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Tuesday, January 5, 2010
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PPG Industries recalls laid off workers BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer
When it comes to employment in Davidson County, any news is good news as long as it doesn’t involve more job loss. PPG Industries in Lexington is ringing in the new year with some definite good news, as the fiber glass maker announced it was recalling more than 100 workers who were laid off last
June. “It’s awesome,” Todd Douthit, PPG Industries plant manager, said. “With the economy what it is now, both locally and nationally, the fact that we’re able to bring these people back to work is a great thing for this community.” Starting next Monday, 180 PPG and contract employees will return to work full-time at the plant’s second furnace,
‘This is employment right here in Davidson County. This shows that our business is picking up.’ — Todd Douthit PPG plant manager which ceased operations during the summer, resulting in 110 people being laid off. The plant, located at 473 New Jersey Church Road in Linwood, shut down one of its two furnaces used to make fi-
berglass yarn. “Everybody is tickled to death,” said Douthit. “This is employment right here in Davidson County. This shows that our business is picking up.”
Douthit cited a few reasons for the recall. A couple of PPG Industries’ clients, including BGF Industries in Greensboro, has seen an increase in demand of late, resulting in more work trickling into Lexington. BGF Industries uses fiberglass yarn from PPG for its filtration fabric that is in turn used in coal-fired power plants. The second furnace, in addition to its fiberglass yarn, also will
Residents look to get in shape for new year
begin supplying the wind energy market for PPG Industries. Douthit said his plant also will be exporting fiberglass yarn to Europe. While most of the recalled employees will start Jan. 11 some have already been recalled and have been on the job for the past several weeks. Aside from a few employees who have found other
See PPG, Page 6
Board approves 2010-11 calendar
BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer
A new year often inspires people to try and make changes in their lives. New Year’s resolutions can be something as simple as being a better person or something more challenging like quitting smoking. One challenge is often at the top of many lists and that is getting back in shape. From eating right to exercise, thousands of people start off the new year with a desire to become more physically active and live a healthier life style. For local gyms across the country, that means an influx in memberships. “We’ve seen a considerable increase in people looking for a place to
See SHAPE, Page 12
BY KARISSA MINN Staff Writer
Drayton, 29, are both very excited about the birth of their first child, who is indeed healthy and doing well. “He’s already been smiling and grabbing stuff,” Winston said. Ramon was a punctual baby, arriving right on his due date. “The doctor told me, but I didn’t even think it was going to happen, because for most people, it doesn’t happen like that,” Winston said. “I was like, ‘First of January? Wow,’ but I really thought he was going to be late. He was exactly on time.” He did take his time arriving, though. Winston went into labor at 5 a.m. on New Year’s Day, but Ramon wasn’t born until 5:51 p.m. — 12 hours later. Wilder said that a second new mother also was in labor at the hospital on Friday. Physicians called back and
LEXINGTON – The Davidson County Board of Education approved the 2010-11 school calendar at its Monday meeting, one month ahead of schedule. One major change in the calendar from previous years is that spring break has been moved from the week after Easter Sunday to the week before it, April 18-22, as well as Easter Monday, April 25. “Those folks that are planning their vacations and they glance at this, they need to pay attention, because it may not be same week they have in mind,” said Superintendent Fred Mock. Randy Holmes, principal of E. Lawson Brown Middle School and chairperson of the calendar committee, said that the change was made after receiving feedback from parents and teachers. Holmes cautioned that the long spring break may encourage families to make travel plans, but April 18 is a snow make-up day. “If folks plan on that week off and bad weather occurs, they’re going to miss school days when they have to make time up,” Holmes said. In other news, the board was presented with a revision to its student accountability policy by Sandi Lee, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. Currently, Davidson County Schools holds a summer academy for all students in third through eighth grades who score below Achievement Level III on a non-alternative Assessment Retest 1 in
See BABY, Page 6
See BOARD, Page 12
COURTESY PHOTO
MEETING THE CHALLENGE Pastor David Albertson, Doris Fishel and Sybil Beck of Central Wesleyan Church deliver 800 food items to the Parks & Recreation Department in support of the Times/Parks & Rec. Community Food Challenge. Collections for the Food Challenge will be accepted until Friday at the Parks and Recreation Department.
First baby of 2010 has timely arrival BY KARISSA MINN Staff Writer Davidson County’s first baby of 2010 was born to a Thomasville couple on Friday at Thomasville Medical Center. Ramon Timothy Drayton is the son of Aya Winston and Ramon Drayton, his namesake. He weighs 7 pounds and 1 ounce and is 20 inches long, and he was delivered by Dr. Richard Kirsch of Thomasville Ob-Gyn. “We’re honored that they chose to have their baby at Thomasville Medical Center, and to allow us to be part of that process and the new birth,” said Jane Wilder, director of community relations at the hospital. “I hope that he’ll be healthy, and the mom will be COURTESY PHOTO healthy, and that it will be the start of Aya Winston holds her new baby Ramon Timothy Dray- an awesome time for all of them.” Winston, 21, said she has lived in ton, who was the first baby born in the county in 2010. Thomasville her whole life. She and
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