Local children send Letters to Santa, Page B4 Inclimate weather
THOMASVILLE
Due to the forecast for inclimate weather, readers should contact local churches to see if weekend services will be held.
Times
Saturday, December 19, 2009
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Chair City native pens novel set in county
More people back to work, ESC says BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer
BY KARISSA MINN
up never having anything. While I was saying thank you with my mouth, I wasn’t saying it from heart. I realize that now.” This could easily be a time for doubt, a time to ask why after the Martin’s have already done so much, donating thousands of dollars to charities over the years. Through their faith, the Martin’s have chosen to not ask why but how. How can they keep giving when there is nothing left to give? “I questioned God, but I didn’t
North Carolina’s seesawing unemployment rate took a tip down in November. New statistics released by the North Carolina Employment Security Commission show the state’s unemployment rate dipped to 10.8 percent last month, marking a tenth of a percent decrease from October. Since reaching doubledigits earlier in the year, the state’s unemployment rate has remained around 11 percent and well above the national number. The overall unemployment rate for the United states registered 10 percent in November. Seasonally adjusted employment did increase by 12,453 workers last month with unemployment falling by more than 6,000. In the past year, however, unemployment in North Carolina has decreased by 143,801 people, according to ESC statistics. “Even though employment increased slightly over the month, we still need job growth,” ESC Chairman Moses Carey Jr. said. “It’s another month where we haven’t experienced much change.” Construction and manufacturing jobs continue to be the hardest hit from the current recession, which started two years ago. Since last November, construction and manufacturing jobs are down 16.5 and 11.6 percent, re-
See FEAST, Page A7
See WORK, Page A7
Staff Writer
Some familiar places in Thomasville are now home to a murder mystery and love story, thanks to award-winning author Dawn M a r i o n Hudgins. Hudgins’ first novel, Without Regret, is set in Davidson County Hudgins in 1969. It is the story of a young farm girl who faces life-altering decisions when the Vietnam War drafts two very different men in her life. Torn between love and duty, she realizes that some people are self-sacrificing while others save themselves at the sacrifice of others. “As individuals, we’re very multifaceted people,” Hudgins said. “As we are faced with challenges, sometimes we make the right decisions and sometimes we don’t. That’s very much exemplified in the book.” Without Regret is a romance thriller, and Hudgins said that there are even some religious undertones, which come out of the Thomasville upbringing that she and her main character share. “I would not classify it as a religious book, but there is Scripture in there,” Hudgins said. “There are prayer portions in there.” Weather permitting, Hudgins will be signing books at Tommy’s Barbecue, located at 206 National Highway in Thomasville, from 5-7 p.m. today. Books will be available for purchase. Hudgins said that she wanted to include the
TIMES PHOTO/ELIOT DUKE
Rodney and Wendy Martin, owners of Jed’s Bar-B-Que, are offering free meals to those in need every Tuesday night despite their own financial hardships.
Feast to Famine BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer Rodney and Wendy Martin remember a time when their restaurant was the place to be in Thomasville. Jed’s Bar-B-Que on National Highway flourished as the community around it did likewise, riding the wave of furniture making to prosperity Rodney never imagined possible. “We were always packed,” Rodney said. “You couldn’t get in the place. They lined up out the door and at the drive-in too. I grew up never having money and as soon
Even after losing their fortune, the Martin family continues giving to others
as I opened the doors, the money just kept coming in.” That symbiotic relationship between town and restaurant has taken a turn for the worse over the last decade, as both have fallen on times unimaginable. With unemployment over 10 percent, the days of lines out the door are long gone. As Jed’s remains empty, the bills keep coming. A car is already gone and the Martin’s say a home may follow as foreclosure awaits. “At one time, I was worth over $2 million,” said Rodney. “But I took so much for granted. I grew
Area children bring Christmas joy to local nursing homes
See NOVEL, Page A6
BY KARISSA MINN Staff Writer Student from a local dance studio, along with other community groups, took some time this week to bring Christmas cheer to nursing home residents. On Tuesday, a group of dancers from N2Danzn, a dance school in Thomasville, performed and gave out cards at Graybriar Nursing Home in Trinity. On Wednesday, they joined groups from Thomasville Parks and Recreation and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater High Point in a visit to
Community Sponsor
LibertyWood Nursing Center in Thomasville. The dance students performed dances to Christmas songs, sang a few carols and passed out homemade Christmas cards to the residents. Paige Wainright, owner and director of N2Danzn, said that her goal was to help the students learn that they can bring others joy through dance. “I think, when they were dancing for the residents and handing out their personal cards that they made for them, they really no-
See JOY, Page A7
COURTESY PHOTO
Staff and residents of LibertyWood Nursing Home were recently entertained by students at N2Danzn in Thomasville.
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