Residents of Mount Airy arrived carrying their own lawn chairs for a community meeting at Frank Fleming Body Shop, reflecting a shared concern over recent fire department closures. Fleming, a candidate for county commissioner, underscored a fire study that had recommended safeguarding volunteer firefighters—advice that appears to have been overlooked before shutting down two local departments.

Mount Airy officials are moving closer to bringing a convention center downtown, embracing the belief that construction will attract visitors and boost the local economy.