RAKESTRAW INSURANCE CENTER, INC. 336-427-5181 • www.RakestrawInsurance.com Serving all of Rockingham County and the surrounding area since 1990 PERSONAL & COMMERCIAL • LIFE & HEALTH • ANNUITIES
I NVESTING I N R OCKINGHAM C OUNTY ’ S Q UALITY ATTENTION SENIORS $3.00 OFF OIL CHANGE Every Tuesday at Master Lube (Across from the Eden Mall)
OF
L IFE
Duane Adams (336) 623-6824 403-a West Kings Highway Eden
55 Plus
Proud To Be Your Hometown REALTOR® Let One Of Our Agents Assist You With Buying, Selling, Property Management Or Real Estate Investments.
EDEN’S OW N JOURNAL JOURNAL
Sam Phillips Mary Beth Powell 613-5006 613-1409
Larry Barefoot 342-4538
John Hall 344-0051
721 S. Scales St. • Reidsville • 336-361-3966 http://www.blue-sky-realty.com
8th Annual Piedmont Pottery Festival Come join us! Saturday, June 5, 2010 - 9:00am to 4:00pm Kingsway Plaza, Eden, NC This event features the finest in handcrafted pottery from across the state of North Carolina and south side Virginia. There will be more than 70 potters displaying their wares. Demonstrations and door prizes. Visit www.piedmontpotteryfestival.com or call Cindy Adams at 336-623-7789 ext. 3021.
Charlie Poole Festival Details Page 5
Uranium Mining Information Page 11
City Sells Surplus Items On Internet Page 20
Komen Organization Expands Resources To County Page 13
Featuring The R O C K I N G H A M Vol. 11, Num. 10
JUNE 2010
County
Local Information County Wide
E D E N: PA RTNERING WITH ITS N EIGHBORS F O R P R O G R E S S 2009 was a challenging year for economic development as Eden suffered the negative effects of a global recession. But, the way was paved for future prosperity through a joint effort with its neighbors to the north--Danville and Pittsylvania County, VA. Since 2001, a commission has worked diligently to acquire 3,500 acres of property along Berry Hill Road in Pittsylvania County. This acreage comprises a “mega-park,” a massive industrial area that is large enough to accommodate an automotive or steel plant. The Virginia Department of Transportation estimates that it could produce 5,000-11,000 jobs in the future. Because Eden is a border city, there has been historical inflow and outflow of workers between both states. Approximately 60% of the former Hanesbrands workers hailed from Virginia and many Eden residents are employed at Danville’s Goodyear plant. Eden and all of Rockingham County would benefit from any jobs locating in the mega-park. However, our association with this industrial park may be more extensive and beneficial to our community. Eden has been approached to supply water and sewer utilities to Phase II of the park. While no final decision has been made, it
INDEX Local Farewells 2 Events of Interest 6&7 Jokes 26 Church Events 18 Benefits 25 Classifieds 28 Sports 30 & 31
Star
appears favorable that Eden will be partnering in this park. This could result in more revenue for the city that can be used to refurbish its aging infrastructure. Ongoing efforts to pursue grant funding both statewide and at the federal level are being made. In mid-March, Eden Mayor John Grogan and City Councilman Darryl Carter ventured to Washington D.C. to lobby for federal assistance to fund infrastructure needs for the park. The Golden Leaf Foundation, North Carolina Rural Center and USDA are also being tapped to help fund this project. Regionalism has been promoted for years as the key to economic development. Eden and Rockingham County are far more similar to Henry and Pittsylvania Counties than they are to Guilford and Forsyth Counties in terms of demographics, work force skills, and natural resources. Instead of competing against our northern neighbors, we are now partnering with them to bring jobs to our area. Now, Eden can benefit from the North Carolina and Virginia Departments of Commerce who will be actively shopping the mega-park to prospective clients. Having two state operations working for Eden, instead of one, is a good deal indeed.
S TATE G R A N T H ELPS W HITER IDGE P LASTICS E X PA N D Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that WhiteRidge Plastics LLC, a national supplier of custom-molded plastic parts for the automotive, industrial, agricultural, tool and custompart markets, will expand its operations in Rockingham County. The company plans to create 55 jobs and invest more than $1.2 million during the next three years in Reidsville. The project was made possible in part by a $45,000 grant from the MOLDED One North Carolina Fund. “North Carolina conPLASTIC tinues to be attractive to MANUFACTURER manufacturing companies TO BRING looking for the ideal loca55 JOBS, tion to invest, expand and create new jobs,” Gov. $1.2 MILLION Perdue said. “Our state’s INVESTMENT TO skilled workers, top edu- ROCKINGHAM cational programs and COUNTY top-business ratings provide the perfect climate to support successful businesses.” WhiteRidge Plastics, headquartered with its manufacturing plant in Reidsville, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Myers Industries Inc. (NYSE: MYE) in Akron, Ohio. The company produces custom-injection, blow-molded parts for cars and trucks, agricultural equipment, recreational vehicles, industrial applications and other uses. WhiteRidge currently employs about 100 at its Reidsville plant. The company plans to install new product lines at the Reidsville facility to manufacture parts for Honda light trucks and all-terrain vehicles. Salaries vary by job function, but the annual average wage for the 55 new jobs will be $21,856, not including benefits. The Continued On Page 2
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY STAR FEATURES Pages: 4, 5, 8, 10, 123, 14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22
Monument Cleaning 336-616-1505 www.tilleymonumentcleaning.com