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<p>Keith Strange | The News</p><p>During its meeting last night, the Surry County Board of Commissioners honors DSS Director Wayne Black, second from left, as his wife Kathryn, left, looks on. Black will be leaving the county at the end of the month to take the helm of the state department.</p>
Board honors outgoing DSS director
DOBSON — In what Chairman Eddie Harris called “the end of an era,” the Surry County Board of Commissioners presented outgoing Social Services Director Wayne Black with a plaque recognizing his decade of service to Surry County at the helm of the department. The action came as the board met for its regular monthly meeting in the Commissioners Meeting Room in Dobson, and before the board recessed for a reception honoring Black. Last month i...
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<p>Submitted photos</p><p>Trevor Thomas is the first hiker to complete the Appalachian Trail, unassisted. He is now hiking the Mountains-to-Sea Trail across North Carolina with his guide dog, Tenille.</p>
Trevor and Tenille: Blind hiker and guide dog pass through area
PILOT MOUNTAIN — Trevor Thomas has accomplished more in the past eight years than most people accomplish in a lifetime. He hiked the 2,175 mile Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail at around 2,650 miles, and numerous other hikes. Thomas did this not only in great time, but he did it all with no sight. Thomas is blind. He is the first unassisted blind person to hike the Appalachian Trail, all 2,175 miles of the trail from Georgia to ...
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Grant will boost tourism, enhance music center
The Surry Arts Council has received a grant that will boost tourism locally as well as enhance the infrastructure of the Old-Time Music Heritage Hall in downtown Mount Airy. “I’m hugely excited,” Tanya Jones, the council’s executive director, said Monday of the grant from the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership. Since the $15,000 in assistance required a local match, $30,000 will available altogether to meet those two objectives, ...
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City finally has mission statement
It’s mission accomplished as far as developing the first-ever mission statement for the city of Mount Airy is concerned. In a 5-0 vote during a meeting last week, the board of commissioners approved the statement, which reads: “It is our mission to provide services of the highest quality in an ethical, respectful, professional and cost-effective manner, and to preserve our heritage and environment.” The process to select just the right ...
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Police briefs
• A Mount Airy man is being held in the Surry County Jail under a $50,000 secured bond for allegedly trying to break into a home on West Lebanon Street, according to city police department reports. Jeremiah David Bruce, 30, of 184 Scenic View Drive, is charged with felonious attempted breaking and entering of a residence. The alleged crime occurred Thursday at the apartment of Matthew Wayne Shumate in the 100 block of West Lebanon Street, w...
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Proposed salary increases removed from budget
PILOT MOUNTAIN — Town employees will not see a cost-of-living adjustment as originally proposed if the Pilot Mountain Board of Commissioners adopts the town manager’s proposed revised budget. An unexpected increase of $12,000 in property insurance means no additional money for a 1.5-percent salary increase that Town Manager Homer Dearmin had proposed in his initial budget documents. Thursday night, during another budget work session, Dear...
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Sheriff’s Report
Arrests The Surry County Sheriff’s Office has reported the following arrests: - On May 10, Amanda Mitchem Riffe, 27, of Pochantas Road in Kimbell, Va., was arrested and charged with five counts of financial card theft. She was booked into the Surry County jail under a $75,000 bond. - On May 10, Michael Shannon Gravley, 42, of W. Cleve Street in Mount Airy, was arrested and charged with obtaining property by false pretenses. He was book...
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<p>Dr. Charles Bokesch of Mount Airy, left, is shown during a recent meeting of the Surry County Board of Commissioners when he received a certificate of recognition from Eddie Harris, board chairman. It recognizes the Mount Airy doctor&#8217;s &#8220;demonstration of high integrity and outstanding services&#8221; to the county during his 36 years as a community leader. The list includes much work in the medical field by Bokesch, including serving as chief of staff of Northern Hospital of Surry County, involvement with Surry Medical Ministries and serving as the county&#8217;s first emergency services medical director. He also has been active with the United Fund, Boy Scouts and Salvation Army, among other community endeavors.</p>
Longtime local doctor recognized
Dr. Charles Bokesch of Mount Airy, left, is shown during a recent meeting of the Surry County Board of Commissioners when he received a certificate of recognition from Eddie Harris, board chairman. It recognizes the Mount Airy doctor’s “demonstration of high integrity and outstanding services” to the county during his 36 years as a community leader. The list includes much work in the medical field by Bokesch, including serving as chief of sta...
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Wilkes Livestock Report
NORTH WILKESBORO — Sales totaled 305 head, including cattle (305), during Wednesday’s sales at Wilkes Livestock Exchange. Animals sold on the livestock market, based on 100-pound weights, were: • Cows by the head: $1,155. • Heifers by the head: $850. • Cows: 600-695 pounds, $42-$60; 800-895 pounds, $80; 900-995 pounds, $60-$83.50; 1,000-1,095 pounds, $69-$82; 1,100-1,195 pounds, $73.50-$85.50; 1,200-1,295 pounds, $75.50-$85.50; 1,300-...
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<p>Lana Brendle</p>
Dobson commissioner Lana Brendle dies
DOBSON — Dobson officials are reeling after hearing of the death of long-time commissioner and town advocate Lana Brendle. Brendle died Saturday at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center following what Town Manager Josh Smith called a “several year battle with cancer.” Her first foray into political life was in 1995, when she was elected Dobson town commissioner, a position she held until her death. Brendle served as a contract agent with t...
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