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 Joy Ranch holds live Considerable clouds Bears get three on Holiday Meals & Natvity this holiday early today. High of team .... B1 Memories contest at season .... A6 58. Low of 49 ...... A2 mtairynews.com Vol. 131, Issue 349 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011 50 cents daily/$1.25 Sunday PMMS named Signature School for 2011 MORGAN WALL sary to become good citi- Staf Reporter zens in the 21st century. “Schools are about so PILOT MOUNTAIN much more than EOG test — In addition to earlier scores now. We want to being named a 2010-11 offer kids the opportunity School of Distinction for to participate and excel in student performance on other activities like Battle End of Grade tests, Pilot of the Books. We have the Mountain Middle School Duke TIP program for in- has claimed another award dependent study to allow based on academics as well students to explore some as extracurriculars. different interests,” said Pilot Mountain Middle Atkins. “We have so much Mondee Tilley/The News School has been named a to do but we try to use Fireighters with the Pilot Knob Volunteer Fire Department pick up their hoses after ighting at the home of Jo Collins in Pilot Signature School by the some time to teach kids to Mountain Wednesday afternoon. Piedmont Triad Education be good citizens and how Consortium with Princi- to interact with and treat pal Neil Atkins, Assistant each other. If you’re get- Principal Lorrie Sawyers ting those things right, the and teacher Melanie Slate test scores will take care of accepting the plaque for themselves.” Woman escapes ire the award on behalf of the One initiative that has school at a recent ceremo- set Pilot Mountain Middle ny held in Greensboro. apart is its work in build- The school was recog- ing a respectful school. nized for its commitment Atkins wanted the school to growing students aca- community to create an demically and for its deter- environment where all with help from passerby mination to give children students and staff felt re- the personal skills neces- See SCHOOL | A6 Mondee Tilley U.S. 52 Bypass in Pilot Mountain, on her way to see her mechanic at Staf reporter told officials that she was sitting on Hearst Garage when she saw Collins the sofa in her living room when she out in her yard, clearly in distress. PILOT MOUNTAIN — Thanks to heard a loud pop — the room began Scoffner said she stopped her car the quick thinking of a passerby, an filling with smoke a few seconds and ran over to Collins. She said Col- elderly woman was taken to safety later. Collins went out the front door lins was disoriented at the time. Af- after her home caught fire Wednes- waving her arms in the air. ter she got her away from the home, day afternoon. Meanwhile, Beatrice Scoffner, Scoffner said she heard an explosion Jo Collins, who lives at 625 Old a resident of Pilot Mountain, was See HELP | A2 Fire oicial ofers winter warnings Josh Armstrong Staf Reporter As the weather grows colder, fire hazards increase within the home. From fireplaces to wood stoves, individuals have plenty of ways to keep warm this winter. Alternate means include elec- Submitted photo tric or fuel-fired portable options. Attending the award ceremony are, from left, front row, Lor- Unfortunately, all of the noted options can go wrong, said rie Sawyers, Pilot Mountain Middle assistant principal, Neil Zane Poindexter, chief of the Mount Airy Fire Department. Atkins, Pilot Mountain Middle principal, and Melanie Slate, For instance, any heating appliance should have three feet Pilot Mountain Middle teacher; second row, Sue Stone, Surry of clearance surrounding it. Otherwise, nearby objects, such U.S. Fire Department/Public Domain County Schools Board of Education member; third row, Dr. Ash- as curtains, could catch fire. As part of ire safety, individuals should regularly replace the ley Hinson, superintendent, Jennifer Scott, communication and Another frequent problem is electrical fires, he said, due to batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, said professional development director, Dr. Terri Mosley, assistant See FIRE | A3 Zane Poindexter, chief of the Mount Airy Fire Department. superintendent, Pat Widdowson, assistant superintendent, and Earlie Coe, board of education chairman. Country singer to return for hometown show on Saturday Mondee Tilley what to do next. She said she was fortunate Staf reporter enough to meet, soon-to-be-signed, singer/ songwriter Craig Campbell and became a This Saturday night, Mount Airy native regular sit-in at his show at The Stage on Rachael Johnson will be coming home from Broadway. the bright lights of Nashville, Tenn., to per- She began meeting other artists and form in a one-night only show at the Old musicians and was able to put together a North State Winery at 8 p.m. band and had shows of her own. Within a Since graduating from Mount Airy High year, Johnson was able to quit her day job School in 2005, Johnson headed off to and let music pay the bills. She was play- Nashville to make her way in the country ing 20 to 25 gigs a month in Nashville and music industry. surrounding cities and traveling to venues Three years in Tennessee has found John- in Alabama and opened for Craig Campbell son as an in-demand solo artist. She now on one of her many trips to North Carolina. plays 20 to 25 shows a month in Nashville, Johnson said her writing and love for surrounding cities and states, while shar- music were influenced by a range of artists ing the stage with country stars like Jo Dee from Merle Haggard to the Beatles. Messina, Josh Thompson, Little Texas, While Johnson has played several shows Dave Gibson, Chris Young, Craig Campbell locally at B52s with her band, this will be and Trent Tomlinson, to name a few. her first local performance in which she will After completing her bachelor’s in crimi- be performing alone. She said the concert Submitted photo nal justice, she found her way to Nashville. will be quite intimate and she is looking for- Rachael Johnson, who grew up in Mount Airy, will be returning for a one-night solo performance She landed a day job to help pay the bills ward to returning to Mount Airy. Saturday night at the Old North State Winery. and hit the local hot spots to figure out See SINGER | A2 Time running out — enter Meals and Memories contest soon Staf Report If it’s the latter, The Mount Airy asking local residents to share Grandma, Mom, your aunt or And it’s simple as … well, pie … to News and Patterson-Collins Chev- with the community their trea- even your father, grandfather, enter. What is it you think about most rolet has a contest for you. sured recipes — recipes you think brother, sister, uncle or friends Visit www.mtairynews.com and when you recall Christmases past? Our newest online competition, are just so outstanding it’s hard make or used to make that made click on the “Meals & Memories” Is it the presents you begged Meals and Memories, sponsored not to share the final product with the house smell like you could eat contest button on the home page. for all year long and finally un- by Patterson-Collins Chevrolet, is everyone, maybe quick recipes it all when you got there for all the That will take you to the con- wrapped the morning of the big offering up the chance for you to for those who might not have a holiday festivities. test page where you can register day? How about sneaking down- win bragging rights and a chance lot of time to bake tons of good- Time is running out, however, to participate and then submit stairs in the middle of the night at a $150 prize! There also will be ies, or those old recipes that made to get your recipe submissions in. your stellar and tasty recipes for on Christmas Eve in an attempt at a $75 prize in the Main Course Grandma’s house smell so good at Entries for the recipe portion of a chance to win. Then get your seeing the Jolly Old Elf himself? Category, sponsored by New Im- Christmas. the Meals and Memories contest friends, relatives, co-workers, and Or is it something of a more tasty age Weight Loss Center. You know what we’re talk- by Patterson-Collins Chevrolet anyone else you can find to go on- delight you think of the most? More than that, though, we’re ing about. The goodies and food will be accepted through Saturday. line and vote for your entry! A2 A2 Thursday, December 15, 2011 The Mount Airy News, Mount Airy, N.C. www.mtairynews.com Help From Page A1 him to come quickly because his mother’s house was on fire. and the picture window on the Simpson said the majority of front of the house burst. After she the damage was to the living got Collins seated beside an old room and the kitchen. He had not payphone at the Shell station next had time to go upstairs to his old door, she dialed 911. bedroom to see if there was any “I have elderly parents so I un- damage to that part of the home. derstand. I’m glad to have been His family moved to the home in able to help her.