Vol. 130, Issue 230 $.50 Greyhounds win INDEX Obits ... page 3A Opinions ... page 4A opener, Bears blast Business ... page 5A Sports ... page 6A Rain Likely Spartans High Low page 6A Serving Surry County since 1880. 82 70 For subscriptions, call 786-4141. The Mount Airy News www.mtairynews.com Printed on recycled newspaper Wednesday, August 18, 2010 DBA tries to get stores to open on Sundays MONDEE TILLEY things to do. We have had complaints from STAFF REPORTER them that there are not enough things open on Sunday,” said Hodges. An effort has been launched by the Hodges said he understands that every- Downtown Business Association to get one needs a day off. more downtown businesses to open on Sun- “The slow day varies from week to week, days to cater not only to locals, but tourists so I know it’s a hard decision for some peo- who come to town for the Mayberry experi- ple to open on Sundays,” said Hodges. ence. Right now, the Mount Airy Visitor’s Cen- Paul Hodges, coordinator for the DBA, ter lists 18 businesses that are open on Sun- said that while more downtown business are day. The Visitor’s Center itself is open on open that in years past, many of those who Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. come to the area to see Mayberry attractions Hodges said locals also like to shop are disappointed to see stores closed on Sun- downtown and have expressed an interest in days. having more businesses open on Sunday. “We are asking more businesses to stay “The wise locals realize anything they open. Tourism is a huge part of the success want or need can be found downtown and it’s of downtown Mount Airy. A lot of tourists a very pleasant atmosphere to shop and eat are out on Sundays and are looking for See OPEN, page 2A MORGAN WALL/THE NEWS Incoming freshmen at Mount Airy High School take time to walk through the school Monday during Fresh Start in an effort to locate their classrooms. Tax collections finish strong ORIENTATIONS ALLAY FEARS MEGHANN EVANS tions above 96 percent. A So far in the new fiscal STAFF REPORTER secondary goal was to col- year, tax collections are a lit- lect 97 to 97.5 percent of to- tle bit down, but Hartgrove OF STARTING HIGH SCHOOL DOBSON — On Mon- tal property taxes owed in expects the amount to go up day night the Surry County the county. In the 2008-2009 near the end of the month. code and cheating, fees, lockers and cafe- fiscal year, the county col- MORGAN WALL Board of Commissioners The tax administrator STAFF REPORTER teria behavior. They learned how to find approved the settlement of lected 97.75 percent of the also gave the commissioners help and what the school’s dress code is. the 2009-2010 taxes collect- total owed. The tax office some updates regarding ini- exceeded that this year, col- With school getting ready to start back, Students also had the opportunity to ask ed. This year’s collections tiatives in his office. He said some area freshmen have anxieties head- questions before the arrival of the rest of lecting 97.82 percent or a to- the tax office is still trying to exceeded expectations. tal of $31,370,394.70. ing into high school. the student body. Michael Hartgrove, coun- set up a debit machine at the High school administrators are hoping Students also had their pictures taken Hartgrove said he thinks office and an automatic draft ty tax administrator, said, the county would have to allay those fears with freshmen orienta- for the school IDs during the morning. “We finished at 97.82 per- program for checking ac- tion sessions before the first day of class. Teachers walked the students through the been able to collect 98 per- counts. The office is now cent, which was remarkable.” cent had it been given a few Mount Airy High School held Fresh buildings on the campus, helping them For the seventh year in a more days. The deadline working with new software Start on Monday, allowing freshmen to get find their classes. Before they left for the row, the tax office exceeded was July 1 to have the num- as well. their schedules along with a map of the day, the students had the opportunity to the collection percentage bers in for the year. Each “We appreciate the job campus and spend some time finding their have a hot dog lunch in the cafeteria where from the previous year. The year the county commis- you’re doing on the behalf way around. After splitting into groups, they could catch up with old friends and primary goal of the tax office sioners then have to ap- of citizens,” said Commis- students were able to learn about the make new ones. was to collect the budgeted prove a settlement and res- sioner Jimmy Miller. He school’s Web site, learn policies regarding “It’s a good time to be able to talk with amount of $29,813,299, olution listing the amount also applauded the way attendance and tardies, make-up work, the freshmen without having the other stu- which would keep collec- of taxes collected. See TAX, page 3A homework and remediation, the honor See HIGH, page 2A Bocce Marijuana plants comes found in raid to Surry STAFF REPORT The county’s annual marijuana eradication flight was cut short yesterday due to rain, but not before officers seized eight marijuana plants. County Each year a few helicopters with the National Guard travel to the county to fly officers to houses to search for MEGHANN EVANS marijuana. Plants were found at the first two houses offi- STAFF REPORTER cers came to yesterday, which were on Dan Bryant Road near Westfield. The Surry County Sheriff’s Office and Thanks to new grants Mount Airy Police Department both participated in the and a partnership between raid. Special Olympics Surry Two marijuana plants were found at the first house, and County, Surry County Parks six plants were found at the next house. Sheriff Graham and Recreation and Mount Atkinson said officers have not yet arrested anyone in Airy Parks and Recreation, connection with the drug seizes, but the investigation is the game of bocce has come ongoing. to the county. The raid took place yesterday morning, but it had to be Bocce is a ball sport sim- cut short when it started to rain. Two helicopters flew to ilar to lawn bowling and the county from Raleigh. National Guard helicopters pro- shuffleboard which is close- vide limited flying time to each county during the summer. ly related to a game that was Atkinson said he is not sure if the helicopters will be able played in ancient times. The MEGHANN EVANS/THE NEWS sport is played by people of Millie Hiatt with Surry County Parks and Recreation measures the distance of a to come back again this summer. “I feel like if we’d have kept flying, we would have all ages and skill levels on a bocce ball during a game with Darren Lewis of Mount Airy Parks and Recreation. variety of playing surfaces. found more (marijuana),” said Atkinson. Three bocce courts have the Fisher River Park office as a singles, doubles or team Airy first saw the sport at a Still, the sheriff said it’s good any time officers can been set up in the county, and Reeves Community sport and is offered as a tra- state competition several come away with enough evidence for drug charges. and a new Special Olympics Center. People also can play ditional or unified sport. years ago. bocce team is being formed. on the courts with their own This is the first year that “I thought this would be Millie Hiatt, supervisor sets of bocce balls. Surry County will have a something fun to do in Sur- for Surry County Parks and “It’s another leisure ac- Special Olympics team for ry County,” she said. Recreation, said Special tivity for citizens ... It’s an bocce. Qualifying teams She will coach the new Olympics received a materi- activity that most people will get to play in the State bocce team in the county. als grant to construct bocce can participate in regardless Special Olympics Tourna- She has a brother with courts earlier this year. Fish- of skill or athletic level,” ment. Adding on another Down syndrome, and she er River Park, Westwood said Darren Lewis, assistant Special Olympics sport in enjoys seeing the joy that he Park, and Riverside Park director of Mount Airy the county will allow more gets out of playing bocce each have bocce courts set Parks and Recreation. athletes to compete at the and other Special Olympics up outside. Wooden posts in Hiatt said, “It doesn’t re- state level, Hiatt pointed sports. the grass mark the bocce quire a lot of equipment.” out. “The more things we playing areas. The court is She said people have al- There are 19 different have the more things they set up between the volley- ready begun utilizing the sports that Special can do to stay active,” she ball courts and gazebo at bocce court at Fisher River. Olympics athletes can com- said. Fisher River Park and near pete in. Michael Garguilo, Mount Airy received bocce To play on the Special the playgrounds at West- sets and signs yesterday. Special Olympics director wood and Riverside parks. “If anybody likes bowl- for the north Piedmont area, Olympics team, Special People do not need to ing, I think you’ll like this,” said a lot of the counties in Olympics athletes must be sign up to use the courts, but said Hiatt.