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January 13, 2016
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Vol. 38 No. 4
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Bypass project could begin in 2019 By CAROL BROOKS Staff Writer Looks like the Jamestown Bypass project just got booted to near the front of the line. After languishing in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for many years – with an initial construction start of 2030 – the North Carolina Department of Transportation approved a plan on Jan. 7 that moves the project (U-2412-A) forward by six years from the most recent schedule. That means work could begin as early as 2019. The project is possible through the 2015 North Carolina budget signed by Gov. Pat McCrory in September. The budget allotted $705 million over two years to transportation and is part of McCrory’s overall Connect NC plan to improve the state’s transportation system. “The primary purpose … was to ensure transportation funds were being spent on transportation projects and not diverted to other state programs,” Gov. McCrory said last week. The state budget includes additional funding for transportation through the elimination of the transfer from the Highway Fund to the General Fund and through other fee and rate changes resulting in an additional $1.6 billion over
the next 10 years for transportation construction. The additional money allows NCDOT to add or accelerate a total of 248 construction projects across the state. A total of 92 new segments of highway projects can now be funded through the STIP, the department’s 10-year construction plan. Additionally, the construction schedules of another 90 highway projects already approved in the STIP are being accelerated. The estimated cost of the three-mile section is $48 million. No tax increase is needed to fund the bond project. There are currently 27 permit-ready highway projects in the state that have completed environmental documents, including the Jamestown Bypass project, which has received funding for design and right of way procurement. The governor is a graduate of Ragsdale High School and is familiar with the area, but current Jamestown residents don’t want the bypass, which will run from Vickrey Chapel Road southwest to I-74/Hwy. 311 bypass in High Point. The town’s government has gone on record opposing it, believing the road will divert traffic away from the business district. Early in 2014, Jamestown Mayor Keith Volz noted that some members of the High Point City Council are not in favor of
the bypass. But on May 27 of last year, the Greensboro Urban Area Transportation Advisory Committee supported the Connect NC Bond Initiative. In June, the Jamestown Town Council appeared to join Greensboro in its support. Mayor Volz sees the bypass as alleviating the town’s traffic problem. “What has transpired in the last 10 years or thereabouts since we made our resolution being opposed to it … was the fear that Jamestown would be bypassed,” said Volz last year. “But the fact is, there’s been so much new business come into the area that we’re now more of a destination town. Now we have a traffic problem. I think it’s a safety issue. We have so much traffic going through the area, especially during times when people are out doing things.” Not all council members were of the same mind. “I’m just not sure about the traffic problem,” said councilmember Georgia Nixon-Roney in response to Volz. “I don’t know how we’re going to figure out how the traffic will be fixed until they fix all that construction (along Gate City Boulevard). People are being routed all over the place and don’t know where to go. I don’t think there is going to be a good picture of See BYPASS, page A8
Rapid runoff
(Photo/Norma B. Dennis)
After an unseasonably warm Christmas, heavy rains on Dec. 30 sent water flooding over the dam at the Arnold J. Koonce Jr. City Lake, where it continued its high-level journey along the Deep River Water Basin.
Golf course renovation topic for council By CAROL BROOKS Staff Writer If you are a golfer or just interested in the course, make plans to attend the Jamestown Town Council meeting on Jan. 19. Architect Lester George will present his plans for the Jamestown Park greens renovation. After several months of study, town staff will present an update on the Forestdale East stormwater situation. Town Manager Chuck Smith will lead a discussion of the expansion of the Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority. Guilford County Sheriff’s Office Lt. David Pruitt will present the department’s annual report. In September, Councilmember Geor-
gia Nixon-Roney and High Point attorney Jim Morgan presented an option to make Jamestown a Certified Retirement Community, joining with High Point in the endeavor. (Jamestown News Sept. 23, 2015) Nixon-Roney will update the Council on the status of that application. Mayor Keith Volz will lead a council discussion on the town’s mission/vision statement. Grant progress reports are expected from the Mary Perry Ragsdale YMCA and Jamestown Youth League. The Jamestown Town Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers at Town Hall. The public is invited to attend.
Carol Brooks can be reached at 336841-4933 or jamestownnews@northstate. net.
National Handwriting Day provides reason to write with a bold flourish that
By NORMA B. DENNIS clearly marked his belief Staff Writer in and support of the docuThere is no denying that technology – i.e. computers and phones – have changed the way many people communicate. Letters and reports are typed, notes are emailed or faxed and even phone calls are accompanied by images through Skype or Facetime. But one need only glance in any department store with its variety of pencils, pens and markers to see that handwriting is very much alive and well in our society. In fact, the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association (WIMA) thinks handwriting is so important, that since 1977 it has sponsored National Handwriting Day every Jan. 23. The event is held in conjunction with John Hancock’s birthday. Hancock was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence, doing so
ment. Long before computers, fax machines and scanned images were even thought about, monks and other scribes spent hours copying manuscripts. When the United States was first formed, professional penmen continued to copy official documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. “Handwritten manuscripts of all types go for big bucks today,” said calligrapher Kathleen Holterman of Jamestown. “And just look at how valuable the autographs of actors and sports figures are,” she added.
Since she first learned to write in cursive in second grade, Holterman has loved handwriting and practiced it often to hone her skill. She noted that her handwriting was so neat, her mother asked her to fill out any forms the family needed. In college she was drawn to calligraphy from the minute she saw it and took several classes in it while attending the University of Wisconsin in Madison. “I find beauty in it and the act of doing it is relaxing,” Holterman said. Although many people think of calligraphy as an art form, Holterman considers cursive an art form as well. The loops and swirls once associated with handwriting, however,
Destiny Harper, a third grade student at Jamestown Elementary School, practices writing in cursive. A new study suggests that older students who write out their notes by hand actually learn more than those who type their notes on laptops.
have been replaced with a simpler script, but it is nevertheless important in today’s society. According to Dr. Whitney Oakley, executive director for Guilford County Schools Pre-K – 8th grade curriculum, cursive writing is still being taught in third grade. “While cursive is not part of the Common Core Standards, the ability to write in print and cursive remains a skill that is useful for students when they enter college and the workforce,” she said. “When checks and signed documents are written in cursive, it is important for students to be able to read these items.” Handwriting can be as identifiable to an individual as fingerprints. Even twins have distinct handwriting (Photos/Submitted) styles. Signatures are espeDestiny proudly shows a paragraph she has written cially personal. “Some people sign in in cursive. print, some sign in cursive The WIMA encour“I enjoy handwriting,” and some use a combination,” Oakley said. “I do ages everyone to use a Holterman said. “I want to not anticipate the discon- pen or pencil on National keep it up and never lose tinuation of cursive writing Handwriting Day, Jan. 23, the ability.” to generate a spark of creinstruction.” National Handwriting ativity through a handwritHandwritten snail mail Day stresses the continuing ten note, poem, letter or can be directed to Norma importance of handwriting journal entry. If for no other reason, do Dennis in care of the in all forms. “Nothing will ever it for posterity. Handwriting Jamestown News, P.O. replace the sincerity and is part of one’s personal Box 307, Jamestown, NC individualism expressed history and valued by those 27282. Of course she can through the handwritten you leave behind when also be reached at 336word,” said David Baker, passing. It does not have 841-4933 or by emailing executive director of to be laborious, but can jamestownnews@north state.net. be fun. WIMA.