(This is part two of a two-part series.)

The following are the top news stories covered during the second half of the year 2008 in The Stokes News:



July 2008

A faith-based coalition headed up by leaders from black churches in the Walnut Cove area has formed to fight the vicious cycle of drug use and poverty in the black community. The movement is entitled “Honor the Legacy” and focuses on remembering the noble black forebears of the past.

Cutting edge technology came to Stokes County with the video probable cause system which allows county law enforcement officials in different parts of the county to telecommunicate with each other in probable cause hearings—saving gas, time and manpower.

Three Stokes County men—Joseph Duncan, Steven Duncan, and Brandon Leupold—were arrested and charged in connection with a huge countywide rash of thefts of catalytic converters and other auto parts.

The new Forsyth Technical Community College center in King opened on July 18.

After months of uncertainty for Stokes County Home Health workers, county commissioners voted unanimously not to privatize the home health system.

Gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory paid a visit to Stokes County as he toured the Kobe-Wieland copper plant in Pine Hall.

August 2008

The Town of Walnut Cove and the Walnut Cove Volunteer Fire Department finally reached an agreement after weeks of bitter haggling over the terms of a service contract.

A 22-year-old King man, Nicholas Parsons, was charged with second degree murder and felony child abuse in the death of his one-month-old daughter.

Operation Summer Bust, a drug investigation carried out by the Stokes County Sheriff’s Department and local law enforcement agencies, resulted in the arrests of 22 people on drug-related charges.

Stokes County Schools opened on August 25 with the tightest budget in recent memory, a strict new dress code and tobac-

See REVIEW, page A2

co-free campuses.

On August 30, the first annual “Totally Stoked for Jesus” youth rally attracted 300 participants at Lion’s Park in Walnut Cove as local singers, bands, and speakers took the stage.

September 2008

In the wake of torrential rains from Tropical Storm Hanna, the fifth annual Walnut Festival was held in Walnut Cove on September 6 with the new addition of a bicycle race.

Nancy Reynolds Elementary School’s Rusty Hall was named Stokes County’s Principal of the Year.

The Stokes County Agricultural Fair reported its lowest turnout in three years, possibly due to the struggling economy and skyrocketing gas prices.

King firefighters set up a “Never Forget” 9/11 makeshift memorial and attracted widespread attention as local radio and TV stations picked up the story. Later on September 11, a Patriot Day memorial service was attended by over 150 in King’s Central Park.

A 16-year-old North Stokes High School student, Sonia Luster, was killed in an automobile accident on her way to school on September 19.

The Stokes Stomp, Festival on the Dan, saw record crowds as thousands thronged Moratock Park in Danbury on September 20-21.

October 2008

The City of King welcomed a new police chief, Paula May, who has 19 years of local government law enforcement experience.

The largest ever Kingfest was held at King’s Central Park on October 4.

An early morning fire destroyed a home in Sandy Ridge on October 7. The mother of the family was a heroine as she put out the flames that engulfed her husband and three-year-old son then went back inside to rescue seven more of her children. Her 16-year-old son jumped to safety from a second floor window.

A ruling was handed down from the NC Supreme Court that removed District 17-B judge Mark Badgett from not only the political race but also from his seat as judge. This came months after he was suspended for allegations of judicial misconduct.

Stokes County’s United Fund celebrated 50 years.

Stokes County paramedics Scott Brown and Fred Lawson won the NC Paramedic Competition for the third time in four years.

The first annual “Out of the Darkness” suicide prevention motorcycle ride brought out over 70 bikers and raised nearly $2,000.

November 2008

The first annual “Out of the Darkness” walk to prevent suicide garnered large numbers at Piney Grove Middle School in Lawsonville on November 2.

Election Day on November 6 saw Stokes County voting overwhelmingly Republican as much of the state and nation went Democrat. Incumbents Leon Inman and Jimmy Walker (County Commissioners) and Becky Boles and Sonya Cox (Board of Education) were re-elected. Colon Moore also won a seat on the school board. Other county results were Bill Southern—district judge, Kathy Young—Registrar of Deeds and James Booth—Soil and Water District Supervisor.

Architects hired by the Stokes County Board of Education delivered the news that Nancy Reynolds Elementary School could not be renovated but must be virtually reconstructed.

King remembered veterans with a stirring program in Central Park attended by over 500 people on November 11, Veterans Day.

Two county elementary schools—London and Walnut Cove Elementary—reached AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) standards after being below par in recent years.

A heroin/opium/crime ring was broken up by the Stokes County Sheriff’s Department, resulting in the arrests of Ryan Scott Forrest, Jennifer Cain Moran and Garry Lee Lawson.

December 2008

Stokes County has a new health director, Josh Swift.

Walnut Cove Police Officer Chad Williams was forced to shoot a pit bull that attacked K-9 officer Jet on December 2 after the dog’s owner had been pulled over for speeding. The pit bull was found dead the next day at Southeastern Middle School. Jet was unharmed.

A new public safety information website www.co.stokes.nc.us/public was announced to be up and running to keep the county’s residents abreast of everything from school closings to weather reports.

The King parade on December 6 had more entries than ever before—119. A window decorating contest for businesses was a new addition this year.

The collapse of a wall on December 10 on the Fourth Street side of “The Just Plain Country Store” forced the store to close temporarily. The town’s building inspector condemned the structure due to safety hazards. The cause of the collapse was undetermined.

The Walnut Cove parade on December 13 was the biggest ever, with over 125 entries and WXII NewsChannel 12 meteorologist Lanie Pope as Grand Marshal.

The Stokes County Board of Education announced that it needs approximately $35 million to complete its top three priorities in school construction.