The Surry Online Chapter of the National Honor Society inductees are, from left, Natalie-Ann Danley, Kalei Mauldin, Madison Nixon, Sydney Tucker, and Macy Whittington.

The Surry Online Chapter of the National Honor Society of Surry Online Magnet School held its first induction ceremony recently. The students selected by the by the school’s faculty council as the first members to be inducted based on their merits relative to the four pillars of the society — scholarship, service, leadership, and character — are seniors Natalie-Ann Danley, Kalei Mauldin, Madison Nixon, Sydney Tucker, and junior Macy Whittington.

In attendance for the ceremony were the families of the inductees, staff of Surry Online Magnet School, Surry County Schools Superintendent Dr. Travis Reeves, Assistant Superintendent Kevin Via, and board of education members Dr. Terri Mosley and Melissa Atkinson.

English students complete tie-dye project

Voters choose to stay the course

LOUISVILLE — Surry Community College’s trio of softball coaches was voted one of the top coaching staffs in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

Surry’s coaching staff, made up of head coach Blaine Bullington and assistant coaches Joel Jones and Gary Stone, was voted an NJCAA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year for 2022 by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

According to an NFCA press release, the organization is currently made up of nearly 6,000 coaches. Known for its high regarded coaching awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels from webinars to legal counsel, in-person events and the National Convention.

Surry was chosen as the NJCAA Division II recipient from the East Region. Joining SCC was Des Moines Area Community College (Iowa) for the Midwest Region, Murray State College (Oklahoma) in the South Region.

In the national press release, the NFCA says the following of Surry’s coaching staff:

“Head coach Blaine Bullington, along with assistant coaches Joel Jones and Gary Stone, led Surry to a 35-11 overall record, 22-6 mark in conference play and a No. 18 ranking in the most recent NJCAA DII national rankings.

“Behind the tutelage of Bullington and his staff, the Knights are one of the top offensive teams in NJCAA DII, ranking in the top five in several categories, including second in home runs (48), extra-base hits (156) and slugging (.593), and third in batting average (.375), doubles (104), total bases (696) and RBI (302).”

The Lady Knights’ 35 overall wins set a program record. The team also had four players named to Region 10 All-Region teams in addition to an All-Tournament selection.

“Coach Bullington and his staff are incredible both in working with our student-athletes,” said Surry athletic director Mark Tucker. “They work to develop our student-athletes with a comprehensive approach placing emphasis on academics, personal growth, and community service while continuously developing their skills on the softball field. Surry is extremely blessed to have Coach Bullington and his staff leading our program.”

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association NJCAA Division I and II National Coaching Staff of the Year will be announced on June 6.

ASHEBORO — The Lady Bears’ soccer team fell 3-1 to Uwharrie Charter in the second round of the 1A State Playoffs.

Hot off the team’s first playoff victory since 2019, Mount Airy struck first against Uwharrie with a Karyme Bueno goal nearly an hour into Thursday’s playoff match. The No. 7-seeded Eagles netted the equalizer eight minutes later on a free kick, then scored the go-ahead goal with just six minutes left on the clock.

Uwharrie Charter added an insurance goal with two minutes left in regulation to secure the playoff win.

”I thought we did a really good job early on then scoring that first goal,” said Bears coach Will Hurley. “I thought we could’ve had them when we got that 1-0 lead. I knew we needed to rest some of the girls, but having seven players out with injuries really hurt us. Uwharrie stayed in the fight and made some good plays down the stretch.”

Tuesday’s game was given a 5:00 kickoff time since Uwharrie Charter’s field didn’t have lights, meaning it was 91-degrees when the game began. Despite the heat, Hurley felt the Lady Bears were able to keep their stamina up through the first half and part of the second.

“Everything really came together at one point, “Hurley said. “I thought some of passing was really, really good, and we were able to move the ball up the field efficiently on a field that wasn’t easy to play on. Ashley [Escamilla] came in off the bench and played significant minutes in the midfield when Paola [Ramirez] went down.”

Ramirez left the game with an injury in the 25th minute. She and Morgan Hiatt advanced up the right sideline with 1-2 passes that put Ramirez in a 1-on-1 situation with Uwharrie’s keeper. Ramirez’s shot was deflected out of bounds by the charging keeper, and the ensuing collision took the Lady Bear sophomore out of the game.

The injury led to Hurley adapting his lineup once again. Mount Airy already had its striker shifted back to defensive mid, a center midfielder moved up to striker, and a defender moved up to midfielder to compensate for the cornucopia of injuries.

Defensively, Mount Airy’s back line of Kinlee Reece, Kylie James, Aubrey Wilmoth and Aliyah Flores held Uwharrie to just four shots in the first half. The Bears caught the Eagles’ speedy forwards offside, and any chances Uwharrie had after getting through the defense were stopped by keeper Mackenzie Hudson.

Mount Airy broke the scoreless tie in the 56th minute. Kate Deaton attacked up the left sideline and crossed to Karyme Bueno in the box, and Bueno finished to put Mount Airy up 1-0.

The Bears shifted into a defensive mindset after scoring. This deterred all of Uwharrie’s goal-scoring opportunities until the 64th minute, when the Eagles’ converted on a 35-yard free kick.

Hiatt’s long throw ins had Mount Airy back into Uwharrie’s 18-yard box, but the Bears’ shots couldn’t find the back of the net. The teams were knotted up at 1-1 until Uwharrie floated a cross from the left sideline into the side-netting of the far post in the 74th minute.

The Eagles shifted their formation into a defensive 4-3-3 after the second goal. With the center of the field more crowded, Mount Airy pushed for more attacks up the sidelines which set Hiatt up for more long throw ins. Deaton had a pair of good looks in the final four minutes as a result, but both shots went off frame in an attempt to bypass the crowded 18-yard box. Grey Moore added a shot on goal that saved by Uwharrie’s keeper.

With Mount Airy’s team now in an offensive formation, Uwharrie took advantage and added its third goal. The Bears moved into Eagle territory with less than a minute to play, but it was too little too late as the final whistle signaled the end of Mount Airy’s historic season.

“One thing I have to say about Uwharrie is that their girls were really respectful and really good to our girls,” Hurley said. “They battled for 80 minutes, then brought over freeze pops for our girls and talked with them after the game. There was a lot of great sportsmanship, and it was a pleasure to see.”

The Lady Bears finish the season 17-3-4. Mount Airy captured its first-ever conference championship this season while setting school records for single-season wins (17), fewest goals allowed (20), most shutouts (14) and the most consecutive matches without a loss (17).

Hurley knew early on this team was capable of great things, but said none of it would be possible if the girls hadn’t put in the work.

“I’d have to say there really wasn’t a single player that I’d consider most improved, because that honor would go to the entire team,” Hurley said. “Everyone really bought in and worked incredibly hard to be successful.

“We probably started out as an offensive team, then injuries really hit home and we became more of a defensive team in the end. Had we not had those injuries, I think we would’ve gotten better defensively and been great at both. It just says a lot about the girls’ character to keep fighting all year long. I’m just thankful I got to be a part of it.”

Hurley credited his three senior players – Hiatt, Hudson and Moore – for really setting the tone for the team to be successful.

“They treated everybody across the board equally,” Hurley said. “These three seniors did not get senioritis like most teams either. This has been the best team I’ve ever had as far as everyone getting along, and those three seniors made all the difference.

“Everybody was pretty upset after the game. When Morgan walked off the field I could see she was crying, so I ran over to her and told her it was alright. She said, ‘It’s just the greatest team I’ve ever been a part of.’ I think she was less upset about the actual loss and more that the season was over. She didn’t want to leave this crew.

“They really have been a pleasure to coach.”

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/MTA051922V.pdf

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“This is wonderful,” Scott said Tuesday.

Mount Airy and Millennium Charter Academy competed in 1A Regional Track Championships over the weekend.

Mount Airy took part in the 1A West Regional hosted by East Burke High School, and Millennium competed in the 1A Midwest Regional that was hosted by Davie County High School.

Millennium had one girls relay team qualify for the 1A State Championship Meet, and Mount Airy had one relay team and three boys qualify as individuals. The 1A State Championship Meet is scheduled for May 21 at North Carolina A&T University.

Full 1A Midwest Regional results can be found at bit.ly/38xflWi, and 1A West Regional results can be found at bit.ly/3aabSxg

Millennium had nine student-athletes compete in the 1A Midwest Regionals.

Ava Hiatt, Ava Utt, Clara Minix, Ruby Hoerter and River Edge took part in the girls competition, and Calvin Devore, Hartley Devore, Brody Krakenberg and Isaac Shipley competed in the boys. Utt, Minix, Calvin Devore and Hartley Devore were the only members of the 2022 Lions team that had experience in the Regional Championship.

The duo of Utt and Minix teamed with Hoerter and Edge to finish fourth in the girls 4×800 relay. The relay team finished the race in 11:44.97 minutes. Utt returns to the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A State Championship, while Minix, Hoerter and Edge will make their first appearances.

Utt and Hoerter finished just outside the top-4 in individual events. Utt took fifth in high jump with a leap of 4-06.00 feet, and Hoerter was fifth in the 3,200-meter run at 14:37.94.

Hiatt and Minix also competed as individuals for the Lady Lions. Hiatt finished seventh in discus throw with a mark of 71-03.00, and Minix finished eighth in the 800 meters at 2:49.02.

The Lions’ 4×800 boys relay team finished just outside the state qualifying mark by taking fifth. The team of Calvin Devore, Hartley Devore, Brody Krakenberg and Isaac Shipley finished the race in 9:18.16.

Calvin Devore and Krakenberg had the boys’ two individual performances by competing in the 800 and 3,200 meters, respectively. Calvin finished seventh in the 800 with a time of 2:08.84, and Krakenberg was 14th in the 3,200 meters with a time of 13:08.90.

Mount Airy sent 11 student-athletes to the 1A West Regional Championship.

Sydney Seagraves took part in the girls competition, while Deric Dandy, Blake Hawks, Mario Revels, Connor Burrell, Caleb Reid, Tyler Mason, Caden Ratcliff, Declan Conner, Ware Viers and Noah Khuri competed for the boys.

Ratcliff and Hawks, both sophomores, qualified for the state championship for a second consecutive year. Ratcliff did so by finishing second in the 800 meters with a time of 2:05.40, and Hawks finished second in triple jump with a mark of 41-00.00.

Five other Granite Bears qualified for their first 1A State Championship thanks to top-4 finishes at regionals. Dandy finished third in discus throw with a mark of 146-03.00, and the 4×100 relay team of Revels, Burrell, Reid and Mason finished fourth with a time of 46.22 seconds.

Hawks nearly qualified in long jump as well, finishing sixth with a mark of 20-08.50. Hawks was just an inch behind the fourth-place finisher, and 2.5 inches behind the third-place finisher.

Seagraves added two top-10 finishes in the girls competition. The senior placed eighth in shot put with a mark of 29 feet, and finished No. 10 in discus throw with a mark of 85-10.00.

Also competing at regionals for Mount Airy: Conner finished 10th in the 3,200 meters with a time of 11:36.65; Revels was No. 12 in high jump with a height of 5-04.00; the 4×200 relay team of Revels, Burrell, Reid and Hawks finished No. 13 with a time of 1:42.99; and the 4×400 relay team of Ratcliff, Viers, Dandy and Khuri finished No. 15 with a time of 4:00.40.

A 2-1 win over East Rutherford booked East Surry’s ticket to the fourth round of the state playoffs for the fourth-consecutive postseason.

Junior Brett Clayton had two of East Surry’s seven hits and both of the team’s RBIs. Fellow junior Folger Boaz threw a complete game on the mound, striking out 12 batters and allowing just two hits.

“Words can’t do justice to how much I love this group of guys and how blessed I am to be their coach,” Cardinal coach Chad Freeman said following Tuesday’s win. “Top to bottom they play hard, play for each other, have fun doing it, but most importantly they represent our program and community well.”

East Surry’s first postseason since being promoted to the 2A division ran directly through the Mountain Foothills Seven Conference (MFSC). The Cardinals (24-1) defeated the MFSC’s No. 6 seed Hendersonville 8-2 in the opening round, bested MFSC Co-Champion R-S Central 3-2 in the round of 32, then topped the conference’s other Co-Champion, East Rutherford, 2-1 on Tuesday.

Additionally, East Surry defeated the team that would finish fourth in the MFSC standings, Polk County, 8-6 back on March 5.

The Cardinals recorded seven hits against the visiting Cavaliers (21-6). Avery Strange threw a complete game for East Rutherford, striking out seven batters and walking two in six innings.

East Surry only had two hits heading into the bottom of the third inning, then opened things up when Clayton – called Hercules by his teammates – crushed a solo home run that hit the top of the scoreboard at Barry Hall Field. The homer was Clayton’s first of the season.

“Brett is just a wonderful teammate, ” Freeman said. “All the boys love him; he is selfless, he works hard and you can’t ask for a better kid than Brett Clayton. He plays a tremendous defensive center field, and his hitting has gotten better and better and better. He’s had several doubles and triples this year. He’s strong as an ox; we’ve just been waiting for him to connect on one this year and, dang, he did tonight.”

Clayton also came up clutch in the field with a pair of big catches in center field, one in the top of the fourth and then another in the top of the fifth.

“He doesn’t move like you’d think a big boy would,” Freeman said. “He’s got pretty good speed.”

East Rutherford scored its only run off one of the team’s two hits. Boaz threw his seventh strikeout to begin the fourth inning, but followed with his only base on balls. The Cavaliers’ Marshall McGowan advanced to second on a wild pitch, then scored on a hit by teammate Isaac Lee.

Following the Cavs’ run in the fourth, East Rutherford had one player get on base for the remainder of the game – and didn’t get a ton of chances. Boaz finished with 12 strikeouts, including three innings of multiple strikeouts and two innings with three strikeouts in each.

“You can’t ask for a better performance than that,” Freeman said. “Folger was lights out on the mound. He gave us every opportunity to hold them, and the guys did what they needed to scratch across a couple runs and pull out the win. They also played great defense across the board.

“The ball that got through, which allowed them to score their run, had top spin and it hit the lip. It just squirted past Trey (Armstrong) because of the top spin. There was absolutely nothing he could’ve done about that.”

East Surry regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Anthony Ayers was walked to start the inning, then Caden Lasley laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Ayers to second. Matthew Keener hit a blooper to right field to put Ayers on third, and Clayton followed with his own hit to right to bring the run in.

Following the run, players in the dugout told Lasley, “That assist goes to you, Chuck. Great work.”

While East Rutherford failed to get past first base in the final three innings, East Surry put multiple runners on in the sixth in a situation almost identical to the fourth inning. Ayers led with a single to right and was moved to second on a bunt from Lasley. Keener singled, but Ayers stayed on second as the hit went to the Cavaliers’ shortstop.

Both players were left on after Strange threw his sixth and seventh strikeouts.

East Surry held East Rutherford to just three batters in the top of the seventh: McGowan grounded out to Tristen Mason at second, Lee struck out after facing a full count then Caleb Crain grounded out. The game ended when Armstrong fielded Crain’s grounder and made the throw to Luke Brown at first base.

“We’re excited to be moving on to the fourth round,” Freeman said. “2018 and 2019 we were one game away from the Western Finals, then last year the fourth round was the Western Finals because of COVID, and we were able to advance and make the state finals.

“Now, we get to go against the juggernaut that is Randleman.”

East Surry travels to Randleman (28-1), the No. 1 seed in the 2A West and defending 2A State Champion, on May 20. This is East Surry’s first true road game in the playoffs since 2016. The 2021 State Championship was held at a neutral site.

Only two teams in North Carolina – among all public school classifications – have made it to at least the fourth round of the state playoffs in each of the past four postseasons: East Surry and Randleman.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Surry Online Chapter of the National Honor Society of Surry Online Magnet School held its first induction ceremony recently. The students selected by the by the school’s faculty council as the first members to be inducted based on their merits relative to the four pillars of the society — scholarship, service, leadership, and character — are seniors Natalie-Ann Danley, Kalei Mauldin, Madison Nixon, Sydney Tucker, and junior Macy Whittington.

In attendance for the ceremony were the families of the inductees, staff of Surry Online Magnet School, Surry County Schools Superintendent Dr. Travis Reeves, Assistant Superintendent Kevin Via, and board of education members Dr. Terri Mosley and Melissa Atkinson.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thacker believes his primary victory resulted from basic values.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cawley could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

The Surry Arts Council’s Summer Concert Series has a full schedule this weekend starting with Band of Oz on Thursday. The Tonez will take the stage on Friday with CAT5 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 best reviews from the top people in the entertainment business. The band now features a full horn section to total a dynamic eight-member group. They still perform well more than 200 shows per year for corporate events, festivals, concerts, wedding receptions, and many other public and private events.

The Tonez are an eight-piece band dedicated to keeping crowds on their feet dancing and enjoying live music. With a growing mix of oldies, Motown, rock & roll, country, funk, R&B, and beach music, The Tonez can play it all. The combination of a three-time Cammy-nominated core with a high-powered horn section, the Tonez feature seven vocalists, and every note of every performance is live — no recorded tracks.

Cat5 burst on the scene in June of 2019 from a trio of top East Coast Bands. The band performs everything from beach music, originals, top 40 country, ’90s country, old yacht rock, and classic rock. Cat5 is a group of professional musicians that have come together with a common purpose to provide the best music possible to audiences all over the world.

Each concert will begin at 7:30 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening. 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. Annual passes are on sale for $135 (including tax.) For additional information, contact Marianna Juliana at 336-786-7998 or marianna@surryarts.org

Primary season usually does not provide a lot of drama, and apart from the 11th Congressional District’s upset, this primary stayed true to form. There were three seats on the Surry County Board of County Commissioners up for grabs last night with Chairman Bill Goins, Vice Chairman Eddie Harris, and Commissioner Mark Marion all mounting successful defenses of their seats from challengers.

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

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

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

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

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

Now though, Surry County remains his focus. For allowing him the chance represent them again, he thanked his constituents for the “overwhelming vote of confidence,” adding “I’ll never let you down.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

Four of the races on Tuesday whittled the fields for two state and two federal races involving Surry County residents.

Sarah Stevens, the Mount Airy Republican seeking her eighth consecutive term in the North Carolina House of Delegates, easily outdistanced her opponent, Benjamin Romans. The win not only claims the GOP nomination for the 90th District seat, but effectively wins the seat since Stevens faces no opposition in the fall.

District-wide, Stevens won 6,503 to 2,477. In Surry County only, where the majority of her district lies, she claimed 5,494 votes to 1,700 votes.

Eddie Settle emerged as the Republican nominee for the 36th District North Carolina Senate seat, winning over Shirley B. Randleman, Vann Tate, and Lee Zachary.

Settle claimed 10,734 votes, to 9,189 for Randleman, 5,039 for Zachary, and 3,839 by Tate.

Virginia Foxx, the long-time incumbent in the U.S. District 5 House of Representatives seat, easily defeated challenger Michael Ackerman for the GOP nomination to that seat. District-wide with all 262 precincts reporting, she won by a more than 3-to-1 margin, 61,334 votes to 18,720. In Surry County, the margin remained about the same, with Foxx taking 5,664 of local votes casts, compared to 1,693 for Ackerman.

Foxx will face Democrat Kyle Parrish in the November election, who was unopposed in the primary.

The crowded field for the North Carolina U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Richard Burr saw Cheri Beasley emerge victorious from an 11-candidate field for the Democratic nomination, while Ted Budd claimed the GOP nomination from 14 candidates.

With 2,609 of the state’s 2,662 precincts reporting by 11 p.m. Tuesday, Beasley had claimed more than 81% of the vote. None of the other 10 candidates in her race had even hit 4%.

On the Republican side, Budd had claimed 58.68% of the vote. His closest competitor, former governor Pat McCrory, had garnered 24.57% of the votes counted.

Beasley and Budd, along with Libertarian Shannon W. Bray, will face off for the seat in November.

Two Surry County Board of Commissioners races were decided Tuesday, while a third saw an incumbent claim the GOP nomination in preparation for the fall election.

Incumbent Bill Goins won a decisive victory over two challengers for the Mount Airy District seat on the county board. While this was technically a primary race, the winner takes the seat because there are no other opponents in the fall election.

Goins claimed 4,094 — or 57.7% — of the votes cast in the race. Steven R. Odum received 1,671 votes and Walter D. Harris managed 1,330 votes.

In the South District seat primary, incumbent Eddie Harris claimed an even more impressive victory, with 5,853, or 82.75% of the vote, to 1,220 by Tessa Saeli. Again, with no fall opposition for Harris, his primary victory means he will serve another term on the board.

Incumbent Mark Marion easily won his primary as well, outdistancing Landon Tolbert 4,674 to 2,444. However, Marion will face another contest for the seat when he squares off with Democrat Ken Badgett in the fall. Badgett had no opposition for the Democratic nod.

Even though it was a spring primary, the Surry County Clerk of Circuit Court race was decided Tuesday night, with incumbent Neil Brendle returning to office for a second term.

Because no candidates from any other political party filed to run for the seat, Tuesday’s primary was, in essence, the deciding election for the seat.

Brendle garnered 43.63% of the vote in a three-way run-off, pitting him against the former clerk he ousted in the 2018 Republican primary — Teresa O’Dell — and Melissa Marion Welch. O’Dell received 2,232 votes and Welch totaled 1,859.

This year’s race was far less close than in 2018, when the situation was reversed. In that race, Brendle finished just 205 votes ahead of O’Dell, who had held the seat for one term at that time. He went on to defeat Kim Goings, the Democratic nominee, in the fall that year.

Mayor Ron Niland and City Commissioner Jon Cawley will be squaring off for the mayoral post in November, after both men advanced from Tuesday’s primary.

In the non-partisan city elections, when there are three or more candidates for a post, the city holds a primary, with the top two finishers in each such race advancing to the fall general election. This year, each of the municipal seats up for grabs — the mayor’s post, as well as the at-large, North Ward, and South Ward seats, had at least three candidates.

In the mayor’s race, with all of the county’s precincts reporting, incumbent Niland led the way with 811 votes, followed by Cawley at 695. Former commissioner Teresa Lewis finished third with 291 votes.

In the at-large runoff, former mayor Deborah Cochran received the most votes with 787. Commissioner Steve Yokeley was next with 524, meaning he and Cochran will square off in November. Tonda Phillips was third with 466 votes.

Phillip Thacker led the way in the South Ward race with 892 votes, while Gene Clark was a distant second at 466 and Commissioner Joe Zalescik was eliminated with his third place showing of 377 votes.

The most crowded of the city races, the North Ward, saw Chad Hutchens, with 539 votes, and John Pritchard, with 486, survive for the fall race. Eliminated were Teresa Davis Leiva, who had 417 votes, and Joanna Refvem, with 300 votes.

Additional coverage of the four Mount Airy races will appear in the Thursday print edition of The Mount Airy News and online.

Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care has been named a 2022 Hospice Honors recipient by Healthcarefirst, a provider of billing and coding services, surveys by the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers, and advanced analytics.

Hospice Honors is a program that recognizes hospices providing “the highest level of quality as measured from the caregiver’s point of view,” the local hospice organization said in announcing the award.

“Hospice Honors recipients are industry leaders in providing quality care and constantly seeking ways to improve,” said Ronda Howard, vice president revenue cycle and surveys at Healthcarefirst. “We are honored to be aligned with such high performing agencies like Mountain Valley Hospice and we congratulate them on their success.”

Award criteria were based on hospice survey results for an evaluation period of October 2020 through September 2021. Award recipients were identified by evaluating performance on a set of 24 quality indicator measures. Performance scores were aggregated from all completed surveys and were compared on a question-by-question basis to a National Performance Score calculated from all hospices contained in the Healthcarefirst’s database.

Hospice Honors recipients include those hospices scoring above the Healthcarefirst National Performance Score on 20 of the evaluated questions. Visit www.healthcarefirst.com to learn more about the awards.

“We at Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care are honored to be recognized by Healthcarefirst for our commitment to providing compassionate, quality care for our patients and unwavering support for their families” said Tracey Dobson, CEO and president of Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care. “As a recipient of the 2022 Hospice Honors, we pledge to continue that same level of commitment in the years to come.”

Gentry Middle School students recently had the opportunity to get a glimpse of different career paths that are available to them in Surry County.

North District Career Development Coordinator Julie Hodges organized a career fair for eighth grade students to help them get some ideas of directions they might want to start heading when they get to high school and beyond.

Area organizations and employers which participated include the City of Mount Airy, Surry Community College, the Children’s Center of Surry, Duke Energy, Hardy Brother’s Trucking Co., Surry County Schools Internship Program, the Mount Airy Police Department, Ridgecrest Retirement Community, North Surry CTE Programs, and Northern Regional Hospital.

Nursing and teaching are two professions that are born from a similar strand of DNA, it takes a certain type of person to want to go into a field serving others. Dena Cave was born in Surry County, and it is there that she continues to make a significant contribution to the lives of the students at Surry Central High School, their families, and the community.

A graduate of Surry Central herself back in the days of the first Gulf War, she has been a nurse for 30 years. In the latest chapter of her life story, she has spent the past 14 years teaching Health Science at Surry Central. “Health science is an elective for students who want to pursue a career in healthcare,” Cave explained.

Recently, Surry Central held “Addiction Awareness Week” and in this one-week campaign tackled head on an issue that is plaguing not just Surry County, but the nation. Charlotte Reeves of the county’s substance abuse prevention office said Cave’s efforts were unlike any other she had seen in a public school and that she is “really amazing.” Reeves aided in the week by talking to students about substance abuse and the adolescent brain and said people such as Cave need more credit than they receive.

Cave explained, “The idea for this week was inspired by many things. As a nurse, I have seen how people can be physically affected by drugs. As a Christian, I have seen how a person’s spiritual health can be affected. And as a teacher, I see every day how this epidemic is affecting the mental health of not only the addicts but the people who love them — their children. And in turn, they become caught up in a cycle of substance abuse.”

During the week, there were guest speakers, contests, and classroom activities to educate and inform students by reading addiction stories, information on how to get help, and resources available in Surry County for an opportunity for life-long recovery.

“We have a couple of different contests: Essay, chalk art, and poster. Our essay prompt was substance abuse and its consequences on our society,” she said. “We narrowed it down to the top ten for the judges to review, but it was still very difficult. The essay was not judged on grammar or spelling, but on how the student described the impact of substance abuse and its consequences.”

“Some did leave tears in the judge’s eyes. Most of the students wrote about how they personally had been affected — mother, father, sister, or brother addicted to substances.”

Surry Central took a hard hit with the passing of Noah Lowe from an overdose in 2020. “Noah was one of my students. I cared for him. He was one of the most intelligent students that I had ever taught. But Noah could not overcome his addiction,” Cave said.

“His mother Carey spoke to our students during our week. You could hear a pin drop in our gym. Many of the upperclassmen knew Noah, had a class with him, and maybe even partied with him. Hearing her story hit hard. I have since had several students talk about how powerful it was to hear her tell her side as a mom.”

Madison Freeman told her side of the story as a child living amongst substance abuse for the winning essay “Drugs Create Monsters.” With earnestness that exceeds her youth, she recalled the feelings she had about the abuse happening around her and its destructive power within her own family.

It follows in its entirety with the permission of Madison:

“Drugs come in all forms and can sneak into a person’s life without them realizing the addiction behind it. An addiction all starts with eagerness and peer pressure to try something new. Most of the time nobody wants to talk about the consequences and real-life events that are going on in their community or even their personal life. While growing up I personally struggled with feeling guilty for being the blame for my father’s addiction to drugs. So, I want to encourage people to talk to somebody even if it’s an anonymous online counselor or someone who is experiencing the same thing as you.

“My father was an addict to several substances, which caused him to do dangerous things to himself and even his family. Although he started out with opioids, he increasingly turned to stronger substances such as meth. I watched my father turn from a strong hard worker to someone I didn’t even recognize. I tried to protect my two younger siblings from the horrible person he was becoming. He did several things that I would say changed my life forever, especially in the perspective of how I viewed men and how they treated women. I was never able to have a good relationship with my father and it hurts to see other people being so close to their father.

“I am proud of my mother for being strong and being able to get herself and her children away from the monster he had become. I pray every day that he would get away from the horrible things he was doing and put his family through. I pray that nobody has to deal with this in their lifetime. This is why I am such a strong advocate for raising awareness of substance abuse and all the things that go along with it. If you or someone you love is dealing with an addiction you can call the National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357, they can provide you with the assistance you need to get through your addiction.”

Officials with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission reported earlier this month that no additional positive Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) detections have been found in the 2021-2022 deer harvest since the single deer that tested positive in Yadkin County in March.

In March, the commission announced that CWD had been detected in a hunter-harvested buck from Yadkin County in December 2021. This made it the first such detection of the disease in North Carolina, and followed confirmed cases in several nearby Virginia counties.

CWD is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, caused by abnormal prion proteins, which affects white-tailed deer and other cervids, such as elk or moose, and is fatal.

Emergency powers were invoked in April to activate a localized response plan to assist with detection and isolation of CWD in the affected area. The emergency powers established a Primary Surveillance Area (PSA) and Secondary Surveillance Area (SSA) with special regulations intended to increase surveillance and reduce the risk of spread.

Placement of bait, food, food product, mineral, or salt licks to purposefully congregate wildlife is now be prohibited through August 31. Exceptions are made for bird feeders, hunting during the urban archery season in participating municipalities, and other activities specifically permitted by the Wildlife Commission.

Furthermore, there is an ongoing prohibition of transportation of white-tailed deer, dead or alive, out of the Surveillance Areas except for carcass parts that conform to state policy, or as otherwise permitted by the commission.

Also, on the disposal of white-tailed deer carcasses taken or found inside of the Surveillance Areas outside of the Surveillance Areas, unless permitted by the commission.

The PSA is defined in Surry County as being East of US 601, South of NC 268 and West of Quaker Church Road and the Ararat River. In Yadkin County East of US 601, North of NC 67, West of Shoals Road to the intersection with Shady Grove Church Road and West of Fairground Road.

The SSA is a much larger area made up of the entirety of Surry, Yadkin, Davie, Forsyth, and Stokes counties. Also, Alleghany County East of US 21 and NC 18; Wilkes County East of NC 18 and NC 115; and Iredell County East of NC 115 and North of I 40.

During the current sampling season, wildlife biologists collected more than 7,200 deer tissue samples across the state from hunters, meat processors, taxidermists, road kills and sick deer. “We are currently at a 98% return,” said Brad Howard, wildlife management division chief with the Wildlife Commission.

“We are still collecting samples from roadkill, depredation harvest and late submissions, but we feel confident enough with these results to move forward and focus our CWD response plan efforts in Yadkin County and the surrounding areas.”

He added, “Although the detection of CWD is bad news, we have been preparing for this. Our long-term goal is to protect our deer herd and our deer hunting culture. Achieving that goal means we must work with our constituents to implement our response plan and refine our long-term management strategy.”

The Yadkin Valley Railroad line, which counts Surry County in its territory, has been awarded state funding for infrastructure improvements, officials in Raleigh have announced.

Yadkin Valley was tapped for $762,538 — targeting bridge improvements, switch upgrades and mainline track improvements, which officials indicate will occur in Surry, Stokes, Forsyth and Wilkes counties where the rail company has a presence.

The local entity is among 13 short-line railroads around the state which will be improving their rail infrastructure thanks to the matching grant funds involved totaling nearly $11 million. Together, these projects will upgrade more than 12 miles of railroad track and 35 bridges in North Carolina.

A call to Yadkin Valley Railroad headquarters in Rural Hall Monday produced no elaboration regarding specific locations in Surry which are to be improved.

Also benefiting from the round of grant funding is the N.C. State Ports Authority. It will make dock rail improvements at the Port of Wilmington using $825,000 of the funding awarded as part of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Freight Rail and Rail Crossing Safety Improvement program.

Established in 2013 by the N.C. General Assembly, it supports rail infrastructure health, safety and performance throughout the state, enabling the DOT to partner with rail companies on improvement projects to effectively move freight.

This arrangement helps railroads efficiently meet customer needs in cost-effective ways while preparing them for growing service demands and partnerships with new businesses and industries.

The grants will be matched with railroad investments to generate more than $21.7 million in rail infrastructure improvements statewide.

Besides Yadkin Valley, Caldwell County Railroad is the closest line to this area to be awarded funding, $73,125 for track alignment improvements and track and crosstie upgrades in Catawba, Burke and Caldwell counties.

Yadkin Valley Railroad has a long history in this area, according to information on its parent company’s website.

The operation includes two lines originating in Rural Hall for a total distance of 93 miles. The first runs to North Wilkesboro and was completed in August 1890 as part of the Richmond and Danville Railroad Co.

The second line to Mount Airy was constructed by the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railway in June 1888. Both lines became part of Southern Railway Co. in the late 1800s.

Since 1994, Yadkin Valley Railroad has been operated by Gulf and Ohio Railways Inc.

Using 10 locomotives, the Yadkin Valley line hauls 11,500 carloads annually. Commodities include poultry feed ingredients, wood products, steel, plastics, propane, ethanol and rail car storage.

An interchange is made with Norfolk Southern in Winston-Salem.

The area rail company has “transload” facilities in Rural Hall and Crutchfield in close proximity to major highways such as Interstate 77 and U.S. 52, with capabilities of handling products ranging from liquids and plastics to steel and lumber.

This is in reference to the Saturday, May 14, 2020 article “Voter fraud adherents to speak” and letter to the editor “Reader decries political ‘histrionics’.”

Both items have the same theme – election integrity. Regardless of political affiliation, it has become apparent that state legislatures need to take action. Part of citizenship is the responsibility to select those who will govern their respective local, sate, U.S. congressional, and once every four years refer to the Electoral College who their preferred candidate is to govern the country. We the people cannot abrogate our duty on this; otherwise, there effectively is no vote – as clearly evidenced in undemocratically governed countries.

The question of integrity in all forms of elections; to wit: Stacey Abrams (gubernatorial), Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump (presidential), has been – regardless of political party affiliation – percolating to the boiling point. This alone should enjoin the state legislatures to remove the kettle from the heat and seriously investigate the unquelled perception of election fraud and/or hanky panky tactics.

Yes, it will cost money to do this; however, not to do so invites continued voter apathy, unrest, and ultimately federal government meddling in states’ constitutional responsibility under Article I, Section 4, Clause 1 pertaining to “governance of the people, by the people, for the people” (Abraham Lincoln, Nov. 19, 1863, Gettysburg).

It is time to resolve the issues of voter databases, voter identification at the polls/absentee ballots, and methodology plus procedures for gathering and counting the votes.

Area voters will have the chance to visit the polls today for the spring primary — in some cases choosing nominees who will move on to fall elections, in other cases essentially choosing who will win their race because of no fall competition.

Nearly 10% of registered voters across the county have already cast a ballot, thanks to the one-stop early voting program.

That program allows voters who did not register to vote in today’s primary a second-chance opportunity to both register and cast a ballot at the same time. The early voting period, which opened on April 28 and closed on Saturday, saw 4,363 individuals cast a ballot, which represents 9.27% of the county’s 47,043 votes. On Saturday, the final day, 430 people voted, according to Director of Elections Michella Huff.

This year’s voters have a crowded slate of candidates from which to choose, with multiple races being contested.

In Mount Airy, three are squaring off for the mayor’s post: Incumbent Ron Niland, city Commissioner Jon Cawley, and former commissioner Teresa Lewis; four are running for the North Ward council seat — Joanna Refvem, John Pritchard, Teresa Leiva and Chad Hutchens; three are running for the South Ward seat — Joe Zalescik, Gene Clark, and Phillip Thacker; and three others are facing off for the at-large seat — Commissioner Steve Yokeley, former commissioner and mayor Deborah Cockram, and Tonda Phillips.

While the city council elections are non-partisan, the primaries will whittle the races to the two who receive the most votes in each race, with the final election in November.

There are three Surry County Board of Commissioner seats up for grabs this year as well. Incumbent Mark Marion is facing Landon Tolbert for the GOP nomination for the Central District seat, with the winner facing Democrat Ken Badgett in the fall.

Walter Harris, Steven R. Odum and incumbent Bill Goins are running against one another for the Mount Airy District seat nomination, but since there is no Democrat registered to run, the primary will essentially be the final election.

The same situation exits for the South District seat, with incumbent Eddie Harris squaring off against Tessa Saeli, with no autumn opposition for the winner.

There is a three-way race for the GOP nomination and effectively the overall win for the clerk of superior court post. Incumbent L. Neil Brendle is running against the person he defeated in the last election, former clerk Teresa O’Dell, as well as Melissa Marion Welch.

Two candidates are squaring off for the GOP nomination for the District 3 seat on the Surry County Board of Education, Jessica George and Kent Whitaker; while three are competing for the District 4 seat GOP nod, T.J. Bledsoe, Donna McLamb and Jimmy Yokeley.

Area voters will also be casting ballots for state and federal representatives.

Longtime incumbent Sarah Stevens is looking to keep her 90th District House Seat in the North Carolina General Assembly against challenger Benjamin Romans — there is no fall opposition to the primary winner.

Former State Senator Shirley B. Randleman is hoping to rejoin the General Assembly by claiming the State Senate District 36 seat, but she is being challenged for the GOP nomination by Eddie Settle, Vann Tate, and Lee Zachary.

Rep. Virginia Foxx is being challenged for her U.S. District 5 seat by Michael Ackerman, with the winner taking on Democrat Kyle Parrish in the fall.

There are a host of other local and state races to be decided Tuesday. Many, such as the Mount Airy Board of Education seats, are one-candidate affairs, while others include multiple candidates — 11 people are slugging it out for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Richard Burr, while 14 are seeking the GOP nomination for the same seat.

Other races include 15 different judicial seats up for grabs, unopposed races for county sheriff, district attorney, and other seats throughout the county.

Polls open throughout the county at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Totals will be revealed as soon as they are available after the close of polls.

Word spread quickly last week that a group had been added to the county commissioners’ agenda for a presentation on election integrity. The guest list drew attention, but it was the message that carried the evening Monday in place of the big names.

Prof. David Clements, John Bowes, and Mark Cooke spoke to the commissioners and a packed house where citizens and media members alike were turned away because of overcapacity.

It was an evening that saw women livestreaming their walk to the courthouse, a crowd lingering outside afterward to hear speakers, and a contingent of deputies in the hallways and staircases.

Maybe the new sonker sign got them distracted as Mike Lindell, Dr. Douglas Frank, and Gen. Mike Flynn were among names dropped as potential speakers who were not to be seen.

The 2020 election is still at the heart of the matter with speakers at commissioners’ meetings recently laying out their concerns over election machines, voter registration, and voting day/polling place data that do not pass their smell test.

The desire to take a look under the hood of voting machines was part of a pair of discussions county elections chair Michella Huff had with county GOP chair Keith Senter and Dr. Frank in March. The county and state board of elections have weighed in on this subject with a consistent answer: no.

Huff said by phone last month that she advised what the paths to recourse were for challenging voter registration locally, or for filing a claim of voter fraud with the state. That answer remains an insufficient one for those who have concerns about their right to vote being infringed upon or lessened by the addition of what they consider tainted or illegal votes.

John Bowes told the board a canvassing of Surry County voters began in April where a volunteer group visited 525 homes and conducted 417 in-person interviews. They would explain they were verifying the information on the North Carolina voter rolls in an unofficial capacity.

He reported they found 170 issues on these visits with the largest instance of error being what is known as ghost registration. In these cases, the logs show a voter at an address where they do not live and may not have for some time.

What he claims are ineligible ballots accounted for 52 and a common occurrence was for a previous owner to still vote in their prior county. He offered an example of a resident who had moved to Wilkesboro and yet still voted in Surry County.

Logbooks showed a voting method that did not match what the voter said they did in 18 instances, the group asserted. Ten vacant lots did not need further explanation, but he would like an explanation about the two votes associated with a mailbox on Park Avenue that he says would mean voters are in the river.

Finally, the lost or added ballot category finds residents who say they voted but no vote was logged, or vice versa. This is the category his wife found herself in, she had requested absentee ballots that never found her, even though the state said they had been sent.

He said, “Surry is not immune to problems, I heard people say not here, not in Surry County, well that is obviously not the case and I venture to say we are going to find a lot more.”

Professor David Clements roused the crowd to hoots and hollers, and more than a few amens when he quoted from Proverbs on accurate weights and measures. He spoke at some length about voting machines and their supposed ability to access the internet while discussing different manufacturers’ products and practices.

North Carolina does not use Dominion voting machines, videos showing off some inconsistencies in what their CEO was saying brought little to clarification to the subject.

Clements though was able to relate the issues to a lack of trust between the people and the voting system. “You have to take their word for it,” he said about elections clerk’s claims of no modems inside voting machines. “That’s a myth that they don’t connect to the internet, they are so accessible to the internet it’s ridiculous,” he claimed.

“Anytime we have a standoff to prove it happened in (Otero County, New Mexico), you’ll get threats from attorney, secretary of state, the state election board, and a threat they will have to decommission the machines, and then buy new ones.”

The voting machines have built in security flaws that make them vulnerable to manipulation such as USB slot drives, he claimed. He also noted some machines can turn themselves on, yet leave the screen off, and clerks would never know.

“No matter how you want to shake this, there is evidence everywhere and the question is: Should we have trust in the system? This is really the issue before you all is do you have the lawful authority” to order inspection of the machines or any recourse on these complaints. “You do, under state statute 163.”

Chairman Bill Goins had to ask the crowd for silence as he spoke on just that, “I have asked people in this room, ‘Have you read statute 163?’ and they will say, “No, but you can do this.” How do you know if you haven’t read it?”

“This isn’t about constituents having to convince you, you’re going to have to convince them that this is a trustworthy process,” Clements said. “You are going to feel a lot of pressure from legal, from the state elections board, from the top down and I pray that you are going to feel an equal amount of righteous pressure from your constituents.”

“This is an easy job if you don’t have to sit in one of these seats. This board doesn’t always agree with each other, but on this issue, there is solidarity among the five members of the board.

“As we have referenced on several occasions the North Carolina general statutes guide us on what we can and cannot do in regard to elections. It is the law that governs elections of this state, and until it is changed, it is the law we go by.”

• An armed robbery is being investigated in which a man armed with a club stole money from a local business, according to Mount Airy Police Department reports.

The incident occurred last Friday evening at Makers Market on West Pine Street, where maker/vendor space is offered to select craftspeople. The unknown suspect used the club to intimidate and steal an undisclosed sum of money from a clerk.

In addition to the business, Myra Jo Monroe of South McKinney Road is listed as a victim of the crime.

• The Hibbett Sports store on Rockford Street was the scene of a larceny Saturday, when an unknown suspect ran out of the business without paying for merchandise valued at $189. Included were a pair of size 10 Nike Air Max Dawn shoes, two pairs of athletic shorts and two graphic T-shirts.

• William Dale Haynes, 50, of 543 Reeves Mill Road, was arrested on a felony charge, larceny from a merchant, after a May 4 incident at the Lowe’s home improvement store on South Andy Griffith Parkway, where he allegedly exchanged tags on merchandise in order to obtain it for a lower price.

A Craftsman inverter generator valued at $899 was involved. Haynes was held in the Surry County Jail under a $2,000 secured bond and slated for a June 6 appearance in District Court.

• Luis Ortiz Orsorno, 21, of 131 Churchill Lane, was jailed on May 4 after a domestic dispute at his home in which he allegedly struck his mother, Angelica Ortiz, and another female, Alicia Sanchez, both of Churchill Lane. Orsorno was charged with two counts of assault on a female and also served with two outstanding orders for arrest for failing to appear in court in Pender County, which were filed in April, and another issued in Surry County in March.

Orsorno was incarcerated in Dobson under a $22,000 secured bond on the arrest orders and without privilege of bond for the assault charges. He is scheduled to appear in Surry District Court on June 6.

• Police were told on May 4 that auto parts with a total value of $1,350 had been stolen from a secured lot on Mount View Drive, taken from both inside and outside a 1992 Honda Accord owned by Dwayne Allen Cooke of Alton Lane.

Included were four tires with rims, a vehicle instrument panel, the driver’s-door window, two taillight lense assemblies and two front indicator light assemblies.

• An attempt was made to cash a forged check for $4,801 at First Community Bank on West Independence Boulevard on April 28, with an apparently known female suspect involved whose name appeared on that document.

Both the bank and a business in Bluefield, Virginia, Blue Wolf Sales and Service Inc., are listed as victims of the forgery/uttering case that was still under investigation at last report.

The goals were multi-fold in passage of a property nuisance ordinance last fall that some on the Surry County Board of Commissioners felt was too broad to be enforced. If the goal was to take a bite out of blight: the time is approaching to test the county’s teeth. Of course, though, it will need to be paid for.

County Manager Chris Knopf advised the board a property on Turner Mountain Road has fallen into the nuisance category. The property owner is known to the county but cannot be reached to serve the citations. To abate the nuisance, the county will need to create a fund to pay for the remediation of the conditions that brought the property to fall into the nuisance status.

Commissioner Mark Marion chimed in this is near where he lives and there is profanity written on the walls, mattresses in the yard, windows busted out, and the roof is caving in. “This is safety and health issue to everyone around it,” he told his colleagues.

The graffiti on the walls is in poor enough taste that the county manager did not include photos for the board members because of the “inappropriateness of some of the photos.”

At the heart of last fall’s debate and again of Commissioner Van Tucker’s points on this evening had to do with subjectivity. One man’s trash is another’s treasure was a debate point of the fall, and now one county ordinance officer could be making an assessment on a property that puts it into a nuisance category.

Tucker wondered if that was a fair setup, so the board talked through the process they approved with Knopf.

The ordinance has a mechanism for such nuisance properties including assessment by an inspector; posted physical notice of violation on the property; a period for review and timely reply; and an appeals process that would ultimately land the final decision on abatement with the commissioners.

Or, as Tucker summarized it, the board would “make a conscientious decision on when and where to drop the hammer on abatement issue.”

Thus far this property owner is not to be found. Behind on assessed property taxes, but not so far behind in passed time for the county to foreclose, this owner has not replied to attempts to be reached for these ordinance citations or back taxes.

No property owner means no appeal equals stalemate. Assuming the owner remains incommunicado, the county will have its chance to act in the coming months.

Tucker was interested in an ad hoc approach on funding these situations, rather than having a standing fund. Knopf advised the board has the right to fund cleanups in such a way if they so choose, and that this discussion was just to set the table for future action.

Marion suggested the process continue but that the board be ready to act when the designated time for the property owner to reply expires. If the abatement proceeds, coming next would be a period to seek a bid for proposal from an entity who would clear the violations.

“The homeowner left it bad, squatters made it worse,” the county manager set expectations on clearing the property on Tuner Mountain Road, “I don’t think it will be cheap.”

Maggie Peterson, whose character on “The Andy Griffith Show” developed a memorable infatuation with Mayberry sheriff Andy Taylor, has died, her family said Monday. She was 81.

A post to her Facebook page said Peterson died in her sleep on Sunday with her family present. According to the post, Peterson’s health took a turn for the worse when her husband, Gus Mancuso, died of Alzheimer’s disease in 2021 at age 88.

“I loved being part of that great show and the many friends and fans I’ve made because of it,” she said in a social media post in 2020.

In the 1963 episode, Peterson played the role of Charlene Darling, who along with her father and four musical brothers visited Mayberry and crammed themselves into one hotel room as they waited for her fiance to arrive. Sheriff Andy Taylor lets the family spend a night in the courthouse and it’s then that Charlene becomes smitten with the sheriff. It was only when the fiance gets to town that Charlene settles for her first love.

During the next season, the Darlings return to Mayberry to help Charlene find a young boy to become engaged to her new baby. They pick Opie, played by Ron Howard, and the sheriff comes up with a scheme to show the family that his son isn’t the one they want.

Margaret Ann Peterson was born on Jan. 10, 1941, in Greeley, Colorado. According to IMDb, the Internet Movie Database site, she, her brother and two of his friends formed a small group that rode around on a pickup truck singing to people. It was those tours that led to her discovery by director Bob Sweeney and producer Aaron Ruben, who teamed to develop Griffith’s show.

Peterson also has credits for “Casino” (1965), and “Mars Attacks!” (1996), among other appearances.

The family said a private service will be held in the next few weeks.

For the first time in Mount Airy girls soccer history, the Lady Bears are conference champions.

Despite falling 2-1 (OT) to South Stokes in the regular season finale on May 12, the Bears’ still earned a share of the Northwest 1A Conference Title. In fact, Mount Airy clinched part of the NW1A Title three days earlier with a 4-0 win over East Wilkes.

The Lady Bears’ first conference title adds to the team’s already impressive list of accomplishments for the 2022 season. This year’s team set the school record for the best start in program history by beginning 13-0-4. Mount Airy also set the program record for most wins in a season, surpassing the previous school record of 15 set in 2017 and tied again in 2019.

Prior to this season, Mount Airy’s best conference finish was third: behind Bishop McGuinness and East Surry 2014-17, then behind Bishop McGuinness and South Stokes in 2018, 2019 and 2021. The Bears previous school record for conference wins was six, which this year’s team shattered by going 10-2.

Mount Airy, Elkin and South Stokes shared the 2022 NW1A Title with identical conference records; Mount Airy defeated Elkin twice, Elkin defeated South Stokes twice and South Stokes defeated Mount Airy twice.

The N.C. High School Athletic Association’s final RPI rankings for the regular season ranked the NW1A’s top three teams No. 5, No. 6 and No. 7. South Stokes earned the top playoff spot, followed by Mount Airy and then Elkin.

Mount Airy (16-2-4) earned the No. 10 seed in the 1A West and will host No. 23 Alleghany (5-9). The winner of that game will face the winner of No. 7 Uwharrie Charter (7-6-1) and No. 26 Piedmont Community Charter (7-5-1).

With a city government-imposed deadline looming Wednesday for owners of unsafe commercial buildings in Mount Airy to either repair or demolish the structures, a snag has occurred regarding the possible sale of one.

That is what’s commonly referred to as the former Koozies location at 455 Franklin St., a dilapidated unsafe building once housing a private club by that name which has long been on the radar screen of local building codes personnel.

In February, it was targeted for enforcement action by the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners, along with the former Mittman Paint and Body Shop at 109 S. South St. and the so-called “red building” at 600 W. Pine St. beside Worth Honda.

The commissioners voted 4-1 to give the respective owners of the sites 90 days to either repair or demolish the structures, which includes vacating any occupants or personal property.

It the wake of February’s vote, the vacant Mittman body shop property was auctioned on April 1, which made the timing of its fate uncertain given the change of ownership.

Meanwhile, the Koozies site also reached the auction block on April 28, which produced a high bid of $165,000 from an unnamed New York party.

But that potential purchase has fallen through, according to Dale Fulk, an auctioneer with Rogers Realty and Auction Co. who conducted the sale.

“The highest bidder didn’t work out,” Fulk said Monday.

While Fulk didn’t elaborate, Commissioner Joe Zalescik, who attended the April 28 auction — although Mayor Ron Niland has disclosed the city government was not officially involved — said it was his understanding the prospective new owner was unaware of the demolition mandate.

Razing the structure, which the city could do on its own based on the wording of its 90-day ultimatum, has a potential price tag of hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to previous discussion.

Fulk simply said Monday that “he (the New York bidder) is not moving forward, so we are moving forward.”

The auctioneer explained that a possible deal now is being eyed with the second-highest bidder, also unnamed, who he said is local. The bidding on April 28 came down to two serious bidders, Fulk said.

“We’re in a negotiating process,” he added Monday, indicating that this includes the present owner, National Decon Holdings, LLC, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. “As of right now, we’re still kind of in limbo.”

Fulk says the process is moving forward, “but going slow.”

This includes getting more information from the city and its codes enforcement officer, Chuck Morris.

In the meantime, it is not known how the present situation with the Koozies building will affect the 90-day deadline for remediation action expiring Wednesday.

Mount Airy officials have said that failure to meet that deadline could result in the municipality itself ordering the razing and then taking ownership of the property through court action to help recoup the cost of this.

Despite signage prohibiting occupancy, two fires have occurred inside the Koozies structure in recent months which have been linked to homeless persons living there.

Mount Airy extended its most successful soccer season on record with a 5-0 playoff win over Alleghany.

For 17 of the 20 players on Mount Airy’s roster, Monday’s win served as their first playoff victory. The remaining three – seniors Mackenzie Hudson, Morgan Hiatt and Grey Moore – competed in their only playoff victory as freshmen when the Bears defeated North Stanly 3-0 on May 7, 2019.

No postseason was held in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the 2021 playoffs only let in 16 teams in the 1A West.

The Granite Bears, who improve to 17-2-4 with the win, got after it early when Kate Deaton scored in just the fourth minute. Deaton added another goal four minutes later, then Paola Ramirez made it 3-0 at halftime with a goal in the 38th minute.

Goals from Kinlee Reece and Emilee Corn in the second half led No. 10 Mount Airy to its first playoff victory in three years.

“Our goal in this game was ‘we don’t give up goals like we did at their place,’ and we did really good with that,” said Bears coach Will Hurley. Mount Airy has only surrendered 17 goals in 2022, and five of those were scored by Alleghany (5-10).

“It does hurt your offense a little bit, but I just think that’s our game; we’re more of a defensive team now. We shifted when we started getting injuries, but that’s okay. We can come out of that once we get healthy so we can play well on both sides.”

The win serves as Hudson’s 14th shutout as the Bears’ keeper this season, and was the first time this season Alleghany was held scoreless.

Mount Airy, meanwhile, fired 20 shots at the visiting Trojans while allowing just two.

Despite dealing with injuries for most of the year, the Lady Bears came into the playoffs hot off a historic regular season. Mount Airy has already set new school records for most wins in a season, most consecutive matches without a loss, most shutouts and fewest goals allowed in the regular season.

The 2022 Bears also put their names in the history books as the school’s first to win a conference championship. Hurley said he knew at the beginning of the season that the team was in for an uphill battle having to play strong conference opponents in Elkin and South Stokes – the latter of which was led by nine seniors.

“I thought it was big when we beat Elkin at Elkin. That was huge,” Hurley said. “I knew we had an outside chance, but I didn’t know if we could pull it off when we kept getting injury after injury. I think they really started believing in themselves, though. We kept telling them not to worry about rankings or what happened in the past, just play the game.

“I’m happy for them, because they’ve done really well as a team. We don’t have a true superstar.”

Hurley added that Mount Airy approached to the postseason is the exact same as the regular season: take things one game at a time. When members of the team pointed out the Bears would likely run into No. 2 Bishop McGuinness, who shared a conference with Mount Airy from 2009-2021, in the third round.

“We practiced Saturday morning at 7 a.m. and they said, ‘coach, we’ve got to play Bishop,’ and I said, ‘no, you don’t. You have to play Alleghany, and right now that’s all that matters’” Hurley said. “Sometimes it’s tough to beat a team three times in the same season, and Alleghany’s got a great group that always fights.

“This is a home game, and there’s a lot of teams out there that aren’t playing at home. We can enjoy the moment, but we have to play hard and just worry about now. We can worry about the next round if and when we get there.”

By defeating No. 23 Alleghany, Mount Airy advances to the round of 32 and will travel to No. 7 Uwharrie Charter.

Uwharrie finished third overall and first out of the 1A teams in the Piedmont Athletic 1A/2A Conference. Uwharrie Charter (8-6-1) defeated No. 26 Piedmont Community Charter 7-0 in the opening round of the playoffs.

HIGH POINT — Strong performances from Surry County’s three 2A schools led to 14 local athletes qualifying for the State Championship Meet.

The 2A Midwest Regional Championship was held May 13 at the High Point Athletic Complex Track.

East Surry, North Surry and Surry Central combined to win seven Regional Championships. Central led the way with four, followed by East with two and North with one. Any competitor or relay team that finished in the top four at Regionals qualified for the 2A State Championship.

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

Surry Central’s girls won the 2A Midwest Regional Runner-up Trophy with a total of 76 points, which was 22 points behind Regional Champion West Stanly. East Surry’s girls finished No. 18 with 10 points, followed by North Surry’s girls at No. 26 with five points.

East Surry had the highest finish of any local team in the boys competition at No. 11 with 20 points. North Surry wasn’t far behind at No. 13 with 18 points, then Surry Central was up next in No. 14 with 17 points.

Full events results can be found at bit.ly/3yCBZHi

Three Surry County individual performances met the MileSplit U.S. Second Team Standard: Surry Central’s Mia McMillen in long jump, East Surry’s Isaac Vaden in discus throw and North Surry’s Jared Hiatt in long jump.

The full list of Elite Performances can be found at bit.ly/3LlxjYS

Clara Willard was East Surry’s lone female state qualifier and regional champion.

The Cardinal senior finished first in the discus throw with a mark of 115-06 feet, more than seven feet farther than the second-place finisher. Willard and the event’s silver medalist – Cassie Sneed of Surry Central – were the only two competitors to throw farther than 97 feet.

Willard also competed in the shot put, where she finished No. 14.

Also competing in the regional meet for East Surry: the relay team of Grace Strader, Arianna Liberatore, Kate McCraw and Ember Midkiff finished No. 13 in the 4×200 and No. 15 in the 4×100; Madeline Dayton and Arianna Liberator competed in triple jump but did not place.

Ella Riggs was the Lady Greyhounds’ only regional qualifier.

Riggs took fourth in shot put with a mark of 33-10.10. Riggs, a freshman, qualifies for the outdoor track state championship after being one of two North Surry girls to qualify for the indoor track championship during the winter.

All seven of Surry Central’s regional qualifiers finished in the top four of at least one event at the regional championship: Madelyn Wilmoth, Ella Priddy, Yeira Munoz, Mia McMillen, Ivy Toney, Cassie Sneed and Aylin Soto.

McMillen qualified for the state championship in four events, which included two regional championship victories in 300 hurdles and the 4×200 relay. She won the 300 hurdles with a time of 46.15, nearly two seconds faster than the second-place finisher, and teamed with Soto, Priddy and Toney to win the 4×200 by more than two seconds.

Central’s 4×200 time of 1:47.10 set a new school record for the Golden Eagles.

McMillen’s two second-place finishes came in 100 hurdles, with a time of 15.70, and long jump, with a mark of 18-01.25 feet. McMillen and West Stanly’s Onii Bivens, who won long jump with a mark of 18-01.75, both met the MileSplit US Second Team standard for the event.

Also winning a regional championship for Surry Central was the 4×800 relay team of Wilmoth, Toney, Munoz and Priddy. The four Eagles cruised to a victory with a time of 10:46.00, better than the silver medalists by six seconds.

Munoz and Snead added individual second-place finishes in the 3,200 meters and discus throw, respectively. Munoz finished in 13:33.45, while Snead had a mark of 108-02.00. The Eagles’ 4×400 team of Wilmoth, Soto, Toney and Priddy also finished second with a time of 4:27.15.

Toney added an additional state qualification in pole vault with a third-place finish at 7-06.00.

In addition to the state qualifiers, Soto also competed in the 200 meters and finished No. 10 at 28.56.

Isaac Vaden and Cooper Motsinger were the two state qualifiers for East Surry’s boys.

Vaden won the 2A Midwest Regional Championship in discus throw with a mark of 156-08.00, which met the MileSplit US Second Team standard. Vaden’s throw was one inch shy of being 15 feet better than the second-place finish.

Vaden also competed in the shot put, where he finished sixth overall.

Motsinger finished fourth in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 10:40.14.

Also competing in the regional meet for East Surry: Sam Whitt finished No. 7 in shot put; Eli Becker finished No. 10 in shot put; the relay team of Layton Allen, Colby Johnson, Lindann Fleming and Kyle Zinn finished No. 11 in the 4×200 and No. 12 in the 4×100.

Like Jared Hiatt qualified for the 2A State Championship in two events: high jump and long jump.

Hiatt battled his Foothills 2A Conference nemesis, Terry Hayes of Wilkes Central, in every jumping event at the regional championship. Hiatt won the regional title in high jump with a height of 6-02.00, while Hayes finished second. Hayes finished first in the long jump with a mark of 23-00.00, and Hiatt finished second at 22-07.00 – both of which met the MileSplit US Second Team standard.

Hiatt also competed in the triple jump, where he finished No. 10 with a mark of 39-07.00.

Golden Eagles. Allen Huffman and Ignacio Morales qualified for the state championship.

Morales won the 3,200 meters to capture the 2A Midwest Regional Title, doing so with a time of 10:08.16. Morales finished more than eight seconds before the silver medalist.

Huffman finished third in the 300 hurdles with a time of 43.07, and was less than 1.5 seconds out of first.

Central also had three relay teams compete at the regional championship: the 4×800 team of Chris Nava, Jonathan Avila, Brangly Mazariegos and Sebastian Sanchez finished No. 11, the 4×200 team of Huffman, Nava, Isaac Eller and Sony Orozco finished No. 13, and the 4×400 of Eller, Nava, Huffman and Charlie Hernandez finished No. 14.

Fifth grade students at Flat Rock Elementary participated in a Live Museum earlier this school year.

For this project, students chose a prominent historical figure and began researching him or her. Students used their research to write a biography about the historical figure. After this, students began planning a museum exhibit that would come to life.

Dressed as the historical figures, students lined the hallways and waited for visitors before coming to life. As someone approached, the students would “come to life” by reciting their chosen person’s biography and sharing interesting facts. The fifth graders shared their presentation first with other grade levels during the day and finished by inviting families after school to visit their museum.

The Ararat Ruritan Club of Virginia recently presented the highest award in Ruritan to Shelby Bondurant Cox, in honor of her late husband and former Ruritan, Jack Cox.

Several members of the Cox family enjoyed the covered dish meal as prepared by members of the club prior to the presentation of the Tom Downing plaque during a recent meeting. Downing was one of the founding members of Ruritan National and the award given in his name is the highest honor bestowed upon a Ruritan.

“Jack Cox along with countless former Ararat Ruritan Club members have been instrumental in creating a better understanding among people and through volunteer community service, made the Ararat community a better place in which to live and work,” club officials said in announcing the award.

Having taken place during a regular business meeting, this award presentation was followed by discussions of the upcoming fundraisers and community service activities.

Monday nights in May, and beyond, are being dubbed Rook Night at the club building. Anyone is welcome to come play, at no charge, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. every Monday, even if the person does not have a partner.

The club will be honoring local fire/EMS/police personnel as they celebrate Ruritan National’s birthday on Saturday, May 21. The celebration will feature a cruise-in of local emergency vehicles and timeless classics. Food will be available on-site. This event will be held from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Ararat Ruritan Club building, located at 4711 Ararat Highway, Ararat, Virginia.

The Patrick County Sheriff’s Office will conduct its quarterly Crime Watch meeting for Ararat on Thursday, May 26, at 7 p.m. at the club building.

American flags will be placed on local veteran’s graves in honor of the Memorial Day holiday by some of the club’s veterans.

The club is hosting a patriotic barn quilt painting class on Saturday, June 25, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.. To reserve a spot and submit a design choice, email lisaorpheus@gmail.com.

The doors will open for the monthly Jackpot Bingo at 5 p.m. on May 21. Bingo starts at 6 p.m. and concessions will be available. Anyone who brings items for donation to the Ronald McDonald House will receive a free coverall. The list of items being collected is on the Ararat Ruritan Club facebook page.

The club meets on the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. Those interested can follow the group on Facebook. AraratRuritanClub@gmail.com for all things Ruritan.

Members of a local drama group are putting their musical talents on stage in support of the theater they call home.

The NoneSuch Playmakers will present “Lift Your Voice for Jones,” a wide-ranging musical revue being staged as a fundraiser for the L.H. Jones Auditorium in Mount Airy on Saturday, May 21.

“The Jones Auditorium has been our home stage for several seasons now,” said NoneSuch co-founder Brack Llewellyn. “The J.J. Jones Alumni Association, which operates the space, has always been supportive of us. We wanted to do something to show our appreciation.”

Llewellyn noted that, like all other performance venues, the L.H. Jones Auditorium was dark for more than 18 months during the pandemic.

“But they still had to pay their power bill, and their water bill, and maintain the facility with no income,” he said. “Now that NoneSuch can get back on stage again, we felt a fundraiser might help them out a bit. So we’re doing it the best way we know—with a show.”

The May 21 revue features some of the theater group’s best singing voices, he said. The performers include Jennifer Johnson Brown, Dani Davis, Jennifer Freeman, Shanna H. Jones, Angela Llewellyn, Chris Powell, Billie Smith, Cindy Southern Marion, Jane Tesh — who doubles as accompanist — and Elkin resident Christine Werner Booher.

“It’s going be a truly eclectic evening,” said Llewellyn. “We asked our singers to choose three or four songs each that they would like to perform, regardless of the style. You’ll get to hear everything from pop to country to Motown to show tunes to Gospel. We even have some original compositions. We want everyone to come out and enjoy the music, and also to see what a great performance space the Jones Auditorium is.”

“Life Your Voice for Jones” will begin at 7 p.m. A minimum donation of $10. per person is suggested, with larger amounts will be “gratefully accepted.” The evening will also feature a silent auction and a raffle, with those proceeds also going to the organization.

The L.H. Jones Auditorium is located at 215 Jones School Road, Mount Airy.

Editor’s Note: The Mount Airy News posed the same three questions to local school board candidates running in the May 17 primary. On Saturday, we published the responses from the District 3 Surry County Board of Education candidates in print and online. On Sunday, we published the responses from the District 4 online and in print on Tuesday.

T.J. Bledsoe is a lifelong Surry County resident who lives in Dobson with his wife Amanda and their 10-year-old daughter, Ceily. As a family they spend most of their time outdoors on the farm or with their daughter showing livestock competitively.

He graduated from Surry Central High in 1999 and after attending Surry Community College started a landscaping business. He then went into the insurance and financial services industry with his father, Tim Bledsoe. Presently he Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer with LifeStore Bank.

He has served on various boards including the United Fund of Surry, Yadkin Valley Chamber of Commerce, Greater Mt. Airy Habitat for Humanity, Elkin Main Street Advisory Board, Surry Community College Knights Athletic Board, SCA School Board, The Collaborative, and in June will assume a board position with the Yadkin Valley United Fund.

“I have coached multiple little league football and basketball teams, T-Ball, and Upward Sports Basketball. As a family we attend Salem Baptist Church in Dobson. My wife has taught in the Surry County School System her entire career and is currently in her 22nd year at Meadowview Magnet Middle. Being the husband of public-school teacher, along with my business background I believe positions me to be an asset to the children, staff, and citizens of Surry County on our local school board,” he wrote.

Question: What role should parents have in choosing curriculum for their child? What role should the Department of Public Instruction have?

Bledsoe: The system is designed as to allow professionals on a local level to dissect and implement curriculum in which they are educated and trained. Much as I would not allow someone who hasn’t had medical training to give me healthcare advice, I would not want an entire curriculum chosen by someone who isn’t an educational professional.

However, this should always be fully transparent and readily available to discuss with the public upon request and before implementing. The local school board should always have ethical and responsible professionals in place to be the gatekeepers for any negative curriculum in which may make its way down from the DPI. While we can’t stop what may be recommended by either state or federal officials, we should elect school board officials who will assure there are both staff in place to safeguard against negative curriculum, as well as be fully transparent and receptive to parental input.

This is the job of a school board and why it is so imperative we elect strong and ethical school board members who have no agenda, are not focused on one issue, and are unwaveringly ethical in their decision making. We should also never forget as school board members that we work for the citizens of Surry County and are entrusted with our society’s most valuable possession, our children.

Question: Should school board members be partisan elected officials?

Bledsoe: If you would have asked me this question 15 years ago, I would have said no. Partisan politics should not play a part of the school board election process. Fast forward to our current national climate and I am supportive of our current processes. Should politics play a role in the decision making, no. However, if you believe in a party enough to be registered with them and agree with their stances on certain issues I do not see as there should be a reason to not disclose said party.

Your political registration does not define you as a person, but it does tell as to how you may vote on large issues we are going to be faced with soon. This is not to mean that if you are a member of a different party, you are automatically a bad person, and I believe that is a large problem not only in our county but in our nation.

Our political landscape has changed dramatically over the last 15 years, and we have gotten away from civil discussions and realizing we are all human beings no matter our politics. I believe if you look at the current unaffiliated voters in our county you will find their respective parties have gone too far in either direction for their personal beliefs and now, they are “without a party.”

Question: The K-12 plus four years of college plan does not seem to be the path some students want to take anymore. As a potential school board member how does that strike you?

Bledsoe: This has been something I have spoken on many times recently. Not all children either want to or should attend a four-year university. Our educational systems have sold a false narrative to our children for decades and have conditioned society to think you must have a four-year degree to be successful. We have sold the lie that you are looked down on in society and you aren’t as important if you learn a skilled trade versus attending college. This is wrong. Look at the age of the average tradesman or tradeswoman.

I am proud to see a focus back on career and technical programs in our schools but would encourage more as well as agriculture related curriculum. In my opinion it should be normalized and celebrated when a young person graduates high school, obtains training in a trade, and begins working to become a productive member of society in many instances debt free. I do not say this to minimize the importance of an advanced degree in certain fields or career paths. A path that includes college and a degree in a specialized field should be celebrated just as well. To be a successful society we need teachers, doctors, lawyers, etc. In the same regard and just as importantly we need skilled trades people such as mechanics, plumbers, and electricians.

Donna McLamb from Dobson is running for the district four school board seat for Surry County. This was her response to the Mount Airy News questions:

“My name is Donna McLamb. First of all, I would like to say I am a child of God and I believe in Jesus Christ. I have served Surry County as a veterinarian since 1993. I reside in Dobson where my husband and I have raised three children. Our children were educated in the Surry County Schools. Our eldest serves as a Mount Airy policeman. Our second child works with his dad in construction. Our third child is also a veterinarian. We have three grandchildren. I feel I was called to serve on Surry County School Board. I have a lot to learn but I am excited to do so if elected.”

Jimmy Yokeley describes himself as “a born again Christian man” who resides with his wife Jan in Dobson. They attend Salem Baptist Church. They are the parents of three adult children, two daughters and a son, as well as a son-in-law and soon to be daughter-in-law. “We are equally blessed to have five healthy grandchildren, four granddaughters and one grandson ranging in age from 13 years old to 18 months. Our middle daughter lives in Surry County with her two children/our two granddaughters who attend SCS.”

“Jan and I are native North Carolinians, with both the Yokeley and Rogers families having long, deep rooted origins in Surry County…dating back to the early/mid 1800s,” he said.

He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Belk College of Business with a bachelor’s in business administration.

Work accomplishments consist of a 40-year career, both in the private and public sectors, in the global supply-chain and logistics and economic development industries. A majority of his work has been spent in senior and executive leadership. He is the “Founder/CEO of Logistics Advantage, LLC with headquarters in Wilmington… which is a partner company with a highly successful North Carolina founded and headquartered company in Emerald Isle…TransImpact, LLC.”

“In summary, I am a Christian, constitutional conservative and a businessman who felt God’s calling to pursue a leadership role with our school board, with the goal to vastly improve the educational performance of our school children, re-claim and ensure parental rights, returning our local school board to the rule of law, godly principles and values, and help create and sustain a much needed and strongest collaboration between our parents, students, teachers, administrators and school board members.”

Question: What role should parents have in choosing curriculum for their child? What role should the Department of Public Instruction have?

Yokeley: How can our Surry County Schools, and our NCDPI, help produce top performing, globally competitive students unless we have parents sitting at the same curriculum topic table? I firmly believe that choosing the best performing curriculum for our school children must be a collaborative consortium of authority between parents, students, educators (teachers and administrators) and private sector business leaders.

This process should be carried out jointly and collaboratively between local NC county/municipal and state levels only, that includes the previous named stakeholders. Our U.S. Constitution did not grant authority over education to the federal government, thereby leaving the authority of education to the states, of which our North Carolina county/municipal governments are a critical part.

An excellent example of why I am (a) strong advocate of the above is the widely determined failure of the Common Core Curriculum that was pushed upon our NCDPI and adopted in June 2010. Our state has disastrously held onto up to its current form which began to change in 2017 and federally incentivized with our tax dollars. NC public school student performance in math and reading skills has continued to drop steadily since its introduction. The U.S. as a whole spends more money on education than any other country in the world, yet our failing educational curriculum is producing student performance that is “middle of the road” at best on a global comparison. Let’s stop wasting our citizens hard earned money and tax dollars and invest in a proven, high performing public education curriculum that all NC citizens can be proud of. They do exist today for us to implement.

Question: Should school board members be partisan elected officials?

Yokeley: Yes, our local county/municipal school board members should be partisan elected officials. And, as long as we have a state board of education, those members also should be partisan elected officials. Our constitutional republic form of government insist on “we the people” to elect those who we entrust and hold accountable to represent our God-given rights, values and beliefs, at every level of government. Not to be handpicked by others we have elected to our state legislative, judicial and executive branches.

Question: The K-12 plus four years of college plan does not seem to be the path some students want to take anymore. As a potential school board member how does that strike you?

Yokeley: If blessed to be elected to the school board, I think it is very important to ensure the best educational solutions to our diverse group of students. One size never has fit all, so why should one educational path be the only one leading to a fulfilling career and life?

At the same time, not every SCS high school graduate and their family can afford the cost of a four-year college education. Every child in Surry County and NC minimally deserves a globally competitive K-12 education that affords them an opportunity to earn a legitimate living wage.

From there, I am a firm believer in a strong working partnership with our Surry Community College and NC Community College System, the best in the country in my opinion, for a globally competitive K-12+2 path for our students who want more financial rewards and career opportunities in a specific certified skill/trade or, need more time to better prepare to pursue a four-year college degree.

My wife’s educational path is a great example of all of the above, along with so many of our SCS children past, present, and future.

The Mountain View Gardeners Garden Club concluded its season recently with an induction ceremony led by former president Tamara Thomas. Officers installed were, from left, Treasurer Barbara Oliver, Secretary Jenny Cooke, Vice President Mary Higgs and President Mary Planer. (Submitted photo)

The Mountain View Gardeners Garden Club recently met for a season-ending gathering. Picture are, from left, Amanda Fretwell, Beth Pequeno, Tamra Thomas, Mary Higgs, Marie Simmons, Mary Planer, Joy Barlow, Judy Kirkman, Barbara Oliver, Jenny Cooke, Brenda Edwards, Betty Wright, and Elaine Harbour. (Submitted photo)

Auditions for the Surry Arts Council’s production of “Music Man” directed by Tyler Matanick are being held on Tuesday, May 17 and Wednesday, May 18 from 6 – 9 p.m. at the Andy Griffith Playhouse.

Those auditioning should wear appropriate audition attire (no sweatpants or hoodies). Each auditioner should bring dance clothes/shoes for the dance audition and should prepare a 32-bar to 64-bar piece of any musical theater song. Sheet music should be brought for an accompanist to play along with the audition. Anyone not bringing sheeting music may sing a cappella. No monologue is necessary.

The public performances will be on Friday, July 22 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, July 23 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, July 24 at 3 p.m.

The “Music Man” follows fast-talking traveling salesman, Harold Hill, as he cons the people of River City, Iowa, into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band that he vows to organize — this, despite the fact that he doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian, the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain’s fall.

For additional information, contact Tyler Matanick at 336-786-7998 or tyler@surryarts.org. Tickets for the shows are available online at www.surryarts.org, via phone at 336-786-7998, or at the Surry Arts Council office at 218 Rockford Street.

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:

– Claude Lincoln Puckett Jr. and Deborah Puckett to Taylor Rudisill and McKensie Bare; 1.223 acres lot 32 Knollwood subdivision PB 12 186 and PB 40 183 201 Oak Ridge Circle Mount Airy Stewarts Creek; $366.

– Johnny Harrell to Lisa Harrell and Gary L. Smith; lot 3 Sherry Knoll subdivision PB 10 69 Mount Airy; $76.

– Dale Morgan Riddle Sr., Tamson Terrell Jensen, Keith Jensen, Dale Morgan Riddle Jr., Bethany Alice Riddle and Gilda L. Riddle to Dale Morgan Riddle Jr. and Bethany Alice Riddle; tract one 0.682 acres PB 40 172 and tract two 50.543 acres PB 25 42 South Westfield; $0.

– Sheila Jamison to Gail Curtis; tract one lot 30 and tract two portion of lot 29 Alta Vista development PB 4 190 Mount Airy; $461.

– Charles R. Smith, LLC to Brett Jordan Bunker and Maddison Ryley James; tract Eldora; $746.

– Jenny Y. Anderson to Tommy Hylton and Drema M. Hylton; lot 6 Crosswinds subdivision PB 11 121 Mount Airy; $188.

– Darrel Ray Leonard to Jeffery Trenter; 0.458 acres PB 7 15 Stewarts Creek; $260.

– Donald G. Collins and Darlene M. Collins to Shawn Watson and Amanda Watson; 1 acre Eldora; $28.

– Brandon C. Kallam to T & K Properties of Pfafftown, LLC; 11,632 sq ft 125 Masonic Drive Elkin; $235.

– John David Long and Pamela C. Long to John Bradley and Emily Bradley; tract one lot 15 and tract two tract and tract three lots 13-14 Laurel Hill Estates 222 Valleyview Dr. Mount Airy; $371.

– Estate of Ricky Thomas Shelton, estate of Leslie Shelton Atkins, Amy Jo Shelton, Ricky Thomas Shelton, Jody Shelton, Camden Atkins, Leslie Shelton Atkins, Sundi Shelton McGee and James McGee to Bobby Dean Bryant; .65 acres Pilot estate of Ricky Thomas Shelton 22 E 68 and estate of Leslie Shelton Atkins 22 E 293; $120.

– Kenneth Aman, Darlene Aman, Brian Aman, Lisa Aman, Janice A. Fansler and Gray Fansler Jr. to Richard D. Eads; 1.03 acres lot 3 PB 15 42; $0.

– Marty Douglas Puckett, Monica E. Puckett, Rhonda Puckett Hamstead and Steven Lynn Hamstead to Andrew White and Joanna White; 4.59 acres Jim Hill Road Westfield; $0.

– Hassle Free Land Sales and Nexus Property Holdings, LLC to Nora Alvarez; lots 29-32 block 3 section A M.H. Greenwood estate PB 4 123 Elkin; $22.

– CPC-Surry, LLC to Hai Yong Chen; lot 38 R.J. Galloway land PB 1 121 Mount Airy; $190.

– Estate of Peggy Gentry Comer, Wyatt Earl Comer, Peggy Gentry Comer, Eric Porter Comer and Bessie Comer to Leslie Taylor; tract one lot 34 and tract two lots 30-33 PB 4 106 155 Fowler Circle Dobson estate of Peggy Gentry Comer; $262.

– Teramore Development, LLC to Golden Summer, LLC; 3.424 acres PB 30 163 Dobson; $4,521.

– Anthony Dwayne Sexton to Katherine L. Sexton and Lloyd Dwayne Sexton; lot 15 Carters Glen PB 13 128 251 Wandering Walk Road Lowgap Franklin; $0.

– Christopher Lee Mickey Jr. and Kelli A. Mickey to Jay W. Robinson and Heidi J. Robinson; 19.139 acres Shoals; $480.

– Brenda Brendle to Trent E. Brendle and Leslie J. Brendle; 4.144 acres Marsh; $300.

– Rita Hinson Wiles, Neil Wiles and Jay Hinson to Jay L. Hinson; 2.950 acres Elkin; $0.

– SCM Real Estate, LLC to Bryan T. Creed, Kevin S. Masten and Peter T. Sheppard; 0.954 acres; $0.

– Substitute Trustee Service, Inc., Brandon Crouse and Sonia Crouse to W.J. Kellam Jr. and Taylor Bradley Coalson; 1156/462 trustees deed .14 acres Mount Airy; $125.

– Bryan T. Creed, Mark S. Royster, Kevin S. Masten, Nancy Katherine Masten, Peter T. Sheppard and Ashley Nicole Sheppard to Hutton Mount Airy NC ST, LLC; .954 acres; $2,500.

– Estate of Al Smith Moore, Teresa Moore Haymore and Al Amith Moore to Shane Neal Oakley; 0.446 acres tract C and 1.829 acres tract D PB 39 119 Rockford estate of Al Smith Moore 16 E 616; $0.

– Christopher Lynn Danley and Tara Danley to Gabriel Secundino Vargas; 1 and 75/100 acres Mount Airy; $156.

– Robert C. Hemmings and Betty F. Hemmings to Dennis C. Woodring and Karen J. Woodring; 3 acres Dobson; $50.

– K & L Enterprises of Randolph, LLC to Paul Barker and Jennifer Barker; 59.00 acres tract one and two PB 40 159 Stewarts Creek; $350.

– David P. Hiatt and Maria B. Hiatt to Diane J. Milhan; tract 1010 South Main Street Mount Airy; $522.

– Charlotte Moore Walker, Daniel Walker, Marvin Woodrow Moore Jr. and Catherine Moore to Stephie Stanley and Kay Stanley; lots 10-11 Royal Lane Dobson; $12.

– The Dan River Company, Inc. to 52 Properties, LLC; tract Mount Airy; $630.

– John Campbell to Edward Patric Rusu and Lindsay Danielle Rusu; 7.32 acres PB 20 101 Shoals; $864.

– Mary Alice Summers and Myra Lynn Wills to BEHA Investments, LLC; lot 35 section III Town and Country Woods development PB 7 30 Mount Airy; $240.

– Greater Mount Airy Area Habitat For Humanity Inc. to Karen Talbert; tract Mount Airy; $28.

– Granite City Restorations, LLC to Stephen Thomas Slate and Kimberly Ashley; 1.834 acres tract one PB 39 47 Dobson; $588.

– Neil Moss and Deborah A. Moss to Simon Futures, LLC; .412 acres Mount Airy; $625.

– Redoak Development, LLC to Adriana B. Martinez; tract Mount Airy; $247.

– Billy Allen Belton to Kobe Slate and Anna Martin; 0.71 acres lot 28 section 4 Knollwood subdivision PB 12 186 113 Oak Ridge Place Mount Airy Stewarts Creek; $330

– Teddy M. Speas, Lester Reid Rogers, Kathy Rogers, Deborah Stone Rogers, Lucy Elizabeth Rogers and Lynn Carol Rogers to Needham Holdings, LLC; tract Pilot; $50.

– Maria Isabel Rodriguez to Cody Rogers and Cody Flippo; tract Mount Airy; $345.

– Bradley Gray Beck, Ashley N. Beck and Ashley N. Cox to Amber Lynn Sheppard; 21,406 sq ft Dobson; $270.

– Estate of Daron Samuel Hamby, Catherine Pender Hamby and Daron Samuel Hamby to Harold Aldean Snow and Penny C. Snow; tract one 1 acre and tract two 6.64 acres Dobson estate of Daron Samuel Hamby file 22 E 233; $142.

– Willow Pond Investments, LLC to Phyllis Shelton Eads; 0.366 acres lot 2 PB 40 71 Pilot; $20.

– Cynthia Jessup Denny to Jessica Marinan Denny; 1.77 acres Shoals; $0.

– CIA Holdings, LLC to Juan Carols Cervantes Jr. and Jiselle Cortes; lot 8-9 Westwood estates PB 6 218 Dobson; $466.

– B&C Properties and Charles W. Vaughn to Redoak Development, LLC lots 11-13 Laurel Creek subdivision PB 13 127 Mount Airy; $84.

A large, four-story building stands on the corner of North Main and East Oak Street in downtown Mount Airy, at 252 North Main Street. The building has occupied this corner for more than a century and has withstood all the changes that have occurred on the streets surrounding it.

Now known as the Main Oak building, and constructed sometime between 1905 and 1910, it has gone through countless renovations and changes, yet still retains many of its original details, such as its arched windows on the upper floor and its iconic, large storefront windows.

One of its early incarnations was as the F. L. Smith Hardware store. With the town of Mount Airy in boom and various industries springing up, there was high demand in the town for building supplies. As such, hardware stores became ubiquitous along Main Street. F. L Smith Hardware benefited greatly from all this new industry. The building then changed hands to Holcomb Hardware, and then over to Midkiff Hardware.

Its owner, John H Midkiff knew the building well, having been a resident of Mount Airy for the previous 21 years, and was an employee of F. L. Smith Hardware. In this incarnation, the store sold everything from wagons to tobacco and farming supplies. Under John Midkiff’s ownership, the store expanded, adding on a large storage warehouse located at the rear of the store, and also installed a modern (for its era) sprinkler system on the four floors of the building, making it the first store in town to have this fire prevention method.

Along with the flourishing business that the building housed, it also saw its share of the darker side of life. During the 1920s, Dr Harvey R. Hege’s practice was located on the second floor of the building, with Holcomb Hardware below. The dentist had lived and practiced in Mount Airy for more than 25 years and was by all accounts had many connections to the community and was very well respected.

Dr. Hege also flourished professionally. With the addition of a new X-ray machine in his office, the Mount Airy News wrote in a 1921 article that “with this addition to his already modernly equipped office Dr. Hege can now boast of one of the most completely equipped dental parlors in the state.”

However, what the dentist would become notorious for was his involvement in the murder of Curry Thomas, a Virginia farmer, in 1936. Just one month before his death, Thomas had married his wife Elise, who had previously worked for Dr. Hege at his practice. When they received a package in the mail, the couple assumed it was a wedding present. Instead, when they opened it, they set off the bomb that was inside, killing Thomas and severely injuring Elise.

Clues from the crime scene eventually led investigators in northwestern North Carolina, and to Dr. Hege. The dentist owned the very same typewriter which police were able to work out had written the shipping label of the deadly package. It is also said that Dr. Hege went right downstairs from his office and bought the materials for the package from Midkiff Hardware.

Dr. Hege denied all involvement and claimed he was away fishing at the time the package was sent, but his alibi soon proved false, and he was arrested.

However, before the case was brought to trial, Dr. Hege committed suicide in jail.

Legend has it that this unassuming building was at one time home to Mount Airy’s only speakeasy. In order to gain access, visitors were said to have to make their way to the top floor via a freight elevator. Not a sophisticated piece of machinery by any standard, the elevator was operated by a rope which would start and stop it. Once the rope had hopefully been pulled at the right moment to get out onto the third floor, visitors would be greeted by a small hallway, with a door with a small slot in it at the end of the hall. If the person looking through this slot approved of you, you were let in.

The elevator was the only way in or out of this building, so one night, when a party in the speakeasy was in full swing, and the rope for the elevator came loose, stranding the elevator in the basement, the visitors had no exit. There was no phone on this floor, in keeping with the secrecy of speakeasy and the cover story of it being used for storage, so the party-goers resorted to opening a window and yelling into the street for help. Unfortunately, the late hour meant the only ones still out on the street were the same people they were hiding from; the cops. We don’t hear any stories of the speakeasy after this point, but we can guess what happened.

Today, the building still stands on its corner, watching the hustle and bustle of Main Street. While the stories about the building have largely faded away, the building remains solid and standing, a testament to its varied history.

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

The following marriage licenses were issued in Surry County:

– Carlos Ignacio Padron Garcia, 25, of Surry County to Maria Del Rusario Saucedo-Mederos, 31, of Surry County.

– Steven Hunter Smith, 22, of Surry County to Tristian Abigail Beck, 22, of Surry County.

– John Kevin Pack Jr., 26, of Surry County to Lindsey Ruth Trotter, 23, of Washington County, Virginia.

– Tanner Martyn Jackson, 22, of Surry County to Abigail Rose Stroud, 23, of Surry County.

– Timothy James Knuutila, 24, of Gaston County to Greta Renee East, 22, of Surry County.

– Samuel Mark Kearns, 22, of Surry County to Cassidy Kay Maxwell, 19, of Surry County.

– Jesse Leon Caldwell, 37, of Surry County to Diana Priscila Escobedo-Santillan, 25, of Surry County.

– Jose Candido Rojas-Laja, 26, of Surry County to Sofia Delfin, 25, of Surry County.

– Christian Miles Spake, 27, of Surry County to Nina Savannah Johnson, 27, of Surry County.

– John David Penley, 27, of Surry County to Kayla Rochelle Dickens, 31, of Surry County.

– Cristan Jade Zdanski, 59, of Surry County to Sarah Frances Jackson, 52, of Surry County.

– Jonathan Brady Pell, 19, of Patrick County, Virginia, to Abigail McKinley Bowman, 20, of Patrick County.

– Chase Matthew Jones, 24, of Yadkin County to Anna Leigh Culler, 26, of Surry County.

– Zackery Len Weddle, 28, of Surry County to Cassie Lezlee Barker, 23, of Surry County.

– Raymond Joel Salazar, 26, of Surry County to Emeli Garcia Romero, 22, of Surry County.

– Anthony Chad White, 51, of Surry County to Rebecca Lynn Branson, 55, of Surry County.

– Joel Sherman Freeman, 45, of Forsyth County to Dena Danay Oneal, 43, of Surry County.

– Jeremy Dwayne Morton Jr., 24, of Carroll County, Virginia, to Hayley Lucinda Martin, 21, of Surry County.

The Surry County Community Corrections office is seeking information on the whereabouts of the following individuals:

• Roscoe Benjamin Hensley, 50, a white male wanted on probation violations who is on probation for felony possession of methamphetamine, felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance and carrying a concealed weapon;

• Samantha Harrison Bullins, 50, a white female wanted on probation violations who is on probation for felony possession of cocaine and use/possession of drug paraphernalia;

• Jimmie Wayne Vernon, 51, a white male wanted on a post-release warrant who is on supervision for two counts felony possession of heroin, resisting a public officer, use/possession of drug paraphernalia, four counts of larceny and four counts of receiving stolen goods;

• Tina Marie Hale, 41, a white female wanted for failing to appear in court on probation violations who is on probation for resisting a public officer and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.

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

Surry strawberry season now heads full steam

The warm morning of mid-May, the sweet perfume of honeysuckles, the sounds of the birds, plus the aroma of fresh red strawberries beckon us to that special strawberry field on a country road in Surry County. Several gallons of beautiful berries are waiting for us to pick! The is nothing quite like the red tint and sweet aroma of freshly picked strawberries on your fingertips. It is always fun to go berry picking in the morning when the air is fresh, the warm sun shines down and the scent of honeysuckles and strawberries fill the countryside. This seems to be the best time to pick with no distractions. If you don’t have time to pick berries, you can always call ahead and place an order and they will have them ready when you arrive. It costs about a dollar more per gallon if they pick berries for you, but still well worth the price.

Strawberry cappers make processing easier

With a strawberry capper, you can dig the cap out of the berry without any damage to the fruit. You can purchase one at a pick-your-own field for about a dollar or at most kitchen specialty shops. They are a great investment that makes processing strawberries easier as well as cleaner.

Freezing strawberries for year-round use

Strawberries are the easiest fruit to freeze and they taste almost as good as fresh in the winter. To freeze the berries, begin the process as soon as you bring them home from the field. For best results, always use plastic quart containers instead of bags to better protect and preserve the berries. Never run any water over the strawberries because this destroys the tiny seed on the berries and also makes berries mushy. Process one quart at a time, by capping the green caps and place in a one quart pan. Fill one side of the sink with cold water and gently place one quart of berries in the water and then drain them on a dry towel before placing the berries in a plastic quart container. Avoid pressing or mashing the berries. Make sure lids are tightly sealed to avoid freezer burn. Repeat process quart by quart and immediately place in freezer.

To make a strawberry refrigerator pie

This is an easy pie to prepare and is especially great while strawberries are in season. You will need one box of vanilla wafers, two sticks light margarine, one and a half cups 10x powdered sugar, one teaspoon vanilla, one tablespoon strawberry flavoring, two large eggs, one quart fresh cut up strawberries, one pint dairy whipping cream. Run the box of vanilla wafers through the blender in grate mode. In a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan or dish, spread half the vanilla wafers. Cream the 10x powdered sugar and light margarine. Add eggs one at a time and beat well, add vanilla and strawberry flavoring (and a little milk if necessary). Spread the mixture over bottom layer of grated vanilla wafers. Mix the quart of fresh chopped strawberries with half a cup of sugar (not powdered but cane sugar). Spread the strawberries over the top of the pie mixture. Sprinkle remaining grated vanilla wafer crumbs on top of the pie. Place in refrigerator for several hours or overnight. Cut pies in squares.

A step ahead of pollen

The dusty yellow tree pollen covers the driveway, carport, and vehicles and the porch. It reaches into nostrils and promotes sneezes and wheezes and makes a dusty mess as it sticks to everything it touches. Keep the leaf blower and water hose handy as well as a bottle of spray glass cleaner. Blow the porch, carport and vehicles off every day and rinse pollen off the vehicles. Clean the windshields with glass cleaner and wipe inside the doors of vehicles and wipe the engine with a spray of Armor-All. The pollen season will extend all the way into the month of June.

We are in the midst of Blackberry Winter

The season of Blackberry Winter is still in progress which means we may still have a few more cool nights to deal with. We celebrated Saint Dunstan’s Day last week, and he says that the cool nights of May are past and the norm will be warmer days and nights. If Dunstan is right, he will have to override Blackberry Winter. We believe Dunstan has been dead too long and Blackberry Winter is still very much alive and the blooms are still white. The nights are still cool because the fire flies have not arrived. Their flickering amber lights will let us know when warm nights are here to stay. It is then that all warm weather vegetables can be planted.

The sweet aroma of wild honeysuckles wafts its way across the fields, meadows and country roads of Surry County. What a sweet perfume they emit! Stop along a country lane in Surry County and gather a bunch and bring them home to place in a bud vase so that sweet scent can waft its way through the house and delight the nostrils and promote sweet dreams.

Awaiting the arrival of springs fireflies

Now that we have reached the halfway point of the merry month of May and almost the middle of Blackberry Winter the season of the glowing fireflies cannot be that far away. There are some years we see more fireflies than others. We believe wet summers and late springs have adverse effects on fireflies. We definitely don’t think it is global warming, but it could be the human factor of using too many pesticides and chemicals or sprays. We are hoping they overcome these situations and that this will be a great and a bright season for them. Their flickering tail lights are a welcome sign of spring and all God’s children need to know how to catch a firefly and also learn what they smell like.

Keep hummingbird feeders filled up

Even with the honeysuckles in bloom, it is a great idea to keep hummingbird feeders filled so that you can keep hummers in the area of your home and also they will have an alternative food supply of nectar for a quick sip. You can make your own nectar with one cup sugar and one and a half cups water and several drops of red food coloring. You can also buy ready-to-use nectar in half gallon bottles and a powdered mix in envelopes that you mix with water. Check the feeders every three days and fill with fresh nectar to avoid fermentation.

Rows or beds of green beans can be planted

Green beans are one of America’s most popular vegetables and their are so many varities of them to choose from. They can be planted throughout the spring and summer with a harvest date of 60 to 70 days to produce a crop. Green beans can be used fresh in many recipes and casseroles and be canned and frozen for meals from the garden all winter long. The most popular of green beans are the bush varities and you can choose them in varities of Derby, Top Crop, Strike, Tenderette, Blue Lake, Bush, Kentucky Wonder Bush and White Half Runners. You can also choose from pole varities that require a longer number of days until harvest. Plant green beans in a furrow about four inches deep. Fill furrow with a layer of peat moss and sow seeds on top of the peat moss. Apply an application of Plant-Tone organic vegetable food and a layer of Black Kow composted cow manure and hill up soil on both sides of the furrow and tamp down soil with the hoe blade for good contact with the soil.

The spring dynasty of weed is beginning

With the arrival of mid-May comes the debut of the season of pesky weeds in the garden plot as they begin their destructive task. You can stay ahead of the weed population by pulling weeds up by the roots and throwing them out of the garden. Get rid of morning glories while they are young and have not developed long root systems. Pull up Bermuda grass, nut grass, crab grass and lambs quarters before they get out of hand. Weeds deprive plants of vital nutrients and choke out their growth. Do not use harmful weed killers, but use your two hands to get rid of the weed population.

The beauty of the Full Flower Moon

The full moon of May will occur on Monday, May 16, and this full moon will be named Full Flower Moon. It will be eclipsed on the Sunday night before and also early that Monday morning, an event that will last four hours and 19 minutes in its entirety and begin at 9:26 p.m. Sunday, and end at 2:30 a.m. Monday.

DOBSON — Hundreds of people will be “Running the Vines” next Saturday in pursuit of awards for top finishers, but the big winner stands to be recreation programs of Surry County and Mount Airy.

The event featuring 10K and 5K races long has been held on the grounds of Shelton Vineyards just outside Dobson — for more than 10 years. But just as those participating do from time to time, Running the Vines has had to catch a second wind after being affected by COVID-19.

This included the cancellation of the traditional springtime event in May 2020 and its postponement to September last year due to pandemic restrictions on large gatherings.

Running the Vines now is set to return to its normal schedule on the May 21 date and with renewed vigor, according to Mount Airy Assistant City Manager Darren Lewis, who previously served as recreation director.

“We have approximately 400 runners pre-registered with the goal of 500 runners by race day,” Lewis disclosed earlier this week. Sign-ups will be available until then.

Next Saturday’s schedule calls for the 10K (6.2-mile) race to start at 8 a.m. and the 5K (3.1 miles) is set for 8:15 a.m. A kids fun run is slated for 9:30, with the races to go on rain or shine.

One aspect that sets Running the Vines apart from similar events involves the setting, with both the 10K and 5K to start and finish at Shelton Vineyards, featuring views of it — hence the title of the gathering — and neighboring country farms.

The adult registration costs are $40 for the 5K run through race day and $45 for the 10K.

For those under 18, the fee is $25 through race day for the 5K and $30 for the 10K.

The cost for the kids half-mile fun run is $10.

A 5K Team Challenge also will be involved, with a minimum of five runners required.

The top-three overall male and female winners of the 5K and 10K and age division winners will receive custom awards and the 5K Team Challenge team winner a commemorative crystal team trophy. All those completing the 5K and 10K are to get a finisher’s medal.

Registration is available at runningthevines.itsyourrace.com, along with more information.

Next Saturday’s activities won’t just include the races, but live music and other activities throughout the day.

“Running the Vines” participants are invited to bring a chair or blanket, stick around and listen to Casey Noel at a bandshell on the grounds from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Scarlet Lemonade from 2 to 5 p.m. on the winery patio.

Hayrides through the vineyard, tours and tastings also will be part of the occasion, with food and beverages to be offered.

And from 6 to 9 p.m., the Shelton Vineyards Sunset Concert is to feature the Blackwater Band playing a mix of blues, country and contemporary hits.

Registered race participants age 21 and over will receive two complimentary tickets to the concert at packet pickup. Additional tickets can be bought in advance for $25 at www.sheltonvineyards.com or the day of the concert for $30.

Admission will be free for children 12 and younger.

“Running the Vines” is co-sponsored by Mount Airy Parks and Recreation and Surry County Parks and Recreation.

Lewis, the assistant city manager, pointed out that proceeds from the event will be shared with the Reeves Community Center Foundation and the Surry County Parks and Recreation Department.

This will assist with scholarships, programs, Special Olympics and health and wellness opportunities, Lewis added.

Here we go again — the same old conspiracy theories of voter fraud and voting machines that Trump and his mafia have repeated over and over to brainwash his cult.

I am so discouraged that so many of our Surry County citizens do not believe truth and facts. I have been voting for more than 60 years and have voted for both Democrats and Republicans. I have always trusted our citizens who work so hard at the polls protecting and defending our right to vote.

Thank you Michella Huff for being an honest, hard-working and reliable citizen dedicating so much time to making sure we have rights and privileges to cast our vote, and also for standing up to such political histrionics.

We must all speak out against hate and deception.

© 2018 The Mount Airy News