Local NC legislators receive committee placement

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www.courier-tribune.com
Asheboro, N.C.
Randleman girls
score first
win of
season
1B
Pottery is on the air
Friday
January 23,
2015
Quick look
Volvo
considers
U.S. factory
By J.D. Walker
[email protected]
ASHEBORO — With
Randolph County commissioners poised to discuss
spending $4 million to
purchase land for a megasite, The Financial Times
(FT) reported Wednesday
that Volvo is considering
building a factory in the
U.S.
According to the article, “Volvo had in recent
weeks been in talks with
several U.S. state legislatures, including Kentucky,
North Carolina and South
Carolina, about what sort
of incentives could be offered for a manufacturing
facility, the people said.”
(For the complete article, visit ft.com/cms/s/0/
e8afcaac-a0af-11e49aee-00144feab7de.
html#ixzz3PZturxAB).
The news was reported
as part of an article on
the appointment of a new
senior vice president of
Volvo’s Americas region,
Lex Kerssemakers.
While Volvo has a presence in Greensboro (Volvo
Trucks North America),
the Swedish company no
longer owns the automotive component. That is
currently owned by Geely,
a Chinese automaker, according to the FT report.
Good Times
The
Pottery
Channel
films in
Asheboro
By Judi Brinegar
[email protected]
ASHEBORO — Have you
ever heard of Roku? Not
Raku, as in pottery, but
Roku as in a new source
for watching television.
Two Randolph County
men have taken Roku
technology and run with
it. Their first project?
The Pottery Channel,
which ties in perfectly
with Raku, a technique used in pottery.
Long-time friends,
Jim Briles Jr. and Mike
Politoski, developed The
Pottery Channel, using
Roku as a way to showcase
Seagrove potters and allow
viewers to purchase pottery without making the
drive to Randolph County.
“We started in November and have a good
response and feedback,”
Briles said. “We plan to
feature a ‘homegrown’
story on each potter
and feature their pottery for sale. If someone
is interested, they can
write down the item
number and contact the
potter to purchase it.
Paul Church / The Courier-Tribune
TUNE IN — A through-the-camera view shows Jim Briles on the set. The Pottery Channel produces a weekly show,
which highlights individual potters all across the country, with a focus on Randolph County. Below, Michael Politoski
shows the behind-the-scenes work that it takes to make a TV show at The Pottery Channel. The one-hour programs
are produced and shot in a studio in downtown Asheboro.
“We charge each potter
a small monthly fee to get
their pottery on the show
and we do not receive a
commission on what they
sell. They can come here
to the studio or we can
take the camera to them.”
The Roku stick, or
streaming player, is a
small box that connects to
televisions allowing you
to watch movies and TV
programs, such as The
Pottery Channel, listen
to music, view photos and
other content from various
web-based services like
Amazon Instant Video,
Netflix, Hulu, HBO GO,
MLB.com and even Facebook — things you can
Paul Church / The Courier-Tribune
See ROKU, page 4A
Local N.C.
legislators
receive
committee
placement
Back
home
Crescent bites
perfect size
5B
Today’s weather
By J.D. Walker
[email protected]
Rain likely
High: 39°
Page 10A
Today’s prayer
We pray for our growing economy and the
hope it holds for some
to emerge from poverty
to prosperity.
Amen.
Paul Church / The Courier-Tribune
7
58551 08051
3
© 2015 Stephens Media LLC
The bell that once called people to court at the Historic Courthouse at 145 Worth St. in Asheboro is now back
in its original home and on display for visitors to get a better look. Since 2002, the bell has been housed on
the fourth floor of the new courthouse as the old courthouse was first closed and then renovated. To mark the
move, Randolph County officials plan to hold a simple, public ceremony sometime in the near future.
RALEIGH — North Carolina legislators will be back in Raleigh
to begin their work in earnest officially on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
In addition to the measures they
may be planning to introduce
this year, each has been assigned
to a variety of committees.
Area lawmakers have been
assigned to the following unless otherwise indicated:
n Sen. Jerry Tillman, R-Randolph, Moore — Appropriations/
Base Budget, Appropriations on
Education/Higher Education, Commerce; co-chair, Education/Higher
Education; co-chair, Finance; Judiciary I; Programs; and Workforce
and Economic Development.
n Sen. Stan Bingham, R-Davidson, Montgomery — Agriculture/
Environment/Natural Resources;
Appropriations on Department
of Transportation; Appropriations on Justice and Public Safety;
See STATE, page 10A
From Page 1A
The Courier-Tribune
4A
Friday, January 23, 2015
NEW
TECHNOLOGY —
Jim Briles is pictured
in the studio which
uses Roku, a
new source for
watching television,
to produce The
Pottery Channel.
Paul Church / The Courier-Tribune
Roku
From page 1A
normally only watch or see
on your computer, tablet or
phone — so you will have
a bigger screen for viewing
and better sound system to
enjoy the content. Roku has
over 8 million customers potentially viewing products.
The Roku stick/box can be
purchased locally for $25$100. Most viewing stations
through Roku are free.
If you do not have a Roku
player, don’t worry. The
Pottery Channel can still
be seen live online every
Saturday night at www.
thepotterychannel.com.
Politoski, who was the
host of “The Saturday Night
Knife and Gun Show” on
Direct TV for seven years,
liked the idea of using
Roku Television as a platform to showcase pottery.
“I’m always looking at
economic alternatives to
get television into people’s
homes,” he said. “Roku
is an alternative to cable
and satellite television.”
The Pottery Channel produces a weekly show, which
highlights individual potters
all across the country, with
a focus on Randolph County.
Briles’ wife, Serena, is the
host for each episode, discussing techniques and glazes with the featured potter.
“My wife is the host, I
do the TV production and
Mike does the camera for
each episode,” Briles added.
“So far, we have featured
McCanless Pottery, which
specializes in elegant zinc
silicate crystalline ware
as well as exquisite handpainted functional ware; and
Uwharrie Crystalline, which
specializes in crystallineglazed handcrafted pottery.
“I do know that Uwharrie has had a bunch of sales
since their show aired.”
A detective with the
Asheboro Police Department,
Briles said his father was a
long-time television producer
and director for CBS and
WFMY, News 2. Since he was
a youngster, Briles has had
an interest in doing the same
thing — film and production.
“I do love being in law
enforcement, helping people
and solving crimes,” Briles
said. “During the summers,
my father used to take me
with him on location, so I
learned a lot from him. I’m
a few years from retirement,
but I’ve always liked the idea
of doing something like this.
“This is something fun
for us to do because we like
pottery and (doing the programming and editing) is
something we enjoy doing.”
The one-hour programs are produced
and shot in a studio in
downtown Asheboro.
“We have viewers from
all over the world,” Briles
added. “We just want everyone to know that this is
an outlet for fine art, and
pottery is one of the oldest
art forms in the world.”
Politoski added that the
men had the idea to do the
program for a while, but
had to wait to act on it.
“We just had to wait
for technology to advance
enough to make it afford-
able for us to do this,” he
said. “This is full-quality
television that allows for a
different kind of exposure
and viewing experience. It is
today’s emerging technology.
“This is also a television experience versus an
Internet experience.”
Advertisers or show
sponsors are also encouraged to check out
The Pottery Channel.
“We have viewers around
the world and would run
your commercial during
the show,” Politoski said.
“Being a sponsor on The
Pottery Channel is a good
way to generate revenue
from your products.”
n For more information, visit
www.thepotterychannel.com,
email info@thepotterychannel.
com, or contact Briles at (336)
460-0544.
Obituaries
Obit notice
In addition to our
regular death notice,
The Courier-Tribune
offers a paid obituary
for customers who
want to include more
information. Contact
your funeral home for
more details.
‘Pete’ Pugh
ASHEBORO —
George Peter “Pete”
Pugh, 57, of Asheboro
died Wednesday, Jan.
21, 2015, at his home.
Funeral services will
be held on Sunday, Jan.
25, at
3 p.m.
at the
Pugh
Funeral
Home
Chapel
with
the Rev.
Lacy
Pugh
Parks
officiating. Burial will
follow in the Antioch
Missionary Baptist
Church Cemetery.
Mr. Pugh was
born in Asheboro on
October 3, 1957, to
Robert and Maggie
Richardson Pugh.
In addition to his
parents, George was
preceded in death by
his brothers, Bickett Pugh and Robert Donald Pugh.
George could be
found hanging out
at Asheboro Bingo
where he met many
friends and he loved
playing poker.
He loved being with
his grandchildren.
He had a big heart
and was always willing to help others.
He is survived by
his wife, Tammy Pugh;
sons, Jason Pugh and
Joanna Necessary and
Justin Pugh and Casey
Woodard; grandchildren, Tristin Pugh,
Trevor Pugh, Kylee
Pugh and Eli PughSchlick; sisters, Joanne
Brooks and husband
Micky, Patricia Blankenship and Diane Hill
and husband Kenneth;
brothers, Ronald Lee
Pugh, Larry Junior
Pugh and wife Patricia,
John Edward Pugh,
William Joe Pugh
and wife Cathy and
Armp Chris Pugh.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, Jan. 24, from 6-8
p.m. at Pugh Funeral
Home, 437 Sunset Ave.,
Asheboro, and other
times at his home.
Please share remembrances and
condolences at www.
pughfuneralhome.com.
John E. McMillon
ASHEBORO —
John Edgar McMillon, 75, of Asheboro
died Jan. 21, 2015.
Arrangements are
made by Midstate
Cremation Service.
Zeno ‘Z.B.’ Teel Jr.
PINEHURST — Zeno
“Z.B.” Teel Jr., 95, of
Pinehurst died Wednes-
day, Jan. 21, 2015, at
FirstHealth Hospice
House in Pinehurst.
Arrangements are
incomplete at Powell Funeral Home in
Southern Pines.
Juanita C. Joyce
KINGSPORT, Tenn.
— Juanita Cox Joyce,
96, of Kingsport, Tenn.,
formerly of Ramseur
died Sunday, Jan. 18,
2015, at
her residence.
Funeral
Services
will be
held
at 2:30
p.m.,
Joyce
Saturday,
Jan. 24, at Pleasant Ridge Christian
Church, Ramseur, with
Rev. Todd Brown and
Rev. Mark Beane officiating. Burial will follow
in the church cemetery.
Juanita was a native of
Randolph County and
a lifelong member of
Pleasant Ridge Christian Church where she
taught Sunday school,
was a deacon’s wife,
trustee and served on
the cemetery committee for many years.
She was preceded in
death by her husband,
Martin Joyce; parents,
Dewitt and Esther Cox;
her brothers, V.C. Cox
and Clayton Cox; and
sister-in-law, Frances
Cox. Survivors include
daughter, Mamie Joyce
Caveness of Kingsport,
Tenn; grandchildren,
Angela Waters and
husband Michael of
Franklin, Tenn. and
Bryant E. Caveness
and wife Michelle of
Kingsport, Tenn.; greatgrandchildren, Tyler
Humphreys, Banks
Humphreys, Lauren
Waters, Abigail Caveness, Caroline Joyce
Caveness, Camden
Caveness and Carley
Caveness; sister-in-law,
Anita Cox of Ramseur.
Visitation will be 1-2:30
p.m., Saturday, Jan. 24,
Pleasant Ridge Christian Church, Ramseur,
and at other times
at the home of Anita
Cox, 2584 Mill Creek
Road, Ramseur. Condolences may be made
online at www.loflinfuneralservice.com.
Arrangements are
made by Loflin Funeral
Home & Cremation
Service, Ramseur.
Memorials may be
made to Pleasant Ridge
Christian Church or
Pleasant Ridge Christian Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Janet
Moffitt, 4752 U.S.
64 E., Franklinville,
NC 27248.
George A.
Thornburg
RANDLEMAN —
George A. Thornburg,
75, passed away
Wednesday, Jan. 21,
2015, at his residence.
Funeral services will
be held Saturday, Jan.
24, at 2 p.m. at George
Brothers Funeral Service with Rev. James
Sweeney officiating.
Interment will follow in
Grace Baptist Church
Cemetery. George was
born September 8, 1939
in Parkersburg, W.Va.
to the late Glen and
Evelyn Thornburg. He
was a member of Good
Hope Baptist Church
for 30 years. Survivors
include his wife, Ruth
Stamey Thornburg of
the home; children,
Laura K. Thornburg,
Terry N. Thornburg,
Pamela Sue Hemphill
(Ross), Cynthia Roberts (Benny) and Billy
Smith (Gwenna); and
14 grandchildren. The
family will receive
friends from 12:30-2
p.m. on Saturday, Jan.
24, prior to the service
at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers,
memorial contributions may be made to
Good Hope Baptist
Church, 201 N.C. 62
E., Greensboro, NC
27406; or to Hospice
of Randolph County,
416 Vision Drive,
Asheboro, NC 27203.
‘Tommy’ Sellers
ASHEBORO — Wilton Thomas “Tommy”
Sellers, 85, of Asheboro
died Wednesday, Jan.
21, 2015, at the Randolph Hospice House.
Arrangements
are incomplete at
Pugh Funeral Home
in Asheboro.
Edna M. Reynolds
RALEIGH — Edna
M. Reynolds of Raleigh, formerly of
Troy died Thursday,
Jan. 22, 2015.
Arrangements are
made by Pugh-Troy
Funeral Home.