A1 LOG ONTO WWW.JEFFERSONPOST.COM FOR ARCHIVE • GAMES • FEATURES • E-EDITION • POLLS & MORE INSIDE TODAY WEATHER Suspects arrested for Partly sunny and break-ins .... 2 delightful High of 62 Low of 42 SPORTS INSIDE TODAY Lady Huskies down Schools target Starmount 6-1 .... 6 tobacco use prevention...3 Vol. 87, Issue 28 FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012 $1.00 Ashe ranked 37th in new health rankings Ashe ranked in the middle of high country counties By Adam Orr want to know how the health of www.countyhealthrankings. StaffW riter their county compares to others org, include a snapshot of each [email protected] in their state. This annual check- county in North Carolina with a up helps bring county leaders color-coded map comparing each Ashe County was recently together to see where they need county’s overall health ranking. ranked number 37, out of North to improve,” said Patrick Reming- Ashe County, ranked at number Carolina’s 100 counties, in a study ton, M.D., M.P.H., associate dean 37 in the state, was ranked higher commissioned by the University for public health at the University than Alleghany County, at 41, and study ranks Edgecombe, Bladen, report being in fair or poor health, of Wisconsin’s Population Health of Wisconsin School of Medicine Wilkes County, at 77, but lagged Halifax, Robeson, and Columbus the number of days people report Institute that pinpoints where and Public Health. “It’s really ex- behind Avery County, at 15, and Counties as the state’s most un- being in poor physical and poor counties do well, and where they citing to see that by this point, the Watauga County, at 6. healthy counties. mental health, and the rate of low- need to improve, in terms of their Rankings are a call to action to According to the study, North Researchers used five measures resident’s health. take steps to improve the health Carolina’s healthiest counties are to assess overall health including birthweight infants. “After three years, we know of communities.” Wake, Orange, Union, Mecklen- the rate of people dying before Ashe County lagged behind that people across the nation The rankings, available at burg, and Dare Counties. The age 75, the percent of people who See HEALTH | 5 Todd man shot by minor Libby’s donates $15K to Hospice Victim airlifted to Wake Forest Baptist Medical A Todd man was airlifted to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center after a minor allegedly shot him in the chest. The Watauga County Sheriffs Office received a call for emergency medical personnel shortly after 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night after Damien Barker, a resident of 5500 Castle Ford Road in Todd, was reportedly shot in the chest. Todd First Responders, Watauga County medics, and WCSO deputies rushed to the scene and began to adminis- ter medical treatment. Emergency personnel found Barker lying on the front porch of the Castle Ford residence with a gunshot wound to the chest or abdominal area. Barker was transported by AirCare to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. At press time Wednesday morning, Barker’s condition had not been re- leased. WCSO investigators, in contact with the Watauga Coun- ty District Attorney’s office throughout the night, have identified a minor, known by Barker, as the individual who allegedly shot Barker. The shooting is under further inves- tigation. Farmers market opening Saturday for season Spring in Ashe County brings nourishing rains, green- ing fields, a new generation of animals on the farm and the start of a new season at the Ashe County Farmers’ Market, which opens at 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 14. An opening ceremony will take place at 7:45 a.m. at the flagpole. Last year was a very successful one for the market and the 2012 season is off to a great start with a high number of vendors turning out for the March Expo registration event, another large group at Tuesday’s board meeting. The market offers fresh seasonal produce, a wide variety of nursery items, flowers and plants, locally raised meats, artisan cheeses, homemade breads and pastries, honey, mo- lasses, jams, jellies, as well as fine, locally made arts and crafts. Throughout the year, visitors will find local musi- cians playing at the market as well as area chefs cooking up tasty tidbits of locally grown and raised food. There will be several special events planned for the sea- son such as Fishing Expo, Quilt Day, Fiber Day, and Grilling Demonstrations from local chefs, Apple/Cobbler and Berry Pie Contest, Cake Contest, Tomato/Salsa Day Celebration, Annual BBQ Fundraiser and Halloween Event. Check the website, www.ashefarmersmarket.com, newspapers and ra- dio for the times and dates. Post photo/Linda Burchette The Ashe County Farmers’ Market is located on the For the 10th year, Libby Cockerham, owner of Libby’s in Shamrock Square in Jefferson, has donated $1,500 to Hospice of Ashe, Backstreet in downtown West Jefferson and is open 8 a.m. - for a decade anniversary total of $15,000. Proceeds come from the sale of Libby’s cards customers purchase for discounts 1 p.m. on Saturdays from April to October. The Wednesday and special events at the upscale boutique. Before the funds were designated for Hospice when Libby opened her own shop, market will be open July 11 through Sept. 29 at the same Libby made donations from Jon Marc Department Store that she ran with her father, Jack Wall. His care through Hospice is what led her to designate her annual gift to Hospice. This year’s check for $1,500 was presented recently by Libby (at left) to hours. All items sold at the market are homegrown or hand- Crystal Jordan, BSW, RN, team leader for Hospice of Ashe. The funds, she said, help with patient care. “It’s amazing that we made in Ashe County. have such community support like Libby’s,” Jordan said. “Without it we wouldn’t have Hospice, and you can always count on For more information, go to our website or contact Mar- Hospice.” Volunteer training for Hospice will take place April 17, 19,24 and 26 with morning or evening classes. Call 246-6443. ket Manager John Smyre at 877-4141 or Assistant Manager Amanda Wineberg at 977-3187. Mary Jo Vido is Ashe County’s coupon pro By Adam Orr as six hours a day cutting that work in local stores, StaffW riter and organizing coupons, according to Vido, to make [email protected] and planning shopping sure the checkout process trips. goes smoothly for every- As Ashe County enters “It’s work, and organiz- one. its fourth year of double- ing is so important,” said “Some cashiers are nicer digit unemployment, cash Vido. “If you don’t get them than others, and you have strapped consumers are (coupons) organized, dates to know the rules,” said turning to coupons to ease run out, and then you miss Vido. “Some haven’t read their pain in the grocery things.” the coupon policy, so it’s store. Ashe County’s own To get started, Vido rec- important to know what Mary Jo Vido may just have ommends a simple three- you can and can’t do.” it down to a science. inch binder, trading card Vido said all the manag- In December, Vido was sleeves, colored dividers, ers of local Ashe County able to bring home more scissors and a notebook. supermarkets have always than $1,000 in groceries “Everything might be $10 answered her questions, for less than $200. together,” said Vido. and make the couponing “A lot of time and plan- Vido also said all her process easy. ning went into that trip,” grocery shopping is done “It is important to talk said Vido. “It blows my inside Ashe County. to some of the managers mind. I have a low budget “I do everything here in beforehand,” said Vido. “If for these sorts of things, the county,” said Vido. “I you’re going to get more and stretching my budget don’t have to make special than 10 of a particular is important. It was defi- trips off the mountain.” item, you may clean off nitely worth it.” Vido shops at multiple their shelves, and that’s not Three weeks ago, Vido stores in Ashe County a good thing.” visited two stores, spent weekly, and makes one Vido solves that problem $22, and came home with huge trip per month, where by determing when sales $211 worth of food. she visits up to four stores will take place, and pre- ordering those items ahead Vido said the huge sav- in a single day. Photo submitted ings come at a price, how- It’s important to forge re- of time. Mary Jo’s son, Nathaniel Vido, at checkout during a December shopping trip. During the three- ever. She spends as many lationships with the people See COUPON | 5 day, four store trip, Vido purchased more than $1,000 of food, for less than $200. A2 PAGE 2 FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012 JEffERSON POST Three men arrested for recent residential break-ins Several suspects have earlier break-ins. ported a sexual offense (All pler reported a breaking checkbook, and car and been arrested clearing four Williams also reported other sexual offenses) on and entering to the ACSO. house keys were allegedly different residential break- Christopher Charles Camp- Cranberry Springs Road in During the incident, locks stolen. ins, said Ashe County Sher- bell, 19, of Grassy Creek Fleetwood. During the in- on a building were broken.