A new tourism initiative for Surry County is shaping up to be — well, uplifting — in terms of its potential for drawing more visitors to the area. That is the consensus of various local governmental and other leaders who attended an initial community meeting of the UPLIFT North Carolina tourism program last week at The Arts Center in Mount Airy. UPLIFT is a collaboration of university and state representatives...

Still time to plant a lazy man potato bed April still has a few more days remaining and there is still time to sow a lazy man bed of Irish potatoes. Most rows of potatoes have already been planted but there is still time to sow a bed and enjoy an early summer harvest. A bed is easy to start and you can boost it along with plenty of peat moss, Black Kow composted cow manure, crushed leaves, Plant-Tone organic vegetable food and two bags...

With the 2024 Budbreak festival not scheduled until May 4, last year’s event is still paying dividends for local charitable organizations. Seven such groups each received checks of $1,000 Tuesday from the Rotary Club of Mount Airy during a meeting at Cross Creek Country Club. “All this money comes from Budbreak,” Rotary President Michael Barnes said of the annual spring festival celebrating the area’s wine and craft beer industries which...

• Jewelry of an undisclosed value was stolen Monday night at Holiday Inn Express on EMS Drive, according to Mount Airy Police Department reports. The owner of the property is listed as Toma Lynn Corum of Knoxville, Tennessee. • A suspicious-person investigation last Saturday led to a Mount Airy man being jailed without privilege of bond as a fugitive from justice. ...

HILLSVILLE, VA — A sold-out courthouse is the norm for the Carroll County, Historical Society whenever it presents “Thunder in the Hills,” but the group entertained an extra special guest Saturday. Now in its fifth season since its debut 12 years ago, “Thunder in the Hills” and the Carroll County Historical Society were presented with a letter of commendation Saturday on behalf of Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares. Making the event even more special was the fact it was read by a Carroll County native...

Surry County officials decided this week that it would move to get out of its lease agreement for a number of county vehicles, but that they would take their time doing it. The Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to pay off the vehicles utilizing the original lease agreement, stretching those payments over five years. The board had decided last fall that it was in the county’s best financial interest to end its agreement to lease fleet vehicles from Enterprise Rentals. In February, the commissioners had...

Each year different areas throughout Old Hickory Council Boy Scout council recognize individuals who exemplify the principals of scouting through their efforts to improve lives and serve the people in their local area. For the past several years, the Elkin, Yadkin, Alleghany areas have awarded the Good Scout Award to a local citizen who has done so. This year’s honoree is Jane Montsinger who was recognized for her work in helping and changing the lives of others through her work with the Ark and Feed...

Hilda Willis was in transit Friday afternoon to pick up artists who are flying in from out of state to help her celebrate one last weekend of art, music, singing, and laughing inside Hilda’s Place at 127 W. Main Street, Unit B, in downtown Pilot Mountain. Starting Friday, she has been in the midst of hosting three final nights of events featuring some favorite artists of hers while still highlighting new talent. ...

A home at 2309 Westfield Drive was seriously damaged by a fire Thursday evening. According to Bannertown Volunteer Fire Department Chief Chris Baker the American Red Cross was contacted to aid the family of 12 displaced by the fire.

PILOT MOUNTAIN — East Surry bounced back from a loss to top-ranked Forbush by taking down North Stokes 6-1 on April 24. The Cardinals honored four seniors ahead of the nonconference victory: Nickolas O’Neal, Colton Andrews, Will Jones and Jaxon Bottoms. “Our seniors have done a great job for us this year,” said East Surry coach Chad Freeman. “We lost a lot of experience with last year’s graduates, and this...

DOBSON — Surry Central closed the regular season with three dominant wins. Central posted its second shutout of the season by defeating North Wilkes 9-0 on April 23, then went on the road the next day to beat North Wilkes again 13-1. Surry Central closed the regular season with a 14-4 home win over Elkin. Surry Central won four of its last five regular season games to get above .500...

A family of 12 in Bannertown was reportedly displaced from its residence following a house fire Thursday evening at 2309 Westfield Drive. According to Bannertown Volunteer Fire Department Chief Chris Baker the fire was quite literally across the street from the fire house. The call came in at 6:03 p.m. and given the close proximity of the fire to the station Baker said the location “worked out in our favor.” ...

A woman who held a key position with the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce has been charged with felonious embezzlement from a previous employer — a development that “shocked” the chamber staff. “Obviously, when she was arrested we let her go,” John Pynakker, the organization’s president and CEO, said Friday regarding Ashleigh Caroline Billings, who recently was hired as chamber executive assistant. “She had only been here a month,”...

The exterior of Hilda’s Place at 127 West Main Street, Unit B, in downtown Pilot Mountain is seen. Hilda Willis is closing shop this weekend and moving into the next chapter of her entertainment career spanning several decades.

Dancers dance while karaoke singers hold the stage at Hilda’s Place in Pilot Mountain. After a decade, Hilda Willis is holding her last three events starting Friday evening.