Inside
Is Scouting fun?
What concerns District 29 the most?
• Wheatmore cross country team claims first victory for school — page 2 These two may have the answer.
• Meet your Bush Hill neighbors — pages 7, 9 and 10
Page 5
Mark Ligon and Terry Newman
Church news......5 Classifieds........13 Fire reports.........8
The results of Sen. Jerry Tillman’s survey are on page 14.
Obituaries..........11 Police report......8 Sheriff’s report...12
Serving the communities of Archdale, Trinity, Sophia, Glenola, Hillsville, Allen Jay and New Market
Archdale-Trinity News USPS [432-990]
Thursday,September 17, 2009
50 Cents
School redistrict meeting offers options T
here was a plan in place to build a middle school to feed into the newly constructed Wheatmore High School. However, an economy in recession has forced the Randolph County Board of Education to present new options, one of which keeps the current configuration. BY DEBBIE HIGHTOWER
Bush Hill highlights community
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heers at the finish line, oohs and ahs, slurps, children screaming in fun — all were the sounds of Bush Hill Heritage events held Friday and Saturday. The sounds were an affirmation for Beverly Nelson, president of the Archdale-Trinity Chamber of Commerce, that Saturday’s Festival and Friday’s Bush Hill Eve were a great success. While specific attendance numbers are unknown, Nelson believes more people came this year. Last year, the estimate was between 20,000 to 25,000. More than 200 vendors lined the streets Saturday and Friday’s heritage meal held at Guil-Rand firefighter Clint Whitten, left, safeguarded Michael Hill as he climbed the ladder to take the above panoramic view of the festival. More photos are on pages 7, 9 and 10.
Archdale Friends Meeting was a sellout. Bush Hill Eve also included children’s games, music, historical displays and the Big Wheel race. “The children’s games, demonstrated by people from High Point Museum, were eye-opening for some of our children, and the heritage meal was delicious,” Nelson said. As for the Festival, “We provided quality programming, with a good variety of entertainment for all ages,” she said. “There was wonderful entertainment for those who had children, as well as opportunities to shop, eat and talk to neighbors.” The Festival highlighted what’s good about the community, from Anna Farlow singing the National Anthem and quilters displaying their talents to local businesses and nonprofits providing information. “It was a good way to reacquaint yourself with what this community has to offer,” Nelson said.
A forum, held Sept. 10 in the Trinity High School theatre, had been on the school board’s agenda since spring, but most parents said they found out about the meeting only three days before through Connect Ed, the school’s telephone messaging system. About half of the 120 people who attended were parents and the other half were employed in the education system. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss options to reorganize kindergarten through eighth grades in the Arch-ddale-Trinity attendance area. Those who spoke at the forum were divided over ways SEE FORUM ON PAGE 4
Carol Ann Robles, Greg Allen and Rebecca Moffitt discuss their ideas on school district lines with Randolph County Schools Superintendent Photo by Debbie Hightower Donald Andrews.
New downtown Trinity would correct ‘freak occurrences’
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rinity’s Center City plan would create a new downtown area in Old Town, which runs along N.C. 62 between Sealy Drive and Trinity Community Park. This would not only protect the city’s rural character, it would correct two ‘freak historical occurrences.’ BY ROBYN HANKINS “Two freak occurrences are all that stopped Trinity from developing like many other small towns,” Craig Lewis, lead planner for The Lawrence Group, told the Trinity residents at an informational meeting Sept. 8. “If Trinity College had stayed five more years or if the train station had been a more permanent stop, this would have happened 100 years ago.”
“This” refers to the Center City plan that could create a traditional downtown area in Old Town, which extends along N.C. 62 between Sealy Drive and Trinity Community Park. According to the Lawrence Group, a firm of architects and town planners contracted to design Trinity’s future downtown, the plan will affect only that area of the city. Included in the Center City area is the city’s 27-acre property. While the land will eventually be home to more city government buildings, a public park will include bike and walking paths, a veterans’ memorial, preservation of the bathing rock used by Trinity College students and an ampitheatre. On Sept. 8, Lewis presented an overview and answered questions about the Center City plan. Approximately 30 people attended, but few voiced comments or
asked questions. However, some residents grumbled softly about wanting Trinity to remain a rural community, while others smiled or nodded to show support. Lewis assured the audience that the plan would not be overwhelming to the city. Properties outside of the Old Town area will not be affected at all. “How does this (new downtown plan) help taxpayers?” resident Steve Lawing asked. “Because development keeps the residential tax burden low, while allowing property values to increase,” Lewis responded. It’s all about managing growth, Lewis told the audience. More growth means more businesses, which translates into more sales tax revenue for the city. That allows residential property taxes to remain low, or even decrease. “The plan is part of a long-term invest-
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hades of blue and white will clash Friday night when the Blue Comets of Asheboro visit the Trinity Bulldogs. Previous meetings between these two rivals have proven Trinity to be the underdog as Asheboro has chalked up wins for the past three seasons.
he Warriors will take on the Golden Eagles at East Davidson this Friday.
BY LISA RUSSELL MOTLEY
STAFF REPORTS
SEE WARRIORS ON PAGE 3
SEE CENTER CITY ON PAGE 4
’Dogs 3-1, ready for the Blue Comets
Warriors to play Eagles T
The Golden Eagles squeaked by with a 16-14 win last weekend, while Wheatmore High School still struggles with a 0-4 season. Even with last week’s loss to East Montgomery,
ment (growth) strategy for one area of the community,” Lewis explained. “The changes proposed by the plan will define how part of the city will grow over the next 25 to 50 years. “Sheetz went to Finch Farm Road for three reasons — money, houses and traffic. Growth follows sewer, and it’s already happening all around you. This plan is about managing that growth.” The area along N.C. 62 from Sealy Drive to Hopewell Church Road will have sewer in the ground by 2011, he continued. This will make the area more attractive to businesses while preventing haphazard growth. City Manager Ann Bailie agreed. “Once the sewer system is in the ground, growth will follow — there are no ifs, ands or buts about it,” Bailie told the NEWS.
No. 12 Rhyne Kivett holds the ball for No. 22 Ron Griffin as he kicks for the extra point. Photo by Lisa Motley
But the tides have turned, because there’s a new ’Dog in town! The Comets, who are down 1-3 for the 2009 season, will face a much more unified, confident pack of ’Dogs. Trinity, after their victory over Surry Central last week, now stands 3-1. Under rainy conditions and dark ominous skies, Trinity came on strong with the opening drive last Friday night as the ’Dogs rumbled past the Golden Eagles of Surry Central High School. Quarterback Rhyne Kivett rushed 74 yards SEE BULLDOGS ON PAGE 3