DCCC recruits nine new netters to 2010 volleyball team.
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THOMASVILLE
Guest Columnist Larry Murdock revisits the good ole days. See Page A5
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Saturday, July 31, 2010
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Fire causes power outage at DCCC BY ERIN WILTGEN Staff Writer
LEXINGTON — North Lexington Triangle Fire Department responded to Davidson County Community College at 10:56 a.m. on Friday after an electrical fire sparked, leaving parts of the campus in the dark. The fire broke out spontaneously from a panel in the subbasement of the Reich Building, where some outside contract maintenance and county maintenance workers were checking
‘The fire burned as an electrical fire, sparking, bright light, flashes, that kind of thing.’ — Chief Ed Hege Triangle Fire Department some breaker boxes. The workers had opened up the boxes to look at the panels. “They really had not started any work,” said Chief Ed Hege of Triangle Fire Department. “They were really just trying to observe the work and look at the wires. As they started covering
and closing the panels, a flash fire broke out. The fire burned as an electrical fire, sparking, bright light, flashes, that kind of thing.” A large, 1,200-amp switchgear breaker panel – measuring 8 feet tall, 2.5 feet wide and about 2 feet deep – began sparking.
“It’s huge, and it’s just full of huge conductors and big wires,” Hege said. “It made a great fire while a man was just standing there almost touching it with a screwdriver.” Though the worker suffered slight burns, he was otherwise unhurt, Hege says. “He was visibly shaken because of what had happened because he was right there when it happened,” he said. The workers exited the room and grabbed a few fire extin-
See FIRE, Page A6
‘More at Four’ prepares children for classroom BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer
Going to school for the first time is a life-changing event for toddlers. Being away from home and their parents for most of the day is an adjustment period for any five-yearold starting kindergarten. Smart Start of Davidson County is trying to make the transition from living room to the classroom easier with a free year-long pre-K program designed to get little ones accustomed to life as a student. “More at Four” is still accepting applications for the upcoming school year as several spots are available in both Thomasville and Lexington. The program is free to
See CHILDREN, Page A6
Initiative aims to curb traffic accidents BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer
Responding to an accident where someone lost their life is one of the hardest things police officers do. Calling family members to inform them a loved one died in a car crash is part of the job those involved in law enforcement would rather do without. In an effort to curtail the number of crashes, injuries and fatalities on Davidson County roads, five local police agencies are partnering in hopes of creating awareness about the negative impact distracted or impaired driving has on the public’s safety. Thomasville Police Department is joining together with Davidson County Sheriff ’s Office, Lexington Police Department, Denton Police Department and the State Highway Patrol in a program called Accident Safety Awareness Pro-
‘The worst thing you can do is tell a parent their child was killed in an accident.’ — Lt. Donnie Rowe TIMES PHOTO/ELIOT DUKE
Thomasville Police Department
HAPPY HOUR Five-year-old McKenzie Dinkins, of Thomasville, makes some dirt drinks at the ball field at Doak Park Friday afternoon, while enjoying park amenities with her father and brother.
“It was life-changing, and it was absolutely devastating,” Miller said. “When I got sick, it was a gradual illness — day after day — and it kept tearing my body down more and more to the point where my husband had to help me dress.” The typically energy-filled woman found herself forced to stay home from work for nine-and-a-half weeks, walking with a cane and reduced to staring out the living room window. As soon as she started feeling better, she waited two weeks but no longer before jumping back into her career. “My boss told me I needed to rest but I said I didn’t have time to rest,” she said, laughing. And when Miller returned, she returned with a vengeance, working with enough enthusiasm to earn her the Seniors Health Insurance Infor-
gram (ASAP) to educate drivers about the dangers of distracted driving, especially amongst teenagers who are taking to the roads for the first time. “Our vision with the city is to not only enforce the law but improve the quality of life in Thomasville,” TPD Lt. Donnie Rowe said. “Texting is new, but stuff like loud music has always been around, especially with the young kids. Speed is a factor and we had several fatalities involving teenage high school kids last year. We don’t want to see that this year, and if we can prevent it and learn from the accidents, we can hopefully stop anymore. “We’re trying to get the education out there and we’re trying new things. The worst thing you can do is tell a parent their child was killed in an accident.” Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation
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See CURB, Page A6
Woman excels at job, despite disease BY ERIN WILTGEN Staff Writer
COURTESY PHOTO
Angela Miller receives the SHIIP Coordinator of the Year at the annual conference in Greensboro on July 21-22.
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It only took 24 hours for Angela Miller’s life to fall apart. The volunteer services coordinator at Davidson County Senior Services, Miller spent an entire Saturday in May 2010 running two events — one in Thomasville and one in Lexington. As she drove between the two parties, she developed a bad stress knot in her shoulder. Thinking nothing of it, Miller brushed off her husband’s concerns and suggestions to visit the hospital. “When I woke up the next day, my whole left side was numb,” she said. “Of course, I thought I was having a stroke.” One hospital visit later revealed that Miller, in fact, had multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord.
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