Rockingham County news from the News & Record

Mustang Sally to perform at Eden’s new Golden Apple

Brenda Hiles — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:00:00 -0500

I am back at work after a long holiday hiatus. It was nice not having to be anywhere special at any certain time of day. And I was looking forward to sleeping in, possibly waking in the late morning. However, my body decided that I should wake up at all hours of the night. Picking up after the family wasn't fun, either. So, I'm thrilled to be back at work and now also tired enough to get a good night's sleep.

Beyond the frames

mgrossman — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:22:41 -0500

WENTWORTH - Two men, both in their Sunday best, sit in a tiny cable car suspended precariously over the Mayo River rushing below.

Sober expressions on their faces contrasting with the slightly rickety appearance of the car, they're heading across the river.

To what?

The picture, taken nearly a century ago, raises more questions than it answers. Most of the relevant information has been lost.

A fire swept through the small mill town where they worked; the death of the local textile industry a century later did much of the rest.

Religion Calendar - Rockingham County

bwebb — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:00:00 -0500

SUNDAY, JAN. 4

■ Encounter Ministry, 8:30 a.m. Sundays, Mayodan United Methodist Church, 501 W. Main St., Mayodan. Enjoy contemporary music, time of prayer, and bible-based message. Come as you are. 548-9508.

■ Christian Conversation and Coffee, 9 a.m. Sundays, First Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall, 110 S. Franklin St., Madison. A place for spiritual friendship. No sermon, hymns, offertory. Dress casual. Everyone welcome. 548-6112.

MONDAY, JAN. 5

Libraries experience boom in business

Margaret Wimmer — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 03:00:00 -0500

REIDSVILLE — Rhiannon Mansfield used to average three or four new book purchases a month. That is, until her husband put the brakes on her book budget.

“Now, I come to the library and get 10 or 12 at a time,” Mansfield said recently while checking out books at the Reidsville Public Library.

The staffs at Piedmont Triad libraries say the economic downturn has turned people in their direction, where resources such as books, computers, video games and CDs are all free.

Update: Charlotte man charged in credit union robbery

Jonnelle Davis — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:20:07 -0500

EDEN - A Charlotte man was arrested after police say he robbed an Eden credit union Friday morning.

Eden police said at 10:55 a.m., they received a 911 call from Piedmont Aviation Credit Union at 212 East Kings Highway in reference to a robbery.

An officer responding to the call saw someone running behind Meadow Greens Shopping Center that matched a description of the robbery suspect.

The man got into a Chrysler PT Cruiser and drove away.

The officer was able to catch up with the vehicle and arrested the suspect during a traffic stop.

Search still on for missing Eden man

Jay Reddick — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 03:00:00 -0500

A missing 53-year-old man with a history of mental illness may be living among the homeless in Asheboro, police say.

Roger Lee Jernigan, 631 Morehead St., was reported missing Sunday. Jernigan’s wife, Frances Jernigan, told police her husband left home shortly before 9 p.m. that day. He takes medication and is believed to be a danger to himself because of health conditions that include a previous heart attack, Eden police Lt. Tommy Frazier said Wednesday.

Hurry up! It’s your last chance for Chinqua Penn holiday tour

Jay Reddick — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 03:00:00 -0500

Happy New Year to Rockingham County!

Your last chance to take a Christmas tour of the Chinqua Penn Plantation is this weekend. So gather your out-of-town guests, or your neighbors, and see what wonders the plantation has in store for you.

The Western Rockingham Friends of the Library has changed its bimonthly book sale to weekly as it raises money to build a new library. Take advantage of the specials and help out a great cause.

Eden woman found safe

Jonnelle Davis — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:25:22 -0500

Police said Wednesday that a 36-year-old woman last seen in October has been found safe.

Lori Lewis Walker called family Tuesday night and let them know she was OK, said Eden Police Lt. Tommy Frazier.

Walker's family had reported her missing on Dec. 26.

Photo: Mentally ill man reported missing in Eden

rseals — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:23:30 -0500

EDEN - Police are looking for a mentally ill man who went missing Sunday from his Eden home.

Roger Lee Jernigan Sr., 53, was reported missing from 631 Morehead St. around 8:50 p.m. Sunday, according to Eden police.

His wife, Francis Jernigan, said her husband walked away from the home and has a history of mental illness, police said.

Police said Roger Jernigan Sr. had walked away from the home in the past and not returned on his own before.

Police look for missing Eden woman

rseals — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 22:26:59 -0500

EDEN - Police are looking for an Eden woman who hasn't been seen since October.

Eden police say Lori Lewis Walker, 36, hasn't been seen since Oct. 1 when she was seen at Rhode Island Mill Apartments on Riverside Drive.

Her family reported her missing to police on Friday, according to a news release.

Walker is described as a white female, 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 330 pounds. She has short brown hair and eyes.

Religion Calendar - Rockingham County

bwebb — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 03:00:00 -0500

TODAY

■ Community Meal, noon Dec. 27, Mayodan United Methodist Church, 501 W. Main St., Mayodan. Covered dish provided by members of the church. Everyone is welcome. 548-9508.

■ CrossWalk Cafe, 7 p.m. Dec. 27, Church of God of Prophecy, 13811 Highway 87, Eden. Coffeehouse ministry. Christian music. Free and open to the public. Concessions available. 623-4042 or www.crosswalkcafe.faithweb.com.

SUNDAY

Chinqua Penn continues holiday candlelight tours

Andrew Leeco — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 03:00:00 -0500

Good morning, Rockingham County, and happy holidays to one and all. As you can see, events in the county have slowed to a crawl, which is good. This is a time to relax after those long shopping days and to enjoy your family.

However, if you insist on getting out of the house, Chinqua Penn Plantation is hosting its candlelight tours. Except for today, the plantation will be open all weekend. A tour would be a lovely way to spend the day.

Off-duty trooper shoots Reidsville man

Brenda Hiles — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 03:00:00 -0500

REIDSVILLE - A Reidsville man was hospitalized in critical condition Tuesday after being shot by an off-duty state trooper in a disturbance at the trooper's home.

The Rockingham County Sheriff's Office said G.S. Grissom, 46, shot Patrick Martin Curry after a disturbance Monday night. Curry, 27, was wounded and hospitalized in critical condition.

The wounded man's father said Tuesday that the shooting was the result of a personal dispute, which had been brewing for at least a month. Steve Curry said Grissom was involved with his daughter-in-law, Cameron Curry.

2 charged in Reidsville armed robbery

rseals — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:55:20 -0500

REIDSVILLE - Two men were arrested Sunday in connection with an armed robbery near Reidsville.

At 8:49 p.m., Shawn Salley, 20, told Rockingham County deputies that his cousin Clint Graves and another man, Darrin Wilson came to his home on Salem Church Road and took a PSP game system while he was in another part of the house.

When Salley confronted the two men, one of them placed a handgun to his head and demanded cell phone.

When he refused, he was struck in the face with the weapon. Graves and Wilson left the house on bicycles.

Plans for former Eden country club still up in air

Margaret Wimmer — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 03:00:00 -0500

EDEN — The downturn in the economy helped force the Meadow Greens Country Club into foreclosure. The economy also could determine whether the club is reopened to the community, said new owner Homer Wright.

“We prefer to see it operated as a community enterprise,” Wright said. “But we also have to take into consideration the economy and what’s affordable for the community.”

Meadow Greens had been owned and managed by local stockholders, most of whom were club members and held full-time jobs.

Religion Calendar - Rockingham County

bwebb — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 03:00:00 -0500

Saturday, Dec. 20

■ Community Christmas Meal, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 20, Draper Christian Church, 1116 Fieldcrest Road, Eden. Free. Transportation provided free. Pick ups scheduled at the Salvation Army beginning at 11:15 a.m. To get a ride, call 635-8932.

Tires deflated on 15 school buses in Rockingham County

mgrossman — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:36:38 -0500

Tires were deflated on 15 buses serving two Rockingham County schools, a school spokeswoman said Friday morning.

The buses served Rockingham County Middle and Rockingham County High schools, said spokeswoman Karen Hyler. Hyler said one substitute bus was used to transport students to school, but that all buses were back in operation by 7 a.m.

She said drivers discovered the deflated tires when conducting their morning bus checks.

The incident has been reported to the Rockingham County sheriff's office.

Man, 74, guilty of shooting Rockingham deputy

mfuchs — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:05:39 -0500

WENTWORTH - Kevin Harris said he still has dreams about the night John Fairbanks shot him while the deputy attempted to resolve a noise complaint at Fairbanks' home.

For that, Harris said, Fairbanks should pay with prison time.

"He has to know his target before he shoots," the 24-year-old Harris told a court Wednesday afternoon after a jury convicted Fairbanks of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.

Man dies when he hits parked car

John Newsom — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 07:03:17 -0500

STOKESDALE — A 58-year-old man died Saturday night in Rockingham County near Stokesdale when his truck ran off the road and slammed into an empty parked car.

Warren Tyrone Wesley died on impact about 11:45 p.m. when his 2000 Nissan Frontier veered to the right into the driveway of 1022 Gideon Grove Church Road, said Trooper Adam Alcorn of the Highway Patrol.

Wesley's last known address was 3159 Berry Lane in Roanoke, Va., but police believe he was living in the Greensboro area. There were no passengers in the truck.

School’s own food closet helps feed hungry kids

Holly Lux — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 03:00:00 -0500

REIDSVILLE — Monday mornings inside the Moss Street Elementary School cafeteria are quiet, say principal Vickie McKinney and guidance counselor Tracey Jarman.

The students are busy eating their breakfast. It may be the best meal they’ve had in days.

At Moss Street, staff members are feeding students’ tummies as much as their brains. The school turned a book supply room into a food closet and plans to operate the pantry throughout the school year.

“As long as we have money to stock it, it will run,” McKinney said.

Man blames cat for shooting him

John Newsom — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:18:10 -0500

EDEN — It looks like the cat will beat the rap.

The Rockingham County Sheriff's Office said a 24-year-old Eden man blamed his cat for shooting him earlier today.

According to the sheriff's office, Charlie Busick told deputies that he was alone in his Ashley Loop Road home when his cat jumped up onto a loveseat — and onto his .45-caliber pistol.

The gun went off, and Busick was shot in his left hip. Deputies said Busick called a friend to take him to a local hospital.

Reidsville man charged with killing man

Andrew Leeco — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:00:00 -0500

REIDSVILLE - Less than two hours after the body of Kelly Darnell Hairston was found in a remote area of Rockingham County on Tuesday night, a witness gave detectives a play-by-play of the events leading up to the death, court documents reveal.

Before dawn Wednesday, Cory Jermaine Redd, 26, of 1031 N. Scales St. in Reidsville was in custody and charged with first-degree murder.

Investigators say Redd shot 27-year-old Hairston and dumped his body in the back of his own truck. Redd is being held without bond in the Rockingham County jail. He has a Dec. 30 court date.

Man charged with killing Walnut Cove man

rseals — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:56:35 -0500

REIDSVILLE - A 26-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder regarding the death of a man whose body was found by hunters Tuesday night.

Cory Jermaine Redd, of 1031 North Scales St. in Reidsville, was arrested without incident at 3:45 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's office alleges he killed Kelly Darnell Hairston, 27, of 1030 Bobs Road.

On Tuesday about 6 p.m., hunters in a remote area on Scalesville Road saw a pickup parked by a tree off the road.

They approached the truck and found a body.

Rockingham school board elects Nell Rose as chairwoman

David Hurt — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:00:00 -0500

EDEN — The Rockingham County Board of Education elected a veteran member as its chairwoman Monday night.

Nell Rose was elected chairwoman in a 6-5 vote, narrowly defeating Amanda Bell for the seat. Bell was elected to a second term as vice chairwoman.

Rose, a former teacher who lives in Reidsville, represents District 3. She defeated Hal Griffin in the November election.

Rockingham County teen shot in leg

John Newsom — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:27:51 -0500

PELHAM — Deputies are looking for the person who shot a 17-year-old Rockingham County teenager on Sunday.

The Rockingham County Sheriff's Office said Jordan Levar Dickerson, 17, of Ruffin, was shot in one of his legs as he was leaving a residence at 1131 Old Highway 29 at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

Dickerson told a deputy that he heard someone saying "stop" before shots were fired. Several bullets struck the residence. The shooting happened near the Virginia state line.