YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1978 w w w. j a m e s t o w n n e w s . c o m
WeEKLY EDITION
Feb 6 - 12, 2019 Vol. 41 No. 6 | 1 Section | 8 Pages
JBA members look forward to a new year By NORMA B. DENNIS FREELANCE WRITER ndworddesign@gmail.com
The first meeting of the new year was somewhat low key for members of the Jamestown Business Association. The group met Jan. 25 at the Blue House Bakery and began with a recap of upcoming events for 2019 in which JBA will be involved. One of the main activities sponsored by JBA for the community will be Movies in the Park. Volunteers are still needed for the planning committee. The next meeting will be Feb. 20 at 1 p.m. at Wine & Design, 121
E. Main St. See Jamestown@ wine&design.com for more information. A discussion of JBA Bylaws was tabled until the February meeting. Members will receive a copy of the current bylaws prior to the meeting and changes, if needed, will be put to a vote. In other business, members shared information of interest to the community about their individual businesses or organizations. • Jamie Hall Erath has created a Valentine special for the holiday at Emerge Skin
Clowning is outlet of joy for teacher and students
Studio. The cost is $40 and includes a $30 gift card for a facial, body soap, hand lotion and Vitamin E lip and eye balm, gift wrapped for the occasion. • The Ragsdale Family YMCA is hosting a free Family Fun Day for its members on Feb. 16. Families may drop in any time between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. to enjoy games and healthy snacks and to be part of a community art project. • On Sundays from Feb. 10 – April 7,
By CAROL BROOKS freelance writer cab1hp@gmail.com
Ned McMillan had not always aspired to be a clown. The investment officer turned teacher decided to try clowning at the suggestion of a friend during a difficult time in McMillan’s life. Not only did he enjoy doing it, but he realized it was a perfect activity for the elementary school kids he taught. That was more than two decades ago and the clown club he formed – Flaco and Ze Clownettes – is still going strong, spreading joy at schools, hospitals, retirement centers and churches in Jamestown and surrounding communities. Clownette participants currently consist of students from first grade to fifth at Florence Elementary School, as well as a couple from HaynesInman Education Center where the group holds practices. In the fall of 2018, McMillan began a second clown troupe. This one is much smaller with only six students from grades
math and science,” said McMillan, who retired as a fifth grade teacher from Florence Elementary School in 2014. “I real-
Athletes are used to being yelled at, whether by fans during games or coaches during practices and games. The coaches might yell encouragement or frustration. But the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams at Ragsdale High School have another voice in their ears these days and its name is Noah. Noah is Noah Basketball, a system that analyzes shots. Ragsdale has purchased the half-court system and analytics products. A camera mounted 13 feet above the rim captures the position of the ball 30 times per second and analyzes the trajectory and the ball position within the rim. This offers instant feedback thru a smartphone app to players and coaches, allowing players to pinpoint how to increase their shooting percentages and the electronic voice calls out the angle after each shot. The voice is only activated during practices so as to not disrupt actual games. “Noahlytics data service tracks players’ shots from anywhere on the basketball court, providing instant feedback on how the player should adjust their shot,” states the company’s website. “The system uses the latest computer-vision technology and propriety algorithms to track important data points such as where the shot originated
see clown, page 2
see ragsdale, page 2
Photo by Norma B. Dennis
4-7. They are unique in that all live in the Meadows of Jamestown neighborhood off Penny Road. “I was working with Haven Barrier, a homeschooled student, in
see JBA, page 2
Ragsdale basketball teams use cutting edge technology
By NORMA B. DENNIS FREELANCE WRITER ndworddesign@gmail.com
Members of the INJOY Clown troupe include, left to right, bottom – Brianna Mills and Maggie Kilpatrick; center – Sam Fuller; back – Dain Crnojevic, Bea Hewston, Ned McMillan and Haven Barrier.
the YMCA also will host “Fitting Another Piece in the Puzzle” for youth on the autism spectrum. The exercise and social skills program is designed to get kids active and to nurture their potential in a safe environment. Participants will be divided into two groups – first-fifth graders and sixth-12th graders. Volunteers are needed to help with this program. For information, contact Marlee at 336-882-9622. • The Boys to Men group at Jamestown Elementary School is hosting its second annual golf tournament March 28 at James-
Photos by Carol Brooks
(Top) The Noah Basketball system is mounted to the wall of the gym at Ragsdale High School and is connected to a camera mounted over the basket. Coach Ben Bradford can select a player’s name on the Noahlytics keypad to track progress. (Above) Brooke Bradford practices her shooting arc using the Noah Basketball system. A voice tells her the angle after each shot.
Restaurant coming along despite delays Construction on the new family-friendly Black Powder Smokehouse – which was originally delayed due to hurricanes – has been delayed even more by all the rain the area has experienced. But demolition of the main part of the building is done and foundation and plumbing work is underway on the new section. “Work has started and
our contractor is rolling full steam ahead,” said co-owner Keith Henning. “We’re still hoping for a May-June opening.” Henning and partner Ryan Herring are redesigning the lot that has featured the iconic 1925 red-whiteand-blue gas station with the terra cotta tile roof familiarly known as Peanut’s. The pair plan extensive renovations to the approximately halfacre property, but want to keep the historic look. The only thing left of the
original building is the drivethrough porte-cochère. The new design will still look like a service station, with wings with large windows designed to look like garage bays built on both sides of a new main building. The new building will be 2,800 square feet with seating for around 70 customers with two patios and a fire pit. Henning promises to replace the tile roof and gas Photo by Norma B. Dennis pumps that have been stored All that remains of the old service station at the corner of East Main Street and Guilford Road is the drive-thru. Current plans call for replacement of the tile roof see delays, page 2 and the old gas pumps out front.
ADVERTISE IN THE JAMESTOWN NEWS! Call 336-316-1231. We offer great, affordable packages to fit any budget.
50¢
By CAROL BROOKS freelance writer cab1hp@gmail.com
SIGN UP NOW SOCCER • FLAG FOOTBALL • VOLLEYBALL RAGSDALE Y 900 Bonner Dr., Jamestown RagsdaleYMCA.org