Fatcow Icon
Opinion
Alternative energy good for environment, and good for our community
We see it and hear it all the time — on social media, in meetings, in comments and letters. A large number of people, for some reason, don’t like the idea of solar or wind or other alternative power, preferring instead that we continue burning coal in power plants. Coal that, while it had its place in our history, has proven to be terribly damaging to the environment. And quite frankly, we don’t understand it. Locally both Mount Airy and ...
full story
Private companies own patents for our genes
The human body contains an estimated 30,000 genes. We must pay over $3,000 to access some of the information in two of those genes, information that reveals our chance of dying of a terrible disease. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are two genes that can contain a mutation that reveals a hereditary predisposition to certain types of cancer, including breast and ovarian cancer. Angelina Jolie’s New York Times op-ed revealed Wednesday that she underwent ...
full story
Smart graduates and being outsmarted by honeybees
It is no secret in the newsroom that I am a bee geek (called a beek). One of a series of unofficial awards festooning my cubelet is a sign bearing the title “bee whisperer.” And if nothing else, all the media coverage of Honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has enough people interested to question me on a regular basis. Sadly, no smoking gun or simple answer has appeared lately but really good, knowledgeable bee keepers (not novices like...
full story
Rollercoasters — fun or fear
While life can be a rollercoaster, it tends to be much more exciting and less stressful to physically ride a rollercoaster, or at least it is for those of us who like thrill seeking within a controlled environment. As young children grow and learn, they have new fears and new likes nearly daily. For example, Little Man used to enjoy riding on my shoulders and bouncing as I hopped him along, but recently I put him on my shoulders and he near...
full story
Respect for Rotary Club rising after raffle response
On Monday, the Mount Airy Rotary Club took what we believe to be an extraordinary step related to a bungled car raffle during the recent Budbreak Wine Festival. A private vendor, Dave Chaloupka of Amadour Winery, is alleged to have sold raffle tickets to a number of people for $100 each, with the winner of the raffle taking home a Fiat. As we have reported numerous times since then, Vickie Riekehof, a local business person, was called as th...
full story
Thumbs up
To the local U.S. Postal workers taking part today in the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. The carriers will be accepting non-perishable food items on their routes, with the donations eventually being delivered to Yokefellow Cooperative Ministry of Mount Airy for distribution to those in need. The effort is one that does require extra work and time on behalf of the postal employees, but they recognize a great need in the community and are using...
full story
With raffle tickets, let the buyer beware
I was reminded once again this past week why I never buy raffle tickets, or lottery tickets. My opinions about state-run lotteries have been voiced multiple times in this space. Basically, the astronomical odds of winning should deter anyone from plucking down good money for a ticket, unless you’re mathematically challenged. I wish I had a nickel every time I have had to wait in a convenience-store line for somebody to buy a string of lot...
full story
Commissioners right in their opposition to immigration reform
Earlier this week the Surry County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution opposing the immigration reform bill being considered in Congress, and urged North Carolina’s senators, Richard Burr and Kay Hagan, to oppose the measure. In short, the bill would set up a so-called path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the country now — and yes, we continue to call them illegal immigrants rather than undocumented ...
full story
In honor of Mother’s Day
With the arrival of Mother’s Day this Sunday, I have been thinking about the role of my mother in my life and how I would not be the person I am today without her. After I became unemployed, two weeks after my 2010 ankle fusion surgery, my mom was a huge support for me. It was difficult to not only go through a major surgery, but the setback after I lost my job was even worse and caused my recovery from surgery to become delayed. Mom was ...
full story
New city fees may be on the way?
Last year the various festivals, fairs and other public events in Mount Airy cost every adult and child in the city about $3.80, on average. The Autumn Leaves Festival cost every city resident about $2.20. And those costs don’t count admission fees — just the average cost per city resident for the city to offer security, traffic control and other support. This is based on the city’s most recent Census population data and information sha...
full story
Should a prom just be about being promotional?
Sometimes ideas for columns for me are like the story about Sir Isaac Newton and the apple which fell on his head and knocked an idea like gravity into his mind. This week’s just walked up to me while I was taking pictures at North Surry’s Prom. I expected something related to youth in finery, the decorations or a timeless lesson in chivalry or the reason behind dressing to the nines. What came up was a pretty straight forward meditation on...
full story
Maybe leaving YVEDDI is right move, but county should be cautious
Monday night several members of the Surry County Board of Commissioners expressed displeasure with the Yadkin Valley Economic Development District Inc., and even talked about parting ways with the organization. The organization, known as YVEDDI, is a regional agency that oversees a number of human service and community development programs through its use of federal, state and local money. It also receives some funding from the United Fund ...
full story
Cruisin’ the streets of Pilot Mountain
As I do most every first Saturday of the month from May through October, this past weekend I made a pass or two down Main Street in downtown Pilot Mountain to ogle over the beautiful classic cars lining the street and filling the neighboring parking lots. Sometimes I get an opportunity to take time and park and get out and walk up and down the road, take in the shiny rides and rods and listen to good music from a live band. Unfortunately th...
full story
Childhood’s getting smaller and why I don’t dance with wolves
I recently had the moving experience of attending Central Middle School’s Holocaust Project judging. The morning at that point suited it. Dark, brooding clouds loomed overhead. The rain had left the morning air damp and just enough chilly overnight temperature remained to remind you winter was off somewhere glaring and waiting to return. The uplifting effects of my morning coffee and southern-style chicken biscuit were nullified. Yup. I’m uno...
full story
Shepherd’s House plans fill a critical local need
This past weekend was a big one for the Shepherd’s House, and by extension a big one for the community. The Shepherd’s House, a homeless shelter in Mount Airy, marked its 10th anniversary on Saturday with a community-wide birthday celebration at Riverside Park. There was live music, games, activities for the kids, food and birthday cake. It was, as birthday celebrations are supposed to be, a time of fun and laughter commemorating a key da...
full story
Weather
Sponsored By:

Lottery
Sponsored By:

Stocks
Sponsored By:

Gas Prices
Sponsored By:

Featured Businesses
Recipes
Sponsored By: