May 2 - 8, 2019
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Stokesdale mayor mulls exiting regional water system study John Flynt wants the town council and residents to hear pros and cons of participating in a water system proposed for northwest Guilford County by CHRIS BURRITT STOKESDALE – Mayor John Flynt has always doubted it would make sense for Stokesdale to participate in a regional water system because the town already has its own municipal water system that serves residents and businesses. Now Flynt is questioning whether Stokesdale is wasting its time participating in an evaluation of a regional water system, along with the towns of Oak Ridge and Summerfield and those living in unincorporated areas of northwest Guilford. “We’d be crazy to get on a regional water system,” Flynt said in a telephone interview earlier this week. “We’re happy with what we’ve got – a system that supplies good-quality water.” To gauge whether other Stokesdale council mem-
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bers and residents share his views, Flynt said he wants to schedule a special council meeting for the town’s engineering firm, McGill Associates, to explain the pros and cons of Stokesdale participating in a regional water system. He said he’d like to hold the meeting in the next few months. A study last year by consultant Timmons Group projected a regional water system would cost more than $50 million, or initially about $90 a month for homeowners. That’s roughly double what residential customers of Stokesdale’s water system pay, Flynt said. Additionally, as proposed, the regional system wouldn’t supply water to Stokesdale in its first five years of operation. Raising potential costs for customers even more would be a fee of as much as $2,500 to hook up to the regional system, a possibility discussed by municipal leaders in a work session in March, Flynt said. “Our water system is paid for,” he said. “It just doesn’t make any sense for Stokesdale.” In the work session, officials asked Timmons to provide more conservative projections for how many
...continued on p. 15 Pets & Critters ................................................. 11 As temps rise, keep pets safe ..................... 12 Bits & Pieces: Business Notes ....................... 18 Cameron Payne walks on at Auburn .........20 Student Profiles ..............................................22
Run/Walk for Julie set for May 18.................. 6
Congratulations Coach Bare! .....................24
Calendar Events .............................................. 8
Chili Championship raises $14,000+ .......... 26
Crime/Incident Report ................................. 10
Classifieds ...................................................... 27
Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO
Summerfield’s Terry Sharpe, 68, aka “The Walking Marine,” holds a bottle of Evan Williams bourbon featuring his picture and a story of his service as a machine gunner in the Vietnam War. In a presentation Tuesday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8297 in Reidsville, Sharpe received a $10,000 check as one of six veterans nationwide honored this year by Evan Williams. On Wednesday morning, Sharpe embarked on his seventh 300-mile walk from North Carolina to the White House to raise awareness about hunger, homelessness and suicide among veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder and other problems. He said the $10,000 donation from Evan Williams will go to the Rockingham County Veterans Coalition to stock a food pantry and provide temporary housing and clothing as well as mental health, medical and other services to veterans. To learn more about Sharpe and follow his progress as he makes his seventh trek to the White House on foot, visit www.walkingmarine.com.