SPORTS Thomasville’s Natalie Bravi heads to state tennis championships in Cary. See Page B1
Thursday, October 28, 2010
MUSICALLY SPEAKING Josef Walker offers insight into preparing for a recital. See Page A4
THOMASVILLE
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Former Ledford teacher faces more charges BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer
Additional charges have been filed against a former Ledford High School teacher who is accused of having sexual relationships with his students. Scott Edwin Ring, 42, of 936 South Ridge Court in Winston-Salem, is facing three more charges
of felony sex offense with a student after another former student came forward and alleged that the two engaged in sexual acts over a two-year period dating back to 2006. “We had a new victim come forward and [Ring] was indicted on a new charge,” Davidson County District Attorney Garry Frank said. “A true bill [of indictment] was sent
‘We had a new victim come forward and [Ring] was indicted on a new charge.’ — Garry Frank Davidson County District Attorney to the grand jury and returned [Tuesday].” A Davidson County grand jury returned two true bills of indictment filed on Sept. 27, 2010,
against Ring, alleging he “unlawfully, willfully and feloniously did engage in a sexual act” with a male student starting on Nov. 1, 2006. According to the
true bills of indictment obtained from the Davidson Clerk of Courts Office, Ring allegedly engaged in a sexual act with the male student between Nov. 1 and Nov. 30, 2006, and also between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, 2007, while the defendant was a teacher at Ledford High School and the victim was a student “at this same school.”
Ring originally was arrested by the State Bureau of Investigation on Feb. 12 and charged with felony taking indecent liberties with a child and felony sex offense with a student. According to an arrest warrant, these offenses allegedly occurred between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30, 2008 with “a known
See CHARGES, Page A3
Lease brings medical helicopter to county
Man enters plea deal in insurance fraud case
BY ERIN WILTGEN
BY ELIOT DUKE
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
LEXINGTON — Davidson County residents can now rest a little easier. The Board of Commissioners approved a lease agreement that will fly a Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Air helicopter out of Davidson County Airport. Air Methods Corp., based in Colorado, signed with the county for a fiveyear lease — which begins Nov. 1 and runs until Oct. 31, 2015 — to use the hangar for around-theclock crew offices and the storage of a contracted $4.5 million Wake Forest chopper. In addition to faster response time for medical emergency services, the county will receive $2,175 in monthly rent from Air Methods as well as property tax dollars on the helicopter and gas sales.
A Thomasville business man accused of collecting insurance premiums from employees and then not providing any health coverage reached a plea deal on Monday that will keep him out of jail — at a steep price. Darrell Haire, owner of A.M. Haire Truck Bodies Inc. on Pineywood Road, plead guilty to four counts of misdemeanor common law uttering and received a 180-day suspended sentence for his role in collecting more than $200,000 worth of insurance premiums from dozens of employees and failing to provide the insurance. The Department of Insurance initiated the investigation. As part of his plea deal, Haire also will have to pay $213,639.45 in restitution and he will be on
See LEASE, Page A6
TIMES PHOTO/ELIOT DUKE
HARVESTING FUN Thomasville Police Lt. Raymond Widener fills ‘Care Bear’ Jimena Centeno’s trick-or-treat bag with items Thursday during Communities In Schools annual Harvest Festival held at Central Recreation Center. The festival, which was originally organized by the late Conrad Kinton, gives parents and their children a safe alternative to trick-or-treating on Halloween night.
Police offer Halloween safety tips BY ERIN WILTGEN Staff Writer
TIMES PHOTO/LARRY MATHIS
KING AND QUEEN Kelsey Long and Malcolm Wimmer were named Homecoming Queen and King Friday night at East Davidson’s football game.
Ghouls, goblins and witches will soon flood the streets, flanked by Harry Potters and a variety of fairy princesses. With these little munchkins running amuck, treat bags clutched tightly, local law enforcement seeks to prevent the trick and ensure the treat. “Halloween should be filled with surprise and enjoyment, and following some common sense practices can keep events safer and more fun,” said Davidson County Sheriff David Grice. The City of Thomasville will celebrate Halloween on the actual holiday, letting Trick-or-Treaters roam on Sunday, Oct. 31. Exact times will be left up to the neighborhoods. Thomasville Police officers will be out and about to make sure all goes smoothly and keep high visibility. “Our role will be to aggressively be out and patrolling the residential ar-
eas to be seen by the children and parents alike,” said Major James Mills, TPD. “We’re hoping that all of the Trick-or-Treating will be over around 9 p.m. or so. Partying is a big thing, we expect some Halloween parties, but we’re prepared for that, too.” Overall, Mills says the department doesn’t anticipate any major trouble. “You have malicious mischief that occurs any time that you have Halloween,” he said. “You have people who get out and they celebrate in ways that are not considered the norm. But I don’t think we’re expecting any big problems.” There are minor risks, of course. Mills stresses the need for drivers to watch for children — especially young children — running out from between parked cars or meandering in the middle of the road. When entering or exiting a driveway or alley, drivers
See PLEA, Page A3
INDEX Weather Focus Opinion Obituaries Sports Comics Business Today’s Weather
Isolated t-storms, 75/39
See SAFETY, Page A3
I AM A BUSY MOM, STYLIST, PET LOVER, SPORTS FAN. I AM A SURVIVOR Hear more stories & learn how you can customize your cancer care www.thomasvillemedicalcenter.org/SurvivorStories s Thomasville, North Carolina • Your Town. Your Times.
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