Board Hesitates to Endorse Byway MEGHANN EVANS Byway by the N.C
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Vol. 130, Issue 229 $.50 INDEX Obits ... page 3 Opinions ... page 4 Business ... page 5 Sports ... page 7 Scattered Storms Cards tie Elkin , 3-3 Classifieds ... page 8 High Low page 7 Serving Surry County since 1880. 89 70 For subscriptions, call 786-4141. The Mount Airy News www.mtairynews.com Printed on recycled newspaper Tuesday, August 17, 2010 Board hesitates to endorse byway MEGHANN EVANS byway by the N.C. Depart- “purpose of the Scenic By- road fixed and maintained. detract from the scenic nat- the proposal, but Commis- STAFF REPORTER ment of Transportation. way Program is to identify Bates said it wouldn’t pre- ural character and visual sioner Jimmy Miller sug- The Yadkin Valley Her- and highlight scenic roads vent regular road mainte- quality of the route.” gested that some more DOBSON — Last night, itage Corridor Partnership with unusual, exceptional nance, but Commissioner Hunter fears that if the groups that work on the Surry County commis- — a regional planning ini- or unique intrinsic quali- Craig Hunter pointed out county wanted to tear down tourism and economic de- sioners seemed hesitant to tiative for Caldwell, ties.” Bates said the Scenic that if the scenic byway is trees to develop some prop- velopment projects in the Wilkes, Yadkin and Surry Byway designation would approved, NCDOT would erty in the area, it would be endorse the designation of county should look at the counties — applied for the look good on applications have the authority on how considered as a detraction proposal before the county part of N.C. 268 as a scenic extension. If approved, the for projects and funding for the road could be fixed or from the scenic nature of endorses it. byway. scenic byway designation the area. how surrounding land the highway. Planning Director Kim would extend from the cur- The commissioners, could be developed. Bates said, “I don’t “I think the idea’s good, Bates presented the com- rent end point in the however, were hesitant to According to informa- think it would prevent you but it wouldn’t hurt to get missioners with a resolu- Goshen community of endorse the extension. tion included in the com- from clearing or develop- some more information,” tion which would endorse Wilkesboro to continue Commissioner Jim Harrell missioners’ agenda packet, ing.” Harrell remarked. the proposed extension of through Pilot Mountain. Jr. wanted to know if the “NCDOT shall determine The planning director He also wanted to make the portion of N.C. 268 that According to the en- designation would prevent that development of the said that the county plan- sure the designation would is designated as a scenic dorsement resolution, the the county from having the designated area shall not ning board has endorsed See BOARD, page 2 Commissioners receive good news on utilities projects MEGHANN EVANS STAFF REPORTER DOBSON — The Surry County Board of Commission- ers received some positive information last night about water and sewer projects under way in the county. The commissioners allowed J.T. Henson with Blue Ridge Ag and Turf to speak briefly near the end of the meeting. Henson came to express his appreciation to the board for running water to his business on N.C. 89 through the new Interstates Water and Sewer District. “I really want to thank the commissioners for water,” Henson said. His business was the first to hook on to the system and the first to receive water. The water started running on Fri- day afternoon. Henson said he’s been waiting on the coun- ty to get public water to the area for more than 20 years. He believes access to the water system will encourage the expansion of businesses in the area. “It’s been a long time,” said Henson. “I’m glad I lived to see it.” He also told the commissioners that the area needs pub- lic sewer services as well. Earlier in the meeting, Commis- sioner Craig Hunter asked Jack Gardin, water and sewer projects manager, how long it would be before a sewer project for the Interstates Water and Sewer District got started. See NEWS, page 2 Man arrested on MORGAN WALL/THE NEWS sex abuse charges Ryan High and Ricky White work on finishing the loft for the Dobson Elementary School media center. STAFF REPORT High’s graduation project sets lofty A Mount Airy man was arrested last week and charged with multiple first-degree sex offenses for incidences that allegedly took place in the 1990s. aspirations for young students James Lester Johnson, 55, of 509 Riverside Drive, Mount Airy, was charged with seven counts of felony MORGAN WALL but none were what she really want- High has since teamed up with first-degree sex offense and eight counts of felony first-de- STAFF REPORTER ed. Then, Superintendent Dr. Ashley Ricky White, who holds a general gree statutory sex offense. His bond was set at $100,000 Hinson recommended she try to in- contracting license and is acting as secured. DOBSON — While many high corporate the high schools into the his mentor, and built a loft that According to Surry County Sheriff Graham Atkinson, school juniors and seniors will start project. The construction classes are meets Bode’s exact needs. The free- the victim is now in her 30s. The alleged abuse began in to worry about their senior gradua- usually busy, but Cathy White, in- standing structure will sit against 1992 and occurred during a span of around a decade. The tion projects when school starts in a structional technology specialist at one wall of the media center and abuse was uncovered when the woman entered counsel- week, one junior is already done. Surry Central High School, came up will be a place for students to climb ing. She reported the crimes to the sheriff’s office. Offi- Stephanie Bode, media center with the idea of making it part of a up, hunker down on a bean bag and cers embarked on an investigation to obtain evidence then specialist at Dobson Elementary student’s senior graduation project. read a book. Because High is build- issued warrants for Johnson’s arrest. School, has always wanted a loft in Bode jumped at the idea and was ing the loft, Bode was able to ask Atkinson said Johnson did not have any prior sex of- the school’s library. She has done re- soon in contact with Ryan High, a him to install Plexiglas around the fense convictions. search online and found prototypes, junior at Surry Central. See PROJECT, page 3 ‘Reach the City’ helps families with school supplies MONDEE TILLEY Mayberry, we still have ad- STAFF REPORTER dictions and families falling apart. What we While children played wanted to do was some- with balloons, got their thing where all denomina- faces painted and everyone tions could come together clapped to the music at to do something to reach Fountain of Life church these people. We will give Monday night, free school them a message of hope. supplies were handed out to We wanted also to bless those in need. them, so we wanted to feed Jason Easter, volunteer everybody, with no strings with Fountain of Life attached,” Easter said. church, organized the He said school supplies Reach the City event. He are something a lot of fami- said he had a vision to do lies cannot get help with, so something for the city to See CITY, page 2 MONDEE TILLEY/THE NEWS reach people. WBFJ deejay David Bumgarner takes a door prize ticket from Mary Williams during the Reach the City event last “There’s a big need in night at Fountain of Life church. The event continues today at 7 p.m. The first 150 kids get free school supplies. the city, even though it’s 2 Tuesday, August 17, 2010 The Mount Airy News, Mount Airy, N.C. www.mtairynews.com PAGE TWO pleted within the next few Also related to develop- The commissioners agreed to sched- weeks. The Pilot Mountain ment in the county, Todd ule the county’s annual Volunteer Recogni- NEWS: Middle School sewer ex- Tucker, president of the BOARD: tion Banquet for Oct. 28. tension was 71 percent Surry County Economic The board approved a new code of Continued from page 1 completed in July. Until the Development Partnership, Continued from page 1 project is complete, the updated the board on the ethics for the county. Gardin explained that school is using a pump and partnership’s efforts. He in- not negatively affect tourism. The regula- Thompson reported that Marion Ven- the project hasn’t started haul contract for sewer troduced new EDP Vice tions do state that “no new outdoor adver- able has agreed to serve as the chairperson President LeeAnn Stokes to yet, partly because the service. tising may be erected adjacent to these sce- for the new Cemeteries Board of Trustees. county is waiting to hear The commissioners also the board. This board will focus on the upkeep and approved three project “I think you did a great nic byways.” back about some planning Bates also brought a rezoning request study of county cemeteries. grants. He hopes to hear agreements with the town job in picking her,” said back about the grants by of Elkin for the Elkin/Gen- Commissioner Jimmy before the board. The commissioners ap- The commissioners approved addi- the end of August. Gardin try Road project. Hunter Miller. proved reclassifying a portion of land on tional improvements to the auditorium at said he would look to see if thanked Gardin for his “We had a lot of good Belgium Lane near U.S.