Coming Thursday
THOMASVILLE
Dr. David Lipschitz discusses study on how early habits affect lifelong health. See, Page A3
Times
Johnson takes checkered flag at Fontana. See Sports, Page 7
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
119th Year - No. 6 50 Cents
www.tvilletimes.com
Man arrested, 1 sought in armed robbery BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer
Davidson County Sheriff ’s Office made an arrest of a familiar face in a four-month old armed robbery case, but one suspect is still at-large. According to a DSCO press release, deputies arrested Robert Gray Rhodes, 20, of 518 Jolly Road in Lexington, last week at a game room located at 167 Ernest Snider Road in the Silver Valley
Community for an armed robbery that took place on June 6. Rhodes is facing one count of felony robbery with a dangerous weapon for holding up a store clerk from Larry’s Grocery at 10491 N.C. Highway 109 South in the owner’s driveway as she was delivering the night deposit. The store clerk told detectives that as she and her husband were in the driveway of Larry and Melissa Hughes, a white
male, tall and slim, wearing a black hoodie and black pants robbed at her gunpoint. She Rhodes said she threw the money bag at the suspect, who picked it up and fled the scene on foot. Detectives developed Rhodes and Jason Lee Gordon, 24, of 1912 Hill Road Lot
8 in the Silver Valley community, as suspects and obtained warrants for their arrest. GorGordon don is still at-large and is described as 5’10”, 149 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. “She went to the owner’s house to drop off the receipts and money
for the day and someone was waiting for her in the parking lot,” Sheriff David Grice said. “[The suspect] knew they coming with the money.” This is not Rhodes’ first encounter with law enforcement of late. In July, Rhodes was arrested for his alleged involvement in a series of larcenies in which nearly $60,000 worth of property was stolen. Rhodes was one of three suspects who were arrested for stealing
Public to address council on recent spill
guns, cars, jet skis and ATVs from businesses in the Silver Valley and Denton communities. PPG Industries and Century Contractors were two companies who said the trio broke into buildings and stole property as part of the spree that also included two residences. Grice believes Gordon also may be involved. “We arrested [Rhodes] awhile back for a series of break-ins and we think
See ROBBERY, Page 10
New TPS initiative aimed at good deeds
BY KARISSA MINN
BY ELIOT DUKE
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
This month’s meeting of the Thomasville City Council will address some of the public’s concerns about the sewer overflow into North Hamby Creek this summer. Council heard from several concerned citizens at the September meeting, and some said they would return on Oct. 19 to further discuss the spill during the public forum. Local resident Barney Hill has signed up to address Council on the issue Oct. 19, as well. City Manager Kelly Craver said that his report near the end of the meeting would include comments about the issue. Council plans to consider amendments to the city budget in response to the nearly 16-gallon
One of the main goals Thomasville City Schools preaches is teaching the entire child, both inside the classroom and out. At Thomasville Primary School, students are learning the importance of proper behavior, and a renewed focus on positive reinforcement is being met with smiles and a desire to do the right thing, even when they think nobody is looking. “We find what you monitor is what you get,” TPS Principal Paula Gaylord said. “We can’t assume kids are going to do these things all the time. These are small things, like picking up paper off the floor without being asked or holding a door for someone. The kids love being recognized for good
See SPILL, Page 10
COURTESY PHOTO
COLORFUL WINNERS Winners of the annual Fire Safety Coloring Contest were announced at the Safety Fest at Mighty Dollar on Julian Avenue on Oct. 3. First Place winners were: Mathew McLean 4 and under group; Crystal Horn, 5 to 7-year- old group; Clare Medlin, 8 to 10-year old group; Haley Sink, 11 to 13-year-old group. Second Place winners were: Yoselin Reyes, 4 and under group; Caitlin Walker, 5 to 7-year-old group; Angel Koon, 8 to 10year-old group; Arianna Goodale, 11 to 13-year-old group. Third Place winners were: Madyson Ribelin, 4 and under group; Shaylen McLean, 5 to 7-year-old group; Sydney Varner, 8- to 10-year- old group; and Katelynn Innes, 11 to 13-year-old group.
See DEEDS, Page 10
Candidate video presentations to air on Channel 13 BY KARISSA MINN Staff Writer Starting today, Thomasville residents will be able to hear what the current city council and mayoral candidates have to say without leaving their homes. Video presentations from each candidate will air on the city’s cable Channel 13 three times a day until the Nov. 3 election. Typically, they will be shown at 10 a.m., 4
p.m. and 8 p.m. each day, but that schedule may be interrupted occasionally. The presentations are a joint project between the Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Thomasville. Doug Croft, Chamber president, said that the presentations run for about three to eight minutes each and give candidates a chance to reach a wide audience directly. “It’s really become the way to tell your platform
Community Sponsor
and to put yourself out there,” Croft said. “Not that signs aren’t good, not that ads aren’t good, but it was just kind of a unique, cool twist that has now developed into the best way.” While city council hopefuls participate in a few different candidate forums in the fall, they don’t reach as many people as Channel 13 does, Croft said.
See VIDEO, Page 10
TIMES PHOTO/ELIOT DUKE
FLU PREVENTION
Phil Kanoy prepares to get a flu shot Monday from Public Health Nurse Terri Kidd at Thomasville Primary School. The shots were offered to TCS students and staff.
Today’s Weather
Mostly Sunny 75/54
Full Forecast Page 2
What’s Inside
Weather Health Focus Opinion Obituaries Sports Classifieds
Thomasville, North Carolina • Your Town. Your Times.
2 3 4 5 6 7 10