Images Wilkes County, NC: 2007-08

Future Einsteins?Wilkes Community College boasts new space for science

PERMANENT VACATIONHigh Country visitors usually decide to stay

TASTES LIKE (SLOW-ROASTED) CHICKENTyson leads industry in innovation

2007-08 | IMAGESWILKES.COM | VIDEO TOUR ONLINE

SPONSORED BY THE WILKES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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OF WILKES, NORTH CAROLINA

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20 Tastes Like (Slow-Roasted) ChickenTyson Cooked Products uses high-tech methods to lead thepoultry industry in innovation.

22 Biz Briefs

25 Chamber Report

26 Economic Profi le

14

DEPARTMENTS

6 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Wilkes culture

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

34 Image Gallery

38 Education

41 Sports & Recreation

42 Arts & Culture

45 Health & Wellness

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

ON THE COVER Lowe’s Hall at Wilkes Community College Photo by Ian Curcio

CONTENTS

FEATURES

10 PERMANENT VACATIONMany High Country visitors ultimately choose to relocate here afterexperiencing the serene surroundings.

14 WHEN THERE ARE WHEELS, THERE’S A WAYA growing number of bikers and cyclists are taking to the hills of Wilkes County.

18 PLENTY OF PALATE PLEASERSResidents throughout Wilkes County have more places to eat, thanks to several new and refurbished eateries.

39 FUTURE EINSTEINS?Wilkes Community College’s Lowe’s Hall provides spectacular new space for science classes.


2007-08 EDITION | VOLUME 8

WILKES BUSINESS

WILKES IMAGESWILKES .COM 3

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SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT ANY RESEMBLANCE TO PLACES, EVENTS OR QUALITY OF LIFE IN WILKES IS PURELY INTENTIONAL!

“WILKES LIKE IT’S NEVER BEEN SEEN

BEFORE!”

“IT KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY LAPTOP!”

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ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE

Images of Wilkes is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is sponsored by the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce. In print and online, Images gives readers a taste of what makes Wilkes tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.

MOVING PICTURES Take a video tour of Wilkes at imageswilkes.com.

SENIOR EDITOR LISA BATTLES

COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS

ASSOCIATE EDITORS SUSAN CHAPPELL,KIM MADLOM, ANITA WADHWANI

ASSISTANT EDITOR REBECCA DENTON

STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN, JESSICA MOZO

DIRECTORIES EDITORS AMANDA KING, KRISTY WISE

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS PAIGE CLANCY, RENEE ELDER, ANNE GILLEM, DAN MARKHAM, JOE MORRIS

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER TODD POTTER

SENIOR AD PROJECT MANAGER SUZI MCGRUDER

SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR SARA SARTIN

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS WES ALDRIDGE,ANTONY BOSHIER, MICHAEL W. BUNCH,

IAN CURCIO, BRIAN MCCORD

PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT JESSY YANCEY

CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS

WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR SHAWN DANIEL

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS

ASST. PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN

PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR HAZEL RISNER

SENIOR PRODUCTION PROJECT MGR. TADARA SMITH

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER, KRIS SEXTON, VIKKI WILLIAMS

LEAD DESIGNER JESSICA BRAGONIER

GRAPHIC DESIGN CANDICE HULSEY, LINDA MOREIRAS, DEREK MURRAY, AMY NELSON

WEB DESIGN RYAN DUNLAP

WEB PRODUCTION JILL TOWNSEND

DIGITAL ASSET MANAGER ALISON HUNTER

COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN CORY MITCHELL

AD TRAFFIC COORDINATOR JILL WYATT

AD TRAFFIC SARAH MILLER, 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./PRODUCTION & OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER

V.P./SALES HERB HARPER

V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER

V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART

EXECUTIVE EDITOR TEREE CARUTHERS

MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS MAURICE FLIESS

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO

CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY

ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA McFARLAND, LISA OWENS, JACKIE YATES

RECRUITING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP

DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH

IT SYSTEMS DIRECTOR MATT LOCKE

IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

NICOLE WILLIAMS

CLIENT & SALES SERVICES MANAGER/

CUSTOM MAGAZINES PATTI CORNELIUS

Images of 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 28659(336) 838-8662 • Fax: (336) 838-3728

www.wilkesnc.org

VISIT IMAGES OF WILKES ONLINE AT IMAGESWILKES.COM

©Copyright 2007 Journal Communications Inc.,361 Mallory Station Road, Ste. 102, 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 CouncilMember Wilkes Chamber of Commerce

ONLINE CONTENTS More lists, links and tips for newcomers

GET SMART ABOUT LOCAL SCHOOLS Find listings and links to schools, colleges and universities.

SEE HOW THE GARDENS GROW Get the dirt on growing seasons, soils and common challenges.

WHAT DO THE LOCALS EAT? Discover what makes cuisine in this region so deliciously different.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME Search for a new home, plus get moving tips and more at realtor.com.


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Museum MusingsThe Wilkes Heritage Museum has become

a preferred tourism destination, thanks to its

large number of unusual exhibits.

The museum opened in November 2005

inside the old Wilkes County Courthouse,

which itself dates back to 1902. There are

hundreds of artifacts on display at the

museum, covering subjects such as Wilkes

County early settlement, military history,

industry, agriculture, medicine, communication,

education, entertainment and transportation.

The 20,000-square-foot facility includes an

auditorium, stage, theatrical lights and a

surround sound system.

Tour goers also may visit the 1860 Old

Wilkes Jail that is situated directly behind

the museum, as well as the 1779 log home

of Capt. Robert Cleveland, an American

Revolutionary War soldier who is a hero

in this area.

Party CentralWilkes County boasts a ripe

atmosphere for festivals, the largest

of which is the Brushy Mountain Apple

Festival. The event on the first Saturday

of October draws more than 160,000

visitors to downtown North Wilkesboro

and features arts and crafts vendors,

musical performances, delicious foods

and of course, an abundance of apples.

The annual festival is one of the biggest

in the Southeast and is the primary

fundraiser for the Brushy Mountain

Ruritan Club. Another popular

component of the Brushy Mountain

Apple Festival is the Apple Jam,

a musical event held at the corner

of 10th and Main streets on the

Friday evening prior to the festival.

Other major annual events include

MerleFest in April, the Shine to Wine

Festival in May, the Wilkes Heritage

Festival in June, the Carolina in

the Fall music fest in

October and the

Wilkes Agricultural

Fair each fall.

Stitching Up RecognitionWilkes County Quilters Guild recently received the honor

of having several of its members’ work displayed at the 2007

Travel Industry Association Conference. The guild has gained a

reputation for fine work, partly because of the buzz generated

each September when the group hosts the popular show,

Wilkes Quilts, in Wilkesboro. The show has been in existence

since 2001 and features quilts created by guild members as well

as those made by visiting quilters. All proceeds from the show

go toward workshops and community service projects, such as

providing scores of crib quilts for babies and small youth quilts

for children who benefit from local charities. Besides checking

out the beautiful and intricately designed works on display,

show attendees also enjoy drawings for items such as quilts and

sewing machines, enabling them to take the joy of quilts and

quilting home with them.

6 IMAGESWILKES .COM WILKES

Almanac

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The Sense of Beauty

The Eddy Merle Watson Garden

of the Senses at Wilkes Community

College is designed specifically for

people who are blind or visually

impaired, and features raised planters,

Braille inscriptions and fragrant plants.

A winding wall called “Nature’s

Alphabet” incorporates brick

sculptures of things that represent

letters in the English alphabet, from

an armadillo for “A” to a zebra for “Z.”

WILKES

BLUE RIDGE PKWY.KWY.

77777777777

21

421

18

1618

Moravian Falls

Ferguson

Pleasant Hill

RondaFairplains

NorthWilkesboro

Wilkesboro

VIRGINIA

NORTH CAROLINA

Wilkes | At A GlanceWilkes County: 67,310

North Wilkesboro: 4,204

Wilkesboro: 3,204

LOCATIONWilkes County is in western North Carolina,

45 miles west of Winston-Salem and 90 miles

northwest of Charlotte.

BEGINNINGSWilkes County was established officially 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

(336) 838-8662

Fax: (336) 838-3728

www.wilkesnc.org

WilkesCounty

Feels Like Teen SpiritTeenagers need their independence, and Wilkes County

residents have provided kids with their space – or spaces.

There are many facilities throughout the county that allow

teens to meet in a fun and safe environment, including

several soccer, baseball and softball fields, volleyball and

basketball courts, and The Edge Extreme Sports Park at

Lowe’s Park, which consists of a BMX track and skate park.

In North Wilkesboro, Tiffany’s Place Teen Center is for kids

to hang out, play games, do homework and socialize. It is in

the basement of Benton Hall, and it caters to middle-school

students some days of the week and to high-school students

other days.


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YOUR FIRST CHOICE FOR QUALITY AUTOMOBILES

CAR COMPANY, INC.

119 Old Brickyard Rd. • North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 • (336) 667-6111 • Fax: (336) 838-8085

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

Serving all customers with

their financing needs,

a full detail shop and

an official N.C. State

Inspection Station.

PORSCHE • LEXUS • AUDI • MERCEDES-BENZ • BMW • CORVETTE • HUMMERCLASSICS • COLLECTOR CARS

“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”

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Fast Facts The town of Ronda,

located in eastern Wilkes County, is celebrating its 100th anniversary throughout 2007.

Old Wilkes Jail is the only jail from which the notorious North Carolina escape artist Otto Wood did not escape. He was once held there when accused of stealing a bicycle at age 15. Wood went on to lead a life of crime, and escaped from 10 jails and prisons before being killed in 1930 by the Salisbury, N.C. police chief.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Wilkesboro is home to two incredible frescoes by world-renowned artist Ben Long of Statesville. The church arranges viewings of the art for those interested.

Rendezvous Mountain Educational State Forest features The Talking Tree Trail, which has “talking trees” that provide recorded messages about themselves, their location and forest history.

The incredible 600-foot granite dome of Stone Mountain is the centerpiece of more than 13,000 beautiful mountainous acres composing Stone Mountain State Park.

SEE MORE ONLINE | For more Fast Facts about Wilkes, visit imageswilkes.com.

Good VisionThe Wilkes Chamber of Commerce has set its sights on improving Wilkes County.In 1998, the chamber established Wilkes Vision 20/20 to develop a long-range

planning process for the community. Now as 2008 arrives, the chamber’s executive committee is looking back at what has worked with Vision 20/20 and what still needs to be addressed.

“Recent past successes include increasing the high-school graduation rate by 20 percentage points over the past five years, as well as seeing a four-lane highway loop become a reality around Wilkesboro,” says Fran Evans, director of Wilkes Vision 20/20. “On the other side, Wilkes is becoming a growing retirement destination, so we need to look into infrastructure to support that growth, plus how to increase our senior services.”

Evans says the community needs to also address upcoming water supply issues, the need for a new jail, a continued focus on graduation rates and an increased emphasis on tourism attraction.

“A lot of people are on board with this vision,” she says. “We’re getting things done.”

The Mighty Tory OakAn interesting Revolutionary War story has

grown in stature over the years in Wilkes County.

In 1779, Col. Ben Cleveland authorized the

hanging of five British Tory soldiers who had

robbed the home of Lincoln County resident

George Wilfong. The soldiers used Wilfong’s

clothesline to lead off his horses, but they

eventually were captured by Cleveland’s scouts.

Cleveland administered his justice by using

Wilfong’s clothesline to hang the British loyalists

from an oak tree in Wilkesboro.

The original Tory Oak lived for more than

three centuries until it eventually rotted and

was reduced to a 12-foot stump by 1992. The

stump was finally removed that year, and the

National Park Service designated the location

as a Certified Protected Site.

In 1997, a young oak sapling was planted in

its place as a historic reminder of the fight

for independence.


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W hen busy Wilmington residents Sue and David Bridgers decided to take a vacation trip to the mountains, a friend recom-mended Wilkes County.

That’s where they discovered the perfect antidote to stress.“We rented a place for about two or three years, then

decided to build,” Sue Bridgers says.The Bridgers built a home in the Leatherwood Mountains

development in 2001. Now working as the manager of rental

properties for Leatherwood, Bridgers watches others fall under the High Country spell.

“They will come visit one time and say ‘oh my gosh,’ and fall in love,” Bridgers says. “Often, they will look at property the first time they come up. If they come up two or three times, more than likely they will buy. They love it because it’s so peaceful and quiet.”

Leatherwood is one of several developments catering to the increasing number of newcomers who decide to move to

STORY BY RENEE ELDERPHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO

David and Sue Bridgers’ home in Leatherwood Mountains provides a pristine natural environment as well as convenience to amenities found in the city, with Wilkesboro, Boone and Blowing Rock all within a 30-minute drive.

PermanentVacation

MANY HIGH COUNTRY VISITORS ULTIMATELY DECIDE TO STAY



A stay at Graystone Manor Bed and Breakfast in Wilkesboro includes a full, country-style breakfast each day.

Wilkes County after vacationing here. Lots in the 2,500-acre development range from three to 40 acres, and many Leatherwood residents take advantage of the equestrian facilities, including a barn and riding trails, for which the development is known, Bridgers says.

About 40 of the 110 homes in Leatherwood are available for vacation rentals. Other short-stay options may be found through 4 Seasons Vacation Rental, which lists more than 50 chalets and cabins on its Web site. Visitors may choose from a wide range of accommodations, including luxuriously appointed chalets, cozy secluded cabins, riverside cottages and homes with long-range mountain views.

Those looking for a home-away-from-home atmosphere while exploring the area’s real estate market will find it at Graystone Manor Bed and Breakfast Inn in Wilkesboro. Opened in 2006 by Georgina Thompson, the inn retains the charm of a bygone era but has the conveniences that modern travelers expect, including Sleep Number® beds in most of the rooms, Thompson says.

Events such as the MerleFest Americana music celebration, the Apple Festival, the Shine to Wine Festival and the Wilkes Heritage Festival give visitors a chance to really experience the community’s energy and personality, Thompson says.

“They like the river, the greenway, the antique stores and shopping – especially the cute shops downtown,” she adds.

Those who ultimately decide to invest in the High Country lifestyle can choose from several new year-round developments.

Chestnut Mountain, which is in its third phase of build-out, offers elegant custom homes. Laurelmor, a new 6,000-acre development by Ginn Clubs & Resorts, will be loaded with amenities, such as a spa, golf courses, restaurants and a movie theater. Lot prices in Laurelmor start at $500,000.

Nature lovers also may be drawn to Cielo Falls, where 1,100 scenic acres are being developed in partnership with Heritage Log Homes to emphasize the area’s natural amenities, says Bill McDonald, sales director.

“The neighborhood already has nice trout streams, but we want to make it the most sought-after trout fishing area in the country by enhancing them,” McDonald says.

With 600 acres dedicated to green space, the development will also have walking trails and a small grocery store.

“Cielo Falls will be truly a community, with a little more than 500 families,” McDonald says. Lots start at $180,000 and homes will range from about 2,000 to more than 6,000 square feet. The first homes were being completed in summer 2007.

“Some buyers want to move in full time right away, and others are hoping to be here part time for now and then move in full time over the next couple of years,” he says.

A big selling point for Cielo Falls – like much of Wilkes County – is its convenient location.

“You have the feeling of being away, but in reality you’re pretty close to pretty much anything you want to do,” McDonald says.



Cielo Falls, a residential development, is part of the growing “green development” trend that focuses on

preserving the land’s natural characteristics.



When ThereAreWheels,

The Blue Ridge Parkway is considered among the best routes in the country for motorcycle touring.


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T he mountainous terrain of Wilkes County long ago served as training grounds for some of NASCAR’s earliest

stars, providing treacherous routes for moonshine runners in souped-up hotrods and the prohibition officers who pursued them.

While those days are long gone, the area today still attracts thrill-seekers – yet they are on two wheels instead of four, and take to the hills for scenery instead of economic necessity. While mountain bikers enjoy the trails at W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, motors roar through the mountains as thousands of Harley-Davidson riders take to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

For mountain bikers, the Dark Mountain Trails and the less-technical Overmountain Victory Trail both pro-vide fast rides with views of Kerr Scott and were built by cyclists who plan to expand them further.

“We designed and built the trails ourselves,” says Jim Horton, trail boss for the Brushy Mountain Cyclists Club.

Dark Mountain is a network of about eight miles of compact trails, including the scenic Fish Dam Creek Trail. Also featuring scenic waterfront views, the OVT was built to closely follow the

STORY BY PAIGE CLANCYPHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO

WayThere’s a

MOUNTAINS BECKON CYCLISTS AND BIKERS



federally designated Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, which was the route Patriots from the area hiked in October 1780 to the Battle of Kings Mountain, a pivotal conflict in the Revolutionary War. The OVT connects to Bandits Roost Campground, where tourists can leave their campsites on bikes to hit the trails. Horton says a small group of volunteers continues to work on constructing loops off of the 6-mile OVT.

In addition, BMCC hosts several races throughout the year, including the BURN 24-Hour Challenge and a Super-D Race Series for mountain bikers, as well as three road-biking events in the area.

Crossroads Harley Davidson in Wilkesboro has been in business since 1994 and offers a variety of new and used motorcycles for sale.

Jim Horton rides the Dark Mountain Biking Trail, which features a challenging climb from lake level to the top of a ridge.

The club continues to create new mountain-biking events in hopes of drawing more cyclists to the trails.

Not far from here, Harley-Davidson riders f lock to the Blue Ridge Parkway, designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Scenic Byways Program as an All-American Road.

“People come from all over the country to ride the Blue Ridge Park-



way,” says Susie Huffman, director of the Wilkesboro Chapter of the Harley Owners Group, which is sponsored by Crossroads Harley-Davidson in Wilkesboro.

Huffman says the 90-member chapter is a nonprofit organization that follows the motto “To Ride and Have Fun.” She says the chapter is like family, as everyone feels like

brothers and sisters.In a nod to the area’s moonshining

heritage, riders’ camaraderie is cel-ebrated every summer with the Moonshine Ride, an event open to members and non-members. Huffman says the open event allows people to learn about the chapter so they might consider joining, and the ride also raises funds for chapter programming

and charitable contributions. As many as 100 bikes embark

at about 6 p.m. for a ride consisting of approximately four hours of driv-ing routes that moonshine runners might have taken many years ago, Huffman says.

“We try to have the event when it’s a full moon,” she says. “It’s a cool little concept.”



PLEASERS

PlentyPALATEof


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A ny way you slice it, sauté it or serve it up, resi-dents throughout Wilkes County are becoming increasingly well-fed, thanks to several new and refurbished eateries. Whether it’s steak and

seafood for a special occasion, or taking care of that barbeque craving, there’s a restaurant in town that fits the bill.

And the locations are just as varied as the menus. Take the Key City Grille, which opened in March 2007 in a historic building in North Wilkesboro. Over time it’s been home to at least one other restaurant and, reportedly, a brothel, according to owner Andy McDowell.

“We’ve got tax records back to 1938, but it’s older than that,” he says of Key City Grille’s three-story building. “I’m not sure about the third-floor brothel, but that’s the story.”

Today, the building is better known for its scandalously delicious menu offerings, largely consisting of American fare with Asian and Mediterranean influences, including everything from low country shrimp to vegetarian dishes.

The restaurant seats 60 and takes its name from North Wilkesboro’s designation as the key to the Blue Ridge Mountains. As for the décor, McDowell wanted to capture the area’s f lavor, so along with hardwood floors and tile throughout, the restaurant features historical photos of the community from 1885 to about 1950.

Want something with a Pacific f lair? Then head on over to Takobe Japanese Steakhouse, where your entrée can be prepared tableside, or you can get sushi made to order.

“It took people a little while to get used to it, but we’ve gotten very busy,” says owner Tommy Nguyen. “We don’t have any kind of restaurant like this in Wilkes County, so people like to come and see what we do.”

Takobe’s claim to fame is the Kobe special, which involves chicken, steak, shrimp and scallops all in one meal. And there’s a lot of it being prepared, as the restaurant seats up to 200 people and Nguyen says he’s busy for lunch and dinner every day.

More in the mood for some comfort food? Swing by Brushy Mountain Barbecue and Creamery and load up on some down-home classics.

Since opening in October 2002, the restaurant has been doing booming business both in-house and with its catering services, so much so that part-owner Jeff Swofford and other family members have opened a new restaurant in Robbinsville and are putting the final touches on a third

DELICIOUS DINING ABOUNDS IN WILKES COUNTY

STORY BY JOE MORRIS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO

Left: Key City Grille’s offerings include sea bass with shrimp and cheesecake. Right: Tommy Nguyen demonstrates how food is prepared on a hibachi grill at his Wilkesboro restaurant, Takobe Japanese Steakhouse.

location in Cherokee, set to open in June 2007.“We’ve been in food service for years in different areas,

but this was our first venture into a sit-down dining restaurant,” Swofford says. “And we’ve been really pleased at the response.”

In addition to serving up Swofford’s signature pulled-pork barbeque, the restaurant’s homemade ice cream has also been a hit with customers.

“We’ve always got 18 or 20 different f lavors, and since we make it on site we can have a good variety,” Swofford says.


350 F3 restaurants.indd 19 8/20/07 10:06:29 AM

ChickenTYSON LEADS POULTRY INDUSTRY IN COOKED PRODUCTS INNOVATION

Tastes Like(Slow-Roasted)


Business

350 Business.indd 20 8/20/07 10:03:36 AM

H olly Farms had made a huge impact on Wilkes County when Tyson Foods bought them out in 1989.

Now, Tyson is making a major impact on the poultry industry – not only in Wilkes County, but nationwide.

The Tyson Cooked Products plant in Wilkesboro has introduced an inno-vative method of roasting chicken that no other U.S. company in the industry is using. It involves slow-roasting chickens for two hours, compared to methods typically used by other poultry-producing companies, which involve deep-frying whole chickens in batter for 20-30 minutes.

“We use a high-temperature, dry-heat roasting process that gives us a unique finished product,” says Gary Johnson, manager of the Tyson Cooked Products plant. “You get a more flavor-ful chicken by slow-roasting it, plus this process offers many other advantages to our customers.”

Those advantages include providing consumers with chicken that has not been treated by any chemicals and has no chemical preservatives in the packaging.

“Consumers are familiar with every-thing on the label of a package of Tyson oven-roasted chicken, and they can pronounce all the ingredients,” says Tim Shaw, senior food technologist for research and development at Tyson Cooked Products.

Johnson says Tyson oven-roasted chicken can have a shelf life of up to 45 days, compared to chemically treated chicken packages that last about 10 days.

“We feature high-quality packages that specifically come from Wilkesboro, and we ship all over the country – even to Hawaii,” he says. “And none of our oven-roasted chicken is ever frozen.”

Johnson says that when Holly Farms was in business, they took a gamble in 1986 on a research project by purchas-ing special convection ovens that were

STORY BY KEVIN LITWINPHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO

Tyson’s Oven Roasted line provides a variety of options to consumers, from hot and spicy wings to chicken breast halves and whole chickens.

Left: Tyson Foods Inc. employs more than 3,000 people locally, including senior food technologist and research developer Tim Shaw and plant manager Gary Johnson.

manufactured in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Scots invented a process that produces healthier roasted chicken, and Holly Farms embraced the method. Tyson has been perfecting the process ever since it bought Holly Farms in 1989.

“Besides slow-cooking the chicken, Tyson uses a process that reduces the amount of oxygen in the packages, thus increasing the shelf life,” Johnson says. “We also use a technique called high-pressure pasteurization that we intro duced in March 2007, which fur-ther destroys any microorganisms that might be in a package. It is the most high-tech way to get safe, tasty chicken

to the consumer.”The Wilkesboro plant oven-roasts

about 40,000 whole chickens a day, and it also has a test kitchen for designing new, healthy flavors to meet the changing palate preferences of American consumers.

“For example, Tyson is getting ready to introduce a garlic herb chicken that has the best blend of herbs and the right amount of garlic to please consumer taste buds,” Shaw says. “Our kitchen not only has the expertise in food science and animal science, but we must be familiar with culinary arts. We do whatever it takes to be the very best in the poultry industry.”


350 Business.indd 21 8/20/07 10:03:40 AM

SENIORS SHINE AT ROSE GLEN VILLAGE

Don’t expect a slow pace of living at Rose Glen Village, a residential community for senior citizens.

The residential facility is designed for independent living, offering services such as a dining room, housekeeping and transportation for shopping and doctor’s appointments. The idea is to help active, independent seniors stay that way, says Martha Nichols, com-munity relations director.

“We are providing a need that really had not been met before with this beautiful retirement community,” Nichols says of the 100-apartment complex, which opened in February 2007. “It’s wonderful for people who are tired of cooking and having to keep up a house.”

And there’s very little time to sit around at Rose Glen. An arts and crafts room jockeys for activity with the game and card room, and a near-daily regimen of field trips and other activities keep the rocking chairs – if you can find any – from being overused.

“The community is really behind us,

and people really like it here,” Nichols says. “We’ve got lots of wonderful activities in-house, and we take lots of road trips. It’s a wonderful place for people who want to cut back on their home-owning responsibilities, but still have a great place to live.”

FLYING INTO TOWNThe skies above Wilkes County

are about to get busier as Dove Air Inc. opens its new avionics shop in the former Lowe’s building near the airport.

The company, based in Asheville, opened the facility in October 2006. It will house a paint and interior shop, radio work facility and eventually a sales office, says Joe Duncan, president and owner.

“We needed more storage space, plus we have some other projects in the works, and this building gave us the room to do it,” Duncan says.

Duncan has been selling planes since 1971 and has owned more Citations than anyone else in the world. Dove’s stock in trade ranges from single-engine planes to private jets.

Since the building is coupled with an airport that allows for air-instrument approach as well as existing hangars, it was a perfect fit, Duncan says.

“The facility was nice, the price was right, and the people in North Wilkesboro were very nice to do business with,” he says. “They are as good people as any you can find.”

A HANDS-DOWN SUCCESSThe textile business has taken some

hits in recent years with many jobs sent overseas, but don’t tell the folks at Wilkesboro’s Manzella Knitting & Co., who continue to enjoy growth and a comfortable fit in the community.

A venture of Manzella Productions, the factory in Wilkesboro makes the gloves used in food production. The parent company is well known for its outdoor, snow sports, hunting, uniform and tactical gloves, some of which may eventually be produced in the Wilkesboro plant.

“We’re doing the industrial-type gloves here now,” says Richard Duncan, plant manager. “We’re starting to make the ones that the car companies will use

The new Rose Glen Village senior community on West Main Street in Wilkesboro has drawn new residents from as far away as Florida but also is home to several longtime area residents who enjoy its many resort-like amenities.

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in their production facilities.”The plant is producing about 6,000

dozen pairs of gloves a week, a figure that could climb significantly as the need grows, Duncan says. The factory’s staff of 48 is expected to grow as well, hopefully reaching 60 in the coming months as new equipment is added.

“We’ve grown more than I thought we would be able to do, what with textiles not being a good market right now in the United States,” he says. “But this is a good area to be in. This building had 300 people in it at one time, when Wilkesboro was the glove capital of the world. We hope to get back there again.”

100 YEARS OF SERVICEWhile there is no shortage of places

to get your news these days, Wilkes County residents know that three times a week, all the local news is going to land on their doorsteps.

The Wilkes Journal-Patriot has been covering the community for 100 years. It publishes Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and has more than 15,000 paid subscribers. As more and more small-town newspapers are struggling to stay in business, the longevity and relevance of the newspaper is testament to the Hubbard family’s devotion to the area.

“I think there’s still a good oppor-tunity for community newspapers, and there’s a lot we can offer,” says Buddy Hubbard, co-publisher. “We’ve attempted to the best of our ability to be fair in our news treatment; we don’t have any axes to grind. We’re non-partisan and we don’t take polit-ical positions. I hope and believe that

people trust our paper for being honest and fair.”

Going forward, Hubbard and his brother John, who serves as co-publisher, plan to expand their online presence in order to keep the paper current.

“Our circulation is holding well, and we’re one of the larger non-dailies in North Carolina,” Hubbard says. “But I’m sure the trend is towards more of a Web presence, and we’ll have to do that too.”

COMMITTED TO UNDERTAKING

The community and economy in Wilkes County have grown and changed over the years, but one thing hasn’t changed for Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home: making sure that families’ needs are met, says Wayne Myers, the company’s president.

For almost a century, Wilkes County families have counted on Reins-Sturdivant at their most difficult of times, during the loss of loved ones. The company also has built a solid

reputation upon its community improve-ment and enrichment efforts, from sponsoring a radio ministry for the Ebenezer Christian Children’s Home on Sunday mornings to working with the county’s law enforcement associations on different fund-raising projects.

“We also have worked with the Wilkes Art Gallery, the Wilkes Heritage Museum and the library to raise funds for their new buildings,” Myers says.

As a result, Reins-Sturdivant’s fam-ily of 23 employees is well known throughout the community, and the company’s high profile makes sensitive matters like funeral pre-planning seem much less intimidating for residents.

“We do a great amount of pre-planning with people,” says Myers, who has been with the funeral home for 31 years. “It’s a good way for people to make all those decisions in advance. Then the family knows exactly what the person wanted, and it’s a real burden off their shoulders.”

– Joe Morris

Two papers merged to create the Wilkes Journal-Patriot in 1932.


350 Business.indd 23 8/20/07 10:03:55 AM

A growing force in Wilkes County

Transforminginformation into

value418 Brushy Mountain Rd. • Wilkesboro, NC 28697

(336) 903-6500 • Fax: (336) 903-6599

www.compucredit.com

• Member of the Chamber of Commerce since 2001

• Presence in the community for over 30 years

Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home838-3178

270 Armory Road • P.O. Box 1428North Wilkesboro, NC 28659

Scenic Memorial Gardens667-6339

545 Moravian Falls RoadWilkesboro, NC 28697

reinssturdivant.com


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Coming Down the MountainWILKES COUNTY LEADERS PREPARE FOR INCREASING RESIDENTIAL GROWTH

I n 2006, a property developer pur-chased 6,000 acres between Wilkes and Watauga counties, and will

construct 1,500 high-end homes on lots selling for $500,000 apiece.

Another developer bought 1,400 acres to build homes in Wilkes County, and yet another developer has acquired 1,300 acres for a large-scale residential project.

“In the last year or so, huge devel-opments have begun to crop up in Wilkes County – and that’s all new for us,” says Linda Cheek, president of the 700-member Wilkes Chamber of Commerce. “Many people from Florida are purchasing second homes so they can live in our mountain setting during the summer, plus several other people are discovering Wilkes as a retirement destination for year-round living.”

Cheek says neighboring Watauga County has always been a popular place for retirees and second-home owners, and now Wilkes County is being discovered 30 miles down the road.

“The prices of property in Watauga are high, so homebuyers are suddenly coming down the mountain to discover what we have to offer,” she says. “Wilkes is part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, so property owners here can see the mountains as well as actually live in the mountains in some cases.”

Cheek says increased residential growth will bring positive change to the county’s overall quality of life.

“New people arriving will need services provided to them, including increased health care for retirees, more retail choices and additional restau-rants,” Cheek says. “The chamber is already doing what we can to help get the word out that several jobs will need to be filled – and pretty quickly.”

Cheek says the education system is preparing for the upcoming influx of residents by offering a variety of academic programs at the four county high schools and Wilkes Community College to train students in specific fields.

“There are going to be good, high-paying jobs in the construction industry with a need for electricians, plumbers, carpenters and so forth,” she says. “Our high schools and college are offering these kinds of career-oriented classes to help keep technically oriented students interested in school, plus meet the future needs of our workforce.”

While Wilkes County used to be known for its textile industry, Cheek says the future job market will feature plenty of new opportunities in the aforementioned areas of construction, health care, retail, restaurants, and computer technology.

“Wilkes County is also becoming more and more of a tourism destina-tion, with our annual Merlefest music celebration along with the growing list of wineries, museums and summer festivals,” Cheek says. “The chamber is preparing itself for when things start happening in Wilkes on a really big scale – which will be soon.”

– Kevin Litwin

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WILKES

BUSINESS CLIMATEA strong and well-educated workforce, an excellent quality of life,

an abundance of land and low operating costs all draw business

and industry to Wilkes.

AVERAGE ANNUAL WAGES BY INDUSTRY (2005)

Industry No. Employed Percentage Annual Wage

Accommodations & food services 1,530 6.6 $10,556

Administrative & waste 565 2.4 $21,996

Agriculture, forestry 130 0.6 $24,076

All industry 23,341 100 $31,356

Arts, entertainment, recreation 64 0.3 $15,444

Construction 940 4.0 $27,820

Educational 2,318 9.9 $27,768

Finance & insurance 911 3.9 $40,560

Total government 4,549 19.5 $33.956

Health care & social assistance 2,770 11.9 $27,352

Information 310 1.3 $36,400

Manufacturing 5,087 21.8 $27,820

Mgmt of companies 1,921 8.2 $76,908

Other services 502 2.2 $17,628

Total private industry 18,792 80.5 $31,668

Professional & technical 512 2.2 $35,204

Public administration 1,160 5.0 $31,824

Real estate & rental & leasing 121 0.5 $21,320

Retail 2,646 11.3 $21,372

Transportation & warehousing 818 3.5 $38,012

Unclassified 77 0.3 $21,320

Utilities 44 0.2 $49,400

Wholesale trade 895 3.8 $41,132

Source: Employment Security Commission

TRANSPORTATION

Airports

Wilkes County Airport

(336) 696-2000

general aviation airport

Nearest commercial airports

Charlotte Douglas

International Airport,

Charlotte, 90 miles away

(704) 359-4801

Piedmont Triad International

Airport, Greensboro, 70 miles

away, (336) 668-9808

Hickory Regional Airport,

Hickory, 45 miles away

(828) 323-7408

INCOME AND EARNINGS

Per Capita Personal Income, 2005

Wilkes County, $30,553

Average Earning Per Job, 2006


Median Family Income, 2005


Source: N.C. Department of Commerce

Wilkes County is the birthplace of Lowe’s, Gardner Glass Products, East Coast Millwork Distributors and The Interflex Group.


Business | Economic Profile

350 economic profile.indd 26 8/20/07 10:05:02 AM

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Wilkes Chamber of Commerce717 Main. St.


Phone: (336) 838-8662

Fax: (336) 838-3728

www.wilkesnc.org

Wilkes Economic Development Corp.717 Main St.


Phone: (336) 838-1501

www.wilkesedc.com

Sources:www.wilkesedc.com, www.wilkesnc.org

MAJOR EMPLOYERS

Company No. Employed

Tyson Foods Inc. 3,000+

Lowes Companies Inc. 2,000+

Wilkes County Board of Education 1,500+

County of Wilkes 500-999

Wilkes Regional Medical Center 500-999

American Drew 250-499

CompuCredit Corp. 250-499

ECMD Inc. – East Coast Millwork Distributors 250-499

LP – LouisianaPacific Corp. 250-499

N.C. Dept. of Transportation 250-499

Villages of Wilkes 250-499

Wachovia 250-499

Wal-Mart 250-499

Wilkes Community College 250-499

Avante of Wilkesboro 100-249

Britthaven of Wilkesboro 100-249

Gardner Glass Products Inc. 100-249

Key City Furniture Co. 100-249

Lowes Foods 100-249

State of North Carolina 100-249

We’ll take your breath away …or let you catch it.

Wilkes County, NCWhere the Mountains Begin

Breathtaking sports adventure or relaxed respite?Make it yours. Create a personalized itinerary at

wilkescountytourism.com


350 economic profile.indd 27 8/20/07 10:05:04 AM

Self-guided tours of the museum

Guided tours of the Cleveland home and Old Wilkes Jail given

three times daily

Seasonal events

Museum gift shop

Hands on activities for school groups

WILKESHeritage Museum

and Historic

Properties

100 E. Main St.Downtown Wilkesboro

(336) 667-3171www.wilkesheritagemuseum.com

Hours of Operation:Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

WILKES COUNTY SCHOOLSis the 36th largest district in the state of North Carolina. Student enrollment for 2006-2007 is over 10,000 learners. There are 22 schools in the Wilkes County School District: 13 elementary schools, four newly constructed middle schools, four high schools currently undergoing major new construction and renovation projects and one career education center. All schools are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). You may learn more about the school district or individual schools by visiting our Web site at www.wilkes.k12.nc.us.

It is the mission of Wilkes County Schools to be committed to excellence in teaching and to the belief that all students can learn. Our goal is to promote high expectations for students’ success through a partnership of school, home and community.

With the opening of the Stone Family Center for Performing Arts in 2006, Wilkes County Schools renewed its commitment to Fine Arts Programs. The Stone Family auditorium and stage are equipped with state-of-the-art sound and light systems. Students have delighted audiences with musical presentations, dramatic performances, dinner theatres and talent shows.

The student art galleries are also housed at The Stone Family Center for Performing Arts.

In Wilkes County Schools, we are Building Dreams Together.

(336) 667-1121


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From his start as a bookkeeper for a little hardware store in North

Wilkesboro to a career as one of Lowe’s top executives, Petro “Pete” Kulynych has worked hard to make a difference along the way. Now that he’s retired, that hasn’t changed.

The son of Ukrainian immigrants, Kulynych used his GI benefits to attend

accounting school, then went to work for North Wilkesboro Hardware, owned by two gentlemen named Lowe and Buchanan. From there he became the first employee in what grew to be Lowe’s Companies, Inc., where he stayed until his retirement.

Kulynych has created two founda-tions and has paid for the education of

One of philanthropist Pete Kulynych’s first jobs was with the Civilian Conservation Corps, which helped build the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Now That’s Home ImprovementRETIRED LOWE’S EXECUTIVE PETE KULYNYCH NOW FOCUSES ENERGY ON MANY PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS

six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. And he hasn’t just looked after his own kids; he’s made life better for the generations to come throughout Wilkes County, endowing projects such as a teen center, theater, soccer field and skate park.

Another example of his philan-thropy is the Kulynych Family Life Center, a part of the Rainbow Center for Children. His late wife, Roena, was a board member of the center, and when she passed away he says he wanted to do something that would both honor her and help the town.

“They take care of children, and she cared about the organization, so I wanted to build that building for them,” he says.

Anyone who knows Kulynych and his work ethic can be certain that the center won’t be his last mark on the community, either.

“I’m almost 86, and I can’t get off the wagon,” he says. “I have an office full of papers and I stay busy all the time. My health is good, and the mailbox stays full, so even though I’m beginning to downgrade some, pare down a little, I have a lot going on. But when you’re 85, you start making plans. I’ve made arrangements for these foundations that my daughters are going to run, so they’ll go on.”


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The National Railway Historical Society Yadkin Valley Chapter’s Black Cat Station offers visitors a peek into railroad history during open houses and special events.

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All Aboard!

I f you’re in the mood to relive a bit of railroad history, stop by Black

Cat Station.Home of the Yadkin Valley Chapter

of the National Railway Historical Society, the station makes its home at 800 Elizabeth St. in North Wilkesboro, the former location of the Wilkes Art Gallery. 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.

The model railroad has five lines, each 135 feet in length, running around the main room. The first one, afreight line, became operational in 2005, and the society’s members have been adding, moving, tinkering and otherwise improving the total layout ever since.

“We’re going to be expanding a little bit, putting in a turntable for aesthetic and other reasons,” says Charles S. Williams, the chapter’s president. “The lines aren’t completed, and it’ll be several years before we’re done.”

The chapter meets on the second Thursday of every month and hosts open houses on Saturdays and for other occasions, such as 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.

For Williams, who has his own line at home in the basement, the club is an opportunity for train enthusiasts to enjoy a shared passion and pick up a little knowledge along the way.

“It’s a learning experience for us,” Williams says. “We’ve only had a few open houses and are only open one day a week, but we’re getting some crowds around Christmas during the tree lighting. It’s just a natural, kids and trains. The community has really taken to us.”

All Ages Welcome

For More Information,Contact the YMCA at 838–3991

www.WilkesYMCA.orgFinancial Assistance Available

There’s Never Been a Better Time to Get Healthy at the

Mon.-Fri. 5 a.m.-9 p.m. • Sat. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. • Sun. 1 p.m.-6 p.m.



1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Benny Parsons was born in

Wilkes County on July 12, 1941.

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Shining Memorial

F or three years now, North Wilkesboro has come alive in

early May for the Shine to Wine Festival, which features the offerings of area wineries. Staged by Historic Downtown North Wilkesboro, the event has been successful both in promoting a new product for the region and drawing people into the many shops and businesses downtown.

In 2007, however, the festival had an extra-special meaning: It was held in honor of 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Benny Parsons, who passed away in January 2007. Parsons, in preparing to retire from a success-ful broadcasting career, had already committed to his next adventure – a winery called Rendezvous Ridge in Purlear.

A Wilkes County native, Parsons had looked forward to participating in the festival as a vendor, says Melissa Smithey, executive director of Historic Downtown North Wilkesboro.

“He and his wife, Terri, were so excited about their new winery and he talked about being able to pour at the festival,” Smithey says. “When he passed away, we felt the need to do something for him to honor all of his achievements, and having the fes-tival in honor of him just seemed like a natural.”

The festival drew 1,000 attendees and 13 wineries and featured an exhibit of Parsons memorabilia at the library.

“There were a lot of people going in there and looking at the stuff, and everybody was excited and happy about what she’s doing,” Smithey says. “She and their two sons were there, and people were really happy to get to meet them.”

Terri Parsons recently opened the Benny Parsons Rendezvous Ridge Wine Tasting Room and Benny Parsons Museum on Highway 421 North.

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HI-MACSFORMICAGRANITEQUARTZ


Portfolio


An average unit of Angel Food groceries contains enough food to feed a family of four for one week or a single senior for a month.

Meals That Are a Blessing

F amilies having trouble making ends meet don’t have to worry as

much about putting food on the table, thanks to a unique coalition of churches, a non-profit and the North Wilkesboro Rotary Club.

The Rotary has teamed up with several area churches and Nurture Appalachia Community Development Corp. to operate a local distribution center for Angel Food Ministries, a food outreach program with operations in 31 states. Angel Food Ministries began

in 1994 as a way to get food to people who didn’t want to take charity. Instead of giving food away, the program sells boxes of meat and other groceries at a discount. Basically, once a month a family can buy about $50 to $60 worth of food for $25, with occasional $18 specials on meat or other items worth about $35, according to Dave Evans, executive director of Nurture Appalachia Community Development Corp., a local non-profit involved in the year-old North Wilkesboro effort.

“People sometimes don’t want to take food for free because they’re proud,” Evans says. “This isn’t free, but it’s a real value compared to what they would have to spend at the grocery store.”

The various partners began distrib-uting food once a month in May 2006, and do so from the North Wilkesboro Agricultural Fairground, which the Rotary Club owns. Right now about 300 boxes of food are distributed, and the site has become a hub of activity for other distribution services in the area.

For the Rotary Club, this is an unusual venture but one that lives up to the club’s motto, “service above self,” says Nancy Joyce, president.

“We usually run our own events, and this is a joint sponsorships with the local church community and a nonprofit, and it’s also monthly,” Joyce says. “But we have a million ways of giving back to the community, opening horizons, so this is a good fit for us.”


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Playwright Is Heads Above the Rest

Tom Dooley may have been hanging his head down in the famous song

by The Kingston Trio, but he’d have plenty to brag about these days, with an annual play about his life and even a posthumous mock trial that found him innocent of murder.

The play, Tom Dooley: A Wilkes County Legend, is the creation of playwright Karen Reynolds, who also is the executive director of the Wilkes Playmakers, which this year will stage its seventh running. For Reynolds, a Ferguson native, the subject was a natural.

“In 2000, we decided we wanted to do an annual event that would help with tourism, and everyone knew the story of Tom Dooley,” Reynolds says. “I was asked to write it, so I did.”

After becoming the theater troupe’s executive director in 2003, the pace picked up for Reynolds, who since has authored The Scarlett O’Hara Complex, a show that was taken to New York for two weeks in November 2006, and Shadow Dancing, which has been performed both locally and at the Andy Griffith Playhouse in Mt. Airy. Her newest effort, which will debut in October 2007, is Thunder and Lightning: The Junior Johnson Story, which highlights the area’s contri-butions to moonshining and stock car racing.

“When people come to Wilkes County, the things they ask about the most are Tom Dooley, Junior Johnson, moonshining and NASCAR, so we thought it was time to tell Junior’s story too,” Reynolds says.

Oh, and along the way she’s gotten Dooley a little late justice.

“A few years ago we were asked to perform for the North Carolina Society of Supreme Court Historians, so we did the courtroom scene from Tom Dooley for them,” she says. “They decided that all the evidence was circumstantial, so today he would have walked, written a book and been on ‘Oprah.’”

– Stories by Joe Morris

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Karen W. Reynolds is the executive director for Wilkes Playmakers, a

theater company founded in 1990.




Image Gallery

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View from the Blue Ridge Parkway


PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO

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A waterfall at Cielo Falls


Image Gallery

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A cow rests in a field in Purlear


PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO

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As principal of East High School in the late 1980s, Phil Couch championed the idea of expanding the facility. Almost two decades later, the retired administrator

is getting his wish – and then some.All four of Wilkes County’s public high schools – East,

North, South and Central – are benefiting from a $36 million improvement project that is adding space for new classrooms, gymnasiums and other amenities.

Though building simultaneously at all four schools can be taxing, it also has its advantages. Wilkes County Schools is employing one architectural firm, Pinnacle Architecture, and the system also has appointed Couch as the manager overseeing all four projects.

Having served as the district’s assistant superintendent, Couch was responsible for all of the school district’s facilities, so he has first-hand knowledge about each building’s particular needs. Couch worked in the school system for 35 years before retiring at the conclusion of the 2006 school year.

“We were talking about the need for this 17-18 years ago,” Couch says. “It’s going to be a real cherry when it’s done.”

The project is expected to take 18-24 months and will

Making Good (Up)GradesWILKES COUNTY SCHOOLS DEDICATES $36 MILLION TO IMPROVEMENTS AT ALL FOUR OF THE SYSTEM’S HIGH SCHOOLS

East Wilkes High School is one of 22 educational facilities within the Wilkes County School System.

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result in significant upgrades at all of the facilities. West High School is adding 30 new classrooms to replace 24 existing rooms, plus a new varsity gymnasium; North will add 34 rooms in place of 20 existing rooms; and East will have 15 new rooms replacing 18 existing rooms and eight modular classrooms, plus a varsity gymnasium. Work at all three buildings is being done in phases, as existing rooms must be torn down in addition to the construction.

At Central, the youngest of the buildings, no teardown is necessary. The school is gaining a new auxiliary gymnasium, as well as 15 new rooms to replace eight modular classrooms.

Construction has proceeded ahead of schedule at most of the sites thanks to a warm, dry winter. The only delay was at East, where some unexpected foundation work was needed.

Administrators have tried to keep the impact minimal on the students and teachers throughout the construction phase, though Superintendent Dr. Stephen Laws says some accommodations were made. However, those minor inconveniences for the schools’ inhabitants likely will be forgotten in 2007-08 when they start “reaping the benefits,” Laws says.

The new classrooms will be about 150 square feet larger, while hallways will be wider. And all of the new rooms will be as technology-friendly as possible.

“It’s just a far more comfortable setting and it’s far more conducive to learning,” Laws says of the new facilities.

Unlike some rapidly growing districts, the student population at Wilkes County has remained fairly stable. But the project was undertaken “with growth in mind,” Laws says.

– Dan Markham


Education

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A Spectacular New Space for ScienceLOWE’S HALL AT WCC PROVIDES CLASSROOMS ON THE CUTTING EDGE

Students will have the latest

and greatest technological

advances at their fingertips in

the new Lowe’s Hall at Wilkes

Community College, the first

step in the college’s Next

Step Campaign.

The four-story, 35,000-

square-foot building opened

in January 2007 and is home

to the college’s science and

math departments.

In 2000, WCC created a

master facilities task force to

determine the most pressing

needs of the college.

“The biggest need identified,

first and foremost, was for new

space for science,” says Dr.

Gordon Burns, president of

Wilkes Community College.

The school launched a

fund-raising campaign to pay

for the $7 million building,

plus additional money for

449 parking spaces. Funds

raised from private donations

and grants from science and

education foundations was

spent wisely on Lowe’s Hall,

which features new classrooms

for biology, chemistry, physics

and math. The building also

serves as a bridge from the

college’s upper and lower

campuses, Burns says.

The building’s high-tech

amenities include wireless

Internet connectivity

throughout, classrooms

equipped with ceiling-mounted

digital projectors, and two

cyber classrooms that allow

WCC to connect with area

high schools.

Additionally, the school has

opened its two-way, audiovisual

capabilities to local business

and industry for conducting

interactive video conferencing.

“It’s state-of-the-art, there’s

no question about it,” says

Burns. “Other universities are in

awe of what we have here.”

But more important than

the reaction of outsiders to

the school’s development is the

uniformly positive response of

the students and instructors,

Burns says.

Administrators at WCC, which

has the equivalent of 3,500 full-

time students enrolled, would still

like to add more than 25,000

square feet of classroom space,

likely to occur during Phase 2 of

the Next Step campaign.

– Dan Markham

Wilkes Community College is part of the North Carolina Community College System, a network of 58

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a realtor with knowledge, experience and integrity.

Norma Jean Faw, Realtor®

Faw & Associates Realty902 Main St. N. Wilkesboro, NC 28659(336) 667-7161 Fax: (336) 667-7160www.fawhomes.com

For all your real estate needs …

FAW & ASSOCIATES REALTY



When Jim Brooks graduated from Appalachian State University, he thought his teaching career would take him to a school in an urban setting. Instead, he has spent 22 years as an English teacher at West Wilkes High School in Millers Creek – and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Even though I felt at the time I was headed for a more urban area, I decided

to come to West Wilkes, thinking that getting some experience in a rural location would probably be a good idea, Brooks says. “I became very involved in the community,” he continues. “I found it was a great place to live and work, and I’ve stayed here ever since.”

Brooks’ passion for teaching gar-nered him national recognition in 2007 when he received the National

Teacher Makes the GradeWEST WILKES HIGH SCHOOL INSTRUCTOR WINS NEA TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD

Education Association Member Benefits-NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence.

Brooks has taught students at all levels from ninth through 12th grades at the 700-student school. He taught Advanced Placement English during the 2006-07 school year, and he also has developed classes in cinema and photojournalism. The latter started with just a handful of kids, a couple of digital cameras and a computer he brought from home, Brooks says. Now, students present a morning news program and work with people in the community to produce videos.

“It’s really exciting to see how this one elective course has fueled an interest in a number of kids,” Brooks says. “It’s given them a way to express themselves that they have carried with them beyond high school.”

Brooks says new courses such as these keep education fresh, adding that he thrives on change and innovation.

“Every semester and every school year, there’s an opportunity to revisit what you have done and improve upon it,” Brooks says.

– Anne Gillem

Billie Jean King presents Jim Brooks with the NEA Member Benefits-NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence.

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Education


W hen John Alexander was a young boy, the Roaring River was his primary ave-

nue of transportation. As he regularly paddled the three to four miles to visit his grandfather, the river belonged to him and a scant few other lucky souls.

Today, Alexander is helping intro-duce the joys of river travel to a broad array of people, both inside and outside Wilkes County. Canoeing has become one of the fastest growing sports in the area, and Alexander is one of the key individuals driving that trend. In 2006, he opened Roaring River Canoe Rentals, which offers canoe rentals and guided tours to experienced paddlers and newcomers alike.

“I get a lot of calls from people from all walks of life who have never been in a canoe before,” he says.

For guided trips, Alexander will pick up customers at a parking lot in Elkin or Ronda and take them back to the launch

site at his facility on the Roaring River. The trips back down the river can take longer than six hours.

The trips will be directed by Alexander himself or by his hired guide, a gentleman who “knows the river just like I do,” Alexander says.

Over on the W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, rangers at Wilderness Lodge offer similar services. The facility offers canoe and kayak rentals for use on the 1,500-acre lake.

Like most of Wilkes County’s waters, the reservoir is a good spot for newcomers.

Adding to the enjoyment of the experience, the area’s rivers, streams and lakes are uniformly clean and the surrounding countryside picturesque, says longtime paddler Montie Hamby.

“They’re all scenic and feel very isolated,” Hamby says.

While Mother Nature was respon-sible for the beauty of the county’s

Rivers UnleashedGROWING CANOEING TREND INTRODUCES MORE PEOPLE TO WILKES COUNTY’S MANY WATERWAYS

John Alexander often provides guided tours to customers of his company, Roaring River Canoe Rentals, but one of his most regular companions on the Roaring River is his dog, Max, who seems to enjoy the outings as much as his owner.

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waters, it’s the existing paddlers who keep them looking that way. The community takes great pride in its participation in the National River Association’s National River Cleanup Week program. In 2006, the NRA honored the local clean-up effort, both for the amount of trash collected and the number of participants involved.

Such efforts are a boon to the growth of the sport, Alexander says.

“When people realize there is a group of us trying to keep the river clean, it brings more business,” he says.

Canoeing even has had a positive impact on dry land. In the 1990s, radiologist Phil Carlson was paddling the Yadkin River with his son when the beauty of the land surrounding the river inspired him to envision a greenway project that would make these areas accessible for all Wilkes County residents.

In 2002, Carlson’s vision was realized with the opening of the first phase of the Yadkin River Greenway, a 2-mile path through and over the Yadkin River that showcases the land’s immense beauty to walkers, joggers, bicyclists and other nature lovers.

– Dan Markham


Sports & Recreation

350 Sports.indd 41 8/20/07 10:07:53 AM

W hether it’s a weeklong music festival or a jam session broadcast on local radio, the hills definitely are alive with music in Wilkes County.

Consider MerleFest, which has grown over 20 years from a one-night event with 4,000 in attendance to a five-day extravaganza with more than 81,500 music lovers on hand.

MerleFest is held annually in late April on the campus of Wilkes Community College, with proceeds enabling the institution to make several capital improvements and fund scholarship endowments for students.

Over time, the festival has grown to include more than a dozen stages featuring country and bluegrass legends per-forming their own material and participating in impromptu jam sessions with other artists.

In addition, the MerleFest Outreach Program gives Wilkes County schoolchildren the chance to attend some of the shows, as well as learn about the music itself.

“The community has really gotten behind it, and it’s had a huge impact,” says Traci Thomas, who handles public rela-tions for MerleFest. “Now it’s the major event in Wilkesboro.”

The event also shows people from outside the area just what a small community can do when it puts its collective mind to something, Thomas says.

“Anybody else looking to put on a festival that wants to see what a community and region can support, they come to MerleFest,” she says. “They have shown over time

that they can do it.”The newest music festival in the area is Carolina in the Fall,

which is the brainchild of Robert and Brenda Shepherd, who hold the annual event on their farm. The festival features the musical trio the Kruger Brothers, who are from Switzerland originally, and takes its name from a song written and performed by the group.

For those in the area who want their roots music on a more regular basis, there’s the live radio broadcast from 7 to 9 a.m. every Friday from Minton Music & Pawn in North Wilkesboro. Like MerleFest, what began as a small idea has grown into something much larger.

“A local DJ started this crazy thing where he’d cook up different things like chocolate-covered crickets on his show, and then some people would show up with guitars and it became a regular thing,” says Mike Palmer, who along with Jerry Minton co-owns Minton Music & Pawn. “The next thing we knew we had the ‘redneck games’ going, and then the show outgrew the studio. We said we’d host it, built a stage, and the rest has just happened.”

The show is booked six to eight months in advance, and has featured the likes of Rhonda Vincent, Doc Watson and the Kruger Brothers. There’s no house band, and new artists come in and audition or send in a CD. The audience ranges from 50 to 150 people on any given Friday, and the show also is videotaped for the local cable-access channel. – Joe Morris

Surround SoundsOUTDOOR FESTIVALS, INDOOR SHOW OFFER WIDE RANGE OF ENTERTAINMENT

Acclaimed musician Doc Watson performs at MerleFest, a major festival created to honor the

memory of his son, Eddy Merle. PHOTO COURTESY OF JIM GAVENUS

Arts & Culture


350 Arts.indd 42 8/20/07 10:03:24 AM

All theWorld’s a Stage

A stage can barely contain

the amount of talent in

Wilkes County, but several

new and improved facilities

for performing arts aim to try.

First, there’s the new Forest

Edge Amphitheatre in Fort

Hamby Park, an outdoor venue

that seats 900. The facility

hosts events such as the Wilkes

Playmakers’ annual presentation

of “Tom Dooley: A Wilkes

County Legend.”

For another interesting

outdoor setting, check out

performances by the Patriot’s

Theater at the restored,

100-year-old Sheriff Mitchell

Mill on Hunting Creek

near Wilkesboro.

Taking it indoors, Stone

Family Center for the

Performing Arts opened in

2006 within the Wilkes County

School’s central office in North

Wilkesboro. Named in honor

of Lowe’s Home Improvement’s

president and CEO, Larry Stone,

and his family, the center’s

8,000 square feet can

accommodate 280 people

in banquet-style seating and

560 people in theater seating.

In addition, the Walker Center

on the campus of Wilkes

Community College features

a 1,130-seat performing arts

auditorium and 38,731 square

feet of multipurpose meeting

space, and includes the open-air

Watson Stage.

– Joe Morris

MEETINGSHoliday Inn Express® and Conference Center offers a reliable and efficient group and meeting service that recognizes the needs of planners for group events, small meeting or training sessions.

1700 WINKLER ST.WILKESBORO, NC 28697

(336) 838-1800www.hiexpress.com/wilkesboronc

Group Rates Available

BUSINESS SERVICES24-hour access Business Center

in lobby, featuring PC terminal withInternet access, personal laptop access,

facsimile and copy services.

Complimentary High-speed Wireless Internet Access


350 Arts.indd 43 8/20/07 10:03:31 AM

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Dr. Duane H. SmithPam Myers, PAC

Pamela Sloop, FNP-C

(336) 667-8241112 Boone Trail


Foothills CenterFor Women



Miller Funeral Service180 Sparta Road • N. Wilkesboro, NC 28659

(336) 838-3104

Experienced andCapable Attorneys

(336) 838-5129Fax (336) 838-8959

206 E. Main St.Wilkesboro, NC 28697

We handle:• Civil Litigation• Personal Injury• Workers’ Compensation• Real Estate• Wills & Estates• Business Law• Traffic Offenses

Willardson Lipscomb & Miller, L.L.P.

Warm up to high-qualityheating oil and propane from BP.

Tar Heel Oil 1225 West D St. • N. Wilkesboro • (336) 838-8332

Whether for home or business,competitive pricing and convenient delivery make our heating oil and

propane a real value.

Mike’s Body Shop Inc.

210 Elkin Hwy.N. Wilkesboro, NC 28659

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


350 Health.indd 44 8/20/07 10:06:54 AM

W hen Wilkes Regional Medical Center officials began planning a new

diagnostic imaging center, certain things were must-haves: convenience, state-of-the-art equipment and a wide range of services. But there was something else on the drawing board as well – the ‘wow’ factor.

“It’s gorgeous,” says Tammy Love, director of marketing and medical staff development for WRMC. “It’s hard to believe you’re in a clinical facility. And that’s what we were after. People don’t want that sterile, clinical feel.”

The $6 million center, which opened May 21, replaces an in-house area that handled mammography and other procedures. The 25,500-square-foot facility is in a former Heilig-Meyers furniture store in what is now West Park Medical Plaza. The layout addresses two major issues targeted by the hospital at the outset of the project. First, it allows for expansion while services such

as cardiovascular testing and nuclear medicine are relocated from the main hospital campus, and second, it provides easy-access parking thanks to its mall-style location.

“When people came to the hospital they had to find a parking spot, find the right floor, register, then go and wait,” Love says. “Now we can offer this attractive facility that has plenty of parking and easy access, a convenient area to register and a beautiful space to enjoy while waiting.”

A key component of the new center is increased privacy for patients who are there for mammograms or other procedures. The former setup, while still offering high-end equipment, was 20 years old and showing its age, Love says.

“It was so cramped, and the chang-ing areas were very small,” Love says. “What we have now, in addition to the whole facility not looking like a hospital, is that the dressing rooms feed into the room with the mammography

equipment, so you’re never seen by anyone except the tech. And the changing rooms are beautifully designed – much larger than what we were using.”

The diagnostic center is one of the first in the region to offer digital mammography, as well as digital radiography, ultrasound, computed tomography, bone densitometry and breast stereotactic biopsies. It also has on-site labs, as well as areas designated for EKGs, chest X-rays and anesthesia consulting for pre-operative patients.

“This facility is going to offer our patients a new experience in health care,” Love says. “The new space provides a comfortable look and feel coupled with state-of-the-art equipment, which demonstrates our commitment to excel-lent services and excellent care. If you want to stay competitive, you have to have something to offer. We want to be their first choice for diagnostic imaging services.” – Joe Morris

Incorporating the Wow FactorWRMC’S NEW IMAGING CENTER APPEARS TO BE ANYTHING BUT A MEDICAL FACILITY

Wilkes Regional Medical Center’s new Diagnostic Center combines the latest in technology with pleasing aesthetics.

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Health & Wellness

350 Health.indd 45 8/20/07 10:06:57 AM

Corporate Citizen of Wilkes County Since 1962

600 Elkin Hwy. • N. Wilkesboro, NC 28659

(336) 651-9300 • Toll-free: (800) 334-7267

Fax: (336) 667-0185

www.dreamwalls.com

MIDTOWNMIDTOWN GARDEN MARKETGARDEN MARKET

Full garden center – providing landscape design and pond installation, flower delivery, garden gifts, home

decor, fountains and furniture.

(336) 667-4852(336) 667-4852339 Wilkesboro Ave. • North Wilkesboro, NC 28659

www.midtowngardenmarket.com

®

BUILDING PRODUCTS

For more information on siding or other

LP specialty building products,

please call (877) 777-6158 or

visit us online at: LPCorp.com.

at LP Roaring RiverQuality hardwood siding made by your neighbors

WILKES PLAYMAKERS& Tiffany’s Teen Center

at Benton Hall

300 D StreetN. Wilkesboro

North Carolina

For event information, please call:

(336) 838-7529 or (336) 838-1332

Provides entertainment for all ages.W W W. W I L K E S P L AY M A K E R S . C O M • W W W.T I F FA N Y S P L A C E . N E T

part of wilkes county since 1927389 Armory Rd.North Wilkesboro, NC 28659(336) 651-9400 tel(336) 651-9483 fax

americandrew.comleaindustries.com

Business Struggling?

Robert (Bob) D. Baber, CPA, CTP

Baber & Associates, LLCwww.BaberConsulting.com

A Certified Turnaround Professional (CTP) can help.

• Since 2001, helping over 100 companies in 50 industries.

• Part-Time CFO, Cash Flow Forecasts, Strategic Planning

• ½-Day Consulting, Focused & Affordable

(336) 210-4939


350 community profile.indd 46 8/20/07 10:04:23 AM

WILKES

SNAPSHOTWilkes County offers a wide variety of arts and cultural activities,

from historic walking tours to international music festivals.

Wilkes Communications

973-3103

Electricity

Blue Ridge Electric

Membership Corp., 838-4655

Crescent Electric Membership

Corp., (800) 662-4681

Duke Energy, 667-1141

Surry-Yadkin Electric

Membership, (800) 682-5903

Natural gas

Frontier Utilities of North

Carolina Inc., 526-2690

Telephone

Wilkes Telecommunications

973-3103

EMBARQ, 838-4151

Water

Town of North Wilkesboro

667-7129

Town of Wilkesboro, 838-3951

Blue Ridge Water

Association Inc., 696-4713

Broadway Water

Association Inc., 667-1483

Cricket-Millers Creek

Water Association, 838-5614

Moravian Falls

Water Works, 838-3417

Mulberry-Fairplains Water

Association, 670-2410

FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Brushy Mountain

Apple Festival

Held annually on the first

Saturday of October in North

Wilkesboro since 1978, this

festival is one of the largest

one-day arts and crafts

festivals in the Southeast,

with more 160,000 people

attending each year. Don’t

miss the Friday night “Apple

Jam,” live entertainment on

the corner of 10th and

Main streets. 984-3022

www.AppleFestival.net

Carolina in the Fall

Musical hosts The Kruger

Brothers from Switzerland

invite their talented musician

friends to join them onstage

for Americana, traditional

bluegrass and Appalachian

Mountain music on the third

weekend in October. Enjoy

workshops, a children’s area,

music, craft and food vendors

in an outdoor setting and a

family atmosphere. 667-5344

www.CarolinaInTheFall.com

MerleFest

Music lovers of all kinds

enjoy this four-day Americana

music celebration held the

last Thursday in April on the

Wilkes Community College

campus. (800) 343-7857

www.MerleFest.org

Shine To Wine

The annual wine festival

held in Historic Downtown

North Wilkesboro since

2004 features Yadkin Valley

wineries, a delicacy known as

“shine balls,” live music, food

and plenty of local color.

667-4875

EDUCATION

Elementary Schools

The Wilkes County School

System consists of 22 schools

serving more than 10,000

students. Facilities include

13 elementary schools, four

middle schools, four high

schools and a career

education center.

All schools are accredited by

the Southern Association of

Colleges and Schools.

Wilkes County Board of

Education, 667-1121

Higher Education

Appalachian State University

(828) 262-2000

Wilkes Community College

838-6100

CLIMATE

Wilkes County’s climate is

varied due to its elevation

ranges. In the lower elevation,

temperatures are as follows:

Annual avg. temperature, 56.5 F

January avg. temperature, 38 F

July avg. temperature, 80 F

Annual avg. rainfall, 50 inches

Annual avg. snowfall, 10 inches

Elevation

North Wilkesboro 1,190 feet

Wilkesboro 1,042 feet

UTILITIES

CableCharter Communications

(866) 472-2200

Sources:www.wilkesedc.com,www.wilkesnc.org, www.census.gov

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Wilkes Chamber of Commerce717 Main St.


Phone: 838-8662

Fax: 838-3728

www.wilkesnc.org

Community Profile

The area code for Wi lkes is 336 . IMAGESWILKES .COM 47


Addison Properties www.addisoninn.com

American Drew/Lea www.americandrew.com

Ameriprise Financial, Inc. www.ameriprise.com

Baber & Associates, LLC www.baberconsulting.com

BB&Twww.bbt.com

Carolina West Wireless www.carolinawest.com

CompuCredit www.compucredit.com

County of Wilkes www.wilkescounty.net

Cub Creek Countertops

Data Publishing www.datapublishing.com

Faw & Associates Realty www.fawhomes.com

First National Bank & Trust www.myyesbank.com

Foothills Center for Women

Gardner Glass Products www.gardnerglass.com

Holiday Inn Express www.hiexpress.com/wilkesboronc

Jefferson Landing www.visitjeffersonlanding.com

Lowe’swww.lowes.com

LP Building Productswww.lpcorp.com

Midtown Garden Market www.midtowngardenmarket.com

Mike’s Auto Body Shop

Miller Funeral Service www.millerfuneralservice.com

Mountain Construction Enterprises www.mountainconstruction.com

Old Wilkes, Inc. www.wilkesheritagemuseum.com

Reins-Sturdivant www.reinssturdivant.com

Rose Glen Village www.roseglenwilkesboro.com

Specialty Car Company, Inc. www.specialtycarcompany.com

Tar Heel Oil, Inc.

Town of North Wilkesboro www.north-wilkesboro.com

Town of Wilkesboro www.wilkesboronorthcarolina.com

Tyson Foods Incorporated www.tyson.com

Wilkes Community College www.wilkescc.edu

Wilkes County Board of Educationwww.wilkes.k12.nc.us

Wilkes Family YMCA www.wilkesymca.org

Wilkes Playmakers www.wilkesplaymakers.com

Wilkes Regional Medical Center www.wilkesregional.com

Wilkes Senior Center

Wilkes Telecommunications www.wilkes.net

Wilkesboro Tourism Development Authoritywww.wilkescountytourism.com

Willardson, Lipscomb & Miller, LLP www.wlmlawfi rm.com

Yadkin Valley Bank www.yadkinvalleybank.com

Visit Our Advertisers

WILKES SENIOR CENTER… has something for everyone!

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RECREATION/LEISURE Fully equipped

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228 Fairplains School Rd.North Wilkesboro, N.C.

(336) 667-5281 tel(336) 667-8295 fax

We Invite You To Be Our Guest …We Invite You To Be Our Guest …

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www.Addisoninn.comHighway 421 N. • Wilkesboro, NC

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350 C3 C4.indd C3 8/20/07 10:04:15 AM

Caring for our community … now even better

New Beginnings Birthing Center

Cardiopulmonary/Neuro Services

Community Education & Outreach

Dialysis Unit

Emergency Services

Home Care Services

Imaging Services

Intensive Care Units

Radiologic Technology School

Rehabilitation Services

Skilled Nursing Services

Surgical Services

Wellness Center

Women’s Services

The staff of Wilkes Regional Medical Center are proud to serve our neighbors and area residents who entrust their health care to us. We take this commitment seriously every minute of every day.

We’ve all worked hard to make our hospital and services the best they can be. Our

team of physicians, nurses, technologists, therapists and every hospital employee and trustee have contributed to our success over the past several years. And we’re continuing to expand services as we reach out to all of our communities. Our partnership with Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and Carolinas Healthcare System has also helped us better serve our patients and strengthen our position as an important community resource.

350 C3 C4.indd C4 8/20/07 10:04:17 AM

Documents

Images Wilkes County, NC: 2007-08