Vol. 130, Issue 225 $.50 CChhiippppeerr iiss oouutt ffoorr tthhee sseeaassoonn INDEX Obits ... page 3A Opinions ... page 4A Business ... page 5A Sports ... page 1B Isolated Storms High Low Serving Surry County since 1880. ppaaggee 11BB 91 71 For subscriptions, call 786-4141. The Mount Airy News www.mtairynews.com Printed on recycled newspaper Friday, August 13, 2010 New teachers learning the ropes MORGAN WALL spoke to them about the while others are taking on STAFF REPORTER topics from administrators their first teaching job. to teachers. Assistant su- Jennifer Sawyer, who DOBSON — Students perintendents Pat Widdow- will be teaching honors are not the only ones son and Chuck Graham precalculus and algebra 1 preparing for the coming spoke to the new teachers and 2 at East Surry High school year. New teachers about curriculum and in- School, is a first-year are going through some struction, policies and the teacher. She wanted to re- training of their own. teacher evaluation process. turn to Surry County be- Twelve people who will The new teachers also cause she grew up here and be new to local classrooms learned about having a 21st likes the area. this fall took part in a two- Century classroom from “I love math, I always day orientation session led Katie McCrary, the reign- have,” she said of wanting by Teacher Quality Coordi- ing teacher of the year. to teach high school math. nator Sonia Dickerson this Some of the teachers at “I’m looking forward to week at Central Middle the orientation session have getting to know the stu- School. During the orienta- been working with Surry dents. Hopefully I can get tion, they learned about County Schools but are kids to like a subject that everything from policies moving into the classroom most of the time they ab- and professional develop- as a teacher for the first solutely despise.” ment to the dress code and time while others are new Chad Skudlarick is MORGAN WALL/THE NEWS professional learning com- to the county. Some are moving to Surry County Dana Draughn, 21st Century Executive at Cedar Ridge Elementary, models a dress munities. Many people moving to Surry County from the Atlanta area and code don’t for teachers during new teacher orientation for Surry County Schools. from the school system from other school systems See NEW, page 2A Child left in car prompts officials’ warning MONDEE TILLEY could have been 10 to 15 minutes. STAFF REPORTER “From what I understand the mother of this child, when she PILOT MOUNTAIN — An in- pulled up down there, she just ab- fant that was accidentally left inside solutely forgot the child was in the a hot car Wednesday at Food Lion car seat. A passerby saw the baby in turned out to be okay, but the inci- there crying and she went inside dent has prompted area officials to Food Lion and had then to an- warn residents to be more vigilant nounce it over their intercom sys- as temperatures remain in the 90s. tem. The mother rushed out of the According to Police Chief store, got the baby and brought it Darryl Bottoms, a 911 call was back in Food Lion,” said Bottoms. received at 2:10 p.m. that a child He said paramedics arrived and had been left in a car in the checked the child The baby did store’s parking lot. The 6-month- have an elevated body temperature, old boy was flush and crying, but other than that, Bottoms said, Bottoms said. The chief said he everything was OK. was not sure how long the child Bottoms notified the Department was in the car, though he said it See HOT, page 2A Tea party to hold candidate forum series TOM JOYCE dates up against candidates,” Stan- STAFF REPORTER ley said. For example, the first forum on MORGAN WALL/THE NEWS The Surry County Tea Party Pa- Aug. 30 will include Graham New sixth graders at Mount Airy Middle School practice opening the combination locks triots have announced a series of Atkinson, incumbent Democratic used on lockers during Camp Middle School. candidate forums which will begin candidate for sheriff, and Eddie later this month at Veterans Memor- Harris, a Republican seeking the ial Park in Mount Airy. South District seat on the Surry These forums are aimed at al- County Board of Commissioners. Learning the middle school ropes lowing voters to learn about candi- Organizers also are hoping to pectations that face them dur- almost 70 sixth graders turned dates’ positions on various issues in have Bill Hamlin, the incumbent MORGAN WALL anticipation of elections in Novem- county commissioner for the Cen- STAFF REPORTER ing their first year of middle out for this year’s program. ber, and for office-seekers of all tral District, present at the first fo- school. They also had the op- “We’re giving kids a persuasions to outline their qualifi- rum — but as of Thursday his plans The transition to middle portunity to ask questions and chance to get into the school cations and campaign goals. for attendance were uncertain, ac- school can be a daunting one test out their skills at using a before school actually starts. “We’re not calling them de- cording to Stanley. for sixth graders, however combination lock. They can learn their way bates,” Paula Stanley, a Tea Party “We’re planning on having them Camp Middle School is de- John Elmore and Vickie around, learn the things ex- Patriots representative from Pilot every other Monday night,” Stanley signed to help abate that anxi- Hairston with the Unlimited pected of them, meet some of Mountain, explained Thursday af- said of the series of forums, with ety. Success division of the Part- their teachers, figure out the ternoon. That will be evident with the final one set for Oct. 11. Rising sixth graders at nership for a Drug Free North locks, so when they come to the format of the events, which will In addition to that date and the Mount Airy Middle School Carolina led the camp with the school they’re more comfort- defy the usual practice of having all initial gathering on Aug. 30, the se- had the option of spending help of some of the sixth grade able. They can also meet new candidates for a particular office ries also will include forums on Wednesday and Thursday get- faculty at the school. This is people while they’re here,” appearing on the same stage. Sept. 13 and Sept. 27. All are slated ting to know the school, some the second year the camp has said Elmore. “We’re not going to put candi- See TEA, page 2A of their teachers and the ex- taken place at the school and See SCHOOL, page 3A Community colleges key TOM JOYCE/THE NEWS Kennon Briggs, executive to recovery, officials told vice president and chief TOM JOYCE in Surry County. bailouts. In pointing to jobs of staff for North Caroli- STAFF REPORTER Meeting at Surry Com- that have resulted from the na community colleges, munity College, the well-at- injection of federal stimulus speaks at a meeting of tended gathering included dollars over the past year, “I DOBSON — The bad elected officials from news is, North Carolina’s commissioners and adminis- wouldn’t call those real economy isn’t going to im- trators from the county and jobs,” he said. across Surry County prove anytime soon, but the its four municipalities, along “Real job growth has to with school board members Thursday night in Dob- good news is that the state’s come from the private sec- son. and others including state tor.” community college system Rep. Sarah Stevens. Meet- will play a significant role in In further discussing the ings of local elected officials limited role of government an eventual turnaround. are held quarterly at various That was the word Thurs- locations in Surry. in fixing the problem, Briggs day night from Kennon “Unemployment in North said high unemployment di- Briggs of Raleigh, executive Carolina is going to continue rectly affects revenues that vice president and chief of to remain high,” Briggs told are available for the state staff for North Carolina the group, adding that big Legislature, such as income community colleges, during government won’t be able to and sales tax proceeds. “If a dinner for elected officials solve the problem through See KEY, page 8A 2A Friday, August 13, 2010 The Mount Airy News, Mount Airy, NC www.mtairynews.com PAGE TWO they say and their zest for life,” he said of wanting to move to the elementary school NEW: level. He has a number of goals for the com- Continued from page 1A ing year, some of which are more long- term in nature. will be the guidance counselor at White “One would be to learn all the kids by Plains Elementary School. He is from North Carolina and wanted to be a little name. My first focus is the kids and ad- closer to friends and family who live in the dressing their needs as best I can, then I Charlotte area and in Rutherford County. want to build a community in the school “In a way it’s coming home but not and then immerse myself in the communi- home home. My family is not too far away ty,” he said. “I’m looking forward to a lot and I have friends not too far away. Plus but mostly to working with the kids.” I’m getting out of the heat and traffic in Part of the orientation also included a Georgia,” he said of making the move.