TODAY’S SPORTS Ledford meets formidable foe in Central Davidson. See Story, Page B1
BUSINESS Columnist Tammy Holyfield gives a ‘No Fear’ approach to public speaking. See Story, Page B8
THOMASVILLE
Times
Saturday, October 2, 2010
120th Year - No. 1 50 Cents
www.tvilletimes.com
Water, sewer rates top Town Hall discussion
Survey seeks residents’ vision for Thomasville
BY LISA WALL Editor
BY ERIN WILTGEN
Thursday’s town hall meeting may not have revolved around politics, but the temperament of Thomasville citizens resonated a similar air to those recently set on the national stage. The increase in water and sewer rates highlighted the discussion at the meeting at Central Recreation Center, as the nearly 100 citizens in attendance addressed city council and officials stating their displeasure with the recent rate increases and the impact it has had on residents struggling in a difficult economy. Resident Lorraine Miller set the stage at the public forum by saying
WANT TO READ MORE? Find more from the Town Hall meeting in Tuesday’s Times.
she felt the reason for the water increase was to pay for the nearly 16-million gallon sewage spill that occurred in the summer of 2009. “I feel that the increase is due to the spill. We didn’t cause the spill, so why are we having to pay for it?� City Manager Kelly Craver responded to the first question of the evening by giving an overview of how those rates are established. “Water and sewer rates were determined by a rate study that was done
See WATER, Page A6
INDEX Weather Focus Opinion Obituaries Religion Sports Business Today’s Weather
Sunny, 72/48
A2 A3 A4 A5 A8 B1 B8
Staff Writer
dren and being a wife and a mom has changed. I just focus on one day at a time. I don’t know who I am or what my purpose is right now.� No longer are the Thorntons a fragmented family, split apart by a deadly disease. They are finally under one roof in a beautiful new home where pictures of Kate sprinkle virtually every wall. Kate’s room hasn’t changed. Stuffed animals remain on her bed under a pink and purple canopy, surrounded by walls filled with hand-painted pictures of mermaids, castles and unicorns — images of a fairy tale world for a young princess taken too soon.
Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce has begun the active phase of its Community Vision and Strategic Plan, opening a Chair City survey to start the stream of citizen input. Though the Chamber has worked for months on the plan, forming a steering community and laying the groundwork, the Thomasville Community Survey — which can be accessed on the Chamber Web site — is the first step in the Community Vision and Strategic Plan, a component of last year’s capital campaign. “We are leading a community-wide visioning and community planning process,� said Chamber President Doug Croft. “This process will help us create a community vision for the future and some strategic plans, some specific steps directed toward that community vision.� The online survey takes only a few minutes and is composed of about ten questions, some being basic demographic information such as age, gender and place of residence. Croft says the survey is open to anyone, whether they live in Thomasville or not. “We are inviting anybody and everybody to participate,� he said. “If you live in this area, you work in this area, we invite your input. That’s our effort to make sure
See PIECES, Page A6
See VISION, Page A3
TIMES PHOTO/ELIOT DUKE
Joe and Susan Thornton hold a picture of their daughter Kate, while sitting in the bedroom where she spent her last night before succumbing to leukemia on Sept. 3, 2010.
Picking up the Pieces BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer
S
usan Thornton still wakes up some mornings thinking she has to go back to the hospital. Some days, she finds herself looking at the clock, waiting to give her daughter Kate her daily medications, before realizing there’s nothing more to be done. Susan and the rest of the Thornton family’s lives changed two years ago when Kate, then 3, was diagnosed with leukemia. Any sense of the word normal ceased to exist as the family tried to put life on hold while Kate battled for hers. In the weeks following Kate’s death on Sept. 3,
Moving on proves hard to do for Thornton family
KISSES4KATE Kisses4Kate.com turns efforts to help local child battling leukemia. See story in Tuesday’s Times. the Thorntons are still picking up the pieces and trying to make sense of a whirlwind series of events that saw a community open its arms for a little girl that touched the lives of so many. “I’m still in a fog, just kind of walking around,� Susan said. “For two years, I’ve been focusing on Kate, taking care of her needs and doing what I needed to do for her. My whole dynamic of taking care of my other chil-
Barbecue Festival to celebrate local avor BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer WELCOME — For the past quarter century, October’s arrival has meant one thing in Davidson County — the Barbecue Festival is near. Richard Childress Racing welcomed organizers and promoters of the 27th annual Barbecue Festival in Lexington on Thursday with a luncheon to kick-off this year’s event that will take place on Oct. 23. There was plenty of barbecue for everyone as those in attendance got a sneak peak of what attractions will be available for the estimated crowd of more than 100,000 people. “We’re all a part of making this festival successful,â€? Stephanie K. Saintsing, executive director of the festival, said. “Together
we make one awesome team. The festival showcases our barbecue heritage and spotlights our city. I’m honored to be a part of the effort.� The annual barbecue festival has grown into one of the largest outdoor events in the southeast, and this year is shaping up to be no different. Historic Uptown Lexington will play host to an afternoon extravaganza, filled with live music, sidewalk vendors and activities for all ages. But most of all, there will barbecue and plenty of it. During an average festival, visitors go through 15,000 pounds of chopped barbecue, 3,000 dozen sandwich rolls, 5,000 hot dogs, 560 gallons of barbecue slaw, 50 gallons of chili and 6,000 pounds of french fries. Admission to the
See FLAVOR, Page A3
TIMES PHOTO/ELIOT DUKE
From left, Childress Vineyards wine maker Mark Friszolowski, artist Bob Timberlake and NASCAR legend Richard Childress display this year’s edition of Fine Swine Wine.
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