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The Mount Airy News

partner publisher · 5.8K followers
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Greenway fully reopen after flood

More than three months after a flood devastated parts of Mount Airy including the Granite City Greenway, the popular pathway is fully reopened, Parks and Recreation officials have announced. This occurred during the weekend, which Calvin Vaughn, a recreation-minded member of the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners, hailed Wednesday as a welcome development with an important local resource now back up to full speed. “I think what people don’t realize is it’s probably our biggest activity in town,” Vaughn said of the greenway, which accommodates walkers, runners and cyclists. The greenway is popular not only among locals but brings hundreds of people to town on a daily basis, according to Vaughn. “I don’t think people realize how many people use it,” he said. “It’s sort of under the radar.” That wasn’t the case on Aug. 1-2, when flooding caused the Ararat River to crest at 29 feet, swamping sections of the greenway along its path. Particularly hard-hit were areas near the Chase and Charli restaurant on South Main Street, H.B. Rowe Environmental Park and Tharrington Park, which were closed for weeks afterward. While some detours were put in place in the interim, the greenway is now fully reopen as of

Mt Airy, NC · 1d

wataugaonline.com

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First Snow of the Season Arrives in the High Country: Conditions, Closings and Photos

Updated 8:45 a.m., Friday, November 13. This story will be updated throughout the day as conditions change. Snow showers and gusty winds are moving through the High Country today, bringing the first real taste of winter to the mountains. Flakes began falling on Beech Mountain Thursday afternoon, and by Friday morning snow was covering the Lees-McRae College campus in Banner Elk.

Watauga County, NC · 17h
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appalachianhistorian.org

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Austinville, Wythe County: Chiswell’s Lead Mines, the American Revolution, and the Civil War

Appalachian Community Histories – Austinville, Wythe County: Chiswell’s Lead Mines, the American Revolution, and the Civil War. Along the New River in southwestern Virginia, the small community of Austinville occupies a place in American history far greater than its size might suggest. Long before the community acquired its present name, the surrounding hills contained one of the most important lead deposits in colonial America, providing a mineral that would become essential to frontier settlement, the American Revolution, and the Civil War. The mines helped sustain armies, attracted entrepreneurs and skilled laborers, and established an industrial settlement whose influence extended well beyond the mountains of Virginia.

Austinville, VA · 1d

The Mount Airy News

partner publisher · 5.8K followers

Vietnam vets reconnect after 54 years

Military members serving together during wartime become bosom buddies who help each other through the struggle, only to sometimes go their separate ways afterward to all corners of the country — maybe never seeing each other again. While that was the case with local resident Arlis Thomas and Louis Moraga of California for 54 years, they have managed to reconnect recently. The two last saw each other in 1972, Thomas recalled Wednesday before delivering an invocation for Mount Airy’s annual Veterans Day program at Blackmon Amphitheatre. He is now a Baptist preacher along with serving with the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard. Fast-forwarding to 2026, Moraga recently ran across an online article published by The Mount Airy News in 2021, which reported on a Memorial Day event then at which Thomas was the featured speaker. One thing led to another, including Moraga calling the newspaper, and Moraga subsequently was able to contact his old friend by telephone. “I came home from church on a Wednesday night and there was a message on my phone,” Thomas said of a recent encounter that led to him calling Moraga back. “We talked for an hour — I couldn’t believe it,” Thomas

Mt Airy, NC · 10h

The Mount Airy News

partner publisher · 5.8K followers

Canvass period marked by tight races, provisional ballots and hand-to-eye audit

Ahead of the county canvass that will be held by the Surry County Board of Elections to certify election results on Friday just before noon, the board met Thursday morning to conduct a hand-to-eye sample audit. The meeting was held in Room A of the Surry County Service Center. In compliance with North Carolina General Statute 163-182.1(b)(1), each county in the state must conduct a sample audit following the election and before the county canvass in order to ensure the accuracy of voting equipment. These audits were conducted by bipartisan teams in a meeting open to the public. “Required by state law, the sample audit count helps ensure the reliability of election results tabulated by machine,” reads the North Carolina State Board of Elections policy. Under statute compliance, the board randomly selected a “statistically significant” number of precincts or absentee and early voting ballot groupings, which consisted of two randomly selected precincts. Team members then counted votes for one predetermined contest across both precincts they audited. For the 2026 midterm elections, the county boards selected to audit the senate race from randomly selected precincts Stewarts Creek #2 and Eldora. After each of these ballots were audited, the results were then

Surry County, NC · 15h

Ashe Post & Times

partner publisher · 5.4K followers

Ashe County progressives strategize for future elections

WEST JEFFERSON — Patti Miller, a field canvasser for a local nonprofit, described her recent interaction with a voter while leaving a polling station who didn’t speak English as his primary language. While he isn’t fluent, she said his English was still “very good.” Still, she said the voter found the ballot intimidating to read. Miller and other voter rights advocates want to improve future access while eliminating implicit disenfranchisement. They plan to post a translated ballot at each Ashe County polling site so the confusion “won’t happen again.” Voter engagement goes beyond education, she explained. It’s about outreach and support, regardless of the outcome at the ballot box. “He voted and left content because he voted,” she said. Miller was among 18 local left-leaning voters who attended a post-election reflection meeting at Down Home North Carolina’s Ashe County Chapter on Nov. 4. Although Democrats secured major victories statewide, Ashe County voters backed Republican candidates in several closely contested races. Voters also approved three constitutional amendments that could reshape state and local government. While the amendments passed, the post-election group said the mobilization is groundwork for future campaigns. “I know a lot of people are discouraged by the amendments,” Democratic

Ashe County, NC · 2d

The Mount Airy News

partner publisher · 5.8K followers

Golden Eagles place 3rd at cross country championship; 19 locals compete

KERNERSVILLE — A third-place finish by Surry Central’s boys team highlighted Surry County’s showing at the cross country state championships. Nineteen runners from five Surry schools competed across three classifications: 1A, 3A and 4A. Surry Central had the county’s top team and individual finishes at the championships, which were held Nov. 6-7 at Ivey Redmon Sports Complex. Fresh off their regional championship victory a week earlier, Surry Central’s boys finished third as a team in the 3A classification. Team scores were based on the finishing positions of a school’s top five competitors in the 5,000-meter run. Schools without at least five runners did not receive points. Northwood won the team competition with 58 points, while Wake Prep placed second with 91 points. Surry Central fell just short of repeating as state runner-up by taking third with 105 points. 3A West regional champion Eduardo Ramirez Romero, a Surry Central junior, had Surry County’s fastest time at 17:34.59. Fellow Golden Eagle Jack Hardy finished less than a second behind at 17:35.30. Ramirez Romero and Hardy finished 12th and 13th, respectively. Franco Zapata had the team’s next-highest finish, placing 23rd at 17:59.97. Gib Martin posted a time of 18:12.25 to finish 28th, while

Surry County, NC · 1d

The Mount Airy News

partner publisher · 5.8K followers

Carroll officials more open to data center after visiting one in Alabama

Data centers have been front-and-center in both local and national debate, including just across the border in Virginia, where opposition to a proposed data center there has been widespread, including among some county officials. But a few county officials, along with residents, who generally opposed such centers may be changing their minds after several visited a Google-owned data center in Jackson County, Alabama. A public hearing regarding the recently adopted Emergency Data Center Ordinance occurred at the beginning of a recent Board of Supervisors meeting in Carroll County, with the goal of making the emergency ordinance permanent. The Data Center Ordinance was formulated to place restrictions on data centers locating in the county and includes limits to water consumption, noise pollution and places strict decommissioning requirements on facilities after they close. Delilah Brady spoke during the public hearing portion of the meeting and requested that the supervisors adapt the emergency data center ordinance and make it a permanent part of the county code. The Data Center Ordinance was subsequently adopted by a unanimous vote of the board. Google has expressed an interest in locating a data center on a piece of property owned by a private landowner near the Wildwood

Jackson County, AL · 2d

Ashe Post & Times

partner publisher · 5.4K followers

Rotary Club of Ashe County tours AEV facility

JEFFERSON — Members of the Rotary Club of Ashe County made a visit to American Emergency Vehicles (AEV) for a facility tour this week. James Reed and Roy Badger had the privilege of providing an extensive tour of AEV’s operation, showcasing the people, processes, and teamwork that go into building world-class emergency vehicles. The Rotary Club of Ashe County is a volunteer-driven organization made up of business, civic, and community leaders dedicated to improving the local community through service, scholarships, economic development, charitable initiatives and leadership. For more than 75 years, their efforts have helped strengthen Ashe County through community projects, educational support, and service to others. AEV appreciates the opportunity to share what they do at AEV and are grateful for organizations like the Rotary Club that continue to make a lasting impact across Ashe County. Thank you for your visit and for all you do to support the community!

Ashe County, NC · 1d

The Mount Airy News

partner publisher · 5.8K followers

Veterans Day 'about real people'

Veterans Day is an occasion filled with flag waving, lofty speeches and other forms of color and pageantry, but really boils down to something more basic, according to speakers at a holiday program in Mount Airy. “Today is about real people,” Staff Sgt. Steven Munoz of the U.S. Marines Corps told a crowd gathered Wednesday at Blackmon Amphitheatre for the city’s annual Veterans Day service. “Veterans Day is not simply another holiday on the calendar,” added Munoz, who is assigned to the Marines’ local recruiting unit. “It’s a reminder that freedom is precious.” Among the legions of service members who have marched into battles worldwide are actual human beings with feelings, souls and families whose lives matter, Munoz indicated. “We may never know every veteran’s story,” the special speaker acknowledged, but Veterans Day is a time for letting it be known that their stories mean something and aren’t forgotten. Military members often enter the service for “something bigger than themselves,” Munoz said. “And that affects much more than the person wearing the uniform,” he said of how family members must deal with long absences by those in the military who miss birthdays, graduations and other important events. Some who eventually

Mt Airy, NC · 1d

The Carroll News

partner publisher · 1.7K followers

Data Center debate takes new direction as Alabama changes minds and Cavaliers complete historic season

“My whole goal in this was to go down there and get with the locals because the locals are just like us,” said Delilah Brady, who turned the microphone around and faced the audience. “I wanted to find all the negatives…. I went everywhere and I talked to everybody and they were happy. It was almost like they lived in this little utopia or something… Overall, I mean, everybody liked them.” Goodge owned data centers made a big impression on Carroll County visitors. Carroll County pulled away in the fourth quarter to defeat James River 40-20 in Buchanan, Va. on Friday, November 6, in the process completing the first perfect regular season in program history. “It’s a blessing,” said running back Hunter Gravley. “This is something I thought Carroll County would never see and I’m just grateful to be part of it.”

Carroll County, VA · 1d

Taylorsville Times

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Thirteenth Annual Readers’ Choice Awards announced

Alexander County Economic Development and The Taylorsville Times are partnering again this year to promote local businesses through the Thirteenth Annual Alexander County Readers’ Choice Awards. In the special section inside the Nov. 11, 2026 print issue, there is a complete listing of the many businesses that were voted...

Alexander County, NC · 3d

The Mount Airy News

partner publisher · 5.8K followers

SCC alum finds success in business, community

SCC Alum Shares Journey from Front Desk to Vice President of Company DOBSON — With the foundation she built at Surry Community College, Lenise Lynch rose from an entry-level position to the top of her profession. Lynch was born in Queens, New York, and moved to Mount Airy when she was 10. “Mount Airy is home,” Lynch said recently. She attended North Surry High School, then attended Surry Community College from 2012 to 2013 where she got degrees in business administration and accounting. She was a bank teller for seven years at RBC. Lynch is now the vice president of operations for Sunhouse Development and Hospitality Group. “My career journey has been one of growth and opportunity,” Lynch said. She started in the hospitality industry at the front desk of the Hampton Inn, where she worked for two years before being promoted to general manager where she served for sixteen years. In 2024, Lynch was promoted to vice president of operations for the company that owns the Hampton Inn, Sunhouse Development and Hospitality Group. In total, she has been with the company for almost 20 years. “Starting at the front desk and working my way into an executive leadership position

Mt Airy, NC · 1d

appalachianhistorian.org

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Cana, Carroll County: Moravian Churches, Mountain Schools, and the Apple Industry

Appalachian Community Histories – Cana, Carroll County: Moravian Churches, Mountain Schools, and the Apple Industry. Along the southern edge of Carroll County, Virginia, where the Blue Ridge Mountains descend toward the North Carolina Piedmont, the community of Cana developed through generations of farming, religious activity, education, and commerce. Situated near the state line along the corridor now followed by U.S. Route 52, Cana became closely connected with nearby Mount Airy, North Carolina, while retaining the institutions and traditions of its mountain surroundings.

Carroll County, VA · 1d

The Mount Airy News

partner publisher · 5.8K followers

Veterans Day special for Pilot man

On the surface, Kendall and Jessica Yarboro of Pilot Mountain were attending Mount Airy’s annual Veterans Day parade as supportive parents. “Our son’s in the East Surry band,” Jessica explained regarding its participation in Wednesday’s procession along with other local high school groups. But the parade and Veterans Day itself had a deeper meaning for Kendall Yarboro, who saw it as a way to honor two family members who had fought in major U.S. conflicts. “My dad, he served in Vietnam,” said Yarboro, while his grandfather was in the midst of fierce fighting during World War II. Refuge in enemy foxhole The latter’s experience is especially compelling, with Coba Yarboro (pronounced Coby) seriously wounded during the Battle of Metz in November 1944. It occurred in the French city by that name, then part of Nazi Germany, where the U.S. Third Army was commanded by George Patton and eventually captured Metz. “He fell into a foxhole with a dead German soldier and played dead,” Kendall said of his grandfather’s efforts to elude capture by the enemy. The 82nd anniversary of Coba Yarboro, a Roxboro native, being wounded occurred this month, his grandson pointed out while awaiting Wednesday’s parade rolling through downtown

Mt Airy, NC · 15h

appalachianhistorian.org

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Woodlawn, Carroll County: From a Historic School to Agricultural Education and Appalachian Music

Appalachian Community Histories – Woodlawn, Carroll County: From a Historic School to Agricultural Education and Appalachian Music. In the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern Virginia, between the communities of Galax and Hillsville, lies Woodlawn, a Carroll County community whose history reaches well beyond its rural roads and surrounding farmland. For generations, Woodlawn was a place where families gathered around churches, schools, businesses, and agricultural traditions, while musicians carried the sounds of the mountains into homes and eventually recording studios across the country.

Carroll County, VA · 1d