Jan. 10 - 16, 2019
IN THIS ISSUE Town improves process.................. 2 Your Questions ................................ 4 News in brief
Speed limit reduced on N.C. 68... 5 Oak Ridge Town Council ............... 8 Community Calendar ...................10 Pets & Critters .................................11 Charlie and me .............................12 Pet Briefs .........................................13 Pet Adoptions.................................14 Yoga for dudes ..............................18 Local artist releases first album ...19 Crime/Incident Report ................. 20 Student profiles ............................. 22 Grins & Gripes ............................... 24 Classifieds ......................................27 Index of Advertisers ......................31 Girl Scout cookies are on sale now through March 3 – look for Scouts to be selling cookies in your neighborhood and at local grocery stores and other retail outlets. Consumers can visit the cookie booth locator at www. girlscoutcookies.org, download the official Girl Scout Cookie Finder app, available for free on iOS or Android devices, or contact the council at info@girlscoutsp2p.org.
‘Reset’ was a good try, but Summerfield Town Council resumes squabbling in 2019 Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO
In this photo, taken during a break in the Dec. 15, 2018, council meeting, Cheryl Gore (far right), event planner and assistant to the manager, serves cake to attendees while council members (L-R) Mayor Pro Tem Dena Barnes, John O’Day and Dianne Laughlin enjoy a break during the meeting. The break, coupled with refreshments, was at the suggestion of council member Reece Walker, who, acknowledging the council’s discord, had requested it pause for a few moments at the December meeting and “reset” for 2019. At his suggestion, the mayor responded that “it would take more than cake” to put the council back on the right track. Nevertheless, cake was served and some even shared a few lighthearted moments as they were eating it. See related article on p. 4.
‘You have been sued!’ Former councilman files another lawsuit Jan. 3; councilwoman Dianne Laughlin named as defendant
voted unanimously that Rotruck was not a permanent resident of Summerfield.
by PATTI STOKES SUMMERFIELD – If persistence does indeed pay off, Todd Rotruck should be a wealthy man. On Jan. 3 Rotruck filed another lawsuit related to losing his seat on Summerfield Town Council last April – this time, Dianne Laughlin, who was appointed Oct. 9 to serve the remainder of his four-year term, is named as the defendant.
Dianne Laughlin
Todd Rotruck
Rotruck was sworn into office Dec. 12, 2017, but lost his seat four months later when the Guilford County Board of Elections held a hearing for a voter registration challenge filed by Summerfield resident Janelle Robinson and afterward
Consequently, BOE staff was directed to immediately change Rotruck’s voter registration to reflect his Lewiston Road, Greensboro, address as his permanent residence. County Attorney Mark Payne and Summerfield Town Attorney agreed the BOE’s decision meant Rotruck’s council seat was declared vacant, effective immediately. “This was fairly easy, because there is a statute that speaks to this
...continued on p. 26