Demolition

begins on old high school

By JERRY LANKFORD

Record Editor

    As a heavy wrecking ball bashed into the old North Wilkesbsoro High School building on Monday evening, onlookers watched. “Swing it faster,” urged Casey Gregory, who was sitting with her mother. The ball knocked against the east side of the building several times, leaving a gapping whole near the top of the red brick building. The crane, which held the wrecking ball, was then exchanged for a large, orange track hoe. The metal teeth of the machine’s big scoop raked off concrete steps at the side of the building and chopped into the brick wall. By evening’s end, most of the upstairs level was exposed to the outdoors. This work is part of a massive capital improvement project at Benton Hall. The demolition of the old high school — which is adjacent to Benton Hall (the old North Wilkesboro Elementary School) — will allow a larger parking area for patrons. Pete Kulynych, a retired Lowe’s Companies executive, is footing the bill for a youth center to be called Tiffany’s Place. Kulynych is also paying for other structural improvements including upgrades to electrical, heating and air conditioning systems and new windows. Tiffany’s Place, however, will be the crowning jewel of the project. The center will fill the lower level of Benton Hall. It will offer youths, ages 13-19, an array of attractions including big screen televisions, pool tables, a stereo system, internet computers, a stage for theatrical and musical performances and a snack bar.

   Wilkes Playmakers, who owns the buildings, will oversee the youth center. An activities director will be hired to coordinate programs and monitor youths. Youths attending the center will also sign a contract stating that they will bring no drugs, alcohol or tobacco on the premises. The contract will also state that they will use no offensive language. Kulynych got the idea for the center after his secretary’s daughter, Tiffany Bare, told him there was “nothing to do” in Wilkes County. Last month, Kulynych unveiled the plans for the center, named in Tiffany’s honor. Since then, Kulynych and Karen Reynolds, executive director of the Wilkes Playmakers, have met with about a dozen middle and high school students from across the county to see what they wanted the center to have. As for the demolition to the old high school building, work began a couple of weeks ago. Then, various organizations and individuals salvaged doors, windows and other items from the building. On Monday, workers removed asbestos from the roof before the wrecking ball began to swing. Work on the demolition resumed on Tuesday morning and is expected to take several days. Debris from the work will be used to fill in an area adjacent to the building to expand the parking area. 

Old-timey atmosphere

100-year-old store a blast from the past

By JERRY LANKFORD
Record Editor

    BENGE GAP — Dora Huffman sat on the porch of Bill Watson’s General Store watching traffic roll by on the Parkway. “This is just so relaxing,” she said with a smile. A cool breeze stirred in the early afternoon. The spring-green leaves of hardwood trees flitted beneath the sunlight. Huffman, in many ways, has found her dream job at the little store just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The store “officially” opened on April 22.  “I love it up here,” said Huffman, of Purlear. “I love meeting people. I’m a people person.” Having recently retired from Wilkes Regional Medical Center in North Wilkesboro where she worked as a certified nursing assistant, Huffman wanted to do something to fill her time. Her grandson, Fred Church, had leased the store and when the contract expired, Huffman decided to try her hand at running the business. A lot of what she sells are items she has collected over the years. The store’s shelves are stocked with an unusual array of items including antique dishes, bowls, shot glasses, thimbles, old costume jewelry, books and toys. The age of this paraphernalia seems perfectly appropriate. This summer, the store is celebrating its 100^th year of being open. Huffman knows enough about the history to satisfy curious visitors. Walking to the rear of the wooden building, Huffman pointed out a sign on the wall.

 It reads: 

Benge Gap 
Elev. 3,296 
                 Crest of the Blue Ridge

   From 1902 to 1955 the store doubled as the Benge Gap Post Office. The original counter — complete with barred window and mail slots — remains in the building. Huffman even keeps a few antique post cards in the slots to add to the aura of authenticity. Visiting the store is like taking a trip to the past. At the front counter, Huffman sells sweet-tasting pickled eggs — which she made herself — and soft drinks. Soon, she will be adding homemade jellies and cutting boards to her inventory. Running the store is a seasonal business — from April to Nov. 1. It’s a six-day-per-week (Wednesday through Monday) job for Huffman. And, she expects a busy summer. “When school lets out, more people will be traveling,” she said. Those who find the quaint store will be in for a treat. The rocking chairs on the porch are like an invitation to stay and talk for a while — something that Huffman is glad for you to do. Amid birdhouses, baskets and Teddy bears, Huffman smiled as another car passed on the Parkway. “I love this,” she said. “This gives me something to do.” To get to Bill Watson’s General Store, take N.C. 16 North to the Blue Ridge Parkway, go eight miles toward Boone (north) and turn right at Benge Gap.

Wilkes County likely to be it's own House district

By JERRY LANKFORD
Record Editor

Wilkes County will likely be a State House district unto itself. That word came last week, after a ruling by state Superior Court Judge Knox Jenkins. Although legislators have been bickering about the redrawing of the districts since last January, the most recent plan suits Wilkes Rep. Tracy Walker. The redistricting battle began following the completion of the 2000 census. State law requires legislators to consider changes based on new population figures every 10 years. The debate has thrown off election primaries across the state. Walker, who had filed to run for the 41^st House District with GOP opponent Roger Smithey, said a new filing period must be set. As to when that will be, Walker said he isn’t sure.

“The best estimate we’ve gotten from the General Assembly on the primary is late August or early September,” he said. “The filing period is expected to be about a month prior to that. But, they could set it just a week before.” Walker, a Republican, seeking his second two-year term in the House, said that Wilkes would be assured representation if it is its own district. “It guarantees we’ll have representation from Wilkes County for the next 10 years, at least until the next census is done in 2010,” Walker said. Other plans had split Wilkes as many as three ways. That was one of the points Jenkins made when he ruled the plan unconstitutional. The new proposal isn’t official, but could be as early as this week.Still, Walker said he believes this will be the judge’s final version. Jenkins listed criteria for setting districts.

 Those include: Not splitting counties, unless necessary to comply to federal law; All district have to be single members to comply with the “one man, one vote” mandate in the (state) Constitution; Districts must be compact; When lines are drawn outside of county lines, the interest of communities must be kept in mind. Jenkins also stated that any county that has the ideal population of a single district (67,000, plus or minus five percent) will be drawn in as a standard single member district. Wilkes and Lincoln counties most closely fit that population figure with Wilkes meeting 97.8 percent of the criteria and Lincoln 95.1 percent based on the 2000 census figures. Walker opposed Republican proposals to split Wilkes because he said it wouldn’t be good for the county. “Whether it’s a Democrat or a Republican who enters a bill, doesn’t matter to me,” Walker said. “What I look at is how it affects my county. People didn’t send me to Raleigh to vote with the caucus on all issues.”

   Skip and Logan Matheny brought the atmosphere of a Chapel Hill coffeehouse to the Hometown Opry on Monday. That was simple for the Wilkes brothers, especially since Skip’s musical career was in a way launched from such intimate venues. But, with the Mathenys’ (the founders of the band Roman Candle) first nationally released album set to debut May 28, it’s a busy time. Last week, the brothers played in the gym at Wilkes Central High School — their alma mater.  This weekend they will be in Louisville, Kentucky. Then, on May 14-15 the band will play at the Pit Auditorium (with Slow Andy) at Wilkes Community College. On May 25, they will be in Colorado Springs, Colo., for the annual Territory Days Festival. And, on May 28 — debut day — Roman Candle will play at Tower Records in New York City.  To the Wilkes natives, the whole rock and roll scene seems a little mind-boggling.

    After the show at Minton Music & Pawn, Logan, 22, and Skip, 24, stood with their manager Nate Shell. They talked about the logistics of transporting equipment from show to show — particularly their vintage Silvertone archtop and Fender Telecaster guitars. Skip’s wife, Timshel, (who also plays keyboard with the band) listened nearby. Despite the hectic schedule, the brothers by all appearances were happy and excited about things to come. And, things will be like this for a while — at least throughout the four-year contract they have signed with Denver, Colo.-based Outlook Music Co. — which is owned by Denver Broncos’ Trevor Pryce. It was Pryce that “discovered“ the Mathenys. On the air, during WKBC Radio’s Hometown Opry, show host Steve Handy asked how all this came about. Skip told how Pryce found their music on garageband.com, then called him up. From that conversation came the album, which was recorded in the brothers’ parents’ home in Wilkesboro. That album has been getting airplay on WKBC FM (97.3) and on Denver radio stations. The 12-track rock and roll CD — Says Pop — is a multi-textured collection of original songs. The Mathenys wrote some of the songs shortly after the 1996 formation of Roman Candle. 

   The brothers perform all the music on the CD. Skip, who resides in Oregon, sings, plays guitar, keyboards, bass and harmonica. Logan plays drums, auxiliary percussions and guitar. The entire work, with the exception of Merciful Man (recorded in Portland, Ore.) was recorded at Triple Cove Studios in Wilkesboro. During Monday’s performance, the brothers maintained an intimate groove on stage. Skip sang and played lead guitar while Logan chopped out the rhythm. Timshel’s soft touch on the Rhodes electric piano added a smooth mood to the hour-long set. Afterward, Logan talked about how he was still getting used to playing guitar live. “Give him a set of drums and he can play them like ringing a bell,” Snell said. Roman Candle’s Says Pop is available at Minton Music & Pawn and Rhoades Bookstore in North Wilkesboro. 

Wilkes Spring Tennis Bash is holding a tournament from May 31-June 2 at Wilkes Community College Tennis Center to benefit Safe Inc.  The tournament is open to all ages, play will be in the following brackets:  Men-18 and under, Open, Doubles, and Ladies-18 and under, Open, Doubles.  All participants will receive tee-shirts, and awards will go to finalists.  Registration forms are available at Cooks, Inc.  Entry fee is $10.  The deadline for registration is Friday, May 24, 2002.  The tournament is sponsored by:  Brown & Brown Construction, Cooks, Inc., Cubic Engineering & Construction, Hampton Inn, Isom Associates, PA, Sidden Realty & Auction Co., Vannoy & Sons Construction Co., and Venture Properties, Inc.

The St. John’s Women’s Club will have their installation of officers on May 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the Captain’s Table.  Please plan to attend.  Order from the menu.  Call 903-0484 for reservations or sign up at the church on May 11-12.

The United Methodist Men’s Club of Arbor-Grove United Methodist Church in Purlear, will have their regular monthly breakfast on Sunday, May 12th, at 8:00 a.m.  The church is located at 1984 Arbor-Grove Church Road in Purlear.  All men are invited to attend and bring their wives, daughters, mothers, etc. in honor of Mother’s Day.  We are multi-denominational, and meetings include good food and fellowship.  The Club is , devoted to working for The Lord, Our God, Jesus Christ.

Wilkes County Democrats will meet Tuesday, May 14, at 7 p.m. in the library of the Woodward Junior High School (400 Winston Street in Wilkesboro).  All Democratic candidates are encouraged to attend, as are all Democrats and unaffiliated voters.

Clingman Family Resource Center will be offering a Motheread class starting on Friday, April 5, and will continue through May 14. Classes will be on Tuesday and Friday from 10:30-11:30 am. Motheread is a class for men and women, parents and non-parents. During the class children’s books will be read and discussed, with a focus on four components: reading, writing, speaking and listening. One of the focuses of this class is that students will be able to read to appreciate that value of reading to their own children. High School Credit will be given for those who need it. This class is free of charge and free childcare is available. Please contact Kina Gilley Crumpton at 336-984-4047 for more information.

BROC will hold its Executive Board meeting Thursday, May 9 at 6:30 pm at the BROC conference room on School Street in Wilkesboro.

Women’s Health Fair sponsored by Wilkes County Health Department, Wilkes Regional Medical Center and the American Cancer Society at the Clingman Family Resource Center on Wednesday, May 15 from 9 am until noon.

Cricket Baptist Church will hold a revival May 6-10 with the Rev. Kenneth Wiles as guest speaker. Services will begin at 7 pm with the prayer room opening at 6:30 pm.

Seven Class Reunion Planned

Wilkes Central High School Classes 1960-1966 are planning a reunion for Aug. 17.

Former students are asked to contact the class representative named below to obtain information and reserve their place at the reunion.

Class of 1966 graduates, need to contact Patsy Love Jones at    667-3962 or e-mail rpjones447@charter.net.

Class of 1965 graduates, contact Becky Holland Jones at 921-3227 or e-mail Linda Johnson Joines at lindajoines@hotmail.com, or Marcia Bumgarner Little at                mblittle99@aol.com.

Class of 1964 graduates, contact Brenda Church Colvard at 667-5912.

Class of 1963 graduates, contact Brenda Hall Cashion at 838-3640 or e-mail oillady@aol.com.

Class of 1962 graduates, call Becky Benton Welborn at 838-1280 or e-mail rebeccabwelborn@cs.com.

 Class of 1961, contact Eric Williams at 838-5891 or e-mail ericwilliam@wilkes.net.

Class of 1960 graduates, contact Olivia Pardue Bentley at 667-7327.

North Wilkes High School Class of 1992 will hold their class reunion on May 18 from 7 pm until 12 pm at the Elks Lodge. If you have not received an invitation, or would like more information, please contact Tammy Myerhoffer Stanley at 336-667-6630 or Dale Ellis at 336-667-3645.

Car wash, hot dogs, hamburgers and yard sale items.  Saturday, May 11 from 7 am –until at Samaritan Way Baptist Church, 615 Cherry Street, North Wilkesboro. For more information call 670-3748.

DNA LifePrint National Child Safety Program will be at Lowe’s Hardware, US Hwy. 421 West North Wilkesboro on Saturday, May 11 from 9am until 3 pm. This event is free and open to the public.

Arbor Grove United Methodist Church in Purlear will sponsor a chicken-que on Saturday May 10 beginning at 10 am. The dinners will consist of 1/2 chicken, baked beans, homemade cole slaw, cake and a roll. Cost is $6 per plate. For call-In orders, please call 973-3733.

Friendly Grove Baptist Church of Millers Creek will hold revival services May 6-10 at 7:30 p.m. nightly. Prayer room 7:15, Rev. Don Hayes will be the special guest preacher. Special singing nightly. Pastor Jimmy McGlammery and congregation invite everyone to attend.

Show of shows. Performing groups include Blue Voices, Northern Lights and Northlanders. Sponsored by North Wilkes High School Theatre. Wayland Fellowship Building at North Wilkesboro First Baptist Church. May 16-17 at 7 p.m. Call Robert Matthews at 957-8601 for ticket information.

The Wilkes County Public Library Chess Club continues to meet Saturdays from Noon to 3 p.m. in the Friends of the Library Meeting Room. Chessboards will be provided, and the club is free and open to all levels of players.

TOPS Take off pounds sensibly. Join us every Monday at 5 p.m. at St. John’s Church Education Building located on C.C. Wright School Road. For more information, call Margaret at 696-2442.

 

 

A child passenger safety seat check by Certified child safety technicians takes place the third Wednesday of each month between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. at the Wilkes County Health Department. No appointment is necessary. You must check in with the front desk receptionist. For more information, call 651-7478.

The Family To Family Support Group of Wilkes, a support group for families of those with mental illness, meets at 7 p.m. each second Tuesday of the month at New River Behavioral Health Center. For information, call 973-3382.

Oakwoods Baptist Church is offering a ladies Bible study on Fridays from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. For more information, call 667-7838.

Mobile Expanded School Health will be at West High on Mondays, North High on Tuesdays, Wilkes Central on Wednesdays, East High on Thursdays and the Career Center as scheduled on Fridays.

A Tobacco Cessation Support Group will meet at The Wilkes County Health Department education room on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month from noon - 1 p.m. Call 651‑7478 for more information.

A Caregivers Support Group is being held at St. John’s Catholic Church the second Saturday of each month from 2-3 p.m. Call Jane to learn more at 696-4874.

The Wilkes Senior Center is offering the following classes: Crafts on Tues., Horticulture on Wed., Basic Sewing on Thurs., Beginning Pottery on Mon., Cake Decorating on Thurs., Calligraphy on Thurs., One Stroke Painting on Mon. Call 667-2644 to register and learn more.

Clingman Family Resource Center is offering classes for Adult High School/general education degree. They are also offering English as a Second Language. Classes are free and scheduled M-F 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with some evening classes. Childcare is provided for day classes. Call 984-4047 for further details.