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Meet Your Neighbor
FRED RUTLEDGE
Which local politician makes the best waiter?
• Pete Lockhart is the million-mile man at Archdale post office — page 4
He’s catching the bad guys Page 11
• Archdale Industrial Park target of thieves — page 12 Church news.......5 Obituaries.........7, 9 Classifieds........15 Police report.......12 Fire report..........13 Sheriff’s report.....13
Jerry Tillman?
Pat Hurley?
Darrell Frye?
CIS knows!
Bert Stone? Page 8
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Archdale-Trinity News w w w. a r c h d a l e t r i n i t y n e w s . n e t
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A killer among us
Sheriff will never, never give up on Davis murder F
or the past 16 years, a murderer has very likely been living in the Archdale area. Going to work every day. Eating lunch in the next booth. Maybe even hugging a grandchild. And looking over his or her shoulder.
BY ELIZABETH SAUNDERS He’s looking over his shoulder because the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office is never going to give up looking for him. Never. William Ray “Bill” Davis was murdered in his Cedar Square home in the early hours of May 1, 1994. The 40-yearold had been a successful, active citizen. He left behind two young sons, age 14 and 11 then. “It was such a shock when it happened,” said Walter Stanley, a longtime friend of Davis. “He wasn’t into drugs, gambling or big business,” Davis’ brother Carson said in a 1994 interview. “He sold hats ... he was a self-employed salesman Bill Davis working out of his home.” Bill Davis had been the executive director of the Archdale-Trinity Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Jaycees and of the Archdale-Trinity Rotary Club. Roland Albertson, who was on the Chamber Board that hired him, said Davis had a resume heavy with state-level Jaycees activities and that he worked hard. “He was always very active. He went out and was successful in getting membership,” said Albertson. Although Davis was respected and community-oriented, he didn’t always get along with everybody. Friends describe him as opinionated and vocal. “He’d aggravate the patience off of Job, but that was Bill,” said Stanley. “You hated him one minute, and you loved him the next minute.” Gary Lewallen, another longtime friend, agreed. “He didn’t care if he stepped on toes.” In February 1994, Davis was in an automobile accident that left him with several broken bones, including his knees. At the time of his death he was confined to his SEE DAVIS MURDER ON PAGE 4
Photo by Michael Johnson Graphic by Kathy Stuart
Spring musical May 7, 8, 14 A
n inept gang of greasers and the Pink Ladies rule Rydell High School. During the next two weekends, they will rule the campuses of Trinity and Wheatmore high schools with three performances of the musical ‘Grease.’ The THS performances will be at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 7 and 8. WHS will be the site for the performance set for 7 p.m. Friday, May 14. At both schools, admission is $8 for adults and $5 for
students. The cast is composed of Trinity and Wheatmore students: Joe Goins, Zach Thompson, Joseph Belangia, Emily Lumston, Laura Rion, Scott Wright, Tanner Scott, Jacob Wood, Troi Hicks, Sara Holcomb, Caroline McDonald, Elizabeth Church, Alex Acuff, Brittany Hazel, Christina Dye, Michael Cutts, Courtney Lakin, Kate Akerman, Kristina Johnson, Heather Sullivan, Bethany Hillard, Katlyn Johnson, Mandy Hapeman and Kim Furr.
Archdale updates business fees E
lectronic gaming centres and fortune tellers have new fees to pay in Archdale. BY ELIZABETH SAUNDERS Archdale City Council updated the city’s privilege license fee schedule April 27, which included a new category for sweepstakes centers. Those businesses will be charged $500 per machine. City Council had discussed the
booming sweepstakes and gaming businesses at their March meeting. Jeff Wells, planning director, researched what other municipalities charge before recommending the fee. Fortune tellers, palm readers, clairvoyants and spiritual advisors also will have to pay a fee, $1,000 per year. Finance Director Lori Nurse said that category had been included before, but had been omitted in the last approved fee schedule. Fees vary by type of business and
gross receipts. A general business with sales under $1 million — including the NEWS — pays $50. Privilege license fees are charged for each fiscal year, July 1 to June 30, or when a new business opens. In other business, City Council adopted a minimum housing code. Council supported a resolution about the Safe Routes to School program and approved a proclamation of Municipal Clerks Week in appreciation of City Clerk Patsy Dougherty.
Postal food drive Saturday
L
ocal postal carriers are gearing up for the nation’s largest single-day food drive, set for Saturday, May 8. And George Payne, a letter carrier in Archdale, knows that post office customers will come through. Last year, Archdale-Trinity customers donated nearly 4,000 pounds of food for the food drive. In the Greater High Point area, nearly 29,000 pounds of food items were collected, which translates into dollars saved by local food banks, such as Community Outreach of Archdale-Trinity (COAT). “The Postal Service would like to thank all the families for their strong support in the national food drive,” Payne said of the 2009 drive. “The outpour of love for their fellow man was beyond expectations.” Letter carriers and rural carriers volunteer their services to pick up the food, and It’s a lot of work, but carriers at Archdale post office are promoting the food remain committed because of the need. drive. Pictured from left are Rachel Brafford, George Payne, Jimmy Cran“Still, today, we have more families ford, Larry Sykes, Susie Kendricks, Ruth Bager and Tony Whitman. Payne out of work and needing your assistance,” serves as the local coordinator. Photo by Debbie Hightower, edited by Kathy Stuart
Payne said. “Please, once again, give from the bottom of your heart and let’s feed America, together.” Postal Service staff members stand united in this cause, promoted by the United Way of Greater High Point. In the Greater High Point area, food collections in High Point, Archdale and Jamestown will benefit 13 food banks: Open Door Ministries, The House of Prayer, The Salvation Army, Carpenter House, Triad Health Project, COAT, Helping Hands, West End Ministries, Caring Services, Southern Triad Mission, Piedmont Health Services and Sickle Cell Agency, Sincerely Agape and the Macedonia Family Resource Center. Items that are particularly needed by food banks include canned meats, soups, stews, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, canned fruit, instant oatmeal and grits, canned vegetables, baby SEE DRIVE ON PAGE 4
The most important picture you’ll ever take.
New Digital Mammography THE BREAST CARE CENTER at Thomasville Medical Center 207 Old Lexington Rd, Thomasville
Remarkable People. Remarkable Medicine.