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The Mount Airy News
Spencer's redo takes another step
Redevelopment efforts at the former Spencer’s textile mill property in downtown Mount Airy have taken another key — half-million-dollar-plus — step that will include work to support the new Balladeer Marriott hotel there. The Mount Airy Board of Commissioners voted unanimously last Thursday night to award a contract for Phase III of a multi-pronged plan to replace and/or extend all public infrastructure on and around the old industrial site. It...
Rotary pioneer to help mark local milestone
It’s not every day that a person or organization becomes 75 years old, and a local group soon will be celebrating that accomplishment in a major way. Dr. Sylvia Whitlock, the first female president of any Rotary club worldwide, is slated to be the keynote speaker when the Rotary Club of Mount Airy marks its three-quarters-of-a-century existence as a key service organization here. This will occur during a luncheon gathering...
Infamous 'Escape-proof jail' decommissioned
Transitioning from the old Surry County detention center to the new one took place some time ago and last week the board of commissioners and the Surry County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) took action to close the book on the long and storied history of what is now called the Judicial Center Annex. The board voted unanimously to draft a letter to state inspectors that signifies the former jail complex will no longer be used for any housing of inmates. but rather for office space and...
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The Surry County Board of Commissioners last week voted unanimously to send notification to state inspectors that the former wings of the detention center are no longer in use for housing of inmates. County Attorney Ed Woltz said that should free up the use of interior space there for any purpose the county sees fit — other than housing inmates.
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Lt. Randy Shelton of the Surry County Sherrif's Office gives a tour of the old jail facility in January. Last week, the board of county commissioners voted to send a letter to state inspectors declaring the 1974 and 2002 jail wings are no longer in use for housing.
Arts council awards nearly $3k in scholarships
The Surry Arts Council recently awarded more than $2,700 in scholarships to Surry County students who are pursuing a college degree in the arts. The scholarship committee which made the awards consisted of Henry Rowe, Kathy Pruett, Jennie Lowry, Sylvia Lowry, and Adam Rudisill. Marianna Juliana, contract and grant administrator for the Surry Arts Council, coordinated the process. Applications were received in dance/movement, design, drama, instrumental music, tv/film/communications, visual/fine art, and voice. ...
Up to 110 houses may be built locally
A major housing development is being proposed for Mount Airy, which could help alleviate a shortage of homes locally. “We’re talking about 100 to 110 houses,” Mayor Jon Cawley said after a city council meeting Thursday night. During that meeting, commissioners had voted 5-0 to schedule a public hearing for later this month on a request for the voluntary annexation of a parcel of about 32 acres to accommodate the...
Plants need good food for great start
Great organic food for veggies-flowers Flowers and vegetables are only as productive as what you feed them with. They need more than chemicals and fertilizer pellets. They need the food that boosts their growth cycle. There are many organic, healthy foods available that will provide nutrients for vegetables, flowers, flower beds and and plants that will get your vegetable garden off to a great start without use of chemicals which subtract from the plants rather than add important food values. Most garden centers and hardware’s...
Marriages
The following marriage licenses were issued in Surry County: - Isaiah James Shupe, 23, of Surry County to Leia Jaclyn Johnson, 20, of Surry County. - Carlton Henry Mabe II, 39, of Roanoke County, Virginia, to Kelly Kristina Leggett, 37, of Montgomery County, Virginia. - Jonah Vernal Myers, 20, of Bell County, Texas, to Tera...
A tradition millions of years in the making
Surry County has plenty of events which become so ingrained in people’s lives they become an annual rite of sorts. Folks plan family get-togethers around Mount Airy’s Autumn Leaves Festival, seemingly the entire Mayberry-loving world considers Mayberry Days their annual family reunion, and old time music lovers watch for the yearly Old Time Fiddlers and Bluegrass Convention with almost as much anticipation as children look forward to Christmas. Pilot Mountain...
Using movie character's name lands man in jail
Telling city police that his name was Jack Reacher turned out not to be a good idea for a Mount Airy man who wound up in the Surry County Jail as a result. The person whose actual identity is Ricky Mitchell Sheets, 38, of 145 N. Gilmer St., was encountered by at least three officers late last Saturday night. They were responding to an intoxicated-pedestrian call and found sheets sitting...
Gilley family subject of genealogical group meeting
The Surry County Genealogical Association will be meeting Monday at the Mount Airy Public Library, with Surry County native Wade Gilley Jr. the featured speaker. He will talk about his research in his family history, and a possible tie to “The Andy Griffith Show.” “Wade will talk about his researching into the Gilly line,” officials with the group said. “Wade also will show us how far back their line goes,...
Surry-Yadkin Works interns sign with Hugh Chatham Health
DOBSON — Fifteen area students have completed pre-apprenticeships at Hugh Chatham Health and are accepting apprenticeships or part-time positions to continue their education in the healthcare field through the Surry-Yadkin Works program. Fifteen of the pre-apprentices, 11 of whom are area high school students and four who are adult students at Surry Community College, will be working full-time and part-time at Hugh Chatham Health while continuing their education. Four of the pre-apprentices will be working part-time while they pursue their education at a four-year university...
City budget passes 4-1
After a vote on Mount Airy’s budget was delayed last month over citizen concerns, the city spending plan for 2024-2025 has been approved — but it wasn’t exactly a slam-dunk. The Mount Airy Board of Commissioners did so Thursday night in a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Deborah Cochran the dissenter. Cochran explained beforehand she thinks it is “magnificent” that the new budget to go into effect on July 1 keeps...
Continuing education for general contractors
Surry County will be hosting a continuing education class for area general contractors later this month next in Dobson that will satisfy annual requirements for contractors. “I want to invite general contractors through the area to come to our general contractor’s continuing education class in Dobson,” said Keith Kiger, the lead building inspector for Surry County. He said what general contractors already know, North Carolina requires them to have eight...
Police reports
• A moped valued at $1,700 was discovered stolen last Sunday in Mount Airy as the result of a felonious breaking and entering, according to city police reports. The 2022 Trailmaster Sorrento-50, blue in color, was taken from a garage at the home of Charlotte Sharp on Fairlane Drive after a cable lock was broken to gain entry. • Jim Terry Hairston, 52, of 1308 Grove Lane, was jailed Wednesday...
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