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Thursday, January 28, 2010
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Heavy rains wreak havoc on sewer lines BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer
The City of Thomasville reported six wastewater spills as a result of Mondays’ heavy rains. An estimated 168,620 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled into the Yadkin/Pee Dee River Basin from six separate locations in the city with the most occurring at the East Davidson Pump Station on Lake Road. Some 82,000 gallons of wastewater spilled into South Hamby Creek from that location. City Manager Kelly Craver said
Thomasville was one of several municipalities that suffered similar spills from the heavy rains on Monday. “There was a lot of localized flooding in the region,” Craver said. “The rain was very concentrated over a short period of time. I’ve seen estimates that Thomasville got as much as 3.5 inches of rain. That much water causes hydraulic failure.” Other spills included 31,000 gallons from a manhole on King Row into a tributary of Jimmy’s Creek, 27,000 gallons from a Concord Street manhole into a tribu-
tary of North Hamby Creek, 18,000 gallons from a manhole on High Meadow Road into Jimmy’s Creek, 6,720 gallons from a manhole on Burke Trail Avenue into Flanks Branch and 3,900 gallons from a manhole at the intersection of Tremont and Franklin streets into a Hanks Branch tributary. “This was highly unusual for us,” said Craver. “We had spills in every quadrant of the city. Sewer lines are often located close to creeks and water sometimes rises higher than manhole covers. This was pervasive.”
Board tables Wilcox bridge ownership assumption BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer
Davidson County Commissioners continue weighing their options when it comes to assuming ownership of the WilCox bridge that crosses the Yadkin River. At Tuesday’s monthly board meeting, commissioners and a representative with the Department of Transportation dove deeper into discussions regarding Davidson County accepting ownership of the bridge as part of a way to bring stimulus dollars to the area. Commissioners asked DOT engineer Pat Ivey several questions regarding the county’s financial responsibilities when it comes to maintaining the bridge over the next few years and beyond. “We don’t want to buy a pig in a poke,” Chairman Dr. Max Walser said. “We’re trying to make the best decision possible.” Ivey reiterated that Da-
See BRIDGE, Page 4
TIMES PHOTO/FRANK RAUCCIO
BRAVING THE STORM A Tar Heel defender reaches around to try and tie up Davidson County Community College’s Justin Glover in the first half of Wednesday’s tilt at Brinkley Gym. See Story, Page 7.
Public library to offer tax assistance
federal forms, but state forms are five cents per page. “You can contact the state and get free tax forms, but since we were not able to get those this year, we did have those BY KARISSA MINN printed up to help people Staff Writer out so they could get them here,” Hudson said. “If As the 2010 tax season there are any other forms begins, two county pro- they can’t get, we will asgrams are gearing up sist them here to print to help older adults and them off the internet.” those low on cash to naviFree tax advice and tax gate their tax forms. form preparation is also The Davidson County available for senior citiPublic Library System zens through the Davidwill offer free tax advice son County Department and tax form preparation of Senior Services’ Sefor low to moderate in- nior Dynamics program, come citizens beginning in partnership with DaFeb. 8. vidson County Tax Coali“This is something we tion. do at all five libraries in The Thomasville Seour system,” said Sarah nior Center, Hudson, as211 W. Colosistant direcnial Drive, ‘It’s something tor of librarwill provide ies. “It’s just assistance we do to help something to from 9 a.m. out low and help out low to 1 p.m. and moderMondays moderate inate income and Fridays come families families and beginning individuals.” and individuals.’ Feb. 1 and at The Thomthe Lexingasville Pubton Senior lic Library — Sarah Hudson Center, 106 will offer asThomasville Alma Owens sistance on Public Library Drive, from 9 Mondays and a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays Wednesdays from 2 to 5 and Fridays beginning p.m., and four Saturdays Feb. 3. Appointments are – Feb. 13, Feb. 20, March required. To schedule an 20 and April 10 – from 10 appointment, call 474a.m. to 2 p.m. To make 2754 for Thomasville or appointments at other 242-2290 for Lexington. times, call 474-2690. Thessia Everhart-RobLocal citizens are wel- erts, senior services dicome to use the library’s rector, said that 690 tax computers to fill out tax returns were filed last forms electronically on year through the county’s their own, Hudson said. The library provides free See TAX, Page 4
Help available to seniors and low income residents
City prepares for winter weather BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer
A long month for Thomasville Public Works got stretched a little further as the National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for Davidson County, adding more hours to a staff that hasn’t had much time off of late. Two weeks after subfreezing temperatures caused more than a doz-
en water main breaks within the city, Public Works is preparing for a winter weather event that could bring several inches of snow and sleet to the area. “We’re going ahead and putting plows and chains on the trucks,” Morgan Huffman, Thomasville public services director, said. “Starting [today] we’re going to start putting brine solution out. We’ll be ready for Friday
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and Saturday if we have to put any sand out or we have to do any plowing. ” According to the NWC, cold air is expected to surge into North Carolina on Friday where it will meet a storm system from the Gulf of Mexico. It appears the cold air will support precipitation in designated storm watch areas. The heaviest precipitation is expected between midnight Friday and Saturday afternoon.
There is the potential for significant snow and ice accumulation, but chances are precipitation will be mainly be in the form of freezing rain and sleet. Huffman said he has heard Thomasville could get several inches of snow, but being the city is on the border between frozen and wet precipitation, only time will tell. Huffman said brine solution is fairly effective
Salt brine sprayer trucks will hit the streets today in prepSee WEATHER, Page 4 aration for predicted winter weather.
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