SSppaaiinn wwiinnss WWoorrlldd CCuupp Vol. 130, Issue 193 $.50 INDEX page 6 page 6 Obits ... page 3 Opinions ... page 4 Health ... page 5 Sports ... page 6 Scat’d T-storms Classifieds ... page 8 High Low Serving Surry County since 1880. 85 68 For subscriptions, call 786-4141. The Mount Airy News www.mtairynews.com Printed on recycled newspaper Monday, July 12, 2010 CNA program busting at the seams MORGAN WALL STAFF REPORTER DOBSON — With the decline in the economy, finding a job can be difficult. However, there is one field where there is almost al- ways a demand — nursing. The Certified Nursing Assistant program at Surry Com- munity College, in particular, is seeing first-hand the paths to which people are turning to find a job. The college ac- cepts around 130 students into the CNA I class each se- mester and has been turning people away for the past cou- ple of years. “There are jobs available for nurse aids in home health, in hospitals, in hospice, in some doctors’ offices and in skills facilities like nursing homes or assisted living cen- ters,” said Debbie Cave, director of the nursing assistant and related programs. “They have some options.” According to Cave, between 150 and 200 people regu- larly show up to register for the 130 available slots. Stu- dents can register for the program on a first-come, first- served basis, which means those looking to get into the program tend to show up to get in line early. Cave said they ask people not to start lining up until 6 or 7 the morn- MORGAN WALL/THE NEWS ing of registration, but added that there have been people Surry Community College nursing students practice their skills on a mannequin during an open house this See CNA, page 3 past year. SCC ranked as exceptional in Critical Success Factor Report STAFF REPORT DOBSON — Each year, the North Carolina Communi- ty College System measures eight performance indicators from the 58 community colleges. The eight measures include the progress of basic skills students; passing rates on licensure and certification for first-time test takers; performance of college transfer stu- dents; passing rates in developmental courses; student sat- isfaction of completers and non-completers; curriculum student retention, graduation, and transfer; and client sat- isfaction with customized training. Surry Community College met all eight of the perform- ance standards identified by the N.C. Community College System and is ranked as an exceptional community col- lege for the 2009-10 year. SCC President Dr. Deborah Friedman said, “The re- sults of this report indicate the continued success of our MONDEE TILLEY/THE NEWS students in a number of important academic areas. Even in Members of Fellowship Baptist Church of Ararat dish up pinto beans, slaw and cornbread to those in need times of limited resources, our employees continue to re- main focused on our mission. We are serving the citizens of a good home-cooked meal during the first-ever Feeding the Multitudes ministry. of our communities today, so that they can achieve their educational goals for a better tomorrow.” “We are one of 11 so it’s a select group of colleges that Hundreds turn are able to perform at that level,” said Dr. Anne Hennis, vice president of planning, research and assessment for SCC, noting that there used to be a different ranking sys- tem. Colleges were ranked as exceptional or not at all. “Quite a few colleges met seven measures and quite a few out for new met six. In a good year, the college would get funding for this, but it’s my understanding none is available right now. It just means that we’re an exceptional college.” Progress of basic skills students improved from 85 per- food ministry cent in last year’s report to 87 percent in the new report. Basic skills students are those trying to get a GED or im- prove their reading levels. The students set goals for them- MONDEE TILLEY selves at the start of the year and the report shows that 87 STAFF REPORTER percent of those students met their goals. Once a student completes his or her GED through the college, the SCC Pintos, cornbread and slaw — a simple meal, which Foundation provides a scholarship for the student to take members of Fellowship Baptist Church of Ararat hope an additional class in either the curriculum or continuing will not only feed hungry people, but will help fill their education department in the hopes that the student will soul as well. want to further his or her education. On Sunday, members of the local church prepared According to Virginia Stammetti, director of basic enough food to feed 600 people free of charge. They skills, “We have a team of dedicated basic skills instruc- not only served those who came to the VFW building MONDEE TILLEY/THE NEWS tors and coordinators who are conscientious about the stu- at Veterans Park, but they also delivered hundreds of Ivy McCollie enjoys a cookie at the Feeding the Mul- dents and their progress. They monitor the students’ goals meals to those who could not come for lack of trans- titudes ministry at the VFW building at Veterans See SCC, page 2 See FOOD, page 3 Park yesterday. Lowry Tribute planned for Saturday MONDEE TILLEY Rick and I can do some- Good Life Café every thing as a family, help a Thursday night. STAFF REPORTER couple people with school The proceeds from Sat- costs, while doing some- urday night’s performance For the fifth year run- thing that we love, with our will go to the Jimmy ning, the annual Jimmy friends, and keep Daddy’s Lowry Memorial Scholar- Lowry Tribute will be com- memory alive,” said Jenny ship Fund, which provide ing back to the stage at the Lowry. scholarships for Surry Blackmon Amphitheatre Jimmy Lowry was a County students who excel this Saturday helping to Mount Airy musician who in music or in the arts. raise money for scholar- was well known for play- The Jimmy Lowry Trib- ships and, more important- ing with the King Bees, a ute began shortly after ly, to provide a good time. Mount Airy-based rock ‘n’ Lowry’s death in 2006, but Lowry’s daughter, Jen- roll band. The King Bees the scholarship fund didn’t nie; her mother, Sylvia; and were renowned for playing begin until 2008. It has be- her husband, Rick Caudill, on the Dick Clark’s Carvan come one of the most popu- lar events at the Blackmon MONDEE TILLEY/THE NEWS are welcoming Steve Jar- of Stars. He also was rell back on stage for their known for performing with Jennie Lowry, right, her husband Rick Caudill, center, and her mother Sylvia See LOWRY, page 3 Lowry, left, play at the Jimmy Lowry Tribute last summer at the Blackmon Am- performance this year. Donna Fargo. Up until the “I am doing this because time of his death, Lowry phitheatre. The annual concert will be this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10. this is a way that Momma, played with his band at the 2 Monday, July 12, 2010 The Mount Airy News, Mount Airy, N.C. www.mtairynews.com PAGE TWO Joy Ranch hosts summer mission teams WOODLAWN, Va. — from Suburban Christian ning this for a long time Joy Ranch in Woodlawn Fellowship in Virginia and will be completing has been a beehive of activ- Beach, and just this past some major projects,” ity as mission teams from week, the youth of Bethel Brent Carrick, mission near and far have come to United Brethren Church in team coordinator for Joy the Christian Children’s Elmore, Ohio. Ranch, added. “While Home at 813 Joy Ranch “Each group comes with some of their team will be Road to participate in work the intent to minister to the building a permanent am- projects and activities with children and staff and their phitheater stage and roof- the children. spiritual encouragement ing one of our cottages, “The teams that have has been wonderful,” others will be conducting a come already have changed Lewis said. “Apart from Softball Camp, which is the look of the campus,” the physical labor aspect, also open to the public.” said Tim Lewis, executive the emotional support and A fifth team will be director of Joy Ranch, “and spiritual refreshment has coming later in July to help the group coming next been crucial.” prepare for JoyFest, the an- week will be doing some While each of the first nual open house and alum- SUBMITTED PHOTO new construction that we three mission teams have ni reunion at Joy Ranch. couldn’t do without them.” consisted of 20 to 25 mem- Joy Ranch has been home Members of the Shearer Presbyterian Mission Team with Joy Ranch children and So far three groups have bers, the group coming the to more than 5,000 children staff. participated, the first a week of July 12 will be in crisis since being found- team of families from fifty strong from Grace ed by Richard and Mary Shearer Presbyterian Gospel Fellowship in Long McHenry, and will be cele- Church in Mooresville, Island, N.Y. brating its 50th anniversary N.C., then a youth group “Grace has been plan- of operation in 2011. training and retraining with the community. needs of industries in a Surry Community Col- SCC: timely manner,” said Dr. lege also holds the rare dis- George Sappenfield, vice tinction of meeting the per- Continued from page 1 president of corporate and formance measure for col- continuing education.