OCTOBER 2024 INSIDE HIGH POINT
HIGH POINT BIG SWEEP 2024 RESULTS 6-7
HIGH POINT CELEBRATES CUSTOMER SERVICE APPRECIATION WEEK 8-9
FARMERS MARKET HOSTS PEPPER BLAST CHILI COOKOFF PARKS & RECREATION EVENTS 10-11 12
HIGH POINT THEATRE SHOWS HIGH POINT POLICE DEPT HOSTS COMMUNITY DAY 13-14
SHRED-IT DAY 2024
ELECTRIC UTILITIES DEPT ASSISTS IN HURRICANE RECOVERY 15 16 18-19
CITYCOUNCIL
CYRILJEFFERSON MAYOR
Cyril Jefferson@highpointnc gov
VICKIEMCKIVER WARD1
Vickie McKiver@highpointnc gov
PATRICKHARMAN WARD4
Patrick Harman@highpointnc gov
BRITTMOORE MEMBERATLARGE
Britt Moore@highpointnc gov
TYRONEJOHNSON WARD2
Tyrone Johnson@highpintnc gov
TIMANDREW WARD5
Tim Andrew@highpointnc gov
AMANDACOOK MEMBERATLARGE
Amanda Cook@highpointnc gov
MONICAPETERS WARD3
Monica Peters@highpointnc gov
MICHAELHOLMES WARD6,MAYORPROTEM
Michael Holmes@highpointnc gov
BRIANEVANS
High Point City Manager Tasha Logan Ford announced today that Interim Fire Chief Brian Evans has been appointed as the fire chief, effective immediately.
“Chief Evans has 28 years of service with the High Point Fire Department, believes in ensuring the safety and well-being of our community and has demonstrated a commitment to growth in the fire service,” said City Manager Logan Ford. “Brian continues to be committed to both the City organization and the broader High Point community.”
Evans embraces the opportunity. “I am honored to have been selected to serve this great city as its next fire chief,” said Evans. “I also want to thank the city manager and her team for their faith and trust in me, as well as my family for their untiring support and encouragement throughout my career. And to the men and women of High Point Fire Department, it’s your commitment to excellence and service to those in need that inspires me each day to serve the firefighters and this community as the 10th fire chief.”
Deputy Chief Brian Evans started his career with the High Point Fire Department in February 1995 as a firefighter. Over the years, he advanced through the ranks, eventually serving as captain, battalion chief, assistant chief and deputy fire chief. Most recently, he held the position of Interim Fire Chief.
Chief Evans has dedicated over 28 years of service to the citizens of this community. As his career progressed, he earned an Associate of Applied Science in Fire Service Technology from Guilford Technical Community College.
Throughout his career, he has worked in various fire service roles, primarily focusing on Hazardous Materials, and has achieved certification as a Weapons of Mass Destruction Hazardous Material Specialist. Additionally, he served as a strike team leader for FEMA during the recovery efforts after Hurricanes Katrina and of 18 firefighters.
Rita, leading a team
Chief Evans has played a crucial role in shaping the department’s operations, budget, recruitment and emergency response strategies. His leadership has been vital in enhancing the department's capabilities and ensuring the highest level of service to residents.
Chief Evans is married to Ann Evans, and they have three children: Mitchell (11), Winston (9), and Gracen (6).
DEPARTMENTGOES PINKFOROCTOBER
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the High Point Police Department ran a weekly social media campaign on Wednesdays featuring group photos of various organizations with its pink patrol car.
Locations included City Hall, Stock + Grain Assembly, Visit High Point, Congdon Yards, High Point Central High School, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hayworth Cancer Center, the Guilford County Family Justice Center and the YWCA Latino Family Center.
All were invited to wear pink to show support for the millions of individuals, families and friends impacted by breast cancer.
HIGHPOINTBIGSWEEP2024RESULTS
The 37th annual Big Sweep took place in High Point on Saturday, Oct. 5 and was a great success!
229 volunteers helped remove litter and debris from 23 locations across High Point. These volunteers helped remove over 2,570 pounds of trash, 280 pounds of recycling and over 20 tires from roadways, school campuses, streams & parks. 70 non-perishable food items were also collected to aid in the fight against hunger in High Point.
Thiseventisateameffortandcouldnothappenwithoutthesupportofcitystaff.
Specialthankyoutothefollowing:
·RobbyStone&MelindaKing-PublicServices ·BrennaMcCormick&EulaOldham–Streets&Stormwater ·TeresaBaker,JJ(Julian)Neel,ErrolFord,JahlilBrown,ZackBailey–EnvironmentalServices
·KeonnaHayes,MarcosRoque,KarenGagnon–Parks&Recreation ·IanStanick,ZacharyStewart,EvelynRene,JeffreyCrouse–HighPointPoliceDepartment AmyMcBride,SamHinnant&AndyPiper–Planning&Development
·ChrisHoneycutt–HighPointFireDepartment ·MikeGidderon–Electric ·ReginaldLassiter–Engineering
·ClarieRobinson–IT
RyanFerguson&NoelleMiller–PublicInformation
The event included a prize drawing for all volunteers! Keonna Hayes, Parks & Recreation Department and Emilee Cook, High Point Police Department each won a Visa gift card. Lisa Griffiths participated with her husband, Assistant Police Chief Dan Griffiths, and won a gift as well (received on her behalf by Dan). Many thanks to Blue Ridge Companies for providing the Visa gift cards!
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held on October 11, 2024, featured a lively ookout at City Hall from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The celebration was filled with delicious food, including hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, sweets, and drinks, all served up with a side of fun and music. The atmosphere was one of gratitude and camaraderie, as employees took a moment to relax and enjoy the festivities, celebrating the tireless efforts of the customer service team that plays a vital role in serving the community.
Customer Service Appreciation Week is observed annually to highlight the essential contributions of customer service professionals. It gives organizations, like the City of High Point, the opportunity to thank those who ensure that the city's services run smoothly, supporting residents, and enhancing the overall quality of life.
The event was a resounding success, underscoring the city's commitment to its employees and the importance of fostering a supportive and appreciative work environment.
FARMERSMARKETHOSTSPEPPER BLASTCHILICOOKOFF
October 12 was a good day at the High Point Farmers Market. The beautiful fall weather was the perfect backdrop for the Pepper Blast Chili Cookoff.
This event was extra special as it featured three entries from the High Point Fire Department and three from the High Point Police Department. We anticipated an entertaining friendly rivalry!
The Fire Department participants were the team of Fire Equipment Operator I Robert Burchette, Fire Captain I Nolan Craven, and Firefighter Terin Swanson, Interim Chief Brian Evans, and Fire IS Specialist Bradley White. The Police Department participants were Police Supervisor I Dusty Brackett, Assistant Police Chief Rachel Juren, and Dan Sellers, Police Officer, Master III.
To ensure this was a fair competition, three community members were invited to serve as the judges for the cookoff: Jakki Davis, Executive Director & CoFounder of D-UP, Gart Evans, retired High Point Police Dept. Captain, and Denita Lynch, retired High Point Fire Dept. Captain.
The judges rated each recipe on flavor, consistency, texture, and color (25 points each, for a maximum of 100 points per judge).
It was a very close competition (first and second place with a difference of only three points), but the judges' scoring was definitive.
FARMERSMARKETHOSTSPEPPER BLASTCHILICOOKOFF
The winners were as follows:
·First Place with 261 points was presented to Bradley White’s “Bradley’s Chili”
·Second Place with 258 points was presented to Dusty Brackett’s “4 Bean 2 Beef Chili”
·Third Place with 250 points was presented to Brian Evans’ “White Chicken Chili”
A People’s Choice award was offered in addition to the judges’ selections. 45 Farmers Market attendees cast ballots for their three favorite chili recipes. With 23 out of 45 votes, the winner of the People’s Choice award was Dan Sellers for his “Dan’s Pumpkin Chili.”
So, for rivalry’s sake, the Fire Department came away with first and third place and the Police Department claimed second place and the People’s Choice Award. We want to thank our local heroes for their participation in this community event.
Recipes for all six entries will be shared on the library’s website in the coming weeks. Recipes will also be compiled from all three Farmers Market competitions this year (Peach Palooza, Apple Jubilee, and Pepper Blast Chili Cookoff) into a cookbook that can be picked up before the end of December.
Kyva Jones, emcee for the event, did a great job interacting. Special thanks to Library Associate Shirlene Stotts for taking photos at the event; and judges, library staff, and attendees for their help in this event. Due to a great response, a similar event is being planned at the 2025 Farmers Market!
Please contact Julie Raynor at julie.raynor@highpointnc.gov for any questions regarding this event.
Post Hurricane Helene, the City of High Point’s Electric Utilities department sent a crew to Tallahassee, FL to assist the affected areas. After being released later that weekend, they were sent to Easley, S.C. to assist.
Following the storm’s aftermath, two additional crews were first dispatched to Cherryville, N.C. Upon their release from that location, the crew went on to assist in Shelby, N.C. A heartfelt thanks goes out to all who continue to be involved in hurricane recovery efforts!
Greater High Point's Senior Games Cheerleaders are second to none! Congratulations to the High Point Rah Rahs for winning the gold medal at the NC Senior Games State Finals Cheerleading Showcase, held in Cary on Sept. 19.
Our Golden Girls placed first in the large groups category
(ten or more cheerleaders) for the fourth year in a row, having brought home the top honor in 2019, 2022 and 2023 as well. (No competition took place during 2020 or 2021 due to the pandemic)
We are so proud of these talented athletes; they practice hard, have so much fun and even develop their own cheers! It's a joy to watch them. To learn more about Greater High Point Senior Games, which offers dozens of team and individual sports competitions as well as the arts to adults "age 50 and better," please call 336.883.3585 or email zachary.miller@highpoint.nc.gov.
SHRED-ITDAY2024
The City of High Point hosted a document shred day on Thursday, Oct. 3 from 1 - 4 p.m. at the MOC warehouse located at 816 E. Green Drive.
This was a paper shred event only. As a courtesy, City employees, were permitted to bring a maximum of two boxes of personal items to sh d i dditi t fid ti l office pap
HIGHPOINTPOLICEDEPARTMENT HOSTSCOMMUNITYDAY
Hundreds of people attended the High Point Police Department's annual Community Day at Washington Terrace Park. The event featured carnival-style games, a dance competition, balloon animals, a demonstration from the department's K9 Unit, emergency vehicles and dozens of community partners.
Officers and staff also prepared and served a free lunch to everyone who attended.
Community Day is an opportunity for people to enjoy time together and get to know the officers who serve and protect the City of High Point.
Promotions
KENNETH BROWN
W/S Camera Technician to W/S Camera Operator
JAMES E. ISLEY
Golf Professional to Head Golf Professional
ROGER D. ROACH
MRF Supervisor to MRF Superintendent, Assistant
ANDREW B. ROSARIO
MRF Worker II to Motor Equipment Operator I
DELANEY B. SEXTON
Police Officer II to Police Officer, Master I
KYLE M. THAGGARD
Telecommunications Manager to IT Services Director, Assistant
DANA H. TYSON
Transit Customer Service Specialist to Transit Operator I
New Hires
MARY E. AHRENS
Telecommunicator Trainee
PATRICK L. ALABE
Convenience Center Attendant
CHRISTOPHER B. ALDRIDGE
Code Enforcement Officer III
MALIK R. BEATTY
Marina Operator
KENNETH W. BRANSO
Communication Speci
JAELEN X. CLARKE
Firefighter
CONSTANCE S. COLEM
HR Talent Acquisition
LYNETTE D. JONES
Learning & Developm
TRISTIN N. PRITCHARD
Motor Equipment Ope
BRAYAN M. ROJAS-VALERIO
Groundskeeper I
KATELYN E. RYDER
Community Outreach Coordinator
CALEB J. SMITH
Police Officer Trainee
LAVERNE SPEIGHT-COLLINS
Transit Operator I
PHILLANTE D WOMACK
