Jonathan Leonard named head coach of Ledford boys’ basketball team. See SPORTS, Page B1 Saturday, July 24, 2010
INSIDE TODAY
THOMASVILLE
Advice Columnist Mary Hunt discusses how to keep children from accumulating debt.
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State sales tax increase looms as deficit climbs
Fairgrove kicks off ‘Fill the Bus’ campaign
BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer
BY ERIN WILTGEN
With this year’s budget in place for the time being, state legislators and local school systems are focusing their attention on the 2011-12 calendar and what appears to be a nowin situaHolliman tion if the economy doesn’t pick up fast. Early forecasts predict a very dismal financial situation for North Carolina next year, where the state budget is expected to face a $3 billion deficit. This year’s budget already was billions of dollars less than in the past, and if the state’s economy can’t recover from the current recession, 2011-12 could be worse. “The budget this year was a tough budget,” House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman (D-Davidson County) said. “We don’t have the funds to deal with that we used to have. The budget this year was $18 billion when it used to be around $21 billion. A lot of people say next year we’ll have a $3 billion deficit and it may be, we’ll just have to wait and see.” With the unemployment rate either at or above 10 percent in nearly half of North Carolina’s 100 counties, the state has yet to show any clear signs of economic recovery. There are still close to 500,000 people without work, resulting in fewer
See TAX, Page A6
Staff Writer
COURTESY PHOTO
Endurance cyclist Chris Boone shares information with children from First Baptist Church in Charlotte about his upcoming statewide bicycle ride to benefit boys and girls living at Baptist Children’s Homes.
Along for the Ride Statewide trek to raise funds for BCH BY ERIN WILTGEN Staff Writer
W
ith the drastic effects a slow economy has on non-profit and charity organizations, philanthropic souls all across the country find themselves digging deep into already sparse pockets trying to scrape together some extra coin to donate. But Bakersville, N.C., resident Chris Boone took it a step further. Boone will bike the 564 miles across the state of North Carolina on Sept. 8 and 9, seeking not only to break the record of 40 hours but also to raise money
‘This ride is a testament of will, desire and the incredible lengths one is willing to undertake to make a difference in the lives of children.’ — Dr. Michael Blackwell BCH President and awareness for Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina (BCH). “Chris has been blessed with an incredible talent to ride a bike, and he wants to put that talent to good use,” said Blake Ragsdale, director of communications for BCH Mills Home Campus in Thomasville. “It’s inspiring to see what Chris wants
to do to help the boys and girls that not only live at the Baptist Children’s Home Mills Campus but the children at the 18 communities across North Carolina.” Promoted as RideNC2010, Boone’s trip is organized as part of BCH’s 125th anniversary celebration. He plans to leave the post office in the mountains of Murphy, N.C., at 3 a.m. on Sept. 8 and bike non-stop to Manteo at the Outer Banks, arriving at 3 p.m. on Sept. 9. “Chris’ efforts are an inspiration to every child and every staff member at Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina,” said BCH president Michael C. Blackwell in a press release. “This ride is a testament of will, desire and the incredible lengths one is willing to undertake to make a difference in the lives of children.”
Summer speeds by, and parents have already begun thinking about those back-to-school sales. Fairgrove Family Resource Center will once again offer its Fill The Bus program to help struggling parents make ends meet and get all of the school knick knacks their children need for the coming year. Decorated collection boxes will be placed in participating locations starting Wednesday and will remain there until Aug. 18. “We collect school supplies for the kids that need them to help them start school,” said Terri Nelson, the center’s executive director. “After we get the school supplies, we distribute them to all the area
See BUS, Page A6
Fill The Bus Locations • Cedar Lodge Market • Fair Grove UMC • Piedmont Crossing • Chair City Office Supply • Mt. Zion Wesleyan Church • Pinewoods UMC • Fidelity Bank • City Hall • Memorial UMC • Dr. Hurley • Emmanuel Reformed Church
See RIDE, Page A3
SPACE engages students in technology BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer
TIMES PHOTO/ELIOT DUKE
Thomasville High School English teacher Steven Clodfelter Thursday helps Shakeem Patterson with his SPACE project.
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A group of young Thomasville High School students are getting a sneak peak into the wide world of technology. For the next two years, a collection of rising ninth graders at THS will be participating in a program called SPACE — students preparing for academic careers in education — as part of the North Carolina Math, Science and Education Network. The program is partially funded by NASA and is aimed at helping students
‘This is really just the tip of the iceberg as to what will be available to the students.’ — Steven Clodfelter THS English Teacher from lower income schools prepare for college and careers in engineering. “Our kids are so tech savvy, and this gives them a slight peak into what happens behind the scene
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when you click ‘open’ on an Internet browser,” Steven Clodfelter, a THS English teacher involved in the program, said. “Somebody took the time to make sure everything executes the way it’s supposed to, and that’s fascinating to think about. They are committed and know this is a chance for them to really excel doing high level math and physics, and allowing their creative mind to meet a mechanical application.” Students commit to the program for two years, and
See SPACE, Page A6
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