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THOMASVILLE
Dr. David Lipschitz discusses how the true story of Christmas can help improve health and longevity. See Page 3.
Times
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
119th Year - No. 33 50 Cents
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Wreaths Across America Event honors veterans nationwide
BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer
BY ELIOT DUKE
Thomasville-High Point Chapter of the Red Cross is holding its biggest blood drive of the year today, and the poster child for the event is a local girl who epitomizes the word perseverance. Working in conjunction with WGHP Fox 8, the Red Cross will hold its annual fall blood drive at Showplace in High Point at 211 E. Commerce Ave. from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Last year’s drive set an alltime record in terms of collections as 461 pints of blood were donated. Hopes are this year will do even better. “This is one of the largest blood drives in the state,” Bob Ziegler, Executive Director of Thomasville-High Point Red Cross, said. “It’s our biggest for this chapter, and we’re looking for a big turnout. We’re having a lot of fun with it. Today’s guest of honor will be Kate Thornton, a 5-year-old Thomasville girl who is battling a rare form of childhood leukemia. Thornton has been the face of both the Red Cross and the United Way
Staff Writer
WINSTON-SALEM — For the past several years, a group of volunteers have come to Thomasville’s Vietnam Memorial as part of a nationwide effort to recognize veterans in a wreath laying ceremony. Due to a current repair and cleaning project on Interstate I-85, however, the “Wreaths Across America” ceremony on Saturday moved from the Chair City to WinstonSalem at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. A change of location still delivered the same message, as the Winston-Salem composite squadron paid its respects to seven local veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice. “The freedoms we enjoy today have not come without a price,” Maj. Ron Cheek of the Civil Air Patrol said. “Lying before us and in cemeteries throughout the nation are men and women who gave their lives so that we can live in freedom and without fear.” “Wreaths Across America” marked its 18th anniversary this year and is made possible through the efforts of Civil Air Patrol members from across the country. What started out as a way to honor veterans at Arlington National Cemetery has now spread throughout the United States, involving more than 58,000 volunteers every year. A total of seven ceremonial wreaths are placed at a
Red Cross to hold largest blood drive of the year
See DRIVE, Page 10
Public hearing to address Unilin contract changes BY KARISSA MINN Staff Writer
memory I’ve never forgotten. So, I hoped Arlington [Cemetery] would allow me to decorate the graves — they did, and so here we are.” Cheek, who is the leader of the Winston-Salem composite squadron, said Saturday went better than expected despite in-
Thomasville City Council will hold a public hearing at its Dec. 21 meeting about changes to its incentive contract with Unilin Flooring Inc. The amendment would waive the contract’s job requirement if, during one of the past six reporting months prior to a grant request, the unemployment numbers from the N.C. Employment Security Commission were in the double digits. The grant amount paid would be proportionally reduced relative to the percentage of jobs originally required. Council also plans to discuss a resolution asking the N.C. General Assembly to re-evaluate the formula it uses to distribute transportation funds. Large interstate projects often are governed by this formula, which may cause a lack of local funding if the I-85 bridge over the Yadkin River is replaced. “This has come to light because of the Yadkin
See WREATHS, Page 10
See CHANGES, Page 10
TIMES PHOTO/LARRY MATHIS
A member of the Civil Air Patrol places a wreath at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum Saturday as part of Wreaths Across America. memorial or cemetery to honor veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines and POWs and MIAs. People can purchase a wreath with a red ribbon on it for a loved one who is a veteran. Founded by Morrill Worcester, president of Worcester Wreath com-
pany, “Wreaths Across America” visits more than 230 state and national cemeteries, leaving more than 5,000 wreaths on headstones on fallen veterans. “I saw the changing of the guard, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the acres and acres of graves and it all just struck me,” said Worcester. “It’s a
Grant to help keep students in school BY KARISSA MINN Staff Writer
The North Carolina General Assembly’s Dropout Prevention Grant program has awarded a grant to a local agency to keep students in school and motivate them to graduate. Communities In Schools of Lexington/Davidson County recently received a grant of $86,790 for the Graduation Coach: Achieve More Program (AMP). In this program, a graduation coach mentors at-risk students and interacts directly with students and teachers to help prevent students from dropping out. Christina Howell, executive director
of CIS of Lexington/Davidson County, said that AMP is meant to help students who are “falling between the cracks” — who aren’t being served by other programs, either because they don’t qualify or their needs aren’t being met. “It’s a way to take students who have the potential for dropping out and getting them to believe in themselves and to see the potential that they have,” Howell said. “We really try and make it a very positive program for them, so it’s something that they want to be involved in.” Howell said that the agency first
Community Sponsor
BUSINESS EXPO Jeff Nance receives a haircut from Marc Goodman of Marc’s Barber Shop Saturday at the first Thomasville Business Expo held downtown. The event, sponsored by the Thomasville Civitans, brought residents a chance to experience the many businesses downtown.
See GRANT, Page 11
TIMES PHOTO/LISA WALL
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