Tony Maurice Williamson received multiple sentences as a habitual felon

North Carolina has started issuing vertical driver’s licenses for people under 21, hoping to curb under-age purchase of alcohol and tobacco.

Nikkita Lanee Mitchell will fill a new position in the Rockingham County District Attorney’s Office. Mitchell, who will work as an assistant district attorney, worked as a prosecutor in New Hanover and Pender counties and most recently at a private practice in Reidsville, a news release said.

Sarah, a two-year-old female boxer is available for adoption at the Rockingham County Animal Shelter located at 1401 W. Harrison St. in Reidsville.

Haight Orchards is in Reidsville and has been growing apples and peaches for 21 years.

Nice yard? Win a prize for it. Starting this fall, town-selected residences, businesses and other properties, including governmental facilities, will get a Community Pride Award. The recognition will include a yard sign and gifts from area businesses for having the best-kept grounds and prettiest landscaping, said Wentworth Town Administrator Brenda Ward.

The deadline for the Courthouse Sculpture Fundraiser has been extended until Oct. 31. Wilson and Berger are co-chairs of the Sculpture Fundraiser Committee, which has been raising money for brick sculptures by Brad Spencer for the front of the new Judicial Center, which is set to open in 2011.

Pine Hall Brick Inc., an 86-year-old residential brick-producing business in Madison, laid off 18 employees Monday. 

Madison aldermen approved new zoning classifications for the town’s expanded extraterritorial jurisdiction Tuesday following a brief public hearing.

North Carolina regulators have approved significant natural gas rate reductions for PSNC Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas.

About 4,000 people voted before Election Day in 2000 in the county when North Carolina began offering early voting. But four years later, that figure more than doubled to roughly 9,000 for the 2004 race, said Janet Odell, director of the Board of Elections.

A 148-acre wooded valley off Campsite Road in southwestern Rockingham County, the Knight-Brown Nature Preserve was officially opened Friday with a formal dedication ceremony. Kevin Redding, executive director of PLC, said the property was an “unexpected gift” from Cecilia Brown of Santa Barbara, Calif.

Sen. Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, Guilford, says, “There’s plenty of blame to go around.” Rep. Nelson Cole, a Democrat who represents much of Rockingham County, says, “The main problem is summed up in a five-letter word called greed.”

The Environmental Education Center will hold its second annual Open House on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. in Browns Summit.

The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office says Jackie Dean Sizemore Jr. , 31, of 860 Sardis Church Road, broke into a home at 878 Sardis Church Road on Sunday.

Citigroup to buy Wachovia banking operations

The Rockingham County Department of Public Health will offer flu vaccinations Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Authorities arrested Leslie Mark Roberts, 44, on Friday on two counts of felony possession of Schedule II drugs and failure to pay child support.

Mike Minter, a former NFL standout, wasn’t talking about football. Rather, he was referring to the spiritual game, where God is the head coach and his followers are the players.

The Bethany Fall Festival is noon to 5 p.m. Saturday.