Ryan Kelly, Mount Airy News Journalist Profile

Articles

Multiple suitors eyeing Northern merger, acquisition, or partnership

1 week ago | mtairynews.com | Ryan Kelly

The Surry County Board of Commissioners will meet in ITS capacity as the governing body of Northern Hospital District of Surry County on Friday, June 20, to consider a resolution to lease, sell or affiliate Northern Regional Hospital with another entity as the hospital seeks strategic partnerships to ensure long-term sustainability. The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. in the Board Room at the Historic Courthouse, 114 W. Atkins St., in Dobson; the meeting is open to the public.
Postponed golf tournament raises big bucks for United Fund of Surry

2 weeks ago | mtairynews.com | Ryan Kelly

Organizers of the Greater Granite Open took the mulligan after a rainy forecast caused the event benefiting the United Fund of Surry to be pushed back a week. Undeterred, the event was held last week at Cross Creek Country Club in Mount Airy and those in the know said it was a success. kAm%96 492C:EJ 8@=7 E@FC?2>6?E C2:D65 >@C6 E92? Sc_[___ 7@C E96 &?:E65 uF?5 @7 $FCCJ 2?5 D2H 2 C64@C5 EFC?@FE @7 A2CE:4:A2?ED 2?5 DFAA@CE6CD 2E E96 6G6?E 36?67:E:?8 =@42= ?@?AC@7:ED 2?5 72>:=:6D :?
Foundation awards first arts scholarship in honor of beloved librarian

2 weeks ago | mtairynews.com | Ryan Kelly

The Angela H. Llewellyn Foundation awarded its first $3,000 scholarship last week to a Surry Central High School graduate pursuing music education. Ryley Burton, a graduate at Surry Central, received the inaugural award at a ceremony held at the historic William Alfred Moore House. She learned about the scholarship through her school guidance counselor Scott Carpenter, who reached out and suggested she apply. kAmqFCE@? H:== DEF5J 49@C2= >FD:4 65F42E:@? 2E pAA2=249:2?
Commissioners hold the line on many funding requests

3 weeks ago | mtairynews.com | Ryan Kelly

A final budget planning session this week gave the Surry County Board of Commissioners time to talk through some of the budgetary sticking points that needed further consideration. With a proposed county budget topping out at over $108 million, there were funding requests the commissioners decided had to be left by the wayside.
Foundation’s former director discusses sudden resignation

3 weeks ago | mtairynews.com | Ryan Kelly

Ashley Mills said she knew for nearly two years that her job was in jeopardy. The former Surry County Educational Foundation director, said it felt like the writing had been on the wall regarding her position leading the organization ever since a conversation with school board chair TJ Bledsoe in August 2023. Mills said at a public gathering Bledsoe told her he didn’t want the school system to pay her salary anymore. kAm“yFDE @FE @7 E96 3=F6[ F?D@=:4:E65[” |:==D D2:5 :?
Pilot Mountain budget includes tax hikes

3 weeks ago | thestokesnews.com | Ryan Kelly

Pilot Mountain’s 2025-2026 budget proposal will see total expenditures by the town drop by about a half-million dollars, yet town residents could see an overall hike of nearly 14% in real estate taxes collected by the town. That’s what commissioners and town residents learned last week when Town Manager Holly Utt delivered the proposed budget and accompanying message to the commissioners.
Educational foundation director quits after school board meeting, criticism

3 weeks ago | mtairynews.com | Ryan Kelly

The Surry County Board of Education members said Monday evening they want more support from the Surry County Schools Educational Foundation, or the county school system would consider eliminating funding for the foundation’s executive director. By the end of the contentious meeting that director, Ashley Mills, quit the post.
Elkin Schools billed for over $250,000 in "pension spiking"

3 weeks ago | mtairynews.com | Ryan Kelly

Elkin City Schools Superintendent Dr. Steve Hall asked the Surry County Board of Commissioners Monday evening for financial relief on the heels of a bill the district received for “pension spiking.” Hall informed the board that the district “has been taxed with a pension spiking bill from a former employee and the total amount of the pension spiking is $262,255.08.” Rest easy if that is a term that does not sound familiar because it was not one that lived readily on the tongue of the...
As county nears budgetary finish line, residents give input

3 weeks ago | mtairynews.com | Ryan Kelly

The Surry County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing Monday night to receive feedback on the proposed budget for the coming year and found there were members of the community who wanted to be heard. Surry County Manager Chris Knopf reported to the board at the previous meeting that the budget for the coming year is estimated at $108 million. However, that does not reflect the entire amount requested of the county departments, schools systems, and are non-profit groups the county supports.
Trial again delayed for couple accused of killing adopted son

3 weeks ago | elkintribune.com | Ryan Kelly

There seems to be no way to speed up the wheels of justice for young Skyler Wilson who died more than two years ago under circumstances that many still find hard to comprehend. A sad reality of the matter is that there are already people who cared about Skyler who themselves have now died and will not be here when justice is finally handed down over his untimely death. kAm|@?52J H2D ;FDE E96 =2E6DE D4965F=65 2AA62C2?46 7@C E96 25@AE:G6 A2C6?ED @7 $<J=6C[ y@D6A9 2?5 y@5: (:=D@?