Inside Today
THOMASVILLE
Saturday, December 12, 2009
East Davidson girls face off against Trinity in basketball.
Times
See Sports, Page B1.
119th Year - No. 32 50 Cents
www.tvilletimes.com
Food drive donations help stock pantry shelves
Brown named TCS District Teacher of the Year
BY KARISSA MINN
BY ELIOT DUKE
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Donations to the Thomasville Times Community and Parks and Recreation Food Challenge will help stock the shelves of the food pantry at Citadel of Faith Christian Fellowship, helping the group feed local families through its brown bag ministry and emergency food program. From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Friday, Citadel of Faith’s brown bag ministry gives bag lunches to about 80 senior citizens, homeless people and others in need. Most of the lunches are delivered, but some are available at the church, located at 7 J.W. Thomas Way. “Along with those 80 people that we feed, we may have seven or eight families each Friday that need emergency food,” said the Rev. Dr. George B. Jackson, pastor. “They need the basics — beans, dry goods, meat and things of that nature.” Jackson said that at the end of each year, Citadel of Faith typically has just enough food to continue its brown bag ministry, but not the emergency food program. “The drive that’s spearheaded by the Times every year helps us to restock our pantries, because right about the middle of November, we are almost on empty,” he said. “By the middle of December — right now — we are just tapped out. This is a super blessing every year when this takes place. We get to stock our shelves again, and that usually lasts us through the year.”
See PANTRY, Page A4
TIMES PHOTO/ELIOT DUKE
Thomasville Police Deputy Chief Tim Driggres holds a picture offered to him during his retirement ceremony Friday.
Driggers honored for service BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer Thomasville Police Department honored one of its own Friday afternoon in a special celebration that featured some of the area’s most well-known law enforcement officers turning out to pay tribute to a man who spent three decades serving the Chair City. TPD threw Deputy Chief Tim Driggers a retirement party, celebrating his 30 years of service with the department in a ceremony that featured unique gifts, turn-back-the-clock stories and laughs amongst family and friends. Driggers started at TPD in 1980 and will be officially retiring Jan. 1. “This has been quite a day,” Driggers said. “I’ve always tried to do a good job and have taken my career very seriously. I had a good time and they’ve been crazy enough to pay me for it for all these years. It’s just like family around here. In a way, it’s like losing part of your family. I’m still going to be around.”
Mayor Joe Bennett started the reception awarding Driggers the key to the city. Bennett commended Driggers for his service, saying he was an important part of TPD’s growth as the population of the Chair City has doubled in the past 30 years. “The services you provided the citizens of Thomasville had a great impact on our town in terms of where we’re at and what we’re doing,” said Bennett. “The town has grown and the services have expanded, and for that I thank you.” Driggers’ first boss, former TPD police chief and current Davidson County Commissioner, Don Truell presented him with a walking stick to commemorate his retirement, while other contemporaries took a more comical approach. “Driggers has a lot to do with who I am,” recently retired police chief Ronald Bratton said. “We drove together and he had one job. Do you remember what that was?” Driggers replied, “Getting honey buns.”
Davidson County Sheriff David Grice told the audience that Driggers was the go-to guy at TPD, especially during lunch time. “It was always a pleasure to work with Tim between 12 and 1 each day if we needed somebody form the police department,” said Grice. “We’d call Tim because Bratton would be watching soap operas.” Capt. Mills started just a few months after Driggers, and the two have spent the better part of the past three decades together. “I consider him a good friend,” Mills said. “We’re like the last of the dinosaurs around here. He will truly be missed.” Current Police Chief Jeff Insley said Driggers will remain on the force in a limited capacity, as he will serve as captain of the police reserve. “This is both a good day and a bad day,” said Insley. “It’s bad for me because I’m losing my deputy chief, but this is a good day for him. He has been there for me since I came on board in August and I’m grateful for that.”
Thomasville City Schools recognized its top teachers Thursday afternoon at the Board of Education’s monthly meeting. A m y Brown was named TCS’ district and Thomasville Middle School’s Teacher of the Year. Brown Brown, an eight grade language arts teacher, is known as a person who not only cares about her students but as a team player who always has a door open to her colleagues. “She’s a child advocate,” TMS Principal Georgia Marshall said. “She will come to me and speak on behalf of a child in the blink of an eye. That’s what we love about her — she works for what she believes in for children.” Brown also recently earned her National Board Certification and is in the running for Regional Teacher of the Year honors. Brown is part of TMS’ Impact team and is a tech buddy for other teachers. “I know I am where I am because of the work of my peers and my colleagues,” said Brown. “We’ve done a lot of collaboration this year where we’re working together and planning lessons together, and I’m a better teacher because of the teachers around me making me better.” Scott Walters received the Teacher of the Year award for Thomasville
See BROWN, Page A4
Side Street Café recognized for expansion BY KARISSA MINN Staff Writer
The Thomasville City Beautification Committee has named Side Street Café as December Business of the Month for its recent expansion and decorations. The café is set up in the back of Thomasville Emporium Antique Mall, located at 12 Commerce St. near the water tower. It is decorated to look like a street café in Italy, with old-fashioned chairs and tables, baskets and an awning. Ruth Smith, who owns both the café and emporium with
her husband Mark, handpainted windows and windowsills on the walls. Holiday garland and lights currently adorn the iron rail that surrounds the quiet dining area. “I think it’s probably the most unique place in town to eat,” Smith said. “All of our food is homemade. We do all of our cooking, and we don’t buy anything pre-prepared.” Side Street Café is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Its menu includes soups, salads, sides, desserts, beverages and 11 lunch dishes named after Thomasville Streets.
Community Sponsor
“The Main Street” comes with chicken salad, tuna salad or egg salad served on homemade bread with lettuce and tomato. “The Salem” is served warm with ham and provolone cheese on toasted homemade bread with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. Both cost $5.25. Customers can buy a grilled cheese sandwich for $3.50 or a hot dog for $2.95. “On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we also have plate lunch specials, for people who like to have a bigger meal at lunchtime and a light meal in the
See CAFE, Page A4
TIMES PHOTO/KARISSA MINN
Side Street Café was named Business of the Month for December by the City Beautification Committee.
Today’s Weather
Partly Cloudy 44/33
Full Forecast Page 2
What’s Inside
Weather Focus Opinion Obituaries Religion Sports Classifieds
Thomasville, North Carolina • Your Town. Your Times.
A2 A3 A5 A6 A8 B1 B7