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Dobson Recycling Program to Change Start Dates

Submitted by Joe Borlik, Web Content Producer
Friday, August 26th, 2011, 1:59pm
Dobson Recycling Program to Change Start Dates

Dobson's planned recycling program is now proposed to start in January and not October, like originally planned, according to the Mount Airy News.

The program’s kick-off was delayed because the original start-up date falls too close to the holidays, according to Waste Management officials.

Waste Management is the company that contracts to pick up the town’s solid waste. Dobson commissioners learned of the date change on Thursday.

The company would reportedly have to change pick-up schedules for the holidays and officials said they don't want to confuse people right away.

Trash is now being picked up on Friday and recycling will be picked up every other Wednesday, the paper reported.

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Mount Airy Assistant Manager Resigns

Submitted by Joe Borlik, Web Content Producer
Thursday, August 11th, 2011, 11:09am
Mount Airy Assistant Manager Resigns

Mount Airy Assistant City Manager Keith Holland resigned last week after less than a year, according to the Mount Airy News.

Holland had joined the municipal staff on Aug. 23, 2010, at an annual salary of $65,000, the paper reported.

It is not entirely certain why he resigned.

Holland, 47, had to commute to Mount Airy from his home in Galax, Va., where he formerly served as city manager from 2007-09.

One anonymous source said the decision could be related to Holland having trouble selling his home in Galax. He reportedly wanted to sell it before moving into another.

It remains uncertain what will be done to fill the assistant manager position. His job duties included assisting in the day-to-day administrative operations of the municipality.

To read more, visit The Mount Airy News.

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Unemployement Rises in Surry County From May to June

Submitted by Joe Borlik, Web Content Producer
Monday, August 1st, 2011, 12:53pm
Unemployement Rises in Surry County From May to June

Unemployment in Surry County rose from 10.2 in May to 10.9 percent in June, according to the Mount Airy News.

The county had a labor force of 33,016 with 3,588 people considered unemployed. Unemployment was at 11.8 percent June 2010.

The numbers are based on figures recently released by the N.C. Employment Security Commission. Surry County had one of the higher unemployment rates in the area.

Alleghany was at 11.6 percent, and Wilkes 12.5 percent. Stokes had 9.8 percent unemployment, Forsyth at 10.1, and Yadkin at 9.3.

More than $31 million in unemployment benefits were reportedly paid out to Surry County residents from July 2010 to June 2011.

Unemployment increased in 91 counties across the state, dropped in six statewide and remained the same in three.

Officials said the increases are partially due to changes in local and state education at the end of the school year.

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Dobson Residents Can Vote on Mixed Beverage Proposal

Submitted by Joe Borlik, Web Content Producer
Friday, July 22nd, 2011, 9:35am
Dobson Residents Can Vote on Mixed Beverage Proposal

Dobson residents now have the opportunity to vote for or against a proposal permitting the sale of mixed beverages at certain village locations.

Voting for the Dobson mixed beverage election will be held at the Surry County Judicial Center in Dobson.

Voting is open on weekdays through Aug. 5 from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the location. The final day will be Aug. 6 from 8:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.

OneStop voting allows people eligible to register and vote on site, according to the Mount Airy News.

Voters can select “For” or “Against” the proposal, the paper reported.

The election is only open to Dobson residents in a break room on the lower level of the center. Voting started Thursday.

To read the full story, visit The Mount Airy News.

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Surry County Amends New Zoning Ordinance

Submitted by Joe Borlik, Web Content Producer
Thursday, July 21st, 2011, 2:21pm
Surry County Amends New Zoning Ordinance

An amendment to the Surry County Zoning Ordinance to reduce subjectivity in screening requirements for grandfathered junkyards was approved Monday by the Surry County Board of Commissioners.

The ordinance said that screening devices should “completely, to the extent reasonably possible, screen all activities associated with the Yard," according to the Mount Airy News.

Planning Director Kim Bates said the planning staff wanted screening requirements for grandfathered junkyards to not be subjected to staff or planning board members’ discretion.

The paper reported that Commissioner Jimmy Miller appeared to have concerns about the ordinance.

To read the full story, visit The Mount Airy News.

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Recycling Bins to be Placed at Convenience Centers

Submitted by Joe Borlik, Web Content Producer
Wednesday, July 20th, 2011, 9:53am
Recycling Bins to be Placed at Convenience Centers

Surry County commissioners agreed Monday to put bins for plastics at every recycling center in the county, according to the Mount Airy News.

The county has added recycling containers to a few convenience centers over the past two years. The bins will soon be at each of the county’s 14 centers.

Jerry Snow and Dennis Bledsoe of the Surry County Public Works Department proposed the idea to the commissioners.

The department will purchase eight large bins for the remaining convenience centers. The cost will be about $42,000 and will be covered in the department’s budget.

Bledsoe said the containers will likely be put in place in the fall.

To read more, visit The Mount Airy News.

Return to myfox8.com.

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Mount Airy Receives Grant to Establish Bicycle Lanes

Submitted by Joe Borlik, Web Content Producer
Monday, July 18th, 2011, 10:02am
Mount Airy Receives Grant to Establish Bicycle Lanes

Mount Airy has received state transportation funding to help make the city more bike- and pedestrian-friendly, according to the Mount Airy News.

Officials said the municipality has recently qualified for a $22,050 bicycle and pedestrian planning grant through a branch of the N.C. Department of Transportation.

The city applied for the funding last year. The money will also be combined with about $9,000 from the locality, the paper reported.

It will help provide a master plan to help Mount Airy identify bike or pedestrian needs, priorities and opportunities for improvements.

The plan will chart a course for the next 25 years and pinpoint where bike lanes should be established.

Supporters say they want bike lanes to take them to locations including shopping areas, the library and movie theater.

A private consulting company will be hired to head the study. The project is expected to be put out for bids later this summer.

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