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THOMASVILLE
Local teams advance to next round of holiday tourney.
Times
Now thru Jan. 8
Tuesday, December 28, 2009
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Former Ledford standout injured in accident BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer
One of Ledford High School’s most recognizable student athletes is in critical condition following a two-car crash early Christmas morning. Ryan Fitzgerald, a 2008 LHS graduate, was in a coma and listed in critical but stable condition at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Monday
evening as a result of a head-on collision that happened shortly after 1 a.m. Friday morning. According to the state highway patrol, Fitzgerald, a three-sport star at Ledford, was traveling east on Midway School Road when his 2002 Honda ran off the side of the road to the right, causing him to lose control. Gary Mills, the investigating patrol officer, reported Fitzger-
ald over-corrected his vehicle, crossed the center line and struck a 2001 Nissan head-on. Fitzgerald’s car then went off the road, hit a ditch and was again struck by the Nissan. Fitzgerald’s car came to rest on top of the Nissan, driven by Jay Hedrick, 56, of 2740 Rowe Road in Lexington. Jay Hedrick and his passenger, Deborah Hedrick, 55, also suffered injuries
and were transported to Baptist Medical Center. Jay Hedrick was listed in serious condition. “We just know bits and pieces” Dale Richardson, Ledford’s assistant principal, said. “Apparently, he was coming back from the North Davidson area toward Ledford. “They have him under some special care due to swelling of the brain. He has a real bad con-
cussion and some broken limbs. We’ve been in contact with people who have went to see him and things seem positive.” Mills estimated Fitzgerald was traveling 55 mph in a 45 mph speed limit zone, but no drugs or alcohol are believed to be involved. The accident report indicates the road was wet and Richardson
Fitzgerald
See LEDFORD, Page 10
Monday fire destroys part of old United Furniture plant BY KARISSA MINN Staff Writer
PHOTO/GARY ARNOLD
DELIVERING CHRISTMAS JOY SV Civitan President Roger Barker (far right) presents club lapel pins to the Santas from the 2009 Project Santa delivery team. From left are Elf Shannon Tucker and Santas Davis Tucker, Kenneth Gallimore, John Slack and Michael Hussey. Santa Ricky Harris is not pictured. See Story, Page 3.
Safety urged this holiday weekend
Annual Times Food Challenge in need of donations BY KARISSA MINN Staff Writer
BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer
As if waking up with a hangover isn’t bad enough, try starting off the new year with a ticket that drives up car insurance, suspends one’s license and costs thousands of dollars in legal fees. Law enforcement officials are saying that is exactly what will happen to the unfortunate few that are caught drinking and driving New Year’s Eve. City, county and state police all will be out in force this Thursday night making sure the roads are clear of those driving un-
See SAFETY, Page 12
To allow community members some extra time to help their neighbors in need, the Thomasville Times/ Parks and Recreation Community Food Challenge will be extended until Jan. 8. As of Monday afternoon, only 3,178 cans had been collected, falling far short of the 10,000 goal for the end of the year. “With the current state of the economy, we realized that reaching out goal would, indeed, be a challenge,” Times Editor Lisa Wall said. “Many who donated to the drive before are probably some who are in need of assistance this year. “Most all us know someone who has been affected by job loss or a cut in hours, and they very well may be one of those will have to seek help from one of the agencies the Food
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Challenge supports. We just hope everyone who can will contribute to help what may be a neighbor get through a difficult time.” Donors can register by calling 888-3590, and they can drop off nonperishable items at the Thomasville Parks & Recreation Administration office at 1 E. Main St. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on New Year’s Day (Jan. 1). Recipients of this year’s food drive include His Laboring Few Ministries, Cooperative Community Ministry, Fairgrove Family Resource Center and Citadel of Faith Christian Fellowship. Each of these organizations depends on donations from Times’ readers to continue its programs. His Laboring Few Ministries runs a food pantry every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., feeding 70 to 80 families per week. It also gives emergen-
See FOOD, Page 12
LEXINGTON — A former furniture manufacturing plant in Lexington has been partially destroyed by a fire that burned for nine hours before it was contained. At about 5 a.m. Monday, emergency personnel received a call about a fire at United Furniture Plant, located at 151 Elk St. in downtown Lexington. It wasn’t until 2 p.m. that Thad Dickerson, Lexington Fire Chief, declared the fire to be “under control.” In those nine hours, about 50 to 55 firefighters were at the site battling the blaze, including some from the Thomasville, South Lexington and Holly Grove Fire Departments. The large complex, which is about the size of a city block, posed some challenges to the crew. “The facilities are very large, and you’ve got to get around to where the fire is,” Dickerson said. “You can’t get but so close to it anyway, so we used master streams in order to give us reach.”
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See FIRE, Page 10
TIMES PHOTO/KARISSA MINN
Area firefighters battled a blaze at the old United Furniture Plant in Lexington Monday for nine hours.
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The fire reportedly spread from an older part of the complex to a newer part before it was extinguished. “We have some major water damage, I’m sure, and some smoke and fire damage to the building,” Dickerson said. “The part that caught on fire first, which was already dilapidated and was not being used, is totally destroyed.” Three tenants have been using the building for warehousing and storage, including Liberty Wholesale and Trade Wind Treasures, but noone was reported to be inside at the time the fire broke out. Dickerson said that the three-story structure has been in Lexington since the late 1950s or early 1960s, and it served as the Old United Furniture plant until the 1980s. “My father worked there, and my brother worked there,” he said. “It’s been a long time.” The department had not begun its investigation as of Monday after-
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