Tonya M. Kimbrell to Marshall Kerr and Dianne Kerr; lot 6 Campbell Brook estates PB 20 48; $564.

– Balogh Properties, LLC to James Edward Silva Jr. and Cheri A. Silva; tract; $500.

– Jason Bedsaul, Tracy Bedsaul, Amanda Tucker, Eric Tucker and Jonathan Eric Tucker to Justin Matthew Bedsaul; tract one 62.89 acres and tract two tract Marsh; $0.

– Michael Delond Cain, Mason Grey Bowman and Hope Bunker Bowman to Mason Grey Bowman and Hope Bunker Bowman; 1.69 acres tract; $32.

– Carl David Ward and Linda Lou Ward to Charles Chaffin Zuchick and Sahvanna Ray Johnson Zuchick; tract one tract and tract two .12 acres Mount Airy; $410.

– Aleene Bateman Gordan and Donna Lynn Hampton to John Smith and Breanna Smith; tract one 3.500 acres and tract two 20.071 acres Stewarts Creek; $190.

– Kathleen L. Kissam and Robert R. Delaney; 22.088 acres; $0.

– Melody Easter to Landon Michael East and Melody Easter; 0.384 acres Pilot; $0.

– Gary James Gant, Tammy T. Gant, Troy Dunna Gant and Donna Ward Gant to J&E Properties of NC, LLC; 0.5 acres PB 3 109 1340 Forrest Drive Mount Airy; $155

– Sonya M. Ganyard to Lionhawk Investments, LLC; 0.064 acres PB 36 135; $310.

– Christopher Cody Murphy and Hannah Katherine Murphy to Kelly W. Jackson; 1.718 acres Elkin; $336.

– Jose G. Gonzalez and Ardy H. Gonzalez to Douglas Wood; lot 18 section II Knollwood subdivision PB 11 45; $320.

– J&E Properties of NC, LLC to Tiny Hands Childcare, LLC; 1.275 acres portion of lot 18 and all of lot 19 PB 1 183 721 S. Main Street Dobson Pilot/Dobson; $550.

– Judy Renea Marshall Ziglar and Richard L. Ziglar to Nathaniel Dale Lawson; two tracts Westfield; $140.

– Patrick Allen Gay and Ellauna Ginther to Brian Keith Lindamood; tract Stewarts Creek; $357.

– Max L. Taylor and Peggy G. Taylor to Haley Taylor Sheets; tract one one and one fourth acres and tract two 0.393 acres South Westfield; $0.

– Teresa Smith Hiatt to Bethany Ann Brown; 3.219 acres PB 41 79 Stewarts Creek; $34.

– Lundquist Living Trust, Arthur C. Lundquist and Dorothy F. Lundquist to Andres Flores; 0.7209 acres tract 15 Smith Landing subdivision section II PB 15 87 Dobson; $280.

– Gary Lee Johnson and Ann K. Johnson to MBB Land, LLC; tract one 1.10 acres and tract two tract 489 Oak Grove Church Road Mount Airy Stewarts Creek; $320.

– Dennis P. Billups and Robin E. Billups to Samantha Jones; 0.70 acres lots 13-14 Cedar Gate subdivision section 1 PB 15 13 Stewarts Creek; $32.

– J&E Properties of NC, LLC to Eagle Ridge Properties of NC, LLC; lot 9 section 2 The Woodcreek development PB 8 72 Long Hill; $340.

The summer is full of nostalgic sounds. The heat brings cicadas and bird songs; dusk brings on the free night show put on by mother nature. Between the lightning and fireflies, who could ask for more?

The buzzing, whirling, and breezes usher in a sense of freedom, producing fond memories in our minds. Some of my favorite sounds and many others in our area are the constant buzzing of our pollen-collecting friends, bees.

While North Carolina and its surrounding states have tons of native bees that aid in pollinating our trees, gardens, and flowers, the non-native honeybee has fascinated us since the mid-17th century. Honeybees are native to Europe, Africa, and Asia and traveled to America on English ships to be used in agriculture. The early 19th century saw beekeeping well established throughout North Carolina, with bee wax being an important exported good from the state.

Our ancestors used all parts of the hive; wax, honey, propolis, and the bees themselves. The wax was used and still is to make candles that smell nicer than the fat renderings originally used for candles. Honey, of course, is a natural sweetener that stores for long periods, never going bad if properly stored. Propolis is another resinous product produced by bees that aid in the building of hives. The sticky dark substance can fight bacteria, viruses, fungi, and inflammation, and sometimes heal the skin.

Folklore also surrounds our buzzing friends with superstitions that cast them as bringers of life. One major tradition is going to tell the bees when someone has died. The lore suggests that the bees will aid in the carrying of the soul to the next place and will produce abundantly for being kept in the loop. If a bee enters your home, you will have visitors soon. If a swarm of bees entered your home, it is a sign of an omen.

On a more practical side, bees were cared for and appreciated due to their pollinating superpowers. The many orchard farmers of our hollow and beyond used bees to spread pollen from blossom to blossom ensuring that the year’s yield of apples would be strong. Many statistics say that bees are responsible for 80%-90% of apple crop pollination. So, when you see bees hovering over your gardens, trees, and flowers try to leave them alone, they’re doing the hard work.

In North Carolina beekeeping had become such an integral part of the agricultural and hobby sector that apiarists or beekeepers from all over the state set a meeting on Jan, 11, 1917 in Winston-Salem starting the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association. The association grew adding chapters from the different counties of the state, and a full-time state beekeeper position at NC State University in 1975. In 1982 a state bee-keeping school was started by Dr. John Ambrose, in his position as the state apiarist. The program is still the largest of its kind in the country.

Surry County has its own beekeeper’s association that meets monthly to discuss various topics and offers a beekeeping class annually. My friend and Master Beekeeper Paul Madren is a member of this group and the 1st Masker Craftsmen Beekeeper in North Carolina. The goal of Master Beekeepers and Craftsmen is to help educate the public about the art of keeping bees. Paul has shared priceless advice with beekeepers all over our state.

This past week he shared some highlights with me: 90% of the pollen and nectar bees receive is from trees, not flowers, and each tree yields a different type of substance (glucose vs. fructose), dark honey is usually better for you, despite being referred to as “bad” honey. Paul also helped move the association into the digital age. At the state organization’s meeting last month he was received as the oldest, and longest member of the association.

You couldn’t choose a better place to get started beekeeping. We are privileged to have such knowledgeable mentors in our own county. Mount Airy is even designated as a “Bee Friendly City.” If you would like to learn more, and there is lots to learn, contact the Surry County Beekeepers Association or the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association.

Thanks to Paul Madren for his sage advice and stories.

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

The following marriage licenses were issued in Surry County:

– Joshua Wade Murphy, 41, of Surry County to Shannon Leigh Beck, 30, of Surry County.

– Travis James Carroll, 24, of Surry County to Christina Michelle Armstrong, 24, of Surry County.

– Jacob Graham Hayden, 29, of Surry County to Morgan Alli Draughn, 26, of Surry County.

– Justin Wade Mabe, 31, of Surry County to Pamela Nicole Mears, 30, of Surry County.

– Zachary Tanner Ashburn, 22, of Surry County to Caitlin Alexis Brannock, 20, of Surry County.

– Landon Michael Gray East, 25, of Surry County to Serena Faith Elizabeth Pickens, 23, of Surry County.

– Brandon Leban, 32, of Surry County to Myriam Molina Ramos, 44, of Surry County.

– Brett Nathaniel Bowman, 26, of Surry County to Sasha Nicole Wagoner, 25, of Surry County.

– Larry Kirkman George, 36, of Surry County to Madison Lane Roberts, 27, of Surry County.

– Joseph Andrew Elijah Shores, 29, of Surry County to Anna Elizabeth Blackburn, 30, of Surry County.

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

• Lakasha Marie Deluca Burris, 42, a white female wanted on probation violations who is on probation for two counts larceny, resisting an officer and second degree trespassing;

• Randy Dale Crouse, 52, a white male wanted on a post-release warrant who is on supervision for felony possession of a schedule II-controlled substance and use/possession of drug paraphernalia;

• Calvin Wayne Boyd, 40, a black man wanted for failing to appear in court on probation violations who is on probation for felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver methamphetamine, felony possession of methamphetamine and use/possession of drug paraphernalia;

• Coty Lane Mayes, 31, a white male wanted on probation violations who is on probation for felony larceny of a motor vehicle and financial card fraud.

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

Making a homemade chicken creamy pie

This chicken pie is fairly easy because you use two frozen nine-inch pie shells and four boneless skinless chicken breasts. For this pie, you will need two nine-inch frozen pie shells, four boneless skinless chicken breasts, half can evaporated milk, one can Campbell’s cream of chicken soup, small jar Heinz chicken gravy, salt, pepper, half teaspoon poultry seasoning, one stick melted light margarine. Boil chicken until tender. While chicken is cooking, lay out the pie shells to thaw (this will be two shells for bottom and two shells for tops of the pies). De-bone the chicken breasts and place half in one shell and half in the other shell. In a bowl, mix the can of cream of chicken soup with jar of gravy and half can evaporated milk and stick of melted margarine, salt pepper and the poultry seasoning. Pour half the mixture on each pie. Cover pies with other two crusts, Pinch edges to seal the pies. Cut slits in tops of the pies. Bake pies on a cookie sheet in 350 degree oven for 45 to 50 minutes. One plus of these pies is that you can freeze them.

Starting late tomatoes from seed

As August moves along, it is time to start packets of tomato seed to be transplanted to the garden in late August or early September. The best varieties for early autumn are the determinate varieties such as Celebrity, Mountain Pride, Marglobe, Rutgers, Homestead, and Better Boy. To start tomatoes from seed, use a fine-textured seed-starting medium such as Jiffy organic or Hoffmans. For each seed variety, use a quart flower pot filled with seed-starting medium and allow a handful per pot to cover the seed. Measure enough for each pot that you need. Mix the medium with enough water to moisten it. Scatter the seed over the medium and cover the seed, label each pot with variety of the tomato. Repeat process with each pot. Press down the medium with your fingers for good soil contact. Use a spray bottle such as window and glass cleaner comes in to mist the pots each evening. They will develop two leaves in eight to ten days and be ready to plant in individual pots.

The impatiens have been showing their color

The annual summer charm is the impatiens in containers and hanging baskets as they provide colorful blooms on the porch, deck and in the hanging baskets. They really perform well in hanging baskets as they cascade over the sides of the baskets. They bloom in colors of bright orange, red, white, salmon, pink and wine. With a bit of care they will bloom all the way until frost. The impatiens is also known as “Mary’s Earrings” which is a pretty name for such an unusual flower. The bees as well as the butterflies are attracted to them.

Hard to beat taste of fresh tomato

It was Lewis Grizzard, the Mark Twain of 20th century writers and syndicated columnist for the Atlanta Journal and constitution, who said, “It’s difficult to think any thing but pleasant thoughts when eating a home grown tomato.” These are true words from one of America’s best columnists of the 20th century. A vine-ripened freshly sliced tomato, placed on bread smothered with mayonnaise on both sides and a sprinkling of salt and pepper also on both sides of the bread elicit thoughts as pleasant as you can think.

Starting the seeds of broccoli and collards

As we move through August, the time is ideal for starting broccoli and collards from seed for transplanting to the garden in mid-September. Purchase a bag or two of seed. Starting medium which is especially formulated for starting seeds. Buy the varieties of broccoli and collards you prefer. Use two quart-sized flower pots to start the seed in. Measure out two pots filled with the medium and two handfuls to cover the seed with. Add enough water to moisten the medium. Fill the two pots to within half inch from top of pots. Sprinkle seed from broccoli over top medium and cover with handful of medium. Label the pot because all cole family seed look alike. Repeat the process with the collard seed. Pat soil over the top of medium for good contact with the soil. Use a spray bottle such as glass cleaner comes in and spray a mist on the medium each evening. Keep the pots out of direct sunlight and preferably in the carport or porch. The plants will sprout in eight to ten days. When they develop two strong leaves, transplant to individual pots and keep out of direct sunlight. By mid-September, they should be ready to transplant to the garden plot.

Something different about the month of August is the fogs that occur on many mornings that may send us a hidden message about the upcoming amounts of snow we may receive in the winter months. Rise early before the sun burns off the fog and record the density of the fog and the date and whether the daily fog was heavy, medium, or light. August has 31 days, so record the fog each morning. As winter arrives, check the snow amounts during winter with the amounts of the fogs of August.

Making a batch of smooth apple sauce

The first of the apple harvest is coming in and you can purchase them by the bushel. A warm summer afternoon is a fun time to sit on a shady porch and peel a bushel of apples and make some apple sauce. Peel the apples and drop them in a canner of cold salted water to prevent them from turning brown. Peel all the apples and allow them to soak in the salted water for fifteen minutes. Rinse the apples in the canner of fresh water. Pour apples into the sink and rinse them off. Cut into one-inch chunks and place in canner of fresh water. Boil apple chunks for 10 or 15 minutes until you can stick a fork through them. Remove from heat, drain, and run through the blender in “puree” mode for several seconds. Pour the pureed apple mixture into jars that are sterilized and process in hot water bath canner for 25 minutes. An easier way is to process them in a pressure canner at ten pounds pressure for five minutes.

Taking care of summer roses

The knockout roses of summer are so pretty and are still producing blooms and will produce until the first frost. Roses now need a boost as we move into the second half of the summer. Roses need a boost of Rose-Tone organic rose food once a month until the end of summer. Use the water wand in shower mode to the base of the roses. Cut back long canes and dead head all spent blooms. Spray for leaf mites and Japanese Beetles.

The dew on August mornings linger all the way until afternoon. The dew is a sticky moisture that is not good for mowers and weed trimmers because it sticks to the blades and housings of the mower as well as the feet. Never mow lawn when the dew is still on the lawn. Wait until the sun dries the dew even if it takes until mid-afternoon. Another summer factor is never mow a lawn after an afternoon thunderstorm even if you have to wait until the next day to mow.

An organic, smelly, cure for insect bites

There is nothing more irritating than an insect bite or bee sting whether you are in the garden or on the porch or deck. We have a remedy for the bites and stings if you can tolerate the smell of an onion. Use a half an onion sliced down the middle and rub it on the bite or sting. This is a double cure because first of all, it will relieve the bite or sting and the aroma will prevent another bite or sting.

A quick shot for controlling the weeds

No harmful chemicals are involved in this weed killer solution that works quickly and well on hot dry, summer afternoons, with no rain in the forecast. Just fill a spray bottle with apple cider vinegar and spray the mist on the weeds, while you avoid misting vegetable foliage.

“Men and other men.” There are two kinds of men who will never amount to much: those who cannot do what they are told, and those who can do nothing else.

“Twin Natures.” A man was in court for stealing from a department store. The man said to the judge, “Your Honor, I’m a Christian, I’ve become a new man who did wrong. But I have an old nature also. I was not my new man when I did wrong, but my old man.” The judge responded, “Since it was the old man that broke the law, we will sentence him to 60 days in jail. And since the new man was an accomplice in the theft, we will give him 30 days also. I sentence you both to 90 days in jail. This case is dismissed.”

“Fun Pun.” If a nickle knew what it was worth today, it would feel like a half-cent.

“Fun Pun.” Why did the Cyclops have to close the school? He had only one pupil.

Acclaimed author Beth Macy is coming to Winston-Salem next week as part of the national launch of her new book “Raising Lazarus: Hope, Justice, and the Future of America’s Overdose Crisis.”

Part of the hope she describes in her books originates in Surry County, and the efforts there to combat the overdose crisis.

Bookmarks is presenting the book launch event that will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16., at Calvary Moravian Church, 600 Holly Ave., Winston-Salem. The event is being held at the church to accommodate the crowd that is expected.

“Raising Lazarus” had already drawn attention and while still in pre-orders has already been awarded recognition as an Amazon Best Book of August 2022. No registration will be required nor is there a cost associated with the book launch.

Macy rose to fame most recently for her book “Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America” that pointed the spotlight on the relationship between the rise of the drug OxyContin and the decisions made by pharmaceutical maker Purdue Pharma, doctors, as well as marketing techniques that led directly to the rise of the opioid crisis in America.

The book brought in mix data points and humanism to put a relatable face on what for many is a situation they want kept at arm’s length. It was then turned into a multi-Emmy award nominated television mini-series starring Michael Keaton in a fictionalized amalgamation of people Macy met and interviewed for her book.

For both “Dopesick” and “Raising Lazarus” she conducted extensive interviews including several with residents of Surry County and members of the county staff tasked with fighting back against the opioid epidemic.

Macy said she wants to help instill a sense of hope that something can be done about opioids, even when there is not always tangible evidence at the ready that proves such outcomes are possible.

She has pointed out new programs launched in this county such as Ride the Road to Recovery that is helping get people to the treatment they need. A new initiative has come online pairing Wayne Farms, the county, and Surry County Sheriff’s Office in a return-to-work program for those completing their stay in the jail.

Something that is exciting for the substance abuse recovery team and local leaders both is when the new jail opens there will be dedicated space for counselors and peer support specialists to conduct outreach and education prior to release.

The numbers speak for themselves. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reports that the state is on pace to eclipse the number of overdose deaths this year after last year’s record number of 3,759. Compared to the 2018 total of 2,554 it is apparent that the number is trending in the wrong direction.

The department reported 759 visits in June to the emergency departments for overdose statewide, up from 719 for the same period last year.

Nationally the number of those who die from a drug overdose surpassed 108,000 in 2021. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was reported that of those 80,000 involved opioids.

In “Dopesick” Macy informed that Americans make up on 4.4% of the world’s total population but are managing to consume 30% of the world’s opioids. The drugs became more powerful over time and were then replaced with even stronger drugs.

When doctors were over-prescribing pain medication for years thereby hooking millions of unsuspecting patients to a powerful drug — and then stopped — those who were addicted needed to find relief where they could. The path of least resistance for many was to make the transition to heroin. Diacetylmorphine, heroin, is more than twice as powerful as morphine, which is already ten times stronger than opium.

This week Macy was joined by county substance abuse recovery director Mark Willis, county commissioner Mark Marion, county data analyst Jaime Edwards, and peer support specialist Sonya Cheek on a panel at the annual meeting of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners. Surry County was selected for this breakout panel to highlight the ongoing efforts of the county’s office of substance abuse recovery.

Willis is a behind-the-scenes sort of person who shies away from the spotlight, he considers himself just a cog in the machine. What he brings to the table is a wealth of knowledge of the law enforcement side of the equation having spent considerable time with the Drug Enforcement Agency.

That is only one side of the coin though so the expertise of others who can offer a different perspective on substance abuse is needed to offer a more complete approach. In her writing Macy has highlighted the need for additional understanding and empathy for those who are in a desperate struggle to reclaim their lives from opioids.

At times, the judicial and legal systems may seem apathetic or unfeeling to the needs of those who are suffering. Surry County employing peer support specialists who can relate to the situation because they have been there themselves helps them to empathize and relate to the person in need.

Surry County has been taking a more proactive approach than many other North Carolina counties in dealing with substance abuse and laying out a plan to use the settlement dollars that Attorney General Josh Stein took a leadership role in winning for citizens here and across the nation. Millions of dollars municipalities and counties can now use in their fight against substance use disorder – and specifically the blight of opioids.

More needs to be done and this is a long-term fight that Surry County is invested in. This is a problem that will not self-correct for if the one who is suffering from alcoholism or drug abuse could simply turn an off switch, they would, experts have said. The hiring of Willis and his elevation to the same level as other department heads in the county illustrates this is not a back burner issue locally.

Also, Stein and the state Department of Health and Human Services have launched the More Powerful NC campaign to raise awareness around the impact opioids have had on individuals and families across the state. The message is based on the idea that, “Together we are more powerful than opioids – and we can all help play a part in ending the epidemic.”

If Macy’s name had sounded familiar before “Dopesick” came along that may be for her bestseller entitled “Factory Man,” that is of a subject matter that may hold appeal to those in this area who fondly remember the mill days of yore.

In that book she chronicled the efforts of John Bassett III to streamline and save his family’s business – Bassett Furniture – that has been a lynchpin for the economy of Bassett, Virginia, for generations.

Willis commented that Macy cannot seem to break free from this story and for that he is grateful. For an author to spend the amount of time on an issue attempting to see if through with solutions is a welcome aid to the efforts of Surry County. More awareness and understanding of the battle will be needed and with luck another “Dopesick” follow-up will be unnecessary.

Editor’s Note: Reader Diary is a periodic column written by local residents, Surry County natives, and readers of The Mount Airy News. If you have a submission for Reader Diary, email it to John Peters at jpeters@mtairynews.com

From “all over” they came on 1940s weekends (Round Peak, Low Gap, Lambsburg and Pine Ridge) to a dilapidated log tobacco barn at the intersection of Pine Ridge and Lowe Roads in Surry County. It was little more than a wide place in Pine Ridge Road called “Easy Street” and after a hard week in the corn and tobacco fields, slaving away at the sawmill and making moonshine, it was fun and games time “down at The Barn.”

As told by local housewives, “All they do down yonder at that old barn is loaf around, guzzle moonshine, make music, play poker and act like they live on Easy Street.”

Truth be known, almost all were hard-working souls who “earned their keep” the only way they knew how; the hard way. For some, including my Pa, (according to Mama) the Barn was their doghouse; their second home, their port in the storm, their home away from home that generated fire and brimstone sermons in local churches and threats to “burn that sinful place to the ground.”

The barn leaned southwest, leaked when it rained and had seen better days, but (come Saturday afternoons and Sundays) a crowd gathered in and played the claw-hammer banjo, fiddle and harmonica, drank R C Colas, ate Moon Pies, and imbibed some of Round Peak’s best moonshine “made right up that holler up yonder under Fisher’s Peak.”

They talked about those not there; who got caught doing what and whom they did it with. They told of strange happenings, like the time William Senter’s barn ran into someone’s automobile. (The driver swore to God he was just driving along in the middle of the road minding his own business, when “here come that d… barn right out in the road in front of me.” That was the same barn William’s one-horse wagon wound up on top of one Halloween night. They told of a family who found a dead cat in their crock of molasses, “You know? They wasted nearly all them ‘lasses gittin’ that dead cat out.” (I sat on my bicycle and listened bug-eyed and almost lost breakfast.)

When the High Sheriff drove up outside, a miracle happened right there in broad daylight. All the cards, money, and moonshine vanished into thin air and the Barn became a house of worship. When asked what they were doing there, the answer was, “We’re holding a little prayer service here, Sheriff; don’t you see that sign up there that says, “Easy Street Church of God?” The Sheriff gave everybody his “dead-eye” look, shook his head, got back in his car and before he was out of sight, the good times rolled again.

Everybody had a great time, but those who had just got home from the Big War had the best time of all. They had seen Germany, Paris, Tokyo and the South Sea Islands and all agreed, there was no place on Earth like home and Easy Street.

Since its inception in 2006 the Surry County Sports Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor has been dedicated to preserving the history of sports for Surry County. Nominations for 2022 class of inductees are open and will be accepted through 5 p.m., Monday, Sept. 12.

The Hall and Ring have the purpose “to recognize and perpetuate the noteworthy athletic tradition of Surry County by honoring and memorializing individuals, teams, corporations, companies and/or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to this tradition.”

Bradley Key works for Surry County Parks & Recreation as coordinator of programs, volunteerism and special events. He said from their offices in Dobson, “I was just thinking about how many great candidates we have that have been nominated for the Hall of Fame. We have tons of folks with tremendous athletic backgrounds that have hailed from or contributed to the sports of Surry County.”

Parks and rec Director Daniel White advised that even after inducting several classes, there need be no fear of the future talent pool for the Hall of Fame waning, “There are people who are ready to enter but just haven’t qualified yet time wise.”

There are two ways to nominate individuals, teams or organizations the first being the Hall of Fame. The Hall recognizes individuals for outstanding achievements in the field of athletics as a player, coach or administrator. Nominees must have completed their athletic achievement or service at least five years immediately preceding the date of induction.

Also, Ring of Honor nominations are used to recognize individuals, teams, companies, or organizations that have made a significant impact on Surry County sports through contributions in the field of athletics. The Ring holds the likes of the Dobson Lion’s Club and other groups which has supported athletics through financial donations as well as donations of time and support for local athletics.

There are some criteria established for those who may be inducted into either the Hall or the Ring, such as the five-year waiting period for entry into the Hall of Fame. For those submitted within the athlete category those nominees shall have received local, state or national recognition for their athletic achievements. They must meet two of the following: have been born or raised in Surry County, attended at least two years of high school in Surry County, had two years of athletic achievement while a resident of Surry County, or made a significant impact on sports in Surry County.

Similarly nominated coaches or administrators shall have received recognition while also meeting residency criteria. Nominees must have been born or raised in Surry County and had ten years of achievement while either inside or outside of Surry County or were not born or raised in the county but had ten years of coaching or administrative achievement while in or made a significant impact to sports in Surry County.

Criteria for inductions in the Surry County Sports Ring of Honor require that the individual, team, corporation, company and/or organization made a significant impact on sports in Surry County through contribution in the field of athletics.

The list of past Ring of Honor inductees is like thumbing through the pages of an old Surry County yearbook with the 2001 East Surry High Ladies Basketball team warming up next to a 2011 inductee: the Elkin Blanketeers,

Don’t leave out the likes of Gary York, Linda Fowler Davis, the 1935 Dobson High Basketball team, or the 2003 East Surry Little League Senior Softball — your World Series Champions — all of whom have been given the veneration they deserve.

Apart from the most recent winners, the former Surry County Sports Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor winners, along with a group photo, are found on the parks and recreation website.

Nominations for the Hall of Fame and the Ring of Honor may be made posthumously so those with long roots in the county and a long memory to match may think of a coach, principal, team, or athlete who deserves to be honored for posterity.

Nomination forms can be found on the Surry County webpage at https:// www.co.surry.nc.us. From there choose “Departments” and “K through Z,” clicking on “Parks and Recreation,” then scrolling over “Sports Hall of Fame” and clicking on 2022 Nomination Form.

Key said they encourage newspaper clippings or other documentation in support of submitted candidates if possible. Supporting documentation will not be returned, so those offering such documents should attach copies of all documents to the submission, not originals. There are a few rules on formatting the submission that are found on the county’s website.

Completed nominations will be accepted at the Surry County Parks & Recreation Department Office located at 122 Hamby Road, Dobson. Their offices will be found in the Central Permitting Building across the parking lot from Health and Nutrition Center.

The Surry County Sonker Festival has been one of the last large public events to rebound from the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, but a two-year shutdown for the popular gathering is now history.

“There has been much anticipation from the community for the return of the Sonker Festival,” agreed Dr. Annette Ayers of the organization that sponsors it, the Surry County Historical Society.

Ayers announced this week that the 2022 festival is scheduled for Oct. 1 from 1 to 5 p.m., which is a Saturday.

The serving of sonker — deep-dish fruit pies of various flavors said to have originated in this area — is, of course, the main attraction of the event held at the 1799 Edwards-Franklin House located west of Mount Airy.

But the early fall festival also features live old-time music, dancing, tours of the historic house and grounds and 18th- and 19th-century artifacts on display.

After being conducted for 40 years, the Surry County Sonker Festival — which had been drawing an estimated 500 to 700 people — was cancelled in 2020 at the height of the pandemic.

It suffered the same fate in October 2021 due to lingering fears of the coronavirus among festival organizers.

“The society is excited to resume this exciting venue,” Ayers commented this week.

“It is an enjoyable activity for all age groups, from children to senior adults,” she added. “One young adult recently described it as the best event of the year for Surry County.”

The sonker dessert delicacy, considered juicier than cobblers, will be available for what Ayers called a nominal price of $4 per serving, with beverages also to be sold.

In 2019, the last year the festival was held before the two-year interruption, sonker flavors included cherry, blackberry, strawberry, peach, sweet potato and blueberry, with sweet potato being the most popular.

More than 1,000 servings typically are sold, with many attendees opting to bring lawn chairs and sit in the spacious yard outside the house to enjoy the desserts and listen to traditional music.

Plywood is placed on the lawn to accommodate flatfooting.

The Edwards-Franklin House at 4132 Haystack Road is considered the finest example of its architecture in the Piedmont. The house was built by Gideon Edwards and later occupied by his son-in-law Meshack Franklin, a member of Congress and brother of North Carolina Gov. Jesse Franklin, who served in the 1820s.

It was bought in 1972 by the Surry County Historical Society and restored to its grandeur, with many unique architectural components featured. The group sponsors other events there in addition to the Sonker Festival, including a monthly open house series this summer which will end the second weekend in September.

Ayers also used the occasion of announcing this year’s festival return to mention that membership is open for the Surry County Historical Society, which begins at $25 per year and can be done by mail at P.O. Box 469, Mount Airy, NC 27030.

Pilot Mountain Middle School recently welcomed six-graders to the school with its SOAR Camp 2022.

The camp is structured for incoming six grade students, to introduce them to the school, to one another, and to give them a fun-filled taste of what school will be like at their new school.

”Students participated in ice-breaking and team-building strategies to get to know their new classmates,” school officials said of the gathering. “They are given a more in depth description of their classes and schedules to ease any anxieties of entering middle school they might have.”

My apologies as I do not know the names of each student. This is the only day they have attended. The teacher’s name is Amy Cain.

A group that oversees public housing facilities in Mount Airy has a new member.

Dennis Mitchell was appointed to the housing authority governing board as a commissioner by the city council during an Aug. 4 meeting.

Mitchell is replacing another housing authority commissioner who resigned from the board on July 1, Jerry McMickle.

McMickle had been reappointed to that group in February 2020 by the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners.

The city board is responsible for selecting local housing authority members even though the authority manages public residential units on behalf of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

McMickle first joined the housing board in September 2017, when he was appointed to serve the remainder of the term of a member who had resigned the month before for health reasons, Bertie S. George.

That term expired in February 2020, when McMickle re-upped for another five years on the board.

No reason has been given for his recent resignation.

Mitchell will serve the remainder of McMickle’s term ending on Feb. 16, 2025.

The Housing Authority of Mount Airy has been described as the largest landlord in town.

The private, federally funded corporation manages hundreds of apartments at multiple locations.

© 2018 The Mount Airy News