MantillaPhotography.com

Conservatives and Taking Back Alamance County members waved American and "Don't Tread on Me" flags along with banners in support of the GOP candidate Donald Trump at the Tucker Street overpass to evening commuters on I-40 West on Election Day.

Logan Rude, 11, of Burlington sits on the confederate monument base waving a confederate flag and listening to words such as "heritage" and "history" echo around the traffic circle from “Rally For Our Monument” organizer Gary Williamson's speech at the historic Alamance County courthouse in Graham, N.C.

Shawnette Lubin rides a bus with her two daughters' Alexia Flores, 5, and Aleyla, 4 from Life's Journey United Church of Christ in Burlington to participate in Raise Up’s National Day of Action for the "Fight for $15" on April 15 at Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C.. Lubin, is a single mother working as a full-time certified nursing assistant and makes $8.00 per hour. She receives government assistance because she cannot afford all she would need for herself and her daughters.

Travis Ray Lewis of Raleigh surprises audience members while performing "Proud Mary" by Tina Turner during a drag show at Alamance Pride at the historic train depot on Oct. 10. The inaugural event celebrating the LGBT community was the first of its kind in Alamance County which featured a drag show, information exhibits and musical performances.

Elon University students Alexandra Robinson and Karl-Luis Neubig light candles at a vigil to remember and honor the deaths of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, his wife, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, 21, and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19, whom were killed on Tuesday.

Students wave goodbye to teachers as the buses drive away on the last day of the school year at W. Townes Lea Elementary School
The school has had many last days before, but this one was different. On Feb 17, Danville Public City Schools announced that W. Townes Lea Elementary School would not reopen in the fall due to $5.6 million in budget cuts facing the Danville Public School system and a reduction in the student population in recent years.

Vice President Joe Biden gives a speech to a capacity crowd on Aug. 14. 2012 at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville, Va., while stumping for President Barack Obama's reelection. The minority majority crowd had mixed reactions to Biden when stating that They’re going to put y’all back in chains.” in reference to the republican opponents and establishment.

The first of many customers rush through the front doors at midnight during Target's Black Friday opening at Coleman Marketplace on Nov. 25 for the blockbuster bargains, the most popular being a 42-inch HDTV for under $300. The first few people on the line that snaked its way around the building braved the cold weather since 2 p.m. for the best deals.

Bruce Reaves sneaks through the play area looking for the ladies' team to fire on including his wife, Carol, at Laser X on Sept. 30 during a laser tag party for Reaves' 70th birthday.
Steven

Katelyn Morgan, center, hides under her graduation gown as a light drizzle sprinkles her and fellow dental assisting graduates while waiting to enter the Alamance Community College 2016 Commencement ceremony at The Lamb's Chapel in Haw River. More than 1,300 students gathered at the church for this year's spring commencement.

Dawn Witter reacts to emotionally charged music and is comforted by her friend, Diana Wyatt during the third annual Candlelight Vigil held in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness month at Ballou Park on Oct. 3. Witter is a victim of domestic abuse that occurred 16 years ago. The candle light vigil ceremony included victims telling their stories, music and poetry.

June Snapshaw wipes mud out of her daughter's eye at The Trooper Challenge Mud Run on Sept. 12 in Saxapahaw, N.C. The fifth annual event was created by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol Troop D Troopers to promote wellness and positive interaction with community members.

Jason Ellis of Charlotte makes s'mores on a fire with his daughter Audrey, 5, in front of the pumpkin she painted at the Glance Lantern Festival at Jibtopia Wake Park in Semora, N.C. on Oct.22. The annual event included pumpkin painting, hayrides and face painting in addition to the chance to create and let loose a lantern into the night sky.

-Taylor Alston, 3, left, and her sister Raiyana, 6, make snow angels in their backyard along Maple Avenue on Jan. 22.

Dan Hyre, 70, of Winston Salem warms his body as he walks out of a steaming Lake Cammack after a preliminary swim before the start of the The Buckner Mission Man Triathlon early on Saturday morning. The 750-meter swim was the first of the three events for the 281 participants.

Jorge Coronel cracks a smile on top of the marquee at Graham Cinema getting ready to clock out for the day after a work day filled with scattered showers. E.P. Gates Construction & Realty continued with renovations on Graham Cinema despite the rainy weather on May 21.

Alicia Campbell practices "Adventures on Earth" from "E.T." with the rest of Randolph Henry High School's Marching Statesmen at a staging area before the start of the 34th annual Dixie Classic Band Competition at George Washington High School.

Dylan Herfert 2, of Burlington moves a chalk bucket after finishing her drawing at the color-chalk station at Fourth Fridays in downtown Burlington on May 22

Laughs, shouts and an explosion of color pierced the air at Speaker’s Corner when more than 150 students gathered on April 17 for Elon University’s fourth annual “Holi, Festival of Colors” honoring the Hindu Holi festival that takes place primarily in India every year on the first full moon day in March to celebrate and usher in the spring . The Truitt Center for Religious & Spiritual Life hosted the annual event and Hillel hosted an Indian Shabbat preceding the festival

Anna Livingston and Jonathan Suarez play with huge bubble wands at the 26th annual Haw River Festival on May 2 in Saxaphaw, N.C.

Erick Falcon, 7, laughs at Diane Mejia, 7,as she talks about her "magic violin finger"while they finger-pick notes during the La Sistema based music program intended for children whose families are in economic turmoil on May 23 at First Reformed United Church of Christ.

Jamal Rowani helps Arta Kaiser Bushrui, 3, jump over one of seven fires during Chahar Shanbeh Souri or the last Wednesday of the year celebrations at Morazi's Pizza on March 17 in Elon, N.C. Jumping over the fire symbolizes a cleansing in preparation for the new year.

Worshipers pray for the sick at "Only Believe!", a prayer revival community event held at the City Park Jimmy Combs Stage on Aug. 25.

5th graders Kylei Richmond and Omar Reyes help paint China's flag on a mural by local artist Meredith Parker at Marvin B. Smith Elementary School on Sept.10. Last year's fifth grade class gave money towards developing a mural to continue the school's global initiative and showcases flags from 12 countries and a national landmark from each one.

Patricia Hall of the Kuumba West African Dance Company shows Naomi Price and Christina Scearce a few steps to an African line dance during a performance at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts’ 13th annual Storytelling Festival on Saturday. The dance followed a morning of oral story-telling by “griots,” local residents who shared their own personal journeys.

Western Alamance varsity football players' Ty Parker and Jayme Shoffner laugh at Caleb Francis as he tumbles out of a wheelchair during an exhibition game against Carolina Fury. The North Carolina based electric wheelchair hockey team beat the Warriors 9-1 on March 28 at Western Alamance High School.

Mattie Travis says goodbye to fifth-grader Taylar Fitzgerald before going home on the last day of school at on the last day of the school year at W. Townes Lea Elementary School which will not reopen next year due to $5.6 million in budget cuts facing the Danville Public School system.

Janice Rutherford of Burlington breaks through a windshield during a vehicle extrication training lesson during the final class of the inaugural Burlington Citizens Fire Academy on May 30 at the Burlington Police and Fire Training Center in Haw River, N.C. Fourteen program participants learned a variety of topics through out the month long program including history of fire service and the life of a firefighter and vehicle extrication.

Beth Looney hugs Rachel Coleman after finding her alive after an F2 tornado ripped through the area on April 27. The tornado killed one woman and destroyed four homes on Liberty Road in Halifax County.
Coleman was in her mobile home with her boyfriend, Garnett Lloyd Jr. when the tornado hit. Her daughter, Paige Coleman (pictured left) was not home at the time. They did not suffer serious injuries but their home and most of their personal belongings were destroyed.

Multiple fire departments work the scene of a fire at 2057 Woodlake Drive in Danville on Feb. 11. Homeowner Perry Holton said he was trying to start his snow blower when some gas spilled and caused the fire to start.

Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Deputies fold the American flag that rested on former Sheriff Taylor McGregor's casket before presenting it to his family at Hill Crest Memorial Park in Chatham, Va. on Oct. 16. McGregor served as a Sheriff for Pittsylvania County for 26 years.

Joy Dalton is comforted by her son, Coleman Haskins, 9, in front of the charred remains of her aunt and uncle's home at 1933 Countryside Drive in Ringgold, Va. A fire claimed their lives during the early hours on March 10. A third person, a female in her mid 40s, escaped the structure. Dalton was one of the first on the scene, being a Ringold Fire Rescue EMT herself, watched Fire and rescue agencies from Ringgold, Blairs, Laurel Grove, Kentuck and Milton, N.C. battle the blaze.

Melba Tanksley, 90, finished her day with a smile, as she has done at the end of many days during her crossing guard duties over the past 59 years. Tanksley is a Pittsylvania County native and has lived in the area her entire life. She is one of the oldest living crossing guards to perform her duties and can currently be found helping children cross the street to and from school at G.L.H. Johnson Elementary School. "I hope to die with my boots on," she said.

Katherine Campbell will be combining her musical talent and love for volunteer work with a free performance at the Salvation Army on Henry Street on July 27. Campbell, a sophomore in the University of North Carolina’s music program in Chapel Hill, North Carolina spent time in high school volunteering her time at Salvation Army. Her hope is to draw in “love offerings” for the Salvation Army feeding program.

Eastern Alamance High School senior quarterback John Lamot has been a driving force on the Patriot's offense and is the Times-News All-Region Offensive Player of the Year.

Jerry Walker, 73, has poured countless hours of carpentry skill, love and technique over the last five years, into creating the wooden bowls that line the tables in his home workshop in Graham, N.C. Walker learned the craft during an Alamance Community College bowl-turning class.

Artist Robert Marsh's exhibition "Robert Marsh: Drawings and Paintings" will be on display at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History starting tonight and will continue through March 9. Marsh has been teaching art at Averett University for 45 years and has exhibited his work in various cities such as New York, Boston and New Orleans.

Johnny Warnshuis packs away his riding gear after riding through downtown Danville in a barn in Bachelors Hall, Va., on June 14. Warnshuis rode from Greensboro to Danville as a part of his cross-country journey on horseback to raise money and awareness for guillain-barre syndrome, which is a rare disorder of the body's immune system. His mother Sally Warnshuis was diagnosed with the disease. Warnshuis rides a few hours at a time and started his 4000-mile journey in Redding, CA in March 2011. It takes Warnshuis about 12 hours of traveling to cover 30 miles. Warnshuis camps out when he cannot find a place to stay, but has taken shelter with friends he has met along the way. Warnshuis is currently staying with Jim Jennings and family in Bachelors Hall, Va.

Meghan Dombrowski, a studio assistant at Paperhand Puppet Intervention in Saxapahaw and digital artist has been helping bring to life, larger than life, large-scale puppets and masks for the studio for more than four years and is an essential part in helping community members learn the ropes of papier mache techniques during community workshop days. The Giant puppets behind Dombrowski, are from the studio’s 2012 show “City of Frogs.”

Community members and children can be seen around the JTI Fountain during a long exposure photograph at the celebration to reveal the new fountain located at Main Street Plaza on April 2.

Coaches describe the All-Metro Defensive player of the year, Gretna High School senior linebacker Darien Jefferson, as the foundation of the Hawks defense. Jefferson has preserved the legacy established by previous Gretna linebackers; Gretna Coach Kevin Saunders said “Jefferson is a great teacher among his teammates.”

A movie projector glows over a line of cars and families sprawled out on a grassy hill at Eden-Drive In during "Minions", the first movie in a double-feature at the drive-in, in Eden, N.C. on July 24. The audio is broadcasted over an FM radio station where patrons can bring radios or listen to it from their car's stereo system. The theater was one of the last in the country to switch from film to digital projectors.