Vol. 130, Issue 243 $.50 INDEX Obits ... page 3 Opinions ... page 4 Business ... page 5 Sports ... page 8 Sunny Classifieds ... page 9 High Low Tar Heels in trouble page 8 Serving Surry County since 1880. 92 63 For subscriptions, call 786-4141. The Mount Airy News www.mtairynews.com Printed on recycled newspaper Tuesday, August 31, 2010 Candidates answer hard questions MONDEE TILLEY maximum of 30 minutes to Sept. 13 gathering. “It’s the same goal we STAFF REPORTER respond to prepared ques- Atkinson started off the started with in 2006 and tions along with ones sug- forum by saying that he has that is to start every single Sheriff Graham Atkin- gested by audience mem- worked in the sheriff’s of- day trying to make the Sur- son and Eddie Harris, who bers. The moderator for the fice for the past 25 years. ry County Sheriff’s Office is seeking a seat on the Sur- event was Scott Cumbie, He was elected as sheriff in the best sheriff’s office that ry County Board of Com- who previously ran for the 2006. it can be. No matter how missioners, kicked off one 12th District of Congress. “My life in law enforce- well we do or no matter of four political forums The four-part forum se- ment has been spent on how proud we are since sponsored by the Surry Tea ries was planned in order to drug enforcement and that 2006, we can always im- Party Patriots Monday help voters make informed is what I think is the most prove. We start every day night. choices in the November important thing that we do with that goal in mind.” The format for the event election, which will high- at the sheriff’s office. We To a question posed by reflected a conscious at- light races for sheriff and have been successful with an audience member tempt to avoid candidates three seats on the Surry that over the last four through the moderator, for the same office meeting County Board of Commis- years,” said Atkinson. about whether or not head to head, according to sioners. Atkinson was asked, Atkinson would mirror MONDEE TILLEY/THE NEWS Paula Stanley of Pilot Atkinson is a Democrat first, to state his two main Sen. Don East’s proposal Mountain, a Surry Tea Par- seeking his second four- goals for the sheriff’s office Arizona’s law. Atkinson Sheriff Graham Atkinson answers questions for a group ty Patriots member in- year term as sheriff. His in the next four years. He said, “I love it.” The an- gathered Monday night at the Veterans Memorial Park volved in organizing them. opponent, Dan Kiger is responded that he only has swer drew a round of ap- scheduled to appear at the one main goal. meeting hall for the first of four political forums spon- Each candidate had a See TEA PARTY, page 6 sored by the Surry County Tea Party Patriots. Skunk found to be rabid TOM JOYCE the Surry County Health STAFF REPORTER and Nutrition Center. The skunk was first WHITE PLAINS — spotted last Tuesday by a The discovery of a rabid White Plains resident, who skunk at White Plains notified officials after wit- prompted county officials nessing the animal exhibit to attempt contacts with all abnormal behavior. “As a residents of the affected matter of fact, it chased his area, but a health depart- cat,” Williams said. ment spokesman said Mon- People saw the skunk day the incident appears to coming from a mobile be isolated. home park and it later was A reverse-911 call was chased by a dog. “The made to persons living in skunk possibly came into the vicinity of Simpson contact with a horse barn,” Mill Road off Creed Road Williams said in further and Surry Animal Control tracing its reported move- personnel also went door- ments. to-door to warn people af- Later that day, the skunk ter officials learned Thurs- was shot in the head by the day that the animal was man who first saw it, iden- rabid. tified as Larry Parker. “We covered a two-mile “After it was dead, Ani- radius,” said Thomas mal Control retrieved the TOM JOYCE/THE NEWS Williams, a spokesman for See RABID, page 2 Mount Airy firefighter Brad Harrell drags to safety a 160-pound “victim” — actually a dummy — during one portion of the annual agility test city firefighters are required to complete. The one using the dummy simulates a rescue from a burning building. Hodges recovering Firefighters must stay in shape after heart attack TOM JOYCE STAFF REPORTER MONDEE TILLEY other long-time friend, Ter- STAFF REPORTER ry Ingalls, noticed Hodges Most people would be hard- laying across the hood of pressed to pass an annual agility test WINSTON-SALEM — his car. She quickly learned under any circumstances — but that he was having chest that’s exactly what Mount Airy Fire Local Downtown Business Association organizer Paul pains. Ingalls rounded up a Department members must do to nurse from the audience stay employed. Hodges remained in the hospital Monday as he re- who advised Hodges to get “It’s a good incentive to keep to the hospital as soon as people in shape,” Capt. Chris covers from a heart attack Friday night. possible. Fallaw said of the testing that in- Another audience mem- volves a series of challenging ma- The incident happened while 59-year-old Hodges ber, and regular at the neuvers through an obstacle course Cherry Orchard Theatre, designed especially for firefighters. was acting in a play, “Rid- ers in the Sky,” at the Cher- Kay Cox, of Galax, Va., “Because they have to do this volunteered to drive every year to keep their job,” added ry Orchard Theatre in Cana, Va., on the property Hodges to Mount Airy to Fallaw, one of three shift captains in Northern Hospital of Surry the department. “And if we have of Levering Orchard. The play was written by County. After assessing his somebody new, they have to pass it condition, doctors sum- — it’s a hiring requirement.” long-time friend, Frank Levering, and Hodges had moned AirCare, a medical Even new Fire Chief Zane helicopter, to transport Poindexter planned to tackle the just finished the act in which he played Levering’s Hodges to Wake Forest course that was set up recently at University Baptist Medical the city fire station on Rockford grandfather. In that act, Levering said, the audience Center, where he remained Street. in the Cardiac Care Unit on It seeks to simulate every situa- TOM JOYCE/THE NEWS noticed that Hodges was sweating profusely al- Monday. tion a fireman could encounter in The successful completion of the agility test also requires using a Ingalls said one of his the field during an emergency. This though the night was rather sledgehammer to hit a tire 56 times — with the force that would be cool. ventricles was almost com- See FIREFIGHTERS, page 6 necessary to break through a thick wooden door. During intermission, an- See HODGES, page 6 Storytime tradition returns to Pilot Mountain library MORGAN WALL gram was once a strong el- teract with one another, still,” she said. “If I get she said. Phillips said as far as STAFF REPORTER ement at the library but in have some fun and learn their attention for five min- Adults who bring the she knows storytime has recent years attendance has something as well. During utes at a time, I’ve succeed- children to the program are been taking place at the li- PILOT MOUNTAIN — dwindled, a trend Phillips the Tuesday morning ses- ed.” asked to stay with the kids brary since it was opened Storytime is returning to hopes to see reversed. sions, she plans to read sto- Even in all of the fun, and even participate in the in the late 1950s. the Charles H. Stone “I’d like to draw them ries, sing songs, perform she tries to teach the chil- activities. Phillips said that “Mrs. Stone did a lot for Memorial Library and back into the atmosphere of finger plays and make dren a lesson with each ses- sometimes families who children. This used to be Sandy Phillips hopes to at- the library,” she said. “I’m crafts. sion such as friendship or homeschool their children the only outlet as far as sto- tract a crowd. trying to build storytime “They get involved. It’s sharing. She also makes it a will come, and while the ries,” she said of the pro- The program is geared back up. It’s absolutely more of a social time for point to be repetitive about younger children enjoy sto- gram’s beginnings. towards children from birth free, just come and play.” kids to be with other kids. the lessons to ensure the rytime, the older ones will Phillips’ own children to 5 years and has been go- Phillips believes story- These little kids get to message sticks. use resource books they See LIBRARY, page 2 ing on in some form since time at the library provides know each other. They also “I still like for them to need from the library or use the library started. The pro- a chance for children to in- don’t have to sit perfectly have a little magical time,” the Internet. 2 Tuesday, August 31, 2010 The Mount Airy News, Mount Airy, N.C. www.mtairynews.com PAGE TWO formed a small team to de- Control unit for further in- been reported in Surry termine the best way to no- structions if they had been County.