The following marriage licenses were issued in Surry County:

– Travid Edward Kinney, 28, of Carroll County, Virginia, to Brittany Nicole Payne, 27, of Carroll County.

– Dustin Alexander Goins, 30, of Surry County to Anita Marlene Mullis, 29, of Surry County.

– Marshall William Spencer, 25, of Carroll County, to Leigha Nicole Albert, 22, of Carroll County.

– Christopher Thomas Osborne, 56, of Wilkes County to Joy Lela Hinson, 46, of Surry County.

– Charles William Blankenship, 36, of Surry County to Tiffany Lynn Hale, 35, of Surry County.

– Guillermo Manuel Hernandez, 24, of Surry County to Adriana Landaverde, 21, of Surry County.

– James Joseph Rollins, 47, of Surry County to Lori Ellen Brannon, 53, of Surry County.

– Joseph Trent Dollyhigh, 48, of Surry County to Camellia Sonshine Allen, 40, of Union County.

– Christopher Allen Ferrell, 52, of Randolph County to Angelia Kay Carter, 53, of Randolph County.

– Lonnie Gray Booe Jr., 50, of Surry County to Dawn Marie Wood, 50, of Surry County.

– Jesus Aguliar Solano, 21, of Blanch County to Arelis Perivan Bautista, 18, of Surry County.

– Austin Storm Utt, 27, of Surry County to Emily Brook Martin Wilber, 23, of Surry County.

– Daniel Isiah Bowman, 41, of Surry County to Ashley Elizabeth Boles, 35, of Surry County.

– Kermit Mack Edwards, 43, of Alleghany County to Kimberly Ann Nichols, 41, of Surry County.

– Alan Lee Vaughn, 36, of Rockingham County to Ami Isaacs Mills, 41, of Carroll County.

– Christopher Austin Warren, 31, of Surry County to Catherine Anastasia Jenkins, 28, of Surry County.

– David William Fessenden III, 54, of Surry County to Patricia Elizabeth Meyer, 51, of Surry County.

– Sean Eric Wood, 50, of Surry County to Jessica Rae Llewellyn, 43, of Surry County.

– German Munoz Lopez, 23, of Surry County to Cindy Ojeda, 23, of Surry County.

– David Lee Owings, 37, of Surry County to Jill Nicole Eller, 37, of Wilkes County.

– Dylan Jared Slate, 26, of Surry County to Emerencia Kish, 24, of Surry County.

River lovers will have new access option

In anticipation of the upcoming flu season, Surry County Health and Nutrition Center is now offering flu vaccines to anyone aged 6 months and older. The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. The best way to prevent flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year.

Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce flu related illnesses and the risk of serious flu complications that can result in hospitalization or even death. It is best to get vaccinated before the flu begins to spread in your community. Ideally, it is recommended to get your flu vaccine by the end of October. It is important to know that vaccination after October can still provide protection during the peak of flu season. Flu most commonly peaks in February, but significant flu activity can continue into May.

In addition to the getting the flu vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends everyday preventative actions like staying away from people who are sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands frequently.

Surry County Health and Nutrition Center will be offering the regular flu vaccine as well as the high dose for people ages 65 and older. The regular flu vaccine cost is $40, and the high dose is $82. Insurance may be billed to offset the cost.

Flu vaccines will be available Monday thru Thursday, from 7:30 – 11:30 a.m. and from 12:30 – 5:00 p.m.

It is also important to note that studies conducted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic indicate that it is safe to get both a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu vaccine at the same visit.

For more information, please call us at (336) 401-8400 or visit us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SurryCountyHealthandNutritionCenter/ for the latest updates.

The Surry County Office of Substance Abuse Recovery will be observing Prevention Month in October with a series of presentations to local schools on suicide prevention, vape awareness, mental health, and ending the month with Red Ribbon Week

Benjamin Franklin said an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and in Surry County, that concept is going to be acted upon with help from millions of dollars in opioid settlement money.

The Surry County Office of Substance Abuse and Recovery has created the Prevention Plan 2022-2024 and posted it on SurryCountyCares.org/blog for review.

Outreach Coordinator Charlotte Reeves and county data analyst Jaime Edwards worked for more than 18 months and used evidenced-based theory along with input from community members to create a needs assessment with a unique prevention lens.

Trying to attack the county’s substance abuse problem on the front end with education and prevention can be a much more cost-effective technique than funding and supporting treatment and recovery plans on the backend. The number the Office of Substance Abuse and Recovery gives is that $1 of prevention equals $10 of savings.

During prevention month the local agency is going to emphasize what works and what does not — such as the scare tactics which they say are leftovers from prevention techniques of the Eisenhower Administration.

Constantly being told to ‘Just Say No’ or seeing a wrecked car in a field to send a message about drunk driving may be effective to a point. However, Jaime Edwards said kids can get desensitized to the message, if that message can reach them through all the noise and distraction of modern digital life.

“One of the lessons learned in prevention and coalition work is that it often takes a combination of comprehensive, complimentary, and evidence-based strategies,” Reeves said.

“There is a strong consensus in the field of prevention that it takes a comprehensive response utilizing multiple complimentary strategies to reduce it. The response can be all over the place, that’s why I get tired sometimes, it’s a lot of stuff. But that’s the way you have to do it, from all sides.”

The Office of Substance Abuse and Recovery can attack the problem from many angles because of the breadth of experience on the team, “The reason I love this agency so much is because everyone who works here are all dedicated and knowledgeable. We can call out other places or processes that may not work because we have perspectives that others do not,” she said.

Her psychology background, Edwards clinical experience, Willis with 25 years of law enforcement, and the All Stars who are living in active recovery can all bring something to the table.

The group’s leadership team and the All-Stars Prevention Group took two months and worked on a list of thirteen risk factors in the community. Items were then ranked by the Surry County team that is comprised of professional members of the county staff and those with hands on experience in recovery.

It is beneficial to the group and its planning to have input from those who are in recovery. “There are a lot of times that people that make decisions – they just don’t know that world. It’s not their fault, but that’s why it is so beneficial having the peers.”

Guiding the county’s prevention planning and response will be feedback from the All-Stars groups as well as the surveys from the public, along with more than 50 in-person interviews. “This plan came from this community,” Reeves said. “A lot of prevention plans you just sort of buy off the shelf and it’s a one and done kind of thing that wasn’t made for Surry County. Here we are writing it and we’re only taking into account what the community has told us.”

Cookie cutter solutions made in another state a decade ago may not be the right fit for the unique situation that faces Surry County even though they were designed with the best of intentions. “Good intentions run out, everyone can think of an idea about how to approach prevention, but this is actually science. We went through and did the work, did the research, we did the focus groups, and then we ranked them.”

The All Stars reviewed, and prioritized, community consequences, problems and root causes related to substance use in the community.

In their ranking they determined the number one contributing factor to drug use in this community is social norms. “Our perceptions of our peers’ attitudes and behaviors have a great influence on our own attitudes and behaviors. Unfortunately, our perceptions are often inaccurate. We tend to over-estimate the number of our peers who make unhealthy choices, and therefore underestimate the number who make healthy choices.”

If young Jon thinks the norm is for 14-year-old boys to vape, sneak a beer, or try a joint because that is what all his peers are doing then he is much more likely to engage in that behavior, even if his perception is totally off base.

In fighting back against these norms, the county’s plan says scare tactics are not the way to go nor should there be attempts to stigmatize an unhealthy behavior. Avoiding moralistic messages from authorities on how people “should” behave will help to not turn away young listeners from the necessary message on prevention.

After social norms, the next highest ranking risk factors are the influence of peers, social availability of substances, and the perception of harm. For peer influence, think of the concept of peer pressure. “Adolescents are susceptible to peer influence in that they are more likely to engage in risk taking in groups than alone and with their limited degree of self-reliance, may be more easily swayed towards engaging in risky behavior.”

Social availability means having the perception that prescription and other drugs are readily available, which is associated with increased levels of substance misuse among youth. Youth often report that the means they use to get substances are from family members, neighbors, and/or friends due to proximity and ease of access. The medicine cabinet can be a dangerous place for an angsty adolescent who may really have just needed an ear to listen.

The perception of harm is lacking in adolescents and their decision-making processes when it comes to substances. “Youth who perceive high risk or harm are less likely to use drugs than youths who perceive low risk. Providing credible, accurate, and age-appropriate information about the harm associated with substance abuse is a key component to prevention.”

Reeves said this is the “it can’t happen to me” notion so many kids, and even adults, carry with them. “They don’t realize it can happen to them, or it’s going to happen to them if they do it (use drugs).”

“A significant part of a prevention program is telling the community what we are trying to do,” Mark Willis said. With the opioid settlement money, he would like to create a protective dome around Surry County of prevention messaging. Eighteen years of funding is coming from settlements, so the county is in its best ever position to design, fund, and implement a long term cohesive multi-faceted education campaign focused on prevention of substance abuse before it starts.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/MTA092922V.pdf

• A truck has been reported stolen in Mount Airy, according to city police reports.

The theft of the Jeep Comanche, owned by Terry Nelson Hill of Aims Avenue and valued at $10,000, was discovered on Sept. 22. The truck was taken from an unidentified business location at 1276 N. South St., where it had been parked the day before.

Police records describe the vehicle as black with a white stripe, but do not include a license tag number.

• Multiple vehicles were broken into at the Enterprise rental car location on Sept. 22, where an attempt also was made to steal one.

Those targeted include a 2022 Chevrolet Traverse and a 2019 Subaru Outback that police records indicate are owned by the Rockford Street business, along with the 1997 Ford F-350 flatbed truck of Jackson Trevor Hutchens, Pipers Gap Road, Galax, Virginia.

An ignition interlock device valued at $50 was listed as stolen.

• Linda Speas Duncan, 53, who is homeless, was jailed on charges of resisting, delaying or obstructing a public officer and second-degree trespassing on Sept. 20 after police responded to a disturbance call at Northern Regional Hospital.

Security personnel there had banned Speas from the premises earlier that day, but she returned. And after being taken to a magistrate’s office, the woman allegedly resisted arrest by refusing to sit down and pulling away.

Speas was held in the Surry County Jail under a $1,000 secured bond and slated for an Oct. 17 appearance in District Court.

• A book bag was stolen from the parking lot of the West Lebanon Street Food Lion on Sept. 19, representing a $340 loss.

The owner of the black Reebok book bag was identified as Anthony Dalton Stanley of Gaynelle’s Way in Lowgap. It contained personal property including Sony earbuds, miscellaneous clothing, pre-workout supplements, hair fiber and notebooks.

• Cody Matthew John Bowman, 27, of 707 Willow St., was served with a criminal summons for a larceny charge on Sept. 15, which had been issued on Sept. 12 with no other details listed.

Bowman was scheduled to be in Surry District Court on Thursday of this week.

STUART, Va. — Three Mount Airy-area residents have been arrested on charges filed by the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office in separate cases involving alleged drug, credit card fraud and break-in/larceny crimes.

The arrests were announced Thursday and include:

• Maynard Reece Green, 61, of 369 Greentown Road, Ararat, just outside Mount Airy, being accused through a six-count indictment of manufacturing/distributing a Schedule I/II controlled substance.

Green, who was arrested on Sept. 22, further was indicted on another felony charge, manufacturing/distributing an imitation Schedule I/II drug.

• Johnny Ray Gwyn, 54, of 1685 Old Highway 601, Mount Airy, is charged with breaking and entering of a building with intent to commit assault and battery; larceny; and grand larceny involving a monetary loss of more than $1,000.

All are felonies. Gwyn was arrested Wednesday.

• Kenny Gray McCreary, 42, of 2121 Asbury Road, Westfield, was arrested Wednesday on three misdemeanor counts of credit card fraud involving a value of less than $1,000.

Bond and court date information was unavailable for the three persons charged.

Hurricane Ian has made another landfall, this time in South Carolina. The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Ian’s center came ashore Friday afternoon just after 2 p.m. near Georgetown, South Carolina, with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph.

Ian previously hit Florida’s Gulf Coast as a powerful Category 4 hurricane with 150 mph winds Wednesday, flooding homes and leaving nearly 2.7 million people without power.

A hurricane warning was in effect from the Savannah River along the Georgia – South Carolina state line up to Cape Fear.

Tropical storm force winds were ongoing along much of the coast and Tropical Storm Warnings are in place across parts of the North Carolina coast from Cape Fear to Duck late Friday.

“Ian is forecast to move more quickly toward the north today followed by a turn toward the north-northwest by tonight. On the forecast track, the center of Ian will reach the coast of South Carolina today, and then move farther inland across eastern South Carolina and central North Carolina tonight and Saturday,” according to Friday’s National Weather Service statement on the storm.

In their statement the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, Virginia, issued both a wind advisory and flood watch for Surry County.

“Hurricane Ian is expected to bring widespread 2 – 4 inches of rain to parts of the area through early afternoon Saturday. Locally higher amounts up to 6 inches are also possible, especially along the Blue Ridge, and any areas where bands of heavy rain remain situated for extended periods of time,” the advisory said.

Ian was expected to maintain about the same strength before landfall late Friday, then weaken and rapidly transition into a post-tropical cyclone overnight leading into Saturday. Ian should dissipate over western North Carolina or Virginia late Saturday, the advisory notice said.

The Weather Service warns to be alert for flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall from the remnants of Ian. Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, the notice states.

“Locally considerable flash, urban, and small stream flooding is possible today into early Saturday across portions of northwest North Carolina and southwest Virginia,” the Weather Service advised late Friday.

The National Weather Service says to monitor later forecasts and be alert as watches can become warnings in a matter of minutes. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to act should flash flooding occur.

Residents of the area are also being warned about the potential for high winds. A wind advisory period began at 10 a.m. Friday and will continue through noon Saturday. The Weather Service predicts that winds of 20 to 30 mph will come from the northeast with gusts reaching up to 40 mph expected. Gusts of up to 50 mph are possible in higher elevations and along ridgetops.

Surry County Emergency Management Director Eric Southern sounded confident in the county’s preparations. He said the fact that Ian looks to be a slow rainmaker does not change the county’s preparation or alert status.

“We are monitoring the situation electronically,” he said Friday afternoon. “Our crews have been notified who is on call, they are at home waiting for the call and have equipment ready.”

He said there has been no special guidance offered from Raleigh on statewide preparation, so Surry County is ready now for the rain and wind that are expected this weekend. Southern expected the weather to have arrived by late Friday afternoon.

“People should expect wind and rain any time now,” he said as the skies got ever darker over Mount Airy.

Southern recommended residents use the Hyper-Reach system which is a state-of-the-art mass emergency notification system designed specifically for public safety. The system provides rapid notification of severe weather, amber alerts, silver alerts and safety situations using a mix of telephone calls, text and email messages, and services designed for the hearing impaired.

Citizens can download the Hyper-Reach Anywhere app on their smartphone. Hyper-Reach Anywhere is a free smartphone app that allows individual citizens to manage and monitor the alerts they receive, for their home and office addresses, as well as addresses for friends and family.

Sign at: https://signup.hyper-reach.com/hyper_reach/sign_up_page_2/?id=88382

President Joe Biden has already issued disaster declarations for the states of Florida and South Carolina, “Last night I received a request for an emergency declaration from Gov. Henry McMaster, which I approved right away just as I did for Florida,” he said. “This allows for immediate federal funding for the state to shelter people and provide other essential support.”

Closer to home, residents have been scrambling to modify and change plans due to the fickle nature of forecasting hurricanes. Surry County Public Schools released students early, canceled field trips for Friday, and moved Friday night football games to Thursday as a precaution. The Sonker Festival, Music at the Market, Mayberry Food Truck Fest, and Civil War reenactment in Ararat, Virginia were all also moved or postponed.

Early this week as the threat of Hurricane Ian was still days away, several weekend gatherings acted in advance and moved their events indoors or rescheduled them. The Mayberry Food Truck fest has joined the list of events whose organizers have decided not to compete against the unpredictability of Hurricane Ian and has been rescheduled for a pre-Thanksgiving bash instead.

Lizzie Morrison, downtown coordinator for Mount Airy Downtown Inc. had been holding her breath throughout the week to see if the Mayberry Food Truck Fest might be able to be held this weekend despite the icky weather. “Safety is our top priority,” she said earlier this week when mulling the possibilities. “While this event is normally rain or shine, if the weather forecast hasn’t improved, we will reschedule.”

Friday morning the announcement was made that exercising an abundance of caution was better than asking diners and tourists to walk between the raindrops whilst enjoying food truck offerings. The only time folks want soggy food is when it was intended to be soggy, no offense to Mother Nature or Hurricane Ian and their suggested secret ingredient – water.

“We hate to do it, but we’ll have to postpone the Mayberry Food Truck Fest due to Hurricane Ian,” Morrison wrote Friday morning. “We have been monitoring the forecast and while this event is normally rain or shine, we will need to err on the side of caution for your safety.”

She had joked the event may seem starcrossed and has had some lousy luck with the weather, “The festival has a notorious reputation for extreme weather. We’ve had heavy rains, six inches of snow, a tornado warning mid-festival, and now a possible hurricane. It’s almost funny at this point. Nevertheless, people show up for the food trucks – it’s still a fan favorite event.”

Morrison invites everyone to try it again before the holidays, “Please plan on joining us for a big pre-Thanksgiving Food Truck feast on Sunday, Nov. 20, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in #downtownmountairy.”

Consider the rescheduled food truck fest to be among the final warmups before Thanksgiving excess. Yet somehow also not fully outside the Atlantic hurricane season that runs to the end of November. NOAA predicts up to 21 named storms this season with six to ten expected to become major hurricanes.

If Tobias, Virginie, or Walter (all late season storm names) try to show up for that new date then Morrison may want to consider a rain dance before the 2023 Mayberry Food Truck Fest to break the bad luck.

Mount Airy took sole possession of the Northwest 1A Conference’s top spot with a 43-7 victory over Starmount on Sept. 29.

Moved up a night to avoid the impact of Hurricane Ian, Thursday’s game seemed to have all the ingredients of a defensive battle through the first half. Two teams that averaged more than 33 points per game heading into Thursday – the Granite Bears 46.5 and the Rams 33.4 – combined for just three touchdowns in an opening half that featured two turnovers-on-downs and six punts.

A few touchdowns that were called back due to penalty flags kept the home Bears from running away with a lead in the third quarter, but Mount Airy’s offense was too much to contain in the fourth. A 21-point final quarter lifted Mount Airy to its third NW1A victory.

Neither side was particularly thrilled with the number of offensive penalties called in the game. Each team was flagged nine times total, and seven of those for each team were called on the offense.

Mount Airy had three touchdowns and more than 150 yards called back due to penalties.

The Granite Bears still managed to find the end zone six times and make one field goal in Thursday’s win. Tyler Mason accounted three of those touchdowns to go with his 214 yards rushing.

The junior running back, who surpassed 1,000 yards rushing for the season on Thursday, recorded his third game of the season of at least 200 yards rushing and his seventh scoring multiple touchdowns.

The Rams and Bears each relied on their ground game in the NW1A battle. Starmount finished with 172 total yards, and 170 were rushing. Mount Airy, meanwhile, rushed for 311 of its 425 total yards.

Neither side could break through the opposing defense in the early going. Through the first 11 minutes of the first quarter, the only play of more than 4 yards from scrimmage – for either team – was an 11-yard Ian Gallimore pass to Walker Stroup. Mount Airy’s Third Floyd and Cam’Ron Webster made big stops for the Bears’ defensive line, while Starmount’s Cole Longworth and Caden Abernethy did the same for the Rams.

Mason broke free for the first big play of the game when he scored a 47-yard touchdown with 16 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Starmount’s Zack Dezern, who led the Rams with 104 yards rushing on 16 carries, retaliated by scoring an 80-yard touchdown run before the end of the first quarter.

Neither offense could make it to the red zone again until the final seconds of the second quarter. Starmount went for a fourth-and-2 on Mount Airy’s 40-yard line, but Dezern was stopped by the Bears’ Connor Burrell at the line of scrimmage. Gallimore made two big completions to Walker Stroup – the latter of which was made in double coverage – to put Mount Airy on the Ram 2-yard line with 21 seconds remaining in the half.

Mason plugged in the 2-yard run, but it was called back due to a hold. Gallimore then found Mario Revels for a 10-yard gain and the Bears called timeout with two seconds on the clock. Gallimore and Revels worked their magic again on the next play to give the home team a 16-7 lead at the half.

Gallimore’s mark of 114 yards passing against Starmount is his highest of the 2022 season.

AJ Pardue recovered a Mason fumble on Mount Airy’s opening drive of the second half, but the Rams weren’t able to move the chains. In fact, Starmount started the second half with five three-and-outs. The Bears’ Caleb Reid, Deric Dandy and Caden Joyce all picked up sacks in the half, while Webster and Landon Cox added tackles for a loss.

After the fumble, Mount Airy punted on its next offensive possession after a 60-yard Mason touchdown run was called back. The Bears made another defensive stop and scored on a 39-yard Mason run, which was the first of four-consecutive scoring drives for Mount Airy.

Starmount finally got its initial first down of the second half on the game’s final drive, which came with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

In addition to Dezern’s 104 yards rushing, Pardue carried 11 times for 25 yards and Preston Williams rushed eight times for 43 yards. Luke Kimmer completed the Rams’ only pass, a 2-yard gain, to Ryan Kimmer.

Gallimore completed 7-of-14 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. Stroup had three catches for 78 yards, and Revels made four catches for 36 yards and a touchdown.

Mason led all rushers with 16 carries for 214 yards and three touchdowns. Gallimore added 10 carries for 15 yards, Reid had five carries for 30 yards and a touchdown, Traven Thompson rushed twice for 43 yards, Taeshon Martin ran once for 7 yards, Landon Gallimore had one carry for 4 yards and Nas Lemon rushed once for -2 yards.

Mount Airy (6-1 overall) sits atop the NW1A standings with a 3-0 record. East Wilkes is 2-1, with its only loss coming against the Bears during Week 5. Elkin, Starmount and Alleghany are next at 1-1, followed by South Stokes 1-2 and North Stokes at 0-3.

Mount Airy travels to North Stokes on Oct. 7, while Starmount will host Elkin. Mount Airy’s game will be held at West Stokes High School due to construction at North Stokes.

5:52 MAHS 3-0 – Walker Stroup 26-yard field goal

0:16 MAHS 10-0 – Tyler Mason 47-yard rushing TD, Walker Stroup PAT

0:00 STAR 10-7 –Zack Dezern 80-yard rushing TD, Alex Mora PAT

0:00 MAHS 16-7 – Mario Revels 5-yard TD reception on Ian Gallimore pass, 2-point conversion no good

3:50 MAHS 22-7 – Tyler Mason 39-yard rushing TD, 2-point conversion no good

11:25 MAHS 29-7 – Caleb Reid 8-yard rushing TD, Walker Stroup PAT

8:54 MAHS 36-7 – Tyler Mason 36-yard rushing TD, Walker Stroup PAT

4:59 MAHS 43-7 – Tyler Mason 36-yard rushing TD, Walker Stroup PAT

Recently Shoals Elementary School students and staff took 30 minutes to drop everything and read as part of the school’s efforts to increase reading skills. Everyone found a comfy place to curl up and read their favorite book.

“Shoals is committed to making reading fun for all,” school staff said of the effort.

A good number of people in Mount Airy are interested in learning more about city government, judging by the interest shown in a new Mayberry Citizens Academy that will accommodate more people than first planned.

Municipal officials announced the program on Sept. 10, saying it would be limited to 15 applicants.

“We got over 20 people,” City Manager Stan Farmer said Thursday.

“And we have got room for more,” he added regarding the series of classes involved which starts next week. “So more is merrier.”

The goal of the Citizens Academy is to help Mount Airy residents better understand how local government operates while benefiting the community overall.

Such academies, also known as leadership institutes, seek to educate residents through direct contact with public officials, site visits and hands-on activities, and are fairly common throughout the nation, officials say. These programs address what is considered a knowledge gap between citizens and government.

Classes locally will include a range of topics such as city and state government relations, firefighting, police and code enforcement, public works/utilities, finance, parks and recreation and planning.

Including the first Citizens Academy session on Tuesday, a total of eight is planned each Tuesday evening over nine weeks until Nov. 29, skipping the week of Thanksgiving.

On those Tuesdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m., different subject matter pertaining to local government will be covered by the city manager or department heads. The first class will be a general introduction featuring Farmer along with City Attorney Hugh Campbell and City Clerk Nicki Brame.

Speakers will be involved in seven of the classes, with the eighth to serve as a graduation ceremony.

Farmer is pleased by the interest shown in the Citizens Academy.

“It’s encouraging that people want to learn about their local government more,” he said Thursday.

Once the number of applicants exceeded what Farmer called the “15 self-imposed limit,” organizers decided to open the program up to more people, agreeing that they can handle the greater number. There is now no specified limit, according to the manager.

However, those interested must complete a short application form available on the city website and submit it by the close of business on Monday. The form can be accessed at https://www.mountairy.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=427

Completed applications may be forwarded to sfarmer@mountairy.org or dropped off at City Hall.

Officials have said that applicants must be city residents, but non-Mount Airy residents might be considered if space is available. There is an emphasis on creating a diverse class from many different neighborhoods within Mount Airy.

Farmer said Thursday he thinks this has been accomplished based on the more than 20 people signed up so far.

“Demographically it appears to be pretty diverse.” This includes a balance of folks in different parts of town and also from a gender standpoint.

The National Hurricane Center reported in their 8 a.m. advisory that Hurricane Ian is located 105 miles to the south-southeast of Charleston, S.C. and is moving north at approximately 9 miles per hour. The reported the maximum sustained winds of the Category 1 hurricane at 85 mph.

A Hurricane Warning in effect from the Savannah River along the Georgia – South Carolina state line up to Cape Fear.

Tropical storm force winds were ongoing along much of the coast and Tropical Storm Warnings are in place across parts of the North Carolina coast from Cape Fear to Duck.

“This general motion northward with an increase in forward speed is expected this morning, followed by a turn toward the north-northwest by tonight. On the forecast track, the center of Ian will approach and reach the coast of South Carolina today, and then move farther inland across eastern South Carolina and central North Carolina tonight and Saturday.”

In their statement the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, Va. issued both a Wind Advisory and Flood Watch for Surry County.

“Hurricane Ian is expected to bring widespread 2 – 4 inches of rain to parts of the area through early afternoon Saturday. Locally higher amounts up to 6 inches are also possible, especially along the Blue Ridge, and any areas where bands of heavy rain remain situated for extended periods of time,” the advisory said.

Rain chances are forecasted to remain at or above 70% through late Friday morning and then are expected to pick up into Friday afternoon remaining a steady factor through Saturday afternoon.

Beginning at 10 a.m. Friday through afternoon Saturday, the Weather Service warns to be alert for flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall from the remnants of Ian. Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, the notice states.

The National Weather Service says to monitor later forecasts and be alert for an evolving situation depending on the path of the storm. Flood Watches can become Flood Warnings in a matter of minutes. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to act should flash flooding occur.

Residents of the area are also being warned about the potential for high winds with gusty conditions in higher elevations.

Wind advisory period has been set from 10 a.m. Friday until noon Saturday. The Weather Service predicts that winds of 20 to 30 mph will come from the Northeast with gusts reaching up to 40 mph expected. Gusts of up to 50 mph are possible in higher elevations and along ridgetops.

Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects, furniture, and tree limbs could be blown down causing power outages as a result.

Drivers are being asked to use extra caution, especially if operating a high-profile vehicle.

In day to day life, we are hit with good days. Bills are paid on time. Debt has been reduced. Jobs are good. Life does have a way of turning for the worse. Someone that we love had been diagnosed with cancer. A friend had died unexpectedly. Suddenly, life had turned most unpleasant. The night season had begun and we become desperate for a brighter tomorrow.

Psalms 77 and 78 are called “Psalms of Asaph.” Asaph was a close friend to King David and probably had witnessed the anxieties and dangers that David had faced while hiding from a jealous King Saul. Asaph, who was a musician in David’s court, also felt anxiety for his own reasons. These psalms were written to give hope for him, and also for us today to know how to remember God’s goodness during our own times of anxiety.

Beginning in verse one, he writes, “I cried out to God with my voice – to God with my voice; and He gave ear to me.” Asaph directed his prayers to God. He cried. He cried out meaning Asaph was very loud with his praying. Being human, Asaph evidently had such a trial that his own soul felt wounded to the point that crying out loud was all that he could do in his prayers.

Notice the phrase, “and he gave ear to me.” God was listening to Asaph because Asaph was his creation. God was concerned about the situation as much as Asaph. Remember the scripture from Hebrews 4:15, “God is touched with our infirmities.” God has always been compassionate toward our weaknesses.

In verse 3 of Psalm 77, Asaph wrote, “I remembered God…” What did Asaph remember? A reading of verses 10-20, Asaph reminded himself of the great and mighty deeds that God had done in the past. He wrote in verse 11, “I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work.” Asaph called to his memory the miracles that God had performed for his nation. He remembered that God was a great God and no other earthly god could be compared with the great God Almighty.

Then, Asaph meditated. In the old Hebrew dictionary, the word “meditate” means to “mutter to one’s self, to chew on a thought over and over.” Asaph meditated on how God delivered the Hebrews out from slavery in Egypt. God parted the Red Sea and redeemed them from bondage. Asaph continued his meditation in Psalm 78 beginning with verse 12, “Marvelous things He did in the sight of their fathers…He divided the sea and caused them to pass through; And He made the waters stand up like a heap.” Throughout Psalm 78, Asaph remembered and meditated on the deeds of God.

Throughout those two psalms, Asaph remembered the faithfulness of God. God remembered His covenant with Abraham and his descendants even though His people failed to remember God. In Psalm 77:7-9, Asaph wrote, “Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more?” Has His mercy ceased forever?” The answer is NO.

Many times in scripture, Biblical characters cried out to God in prayer and God answered. In Jeremiah 33:11, the prophet Jeremiah described God as being merciful. “Praise the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for His mercy endures forever.” Jeremiah 33:3 added, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jeremiah called God good, merciful and compassionate.

When we pray and sometimes pray to the point that all we can do is cry out from the depth of our souls, cry out to God. Meditate on what God has done for us in the past. Remember how He cared for us, gave us healing, victories from battles, and answers to our prayers. In our own distresses, we can remember God, a mighty and merciful God.

DOBSON — Four goals from Luke Creed combined with a late scoring push lifted Surry Central over visiting North Surry on Sept. 28.

The Golden Eagles never trailed in Wednesday’s match, but the Greyhounds cut it to a one-score game twice in the second half. A North Surry goal made it 3-2 with 13 minutes left to play.

After the goal, North didn’t take another shot for the rest of regulation. Surry Central kept its offense at full force and finally added a pair of goals in the final 120 seconds to win 5-2.

The rejuvenated Surry Central squad is on the rise after winning three consecutive matches for the first time this season.

The Golden Eagles sat at 3-6-2 on the season coming into this past week. Central had lost three straight and tied once while failing to score in all four matches, prompting a team meeting to discuss the team’s mental toughness.

“Our guys can play; if they couldn’t I’d understand our results, but the fact that they can play and aren’t showing it enraged me,” said Eagles coach Adan Garcia. “I asked them yesterday that for that practice and every day after to come out here hungry. They have to. Because some of these teams can punish you if we keep playing the way we have.

“North Surry is a perfect example of it because they had two quality chances and they took advantage of them because they were hungry. Luckily, our team was just as hungry if not a little bit more. Both teams just played great, and that forced our team to push it up a notch.”

Surry Central, now 6-6-1 overall and 4-1 in the Foothills 2A Conference, scored 11 goals in three matches between Sept. 26 and 29. This came after the Eagles only scored a total of 12 goals in their opening 11 matches from Aug. 17 to Sept. 22.

In addition to the increased strength in mental toughness, Central has been able to create offense more efficently thanks to a new mindset during games. This sprouted from a conversation Garcia had with former Surry Central head coach Blake Roth, who led the program to 247 wins between 2003 and 2018.

“We have a great mentor in Blake Roth,” Garcia said. “He brought it to our attention that we’ve been playing on the defensive all season because of our nonconference opponents even though nonconference is over. We played 3A and 4A teams – Glenn, Davie, Reagan, Statesville, etc – because those are teams that are bigger, faster and stronger than us. We played them to test ourselves and get better, but that pushed our mindset to be almost entirely defensive minded.

“Once we started playing similar programs, that mindset hurt our chances in a lot of those games and we needed to change.”

Part of those changes was an altered formation, which the Eagles used against the Greyhounds. It paid dividends as Central’s Creed struck first in the 25th minute to go put the Eagles up 1-0. Surry Central could tell the difference in their game through just the first half.

Creed found the back of the net again in the 47th minutes, this time using a through ball from Jonathan Avila to beat the Greyhounds’ back line.

North Surry (5-7, 2-3 FH2A) kept up the fight and used the sidelines to spread the field. Edgar Vazquez served as a distributing attacking center midfield and had weapons such as Bryan Martinez, Bali Raya and Oliver Fajardo at his disposal.

Vazquez sent a ball to the left corner for Emiliano Calderon to chase down in the 54th minute. Calderon saw Martinez crashing at the top of the 18-yard box and assisted his teammate’s goal.

It was eight minutes later when Creed completed his hat trick. Just five minutes after Creed’s third goal, Raya scored for North Surry to close the gap to 3-2.

Earlier in the season, Garcia said the Eagles likely would’ve moved to a defensive formation late in the game to keep the 3-2 lead alive. Instead of doing that against the Greyhounds, the Golden Eagles stayed on the attack and cointinued to fire shots on goal. This worked to keep North Surry in its own defensive third, and Raya’s goal was the Hounds’ final shot of the game.

Greyhound keeper Josh Garcia fended off multiple attacks in the final minutes. It was another through ball from Avila to Creed, this time with just 1:51 left to play, that gave the Eagles some breathing room.

Instead of falling back to defend, Central added another goal with less than 60 seconds left on the clock. Cristofer Tello took a free kick 45 yards out and it was finished by Tino Martinez.

“Everything about how we scored today is something we worked on yesterday,” Garcia said. “Coach A (Adrian Gonzalez) and Coach B (Bernardo Leandro) worked with them on it specifically. It looks like they’re starting to think “hey, maybe the coaches are right,” so I hope it’s a step in the right direction.”

Surry Central sits at second in the FH2A standings at 4-1, trailing on 5-0 Forbush. Wilkes Central is third at 3-2, North Surry and North Wilkes are tied at 2-3, West Wilkes is 1-4-1 and East Surry is 0-4-1.

Both North Surry and Surry Central continue FH2A play on Oct. 3. Surry Central hosts East Surry, and North Surry hosts North Wilkes.

25’ Surry Central 1-0, Luke Creed unassisted

47’ Surry Central 2-0, Luke Creed from Jonathan Avila assist

54’ North Surry 2-1, Bryan Martinez from Bali Raya assist

62’ Surry Central 3-1, Luke Creed unassisted

67’ North Surry 3-2, Bali Raya unassisted

79’ Surry Central 4-2, Luke Creed from Jonathan Avila assist

80’ Surry Central 5-2, Tino Martinez from Cristofer Tello assist

Food Lion Feeds, a program by Food Lion to help get food to the needy, donated 680 backpacks to Surry County elementary schools recently.

Each backpack contained Capri Suns, Food Lion Puddings, Food Lion Apple Sauce, Food Lion Mac and Cheese, Food Lion Fruit Bar, Food Lion Beans and Franks, Ramen noodles, and GM Honey Nut Cheerio Cereal cups.

“Food Lion Feeds’ mission is to put food and hope on the table for our neighbors,” the company said of the effort. “Through Food Lion Feeds, we’ve donated more than 900 million meals to individuals and families since 2014 and (are) committed to donating 1.5 billion meals by 2025.”

“I wanted to give a helping hand in making sure parents didn’t have to choose between food and buying school supplies to start the school year,” said Pilot Mountain Food Lion Store Manager Terry Easter.

The students at Dobson Elementary School recently held their Student Council Office elections. The officers elected are Aubrey Johnson, president, Aubrey Jones , vice president, Grayson Unsworth, treasurer, and Lyla Atkins, secretary. (Submitted photo)

DOBSON — A group from Patrick County, Virginia, captured the coveted band competition last Saturday at the Surry Old-Time Fiddlers Convention in Dobson.

The absence of the event for more than three years as a result of COVID-19 did not dampen musicians’ enthusiasm to be recognized as tops in their field, with Buffalo Mountain Ears from Meadows of Dan judged best band. The convention was staged at the Surry County Service Center.

A Westfield group, The Minglewood Ramblers, took second place and The Slate Mountain Ramblers of Mount Airy, third place.

Another local-based group, The Roaring Gap Rattlers of State Road, captured fourth-place honors, with The Orange Grove Hot Shots, from Hillsborough in fifth place.

Young band competition also was highly contested, led by The Greasy String Band of Mount Airy.

The Newfound Gap Band hailing from Leicester took second place and The Biscuit Eating Ramblers of Lowgap, third.

Place winners in individual categories, whose hometowns were not available, included:

• Variety — 1. Coleman Emerson, 2. Penny Kilby, 3. Milton Scott, 4. Mason Winfree, 5. Bobby Fields.

• Folk song — 1. Mark Kilianski, 2. Aaron Ratcliffe, 3. Mason Winfrey, 4. Jared Boyd, 5. Jack Zell.

• Mandolin — 1. Todd Hiatt, 2. Ralph McGee, 3. Eva Casstevens, 4. Cody Bowman.

• Bass — 1. Stacy Boyd, 2. Barbara Bowman, 3. Bill Sluys, 4. Tammy Sawyer.

• Guitar — 1. Danny Casstevens, 2. Steve Kilby, 3. Mark Kilianski, 4. Gene Anderson.

• Banjo — 1. Jared Boyd, 2. Nancy Sluys, 3. Andrew Walker, 4. Aaron Ratcliffe, 5. Josh Harrod.

• Fiddle — 1. Amy Alvey, 2. Richard Bowman, 3. Jason Phillips, 4. Travis Watts, 5. Thom Worm.

• Dance — 1. Marty Todd, 2. Barbara Bowman, 3. Marsha Todd, 4. Mason Winfree, 5. JoAnn Call.

• Best all-around performer — Jared Boyd.

• Variety — 1. Coley Palmer, 2. Emmie Davis.

• Folk song — 1. Maggie Wilkerson, 2. Levi Head, 3. Bayla Davis.

• Guitar — 1. Gavin Woodruff, 2. Judah Davis, 3. Levi Head.

• Banjo — 1. Brock Greer, 2. Bayla Davis, 3. Josiah Wilkerson.

• Fiddle — 1. Sylvie Davis, 2. Hunter Hiatt, 3. Sam Wilkerson.

• Best all-around performer – Gavin Woodruff.

Surry County Parks and Recreation has extended an invitation to members of the community to join a public meeting in which they hope to gain insights and opinions to what residents want to see in future projects.

Residents are being asked to provide feedback that will assist the department in development of the Surry County Parks and Recreation Master Plan which will guide expansion, addition, or renovation to existing parks, playgrounds, ball fields, river accesses, and trails across the county.

Furthermore, department officials are hoping members of the public will aid in updating and further developing the Fisher River Park Master Plan. Daniel White of Surry County Parks and Recreation has previously explained improvement plans he would like to see at Fisher River Park, such as replacing old playground equipment and rethinking the orientation and skill level of the mountain bike trails at the park.

Input is needed at the public meeting so that parks and recreation may seek grant funding from the Access for Parks Grant and the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant. Parks and Recreation’s Bradley Key said that topics under consideration at the public meeting will include parks, programs, facilities, and amenities that may best service the community in the years to come.

The Access for Parks Grant provides $10 million to parks departments for programming designed to benefit persons with disabilities. Grant funding will be used to adapt existing equipment or build new facilities that can meet the needs of children and veterans with physical or developmental challenges. The program is administered through the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation and the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.

White says the Access grant is broad and considers many different forms of physical and development disabilities that may need to be accommodated for. He has said that creating greater accessibility such as having ramps that can get mobility challenged kids up “into the play” rather than watching from the sidelines.

Multi-sensory apparatus that engages in a variety of ways like tactile interactions or musical instruments incorporated into playground equipment would increase participation. White noted a xylophone is one of his bucket list ideas offering it would be interesting but is just one idea. He suggested also having areas for kids to transition into group play may benefit those with vision or hearing problem to gain comfort with their surroundings so they may more fully enjoy themselves.

“I may not be able to do it all, but I can dream and then I value-engineer,” he said with a smile from the parks and rec office in Dobson. “That’s what I do: I dream and then I value-engineer.”

The General Assembly awards funds to the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund each year and a citizen board makes the decisions on allocating funds. Since 1994 a total of 993 projects have been funded across the state totaling $236 million in granted dollars, which were then paired with local matching funds to reach $746 million in total impact for funding of parks.

Surry County has previously funded 12 projects with trust fund assistance including funding for multiple Greenway extension projects, Dobson Square Park, Westwood Park in Mount Airy, Pilot Mountain Park, and dual grants for Fisher River Park. With the county’s matching funding these 12 grants total $8.8 million of parks investment.

Through grant applications Surry County Parks and Recreation are seeking to find alternative ways of funding improvement to parks without asking for more funding from the county or the taxpayer.

White explained, “The resources that we are given in this department, we do our best to use them to the very best of our ability. To use them to their maximum potential. That’s what we are looking for, to use the resources to their max potential and leverage the dollars they are giving us into more.”

To qualify for consideration for these state grant programs, the county must hold an open meeting with input from the residents they serve. To satisfy that requirement the meeting will be held on Tuesday, Oct, 4, from 6 – 8 p.m. at Dobson Town Hall, located at 307 North Main St. in Dobson.

Refreshments will be provided at the meeting, so a grumbling stomach at a natural dinner time need not discourage participation. Parks and Recreation needs to hear from as many people as possible to ensure that the future of Surry Count’s facilities will match the wants and desires of the community.

The state told applicants, “Local governments with better plans and public involvement have received more grants.”

With more public input and guidance as to what people want to see, the better the grant application will be thus increasing the likelihood of being awarded the funding.

For more information on parks planning or the public meeting, contact Surry County Parks and Recreation at 336-401-8235.

PILOT MOUNTAIN — East Surry strengthened its hold on first place in the Foothills 2A Conference with a victory in Wednesday’s league match.

The Cardinals had two of the top five individual scores and three in the top seven.

Six FH2A schools sent golfers to the meet, and five had enough to compete as a team. East Surry, North Surry, Surry Central, Wilkes Central and North Wilkes all had enough to compete as a team, while Forbush had one golfer compete as an individual.

Surry Central’s 2022 girls golf team is the school’s first in the past handful of years.

East Surry won the team competition with a combined score of 154 strokes. The Cards are currently first in the FH2A regular season standings and lead Wilkes Central by 59 strokes.

Surry Central finished second with a team score of 178 stokes, and North Surry wasn’t far behind at 179. Wilkes Central finished fourth at 186 strokes, and North Wilkes rounded out the team competition with 201.

East Surry’s Sophie Harris was the medalist for the meet with a nine-hole score of 41 strokes.

*The top three individual performances contribute to team score. Teams with only two girls competing were given an automatic 70 for the third spot.

• State Employees Credit Union on South Franklin Road has become the victim of a false pretense crime, according to Mount Airy Police Department reports.

The case surrounds an incident last Friday in which a known individual provided false documents to receive a loan of an unspecified sum. Police records indicate that a stolen payroll stub was involved in the crime that was still under investigation at last report.

• Timothy Wayne Ayers, 40, of 147 Hooks Drive, is facing a felony drug charge and vehicle-related crimes including driving while intoxicated and hit and run. Ayers was arrested last Thursday in the area of South Main Street and Buck Shoals Road during the investigation of the hit and run matter, for which no details were released.

In addition to DWI and hit and run, he is facing three other charges including possession of a Schedule I controlled substance, a felony; driving while license revoked; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ayers was confined in the Surry County Jail under a $2,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in District Court on Oct. 10.

• An unauthorized use of a motor vehicle was reported on Sept. 14 in which James Willis Lovelace of Brooklen Avenue was victimized. It involved a known individual taking his white Ford Focus, valued at $3,000, without permission in August. The matter was still under investigation at last report.

• A breaking and entering of a locked mailbox occurred on Sept. 14 at the office of a local accountant, Brenda Lineberry, located on a street known as Professional Court. Mail of an unspecified description and value was listed as stolen.

DOBSON — The general election won’t be held until Nov. 8, but Surry Countians already have begun making their choices through the absentee ballot by mail process.

“North Carolina was the first state in the nation to begin voting for the 2022 general election, being the first state to mail out absentee ballots on September ninth,” Surry Director of Elections Michella Huff advised.

“We have received requests for and mailed out 549 absentee by mail ballots,” Huff added Wednesday. “We have received 61 as of this morning.”

Under state law, any North Carolina registered voter may request, receive and vote a mail-in absentee ballot — with no special circumstance or excuse needed.

Absentee request forms can be returned only by mail or in person — except for individuals covered under the Uniformed And Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). They may return requests via email and fax, based on information earlier released about the process.

Nov. 1, a week before the election, is listed on the Surry Board of Elections website as the last day to request an absentee ballot. The deadline for returning civilian ballots is Nov. 8 by 5 p.m. That day is also the deadline for those participating through the Uniformed And Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

An absentee ballot portal at https://votebymail.ncsbe.gov/app/home is available.

The mailing address for the Surry Board of Elections is P.O. Box 372, Dobson, NC, 27017, and its physical address is 915 E. Atkins St., Dobson.

Absentee by mail balloting has been a source of skepticism surrounding its security compared to in-person voting, but elections officials in North Carolina say a number of precautions exist to ensure the integrity of that process.

For one, county election officials send ballots only to registered voters who request them using official forms, according to information from the State Board of Elections which was updated this month.

Also, the voter or his or her near relative or legal guardian must fill out and sign the request form. Required information includes the voter’s date of birth, driver’s license number or last four Social Security number digits.

Teeth are behind those rules, with fraudulently or falsely completing the request form a Class I felony.

In 2022, voters must cast their ballot in the presence of two witnesses or a notary public. Witnesses are required to sign the absentee return envelope, certifying that a person marked his or her ballot and is the registered voter submitting the ballot.

If a voter forgets to sign or fails to get the witnesses to print and sign their names and provide their addresses, the ballot cannot be accepted.

Only the voter, a near relative or legal guardian may return the ballot. The county elections board keeps a log of who drops off absentee ballots.

Upon being returned, the board reviews the absentee envelope to ensure compliance with the legal requirements.

Once an absentee ballot is received, a barcode on the return envelope is scanned and linked to the person’s voter registration. The ballot envelope then is placed on an absentee report for approval by the Surry Board of Elections at a meeting that is part of the tabulation procedure.

Huff mentioned that the first absentee board meeting will be conducted next Tuesday, when members are to review and approve the initial batch of absentee by mail ballots for the general election.

At that stage, a citizen is counted as having voting and barred from casting a ballot in person at one-stop early voting sites or his or her Election Day polling place, which prevents someone from doing so more than once. If such a voter returned another ballot, it would not count.

Additionally, each absentee voter’s unique identifier barcode for the return application ensures the state system will not permit two ballots from the same person to be accepted or counted.

Other local absentee meetings are slated for Oct. 11, Oct. 18, Oct. 25, Nov. 1, Nov. 7, Nov. 8 and Nov. 17, when a supplemental one is scheduled a day before the vote canvass.

“Many people are watching North Carolina’s absentee voting process, including candidates, political parties, county boards of elections, political and data scientists and the media,” a statement from the N.C. State Board of Elections says in part. “If there are anomalies or questionable activities, they will be reported to election officials.”

The state board has a dedicated team of experienced investigators who probe credible allegations of election fraud and refer cases to prosecutors when warranted by findings, officials in Raleigh added.

While the eventual path of Hurricane Ian was not clear Wednesday, local officials were getting ready should the remnants of the storm cross over Surry County.

The hurricane made landfall on the west coast of Florida Wednesday as a category 4 storm — among the strongest — with pounding surf, heavy rain and powerful 125 mph winds inflicting serious damage.

In Surry County, where skies where still sunny and the weather pleasant, Emergency Services Director Eric Southern said preparations were underway to prepare for the storm’s arrival in the region.

“We’ve already had one meeting with the state this morning about preparation, and we’ll be doing more each day before the storm,” he said. That phone meeting was with EMS directors around North Carolina as well as state officials in Raleigh.

“Right now, we’re just getting equipment ready, making sure generators are working, we’ve got our fire departments and rescue squads on standby, checking their equipment. We’re working with local law enforcement to get ready.”

Patrick Wilson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, Virginia, said Wednesday the severity of the storm when it reaches the Surry County region is still uncertain.

“It’s going to be a wet weekend, to put it lightly,” he said when checking the latest forecast. “I don’t know if we’re able to give full rainfall amounts yet, but I would prepare for several inches. A lot of this is going to depend on the track of Hurricane Ian after it makes landfall in Florida.”

He said the storm, at that time, was expected to cross over Florida and head into the Atlantic Ocean, where it could go north and likely make landfall again in South Carolina.

That is when the storm would begin making its way inland, bringing rain and wind to Surry County and the surrounding region.

“Whether we get much flooding will depend on whether we get the rain in a burst of rainfall, or of it’s more spread out over several hours so the ground can handle it.”

He said there is a high-pressure system in the region at present, which has been responsible for the string of pleasant days this week. How far the storm can penetrate that system will largely determine how far the heavy rain and wind goes inland.

“The winds aren’t going to be too bad, because it (the storm) will be weakened by that point, but we’re still going to get 30 to 40 mph winds…The first rain may arrive Friday, but the heavy stuff is going to be over the weekend.”

It is the rainfall that could be the cause of most of the damage inflicted on the area. In addition to the potential for flooding, Wilson said rain could saturate and soften the ground, making it easy for trees to be blown over during the windy portions of the storm.

“Definitely everyone should be ready for a few inches of rain and watch out for flooding.”

Southern, with EMS, said his department is planning for a worst-case scenario, as if the region might see up to 4 inches of rain, and potentially higher wind, along with flash flooding and maybe a tornado or two spawned by the storm.

He cautioned that folks should stay home if possible, and if they can’t, they should avoid driving through water on roadways — it can be deeper and swifter-moving than it appears.

He said if individuals experience power outages, they should contact their utility company immediately. If they witness trees down over roads, severe flooding with water near or entering a home, or any life-threatening emergency, those reports should be made to 911.

A number of area activities set for this weekend have been cancelled or altered. In addition to the postponement of the Civil War Re-enactment in Ararat, Virginia, and the Sonker Festival, the Music at the Market in Dobson has been moved indoors, from the Farmer’s Market to the Surry County Service Center, at 915 E. Atkins Street in Dobson.

Officials with Mount Airy City Schools said the system is planning to hold classes on Friday as normal, although that could change as the storm approaches.

“We are always in contact with our county and state emergency officials concerning the weather,” said Carrie Venable, executive officer of communications for the school system. “We will be looking closely at the radar and progress of the storm as we approach Friday. Any decision being made is also made in tandem with Elkin and Surry County Schools.”

There was no word from Surry County Schools officials on whether any plans were being made to potentially close school on Friday.

The students in Janna Blakeney’s eighth grade science class at Pilot Mountain Middle School recently spent their class time, spread over two days, learning the various properties of water.

Throughout the time they rotated through six different lab stations. The labs tested different properties of water. Students experimented with cohesion, adhesion, and density, while others exposed the students to water principles of surface tension and capillary action.

Mount Airy High School recognized three seniors prior to Tuesday’s match against North Stokes.

The trio of Kancie Tate, Charlotte Hauser and Audrey Marion – which have been instrumental to the success of the defending 1A Dual Team State Champion program – were all honored alongside their parents as part of the Granite Bears’ Senior Night. The match itself ended the same way most the matches during their tenure have: 9-0 in favor of Mount Airy.

“It’s been an absolute privilege to coach Kancie, Audrey and Charlotte over the course of the past three years,” said Mount Airy coach Luke Graham. “Their individual work ethic and leadership – both verbally and by example – has played a huge part in shaping what we’ve been trying to do as a team the past couple seasons.

“I was extremely happy for them to see the turnout today – family, friends, students and faculty. They deserve it. Their parents have been tremendously supportive of our team as well, and I’m sincerely grateful to the girls and their families.”

All three girls posted wins in singles and doubles against North Stokes.

Tate took down Ada Hassan 6-4, 6-1 in No. 3 singles. Kancie is a four-year starter who improved to 15-0 in singles this season with her win on Tuesday.

Marion defeated Emma Gunn 6-0, 6-0 in No. 4 singles. Audrey is a four-year starter who improved to 15-0 in singles this season with the victory.

Hauser beat North’s Ila Hassan 6-0, 6-1 in No. 5 singles. Charlotte is a three-year starter who improved to 14-1 in singles this season with win over Hassan.

Rounding out singles, Mount Airy’s: No. 1 seed Carrie Marion defeated Chandler Sizemore 6-2, 6-0, No. 2 seed Ella Brant defeated Rori Long 6-1, 6-0, and No. 6 seed Audrey Brown defeated Maranda Bullins 6-0, 6-0 for the match’s other double-bagel victory.

Defending 1A Doubles State Champions Brant and Carrie Marion won No. 1 doubles 8-3 over Sizemore and Long. The senior duo of Tate and Hauser defeated Gunn and Ada Hassan 8-2 in No. 2 doubles, and the senior-freshman tandem of “the Audreys” – Marion and Brown – defeated Emma Hooker and Ila Hassan 8-0.

Mount Airy clinched at least a share of the Northwest 1A Conference Championship with Tuesday’s victory, giving the Bears their second consecutive conference title. The Granite Bears need just one win to clinch the outright NW1A title.

Mount Airy looks to finish out the year unbeaten when traveling to Elkin on Oct. 4 and Alleghany on Oct. 6.

East Surry fended off a fired-up North Surry squad on Wednesday to keep its winning streak alive.

The home Greyhounds shocked the No. 5-ranked Cardinals by taking the first set of the match, marking the first time all season that a fellow 2A team won a set against the ladies from Pilot Mountain. East fired back by winning the next two sets while only ever trailing for one point, but North found new life and was on the verge of forcing a decisive fifth set.

A late comeback in the fourth set helped East Surry win its seventh consecutive match.

The story of North-East round two, held Sept. 27, was far different than the teams’ initial meeting on Sept. 1. The teams’ first encounter in Pilot Mountain saw the Cardinals win in straight sets while winning each set by double digits: 25-13, 25-10 and 25-14.

Following that match, North won five of its next seven matches to get over .500 for the first time in 2022 at 8-7 overall. The Greyhounds also moved up to third in the Foothills 2A Conference standings by avenging a loss to Wilkes Central.

North Surry showed its improvement by taking the first set against East. Not only was this East Surry’s first set loss to a 2A team all season, but it was also the team’s first first-set loss to a 2A team since 2018.

The Hounds led 22-17 in the set when the Cards mounted a 7-1 run. A service error from East Surry evened the score at 24-24, then North’s defense held on long enough to take the next two points and win 26-24.

The Cardinals, who entered Tuesday’s conference bout having won seven of their past eight matches, quickly regrouped in the second set.

Kate McCraw served the Cards to a 5-0 start. Kills from Mckenzie Davis and Bella Hutchens increased that lead to 12-3, in which time North used both of its timeouts for the set. A block from Callie Robertson and an ace from Reece Niston helped North Surry battle back to a handful, but East’s offense was too much.

The Cardinals never trailed in the second set and led by as many as nine points, going on to win 25-18.

Everything clicked again for East in the third set as they went on to win 25-10. North Surry showed flashes of excellence at times, but only earned back-to-back points once in the set thanks to five service errors.

Business picked up in the fourth set. North and East had five lead changes and nine ties before either side reached 15 points. The Hounds had stronger serving than previous sets, with Niston and Ella Riggs picking up aces, while Aniya Joyce and Zarah Love dominated on the front line both offensively and defensively.

East had trouble putting rallies away midway through the set with Niston, Joyce and Sadie Badgett playing the back row for North. Cardinal coach Katelyn Markle called a timeout down 9-7 to strategize, then the Cards came out and scored six of the next nine points.

Hutchens and Lily Watson began the run with strategically placed attacks, then Merry Parker Boaz won three consecutive Cardinal points with kills. This time, it was the Cardinal back row of McCraw, Samarin Kipple and Katie Collins digging North Surry attacks to set the front row up for kills.

Greyhound coach Shane Slate then used his first timeout to game plan. The coach’s plan worked, and North’s front row was able to hinder East’s attacks. Callie Robertson had blocks on three straight rallies to ignite the crowd and give the Greyhounds a 15-13 lead. Love added to the run with a kill, and an ace from Haylee Smith forced East to use its second timeout down 17-13.

The teams continued to battle back and forth until North led 21-18. The Hounds gave away a point with a service error and this opened the door for an East Surry comeback. With Collins serving, the Cardinals used a 6-0 run to go up 24-21.

A service error from East finally put the ball back in North’s hands, but then a service error from North ended the set at 25-22.

East Surry now has a three-game lead over the rest of the FH2A Conference at 8-0. The Cards can win a share of the conference with one win in their four final FH2A matches, or can clinch the outright championship by winning twice.

Surry Central is second in the conference at 5-3, and North Surry and Wilkes Central are tied for third at 4-4. Forbush is next at 3-4, followed by North Wilkes at 2-5 and West Wilkes at 1-7.

The next Music at the Market Concert scheduled for this Friday, featuring Wood Family Tradition is still going to be held despite threatening weather from the remnants of Hurricane Ian.

It will just change location.

Travis Frye, tourism director for both Surry County and Dobson, said “Due to impending weather, the next Music at the Market Concert will take place indoors at the Surry County Service Center, 915 E. Atkins Street, Dobson.”

“This indoor facility is directly across the parking lot from the Farmers Market. Chairs will be provided and Mermaids On The Go, Station 1978 Firehouse Peanuts, and Shikora Express Japanese Grill will be set up near the entrance. They will be ready to serve delicious food by 6 p.m. that may be brought into the building to eat,” he said, encouraging those who may be going to grab a bite and to not stay away due to Hurricane Ian’s threat.

Inside the Service Center will be safe and dry with no wind to mess up hairdos or send plates of food flying across Highway 601. The doors will open at 6 p.m. and show time for Wood Family Tradition will be 7 – 9 p.m. Admission to the concert is free.

DOBSON — Surry Central flipped the script on Mount Airy Monday to even the score from the opening match of the 2022 season.

Mount Airy began the season at home with a 3-0 victory over Central, marking the Bears’ first straight-set win over the Eagles since 2016. The teams met for round two in Dobson on Sept. 26 and it was Surry Central’s turn for a sweep.

The Golden Eagles won three close sets over the Bears, which included a near-double digit comeback in the third set, to secure the nonconference victory

Surry Central (6-7, 4-3 Foothills 2A) has won three of its past four matches and is 6-3 in its past nine matches after starting the season 0-4.

Mount Airy (9-5, 7-0 Northwest 1A) drops just its second match of September. The Bears are 2-4 against teams from the 2A division but 7-1 against fellow 1A teams.

Similar to their first meeting between the teams all three sets ended with close scores. Central used an early run to gain and hold a lead, winning the first set 25-20. Surry Central then staved off a Mount Airy comeback in the second set to win 25-20 again before mounting a comeback of their own to take the final set 25-23.

Surry Central went on runs of seven or more consecutive points in all three sets.

The first of these runs occurred when the Bears led 13-11 in the opening set. Central’s Marissa McCann rattled off three back-to-back-to-back aces as the home team forced the final lead changed of the set, going up 18-13. Attacks from Alissa Clabo and Morgan Mayfield brought Mount Airy back within three at 22-19, but two service errors and a net violation on the Bears led to the end of the set.

Mount Airy started the second set with a 4-0 lead. Central’s Kylee Schendel and Presley Smith used placement over power to put shots away and tie the score at 7-7. Five Central service errors in the set left the door open for Mount Airy to take the lead permanently, but instead the teams had four ties before either side reached double digits.

McCann subbed back in for the Eagles and put away a rally with a kill before Central committed a service error. Another McCann kill gave the serve to Surry Central’s Aubrey Southern at 12-10, which started an 8-0 run for the Eagles.

Central worked to place attacks in spots that would break Mount Airy’s rotation. This kept the Bears from setting up attacks while allowing the Eagles more opportunities to put rallies away. McCann had three kills during the run, and Lily O’Neal and Schendel each added one. O’Neal also had a block on the run, and Southern recorded an ace.

A Mount Airy attack error put Central up 19-10, but the Eagles followed with a service error that would spark an 8-1 Bears run. Kennedy Gwyn started off with an ace, then Clabo and Isabella Allen recorded kills to bring the Bears back.

The Bears cut the Eagles’ lead to 20-18 before an O’Neal kill gave the home team momentum. Central ended the set with a 5-2 run.

Mount Airy matched its biggest run of the match in the third set. The Bears led 11-9 before scoring eight of the next nine points, and the only point earned by the Eagles during this time came from a Mount Airy service error.

Surry Central wasn’t able to return Allen’s serve on three consecutive points. When Central finally was able to get back over the net, attack errors proved costly and the visitors seemed to be on their way to a set victory up 19-10.

Kills from McCann and O’Neal showed the Eagles still had some fight left in them. Miscommunications by the Bears gave momentum to the Golden Eagles, and Mount Airy had to call a timeout with the lead trimmed to 19-16.

Southern came out of the timeout and gave Mount Airy trouble with her serve. A Southern ace capped off the 10-0 run and gave Central the 20-19 advantage.

The teams traded points until facing a 23-23 tie, then back-to-back attack errors by the Bears gave Central the overall win.

Several Surry Community College faculty and staff members were recognized recently with awards given out during the fall 2022 faculty and staff meeting.

English Instructor Dr. Kathleen Fowler received Surry Community College’s Excellence in Teaching Award for 2022-2023, the highest faculty award given by SCC.

“It was an honor to present Dr. Kathleen Fowler with Surry Community College’s Excellence in Teaching Award. She is an accomplished English instructor who gives and sacrifices so much for the success of our students,” said college president Dr. David Shockley said.

Cosmetology Director Robin Minton and former Mechatronics Lead Instructor Jordan Crowson received the President’s Award for Meritorious Teaching for 2022-2023.

Donald Fowler, assistant director of the academic support center, received Surry Community College’s Distinguished Staff Award for 2022-2023, the highest staff award given by SCC.

“The employees and students at Surry Community College have known for many years that students who seek Donald Fowler’s academic assistance are successful. I was elated that he was honored as the recipient of Surry Community College’s Distinguished Staff Award,” Shockley said.

Laura Bracken, director of accessibility services, and Emily Stroud, instructional assistant of academics, received the President’s Award for Meritorious Service for 2022-2023.

Dr. Shockley made anotherannouncement during the meeting — that the college would start recognizing employees with more than 30 years of employment with a designated parking spot. Among those so recognized were Dr. Susan Worth, division chair – mathematics, 36 years of service; Cheryl Fielde, executive assistant – office of the president and board of trustees, 31 years of service; and Kim White, lead instructor – information technology, 30 years of service.

English Instructor Jon Thomas received a 20-year service pin during the his two decades of service to SCC.

The Ararat, Virginia, Ruritan Club recently made donations to two area organizations.

During the club’s September meeting, President Kathleen Loveland presented checks to Rhonda Fulcher Pruitt of the Patrick County, Virginia, Food Bank and to Kristie Young Bentley, representing the Stuart, Virginia, Rotary Club backpack program. Each representative educated the club on their respective organizations. Each of these organizations serve the students/citizens in the Ararat community.

Also during the meeting, Kristie Bentley discussed the Patrick County High School Junior/Senior Beta Club member requirements for community service.

The club had lots of business to address during the monthly meeting, including the upcoming BBQ/Cruise-In. This traditional annual fundraiser is set for Saturday, Oct. 22, at the club building, located at 4711 Ararat Highway, in Ararat.

All money raised through fundraising efforts, such as the BBQ, virtual raffles, and bingo, is funneled back into the community to help causes such as school supplies, Christmas gifts for less fortunate families and the elderly, and the local fire department and rescue squads.

“Our membership is really growing, and I think that is partially because our club so active in the community, and folks want to be a part of it,” said club Secretary Pamela Smith.

The Ararat Ruritan club meets on the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. for anyone to attend.

The Ararat Ruritan Club building can be rented for family gatherings, celebrations, and other activities. For more details, email AraratRuritanClub@gmail.com. More information is also available on the Ararat Ruritan Club Facebook page.

White Plains Elementary School students in grades 3-5 gathered recently to listen to speeches from 16 student council candidates, outlining their qualifications for the respective offices they were seeking.

After hearing the students went back to class and voted for president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. Courtney Farris was selected president, Capri Simmons was voted into the post of vice president), Kylee Tate was chosen as secretary, and Gracie Beasley was named treasurer.

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East Surry High School Junior Maria Blakeney was named recipient of the College Board National Recognition Program, National Rural and Small Town Award, for her achievements in school and on College Board assessments.

She earned this recognition because of her academic achievements in school and her performance on the PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT 10, and/or AP Exams.

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The 2022 Homecoming Court at Mount Airy High School — as voted on by their peers — will be presented during halftime of Friday night’s football game along with the representatives for each senior member of the Granite Bears Football team.

The 2022 Homecoming Queen is voted on by the Mount Airy High School student body and will be crowned after the presentation of the court.

For more information about homecoming at Mount Airy High School contact Courtney Howlett at chowlett@mtairy.k12.nc.us or 336-789-5147.

Various local events routinely have fallen victim to the coronavirus over the past couple of years, and now the weather is wreaking havoc including prompting the postponement of two major gatherings scheduled this coming weekend.

Officials of both the Surry County Sonker Festival and the Civil War Encampment and Living History Weekend in Ararat, Virginia, have announced that neither will be held as planned.

“This is all due to the hurricane weather, the impending weather situation,” explained Tom Bishop, a spokesman for the annual Civil War event that was to be staged on Saturday and Sunday.

In response, organizers have moved it to the weekend of Oct. 8-9 in the hopes of better conditions then.

“We’re doing everything we can to get the message out,” Bishop said of the change.

Officials of the Surry County Historical Society, which conducts the sonker event that was slated for Saturday, have made a similar announcement.

“Due to the weather forecast, the board of directors of the Surry County Historical Society is postponing the Sonker Festival to a later date,” advised the group’s president, Dr. Annette Ayers.

Unlike the Civil War Encampment and Living History Weekend, no alternate schedule has been devised for the sonker event, which takes place at the historic Edwards-Franklin House on Haystack Road west of Mount Airy.

“We have not determined the date as of now,” Ayers added earlier this week.

The Surry County Sonker Festival, now in its 41st year, has not been held since 2019 because of COVID-19. It celebrates the deep-dish dessert native to this area, available for sale in multiple flavors, with a band playing traditional music, various exhibits and tours of the Edwards-Franklin House also part of the occasion.

A rainy forecast is in store for the local area this weekend as the remnants of Hurricane Ian move north, according to the National Weather Service.

Rain will reach the area late Friday and continue into the weekend.

Ian could bring widespread moderate to heavy rainfall and a flash flood threat to the region. In addition, gusty winds will be possible depending on Ian’s exact track, the National Weather Service was reporting Tuesday.

At last report, showers are likely both Saturday and Sunday, with the precipitation threat greatly diminishing on Monday.

In being shifted to Oct. 8-9, activities during the Civil War Encampment and Living History Weekend will operate under the same time frame as previously reported.

This will include mock battles both days and an exhibit featuring a replica of the CSS Hunley submarine.

“We may have some of our uniformed and period clothing people that have other commitments,” Bishop mentioned regarding re-enactment troops involved in the battle recreations and others who lend authenticity to the event.

“But this cannot be helped.”

The Civil War Encampment and Living History Weekend is held at Laurel Hill, the birthplace of Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart.

What began as a dry summer turned out to be wetter than normal in the Mount Airy area as the season progressed, according to the latest statistical report from F.G. Doggett Water Plant.

Only 2.1 inches of precipitation were recorded during June at the plant — the city’s official weather-monitoring station — and the bulk of that before summer began on June 20.

The situation reversed itself in July with the logging of a 7.59-inch rainfall total, dwarfing Mount Airy’s all-time average for the seventh month of the year, 4.90. Weather records have been kept here since 1924.

Measurable amounts were noted on 18 of July’s 31 days, with a 0.98-inch output on July 6 the most recorded for a single 24-hour period.

Not to be left out, August also saw above-average rainfall with 5.58 inches measured, compared to the August norm of 4.34 in Mount Airy.

Sixteen days had measurable amounts, topped by 1.21 inches on Aug. 13.

While September has seemed relatively dry — with no totals reported to close out the last part of the summer — precipitation remained above normal in Mount Airy as of Aug. 31.

Through that day, a total of 37.95 inches had been measured, 4.55 inches, or 13.6%, above the all-time local average for that point in the year, 33.40 inches.

July and August also were above normal in terms of mercury readings.

Temperatures averaged 76.9 degrees during July, boosted by a 93-degree reading on July 24 which was the high for the month. At the other end of the scale, a pair of 61-degree days on July 12-13 took monthly low honors.

The mercury averaged 76.9 degrees in July, compared to the all-time average for that month of 75.5 degrees.

August also was a tad warmer than normal, averaging 74.5 degrees compared to 74.3.

The high for the month, 92 degrees, occurred on Aug. 3, with a trio of 57-degree readings sharing the low-temp distinction on the 13th, 14th and 15th days of the month.

Fog was observed on 14 days during July and nine in August.

An innovative program has been greenlit in Surry County that will pair the expertise of the Surry County Office of Substance Abuse and Recovery with those of the county’s EMS to offer individuals who suffer an opioid overdose a solution that can save lives while saving the county money.

Surry County will receive $350,000 over the life of a three-year grant from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services with federal dollars through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to train staff and deploy the EMS Bridge MAT Program.

Bridge MAT is, “A cutting edge and innovative preventive intervention intended to meet survivors of opioid overdoses attended by EMS, where they are by providing an initial dose of buprenorphine for withdrawal relief and ongoing support for medication assisted treatment (MAT) initiation in rural counties in North Carolina.”

Surry County will be among the second wave of counties selected in the state to deploy Bridge MAT, joining the ranks of Onslow and Stanley counties who were the first grant recipients and will grow the total number to ten.

The plan calls for adding two paramedics that will serve with the substance abuse and recovery office to seek outcomes for individuals suffering an overdose that will lower the “significant monetary and emotional toll” that substance use disorder has on the individuals, their family, and the community.

This program will support paramedics responding to individuals with an opioid overdose who refuse transport to an emergency department for reasons that may include lack of insurance or concerns of interaction with law enforcement. In this plan under the supervision of a waivered prescriber, the paramedics can administer the first dose of buprenorphine to alleviate some of the pain of opioid withdrawal.

The “bridge” is filling the gap from the time of the overdose until such time as that person can find the treatment that fits their needs. For a period of seven days there is follow up from Peer Support specialists of the substance abuse and recovery office Intervention Team and the new Bridge MAT paramedics. During that period, they can help make referrals to appropriate opioid use disorder treatment provider, but this takes time.

The county said there are no detoxification nor behavioral health urgent care clinics within an hour’s drive of the county in their application for the grant. Some providers who offer intensive outpatient care do not treat clients in a walk-in fashion they said. “MAT normally requires one week to schedule the client’s assessment and an additional week in an intensive outpatient program before MAT is available to clients with opioid addiction.”

Member of the county’s Intervention Team informed that clients with opioid addiction are “frequently unable to abstain from opioid use during this two-week delay while they wait for entry.” Reading between the lines, the implication is during the waiting period the individual is going to seek the path of least resistance toward alleviating that pain – back to the pills or the needle, and the cycle renews again.

The Bridge MAT program suggests a more useful course of treatment during those seven days would be one in which the individual receives ongoing treatment with doses of buprenorphine from the trained paramedics. “All medications will be oversighted through the direction of Surry County EMS Medical Director, Dr. Jason Edsall,” the county said.

Oversights have been built into this plan to ensure the proper use of the allocated federal grant funds as well as guaranteed standards for care during what will be essentially a three-year test run. “Since providers and equipment change often, treatment protocols must be reviewed in regular intervals to ensure compliance,” the county wrote.

The EMS Bridge MAT program will have also additional assistance from the Surry County Health and Nutrition Center under the direction of the county health director to oversee licensed medical care providers that will provide clinical support.

Mark Willis and the Office of Substance Abuse and Recovery will continue to be responsible for the staffing and operation of programs such as the intervention team comprised of certified peer support specialists, community transportation programs such as Ride the Road to Recovery that will support the Bridge MAT efforts. Also, data collection and analysis support will continue from county data guru Jaime Edwards who along with Paramedic Eddie Jordan compiled a wealth of information for the grant application.

Surry County EMS responses to substance use events from 2015 to 2021 increased by an alarming 277%. Instances of opioid related overdoses in the same period rose to become 40% of the total, with fentanyl involved overdoses doubling to 7% of the total number. More than 4,000 overdoses were reported in the past five years, sadly 198 of those proved fatal.

EMS has mapped overdose locations beginning in 2017 with data going back to 2010 added to form a more complete picture. The map distinguishes between overdoses that proved fatal as well as when Narcan was administered. Multiple administrations of Narcan are becoming more common as fentanyl is laced into street drugs with often lethal results.

The use and administrations of Narcan has risen dramatically with the onset of the opioid crisis. Use by first responders increased 60% between 2019 to 2021. It grew by 514% during the same period for family members and bystanders who administered the potentially lifesaving drug.

Mapping which overdoses are fatal, which required more than one dose of Narcan, and even who administered the Narcan can prove helpful in discerning the patterns of abuse in areas of the county.

The data shows patterns do repeat. “EMS responded to 24 overdose events involving duplicative clients in 2021. Between Jan. 1 and June 30…the number of EMS responses to duplicative overdose clients has almost tripled to 62. These 62 EMS responses to overdoses involved the same 21 clients.”

Based on 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, the estimated national cost due to instances of opioid use disorder is $221,219 per person. If over the three-year lifetime of the Bridge MAT grant it were only to “positively intervene” on 21 patients the county said that potential savings may be more than $4.5 million.

The need for innovation was discussed as the county noted during COVID and the corresponding trend to isolation, many community outreach efforts were less successful than in previous years or lost ground when community outreach was stymied.

Officials hope Surry County EMS Bridge MAT in conjunction with peer support through the intervention team will help those who suffer an overdose alleviate their pain more quickly and aid in finding them the long-term recovery support they require to treat a potentially life-threatening disease.

Office of Substance Abuse and Recovery leaders hope that ground lost in the community fight against substance use disorder can be won back and this grant will offer new tools to that end.

I went to our Mayberry Days Parade on Saturday. As I stood there amidst all of the excitement I began to look around. People from all over the United States were lined up, up and down Main Street, just to get a taste of what small town America used to feel like. Children were perched on their parents’ shoulders, straining to see what was happening on the street. Everyone was excited to be on Main Street, to enjoy the parade.

I then became sad as I looked around. The old-fashioned light posts decorated with welcoming banners and flower baskets could go away. The majestic buildings with their interesting architecture could be hidden by trees. The beautiful buildings might not be able to stand the strain of the street being dug up to bury the overhead wires and could be damaged.

I thought about where would the people stand if there was outdoor dining on the street? And then I thought, don’t we already have outdoor dining where people can have food and alcoholic beverages on Market Street? Why change Main?

When the parade was over, I watched as people headed out to do their shopping. Both Snappy Lunch and Barney’s had people anxiously waiting to be served.

As I went into the different shops, I was asked to sign a petition and to attend a Walk On Main on Oct. 9 to try and stop the New Main Street Plan, a plan that would include the changes that I mentioned above.

Our Main Street is a symbol of what small town America used to be like. I, for one, don’t want to loose that. As one merchant told me, “maybe what we are doing won’t do any good, but if we stand by and do nothing, we know what will happen.”

DOBSON — This past weekend marked a new era for the Surry Old-Time Fiddlers Convention, in a new venue, but the absence of the event for more than three years didn’t diminish its music or spirit.

The convention enjoyed a triumphant return to a semblance of normalcy with a square dance Friday night followed by adult and youth competition the next day.

Looking at the flurry of activity Saturday, one could easily forget that because of the pandemic the Surry Old-Time Fiddlers Convention had not been held since April 2019, when the event celebrated its 10th year.

After being cancelled in both 2020 and 2021, organizers hoped the convention traditionally held in early spring could return this year. That didn’t happen then and there were indications the event might be gone for good.

This was especially disappointing for those catering to the old-time music genre, since the Dobson fiddlers convention — unlike others that feature both bluegrass and old-time — is a rarity in terms of being dedicated entirely to the latter.

But the weekend’s slate of activities showed that it is hard to keep a good thing down.

“I’m just glad that it’s back going again,” Gene Anderson of the Copeland area said Saturday before registering to compete in the adult guitar category, “very glad.”

Of course, the 3.5-year shutdown/revitalization period has been accompanied by some changes.

One involved moving the convention from its longtime location at the Surry Community College gym in Dobson to the Surry County Service Center on East Atkins Street across town.

Another difference was to shift the event from its early spring date to September.

Neither seemed to present any obstacles for either musicians or fans, with Friday night’s square dance featuring music by two groups — The Slate Mountain Ramblers and Lucas Paisley and the Stratford String Band — setting the stage for a successful weekend.

“The dance floor was as full as you could get it all night long,” said a longtime convention organizer, Buck Buckner.

“Last night was good — really good,” Buckner added Saturday.

Getting the convention back up and running again after more than three years was not as daunting a task as one might think.

“We had it pretty well figured out by now, so it’s been good,” Tammy Sawyer, another key organizer, said of the event’s rejuvenation.

“We’re happy to do it,” Sawyer added while registering contestants Saturday afternoon.

In the weeks preceding the convention, Buckner had credited Travis Frye — who in March became tourism coordinator for the Dobson Tourism Development Authority and Surry County Tourism Development Authority — with providing a boost that led to having a 2022 event.

Frye was on the stage Saturday announcing contestants while wearing a smile.

“I think it’s going really well,” he said of the convention reboot in between performances.

Frye pointed out that two hours of solid competition among youthful musicians had just occurred. “Which is a good sign,” he said of the younger generation carrying on the old-time musical tradition.

“To have it in Dobson is important because it is the center of the county,” Frye said further.

Anderson, the guitar player, who attends fiddlers conventions throughout the region, said he appreciates the “hometown” atmosphere of the Dobson event. “I like smaller festivals.”

Buckner also praised the new location for the convention at the Surry County Service Center.

“I personally like it a lot,” he said. “I think it’s wonderful that the county makes it available” for community events.

Another highlight Saturday was the continuation of a convention tradition: bestowing the Master Artist Award, which this year went posthumously to Helen White.

Frye believes that with COVID-19 now largely a blip in the rear-view mirror, it’s important to maintain the continuity of the Surry Old-Time Fiddlers Convention.

And by all indications, its weekend comeback with nary a sour note heard will allow that to happen.

Two local tennis programs are in line to repeat as conference champions with the regular season winding down.

Mount Airy and East Surry both find themselves in similar position to late September during the 2021 season: undefeated in conference play and ranked in their respective state polls.

Mount Airy (13-1, 7-0 Northwest 1A), the defending 1A Dual Team State Champion, hasn’t left the top three of the N.C. High School Tennis Coaches Association (NCHSTCA) 1A Poll all season. The Bears started as the preseason No. 1, dropped to No. 3 for week one, went back to No. 1 in week two, fell to No. 2 in week three and have been No. 1 ever since.

East Surry (10-1, 9-0 Foothills 2A) didn’t appear in the NCHSTCA 2A Poll until week four. The Cardinals finished just outside the poll in week three after beating Forbush, which received votes the previous week, then jumped to No. 9 in week four. East currently sits at No. 10 in 2A.

Both programs are in the driver’s seat to repeat as conference champs with just two weeks remaining in the regular season.

Mount Airy holds at least a two-match lead over every other NW1A team, meaning the Bears only need to win one of their final three regular season matches to be guaranteed a share of the conference title. North Stokes sits at second with a 5-2 conference record (7-2 overall) and East Wilkes is third at 4-2 in conference (7-3 overall).

The Bears have already defeated East Wilkes twice – winning 8-1 on Aug. 23 and 9-0 Sept. 15. Mount Airy swept North Stokes in their only meeting on Sept. 1.

Mount Airy closes the regular season against North Stokes at home on Sept. 27, then the Bears go on the road to face Elkin on Oct. 4 and Alleghany on Oct. 6.

North Stokes and East Wilkes still have to play each other twice.

Mount Airy has a trio of seniors this season after having none in 2021: Kancie Tate, Audrey Marion and Charlotte Hauser. The trio, who play seeds No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, have a combined singles record of 35-1 when playing their primary positions.

Holding down the top two spots are sophomore Carrie Marion and junior Ella Brant.

Carrie is 10-2 in No. 1 singles, and both her losses were against teams outside the 1A division (2A public, 3A private). Brant is 11-3 in singles: 2-0 at the No. 1 spot, and 9-3 at No. 2. Two of her losses, like Carrie, came against opponents from higher divisions (2A public, 3A private), and only one was against a fellow 1A athlete. After dropping a three-set marathon against East Wilkes, Brant beat that same opponent in straight sets the second time around.

Rounding out singles is No. 6 seed Audrey Brown. Brown, a freshman, is 11-0 at the No. 6 spot.

Mount Airy has used six different combinations of doubles teams at each of the three spots. Overall, the Bears are 37-3 in doubles, so the combinations all seem to be working. The three losses came against schools in higher divisions (4A public, 2A public, 3A private).

Similar to last season, the FH2A race will come down to East Surry (9-0), Forbush (7-1) and Surry Central (5-2).

North Wilkes is still mathematically in the running at 5-3 in the conference. However, the Vikings have already lost twice to East Surry and, due to rescheduled matches, still have to play Surry Central twice as well as Forbush, Wilkes Central and North Surry once each.

East Surry already defeated Forbush earlier this season 6-2 on Sept. 6; the final doubles match was called off early due to weather. East won 5-of-6 singles matches against Forbush without dropping more than three games in any one match.

Surry Central gave East Surry its best match in the conference, but fell 7-2 on Sept. 15. Central did manage to force two singles matches into third-set tiebreakers, winning one.

East Surry closes the season at Forbush, then at home against West Wilkes and Surry Central.

The Lady Cardinals are led by two seniors that have yet to lose a match in 2022. No. 1 Tara Martin and No. 2 Evelyn Ruedisueli are both 11-0 in singles and are 11-0 as East’s No. 1 doubles team. When teaming together, Martin and Ruedisueli haven’t been defeated in a regular season doubles match in high school.

Juniors Sophie Hutchens and Chloe Koons are the primary No. 3 and No. 4 seeds. Hutchens is 9-1 at No. 3, and Koons is 1-0 in the match she played at No. 3. Koons is 6-4 at No. 4.

Sophomores Taylor Bullington and Mallory Estrada have served as the Cardinals’ No. 5 and No. 6 seeds for most of the season. Bullington is 9-1 at No. 5 and 10-1 in singles overall, while Estrada is 6-3 at No. 6 and 7-3 in singles overall.

Following Martin and Ruedisueli at No. 1 doubles, the juniors have been the most common No. 2 doubles team and the sophomores have been the No. 3 doubles team. Hutchens and Koons are 5-4 at No. 2 doubles, and Bullington and Estrada are 6-2 as a duo.

The Mount Airy Lady Bears golf team consistently set the bar in the Northwest 1A Conference this season.

Mount Airy won the outright Regular Season Championship, then tied for the Conference Tournament Championship at Cedarbrook Country Club on Sept. 21.

Senior Mercer Meadows will represent the Bears at regionals.

WALNUT COVE — Mount Airy’s defense locked down South Stokes Friday as the Bears recorded their first shutout victory of the season.

The Granite Bears forced five turnovers and held the Sauras to less than 30 total yards to win the Northwest 1A Conference game 58-0.

According to Mount Airy sports historian Doug McDaniel, Friday’s road win against South Stokes was Mount Airy’s 312th shutout victory of all time. The win also marked the 50th time the Bears had scored at least 50 points in a shutout.

Mount Airy improves to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the NW1A Conference. The only other unbeaten team in the conference is Starmount, which won its only NW1A game 34-6 against North Stokes on Sept. 23.

The Granite Bears’ defense set the tone for Friday’s game right off the bat. South Stokes received the opening kickoff, but Mount Airy’s Mario Revels picked off South quarterback Nolan Coe on the second play of the drive. Revels returned the interception 37 yards for six points.

Blake Hawks and Caleb Reid also picked off Coe in the win. Mount Airy limited South’s two quarterbacks to just four yards passing on 1-of-12 completions; Coe finished 0-for-5 passing, and Junior Hairston completed 1-of-7 passes.

Mount Airy also put the clamps on South’s running game. The Sauras rushed 21 times for 25 yards and fumbled twice, with fumbles being recovered by Mount Airy’s Ian Gallimore and Third Floyd.

Deuce Chalmers led South with 15 yards rushing on 10 carries, followed by Hairston with five yards on five carries and Jaryd Galloway with five yards on four rushes. Parker Barron and Coe each rushed once for no gain.

Galloway also had Mount Airy’s one reception for four yards.

The Bears finished with 353 total yards due in large part to strong rushing contributions across the board. Seven different Mount Airy players carried in the game, and the most any one player rushed was seven times.

Tyler Mason continued his incredible scoring streak by running in three touchdowns for the Bears. According to MaxPreps, Mason’s 19 rushing touchdowns this season are the most in the 1A division and tied for the most among all divisions in the N.C. High School Athletic Association.

By tallying 73 yards on seven carries, Mason has now averaged at least 10 yards per carry in five of Mount Airy’s six games in 2022.

Caleb Reid, Taeshon Martin and Traven Thompson each had four carries for Mount Airy. Reid followed Mason with 71 yards and two touchdowns, then Martin had 35 yards and Thompson had 8 yards.

Nas Lemon added three carries for 48 yards, Gallimore had three carries for 16 yards, and Logan Fonville rushed twice for 16 yards and a touchdown.

Gallimore added 87 yards passing on 3-of-5 completions to round out the Bears’ 353 total yards. Revels had two catches for 36 yards, and Walker Stroup hauled in a 51-yard touchdown.

Stroup also hit a 22-yard field goal and went 7-for-8 on PATs.

Mount Airy will return home on Sept. 29 to host Starmount (3-2, 1-0 NW1A) for Homecoming. The game was originally scheduled for Friday, Sept. 30, but was moved up a day due to potential bad weather.

11:34 MAHS 6-0 – Mario Revels interception of Nolan Coe returned 37 yards for a TD, PAT no good

6:33 MAHS 13-0 – Tyler Mason 17-yard rushing TD, Walker Stroup PAT

5:24 MAHS 20-0 – Caleb Reid 24-yard rushing TD, Walker Stroup PAT

2:40 MAHS 27-0 – Walker Stroup 51-yard TD reception on Ian Gallimore pass, Walker Stroup PAT

10:07 MAHS 34-0 – Tyler Mason 1-yard rushing TD, Walker Stroup PAT

5:55 MAHS 41-0 – Caleb Reid 10-yard rushing TD, Walker Stroup PAT

1:30 MAHS 48-0 – Tyler Mason 36-yard rushing TD, Walker Stroup PAT

0:11 MAHS 51-0 – Walker Stroup 22-yard field goal

2:37 MAHS 58-0 – Logan Fonville 16-yard rushing TD, Walker Stroup PAT

Surry Community College is offering a CPR certification class that will meet at the Yadkin Center, 1001 College Drive, in Yadkinville.

The class will be held on Friday, Sept. 30, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. This class will certify students with Healthcare Provider-level of CPR.

For more information and to register, contact Doug Underwood at 336-386-3584 or underwoodd@surry.edu. The tuition is $71. Students who are part of a life-saving organization will be eligible for a tuition waiver.

For about 45 minutes during a cool early fall morning in downtown Mount Airy, reality merged with make-believe to captivate hundreds of people attending the annual Mayberry Days Parade.

During that brief period, folks could forget about the turmoil in the nation and world and essentially be whisked back to a simpler time. It’s one existing within the confines of a black-and-white television series from the 1960s which is still wildly popular today.

Die-hard “Andy Griffith Show” fans of all ages, from both local communities and a number of states, began lining North Main Street well before the scheduled 9 a.m. start time for Saturday’s procession.

“It’s just a big family reunion every year,” Kenneth Sullivan of Cowan, Tennessee, said as he watched it from a spot near Holcomb Hardware.

Sullivan said he regularly attends Mayberry Days and its parade, during which all the visiting celebrity guests and others who have participated in various activities during the week come together in a single spot.

This provided an opportunity Saturday for those in the crowd to interact with individuals such as Ruta Lee. The familiar actress appeared in two episodes of “The Andy Griffith Show,” including one in which she played a female reporter trying to dig up dirt on Sheriff Taylor.

On Saturday, Lee was much less threatening as she rode in a Ford Mustang convertible while waving to and chatting with admirers along the way when the parade slowed on occasion.

Among additional celebrity guests was actor Daniel Roebuck, a cast member with Griffith in the “Matlock” TV series during the local native’s post-Mayberry days who also has had key roles in “The Fugitive” and other movies.

While Roebuck was another attending Mayberry Days for the first time, others were making return visits such as Ronnie Schell. He logged guest appearances on “The Andy Griffith Show,” but is best known for portraying Duke Slater on the “Gomer Pyle” program starring AGS alum Jim Nabors.

Margaret Kerry was another visiting guest star, who was the model for Tinker Bell in Walt Disney’s “Peter Pan” and rode in a vintage vehicle Saturday.

The passage of time has meant that many of the performers from “The Andy Griffith Show” have passed on to Hollywood Hereafter. Those no longer around include Griffith himself, who died in 2012.

But in a sense he lived again on Saturday in the form of a Sheriff Taylor impersonator whose large mask formed the spitting image of Andy and was warmly greeted as he meandered down the street on foot.

The parade also featured many Barney Fifes — in numbers too abundant to count — easily making that character the most-imitated on Saturday. Others were there in the guises of Opie Taylor, Floyd the barber, Otis the town drunk, members of the Darling family, Gomer and Sgt. Carter and even one man carrying a briefcase who bore a striking resemblance to Howard Sprague.

If that were not enough, there were individuals portraying characters such as the Potato Queen and Pork Princess reminiscent of the show.

Rivalling the number of Barneys who appeared Saturday were more than a few Mayberry squad car replicas, along with a number of antique vehicles of varying makes and models.

One squad car was at the front of the parade with “The Andy Griffith Show” theme music blaring from its speakers to help set the tone for the occasion.

The marching band of North Surry High School also lent its talents to the parade downtown, further inhabited by the obligatory mini-cars that have a way of infiltrating just about every such event.

The legions of loyal “Andy Griffith Show” disciples who faithfully attend Mayberry Days also have become an attraction unto themselves.

Some, including Sullivan, the visitor from Tennessee, have been a regular part of the annual celebration since it began in the early 1990s, when his son portrayed Opie.

Similar to other fans of “The Andy Griffith Show,” Sullivan has a favorite character and episode. “You gotta love Barney,” he said, almost without hesitation.

And the episode he likes most?

Sullivan mentioned “Aunt Bee’s Medicine Man” as having that distinction, about a con artist named Colonel Harvey who comes to town promoting his Indian elixir — really just repackaged booze that Aunt Bee and her friends drink and become intoxicated as a result.

There generally are no such antics exhibited by Mayberry Days fans each year — who always draw praise for being a well-behaved, engaging bunch of folks.

“It’s a good Christian environment,” Sullivan observed.

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

The Night Has Green Eyes – Doug Bicknese

A Song of Comfortable Chairs – Alexander McCall-Smith

Oath of Loyalty – Kyle Mills

Blowback – James Patterson & Brendan DuBois

All is Bright – Rae Anne Thayne

Dirty Poetry – Ivan L. Moody

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

Full STEAM Ahead – Tuesday afternoons from 4 — 5 p.m.. Come explore literature through science, history, math, art and technology. For youth in grades 4 through 6.

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

Tai Chi Fridays – Experience meditation in motion, 10 a.m. every Friday in the Multipurpose Room All skill levels are welcome.

The Community Book Club meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m. In September we will be reading and discussing The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins.

Pages and Petticoats Book Club — meets on the last Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. Discussion questions will be posted on Facebook. This month’s book is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.

Chapters Book Club – meets the third Thursday of the month at 11:30. Members discuss the different books they have read.

It’s Yoga Y’all is held on the third Saturday of the month at 10:30 a.m., unless otherwise noted.

September is Library Card Sign Up Month. “Find Your Voice at the Library.” To celebrate and encourage people new to the library to sign up for a library card, we are holding a daily raffle in the month of September. Each day, people who sign up for cards or check out books will put their name in a basket and we will draw at the end of each workday. The prizes may consist of different gift cards, books or other prizes. So, if you aren’t a member of our local library system, Northwestern Regional Library, come out and sign up in the month of September.

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

Seven area individuals recentlly graduated from the 2022 Northern Regional Leadership Academy – an educational program designed to foster the leadership potential of employees who volunteer to participate in the six-month curriculum.

The 2022 Class of Northern Leadership Academy included Meredith Ayers, Hunter Grubbs, Rylee Haynes, Sabrena Hemrick, Shawn Lambert, Kayla Melton, and Ashley Moorefield.

Author and speaker John Maxwell has noted, “The single biggest way to impact an organization is to focus on leadership development.”

Those sentiments have been put into practice by Chris A. Lumsden, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of Northern Regional Hospital. A nationally-recognized leader in healthcare administration, Lumsden asked members of his leadership team to custom-design a curriculum three years ago – using an educational model with which he was familiar – that would encourage and empower employees to become leaders.

“Leadership is not defined by a job title,” Lumsden said. “We have many leaders throughout all levels of our organization who use their own creativity, powers of persuasion, and persistence to inspire themselves and others to do great things. The goal of our Leadership Academy is to encourage those employees to strengthen and refine their leadership potential to improve patient care, and enhance our community commitment, while further advancing their own personal and professional development.”

The program has two facilitators, Jessica Arrington, director of patient access, and Keith Moser, Northern Family Medicine practice manager.

Arrington noted that the curriculum exposes participants to all aspects of hospital operations – from attending senior leadership team meetings to touring facility spaces not typically visited or seen by most employees – including the kitchen, boiler room, and rooftop. This year, the program tours included Mountain Valley Hospice, which is jointly owned by Northern Regional Hospital and Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital.

Employees interested in enrolling in the Leadership Academy must apply and then interview with a group of hospital administrators. “We’re looking for individuals who are willing to grow and eager to expand beyond their comfort zones,” explained Moser. “Participation in the academy is not necessarily designed to be a steppingstone to promotion. Rather, it’s to enable leaders to reach their potential within the context of the organizational mission.”

Each academy semester runs for six months; and each class is limited to approximately eight participants. Students are required to attend weekly class sessions on a variety of leadership-related topics; complete a reading list; shadow selected members of the hospital’s executive team; maintain journals to help reinforce impressions and new knowledge obtained from their experiences; attend legislative field trips to better understand the relationship between business and governmental bodies; and present a final case study to serve as a formal proposal for a project or program they’d like to pursue.

Each participant is aassigned a mentor from among the hospital’s key administrators. “Mentors act as a guide and valuable resource for students – especially as students become more adept at embracing the value of teamwork and seeing and appreciating the big picture,” said Arrington – who has served as a mentor. “And mentorship, is a two-way street. By breaking down hierarchical and departmental silos, communication and teamwork are enhanced throughout the organization.”

Before earning graduation certificates, academy students present their case studies – researched project proposals that incorporate the values and practical business considerations that have been explored as part of the curriculum. To date, all proposals presented have been approved for full implementation or remain under serious consideration by the Senior Leadership Team.

“The essence of the Leadership Academy is best exemplified by the rich variety of dynamic, health-related programs and services proposed by our students,” said Lumsden. “It’s exciting and very rewarding to watch the growth of new leaders within our organization use their newfound knowledge to develop programs that further the mission of Northern Regional Hospital.”

A wide variety of case study proposals were presented to leadership, including a possible coffee shop inside Northern Regional Hospital, a mobile medical unit, gait analysis equipment for physical therapy use, geographical rounding for hospitalists, no-show improvement strategies, and hospice referral tracking.

“We are very encouraged by the early success of our Leadership Academy,” said Lumsden. “By continuing to develop leaders within our hospital, we can further improve and expand our ability to meet the healthcare needs of patients and the community. It’s a win-win-win arrangement, and further validation of the importance of educational initiatives that focus on professional development.”

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:

– Teresa Chilton Fleming, Donald Terry Fleming and Deborah Chilton Wagoner to Steven Jadwin Hopkins and Phillip Lewis Hopkins; tract Eldora; $0.

– Brenda H. Smith and William Otto Smith to Willow Pond Investments, LLC; tract; $220.

– Estate of Judith A. Schultz, Bryan Schultz, Stanley Walter Schultz III, Judith A. Schultz and Mary Schultz to Catherine A. King; 0.572 acres Bryan estate of Judith A. Schultz file 22 E 446; $450.

– Cooks Farm Partners, LLP to Dana C. Pardue; 1.538 acres tract ten section 2 PB 20 9 South Westfield; $48.

– William F. Sluys and Nancy M. Sluys to Mikayla Janeen Nunn and Alan Dean Young; 16.483 acres PB 41 25 Westfield; $198.

– Ray Olen Gentry to Ray Olen Gentry, Corey Allen Fulk and Anthony Gray Fulk; 11.883 acres PB 25 178 Bryan; $2.

– De M. Miller and Susan Miller to Katrina D. Ramey and Adam Ramey; tract one lot 16 PB 9 32 and tract two lots 16 and 17 PB 9 33 Cross Creek Country Club phase II section E; $802.

– Nannie Lou Kidd to Shawn D. Dunmire and Sara M. Dunmire; five tracts Dobson; $560.

– Donna M. Tomlinson to Colleen Crimin and Toby Crimin; 2 acres Pilot; $678.

– Jesus Grande and Maria V. Grande to Lucia Grande; lots 14-17 Salem development PB 6 57 Dobson; $0.

– Jimmie Britt Bobbitt and Shelby Jean Bobbitt to Corbin Mark Soots; 1.61 acres lot 2 Timber Trace subdivision PB 24 107 Stewarts Creek; $36.

– Christopher Tracy, Allison Snow and Allison Tracy to Manda Rose; 0.391 acres Elkin; $440.

– Daniel Hemric and Erica S. Hemric to Juan C. Perez and Melissa N. Perez; 1.846 acres Mount Airy; $834.

– 601 Development Group, LLC to Terry Mercer and Laura Mercer; 1.22 acres lot 1 PB 31 95 Mount Airy; $200.

– Charles E. Leathers and Kristin D. Leathers to Daniel Hemric and Erica Hemric; lot 11 Northwood subdivision PB 3 169 Mount Airy; $580.

– Estate of Christine Webb Beamer, Estate of Martha Christine Beamer, Paul L. Reeves, William Maynard Beamer Jr., Judy Lee Beamer Smith, Thomas E. Smith, Betsy Jane Beamer Reeves and Martha Christine Beamer to Kristin Diane Leathers and Charles Eric Leathers; lots 37-41 section B Wrenn development PB 3 62 Mount Airy estate of Christine Webb Beamer aka Martha Christine Beamer; $571.

– Timothy J. Kincaid and Christy A. Kincaid to Christy A. Kincaid; 2.987 acres; $100.

– Matthew Tyler Robbins and Hannah Beasley Robbins to Pio Bruzzese and Annmarie Bruzzese; 0.892 acres lot 33 and portion of lot 33A Forest Oaks PB 6 195 and PB 11 114 Dobson; $670.

– Cheryl B. Hale, Daniel Lee Hale, Lewis A. Bode and Tammy Lynn Bode to Patrick Andrew Sartori and Jean Ann Sartori; tract one tract and tract two lot 5 Noonkester Woods PB 6 219 Mount Airy; $375.

– Charles M. Hiatt and Tonya T. Hiatt to Kelby T. Hiatt and Tanner L. Hiatt; 0.986 acres Mount Airy; $280.

– Margaret Brown to Cynthia Louise Taylor; tract two PB 27 131 909 Andover Street Mount Airy; $260.

– Christy Hernandez and Marcos Hernandez to Verdell Hankins; tract one 1.50 acres; $510.

– Kayson Bourommavong and Pathana Sisoukrath Bourommavong to Ruben Santana Trujillo; tract Mount Airy; $330.

– Delarco, Inc. to Jeremy Scott Handy and Jennifer Lee Handy; 0.48 acres Elkin; $600.

– Cook’s Farm Partners, Cook’s Farm Partners, LLP and Donald R. George to Thomas J. Murphy and April M. Macri; 4.783 acres tract two PB 14 93 South Westfield; $80.

– Kester A. Sink to David Minasian and Marilyn J. Minasian; 0.12 acres Mount Airy; $1.

– Pennymac Loan Services, LLC to Sheena Rodriguez; 1.003 acres PB 33 24 Westfield; $220.

– Sharon Lynn Ball to William R. Price and Olivia G. Price; 1.265 acres PB 20 29 Bryan; $160.

– Vernon F. Ball Irrevocable Trust, Reella M. Ball Irrevocable Trust, Stephen Ball, Sharon Lynn Ball, Vernon F. Ball and Reella M. Ball to William R. Price and Olivia G. Price; tract Bryan; $740.

– Rusty D. Hawks and Janet M. Hawks to Marleen Ruiz Hernandez and Juan Carlos Ruiz Sandoval; lot 1 Pine Lakes development PB 6 196 Stewarts Creek; $270.

– Estate of Sherry Taylor Talkington, Connie Loflin Hinkle and Sherry Taylor Talkington to Daniel Joseph Musty and Kelly Anne Musty; 2.87 acres tract one estate of Sherry Taylor Talkington; $440.

– Elizabeth Dawn Marslender, Jack Owen Marslender, Angela L. Lievsay, Charles Edgar Haymore Jr., Tamra Lynn Fredeen, Lawrence Nathaniel Fredeen Jr., Hilda Joy Haymore, Hilda Joy Ackerman, David Scott Lievsay, Monda Gaye Thompson, Earl Drew Thompson Jr. and Deborah Ann Haymore to Earl Drew Thompson Jr. and Monda Gaye Thompson; tract one 1.40 acres and tract two tract Mount Airy; $300.

– Samuel Dustin Utt and Meagan Haywood Utt to Ricardo Colon Acosta; tract one lot 8 PB 10 143 phase one section 1 and tract two lot 7 Sycamore Hills development PB 13 107 Mount Airy; $600.

– Corinna Dollyhigh Sawyers to Anthony Wendell Sawyers; 4.68 acres Eldora; $0.

– MCLE, LLC to Broadstream Ventures, LLC; condominium deed 9,089 sq ft unit 18A and unit 18B Brookside Village Condominiums BK 1 207 Elkin; $100.

– Catherine J. Thompson and Timothy Thompson to Harold R. Wagoner and Patricia S. Wagoner; 1,097 sq ft portion of tracts and lots 131-132 Mountain Park PB 1 208 Bryan; $0.

– Michael R. Wright and Kimberly S. Wright to Tullie M. Wright; tracts 1 and 3-4 PB 31 73 Rockford; $160.

– Kimberly B. Brooks to Sandra Kay Perry and Wendy Diane Perry; 2.18 acres Bryan; $270.

– William Ray Macey to Arturo Aguilar and Addie Aguliar; .45 acres Westfield; $120.

– Anthony Lowe and Elizabeth Lowe to Anthony France and Vivian France; tract one lots 61-62 and tract two 63-64 Franklin Heights property PB 1 71 Mount Airy; $124.

The scenic beauty of Surry County is hard to ignore. County Parks and Recreation Director Daniel White has said that the unique location of Surry County and its proximity to four rivers makes the community an ideal place to live and enjoy nature.

A change is in the works that is going to allow greater river access to the residents of the county and tourists alike.

County Manager Chris Knopf told the county board of commissioners that a 23-year lease agreement exists with the Colwell family for river access at Burch Station where the Yadkin and Mitchell rivers meet. The county asked the landowners to convert that lease into a perpetual easement so that future residents and guests can enjoy the rivers and they have agreed to do so.

“I would like to thank Clyde and Pat Colwell, they are the reason that access that is so heavily used is there. They had the foresight to acquire that, and they have been so good to work with. They are very good community-minded citizens,” Commissioner Eddie Harris added.

Secondly, there will be a new river access to the Ararat River courtesy of Luck Stone, the new owners of Ararat Rock, and the efforts of Commissioner Larry Johnson. Funding for this project will come from existing Invest in Surry funds that were previously set aside for river access improvement with the board’s approval.

Having met with Charlie and Richard Luck of Luck Stone, Johnson said collaborating with them had been a breeze. “It would be an honor for me to make a motion that we accept the memo of understanding pertaining to Luck Stone with access being at the corner of Sheep Farm Road and Park Drive,” Johnson moved, and the board accepted his resolution unanimously to create the Luck Stone River Access.

Knopf informed the board the Bill Hall bridge across the Mitchell River on Zephyr Mountain Park Road is scheduled to be replaced. The new bridge will take up more space and the NCDOT offered the county $6,000 to purchase the additional land needed to complete the bridge work.

Commissioner Eddie Harris felt this was a low-ball offer and having had some experience with these negotiations he advised the county to seek $10,000 instead which Knopf notified the board this week was accepted by the state. “A guy told me one time; I told him I was negotiating for the county, and I asked him why did he think the property was worth so much? He said: because I have it and you want it,” he recalled.

“We have had more interest in river access than we have in many, many years,” Commissioner Van Tucker said while acknowledging he has been trying to work on a new river access project too. He said these accesses can be hard to get as landowners may be hesitant to give up their land, so he offered hearty congratulations to his colleagues on their success.

In other board of commissioner’s news:

– The commissioners approved a budget amendment. Additional funds were requested and approved for the Surry County Sheriff’s Office building in the amount of $78,000 to replace a chiller.

– Funds were also requested to be added to the EMS budget for a new Ford E-450 Type III chassis and a remount of the ambulance box onto said chassis. The amount to cover these costs is projected at $116,598 and was approved.

– Jessica Montgomery of Public Works had three items for the board. She informed that the skid-steer her team uses at the recycling shed at the county landfill needs new grapples. The board approved the purchase of the grapple and the delivery fee totaling $4,095.

She also sent through two sets of bid proposals for the board to consider. The first was for roof repair at the county’s Resource Center on State Street in Mount Airy. There are several leaks in the building that are causing damage and Gallaher Management Group Inc. was approved to do the repair work estimated at $172,900. This total includes unexpected repairs to foam closures that were found during inspection in need of needed replacing.

The Judicial Center in Dobson needs weatherproofing and $80,000 was budgeted for the repair. Montgomery recommended Foxhill Construction do the work as well as make repairs to a wall in the front of the building for an estimated total of $68,627.

Both approved bids are estimated to come in under the amounts previously budgeted for these repairs.

– Mark Willis of the office of substance abuse recovery has requested converting a temporary part-time position with the Community Transport Program into a full-time position. He noted the program transported more than 1,200 patients in its first year of operation and the reclassification to full-time is needed to meet demand. Funding for the position would be paid for from Partner’s Health Management fund and opioid settlement monies after current federal funding ends in 2024.

– County tax administrator sent word to the commissioners that in just two months of collecting property taxes the residents of Surry County have already paid approximately 60% of what is due. Commissioner Larry Johnson has previously, and again on this occasion, thanked the taxpayers for their diligence in on-time payment.

– The Office of State Budget and Management sent notification that House Bill 103 passed that contained $75,000 earmarked for the YESurry Entrepreneurial Competition. The competition is held annually among local high school students who design a small business and then compete at their local schools, with the winners at each school moving on to countywide competition. This year’s winner was Grace Phillips of North Surry High for Grace Got Cakes.

– Finally, the board opted to not act on a bill totaling $23,410.70 for 32 transports of COVID-19 patients. The costs for these transports had been assumed by the federal government but the fund for Surry County to pay out from has been depleted. The commissioners had several questions about these charges and asked the item to be removed from the Consent agenda for future consideration.

The following marriage licenses were issued in Surry County:

– Travid Edward Kinney, 28, of Carroll County, Virginia, to Brittany Nicole Payne, 27, of Carroll County.

– Dustin Alexander Goins, 30, of Surry County to Anita Marlene Mullis, 29, of Surry County.

– Marshall William Spencer, 25, of Carroll County, to Leigha Nicole Albert, 22, of Carroll County.

– Christopher Thomas Osborne, 56, of Wilkes County to Joy Lela Hinson, 46, of Surry County.

– Charles William Blankenship, 36, of Surry County to Tiffany Lynn Hale, 35, of Surry County.

– Guillermo Manuel Hernandez, 24, of Surry County to Adriana Landaverde, 21, of Surry County.

– James Joseph Rollins, 47, of Surry County to Lori Ellen Brannon, 53, of Surry County.

– Joseph Trent Dollyhigh, 48, of Surry County to Camellia Sonshine Allen, 40, of Union County.

– Christopher Allen Ferrell, 52, of Randolph County to Angelia Kay Carter, 53, of Randolph County.

– Lonnie Gray Booe Jr., 50, of Surry County to Dawn Marie Wood, 50, of Surry County.

– Jesus Aguliar Solano, 21, of Blanch County to Arelis Perivan Bautista, 18, of Surry County.

– Austin Storm Utt, 27, of Surry County to Emily Brook Martin Wilber, 23, of Surry County.

– Daniel Isiah Bowman, 41, of Surry County to Ashley Elizabeth Boles, 35, of Surry County.

– Kermit Mack Edwards, 43, of Alleghany County to Kimberly Ann Nichols, 41, of Surry County.

– Alan Lee Vaughn, 36, of Rockingham County to Ami Isaacs Mills, 41, of Carroll County.

– Christopher Austin Warren, 31, of Surry County to Catherine Anastasia Jenkins, 28, of Surry County.

– David William Fessenden III, 54, of Surry County to Patricia Elizabeth Meyer, 51, of Surry County.

– Sean Eric Wood, 50, of Surry County to Jessica Rae Llewellyn, 43, of Surry County.

– German Munoz Lopez, 23, of Surry County to Cindy Ojeda, 23, of Surry County.

– David Lee Owings, 37, of Surry County to Jill Nicole Eller, 37, of Wilkes County.

– Dylan Jared Slate, 26, of Surry County to Emerencia Kish, 24, of Surry County.

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

• Sabrina Walker Brooks, age 35, a white female wanted on probation violations who is on probation for two counts of felony obtaining property by false pretense;

• Cody Ryan McMillian, 30, a white male wanted on a post-release warrant who is on supervision for two counts felony possesson of methamphetamine, felony possession of a schedule I controlled substance, sell and deliver schedule II controlled substance and use/possession of drug paraphernalia;

• Cody Jackson Epperson, 43, a white male wanted on probation violations who is on probation for felony possession of heroin, resisting a public officer, shoplifting and use/possession of drug paraphernalia;

• Brenda Kay Easter Lawson, age 57, a white female wanted on probation violations and is on probation for level 2 driving while impaired.

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.

Good things supposedly come to those who wait, and for fans of a locally based dessert it’s been nearly three years since they’ve been able to experience the Surry County Sonker Festival.

That pause will end next Saturday when the festival returns after being cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the coronavirus.

The Oct. 1 event, scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m., offers a chance to savor sonkers — its namesake deep-dish fruit dessert that originated in this area — along with old-time and bluegrass music performed by The Roaring Gap Rattlers. Other attractions are to include flatfoot dancing, quilters, basketry, a pottery display, 18th- and 19th-century artifacts and more.

All this will take place against the backdrop of the historic (1799) Edwards-Franklin House at 4132 Haystack Road west of Mount Airy, to also be open for tours.

Next weekend’s gathering marks the 41st year of the Sonker Festival spearheaded by the Surry County Historical Society.

And Dr. Annette Ayers, the group’s president, indicated that the event basically will pick up where it left off in 2019.

“I think the greatest problem, of course, is personnel,” she said of organizing the group of volunteers needed to stage the festival each year. Some of the older participants no longer are available after its lengthy interruption, but they have been replaced by a new contingent.

“Actually, the weather is a big concern,” Ayers said of an early October mixed bag that can include chilly temperatures in addition to the possibility of rain.

“We do encourage everyone to bring a lawn chair,” she said, which typically creates a laid-back setting of folks seated around the front yard of the house eating sonkers and listening to the music.

Ayers added that the focal point of the festival — the sonkers — will be just as appealing as ever for the hundreds of people who might attend based on past turnouts.

Flavors to be available include blackberry, sweet potato, peach, strawberry and cherry. Sweet potato sonkers tend to the most popular, with strawberry close behind.

“And I can promise they’ll all be delicious,” Ayers said.

While the event itself is free and open to the public, the price of the sonkers will be $4 each, with beverages to be sold for $1. As many as 800 to 1,000 dishes of sonker have been doled out from large trays laid out on a table under a tent on the grounds of the Edwards-Franklin House.

Surry County Historical Society officials also are excited about the musical talent.

“They are people that are very renowned in traditional and bluegrass music,” Ayers said of The Roaring Gap Rattlers.

One of the musicians to be involved is Mecca Jackson Lowe.

“And I think they’re going to have a group of young people — the next generation of artists,” the Surry Historical Society official said. “I think that was wonderful to include younger people.”

Organizers are hoping for a good turnout at the festival, especially by first-time attendees.

In past years, people have made their way to the event from areas both locally and throughout the Southeast.

Publications will be available for purchase.

Ayers also mentioned that membership is open for the Surry County Historical Society, which begins at $25 per year and can be done by mail at P.O. Box 469, Mount Airy, NC, 27030.

© 2018 The Mount Airy News