East Davidson softball drops CCC game to Central Davidson.
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THOMASVILLE
DCCC to host ‘Thelma Lou’ from the Andy Griffith Show. See Story, Page 3
Times
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Thursday, April 29, 2010
119th Year - No. 89 50 Cents
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Wanted S.C. man captured in Lexington BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer A South Carolina man allegedly on the run after murdering his wife engaged in a four-hour standoff on Interstate 85 with several law enforcement agencies, including Davidson County Sheriff ’s Office, early Tuesday morning before finally surrendering. Arthur Deval Mims, 45, of 823 Terrace Creek Drive in Duncan, S.C., was wanted by South Carolina police after
authorities responded to a shooting call at his home shortly after 3:15 a.m. and found his wife’s dead body and the house on fire, according to the Spartanburg County Sheriff ’s Office. Officers also found Mills’ stepdaughter, Amber Smith, suffering from gunshot wounds to her ear. Dawn Mims, 36, suffered.a fatal gunshot wound to the head, but Smith is expected to recover. Mims fled the area in his white Ford F-150, but police eventually spotted him in Cherokee County near the North
Carolina state line. The chase ensued through the Charlotte area, where officers attempted to disable Mims’ truck by using stop-sticks in an effort to blow out the tires. The sticks did flatten the tires, but Mims, who allegedly fired shots at police during the chase, kept driving north on Interstate 85 through Rowan County before finally stopping in the middle of the northbound lane between milemarkers 89 and 91 near Lexington around 5 a.m. “[Mims] had three of his four tires
knocked out but he kept coming,” Davidson County Sheriff David Grice said. “He was on the rims until he got to our county. We had to shut the interstate down because it was alleged he had a gun in the car. He entered Davidson County at around 4:53 a.m. and refused to come out.” Police halted traffic on I-85 traveling in both directions as the suspect refused to exit his vehicle. Grice said
Calling to serve leads Price’s run for sheriff
See CAPTURED, Page 6
Board looks to sell old post office in Lexington
BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer
BY ERIN WILTGEN
Terry Price never really thought about being in law enforcement, the job just sort of found him. Five y e a r s ago, Price had no intentions of running for sheriff of Davidson County Price but that calling to serve found him again. With less than a week before the May 4 Republican primary, Price is hoping his experience and willingness to give Davidson County residents the change they’ve been looking for will lead him into the next phase of his life as sheriff. “We’ve taken our campaign to the people because the people brought it to me,” Price said of his run for sheriff. “I’m doing this for the needs
See PRICE, Page 14
Staff Writer
TIMES PHOTO/ELIOT DUKE
EXTREME ARTWORK Pittsburgh’s Jeff Pinney touches up one of his pieces that will be on display during this weekend’s chainsaw sculpting competition in downtown. A dozen carvers from across the country will be showing off their wood sculpting talents and an auction will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. for selected pieces. Main Street also will be host to Spring Daze Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Davidson County Board of Commissioners approved a partnership with Preservation North Carolina to move forward with an option to purchase the old post office building on South Main Street in Lexington. The building was last used by Arts United of Davidson County in May 2009 and was recommended for sale by Mike Stout, director of the northwest regional office of Preservation North Carolina, at an informational meeting on April 1. Stout told the board then that while the Colonial Drive and Cecil School sites also were marketable, the old post office offered the best opportunity in the current economic climate. The building’s vacancy also means that the county wouldn’t have to relocate any employees. “We’ve discussed this
See SELL, Page 4
East Coast Wings & Grill opens restaurant in Thomasville BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer Fans of East Coast Wings & Grill can finally stay in Thomasville. On Wednesday, East Coast Wings & Grill opened its door at 920 Randolph St. and will bring the same atmosphere and food customers have grown to expect from the expanding franchise. “A lot of people have visited East Coast Wings, now they don’t have to drive to it,” Sam Ballas, CEO of the franchise, said. “It’s here, and it’s
home.” Co-owners D.T. and Denise Tolani wanted to open an East Coast Wings in Thomasville for several years, but had to wait their turn. In February, the couple began renovating the building and transforming it to go along with the East Coast Wings theme. “I already knew about East Coast Wings and had heard good things about it,” said D.T. Tolani. “We wanted to open two or three years ago, but technicalities prevented an immediate move. It had a good name. I was look-
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ing for a franchise with a good name and good people to work with, and something that was growing. From there it just kind of took off.” In addition to the food, East Coast Wings & Grill also put 45 people to work in a community that can use new employment opportunities. Tolani said all the new employees were looking for work at the time of their hire. Ballas said East Coast Wings currently employs more than 600 people at its 13 locations across the
See WINGS, Page 6
TIMES PHOTO/ELIOT DUKE
East Coast Wings & Grill launched its new location on Randolph Street Wednesday. The restaurant will be open seven days a week.
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