The town of Elkin presented a resolution in recognition of the extraordinary heroism of United States Army Capt. Mark Garner to his wife, Nickayla Myers Garner, and his parents Don and Beth Garner, at Monday night's meeting.

The resolution read in part "Whereas the Mayor and Board of Commissioners and the citizens of Elkin wish to make known the high esteem in which they hold Capt. Mark Garner and his family, and Whereas, we wish to honor Capt. Garner's service to our country and the family's great loss at his death in that service."

In recognition of Garner's service to his country and the town will be placing "a sturdy oak" at the Dr. Eldon Parks Memorial Bridge, which connects the Elkin High School athletic fields with the Elkin Municipal Park.

Garner was killed by a roadside bomb while serving in Afghanistan. He was a native of Elkin —loved the town and its people. Both Garner's parents and in-laws are also lifelong residents of Elkin.

The resolution continues in pledging to share the story of Garner's life with the young people of the area as they play on the athletic fields where he spent hours playing ball for EHS.

"It was a very emotional meeting with Capt. Garner's family there," John Holcomb, Elkin's interim manager said. "We were trying to thank the family for his sacrifice and dedication to his country, and his wife and parents were thanking Elkin. The family wanted Elkin residents to know how gracious they felt the residents had been who came out to stand proudly as Capt. Garner was laid to rest, and all those who sent their condolences, flowers, cards, and visited with the family supporting them through their time of loss.

Elkin owes this young man a debt of gratitude for the sacrifice he made for all citizens of our country, not just our town."

Past due extension

In other business with the town, the board voted unanimously to approve an extension for residents who owe past due sidewalk assessments. The payment date passed in September, coming due in full if a payment was missed. Those residents who still owe the assessment now have until Nov. 1 to make the payment. If the payment is not paid by that date, the full balance will be due and payable.

Elkin Tourism Authority entered into an agreement with the town of Elkin to reimburse the town $12,500 for any work that the town's economic development director does for the tourism authority.

An apology

After the update section of the meeting, Mayor Lestine Hutchens made a formal apology to Sam Tesh, of Citizens Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Economy (CACHE), who was in attendance, regarding the incident at the Pumpkin Festival that involved two off-duty Elkin police officers asking the members of CACHE to leave the festival at the direction of the Yadkin Valley Chamber of Commerce.

"It has come to my attention that members of the CACHE group would like a public apology from the mayor as regards the incident at the Pumpkin Festival on Elkin's Main Street. I do most sincerely apologize that the town of Elkin had not provided firm policies and clear guidelines for groups using public properties."

Hutchens continued to state her appreciation of how Holcomb and Elkin Chief of Police Monroe Wagoner handled the aftermath of the incident, and assured that changes in policies and procedures will be put in place to insure nothing like this happens in the future.

"Mr. Tesh expressed his appreciation for the way the town handled the incident," Holcomb said.