The following books have been received at the Mount Airy Public Library this week, and are available for checkout:

Fiction

The Rule of Law by John Lescroart

The Witch Elm by Tana French

Once a Midwife by Patricia Harman

Rescued by David Rosenfelt

Trouble the Water by Jacqueline Friedland

A Double Life by Flynn Berry

Large Print Fiction

Hazards of Time Travel by Joyce Carol Oates

A Double Life by Flynn Berry

Sunset Wars by Max Brand

Past Tense by Lee Child

Paradox by Catherine Coulter

Lethal Licorice by Amanda Flower

Lightning Swift by William MacDonald

The Mending by Susan Simpson

The Sugarhouse Blues by Mariah Stewart

Biography

Life in the Garden by Penelope LIvely

Non-fiction

Almost Everything by Anne Lamont

The Mayo Clinic Diabetes Diet by Donald Hensrud

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Game Night will be held on Tuesdays, at 6 p.m. for all ages. There are games available here, but if you have games you’d like to share, please bring them. There’s interest in playing Dungeons and Dragons, if you’d like to join!

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Preschool story times are held on Wednesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. for 2- and 3-year-olds, and on Thursday mornings at 10:30 a.m. for 4-and 5-year-olds.

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Baby Storytime, for babies from birth to 24 months, will meet on Thursday mornings at 9:30 a.m.

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The library has an Adult Coloring Class on Thursday nights, at 6 p.m. till 8 p.m. The library supplies coloring sheets, colored pencils, and markers, but are are welcome to bring their own supplies as well. The library plays relaxing music, and those participating enjoy hot drinks for those who’d like coffee or tea.

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Tai Chi is offered each Friday morning at 10 a.m. This class is for everyone, but especially for those with limited mobility, due to conditions such as arthritis.

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There will be a once-a-month Beginner’s Yoga Class with Heather Elliott, at 10:30 a.m. We meet next on Saturday, Feb. 9. Join us for this free class.

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Want to move more in 2019? Want to learn a new skill? Join us as we give you an intro to English Country Dancing. We’ll meet on the last Saturday of each month, with the next meeting set for Feb. 23.

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The Community Book Club meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month, at 1 p.m. New members are always welcome.

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Teens, aged 12-19 years old, are invited to a club at the library, called Choices, where we’ll discuss books, movies, music, art, whatever interests them. We will meet on the first Thursday of each month, at 4 p.m.

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There is an online book club for elementary aged students, that can be accessed with one of our library cards and a pin number, at the website www.nckids.overdrive.com. Use of this online library feature is free with your library card, and they have thousands of other titles to download and read. Check it out!

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Want to try using a 3-d printer? Free Print Saturday is Feb. 9. We can print any small jobs for you, if it is one that can be completed before we close at 1 p.m.

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Our February Creative Writing Workshop, for teens and adults, will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 6 p.m.

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Let’s go Back to the 80’s! Be at the library on Friday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m., for an 80s themed costume contest, trivia contest, and dance party.

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Meet the author Sarah McCoy at the library on Sunday, Feb. 17, at 2 p.m. She will be here to discuss her newest book, Marilla of Green Gables.

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On Saturday, March 2, kids are invited to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss at the library for Read Across America Day, at 11 a.m., as we Read to a Cat! Tiny Tigers Cat Rescue will bring cats and kittens for kids to practice their reading skills, and we’ll also make cat toys of yarn for the cats to take with them when they leave.

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Teen Tech Week will be celebrated in style, Steampunk Style, at the library during the week of March 4-8. On Tuesday, March 5, at 4 p.m., teens and young adults are invited to strut their Steampunk Fashion stuff down the red carpet, and afterwards we will enjoy a tea party together. Then, on Wednesday, March 6, at 4 p.m., teens and young adults are invited to a steampunk themed jewelry making workshop. On Thursday, March 7, at 4 p.m., the teen library club, called Choices, will read the steampunk genre book, Etiquette and Espionage, by Gail Carriger, for this month’s book club selection.

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Questions? Call the library at 336-789-5108. Find us on Facebook at Friends of the Mount Airy Public Library.

Go to our website to view our events and catalog online at nwrl.org.

The library will be closed on Monday, Jan. 21 in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Library hours:

Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Friday 8:30 a.m. till 5 p.m.

Saturday 10 a.m. till 1 p.m.

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Art Matters is a weekly column which highlights some of the upcoming performance art, display art, and similar events in the greater Mount Airy area.

Thursday, Feb. 7

Brews and Brushes: Galentine’s Day, Thirsty Souls Community Brewing, 225 Market Street, 6:30 p.m., $30. Join the class for a gorgeous “Keep Shining” painting, all materials provided. Arrive 10-15 minutes early to select your seat; craft beer, wine, and food will be available for purchase.

Friday, Feb. 8

Valentine Craft, Andy Griffith Museum Theatre, 3:30 p.m., $5. Make a Valentine craft and enjoy a sweet treat.

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Black History Month Celebration featuring The Allen Boys, Andy Griffith Playhouse, 7 p.m. Free. Join North Carolina’s only touring sacred steel band for an evening of music that will move you.

Movies This Week

Vice (R), Historic Earle Theatre, $7. Sunday, Feb. 3 at 4 and 7 p.m., Monday Feb. 4 and Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. each day. The story of Dick Cheney, an unassuming bureaucratic Washington insider, who quietly wielded immense power as vice president to George W. Bush, reshaping the country in many ways. Nominated for eight Academy Awards (including Best Actor and Best Picture) and Christian Bale’s performance earned him the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

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The Hate U Give PG-13), Historic Earle Theatre, $7. Friday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 9 at 4 and 7 p.m. Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Now, facing pressure from all sides of the community, Starr must find her voice and stand up for what’s right.

Ongoing Programs

Special Friends Line Dance, Tuesdays, 11 a.m., Andy Griffith Museum Theatre, Free. Come out and learn fun routines with the council’s artistic directors.

Kids Art (ages 4-8), Tuesdays, 4-5 p.m., Surry Arts Council Photo Gallery, $30 per month. From finger painting to portraiture, come explore the amazing world of art. All materials provided.

Beginning Acting (ages 6 and older) Tuesdays, 4-5 p.m., Andy Griffith Playhouse, $30 per month. Learn how to take your energy and turn it into a performance.

Painting Class (ages 12 and older). Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Surry Arts Council Photo Gallery, $30 per month. Come and explore different types of painting techniques in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. All skill levels welcome and all materials provided.

Line Dance, Wednesdays, 10 a.m., Andy Griffith Museum Theatre, Free for Surry Arts Council members (an annual membership costs $10. Come out and learn fun routines and get a low-impact workout. Led by artistic directors.

Advanced Kids Art (ages 9-12), Wednesdays, 4-5 p.m., Surry Arts Council Photo Gallery, $30 per month. From finger painting to portraiture, come explore the amazing world of art! All materials provided.

Youth One Acts (ages 10 and up). Wednesdays, 4 -5 p.m., Andy Griffith Playhouse, $30 per month. Learn short scenes to perform at the end of the month and learn acting skills, memorization, and stage presence. Every participant has a part.

Free TAPS Youth Flat Foot Dance Lessons Thursday, 4:30-5 p.m., Historic Earle Theatre. Join instructor Shelby Coleman to learn this fun, percussive traditional dance. This program is sponsored in part by a TAPS grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Free TAPS (Traditional Arts Programs) Youth Music Lessons on Thursdays, 5:30-6:15 p.m. for fiddle and mandolin lessons; 6:15-6:45 p.m. for guitar and banjo. Historic Earle Theatre. Award-winning musician and teacher Jim Vipperman instructs and instruments are provided. Come learn fiddle, mandolin, guitar or banjo! This program is sponsored in part by a TAPS grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Free Jam Session, Thursdays, 7 p.m., Historic Earle Theatre. Local and visiting musicians are welcome. Music ranges from bluegrass and old-time to gospel and country. Musicians take turns playing, singing, and backing up others. Many come just to sit and listen or dance. This program is supported in part by a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

WPAQ Merry-Go-Round, Saturdays, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Historic Earle Theatre, $8, which includes admission to the Andy Griffith Museum. WPAQ Merry-Go-Round is the second longest continuously running live radio broadcast in the nation (second only to the Grand Ole Opry). Radio station WPAQ, 740 AM, produces this weekly live broadcast of local, regional, and national performers.

For additional information or to purchase tickets or register for classes, contact the Surry Arts Council at 336-786-7998 or visit the website at www.surryarts.org. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/surryartscouncil/.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_venues-.jpg

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It’s that time of year again, when the annual Surry Arts Council’s Arts Ball rolls around, offering a chance for those attending to have a nice dinner and entertainment while raising money for the council’s school-based arts programming.

The event is set for Friday, Feb. 15, at Cross Creek Country Club. The annual gathering raises approximately $30,000 per year in support of arts programs in the schools, according to Melissa Sumner, special events coordinator. “All of the proceeds from Arts Ball fund our school arts programs,” Sumner said.

“We work with Surry County Schools, Mount Airy City Schools, and Millennium Charter Academy to ensure that the programs that we bring are high quality and relevant to their goals, grade level, and curriculum,” she said. More than 10,000 students attended at least one program at the Andy Griffith Playhouse and Historic Earle Theatre this school year and had arts programs visit their schools. Sumner said that many will have the opportunity to attend two or three events.

“This year we had a wide variety of shows by outstanding artists and educators,” Sumner said.

Kindergarten, first and second grades were visited by the A. J. Fletcher Opera Institute of the UNC School of the Arts performing “Hansel and Gretel;” third graders visited the Andy Griffith Playhouse for “The Nutcracker” performed by New York Theatre for Young Audiences; Gardner Arts Network brought “The Wright Brothers” to life for fourth and fifth graders; just to name a few. A cARTwheels Grant from the North Carolina Arts Council brought Mike Wiley’s “Tired Souls: The Montgomery Bus Boycott” to sixth through twelfth grades across the county.

“Mike Wiley is amazing,” Sumner said. “He really engages the students and the teachers and the discussions that result are important. We always have great feedback from his visits.”

Funds raised for school programs are also used as leverage for grants from other entities, Sumner said. One such $8,000 grant from the North Carolina Arts Council supports the TAPS program. The TAPS program takes music and instruments into the schools, first, and then continues with year-round stringed instrument and old-time dance lessons at the Historic Earle Theatre. The lessons are held each Thursday and focus on introducing children in grades four through eight to traditional string instruments.

This past year, Duke Energy provided at $3,000 grant to partially match the NC Arts Council grant. “We want to encourage kids to take an active role in the arts,” Sumner said, “We want to try to engage them in multiple ways. Our partnerships help us make it possible and we’re so grateful for them.”

O ne of the new ways that the arts council is seeking to engage area youth is the Surry Arts Film Festival. Students in grades 9-12 are encouraged to enter their original films, which will be screened at the Historic Earle Theatre on Tuesday, April 9, at 7 p.m. Awards will be presented in categories including cinematography, editing, visual effects, animation, director, and overall.

“Several students have expressed interest and I think we’re going to see a variety of really interesting films. I’m looking forward to it,” Sumner said.

More than 400 items were auctioned at last year’s Arts Ball, and more than 250 people attended. Staff, school personnel, and many volunteers have been collecting items in preparation for the event, and Sumner expects to have a wide selection of items this year. “We welcome everyone. It’s a wonderful evening for those who attend and a great way to ensure the arts remain a part of the lives and education of the children in Surry County.”

The optional preview bidding is from noon until 5 p.m., and doors open at 6 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres are passed at 6:15 p.m., soup is passed at 7:30 p.m., and the seated dinner is at 8 p.m. The silent auction also ends at 8 p.m. Dinner is followed by dancing and live music by the Band of Oz.

Tickets are $75 and can be purchased online at www.surryarts.org, by phone at 336-786-7998 or at the Surry Arts Council office at 218 Rockford Street during regular business hours. For additional information, contact Dana Whitaker at 336-786-7998 or dana@surryarts.org.

More than 250 people turned out for last year’s Surry Arts Council Arts Ball to enjoy an evening of food, entertainment, and to help raise money for the council’s school-related programs.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_ArtsBall.jpgMore than 250 people turned out for last year’s Surry Arts Council Arts Ball to enjoy an evening of food, entertainment, and to help raise money for the council’s school-related programs. Submitted photo

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Most artists toil for years to get their work into a gallery, but 13-year-old Payton Barrett of Mount Airy did it in a year, and she sold out by the second day of the show.

As a member of Winston-Salem’s Youth Art Society, Payton was one of several young artists selected to participate in a benefit exhibition for Gateway Nature Preserve, called “Inspired by Nature.”

The preserve’s mission is to develop a vibrant urban environmental education center next to Washington Park, near downtown Winston-Salem. Commissions received on work sold at “Inspired by Nature” raised more than $5,000 for the initiative.

The show ran Jan. 18 – 20 at Artworks Gallery on Trade Street in downtown Winston-Salem, where the gallery has been a cornerstone of the city’s arts district since 1984.

Payton created two pieces for the show: brightly colored acrylic abstracts collaged with dried flowers and leaves, in keeping with the theme of the show.

“We dropped off the pieces on Friday,” said Payton, “and there was a showing open to everyone.”

Right off the bat, Payton sold a painting to Donna Pellett, of Dogs of Art. Pellett is a member of the board of directors of Winston-Salem’s Art for Art’s Sake Group.

“That meant a lot,” said Allison Barrett, Payton’s mother. “Making a sale to someone who really knows art.”

“And it was the most expensive one,” said Payton.

Saturday, Day Two of the exhibit, was a “Meet the Artist” day, and Payton stood next to her work, and talked to people who were interested in it. Talking to people, especially strangers, is not something Payton considers to be her strong suit, but she did it, and sold her second piece of the show.

“My friends were pointing at me, and making faces, because I was talking to strangers,” she laughed after the show was over.

Sunday was the final day of the exhibit, but by then, Payton was sold out. She’s still a little dazed by her success.

“My parents told me my painting was good, but I didn’t really believe them,” she said. “They have to say that. They don’t have any other choice.”

Payton began to paint in 2017, starting by painting kindness rocks for Vincent’s Legacy, and has moved on from there. She plans to continue painting, and is considering going to art school. Right now, she’s looking at Rhode Island School of Design, but she’s only in the seventh grade, so she has a little time to decide.

“Art is a way for me to express my feelings,” she said. “I can’t always express how I feel in words, but it all goes onto the canvas. I can’t write about my feelings, but I can paint. I put everything into them.”

Payton wants other people to see what she sees in her paintings, and to feel what she feels, but it doesn’t always work like that. Right now, she is in sort of an “eye” period. Several of her paintings have a single, large human eye in them, floating above the rest of the painting’s subject matter.

“My room is full of them,” she said. “There are (she counts) about five now,” and laughingly admits that some people find it a little creepy. “But I feel like they’re watching over me.”

On Friday, Payton received a check for the sale of her paintings, and she was excited about being able to use the money for more art supplies.

“Or a guitar,” she said. “I’d like to have a guitar.”

Payton Barrett poses for a photo in front of her artwork displayed in Winston-Salem’s Artworks Gallery.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_IMG_4501.jpgPayton Barrett poses for a photo in front of her artwork displayed in Winston-Salem’s Artworks Gallery. Submitted photos

Payton Barrett chats up her first buyer, Donna Pellett of Dogs of Art in Winston-Salem.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_IMG_4502.jpgPayton Barrett chats up her first buyer, Donna Pellett of Dogs of Art in Winston-Salem. Submitted photos

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Whoever bought a certain lottery ticket in Surry County has become $50,000 richer as the result of a Powerball drawing Saturday night.

That ticket was sold at Lil Mtn Cupboard, a store located on Little Mountain Road in the Ararat community.

However, the identity of the ticket holder was unknown Monday by lottery officials.

“We won’t know who the winner is until they claim (the $50,000 prize),” said Kathleen Jacob, public affairs specialist with the North Carolina Education Lottery in Raleigh.

“The earliest they could claim it would be today,” Jacob added Monday regarding the fact that lottery winners must wait until the next business day when a lottery office is open after a weekend drawing to pick up their cash.

“They can actually claim it at the local claims center,” the lottery spokeswoman explained, with the nearest such facility to Surry County located in Greensboro.

Winners have 180 days from a drawing to redeem their prizes, Jacob said.

She also did not know Monday when the ticket was bought at the store in Ararat. “Normally, they get sold the day of (a

drawing).”

Under the rules for Powerball — a lottery game that covers 44 states including North Carolina — a ticket buyer selects, or lets a terminal randomly pick, five numbers from one to 69 for a series of white balls and a number from one to 26 for a red ball.

Matching all six numbers in the drawing means winning the jackpot, which starts at $40 million and for Saturday’s contest was a whopping $191 million.

The ticket bought in Surry County came extremely close to the big prize, according to Jacob, due to matching four of the five white balls and the red Powerball. The odds of that result were one in 913,129.

“So they were one number short,” Jacob said of the jackpot.

Meanwhile, a $2 million winning ticket emerged from Hendersonville, south of Asheville, from Saturday night’s drawing due to matching all five white balls, beating odds of one in 11.7 million.

The prize for that ticket doubled to $2 million due to an extra $1 Power Play feature being added.

The $2 million prize won in North Carolina was the largest nationally from Saturday’s contest. The jackpot for the next Powerball drawing on Wednesday will climb to $204 million, worth $124.2 million through a lump-sum payout.

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• The encountering of a traffic checkpoint in Mount Airy Saturday led to a Mount Airy man being charged with a felony drug violation at a Carter Street location, according to city police department reports. Mickey Lee Mabe, 48, of 492 N. Franklin Road, is accused of possession of methamphetamine and driving while license revoked. He was released under a $500 unsecured bond and slated for a March 26 appearance in Surry District Court.

• Tommy Darnell Heath, 53, of 134 Hawaii Lane, was served with outstanding warrants on six felony counts of breaking and entering of a motor vehicle Friday after he was located by police at the Speedway convenience store on West Pine Street.

The charges had been filed on Sept. 29 through the Pilot Mountain Police Department. Heath was released under a $10,000 unsecured bond to appear in District Court on Feb. 25.

• Property valued at $413 was stolen on Jan. 28 from the Roses store on West Independence Boulevard by two unknown suspects. Among the items allegedly stolen were a 50-inch Sceptre television set, a Fisher 12-inch speaker, a touch-screen tablet computer of unknown make, a soft drink and an energy drink.

The property was taken after being left unattended.

• A wallet owned by Robert Nelson Josey of Tanglewood Drive was stolen on Jan. 27 from a locker at Pro Health on North Pointe Boulevard. The wallet, which was in a pants pocket, contained an undisclosed sum of cash, two checks, a Visa credit card, a Social Security card, a driver’s license and a Toyota key.

• Police were told on Jan. 26 that a rifle and accessories, valued altogether at $1,330, had been stolen from the Mayberry Avenue residence of the crime victim, Jessie Taylor Parker, after the residence was entered by unknown means. The rifle was identified as a Del-Ton AR-15, with an advanced micro-dot scope and a 30-round magazine additionally listed as missing.

• Also on Jan. 26, a break-in of a motor vehicle was discovered at the home of Mark Nivens Morency on West Haymore Street, where a tool was used to break the driver-side window of his 2006 Dodge Dakota pickup, which was then entered. Nothing was listed as missing, with the damage estimated at $200.

• Julia Maria Tilley, 23, of 1136 Granite Road, is facing two counts each of larceny and possession of stolen property, charges filed on Jan. 21 and 22 as a result of thefts from Holcomb Hardware and Mayberry Market, respectively. Tilley is accused of taking two wagons from the hardware store, one of which was recovered, with $120 in restitution owed for the other.

She allegedly stole merchandise valued at $51 from the other business, part of which was recovered to result in restitution owed of $26. Tilley further was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance. She is scheduled to be in Surry District Court on March 12.

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DOBSON — Surry Community College will be offering a Commercial Drone Operator course for students who want to learn how to operate drones and prepare to earn a certification and permit.

The class will be meet on Saturday, Feb. 9, and again on Saturday, Feb. 23, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Room J-107, Surry Community College, 630 S. Main St., Dobson. Additional coursework will be completed online, outside of class time.

This training will prepare learners for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS)/Drone Flight Certification. Upon completion, students will be prepared to sit for the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Knowledge Test and NC-DOT UAS Operator Permit.

Advance registration and payment of $71 is required. Register online or use the printable registration form found at www.surry.edu/personal-enrichment to mail, walk-in, or fax registration and payment. For more information, call 336-386-3618.

A two-day Commercial Drone Operator class will be offered at Surry Community College on Feb. 9 and 23.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_drone-operator-PRINT.jpgA two-day Commercial Drone Operator class will be offered at Surry Community College on Feb. 9 and 23.

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A mid-morning wreck in Pilot Mountain claimed the life of a local man Monday, though authorities were not releasing the man’s name late Monday because not all of his family had been notified of his death.

Surry County Emergency Services Director John Shelton said the single-vehicle wreck may have been precipitated by a medical emergency striking the driver.

Shelton said the crash occurred at 10:25 a.m. on Old Highway 52, where the road intersects with Key Street.

“The gentleman driving left the road in his pick-up truck and hit a tree,” Shelton said. “He was pronounced dead at the scene of the wreck.” He added it took crews about 20 minutes to extricate him from the badly mangled pick-up truck.

Shelton said the driver had been at the Armfield Civic Center just a short distance away, then left the center and wrecked while driving down the street.

“He had some sort of medical emergency while he was driving,” Shelton said. “We’re confident that’s what happened. There was no other reason for him to have left the roadway, his vehicle just went off the road and straight into the tree.” He added the driver had a history of medical issues.

Shelton said the Pilot Mountain Police Department had jurisdiction over the wreck, and the Pilot Mountain Rescue Squad and Pilot Mountain Fire Department worked the scene. Attempts to reach the Pilot Mountain Police Department for additional information were not successful.

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There’s no telling how many old photographs; scrapbooks; family Bibles listing births, marriages and deaths; or long-ago club and business records are stored away in attics or trunks across Surry County.

But efforts are now under way to bring clarity to the situation by getting as many of those materials as possible out of the cobwebs — with the public’s help — and into the open to be preserved forever.

That is the aim of the Saving Our Communities-Surry County Digital Heritage project in seeking to solicit, catalog and share materials related to the history of the various communities around the county on a special website. In this way, important information and visual depictions of those areas are guaranteed to escape a fate of being lost to the sands of time.

Although the first official collection date for receiving historic items from the public was Jan. 26, the heritage project was hatched in 2018 with the receiving of $50,000 in funding from the State Library of North Carolina.

The Library Services and Technology Grant involved required a $5,000 local match for what is considered an ambitious project, one that is blazing a trail compared to other counties in the state.

“What we’re doing is kind of unique — there aren’t many others who are doing what we’re doing,” said the coordinator of the project, Dr. David Wright, associate dean of learning resources at Surry Community College.

“I don’t know of any right now,” Wright added.

The Surry County project is operating through the college in partnership with other local institutions including Mount Airy Museum of Regional History; the Northwestern Regional Library (including its branches in Mount Airy, Pilot Mountain and Elkin); the Surry County African-American Historical and Genealogical Society; the Surry Genealogical Association; the Surry County Historical Society; and county schools.

Materials wanted

So far in the early stages of the project, old photos and other materials already on hand at facilities such as the museum in Mount Airy have been uploaded to the project’s website (at http://www.surrydigitalheritage.org), according to museum Curator Amy Snyder.

Recently the project partners have been getting the word out and gearing up for a full-scale solicitation of items from persons with links to different local communities. These can be loaned temporarily, or donated, in order to be scanned digitally and made available for others to consult or enjoy in the future.

In addition to old pictures, scrapbooks and family Bibles, the list includes store records, daybooks, minutes of club meetings, farm records — “anything of yesteryear that can be preserved digitally,” according to promotional material for the project.

To inquire about submitting such materials or to make drop-off arrangements, interested persons can contact Sebrina Mabe (at mabesc@surry.edu or 336-386-3459); Amy Snyder (aesnyder@northcarolinamuseum.org or 336-786-4478); or David Wright (wrightd@surry.edu or 336-386-3252).

“We have special forms we fill out called ‘temporary custody,”’ Snyder said of the process involved to ensure proper handling of items borrowed.

After being scanned into the digital database, materials loaned will be returned.

Even those with no historic photos or other materials to share can help if they know of someone with such items. They can notify one of the contact persons, who then will reach out to the people involved.

Focusing on communities is an ideal way to gain a full picture of life in Surry in olden times, project organizers say. Each tended to be a hub of activity for miles around and usually was home to a neighborhood school, general store and maybe a post office.

While only remnants of some communities exist today, the heritage effort can help people learn about what those areas were like in the “glory days,” organizers say.

“I’m always fond of the school photos,” Snyder said of vintage items. “I just think all those are really cool.”

Effort could expand

The Saving Our Communities-Surry County Digital Heritage project is a one-year program, but could be expanded if another grant application to the State Library of North Carolina is successful.

It would fund efforts to assimilate historical materials associated with the churches in Surry County.

“Because they are such a big part of the communities,” Wright explained. The grant application is due at the end of February.

“We’re trying to make it something that’s going to be ongoing,” Wright said of the digital heritage program.

He is optimistic about the chances of the second grant, mentioning that the state library organization has shown a willingness to fund cooperative efforts such as the one in Surry which involve a number of entities.

General questions and comments regarding the project or website can be emailed to surrydigitalheritage@gmail.com

Dr. David Wright, associate dean of learning resources at Surry Community College, and Curator Amy Snyder of Mount Airy Museum of Regional History review material added to a database for the Saving Our Communities-Surry County Digital Heritage project. Wright is the coordinator of the effort that involves a partnership between the college, museum and other entitiies.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_Scan-this.jpgDr. David Wright, associate dean of learning resources at Surry Community College, and Curator Amy Snyder of Mount Airy Museum of Regional History review material added to a database for the Saving Our Communities-Surry County Digital Heritage project. Wright is the coordinator of the effort that involves a partnership between the college, museum and other entitiies.

A photo of a pre-World War I baseball team in Westfield is an example of the type of historial materials sought for the digital heritage program. Shown taking a break from action on the field are the batboy, Roy Inman; (front row, from left) Eli Cook, Joel Jessup, Luther Inman, Joe "Smokey Joe" Hill, Dan Inman; (back row) John Inman, Sid Cook, Richard Pell and Gaston Hill.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_Old-baseball-dudes.jpgA photo of a pre-World War I baseball team in Westfield is an example of the type of historial materials sought for the digital heritage program. Shown taking a break from action on the field are the batboy, Roy Inman; (front row, from left) Eli Cook, Joel Jessup, Luther Inman, Joe "Smokey Joe" Hill, Dan Inman; (back row) John Inman, Sid Cook, Richard Pell and Gaston Hill.

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The Surry Arts Council’s 28th annual free Black History Month Celebration later this week features the Allen Boys, a group returning to the Mount Airy stage for an evening of celebration.

The Allen Boys are DaShawn Hickman (steel guitar), Mitchel Fonville (bass), Camron Moore (guitar), and Ranzy Moore (drums.)

The only touring sacred steel band in North Carolina, the band members grew up in the small House of God Church in Mount Airy where they played for church services and developed their chemistry and their music.

Encouraged by their musical families, they formed the group and began touring. As the band’s Facebook page says “The music that we play makes you forget about everything that happened in the day and just have fun.”

The modern pedal steel guitar has its roots in Hawaiian lap steel, but African-American House of God Churches transformed the playing style in the 1930s. Unlike most other musical styles, where a lead guitar or an organ drives the service, in this style the pedal steel guitar takes the lead, sometimes even mimicking singing.

Artists such as Robert Randolph of Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Chuck Campbell of The Campbell Brothers, and Calvin Cooke have taken the sound beyond the church and helped to popularize it.

This event is presented by the Surry Arts Council and sponsored in part by a Grassroots Grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

The concert and celebration will be held Friday, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Andy Griffith Playhouse. For additional information, contact Heather Elliott at 336-786-7998 or heather@surryarts.org.

The Allen Boys, North Carolina’s only touring sacred steel band, will be performing Friday night in a free concert at The Andy Griffith Playhouse in Mount Airy. The band is made up of, from left, Mitchel Fonville, DaShawn Hickman, Ranzy Moore, and Camron Moore.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_AllenBoys.jpgThe Allen Boys, North Carolina’s only touring sacred steel band, will be performing Friday night in a free concert at The Andy Griffith Playhouse in Mount Airy. The band is made up of, from left, Mitchel Fonville, DaShawn Hickman, Ranzy Moore, and Camron Moore. Submitted photo

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Tammy Whitt’s Health Science students at Mount Airy High School recently had the chance to get some hands-on experience when the staff at Northern Hospital of Surry County conducted mock healthcare interviews with the students.

After weeks of research, and hours of practice, students were able to showcase newly learned communication skills, technology skills, professional behavior skills and knowledge they gained from research about their future health care careers.

In addition to the interview, students were provided hands-on experience with donning sterile gloves and using state of the art medical equipment.

At left, Mount Airy High School students Katheryn Lachino, Kayden Jenkins, and Olivia Phillips participate in mock interviews conducted by Northern Hospital of Surry County staff.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_2.jpgAt left, Mount Airy High School students Katheryn Lachino, Kayden Jenkins, and Olivia Phillips participate in mock interviews conducted by Northern Hospital of Surry County staff.

Dean Combs of Northern Hospital, rear left, instructs students, from left, Peyton Harmon, Jordan Martin, and Gizelle Perez-Gonzalez, along with Mount Airy City Schools Superintendent Dr. Kim Morrison, on the skill of donning sterile gloves.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_4.jpgDean Combs of Northern Hospital, rear left, instructs students, from left, Peyton Harmon, Jordan Martin, and Gizelle Perez-Gonzalez, along with Mount Airy City Schools Superintendent Dr. Kim Morrison, on the skill of donning sterile gloves.

Tammy Whitt and her students pose for a picture with staff members from Northern Hospital.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_3.jpgTammy Whitt and her students pose for a picture with staff members from Northern Hospital.

Elizabeth Carreon, left, learns how to use a vein finder.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_1.jpgElizabeth Carreon, left, learns how to use a vein finder.

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A group of family members, town officials and local residents assembled in the parking lot of Tlaquepaque Restaurant on Old U.S. 52 Bypass in Pilot Mountain early Saturday morning to honor the memories of fallen Pilot Mountain Police Officers Glenn Branscome and Ralph East, and to mark the 50th anniversary of their passing.

The officers were killed in the line of duty on Feb. 3, 1969, after stopping a vehicle containing four men who were suspected of armed robberies earlier that evening in Forsyth County.

According to Junior Fulton, who at the time served as Pilot Mountain’s police chief, the town’s police force at the time consisted of four officers including himself. The death of the two officers shook the small town and prompted improvements statewide in police firearms training.

“I appreciate everybody who came out this morning,” Fulton said. “A lot of times as the days go by, we forget. It really means a lot that people remember and support this.”

The annual remembrance began with a brief ceremony in the restaurant parking lot. Mayor Evan Cockerham noted the significance of the day and told current officers and first responders that, “we support you and pray for you every day.”

Pilot Mountain Police Chief Darryl Bottoms voiced his appreciation to all who came out. He also pointed to a new display arranged on a nearby table. Large framed pictures of East and Branscome accompanied by a local newspaper article describing the event had been donated by the Phillip Duggins family.

They were accompanied by a display highlighting a March 1970 issue of True Detective magazine which featured an article describing the tragedy along with numerous photos. The cover noted that Pilot Mountain had lost half its police force in the fatal confrontation. The display had been donated by Chief Bottoms and the Town of Pilot Mountain.

Those taking part then joined in a 1.5 mile memorial walk along Old U.S. 52 Bypass, tracing the path taken by Branscome and East 50 years earlier as they had followed the suspect vehicle. The walk ended behind East Surry High School, on the grounds of the Armfield Center, at a large granite monument recognizing the sacrifice made in the line of duty by officers Branscome and East.

Walkers then gathered at the monument to hear David Beal, the SBI investigator for the case. Beal, who at the time was 27 years old, recalled the night and shared its details.

“I arrived here at 10 p.m.,” he said. “To be perfectly honest, I was scared to death, shaking and cold. I didn’t know what I was facing.”

Beal went on to describe how the pieces of the investigation quickly began to fall into place. A Winston-Salem police officer spotted the suspects and called for help. An arrest was made. Beal was part of a team searching for the murder weapon, which had been discarded, and the next morning he spotted the gun in a shallow creek near Mount Airy.

Walkers then joined primary organizer Chet Jessup in a responsive reading of the poem, “We Remember Them.”

East was born in Surry County on August 23, 1909, as the middle of five sons to Thomas and Francis East.

After growing up on a farm, he married Viola Hall. The couple went on to have six children, Rachel, Edward, Shelby, Linda, Don and R.J.

After becoming interested in law enforcement, East worked for the Elkin Police Department. That was followed by a stint with the Surry County Sheriff’s Department before he joined the Pilot Mountain Police Department.

Born in Carroll County, Virginia, on March 7, 1922, Branscome was the son of Charlie and Lucretia Spence Branscome.

He enlisted in the United States Army and, during World War II, went on to fight in the Pacific. He was honorably discharged in 1945. On August 24, 1946, he married June Estelle Shockley. The couple had two sons and a daughter, Michael, Terry and La Von.

Branscome had worked in the manufacturing of monuments for many years before joining the Surry County Sheriff’s Department. He later joined the Pilot Mountain Police Department.

Among the several family members present were R.J. East and Mike Brancome, sons of the fallen officers. East had been 21 at the time of his father’s passing while Branscome was 17. Branscome went on to join the Winston-Salem Police Department at the age of 21 and served 30 years, advancing to the rank of captain, before retiring in 2002.

“It’s good that people still remember this,” Branscome noted. “It’s good for the first responders today. When this happened, something like this was rare. Now it happens too frequently and they need our support.”

Family members of East and Branscome gather around the monument memorializing the fallen officers.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_DSC08526.jpgFamily members of East and Branscome gather around the monument memorializing the fallen officers.

Glenn Branscome’s son, Mike Branscome and Mike’s wife Brenda lead a group of walkers along Old Highway 52 Bypass behind East Surry High School as the American flag flies overhead. Walkers followed the path where Branscome and East were fatally shot after stopping a vehicle suspected of being involved in two armed robberies in Forsyth County.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_DSC08512.jpgGlenn Branscome’s son, Mike Branscome and Mike’s wife Brenda lead a group of walkers along Old Highway 52 Bypass behind East Surry High School as the American flag flies overhead. Walkers followed the path where Branscome and East were fatally shot after stopping a vehicle suspected of being involved in two armed robberies in Forsyth County.

These photos of officers Glenn Branscome and Ralph East were part of a display donated by the Phillip Duggins family.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_DSC08488.jpgThese photos of officers Glenn Branscome and Ralph East were part of a display donated by the Phillip Duggins family.

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DOBSON — Surry County is just two weeks away from opening bids for the first of five school projects planned for this year.

Consultant Bill Powell appeared before the county Board of Commissioners Monday night to talk about bonds and upcoming dates related to projects for all three school systems.

“There’s a lot of work to do and a lot of work to complete. … So there’s not much time,” Powell said.

He gave the board members a handout that showed some of the relevant dates. The schools advertised for construction bids starting on Dec. 18.

The first bid to come due is Feb. 20 for an estimated $1 million to replace the outside HVAC unit at Mount Airy Middle School.

The commissioners can publish a notice that week for a public hearing to be held during the March 4 county meeting, the calendar suggests.

At the same time the county commissioners were meeting Monday, the Surry County Board of Education also was meeting with architects to nail down final details of three projects where the bids will come due in March. These three are renovations to Dobson, Franklin and Mountain Park elementary schools.

Powell gave the estimates for this work as $7,630,000 for Dobson, $7,371,000 for Franklin, and $8,357,000 for Mountain Park.

Dr. Travis Reeves, county superintendent, said Tuesday that a pre-construction bid meeting will be held on Feb. 20 at 1 p.m. at Dobson Elementary. Those interested in bidding on the three county school jobs can ask questions and visit the three locations before turning in a bid by March 5. The work is slated to begin May 1.

“The renovation work at each school is critical to the long-term viability of their campus,” said Dr. Reeves. “These improvements will greatly enhance the academic learning environment while making our schools safer.”

March 12 is the due date for bids on Elkin High School’s gym project. The estimated cost on this project is $9,068,000.

The county board can approve these bids at its March 18 meeting.

By April 2 the county should hear from the Local Government Commission on its approval. This is where Mount Airy faltered a year earlier on the Barter Theatre project. The LGC ruled that the project as put forth at that time would not have been in the best financial interests of the city.

Doug Carter, a financial advisor who also has worked with the city, told the county a year ago that its financial position is strong and that it could take on the $30 million in debt for the various projects in the works (the five school projects, the historic courthouse and the former Lowes/Just Save building).

On Monday Powell said that he appreciates the bidders’ efforts in producing detailed bids.

“Costs are increasing — even since 2017 when prices rose sharply across the country,” he said. “There is a tremendous amount of inflation going on.”

Powell presented a graph that showed a steep drop in 2008 during the recession.

From 2009 to 2016, there was a steady inflation of construction costs of about 1.5 to 2 percent a year, he said. However, over the past two years prices have gone up much faster.

At this point so close to taking out bonds to pay for projects, it’s sort of too late to start changing things and projecting higher, Powell suggested. Instead, he offered, what the county board might want to do is make the essential parts of the work the base bid with additional work put down as alternates. That way if the prices come in too high, the board can make some tough decisions on what alternates will or won’t be included in the projects at this time.

Chairman Van Tucker said he could see Dr. Myra Cox, Elkin school superintendent, in attendance. He asked if she had more to add.

Dr. Cox said she and the Elkin school board had been working diligently with Powell and the architects on what these bid alternates might be. It’s not what they wanted, but she understand the realities of price increases. She said the schools are on schedule to have the finalized plans to the county board by the March 18 meeting.

Cox noted that the renovation and expansion of the gymnasium serves both the high school and middle school as well as makes the gym compliant with the American Disabilities Act.

Commissioner Larry Johnson pointed out that the courthouse, government service center and landfill bids all came in a little under expectations, so he has his hopes up that the increases won’t be too high and “we can get what we want.”

Tucker said he is “optimistically hopeful” that costs won’t skyrocket on these project.

Commissioner Eddie Harris asked Powell if he is expecting a good number of bids.

Powell said that building contractors are busy now, but he is still expecting a good quantity of bidders. Addressing both the board and the audience in attendance, Powell said this is an opportunity for local companies to put in a bid, which can help Surry County by keeping tax dollars local.

House arrest

In other county news, the board approved a plan presented last month to allow the court system to release suspects on house arrest before their trial dates.

Judges Angela Puckett and Bill Southern, District Attorney Ricky Bowman, Clerk of Court Neil Brendle, Sheriff Steve Hiatt and Chief Deputy Paul Barker all appeared before the commissioners last month to discuss a plan for pre-trial release.

The system would be similar to other house arrests programs where a convicted criminal is sentenced to stay within his or her home until the sentence is served.

In this case, it would be from the time the suspect is processed at the jail and magistrate’s office up until a trial.

Because of chronic overcrowding at the Surry County Detention Center, inmates are transported to another location which then costs $40 a day per inmate. The equipment and monitoring fee for a suspect at home for house arrest is $9 a day. Over a month’s time, that would be a savings of about $900.

On Monday night Tucker reminded the audience that the courts have set up the system so that one strike is all it takes to keep a suspect in the jail. The sheriff, district attorney and judge all have to be in agreement before the suspect is eligible for the program.

Something like this won’t eliminate the need for an expansion of the current jail, Tucker said last month, but it could buy time while the county is paying down other debts such as the $30 million in bonds for current projects.

The board then voted unanimously in favor of the plan.

Consultant Bill Powell addresses the county board concerning upcoming school renovation/construction projects for all three districts.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_IMGP2116_filtered-1.jpgConsultant Bill Powell addresses the county board concerning upcoming school renovation/construction projects for all three districts. Jeff Linville | The News

The new county board meeting room in the historic courthouse has two big-screen TVs so that the audience can see the graphics that the commissioners have on their computer monitors, such as this graph of rising construction costs from Bill Powell.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_IMGP2117_filtered-1.jpgThe new county board meeting room in the historic courthouse has two big-screen TVs so that the audience can see the graphics that the commissioners have on their computer monitors, such as this graph of rising construction costs from Bill Powell. Jeff Linville | The News

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• A suspicious-vehicle call at Chili’s Grill and Bar on Rockford Street led to a Mount Airy man being charged with a felony drug violation, according to city police department reports. Christopher Michael Kelly, 33, of 1302 Linville Road, a Chili’s employee, was charged Friday with possession of methamphetamine and two misdemeanors: possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance and possession of marijuana paraphernalia.

Kelly was released on a $2,500 unsecured bond to appear in Surry District Court on March 7.

• A crime was discovered last Wednesday which involves the theft of credit and debit cards from a motor vehicle and a subsequent fraudulent used of the cards. The entering of an unlocked 2018 Ford Fusion occurred at the home of Michelle Hawks Bledsoe on Pender Street, with her Carter Bank and Trust debit card and Capital One credit card stolen along with three Social Security cards, a driver’s license and an Etsy multi-colored makeup bag.

The unknown suspect who took the property then successfully used one of the cards and attempted a second purchase online.

• Police were told on Jan. 28 that a transaction card forgery had occurred earlier in the month at Walmart. It stemmed from someone stealing card information of Nancy Davis of Winston-Salem and then using it to obtain a Visa gift card at the store, the value of which was not disclosed.

• A larceny from a motor vehicle occurred on Jan. 28 in the Walmart parking lot, where an unlocked 2007 Chevrolet Impala owned by Kaylen Aloura Hawks of Summit Drive was entered. Property valued at $145, owned by Joshua Cole Ellis Pope of Deerfield Lane, was stolen from the car, including a Nike backpack, Columbia jacket, Starbucks thermos, T-shirt and cooler.

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An annual tailgate fundraiser on the eve of the Super Bowl raised a record amount for The Shepherd’s House, but fell slightly short of its ambitious goal.

“Every year it’s more than the last,” said executive director Mary Boyles. “We raised $10,000 more than last year, but I really wanted to reach $100,000.”

The event raised more than $90,000 for the homeless shelter, a total that could rise in the next few days. The $10,000 drawdown prize was won by a group of 10 people and several have donated some or all of their winnings back to the organization. Five of the winners have not yet been notified of their win.

The dinner portion of the event had been sold out for several weeks, but when news reached Boyles that illness would leave one of the sponsor tables vacant, she and board member Traci George resold the seats Saturday night.

“We sold those eight dinner tickets right there in the hallway of Cross Creek,” laughed Boyles.

The night began as board chairman Mike Bowman welcomed guests and recognized the many volunteers, staff and board members that worked together to make the evening possible.

Boyles then shared the highlights of 2018, which included serving 227 clients, with almost 500 additional people turned away from the homeless shelter due to lack of space. Boyles continued by recognizing Carol Vaughn Tucker for her dedication as a board member and design work at the tailgate event each year. Also recognized was longtime supporter Claudia Bryant and the many roles she has served with the organization for more than 16 years.

After the sold-out dinner was cleared away, the doors opened once more to allow additional patrons to come in and participate in the now standing-room-only remainder of the evening’s events.

After the event, Boyles addressed the size of the crowd and the fact that the Shepherd’s House fundraiser attracts a much larger and more diverse crowd than the city’s other charity galas.

“A lot of it is that we’re casual. Some people like to dress up; a lot don’t. I don’t,” she said.

Boyles attributed a lot of the turnout to Shepherd’s House’s attention to social media.

“We’re able to attract a much broader range of people who support our vision by engaging with them regularly,” she said.

“Our community, its businesses and the many organizations that gave items for the silent and live auctions, along with so many individuals participating, truly put the event over the top Saturday night.”

“The biggest winner of the night though was the Shepherd’s House,” Boyles continued. “This annual event helps to provide and assist the many needs for the homeless in and around Surry County.”

“From its beginning, The Shepherds House has provided more than 67,000 nights of shelter to over 2,318 women, children and families in need and also provided more than 183,000 meals to those clients served. Without your support, local businesses and the community this much needed ministry would not exist,” Boyles said.

“We are thankful year after year for those businesses, organizations and local supporters for the items donated for our new online auction, and the live auction. Dustin Rogers, of Rogers Realty, kicked off our largest live auction which included a beach house, concert tickets and a live concert donated by Will Jones. The new online auction proved to be a huge success this year. Before the event even started we were over our total from last year’s silent auction.”

For additional information on how you can continue to help support the shelter and its programs, call Mary Boyles at 336-786-1420. Monetary donations can be sent to at P.O. Box 1722, Mount Airy, NC 27030, and all other donations can be delivered to the Shepherd’s House at 227 Rockford St.

The crowd, led by Mary Boyles, center right, at Saturday’s Shepherd’s House Tailgate fundraiser gives Claudia Bryant, center left, a standing ovation.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_IMG_5378.jpgThe crowd, led by Mary Boyles, center right, at Saturday’s Shepherd’s House Tailgate fundraiser gives Claudia Bryant, center left, a standing ovation. Bill Colvard | The News

Cross Creek Country Club was the scene of Shepherd’s House annual tailgate fundraiser on the eve of the Super Bowl.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_IMG_5359.jpgCross Creek Country Club was the scene of Shepherd’s House annual tailgate fundraiser on the eve of the Super Bowl. Bill Colvard | The News

Silent auction items are viewed beneath two enormous footballs.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_IMG_5337.jpgSilent auction items are viewed beneath two enormous footballs. Bill Colvard | The News

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Months after awarding a contract for an important utility rehab project, Mount Airy officials are faced with re-advertising it for bids due to regulatory hurdles posed by an agency supplying a $300,000 grant for the work.

North State Water and Sewer Inc., a Winston-Salem company approved last July to undertake water and sewer system improvements in the Factory Street vicinity, is no longer able to honor its $999,624 offer because of the resulting delays. That area is home to key industrial and business operations, including a Hanesbrands Inc. plant on West Pine Street.

The pullout by North State has the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners poised to authorize the seeking of a new round of bids during its next meeting Thursday at 7 p.m.

“I was looking forward to working with the city of Mount Airy and very much regret having to take this action,” North State Vice President Rodney Latham said in a Jan. 28 letter to city Public Works Director Jeff Boyles. “I hope there are no hard feelings and we can work together on future projects.”

North State was the lowest among just three bidders for the rehabilitation project that includes replacing aging and undersized water lines and improvements to service connections and hydrants in the target area along with street repairs. In addition to Factory Street, lines will be replaced along Pine, Derby, Granite, Durham and Marshall streets.

The bid by North State was more than $420,000 lower than that of the second-lowest bidder, a Hillsville, Virginia, firm, and nearly $1.3 million less than the highest bid of $2,265,860 from Jimmy R. Lynch and Sons Inc. of Pilot Mountain.

In 2017, Mount Airy had been awarded a $300,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission for the Factory Street Area Water Systems Improvement Project, with the remaining funds needed to be supplied by the municipality.

However, city documents show that the commission would not allow the project to proceed until all required environmental documents and procedures were completed.

It unexpectedly took the commission several months to approve the paperwork, “then many more weeks” for a comment/objection period, according to Boyles.

North State initially agreed to honor its bid price beyond a required 60-day period before announcing its withdrawal late last month.

“As the delay stretched on, it became increasingly difficult to extend my bid price,” Latham, the North State official, wrote the city public works director in explaining that move prompted by the regulatory complications.

“This project has counted against my bonding limit for the entire time and it has restricted my ability to compete for other projects.”

Boyles expects final approval from the Appalachian Regional Commission by the end of February. If the commissioners OK the new bid process, the work could begin by the end of May and be completed by Jan. 31.

Other agenda items

Among additional business scheduled during Thursday night’s commissioners meeting are:

• A presentation by the public works director on water/sewer and storm-drain rehab priorities for the city as a whole. Boyles is expected to discuss projects now under way and those listed for future years under present plans.

• Actions, including the setting of a public hearing, regarding a request to annex and rezone multiple properties located in the area of West Pine Street/South Franklin Road at Toast, where a new Circle K station is planned.

• The consideration of a new audit contract with Martin Starnes & Associates, a Hickory accounting firm that has checked the city’s books annually since 2011. The proposed cost of the next audit for the present fiscal year ending on June 30 is $32,000, compared to $33,980 for the audit of the 2017-2018 fiscal year.

• A closed session related to economic development.

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ARARAT, Va. — Today marks the 186th anniversary of Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart’s birth, but a local group got a head start on that occasion with an event that was part celebration, part trip back in time.

This occurred Saturday at a birthday party hosted by the Ararat Ruritan Club building, an annual gathering previously held in Mount Airy but moved this year to a location nearer to the place where Stuart was born in 1833, Laurel Hill.

While such an event occurs every year, the 2019 celebration coincided with a resurgence of interest by the public in Civil War history and its key figures such as Stuart — possibly due to recent events in the news.

“There’s some tremendous enthusiasm,” said Tom Bishop, an official of the J.E.B. Stuart Birthplace Preservation Trust Inc., which sponsors the birthday celebration and an annual encampment/re-enactment weekend at Laurel Hill. “There are a lot of people who care about General Stuart.”

About 100 attended Saturday’s event, local residents from Virginia and North Carolina and others from areas such as Richmond and distant states including Florida, Ohio and Texas.

The atmosphere at the Ruritan building was heavy with history, including ladies wearing handmade 1860s-era dresses and numerous men in uniforms.

“Some of them are re-enactors and some are part of the SCV (Sons of Confederate Veterans) groups,” Bishop said of history-minded organizations including a Sons of Confederate Veterans camp based in Mount Airy and another in Independence, Virginia.

A local group, The Lone Ivy String Band, performed old-time and Civil War-era music during the party, featuring such songs as “Dixie,” “Angelina Baker” (one of J.E.B. Stuart’s favorite tunes), “Johnny’s Gone to War,” “The Girl I Left Behind,” “St. Andrew’s Reel,” “Soldier’s Joy” and “John Brown’s Dream.”

Bishop said one memorable part of the gathering occurred when Joan Williams, a member of the trust group’s governing board, led an impromptu “Virginia Reel” square dance.

He acknowledged that in promoting the party beforehand, heavy emphasis was placed on the opportunity to step back in time as a drawing card.

“Yes, we did, and it worked,” Bishop said Tuesday. Aside from special occasions such as the birthday party and re-enactments, there is ongoing interest in J.E.B. Stuart, he said, including more than 2,000 followers for the birthplace group’s Facebook page.

“We had lots of food, including birthday cake, lemonade, hot dogs, chips, soda and coffee,” Bishop related regarding the event at the Ruritan building.

“This turned out to be an excellent location with plenty of room for our exhibits and merchandise tables.”

The J.E.B. Stuart Birthplace Preservation Trust sold an array of items such as hats, T-shirts, framed prints, books and coffee mugs to raise funds for the upkeep and maintenance of Stuart’s Laurel Hill homeplace.

“We wish to thank everyone who assisted with this event and greatly appreciate all the guests,” Bishop added.

A cake in honor of Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart is a centerpiece for a party in Ararat, Virginia.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_JEB-this-1.jpgA cake in honor of Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart is a centerpiece for a party in Ararat, Virginia.Submitted photo

Shirley Keene chose a Civil War-era dress for the occasion, which she made herself along with ones worn by other ladies attending. Keene served as president of the board of directors for the J.E.B. Stuart Birthplace Preservation Trust Inc. for at least 10 years. Ronnie Haynes, pictured, has assumed that role for 2019.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_Jeb-this-2.jpgShirley Keene chose a Civil War-era dress for the occasion, which she made herself along with ones worn by other ladies attending. Keene served as president of the board of directors for the J.E.B. Stuart Birthplace Preservation Trust Inc. for at least 10 years. Ronnie Haynes, pictured, has assumed that role for 2019.Submitted photo

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Surry Community College will be offering free workshops for unemployed and underemployed workers in February. No advance registration is required.

#JobSearchTools will be offered Tuesday, Feb. 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the NCWorks Career Center, 541 W. Pine St., Mount Airy. Learn to use NCWorks Virtual Recruiter and job search features, online job boards, social media and employer websites to your advantage in pursuit of employment. Understand ways to put your social media profiles to work along with the do’s and don’ts of social media. Additionally, discover tips on navigating the online application process and spotting job scams.

In Transition will be offered Tuesday, Feb. 19 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Goodwill Career Connections, 1457 N. Bridge St., Elkin. This class is an overview of seeking employment in today’s job market and focuses on topics for job seekers who have lost a long-term job, considering a career change, re-entering the workforce after an absence, or looking for that first job. Learn to use NCWorks to discover types of jobs that interest you along with training opportunities, search and apply for jobs, and create a resume. This workshop includes tips for the application process, interviews and more.

A new Mock Interview Class will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 19 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Goodwill Career Connections in Elkin. Come dressed for an interview and practice answering questions. Gain experience to impress interviewers. Please be sure to email your resume to dempseye@surry.edu by Monday, Feb. 18.

Creating an Impressive Resume will be offered on Tuesday, Feb. 19 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the NCWorks Career Center in Mount Airy. Create an impressive resume and cover letter that will get you noticed. Learn resume do’s and don’ts, how to address background and work history issues, and tips specific for navigating the online application process. Receive assistance with creating resumes and cover letters in the NCWorks database.

The Employability Lab will be open for job seekers at the Goodwill Career Connections in Elkin on Tuesday, Feb. 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Employability specialists will be available in the computer lab to help students register and use NCWorks to create a resume and cover letter as well as apply for jobs.

Dynamic Interview Techniques will be offered on Tuesday, Feb. 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the NCWorks Career Center in Mount Airy. Learn the ins and outs of the interview process from preparing beforehand to what you should do after. Gain valuable insight on popular interview questions, what a potential employer cannot ask, what to wear to an interview, and how to address questions related to having a criminal record, age, and other barriers to employment.

For information about any of the human resources development workshops, contact Forrest Lineberry at 336-386-3244 or lineberryf@surry.edu.

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Students at Dobson Elementary recently celebrated World Read Aloud Day by — well, what else? By reading books aloud to the students.

Teachers read aloud their favorite books, younger students had buddy readers from the upper grades and preK even had a special reading party for one of the fifth grade classes.

Fourth grade students enjoyed World Read Aloud Day.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_DSC_0138.jpgFourth grade students enjoyed World Read Aloud Day. Submitted p hoto

Allie Woodring reads to her third grade students on World Read Aloud Day.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_DSC_0168.jpgAllie Woodring reads to her third grade students on World Read Aloud Day. Submitted p hoto

Fourth grade student Brynna Atkins is reading to her kindergarten buddy, Hannah Smith, to celebrate World Read Aloud Day.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_DSC_0197.jpgFourth grade student Brynna Atkins is reading to her kindergarten buddy, Hannah Smith, to celebrate World Read Aloud Day. Submitted p hoto

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Surry Community College recently released the names of students making the college’s President’s List.

Students qualifying for the President’s List must be enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours of college level coursework and maintain a 3.8 grade point average for the semester with no final grade lower than a “C.” Students on the President’s List receive a congratulatory letter and an invitation to an exclusive breakfast in their honor.

Among the students named to the President’s List were Emily Michele Allen, Misty Dawn Bates, John Robert Billos, Neal Borad, Cayla Marie Boyer, Gilleyn Leigh Bunting, Marlen Castillo, Zachary David Chandler, Justin Dorsette, Katelyn Latesha Duncan, Sydney Grace Edwards, Emma Kathryn Ferry and Vickie Massey Fleming, all of Mount Airy;

Teddy Franklin Flippin, Nicole Valerie Gammons, Kenneth Alexander Karpenko, Steven Oliver MacDonald, Jesus Olaguer Martinez Estrada, Christian Nathaniel McCraw, Robin Lynn Mills, and Zuleima Araceli Miranda Garcia, all of Mount Airy:

Brenna Lenette Newman, Sarah Rene Orange, Owen Thomas Perkins, Kyara Zhane Revels, Britney Rodriguez, Levi Jared Roundy, Brandan Alexander Shur, Julia Spencer, Tracy Lynn Tate, Briana Janae Teter, Abby Dale Thompson, Josue Alejandro Villegas-Silva, and Amber Lynne Webster, all of Mount Airy:

Leeann Marie Brannock, Lizbeth Maria Cristobal, Isabelle Coffin Gardner Davis, Joana Guadalupe Hernandez, Kayla Kite James, Thao Thuy Phuong Ly, Melissa D Marion, Ernesto Martinez Giles, Dakota Wayne Mills, Brenda Alexandra Ordonez, and Teresa Ruiz Vazquez, all of Dobson;

Dallas Dale Davis, Austin Paul Jarrell, Harlie Caitlin McCann, Tucker Shields Poindexter, Jared Rockford Stanley, and Allie Madison Wright, all of Lowgap;

Emily Pell Bowman, Zachary Evan Fish, Nolan William Gilliam, Porter Ian Heath, Ashlyn Taylor Jones, Ashton Reine Norman, and Klaudia Gail Tucker, all of Pilot Mountain;

Madison F. Bowman, Haley Elizabeth Bryant, Alexis Marlane Haynes, Lauren Paige Sechrist, Kristen Lydia Sisk and Hayley Diana Whitaker, all of Pinnacle;

Heather N. Couch of Ronda; Lydia Michelle Brewster, Wesley Scott Bruner, and Loretta Jayne Elswick-Guden, all of Siloam; Griffin Davis Wheeler State Road; Shawn Eugene Arrington and Cianna Nichole Rector, both of Westfield;

Alexandria Nicole Boyd Ararat, Virginia; Kirkland Reece Jones Cana, Virginia; Megan Elizabeth McBride Claudville, Virginia, and Jared Blake Marshall of Fancy Gap, Virginia.

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