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The Reidsville Downtown Merchants Association was recognized as a 2008 Main Street Champion on Jan. 29 at the N.C. Main Street annual Awards Dinner in Statesville.

Communities that participate in the state’s Main Street program have the chance to recognize a local Main Street Champion each year. The Main Street program recognizes downtown revitalization efforts.

The Reidsville Downtown Corp. presented the N.C. Main Street Champion certificate to the merchants association during a Friends of Downtown meeting Feb. 28. Mason King and Roger Hayes accepted it for the association.

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Karen Hyler, public information officer for Rockingham County Schools, was recognized recently for her excellence in communicating information about the school system through its Web site.

The N.C. School Public Relations Association gave Rockingham County Schools the Blue Ribbon Award, which recognizes outstanding school publications, writing excellence, audiovisual presentations, photography, and Internet Web site communication efforts.

Hyler was honored in the Internet category for her work on the Rockingham County Schools new Web site, which was unveiled this school year.

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Tinker Woods, Rockingham County code enforcement officer, has been selected as the 2008-09 president for the N.C. Solid Waste Enforcement Officers Association.

Woods has been a code enforcement officer with the county for 10 years. He investigates environmental crimes and enforces state and local laws relating to environmental safety.

Deputy Kelly Howell helps Woods handle cases. She was selected secretary of the association.

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Gary L. Plasschaert is the new administrator of Morehead Nursing Center.

Plasschaert, a licensed nursing home administrator, was previously the administrator at Community Memorial Healthcenter in South Hill, Va. He has managed long-term care facilities in four states.

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The American Association for Respiratory Care has given Quality Respiratory Care Recognition to Morehead Memorial Hospital for the sixth straight year.

The designation means that Morehead’s respiratory care is consistent with national standards and guidelines. Qualifications the hospital had to meet included having respiratory therapists available 24 hours a day and having other qualified personnel to perform specific respiratory procedures.

“Our respiratory therapists take great pride in earning national recognition for the quality care they deliver every day,” said Cindy Johnson, director of Morehead’s cardiopulmonary services.

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The city of Eden has launched an Internet newsletter, Destination Downtown. It includes information about downtown events, shopping opportunities and other city activities.

Special events coordinator Cindy Adams and Deanna Hunt, an administrative assistant in the Parks and Recreation Department, are working together on the newsletter.

Mike Dougherty, Eden’s director of economic development, reports that the newsletter has received rave reviews. It has been distributed to more than 2,500 people.

To receive the newsletter, call Adams at 623-7789, Ext. 3021, or e-mail cindy.adams@ci.eden.nc.us.

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The Rockingham County High School band will kick off the city of Eden’s free summer concert series from 3 to 5 p.m. March 29 at Freedom Park. The Holmes Middle School seventh- and eighth-grade bands will perform.

Concerts are being held on Sundays in March and April. They will be moved to the last Saturday of each month beginning in May.

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Celeste Allis has been named dean of sciences and mathematics at Rockingham Community College.

Allis started as a math instructor at RCC in 1995. She was promoted to assistant professor in 2001 and associate professor in 2006. She also was mathematics department chairwoman for four years.

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Leaksville-Spray Elementary School was among the Rockingham County schools that recently celebrated Read Across America and Dr. Seuss’ birthday.

Cat in the Hat visited the school on March 10. Students played reading and math games inside the gym, and community leaders shared stories with them.

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The following students from Rockingham County were named to the Dean’s List at N.C. A&T during the fall semester: James K. Ashe, Kelly J. Baker, Tiffiney D. Benton, Alvin W. Bowen, Joshua D. Burchell, Kendra N. Carter, Lasaro M. Cruz, Mary A. Fagge, Belinda M. Gillespie, Tia N. Hamlet, William S. Hooker, Phillip T. Lawson, Taylor A. Luegers, Lauren N. Mitchell, Tiffany D. Murphy, Rachelle Neal, Jason A. Ola, Keron P. Paschal, Reginald L. Poole, Amber L. Robertson, Shandolyn D. Robertson, Stephanie M. Smith, Steven W. Sykes, Brian A. Tanis, and Jenny C. Williams.

Contact Jonnelle Davis at 627-4881, Ext. 126, or jonnelle.davis@news-record.com