The Mount Airy News Serving Surry County Since 1880
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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 lawyers argue fate of new state redis- windy and cloudy cards rally without subscribe to the e-edition tricting law .... A8 today. high of 40. their pg .... B1 online at: low of 25 ........ A2 mtairynews.com Vol. 132, Issue 013 FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012 50 cents daily/$1.50 Sunday More than 13,000 pills dropped at police station Tom Joyce least 30 or more” overdose the dangers of prescription staf reporter deaths among Surry Coun- drugs, is making a differ- tians in 2011 alone, accord- ence in the supply chain. The bags are bulging ing to John Shelton, the “We’re very pleased with with red, white and green county’s director of emer- the progress of it,” he said ones — in fact, virtually gency services. of the medication disposal every color, size or shape While more than 30 by local citizens. “They’re is represented among the deaths are known to have very open to coming in to 13,850 pills received at the occurred locally, Shelton the police station to drop it Mount Airy police station. said, the total is unclear be- off.” That is the total logged cause federal privacy regu- Watson added, “The fact for just a few weeks, since lations make it dificult to that the numbers are what a special drop-box was in- document those who might they are shows there is a stalled in the station’s lob- have died in out-of-county public interest. We’re very by for the public to dispose hospitals. pleased with the outcome of unwanted medications One of the keys to attack- so far.” anonymously. ing the problem is reduc- The 13,850 pills taken in The presence of the con- ing the available supply of to date are more than half tainer, an old postal recep- pills, thereby lessening the the 26,350 collected last tacle converted for its new chances for them to wind spring during Operation use, allows the public to get up in the wrong hands Medicine Drop. Though rid of prescription pills on a and produce deadly conse- a single, one-day event in 24-7 basis, since the lobby quences. the Walmart parking lot, is always open. Mount Airy Police Chief it theoretically represented This is among steps im- Dale Watson said Thursday the disposal volume on an plemented to combat a ma- he believes the new drop- annual scale. jor problem with abuse or box, which stands beside “It’s a win-win situation,” tom Joyce/the news misuse of those substances a display of brochures on Capt. Alan Freeman displays plastic bags illed with various prescription medications that the locally. It is blamed for “at See PILLS | 2A public has disposed of in recent weeks. City election changes discussed Tom Joyce two-man committee is one staf reporter to temporarily shorten, be- ginning in 2013, the terms Steve Yokeley thought of the mayor and commis- changing Mount Airy’s elec- sioners as part of a schedul- tion procedure would be a ing change under consider- simple thing — until he and ation. fellow city commissioner There has been sup- Dean Brown rolled up their port for moving munici- sleeves and actually began pal elections from odd to the process. even years, thus aligning Yokeley admitted Thurs- them with county, state day afternoon that this is and federal elections. This a complicated task; how- would all but eliminate the Josh armstrong/the news ever, he and Brown — ap- expense of city elections, The Surry County Sherif’s Oice investigates the murder of Gabriel Paul Valdez Sr., during heavy fog at 1:15 a.m. Thursday. pointed to tackle it by the which cost Mount Airy other council members — taxpayers nearly $7,000 for devised some ambitious one held on Nov. 8, with the recommendations during a piggy-backing also likely to nearly 45-minute afternoon increase voter turnout due Oicials continue search for meeting. Final decisions are to more ballot choices being expected by the full board available. during a planning retreat Yokeley and Brown were next month. faced Thursday with mak- Rockford murder suspects Among the proposals Josh Armstrong Surry and Yadkin coun- day, investigating the “We spent all day identiied Thursday by the See ELECTION | 2A staff report ties. homicide. today chasing down According to radio “Part of what we did leads and develop- ROCKFORD — Au- transmissions shortly overnight was learn ing suspects, trying to thorities continue to after law enforcement about the victim,” he plan a strategy for an search for the individu- arrived on the scene, explained. “We devel- investigation,” he said. als who killed a man by the suspects were be- oped a profile, identi- “It’s very complicated, gunshot on Wednesday. lieved to be three His- fied the victim, found but I’m very optimistic Gabriel Paul Valdez panic males traveling out who he associated about it. Sr., 50, was discov- to Jonesville in a black with and what kind of “We reached a point ered concealed among Chevy Suburban. How- guy he was. tonight when we the weeds, dead from ever, Surry County “From there, we start- thought we had done a gunshot wound, late Sheriff Graham Atkin- ed putting together everything that was ur- Wednesday evening. Of- son could not confirm some leads that looked gent to do, and pushed ficers investigated the that information. really promising for us.” everyone to the point scene after receiving The State Bureau of Atkinson said much they had to get some a report at the Surry Investigation and the of the information they sleep,” the sheriff con- County Sheriff’s Office Yadkin County Sheriff’s learned led back to Yad- tinued. “We’ll come at 9:27 p.m. Office are assisting with kin County. He then back together first thing The homicide took the investigation. praised the Yadkin Sher- in the morning, trying tom Joyce/the news place near the Rockford Atkinson said he and iff’s Office for what he to implement that strat- City commissioners Dean Brown, right, and Steve Yokeley sug- Bridge that spans the his team worked from called its dedicated and egy we developed.” gest various changes in Mount Airy’s election procedure Thurs- Yadkin River on Rock- late Wednesday until helpful collaboration in day afternoon. ford Road and connects about 7 p.m. on Thurs- the investigation. See MURDER | 2A Fire extinguished quickly Special blood drive set for Sunday A home located at 231 ire by smoke detectors in Staf Report Poppy’s Resale Boutique. day, about 44,000 units of Individuals at least 17 West Greenhill Road caught the home and were able to The church, located at blood are needed in the years old, 16 with parental ire Thursday morning after escape unharmed. He said All blood drives serve a 314 S. Franklin Road, will U.S. — with a demand by permission, who weigh at someone improperly dis- Gammons has insurance vital purpose of allowing host the blood drive from patients seen at the rate of least 110 pounds and are in posed of “smoking materi- on the home, and she will people in need to receive 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every two seconds. general good health may be als,” according to Mount be staying with her brother the gift of life, but on Sun- While making appoint- The Red Cross, as the eligible to give blood. High Airy Fire Department Engi- until repairs to the bathroom neer Steve Everett. can be made. day donors will get some- ments will be greatly ap- chief blood supplier, must school students and others He said the call for help It is estimated that $8,000 thing in return. preciated among donors, be prepared to respond who are 18 and younger was received at 11:01 a.m. of damage was caused to the Make that several some- walk-ins are welcome, orga- to emergencies on a 24-7 also must meet certain The irst engine arrived on home and $2,000 worth of things, as all presenting nizers say. Appointments basis, day in and day out, height and weight require- the scene 3 minutes and 36 damage was caused to the donors that day at Calvary can be arranged at red- which highlights the neces- ments. seconds later and the ire contents. Baptist Church in Mount crossblood.org, by search- sity of blood and platelet A blood donor card or was out just 8 minutes after Fourteen Mount Airy ire- Airy will receive an Ameri- ing for drives by sponsor donations. driver’s license, or two oth- the call was received. ighters and approximately can Red Cross soup bowl code 4517. They also can All eligible donors are er forms of identiication, Everett said the home ive ireighters from the and be registered to win be scheduled with Ashley encouraged to give this are required when check- was split level and the ire Franklin Volunteer Fire De- a pair of Delta Airlines Mills of the Red Cross at winter at drives such as ing in at a drive. was contained to an upstairs partment responded to the tickets. In addition, home- 403-1770. the one Sunday at Calva- Everyone who is eligible bathroom. scene along with personnel made chili and desserts Sunday’s event coincides ry Baptist Church. Every is encouraged to be an “ev- Everett said the hom- from Surry County Emer- will await donors as well as with the continuing need blood type is needed in eryday supporter” of the eowner, Velvet Gammons, gency Services, the Mount door prizes from Hutchens for blood products, which order to ensure a reliable Red Cross and the commu- her quadriplegic son and Airy Rescue Squad and the Laundry, The Addition and respects no season.