images wilkes county, nc: 2009-10

Video tour of Wilkes’ newest

winery

What’s Online

sessssssssssssssssss eeeeeeeeeeee

Get a Brand New ViewHistory, recreation and more elevate area’s profile

HITTING THE HIGH NOTES

MerleFest brings cultural and economic benefits

WINNING LEGACY BEARS FRUIT

Thriving local wine industry welcomes newest vineyard

SPONSORED BY THE WILKES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

WILKES, NORTH CAROLINA

2009-10 | IMAGESWILKES.COM

®®®

www.imageswilkes.com

www.wilkescounty.net

www.wilkesboronorthcarolina.com

www.north-wilkesboro.com

www.wilkesedc.com


®

What’s Online Onlnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

PHOTOS

FACTS & STATS

RELOCATION

We’ve added even more prize-winning photography to our online gallery. To see these spectacular photos, click on Photo Gallery.

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINEImages gives readers a taste of what makes Wilkes tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.

LOCAL FLAVOR

Go online to learn

even more about:

Schools•

Health care•

Utilities•

Parks•

Taxes•

Considering a move to this

community? We can help. Use our

Relocation Tools to discover tips,

including how to make your move

green, advice about moving pets

and help with booking movers.

Mozelle Howell’s fried pies always are a culinary hit at the annual Brushy Mountain Apple Festival. Get a taste of local fl avor in our food section.

“Find the good – and praise it.” – Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder

imageswilkes.comTHE DEFINITIVE RELOCATION RESOURCE

BENNY PARSONS RENDEZVOUS RIDGELearn more about Wilkes County’s newest vineyard and winery, Benny Parsons Rendezvous Ridge, in this video interview with Terri Parsons. Watch this and other quick videos in the Interactive section.

SENIOR EDITOR LISA BATTLES

COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS

ASSOCIATE EDITORS SUSAN CHAPPELL, JESSY YANCEY

STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ANNE GILLEM,

MELANIE HILL, JOE MORRIS

DATA MANAGER CHANDRA BRADSHAW

EXECUTIVE MEDIA MANAGER SUZI MCGRUDER

SALES SUPPORT MANAGER CINDY HALL

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN McCORD

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS,

TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER,

IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER

PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT MANAGER ANNE WHITLOW

CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS

ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN

PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS

MELISSA BRACEWELL, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER,

KRIS SEXTON, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS

LEAD DESIGNER ALISON HUNTER

GRAPHIC DESIGN ERICA HINES, JESSICA MANNER,

JANINE MARYLAND, AMY NELSON, MARCUS SNYDER

WEB IMPLEMENTATION DIRECTOR ANDY HARTLEY

WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR FRANCO SCARAMUZZA

WEB PROJECT MANAGER YAMEL RUIZ

WEB DESIGN CARL SCHULZ

WEB PRODUCTION JENNIFER GRAVES

COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN TWILA ALLEN

AD TRAFFIC MARCIA MILLAR,

PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY

CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN

SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER

SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN

SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER

V.P./SALES HERB HARPER

V.P./SALES TODD POTTER

V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER

V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS

V.P./CUSTOM PUBLISHING KIM NEWSOM

MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS BILL McMEEKIN

MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY KIM MADLOM

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO

CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY

ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, DIANA GUZMAN,

MARIA McFARLAND, LISA OWENS

RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY SIMPSON

DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR YANCEY TURTURICE

IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE

SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY

SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN

OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM

RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP

C U S TO M M A G A Z I N E M E D I A

Images Wilkes is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed

through the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses.

For advertising information or to direct questionsor comments about the magazine, contact

Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080or by e-mail at [email protected].

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Wilkes Chamber of Commerce

717 Main St. • North Wilkesboro, NC 28659Phone: (336) 838-8662 • Fax: (336) 838-3728

www.wilkesnc.org and www.explorewilkes.com

VISIT IMAGES WILKES ONLINE AT IMAGESWILKES.COM

©Copyright 2009 Journal Communications Inc.,725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067,

(615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.No portion of this magazine may be reproduced

in whole or in part without written consent.

Member Magazine Publishers of America

Member Custom Publishing Council

Member Wilkes Chamber of Commerce

2 IMAGESWILKES .COM WILKES



All or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

2009-10 EDITION | VOLUME 10


®

ON THE COVER Wilkes Heritage MuseumPhoto by Ian Curcio

WILKES BUSINESS 24 Winning Legacy Bears Fruit

The thriving local wine industry recently welcomed a new vineyard and winery, Benny Parsons Rendezvous Ridge.

27 Chamber Report

28 Biz Briefs

30 Economic Profi le

DEPARTMENTS

5 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Wilkes culture

19 Portfolio: people, places and events that defi ne Wilkes

31 Health & Wellness

33 Sports & Recreation

36 Community Profi le: facts, stats and important numbers to know

CONTENTS

FEATURES

10 GET A BRAND-NEW VIEWCommunity leaders are poised to elevate Wilkes’ profi le, thanks to a recently developed marketing initiative.

14 HITTING THE HIGH NOTESAnnual MerleFest brings widespread cultural and economic benefi ts to Wilkes Community College and the entire region.

32 STUDENTS ENJOY LAP OF LUXURYSchools provide laptop computers and other technology to learners at all levels.

35 STAGING SUCCESSES WITH LOCAL HISTORY Wilkes Playmakers produces compelling outdoor dramas that recount the area’s earlier days.

WILKES IMAGESWILKES .COM 3

www.hamptoninn.com

Guest Room Amenities:

®

fax Toll-free:

www.hamptoninn.com

Get Your Kicks HereYoung people interested in soccer have

everything they need in Wilkes County, thanks

to a strong, volunteer-led organization, Wings

of Wilkes Soccer Association, and a first-rate

facility in River’s Edge Soccer Complex.

Wings of Wilkes handles applications for

approximately 700 youth players ranging in

age from 3 to 14. All recreation games and

home select games are played at River’s Edge,

which is located near Wilkes Community

College. The complex boasts more than

11 fields and has been host to numerous

statewide tournaments.

Honoring Deep Musical Roots

The edged voices and echoing instruments

of old-time, bluegrass and folk music came of

age in the lonesome hollers and high hills of

the Blue Ridge Mountains. In June 2008,

Wilkes County opened the Blue Ridge

Music Hall of Fame to honor that heritage.

Old Wilkes Inc. and the Blue Ridge

Music Hall of Fame committee joined

forces in 2006 to create the new

institution. The hall is housed on the

second floor of the Wilkes

Heritage Museum. To

date, 16 people have

been inducted. The

museum is open from

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday through

Saturday, and closed

Sunday, Monday and

major holidays.

A Heart for ArtThe Wilkes Art Gallery has grown exponentially

in size and status since its humble beginnings in the parlor of local art patron, Annie Winkler. Founded in 1962, the gallery’s most dramatic move came in 2004 to the renovated, former North Wilkesboro post office building in the heart of downtown.

Today, the 10,000-square-foot facility houses a variety of works in its 3,500 square feet of exhibition space and features an education center complete with a ceramics studio, multi-purpose classrooms and studios for painting and drawing. The educational theme doesn’t stop there: The gallery designates one month per school district to display works created by students in elementary through high school grade levels.


Almanac

Find your next automobile online at: www.specialtycarcompany.com

YOUR FIRST CHOICE FOR QUALITY AUTOMOBILES

CAR COMPANY, INC.

119 Old Brickyard Rd. North Wilkesboro, NC 28659

Serving all customers with their financing needs, a full detail shop and an official

N.C. State Inspection Station.

“If Your Car Doesn’t Say Specialty Car Company, Inc.,

You Probably PAID TOO MUCH!”

“We Specialize in Hard to Get and Hard to Find Cars”

LEEDing the Way for Visitors

The North Carolina Department

of Transportation is helping

travelers through Wilkes County

go green. In fall 2009, a new rest

area and visitor center opens on

U.S. Highway 421.

Not only does it give motorists

yet another reason to stop and see

what Northwest North Carolina has

to offer, it will gain attention on

its own for its environmentally

friendly building principles.

The $10 million, solar-heated

project is aiming to nab the

highest rating from the U.S. Green

Building Council, which awards the

coveted Leadership in Energy and

Environmental Design recognition

to sustainable building projects.

Fast CompanyA Wilkes County business is making its mark

on the off-road racing industry. Powersport

Grafx products are proudly displayed by

competitive motorcycle riders around the world.

Founded by Bart Hayes in early 2003,

the North Wilkesboro company designs and

manufactures custom motocross graphics and

decals. Clients include KTM, Honda, Kawasaki

and Suzuki, as well as some world-champion

riders and dealers.

Fast Facts Wilkes County

welcomes families from around the world at MerleFest, the annual Americana music festival.

Music fans enjoy the annual Carolina in the Fall festival, held each year at Shepherd Farm and featuring musical hosts the Kruger Brothers, along with many other talented artists.

The Yadkin River Greenway connects North Wilkesboro and Wilkesboro with three miles of trails.

Learn more about American Indian culture at the Fort Hamby Pow Wow, held each September and sponsored by the Blue Ridge Intertribal Pow Wow Association.

Older adults in the community are served by a wide variety of activities and wellness programs offered by the Wilkes Senior Center in North Wilkesboro.

Temperatures in different parts of Wilkes County sometimes vary by as much as 20 degrees, thanks to elevation changes due to its proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

First-Rate Training Grounds Relive railroad history at Black Cat Station, home of the Yadkin Valley Chapter of

the National Railway Historical Society.

The society runs a 1/87th scale model railroad at the site‚ named in honor of the Black

Cat Sandwich Shop that was an earlier tenant of the building located at 800 Elizabeth St.

in North Wilkesboro. The model railroad has five lines‚ each 135 feet in length‚ running

around the main room. The chapter hosts open houses on the second Saturdays of

each month and other occasions‚ such as birthday parties or when a railroad club

from another town comes to call. The club has approximately 40 members‚ several

of whom are retired and put in plenty of hours making sure the trains run on time.


Almanac


www.myyesbank.com

7777

21

421

18

1618

BLUE RIDGE PKWY.

WILKES

Fairplains

Moravian Falls

Ferguson

Pleasant Hill

Ronda

VIRGINIA

NORTH CAROLINAH

NorthWilkesboro

Wilkesboro

7777

21

421

18

1618

BLUE RIDGE PKWY.

WILKES

Fairplains

Moravian Falls

Ferguson

Pleasant Hill

Ronda

VIRGINIA

NORTH CAROLINAH

NorthWilkesboro

Wilkesboro

7777

21

421

18

1618

BLUE RIDGE PKWY.

WILKES

Fairplains

Moravian Falls

Ferguson

Pleasant Hill

Ronda

VIRGINIA

NORTH CAROLINAH

NorthWilkesboro

Wilkesboro

7777

21

421

18

1618

BLUE RIDGE PKWY.

WILKES

Fairplains

Moravian Falls

Ferguson

Pleasant Hill

Ronda

VIRGINIA

NORTH CAROLINAH

NorthWilkesboro

Wilkesboro

POPULATION (2008 ESTIMATE) Wilkes County: 67,000

North Wilkesboro: 4,200

Wilkesboro: 3,200

Ronda: 600

LOCATIONWilkes County is in Western

North Carolina, 45 miles west

of Winston-Salem and 90 miles

northwest of Charlotte.

BEGINNINGSWilkes County was officially

established in 1778 and named for

Englishman John Wilkes, an outspoken

opponent of English loyalists during

the Revolutionary War. The county

seat of Wilkesboro – originally spelled

Wilkesborough – was incorporated

in 1847, and North Wilkesboro was

incorporated in 1891.

FOR MORE INFORMATIONWilkes Chamber of Commerce

717 Main St.

P.O. Box 727

North Wilkesboro, NC 28659

Phone: (336) 838-8662

Fax: (336) 838-3728

www.wilkesnc.org

Wilkes At A Glance

What’s Online Take a virtual tour of Wilkes, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at imageswilkes.com.



What’s Online eTake a virtual tour of Wilkes, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at imageswilkes.com.

WilkesCounty

They’ll Have You in Stitches

Motorists on Highway 421 East

will want to snuggle up in the scenery

thanks to a recent project of the

Wilkes County Quilters Guild and

the Cultural Arts Council of Wilkes.

More than a dozen colorful quilt

paintings decorate barns along

highways and byways as part of

The Barn Quilt Trail. The paintings

emulate quilt patterns culled from

the area’s centuries-old quilting

heritage and connect local history

with arts and tourism.

For those looking to see fine

examples of actual quilts, the Wilkes

County Quilters Guild hosts a major

annual show, Wilkes Quilts, each

September, Friday and Saturday

after Labor Day.


Almanac


W ilkes County is known for converting visitors to new residents, with many people only

needing one experience with its scenic splendor and welcoming charm to make the decision to relocate.

Now, leaders are poised to elevate the community’s profile to an even greater level and have a clear plan in hand, thanks to a collaborative effort that defined the area’s strengths.

The Wilkes Chamber of Commerce launched the rebranding effort and enlisted the talents of business students from Appalachian State University and many others. The group set a goal of targeting the area’s strong points for tourism, then coming up with ways to better market those themes not just to visitors but residents and potential residents, as well.

The group identified Wilkes’ six key

MARKETING INITIATIVE AIMS TO GROW TOURISM AND LURE NEW RESIDENTS

STORY BY JOE MORRIS

PH

OT

OS

BY

IA

N C

UR

CIO

Far left: Wilkes Heritage Museum

New ViewBrand A


strengths: a burgeoning wine industry; NASCAR and its moonshining roots; the community’s history and heritage; music; recreation; and destination weddings.

Now, a marketing plan is being developed that will tie the themes together, as well as emphasize them separately, says Linda Cheek, president of the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce.

“A tremendous amount of research has been completed to determine our tourism strengths,” Cheek says. “Now we must focus on those iden-tified strengths and create a marketing plan. It is important to have community buy-in. The support of our local citizens will be essential for the tourism industry growth. As we shift from a manufacturer of textile and furniture, we must educate our community on the opportunities the tourism industry has to offer.”

Cheek says the assistance of the Appalachian State students and faculty has been invaluable throughout the process. The students served multiple roles during data collection, as well as in the assessment of that information. For the university’s part, it was an opportunity to put classroom learning into a real-world setting and generate tangible results, says Dr. J. Dana Clark, associate professor of management in the uni-versity’s Walker College of Business.

“I teach a class in destination marketing, and this let me take the students out into the univer-sity’s service area,” Clark says. “We have a very special relationship with Wilkes County, and their vision of redeveloping their travel and tourism industry had a lot of appeal. They are very proud and protective of their county, so we knew they’d feel a lot of ownership with what we came up with.”

Through the branding initiative and subse-quent strategic marketing plan, the students were able to join forces with the chamber and Jodi Frichner, director of the Wilkesboro Tourism Development Authority, to craft a long-term series of goals. Wilkes and members of the North Carolina High Country Host marketing asso-ciation and the North Carolina Division of Tourism are currently considering opportunities to forge partnerships.

“Everyone locally, regionally and statewide is looking at ways to partner and make the greatest impact with available marketing dollars,” Cheek says. “There will be a lot of opportunities, and it’s all to our advantage.”

PH

OT

O C

OU

RT

ES

Y O

F W

WW

.WIL

ES

PH

OT

OG

RA

PH

Y.C

OM

Spectacular scenery is a major factor in making Wilkes a prime spot for weddings.

Wilkes’ Six Strengths

A recent collaborative effort identifi ed the area’s six key strengths that will be promoted to residents, potential newcomers and visitors alike. They are:

Wine industry

History and heritage

Music

Recreation

NASCAR and its moonshining roots

Destination weddings


High NotesSTORY BY CAROL COWANPHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO

Music fans flock to see top artists such as Marty Stuart, right, at the annual Merlefest.

E very spring, hordes of music-lovers from around the country and the world pour into Wilkes County for MerleFest, one of

the nation’s most highly acclaimed roots-music events.

For four days in late April, the campus of Wilkes Community College echoes with the strains of banjos, guitars and high, lonesome harmonies as a line-up of established stars and up-and-coming young musicians, performing across genres that are dubbed “traditional-plus,” take their turns on more than a dozen stages.

“B” Townes is the festival’s co-founder, as well as vice president of development for the college and executive director

MERLEFEST BRINGS CULTURAL, ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO REGION

Hitting the


of the Wilkes Community College Endowment Corp., the nonprofit that produces MerleFest.

The festival started in 1988, when Townes was horticulture instructor at the college. Seeking to raise funds for a “garden for the senses” for the visually impaired, he approached legendary blind folk musician and area native Doc Watson about doing a benefit concert. Watson agreed to do the show in memory of his late son, renowned finger-picking guitarist Merle Watson. And the rest, as they say, is history.

“It was supposed to be a one-shot deal,” Townes says. “But because one person had a camera on it and somebody else had a recorder on it, we came out with a tape and ended up selling it all over the world. The phones kept ringing with people wanting to know if we’d do it again.”

Twenty-two MerleFests later, the festival has contributed more than $8 million to the college endowment, fund-

ing gardens, scholarships and capital improvements. The stunning Eddy Merle Watson Memorial Garden for the Senses symbolizes what MerleFest has done for WCC – and the entire area.

“It’s gone beyond just a garden fund-raiser,” Townes says. “It’s a fundraiser for the whole community.”

In fact, more than 50 community groups receive direct donations from the festival in exchange for the massive volunteer effort that helps keep MerleFest running smoothly.

“All of our food vendors are also affiliated with civic groups – everything from high school boosters to churches,” says Christie Hutchens, public infor-mation officer for WCC. “For a lot of our community organizations, this is their largest fundraising event of the year. It’s four days of nonstop action.”

And with annual attendance between 70,000 and 80,000 people, the festival is a huge boon to the region’s economy. It

brought an estimated $14.7 million into the community in 2008 alone.

The family-oriented, alcohol-free, eco-friendly festival also presents a perfect opportunity to showcase the region’s assets to visitors from around the globe. At an on-site information booth, The MerleFest Ambassadors – local, elected officials – do just that.

“The MerleFest Ambassadors promote other things that are going on and encour-age people to come back and experience the area beyond just these four days,” Hutchens says.

Extensive workshops, outreach into the public schools, and promotion and preservation of the region’s Appalachian heritage further advance WCC’s threefold mission to have a cultural, educational and economic impact through MerleFest.

“MerleFest is a significant economic engine in our community,” Townes says. “And it has spawned a whole awareness of and appreciation for this music.”

Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands performs at the 21st Annual Merlefest, a major musical event held on the campus of Wilkes Community College. Right: Merlefest attendees enjoy live musical performances in an outdoor setting.


What’s Online eVisit www.imageswilkes.com to see video of the 21st annual Merlefest.



Connecting with Wilkes has never been easier …

imageswilkes.com

1 SIMPLY SEARCH: In a hurry? Find the exact

info you need quickly with our enhanced search capabilities.

2 SMOOTHER SURFING: Explore the site and

interact with us more easily with our reorganized navigation bar.

3 JUST THE FACTS: Get a quick snapshot

of the community with our greatly enriched Facts and Stats section.

4 WATCH AND SHARE: Experience fi rst-hand

views of the community in our video gallery, then share them with friends.

5 VIRTUAL VIEW: Flip through pages

of the digital magazine, an enriched online version of the print publication.

6 MOVING MUST-HAVES: Visit our new

Relocation Tools section for many useful tips and information to make your transition go smoothly.

7 MORE EYE CANDY: Check out our

enhanced Photo Gallery for more stunning photos of the community.

8 OUTSIDERS WELCOME: Read about the best

places to play in this community.

9 IN GOOD TASTE: Get the dish on local fl avor

from favorite restaurants, noted area products and farmers markets in our new Food section.

1

23

5

67

8

9

4


Port body port body Port body port body Port body port body Port body

port body Port body port body Port body port body Port body port body Port body port body Port body port body Port body port body

Port body port body Port body port body Port body port body Port body port body Port body port body

Lead portfolio headSUBHEAD SUBHEAD SUBHEAD SUBHEAD SUBHEAD SUBHEAD SUBHEAD SUBHEAD

Many current and retired Lowe’s executives are known for giving

back to the Wilkes County community, and Leonard Herring certainly makes that list.

Herring, former CEO and president of Lowe’s Companies Inc., has authored a book entitled My Link in the Chain, with all proceeds going directly to the Wilkes Public Library. As of April 2009, a total of 366 books had been sold at $25 apiece, raising $9,150 for the library.

“This is a generous undertaking by Mr. Herring – plus it’s an interesting book,” says Louise Humphrey, regional director of Appalachian Regional Libraries that oversees Wilkes Public Library. “He is a longtime Wilkes County

resident and has always supported the library, and this is another kind gesture in his continuing support.”

Lowe’s has an important presence in Wilkes County with more than 1,700 employees here, and Herring is one of the company’s original executives. His book is a memoir that details the growth of Lowe’s, from a small hardware chain in western North Carolina to a Fortune 50 company.

The book also chronicles the influ-ence of Herring’s family on his life, beginning generations before his birth.

Part of the plot describes Herring’s family in the colonial era of eastern North Carolina, then through the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. It continues with

Herring’s childhood in Green County, his college years at the University of North Carolina, and his family’s move to North Wilkesboro in 1955.

“Sales began Dec. 11, 2008, with a book-signing session by Leonard accom-panied by a celebratory reception at the Wilkes library,” Humphrey says. “That event saw more than 100 books sold and signed by Leonard, and sales have been pretty steady ever since.”

Herring collaborated on the book effort with freelance writer Deni McIntyre, who wrote Lowe’s annual reports for more than 12 years. McIntyre and her husband, Will, a photographer, are owners of Loose End Press, which published the book.

Lowe’s and BeholdHERRING IS AMONG GROUP OF FORMER EXECUTIVES DEDICATED TO PHILANTHROPY

PH

OT

OS

BY

IA

N C

UR

CIO

Leonard Herring, former CEO and president of Lowe’s Companies Inc. and author of My Link in the Chain


Portfolio

AN

TO

NY

BO

SH

IER

There is a lot to see at Whippoorwill Academy and Village, all adding up

to provide visitors to the site a better understanding of 19th century history.

The interesting attraction in Ferguson is owned and operated by Edith Ferguson Carter, a history devotee who started the village by purchasing and then mov-ing a number of abandoned historical buildings to her family farm many years ago. Even though its several old buildings make it a current-day attrac-tion, Whippoorwill still remains a working family farm with cattle, three llamas and two farm dogs. The peaceful, scenic setting also has made it a popular

site for weddings, with many couples holding their nuptials in the Chapel of Peace.

There is no admission fee to the village, and visitors take a self-guided walking tour through this small commu-nity of yesteryear. Among the numerous sites are a one-room schoolhouse, a replica of Daniel Boone’s cabin, the Tom Dooley Museum and the Smokehouse Art Gallery.

There is also a blacksmith shop, country store and a building that once housed the Yadkin River Jail. Other interesting attractions include a country tavern and an 1800s weaving room.

The village is open every Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. as well as during the week by appointment. It is closed during the cold weather months of January through March. The commu-nity of Ferguson is located along N.C. Highway 268 between Wilkesboro and Lenoir.

Whippoorwill Academy and Village also celebrates an annual Daniel Boone Day each May for families to enjoy music, arts and crafts, food, hayrides, cloggers and tours. In December, a Christmas open house is held with several activities scheduled, including an appearance by Santa Claus.

The Chapel of Peace at Whippoorwill Academy and Village is a popular site for weddings.

Not-Lonesome Whippoorwill


Portfolio

Mozelle Howell first learned how to make fried apple pies when she

was 6 years old. Today, she is 81.The Moravian Falls resident has

built up quite a reputation for herself because her pies are always a culinary hit at the annual Brushy Mountain Apple Festival, which occurs in downtown North Wilkesboro every first Saturday in October. She operates a booth fit-tingly called Mozelle Howell’s Fried Apple Pies, and sells her dessert delights for $2.50 apiece.

“A customer can only eat but one pie at a time – one will fill you up,” Howell says. “I bake 20 boxes of pies that hold 100 apiece, and all 2,000 get sold at the festival. Unfortunately, then I must pay taxes on the money I earn.”

Howell says she got really involved with pie making as a young lady, when a bunch of women in the community were asked to bake goods for another local festival that was about to take place in Wilkes County.

“Some of the ladies baked bread, some made cakes, and I volunteered to make my fried apple pies,” she says. “It’s my specialty and I’ve been baking many of them ever since.”

She says the secret to her delicious pies is a certain apple she uses, which she wants to remain a secret.

“I cook my apples until they’re done, and let them cool overnight. That’s one of the tricks that makes my pies taste so good – by waiting until the next day to start putting all of the ingredients

together,” she says.Those ingredients include sugar,

spices, margarine, oil and shortening.“I also use Southern self-rising flour

that is ideal for making the dough, and I also use milk – not water – in the dough-making process,” she says. “I place five pies on a cookie sheet and then lay five more the opposite way, then cook them. It takes me about a week to get ready for the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival, but I still really enjoy it.”

It’s All About the Apple of Her Pies

Moravian Falls resident Mozelle Howell and her famous apple pies


www.wilkes.net

www.datapub.net

WILKES SENIOR CENTER

… has something for everyone!

(60 years and older)

RECREATION � LEISURE � SERVICES � EDUCATION

Workers construct a one-person aircraft at MX Aircraft, the newest aviation company in Wilkes.

If a local company’s mission deals with aviation, they would be wise to locate

their operations near Wilkes County Airport. And in fact, several businesses have done just that.

Three new businesses have located near the airfield in recent years, includ-ing DoveAir Inc. whose corporate headquarters is actually located in Asheville. DoveAir is a small business jet sales company that maintains an impressive inventory of its aircraft at Wilkes County Airport.

Meanwhile, Smokey Mountain Avionics has also situated in the area to produce and install instrumentation and radios that pilots need for safe and successful f lights. The company performs jobs both small and large, including the complete custom outfit-ting of a plane’s cockpit.

The newest aviation-related company to situate near the airport is MX Aircraft, which now has a facility on Corporate Aviation Drive. The company builds sports, aerobatic and race planes, then tests the aircraft at the airport before selling them to customers who hail from throughout the United States and beyond.

Wilkes County Airport is also home to the Wilkes Flying Club, which was formed in 2007 to educate and foster more interest in general aviation and f light safety. The club has several highly experienced, Federal Aviation Administration-certified flight instruc-tors who occasionally offer periodic ground school and flight safety seminars through a partnership with Wilkes Community College. WCC students train at the airport in the club’s Cessna 172 plane.

Wilkes County Airport itself is a general aviation facility and home to a number of corporate and personal aircraft, with a total of 36 planes based on the field – including six jets. The airport offers 24-hour weather service and an air traffic control operation that is open every day from dawn to dusk.

Wilkes’ Aviation Sector Takes FlightIA

N C

UR

CIO


Portfolio

of Northwest North CarolinaWilkes Family Branch & YMCA Express

For more information, please call 838-3991 or visit us online at

www.WilkesYMCA.org.

A party is not a party unless you decorate it

with STREAMERS!

One Stop Party Shop!

838-1340 www.StreamersPartySupply.com

Available for parties and

gatherings of all kinds.

838-1332

www.tiffanysplace.net

667-3171

www.wilkesheritage museum.com

www.blueridgemusic halloffame.com

A t i t t

ga

“It’s ALL about

the FUN …

Let the

GOOD TIMES Roll!”

DVDs Marry History With Technology

Thanks to many people, the history of Wilkes County is now saved on

DVDs, and there are more to come.In 2007, the Wilkes County

Commission began to prepare for the county’s 230th anniversary that was coming the following year. One way commissioners decided to mark the occasion was to adopt the Save Our History DVD Project initiative, and things started to move forward.

“A lot of our local history has been stored at the Wilkes Community College library thanks to contributions from people such as former North Carolina poet laureate James Larkin Pearson and local historian J.J. Anderson,” says Fay Byrd, director of the Wilkes Community College Learning Resources Center. “Because of our efforts in the DVD project, then-First Lady Laura Bush designated Wilkes County as a Preserve America community.”

Byrd says a lot of people worked as a team to compile footage for the endeavor, and a number of companies and indi-viduals contributed money toward the cause. As a result, the project now features a dozen DVDs that are

– Stories by Kevin Litwin


www.wilkesheritagemuseum.com

www.blueridgemusichalloffame.com

www.wilkesYMCA.org

www.tiffanysplace.net

www.streamerspartysupply.com

www.epa.gov/radon

Bears Fruit

WinningLegacy


THRIVING LOCAL WINE INDUSTRY WELCOMES NEWEST VINEYARD

O n the western North Carolina land where leg-endary NASCAR driver Benny Parsons was born

and raised, his legacy endures at a vine-yard bearing his name.

Benny Parsons Rendezvous Ridge in Purlear is the newest wine operation in the area, but certainly not the only one. There are nearly three dozen wineries and vineyards within a 30-mile radius – and the industry is growing steadily here.

Other area wineries include Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery, MenaRick Vineyard and Winery, both in Ronda;

McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks in Thurmond and Elkin Creek Vineyard in Elkin.

Rendezvous Ridge opened in July 2007 as a vineyard, wine-tasting room and racing museum honoring Parsons, who died in January 2007 of lung cancer. His widow, Terri, completed their home on the property and oversees the business operation.

“Benny had owned all this land up here for a lot of years. It had been in his family and handed down from gener-ation to generation,” says Terri Parsons. “We had started getting calls from land

developers wanting to purchase the land.”Benny Parsons asked his good friend,

Richard Childress of Richard Childress Racing and Childress Vineyards in nearby Lexington for advice, and Childress suggested that Parsons estab-lish a vineyard on his family land, Terri Parsons says.

“The day I moved in, the house was about 70 percent complete, and the grapevines hadn’t even arrived yet,” she says. “When Benny passed away, he never saw them in the ground, but he had worked with our winemaker and picked out what he liked. He picked out

STORY BY ANNE GILLEM PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO

Left: Raffaldini Vineyards is among nearly three dozen wineries within a 30-mile radius of Wilkes.Above: Terri Parsons raises a glass as she joins visitors at Wilkes’ newest winery, Benny Parsons Rendezvous Ridge.


Business

the bottles, I designed the labels and the corks, and his youngest son wrote the copy for the back of the labels.

“The land was very important because of the legacy it held for the family,” Parsons says. “[Benny] was born and raised in an old house down the street. When you look at that house and the house I’m in, you can see the great distance his life traveled. He lived there with his great-grandmother.”

Parsons is buried in a family ceme-tery behind the old home.

In the racing museum, Parsons’ accomplishments as a NASCAR driver and later as a respected racing commen-tator are showcased, and Terri Parsons herself gives the tours. Parsons, who started his driving career in 1963, was the 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion and won the Daytona 500 in 1975.

Rendezvous Ridge occupies six acres, and the operation produces 2,000 cases of wine a year, Parsons says.

“What we did and what Benny wanted

to do was take the snob appeal out of wine,” she says. “Part of what makes us unique is our wine-tasting room is located in a racing museum. He didn’t want race fans to feel like they had to know a lot about wine to enjoy the experience.”

Parsons says the growth of the local wine industry is exciting.

“There is nothing better,” she says. “The more of us the better.”

Many of these businesses are show-cased each year when downtown North Wilkesboro hosts the annual ’Shine to Wine Festival. The event, which celebrated its fifth year in May 2009, features enter-tainment, food, art and wine from some 15 local vineyards and wineries.

What’s Online eVisit www.imageswilkes.com for a video interview with Terri Parsons and a glimpse around Benny Parsons Rendezvous Ridge.

Wilkes’ newest winery, Benny Parsons Rendezvous Ridge



Soaring to New HeightsWILKES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE KEEPS ITS SOLID BUSINESS BASE GROWING

H unkering down and hoping for the best just isn’t the style of the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, which is putting new programs and activities into place to meet

current challenges head-on.A new theme, “Soaring to New Heights,” captures what the

organization is all about during a rough economic period, and it also shines light on new players in the local economy, says Linda Cheek, president.

“We’re in challenging times, but we’re also seeing new opportunities and growth in segments we haven’t had before, like aviation,” Cheek says. “And this theme captures what we want to do now and how we plan to move forward.”

A sunny outlook is being tempered by economic reality, so the chamber also is working to make sure it has services in place for members who may be struggling through the downturn.

If all goes well, people freed up by one industry’s contraction might be slotted into a growth area, or at least given the oppor-tunity for new training while they’re in the market. That emphasis on skill development extends to the school system, where chamber members have a vested interest in pursuing excellence.

“This is a really good time to plan,” Cheek says. “We’re losing manufacturing jobs, and so we’re looking at our educa-tional system and supporting the technology and other programs there that will be training tomorrow’s workers. We have been able to let people know how important Smart boards, PDAs and laptops are to the school system, and help them through grants and philanthropy to enhance and add to what they have.”

The chamber also has launched a youth leadership program that operates in tandem with its adult leadership program and has more than 100 graduates. With a membership of around 700, there are plenty of chamber-affiliated businesses with which to pair youth participants for learning experiences outside the classrooms.

Add to that an ongoing series of small-business workshops, highly attended business-after-hours events and networking meetings, and the calendar is packed with opportunities for the chamber’s membership.

“People are looking for ways to do business, and they want to do business with people they know,” Cheek says. “That’s why we partner with the [Wilkes JobLink Career Center] for workforce development programs, and communicate about these facilities and opportunities to our members. We want to make sure that they all know what they can be doing now so that when the economy turns back around, they’ll be ready.”

To that end, the chamber supports the work of Wilkes Economic Development Corp. to grow the area’s new aviation-related businesses, but also bring in more white-collar employers such as technology-oriented businesses.

“That’s where our growth lies,” Cheek says. “We feel that service jobs and health-care jobs are areas that we can grow. We’re growing our tourism industry so we can capitalize on the new visitors center currently being built on U.S. Highway 421 by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The center will help showcase the area to tourists, and to new employers, enabling us to better communicate all that Wilkes has going on.” – Joe Morris


Business | Chamber Report

Biz BriefsBUSINESSES – BOTH LARGE AND SMALL – THAT HELP DEFINE

WILKES COUNTY’S ECONOMIC CLIMATE

TYSON FOODS INC.Biz: chicken processingBuzz: Tyson Foods Inc. in Wilkesboro has built a reputation for its corporate citizenship. Tyson is Wilkes County’s largest employer, providing jobs for approximately 2,600 people. The company estimates that including the company’s payroll, the pay-out to contract producers and other payments for utilities create an annual economic impact of more than $130 million here. www.tyson.com

ScorecardBUSINESS AT

A GLANCE

$511,313Retail sales ($1,000)

$7,653Retail sales

per capita

$47,998Accommodations

and food service

sales ($1,000)

5,070Total number

of firms

Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts


Business

HUFFMAN EVENTSBiz: event companyBuzz: Huffman Events aims to bring the creative vision of its experienced staff to the entire High Country, Piedmont and surrounding areas. The company provides complete planning, catering, f loral and decorating services – from invitations to cakes and location scouting. The staff assists customers in planning events of all sizes - from guest lists ranging from the tens to the thousands. www.huffmanevents.com

WINDOW WORLD INC.Biz: replacement window companyBuzz: Founded in 1995 in Wilmington by Leon Whitworth, Window World Inc. has grown to 205 offices in 46 states, making it the largest replacement window company in America. Now headquartered in North Wilkesboro, it seemed especially fitting when the company made its debut as a NASCAR sponsor in the 2009 Daytona 500 for the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports team.www.windowworld.com

LEATHERWOOD MOUNTAINS Biz: residential-vacation resort Buzz: Leatherwood Mountains is a horse-lovers paradise, featuring accommodations, full-service boarding for horses, as well as horseback riding trips that cater to both weekend guests and full-time residents. Riders and their horses travel from miles around to ride Leatherwood’s horseback riding trail system, which offers something for every type of rider, from easy, wide forest paths to rugged mountain trails.www.goleatherwood.com

BRANCIFORTE’S BRICK OVENBiz: restaurantBuzz: This dining destination on Main Street in downtown North Wilkesboro specializes in authentic Italian food, including a variety of pastas, brick oven pizza, gelato and Italian coffees. The menu also includes other dishes incorporating meats such as veal, salmon and chicken. The restaurant often receives praise for its excellent service and pleasant atmosphere, which includes an outdoor patio.(336) 838-1110

301 West Main Street Wilkesboro

1404 West D Street North Wilkesboro

709 East Main Street Jefferson

107 North Fifth Avenue West Jefferson

1488 Mt. Jefferson Road West Jefferson

Warm up

to hi

gh-qu

ality

heati

ng oi

l and

prop

ane f

rom BP.

Party

/Brid

al Sup

plies

and E

quipm

ent

www.reins

turdiv

ant.c

om

… do business in

Wilkes County!

Keep the

growth local …


www.reinsturdivant.com

Wilkes Economic

Development Corporation

717 Main St.


(336) 838-1402

www.wilkesedc.com

GOVERNMENT OFFICES

Town of Wilkesboro

203 W. Main St.

Wilkesboro, NC 28697

(336) 838-3951

www.wilkesboronorth

carolina.com

Town of North Wilkesboro

832 Main St.


(336) 667-7129

www.north-wilkesboro.com

Town of Ronda

123 Chatham St.

Ronda, NC 28670

(336) 835-2061

Wilkes County Government110 North St.

Wilkesboro, NC 28697

(336) 651-7346


INDUSTRIAL SITES

www.wilkesedc.com

BUSINESS CLIMATEWilkes County is home to a diverse and rapidly growing population.

With developments such as the Timber Ridge gated community

and other similar residential developments, Wilkes County is

becoming a destination for retirees and second-home owners,

a majority of whom represent upper education and income levels.

WILKES

TAX STRUCTURE

4.25%State Sales Tax

6.75%Total Sales Tax

TRANSPORTATION

Wilkes County Airport(336) 696-2000


ECONOMIC RESOURCES

Wilkes Chamber of Commerce717 Main St.


(336) 838-8662

www.wilkesnc.org

MORE ONLINE

imageswilkes.comMore facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.tools and links to resources.

E OEEEEE OOOOOOOOOO

MAJOR EMPLOYERS

Company Product/Service No. of Employees

Tyson Farms Inc Manufacturing 2,000+

Lowe’s Cos. Inc. Professional & business services 1,000+

Wilkes County Board of Education Education 1,000+

Wilkes Regional Medical Center Health care 500-999

Wilkes County Public administration 500-999

Lowe’s Home Centers Inc. Trade, transportation & utilities 250-499

Louisiana-Pacific Corp. Talx Manufacturing 250-499

Compucredit Corp. Financial services 250-499

Wilkes Community College Education 250-499

Tyson Poultry Inc. Manufacturing 250-499

East Coast Millwork Trade, transportation & utilities 250-499

N.C. Department of Transportation Public administration 250-499


Business | Economic Profile


On any given weekday, the Ruby Pardue Blackburn Adult Day Health Care Center is abuzz with activity. From social opportunities to classes and crafts, the

facility is unique in Wilkes County in that it provides a safe, comfortable environment for adults who can’t or shouldn’t stay at home alone while caregivers go to work, run errands or just take a break.

The nonprofit center, located in West Park Medical Park, opened in 2008.

Executive Director Kimberly Bridgeman says families often find the center a welcome alternative to nursing home or in-home care.

“In-home care doesn’t allow clients the socialization aspect they receive here,” she says. “Several clients have made comments about the new friends they’ve made. It really touches each individual in a different way.”

While many of the facility’s clients are elderly, the center also welcomes young and middle-aged adults with psychiatric illness, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, or accident-related injuries. Certified as both an adult day care and an adult day health-care center, the facility employs personal assistants certified in CPR and first-aid, along with a full-time health care coordinator to assist with nursing care, dispense medi-cation and address other medical needs.

Licensed for 65 clients, the 10,000-square-foot facility provides ample room for personal and medical care, including therapeutic services. Clients can take advantage of on-site barber and beauty shop services, or sharpen their culinary skills in a large, home-like kitchen, where nutritious lunches and snacks are prepared daily. Patrons also find a safe respite outdoors in the center’s 6,000-square-foot, fenced-in therapeutic garden.

Bridgeman says daily activities are designed around the interests and capabilities of clients and often are provided by community volunteers. From musicians and magicians to cooks and crafters, gifted friends and neighbors provide a variety of activities to keep clients entertained and engaged. It

was such support from the Wilkes County community that made the center possible at all, Bridgeman says, and new volunteers are welcomed.

Realization of the need for an adult day health-care center surfaced following a seven-year study from Adult Enrichment Services of Wilkes and The Health Foundation Inc. Since 1991, the volunteer-led foundation has worked to improve the health and welfare of the Wilkes community, and this project fell perfectly in line with that goal.

More than $1.5 million was generated to construct the center. Major contributions included funding from The Duke Endowment, the Golden Leaf Foundation, Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation and others.

Today, the center’s operating budget comes from charitable donations and private-pay clients, as well as county, state and Medicaid funds.

“Community response has been tremendous,” Bridgeman says. “A lot of folks come in inquiring about services and touring the center. We’ve also had very generous supporters who send contributions and donate items on our wish list because they really understand the importance of having this service in the county.” – Melanie Hill

Obstetrics & GynecologyDr. Duane H. Smith

Pamela Sloop, FNP-C

(336) 667-8241

The Center of AttentionADULT DAY HEALTH CARE FACILITY MEETS SOCIAL NEEDS OF ELDERLY POPULATION

IAN

CU

RC

IO


Health & Wellness

Students in Wilkes County Schools are some of the most tech-savvy in the region, if not the state, and

recent grants and donations ensure that this tradition will continue.

The school system always has invested heavily in classroom technology, and these days its budget is being supple-mented by a $900,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation, an organ-ization created in 1999 that received half the money from the state’s piece of the national tobacco settlement. It distributes funds to counties once tobacco-de-pendent, as well as those economically distressed or rural. The county also has received $1 million from the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation and some private funds for a total of almost $3 million, says Dr. Stephen Laws, superintendent.

“Our desire is to have each of the 646 classrooms in the Wilkes County schools equipped with a SMART Board, a data projector and laptop for the system, and all that will be around $5,000 per class-room,” Laws says. “Then we also want the teacher to have a laptop, as well as one for each student in grades nine through 12. Then we’re looking for stu-dents in grades six through eight to have an e-mini, or smaller laptop, and then to get PDAs for students in grades three through five.”

All the devices will be wireless, as the schools have been or are being adapted for Wi-Fi. The goal is to have all the new technology in place by January 2012, and even though the price tag is around $6.5 million, Laws says that based on the level of support so far, that goal should be met with continued hard work.

“We think this is the way to go,” he says. “We are giving students access to more knowledge than they’ve ever had before, and we’re awfully proud of the program. We’re very grateful that these

foundations and the people who have donated have chosen to invest in us.”

Having high school graduates come to campus with this edge is helpful to Wilkes Community College, which has several projects and programs that connect directly to the local and regional economy.

“This puts them ahead of the curve as far as moving into college-level work,” says Mike Pierce, the college’s advanced materials technology director. “If they’re accustomed to utilizing technology for learning and not just playing games or

texting, this is a huge leap forward.”Pierce also is director of the

Northwest North Carolina Advanced Materials Cluster, a consortium of the college and Wilkes, Ashe and Alleghany counties devoted to developing business and creating manufacturing jobs uti-lizing advanced materials products. As the organization sees success, it will need workers who are ready to move into these fairly high-tech positions, Pierce says.

– Joe Morris

Students Enjoy Lap of LuxurySCHOOLS ENSURE ACCESS TO LAPTOP COMPUTERS AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY

Wilkes County Schools aims to provide PDAs to all of its students

in the third through fifth grades. IAN

CU

RC

IO


Education

Skateboarders have excellent opportunities to indulge their high-rolling ways at Wilkes County’s state-of-the-art skate parks.

Every day, the area’s two parks, with high-flying ramps and half-pipes, beckon to skaters of all ages, sending parents racing to local sporting goods stores.

At the North Wilkesboro Skateboard Park, skateboarders enjoy a “street skate” environment complete with railings, grinds, ramps and a picnic table and bench installed exclusively for skateboarding. Located in downtown Smoot Park, the site has become a favorite after-school and summer post for many area youths, who also take advantage of the park’s public pool and other offerings.

“Skateboarding is pretty big right now, and kids and parents were asking why we didn’t have a skate park,” says Nelson Martin, Town of North Wilkesboro parks and recreation director. “Kids had been skating downtown on the sidewalks, post office and church steps, and we wanted to draw them off the streets into a more controlled atmosphere.”

A public meeting allowed skaters to provide input to city planners, and, according to Martin, helped foster a sense of ownership among many of the skate park’s regular patrons. More than $100,000 and multiple truckloads of cement later,

the park now welcomes up to 100 skaters a day in warm summer months.

“A lot of the kids are really proud of the park, and try to protect it,” Martin says. “It gives them a place to go and something to do, since just about everything downtown is off limits to skateboarders.”

Adrenaline junkies also take refuge at The Edge Skate Park, located at 1606 Industrial Drive in Wilkesboro. The popular park, which opened in 2003, features four-foot ramps with a half-pipe. The project was a $120,000 investment for the city, and brings skaters of all ages out to rollerblade, skate-board and bike with like-minded high-speed enthusiasts.

“This park has allowed skaters a safe place to skate away from the highways and has calmed the business owners,” says Kevin Anderson, Wilkes County Parks and Recreation director, referring to shop owners’ concern for their customers who are walking on the sidewalks.

The Edge also is home to Wilkes County’s BMX Bike Track. The 1,100-foot track welcomes dozens of adventurous biking enthusiasts each week and draws crowds with weekly Saturday night races from March through October. The public track is one of only four BMX tracks in North Carolina sanctioned by the American Bicycle Association. – Melanie Hill

Meet Our High RollersYOUTHS FLOCK TO WILKES’ TWO POPULAR STATE-OF-THE-ART SKATE PARKS

Matt Rice, 13, practices his skating moves at the North Wilkesboro Skateboard Park, one of two in the area.

IAN

CU

RC

IO

What’s Online eVisit www.imageswilkes.com to see video at the North Wilkesboro Skateboard Park.


Sports & Recreation


visit ouradvertisersAmerican Drew Lea www.leaindustries.com

Charter Business www.charter-business.com

CommunityOne Bank NA www.myyesbank.com

Compu Credit www.compucredit.com

County of Wilkes www.wilkescounty.net

Data Publishing www.datapublishing.com

Foothills Center for Women

Gardner Glass Products www.gardnerglass.com

Grand Rental Station www.grandrentalstation.com

Lowe’s www.lowes.com

Mike’s Body Shop

North Carolina Mountain Investments LLC www.ncmire.com

Rose Glen Village www.roseglenwilkesboro.net

Ruby Pardue Blackburn Adult Day Care Center www.wilkesadultdaycare.org

Specialty Car Company Inc. www.specialtycarcompany.com

The Hampton Inn www.hamptoninnwilkesboro.com

Wilkes Regional Medical Center www.wilkesregional.org

Wilkes Senior Center www.wilkesseniorcenter.org

Wilkes YMCA www.wilkesymca.org

Yadkin Valley Bank www.yadkinvalleybank.com

Transforming information into value418 Brushy Mountain Rd.Wilkesboro, NC 28697 336.903.6500 T336.903.6599 F www.compucredit.com

Transforming in

A growing force in Wilkes County


www.charter-business.com

www.compucredit.com

Moonshine, fast cars and the law provide all the makings of a great story – and it’s the true

tale of Wilkes County’s colorful past.Today, people share in the area’s his-

tory as a moonshine capital and witness the origins of local moonshine runner turned NASCAR racing legend Junior Johnson at the riveting outdoor drama,

Moonshine & Thunder – The Junior Johnson Story, staged by the Wilkes Playmakers at the Forest Edge Amphitheatre in Fort Hamby Park.

Not one, but two shows bring the county’s exciting heritage to life. Tom Dooley – A Wilkes County Legend, the story of the 19th-century trial and hang-ing of Tom Dula (which is pronounced

Dooley), who was convicted for the mur-der of Laura Foster, is also a summertime fixture onstage.

Karen Reynolds, executive director of the Playmakers, wrote both outdoor dramas, and has been with the nonprofit organization since its start in 1990. Tom Dooley celebrated its ninth season in 2009, with performances July 5-18, and Moonshine & Thunder its third, with a weeklong run, June 26-July 3. The subject matter for the plays is both interesting and entertaining, she says.

“Tom Dooley took about a year to write,” she says. “I was not as familiar with the racing and the moonshine, so it took a couple of years to write Moonshine & Thunder. One of the reasons was moonshiners aren’t so quick to talk to you until they know you, and there really is a code of silence in the foothills. It took me a long time to get them to talk to me and tell me stories.

“And the one who was most open – I guess he’s most used to it – is Junior Johnson himself,” she says. “When he realized this [play] was really going to happen, he invited me to breakfast. He has breakfast every morning in his garage with all of his friends. They sat around and told me stories, and I got a lot of material from that.”

Johnson won 50 NASCAR races in his driving career, including the Daytona 500 in 1960, and later became a team owner. He honed his driving skills running “white lightning” as a young man and served time in prison after being con-victed of moonshining in 1956. President Ronald Reagan later pardoned him.

Johnson has seen the outdoor drama that bears his name, Reynolds says.

“He did come to see the show and absolutely loved it,” she says.

The multimedia show features film clips from NASCAR, live actors onstage, old cars – and a moonshine still is even blown up during the drama.

“Tom Dooley is a very serious outdoor drama; a serious topic,” Reynolds says. “Moonshine & Thunder is just fun. It was just meant to entertain.”

– Anne Gillem

Marty Ropen as Junior Johnson and Michelle Hamby as Queen of the Speedway in Moonshine & Thunder - The Junior Johnson Story.

IAN

CU

RC

IO

Staging Successes With Local History OUTDOOR DRAMAS RECOUNT AREA’S COLORFUL PAST


Arts & Culture

SNAPSHOTWilkes County is thriving with continuous growth while

maintaining its high environmental standards and pristine beauty.

Residents enjoy dimensions of life not commonly seen in other

communities of its size such as culture, arts, entertainment,

festivals and a host of diversions that make life interesting.

WILKES

CLIMATE

Wilkes County enjoys a

temperate year-round climate

that varies with the elevation.

One of the most notable

features of Wilkes County

is that it is bordered on three

sides by mountain ranges that

protect the area from adverse

weather, often deflecting away

major snow and rain storms.

24 FJanuary Low Temperature

49 FJanuary High Temperature

63 FJuly Low Temperature

89 FJuly High Temperature

EDUCATION

In Wilkes County, education

is a priority and the rewards

are evident in the public

school system and the growth

of Wilkes Community College.

The Wilkes County School

System consists of 22 schools,

serving more than 10,000

students. For a list of schools

and other information, visit

www.imageswilkes.com.

HEALTH CARE

A key component of Wilkes

County’s excellent livability is

convenient access to the best

in medical care. In addition

to Wilkes Regional Medical

Center, there are rural medical

centers and the Wilkes County

Health Department offering a

variety of health services. For

a breakdown of medical

services, visit www.

imageswilkes.com.

REAL ESTATE

$164,000Average Home Price

14.49%Home Turnover Percentage

LOCAL UTILITIES

AmeriGas Propane1207 Second St.

North Wilkesboro, N.C. 28659

(336) 838-8962

(800) 784-3839

Duke Energy111 Second St.


(800) 777-9898

Ferrell Propane Gas Co.

301 Wilkesboro Ave.


(336) 667-8533

Wilkes

Telecommunications, Inc.

1400 River St.

Wilkesboro, N.C. 28697

(336) 973-3103

See www.wilkesnc.org

for additional listings.

ARTS AND CULTURE

www.explorewilkes.com

Merlefest

Wilkesboro, (800) 343-7857

www.merlefest.org

Wilkes Art Gallery

913 C St.


(336) 667-2841

www.wilkesartgallery.org

Wilkes Heritage Museum

100 E. Main St.

Wilkesboro, N.C. 28697

(336) 667-3171

www.wilkesheritage

museum.com

Brushy Mountain Apple Festival

North Wilkesboro

(336) 984-3022

www.applefestival.net

MORE ONLINE

imageswilkes.com

More facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.

E OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


Community Profile


Ad Index C3 AMERICAN DREW LEA

34 CHARTER BUSINESS

8 COMMUNITYONE BANK NA

34 COMPU CREDIT

1 COUNTY OF WILKES

21 DATA PUBLISHING

31 FOOTHILLS CENTER FOR WOMEN

C3 GARDNER GLASS PRODUCTS

29 GRAND RENTAL STATION

8 LOWE’S

C3 MIKE’S BODY SHOP

C3 NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAIN

INVESTMENTS LLC

C3 ROSE GLEN VILLAGE

C3 RUBY PARDUE BLACKBURN

ADULT DAY CARE CENTER

6 SPECIALTY CAR

COMPANY INC.

4 THE HAMPTON INN

C4 WILKES REGIONAL

MEDICAL CENTER

22 WILKES SENIOR CENTER

23 WILKES YMCA

29 YADKIN VALLEY BANK

part of wilkes county since 1927

389 Armory Rd. North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 (336) 651-9400 tel (336) 651-9483 fax

www.americandrew.com www.leaindustries.com

336.667.2541 www.wilkesadultdaycare.org

Mon.-Fri. 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

Independent living � Choose your lifestyle

View our services, activities and amenities at www.roseglenvillagewilkesboro.com

or call (336) 667-2952.

Rose Glen Village … When You’re Here – You’re Home!

Personalized Real Estate Sales of Residential and Commercial Properties with 25 Years Experience

www.ncmire.com Mike Martinez

Mike’s Body Shop Inc.

210 Elkin Hwy.N. Wilkesboro, NC 28659

(336) 667-9291Fax: (336) 667-0504


www.roseglenvillagewilkesboro.com

www.ncmire.com

www.gardnerglass.com

www.americandrew.com

www.leaindustries.com

www.wilkesadultdaycare.org

www.komen.org

www.liveunited.org

Cardiopulmonary / Neuro Services

Emergency Services

Intensive / Cardiac Care Unit

New Beginnings Birthing Center

Skilled Nursing Facility

Surgical Services

Women’s Services

Community Education and Outreach

Diagnostic Imaging Services

Digital Mammography

Home Health Agency

Hospice

In Home Aid Program

Outpatient Dialysis Center

Rehabilitation Center

Radiologic Technology School

The doctor can SEE you now.

ADVANCED CT SCANNING AT WILKES REGIONAL

www.wilkesregional.org

images wilkes county, nc: 2009-10

Documents

online gallery

wilkes tick

sales todd potter v

wilkes countys newest

newest vineyardsponsored

sales carla

terri parsons

local flavorgo