NASCAR Legends, Fans Fuel White Liquor and Dirt Tracks
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A1 log onto www.mtairynews.com for archive • games • features • e-edition • polls & more The Mount Airy News Serving Surry County since 1880. INSIDE STORY WEATHER SPORTS ONLINE greyhounds naacp leader says country’s mostly sunny celebrate senior visit us online at........ eyes are on nc .... A7 today. high of 57. night with 66-6 mtairynews.com low of 36 .... A2 win .... B1 Vol. 132, Issue 29 SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2012 50 cents daily/$1.50 Sunday Campaign tom Joyce/the news Part of a crowd of about 200 race fans listens to a roundtable inance discussion by a panel of drivers and others shown in the back- ground. reports are iled Tom Joyce staff reporter DOBSON — Final campaign-finance tom Joyce/the news documents for the recent municipal Recent NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee elections in Surry County were released Dale Inman autographs a Richard Petty Friday by the county Board of Elections. No. 43 model race car during the “White Liquor and Dirt Tracks” Saturday at However, they do not include any Mount Airy Museum of Regional His- reports from the person believed to be tory. Inman was Petty’s crew chief and the biggest spender leading for the No- helped him win seven championships. vember elections in Mount Airy, Pilot Mountain and Dobson, Gary York. York was an unsuccessful candidate for may- or of Pilot Mountain, losing to incum- bent Earl Sheppard on Nov. 8. Only two candidates among the three municipalities were required to file statements regarding their campaign contributions and expenditures, due to exceeding a $1,000 threshold mandat- ing such documentation. Along with York, Bruce Springthorpe, who ran unsuccessfully for the at-large seat on the Mount Airy Board of Com- missioners, was required to file cam- NASCAR legends, fans fuel paign-finance disclosures. Each was to have submitted them by Friday, according to Susan Jarrell, director of the county elections board. But only Springthorpe had done so by the close of business that day. Jarrell was not available for comment on any White Liquor and Dirt Tracks explanation given for why York had not filed them, or possible repercussions. Tom Joyce event sponsored by the museum. Rac- producing ingredients used in the ille- The final year-end wrap-up of reports staff reporter ing’s moonshining heritage and its gal liquor industry. dissolving the Springthorpe for Com- origins on backwoods tracks were am- This was long before today’s multi- missioner campaign show that it raised With the Daytona 500 still nearly a ply highlighted during the discussion, million-dollar sponsorship deals with around $1,500 and spent just under month away, it’s definitely not NAS- when one almost could hear the roar of major corporations that have made $1,000. CAR season — but on Saturday racing engines and smell the exhaust as par- stock-car racing a more national, and Springthorpe, who is self-employed, was on the minds of many people in ticipants spoke. sanitized, sport. made loans to himself for the bulk of Mount Airy nonetheless. “I don’t think a lot of people know White, a native of Alexander County the money raised, the documents show. The focus wasn’t so much on what’s what a big deal white liquor played who won the points championship in Contributions also were noted from upcoming as it was racing’s roots, with in racing’s economy,” said White, 82, 1960, also joked about Johnson’s home members of his family and local busi- legends of the sport such as recent Hall who jokingly introduced himself to the county of Wilkes and its storied moon- nessmen E. Dean Bray Jr. and F. Eugene of Fame inductee and longtime Petty crowd as “the oldest-living champion” shining tradition. The retired racer Rees Jr. Enterprises Crew Chief Dale Inman, of NASCAR “and probably the best- said someone once visiting North Wil- Campaign posters, buttons, door Dave Marcis, Rex White and others looking.” kesboro asked a man where he could hangers and door magnets were among visiting. They shared colorful memo- Not only did racers such as Junior buy some white liquor. the main expenditures listed. ries with about 200 people attending Johnson hone their skills running “He said, ‘you see that building over Springthorpe lost both an Oct. 11 a roundtable discussion at Mount Airy moonshine on North Carolina’s and there?’” the man replied, as told by primary and the November election to Museum of Regional History. Virginia’s back roads. White said others White, with the visitor nodding in the af- Scott Graham, who did not exceed the It was the highlight of the third-an- in the sport’s early days were involved f i r - campaign-finance threshold. nual “White Liquor and Dirt Tracks” with sugar mills or other enterprises m a - See NASCAR | A3 Reach Tom Joyce at 719-1924 or [email protected]. County school students active in arts While many districts are cutting arts funding, Surry County continues to support programs By Keith Strange arts and music in the schools, and musical or artistic skill, but an ap- says that the Surry Arts Council preciation of the arts. It has been The arts are alive and well in Sur- have been invaluable with helping proven time and again that kids ry County schools, school spokes- to keep the programs alive. who participate in arts programs man Sonia Dickerson said Friday. The arts council holds an annu- do better academically than their While many school districts are al Arts Ball to support arts in the peers who don’t have this opportu- cutting band, art, drama and music county schools with all proceeds nity.” programs as a result of shrinking going to the system to help fund Some of the programs arts stu- federal and state dollars, the Surry the arts. dents have participated in this County school system is continuing Dickerson said that school ad- year include: The school district to fund the programs with the help ministrators feel that arts classes organized students to create a “vir- of the community, Dickerson said. are critical for helping mold well- tual choir” singing the song “Thank “With the loss of a lot of govern- rounded citizens. You” as a staff tribute during the ment money, we’re relying more “We have no plans to cut any arts system’s annual Convocation. Stu- and more on the community to help or music programs, because the ad- dents from 19 schools recorded us, but we have every intention to ministration feels it’s important,” the song a few students at a time. The digital files were sent to the continue to offer these important she said. “We want our students to tom Joyce/the news programs,” she said. have as many opportunities as pos- system’s District Director of Com- County school students in the arts programs help make the Dickerson credits the various sible. munications, Jennifer Scott, where Mount Airy Christmas Parade more exciting with their partici- booster programs for helping fund “We want them to not only have See ART | A5 pation. Dobson budget audit shows fund surplus Mondee Tilley both its general fund and water and sewer fund had a police and ire departments, dition of one oficer. of 2010. Before they were staf reporter water and sewer fund. surplus of $105,497, which were the only two depart- In administration, the hired, the town had been Thomas Melton with was up over $70,000 from ments that had higher ex- town was up $25,904 from paying a contract price to DOBSON —At Thursday Jack L. Wilson, CPA, went the prior year. penses than the previous the prior year with the addi- All-American Associates night’s Dobson town meet- over the town’s 2010-11 Melton noted that two year. He said public safety tion of Town Manager Josh for an interim town manag- ing, the board was informed budget audit. He said the town departments, admin- was up $100,673. That was Smith and Assistant Town er and bookkeeper. Those that the town’s budget had town’s general fund had a istration and public safety, due to the purchase of a Manager Tom Hart, who interim employees had no operated at a surplus in $62,255 surplus and the which includes the town’s new patrol car and the ad- were hired in December See DOBSON | A5 A2 A2 Sunday, January 29, 2012 The Mount Airy News, Mount Airy, N.C. www.mtairynews.com Is Moving To A New Location Our new location will open Monday, February 27 1908 Caudle Drive, Suite 200 (behind LoneStar Steakhouse) 789-8220 www.workforcecarolina.com Robertson Speaks The Surry County Sheriff’s Office felony sex-offender residence viola- is seeking information on the where- tion; abouts of the following people: • Shane William Poindexter, 32, a • Billy Joe Robertson, a white male, white male who is wanted on proba- 40 years of age, who is wanted on charges of felony possession of meth- tion violations and is on probation for amphetamine and felony probation felony possess schedule I controlled violation; substance and obtain property by false • Brookelyn Michelle Miller, a white pretense; female, 20 years of age, who is wanted • Salvador Jarmillo, 29, a Hispanic on charges of felony possession of a male who is wanted on probation vio- controlled substance, felony delivery lations and is on probation for assault of a controlled substance, and felony Must-See sell of a controlled substance; on a female and driving while license • Joseph L. Brown, a black male, 49, revoked; who is wanted on a charge of failure to • Kenneth Wayne Morris, 44, a Features for comply with child support; white male, who is wanted on proba- • Kevin J.