A1 Vol. 131, Issue 328 1.25 Wrestling season kicks off INDEX Obits ... page 2-3 Opinions ... page 4 Business ... page 5 Sports ... page 7 Classifieds ... page 9 Mostly Sunny Serving Surry County since 1880. High Low Page 7 Forsubscriptions, call 786-4141. 64 35 The Mount Airy News www.mtairynews.com Printed on recycled newspaper Thursday, November 24, 2011 Delivering meals not always easy TOM JOYCE STAFF REPORTER The small boy’s face lit up Wednesday afternoon as he opened the door to his family’s mobile home in the Pine Ridge community and saw Sherry Blackmon with a big blue bag containing all the ingredients for a Thanksgiving feast. Almost as apparent as the boy’s wide smile and his red hair was his bare feet as he stood in the doorway of the rundown home, while a chilly November wind swirled, and gleefully accepted the turkey and other items inside. He grew even more excited when he saw Zack Blackmon Jr., Sherry’s husband, approaching with a second bag. By then, other family members, including two more small children, had been alerted to the arrival and warmly welcomed the Blackmons into their home. Such a scene was played out at some 250 households across Surry County Wednesday afternoon, when an ef- fort spearheaded by a Sunday school class at First Baptist Church in Mount Airy unfolded. It involved the ixings for a complete holiday meal being delivered to persons in need through a leet of 47 vehicles manned by volunteers repre- senting various churches and the general public. Now in its 18th year, Wednesday’s undertaking to sup- TOM JOYCE/THE NEWS ply the food to 256 different households surpassed the Sherry and Zack Blackmon Jr. examine bags filled with ingredients for Thanksgiving meals in preparation for See MEALS, page 12 their delivery to homes of families in need. Christmas parade set for this Saturday JOSH ARMSTRONG STAFF REPORTER ‘Tis the season for Mount Airy’s annual Christmas parade, set to make its way down Main Street this Sat- urday. “The parades in years past have been good. But we’re trying to make it better,” said Phil Marsh, presi- dent of the Downtown Business Association. “We’re trying to make this parade, more or less, a very nice parade while creating more activity downtown.” The grand marshal will be 21-year-old Cpl. Josh Kerns of Ararat, Va. Kerns has served in the Marines as a 1371 Combat Engineer. On April 7, he was severely injured during his third deployment to Afghanistan. A blast from an improvised explosive device cost him both legs and his right arm, among other severe inju- ries. “He is why we took the theme ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas,’” said Gail Hiatt, who also serves on the DBA board. “I thought we needed to show him our ap- preciation locally and give him a little honor.” In addition to Kern’s float, other floats will fea- ture the House of God church as well as The Happy Tooth with Dr. Larry Moray, DDS, MS, PA. North Surry’s tennis team, Homecoming court queen Sarah Grace McHone and maid of honor Isabella Gillespie will occupy a float sponsored by Patterson-Collins and Marsh’s Something Different on Main. BB&T, Moody Funeral Home and What’s Needlin’ Ewe will host a float adorned with hand-crafted items courtesy of the latter business. Surry Community Col- lege’s volleyball team will have a float sponsored by See PARADE, page 8 Turkey Day Fun Run set for today MONDEE TILLEY died from leukemia on Dec. STAFF REPORTER 31, 2002.He qualiied to run in the marathon, but he For those who would said oficials took one min- like to donate to a charitable ute and 14 seconds off each cause and burn off some runner’s qualifying time calories before diving into and he ended up being 14 a Thanksgiving feast, there seconds shy of qualifying. will be a Turkey Day Fun He already has had one Run at 9 a.m. on the Ararat fundraiser where he sold River Greenway today. more than 300 chicken pies. Andy Hull is hosting the He has had some corpo- run to raise money for the rate donations as well. As Leukemia & Lymphoma of Wednesday afternoon, DEAN PALMER/THE PILOT Society Team in Training. Hull had 31 runners signed Rachel Charpiat does some last-minute straightening of one of the displays in the “carnival” area of the There is no set distance up for the Turkey Day Fun Charpiats’ Pilot Mountain Christmas display. for the run that starts at the Run. B.H. Tharrington Primary He said he ran his irst School end of the greenway. marathon on Feb. 1, 2009. But, Hull said he did mark He has run four marathons Charpiats to offer ‘Pilot Mountain Christmas’ off a 5K on the greenway and a 50K, which is 31 DEAN PALMER year’s display will again be Other additions will in- display, beginning as a for those who would like to miles, in October on the HEARTLAND PUBLICATIONS bigger than past years, fea- clude an expanded “carni- 19-year-old at his parents’ run a 5K. New River trail. A marathon turing the addition of some val” area and new “pond” home in Hollywood, Fla. Hull will be accepting is 26.2 miles. PILOT MOUNTAIN 10 new areas along with up- scenes. And displays in an Throughout the years, he donations at the run and “This is just for fun and — On Thursday evening, grades and other seemingly adjacent ield will include has continued to decorate those who enter will get a you can burn as many calo- Larry and Rachel Charpiat constant changes. While a new 22-feet tall tree of and add to his collection of chance at winning one of ries as you like before you will continue what has be- unable to give an exact lights. lights and igures. two honeybaked turkeys eat that afternoon,” said come a Thanksgiving tradi- number, the couple estimate “Thanksgiving is always In 1999, he and Pilot that were donated by Surry Hull. tion for their family. But the that well over 300,000 and a big night for us,” Rachel Mountain native Rachel Telephone. He said those To reach the greenway, turkey and ixings will have probably close to 500,000 Charpiat said. “We’re ex- Beck, then also living in who donate will put their travel past the primary to wait one day as all atten- lights are now being used. cited and ready for this Florida, traveled to Hawaii name in a hat. A turkey will school on Bluff Street down tion will be focused on wel- Among the new features year. We’ve been blessed where they were married. into the bottom beside the will be additions purchased with some pretty weather to be given to a man and the coming guests to the open- And she was gradually other to a woman. river. ing of their “Pilot Mountain from individuals which prepare. Family members drawn into his enthusi- Contact Mondee Tilley may seem familiar, after will come in to help us with asm for the lights and the Hull has been training Christmas.” for the Boston Marathon at [email protected] Thanksgivng evening serving for years in the the grand opening and we’ll response they created in or at 719-1930. again will mark the much Tanglewood Park annual wait and have our Thanks- others until she reached and needs to raise $4,000 anticipated lighting of the exhibit. This will include a giving meal on Friday.” the point of sharing his un- by Jan. 31, 2012, for the Charpiats’ expansive dis- major arch with light ani- This marks the 45th year bridled enthusiasm for the Leukemia & Lymphomia play of holiday lights, mu- mation now positioned near that Larry Charpiat has Society to enter. He is dedi- sic and animation. This the display’s entrance. hosted a Christmas lights See CHARPIATS, page 6 cating the race to his aunt, Vickie Hull Bryant, who A2 2 Thursday, November 24, 2011 The Mount Airy News, Mount Airy, N.C. www.mtairynews.com OBITUARIES EDWARDS Edwards of Belvue, FULK MOORE 11 a.m. in Patrick Memo- and son-in-law, Syl- CANA, Va. — Mr. Ohio. In addition to his MOUNT AIRY — MOYOCK — The rial Gardens with Pastor via and Glenn “Bud” Marly Everett Edwards, parents, Mr. Edwards Ms. Orminta Tish Vaughn Rev. Gray Lee Moore, 53, Don Mullins and the Rev. Inman of Pilot Moun- 66, of Cana, passed was preceded in death Fulk, 81, of Mount Airy, of Moyock, passed away James E. Gholson ofici- tain; three sons and away Tuesday, Nov. by two sisters, Leora passed away Wednes- Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011, ating. The family will re- two daughters-in-law, 22, 2011, at his home. Edwards and Vera Mc- day, Nov. 23, 2011. Ms. at Chesapeake Regional ceive friends Friday from Dale and Margaret Fulk was born in Car- Hospital. He was born on He was born in Carroll Craw; and a brother, 6 to 8 p.m. at Moody Parries of Pilot Moun- roll County, Va., April Sept. 26, 1958, to the late Funeral Home in Stuart, tain, Bob and Carol County on March 7, Loman Edwards. Fu- 23, 1930, to Charlie and Grady Lee and Lena Mae 1945, to the late John Va. In lieu of lowers, Parries of Myrtle neral services will be at Lillie Chappell Vaughn. Purdue Moore. In addition donations may be made Beach, S.C., and Da- Anderson and Milie 11 a.m.