July 16 - 29, 2020
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Planning for municipal water system advances in Oak Ridge By a 4-1 vote, the Town Council authorized the town manager to negotiate a contract with Envirolink to operate a system, a step that Councilman Doug Nodine called ‘way premature’ due to a lack of information by CHRIS BURRITT OAK RIDGE – By a 4-1 vote during its meeting last Thursday, July 9, Oak Ridge Town Council authorized Town Manager Bill Bruce to negotiate a contract with Envirolink
Inc. to operate a proposed municipal water system for Oak Ridge. Councilman Doug Nodine voted against the move, saying support of the proposal is “way premature” because it lacks enough information to determine whether Oak Ridge could operate the system profitably without putting tax dollars at risk. “I’m certainly willing to take the next step and let staff begin the negotiations, with an understanding that when the contract does come, I’m going to need a clearer understanding of some of the questions,” council member Martha Pittman said. Pittman echoed the views of Mayor Ann Schneider, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kinneman
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Pandemic takeaways The COVID-19 outbreak disrupted summer plans for students as well as creating uncertainty about the upcoming school year. The following are some of the perspectives we gained from talking with Northwest Guilford High School students and their new principal, Ashley Young. We’ll share more students’ perspectives in our July 30 issue. (Earlier this week, Gov. Roy Cooper announced that schools statewide will reopen next month, requiring teachers, staff and students to wear face masks, while allowing families to opt for online instruction for their children. Based on state recommendations, Guilford County Schools is
planning for the new academic year.) Ashley Young, a 19-year educator starting her first year as NWHS principal: “The rising seniors are feeling a little anxious about what their last year is going to look like. There are wondering about academics, sports, band and other extracurricular activities. “I think kids are super resilient and flexible and a lot more fluid than a lot of times the adults are. They are just anxious to know what it’s going to look like. We will make it happen and do what we have to do.”
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Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO
Summerfield resident and Vietnam War veteran Terry Sharpe, 70, walks along U.S. 158 to Reidsville July 1 on the first day of his final walk to D.C., accompanied by Iraq War veteran Wayne Jenkins and his children, Ana, Amonie, Alan and Lance. Various people join Sharpe for segments of his journey as he walks about 10 to 14 miles per day, often in temperatures of 90 degrees and above. Sharpe’s trek to D.C. is expected to take about three and a half weeks. See story on p. 22 for details.
IN THIS ISSUE News in brief...........................2 Your Questions .......................4 Oak Ridge Town Council ....... 6
Pet Adoptions.......................14 NWO Kids’ Korner.................15 Obituary .............................. 20 Crime/Incident Report ....... 20
Stokesdale Town Council ....... 8
Grins and Gripes .................24
Pets & Critters ....................... 11
Letters/Opinions ..................26
Chesterbelle: One cool kitty .12
Classifieds ............................27
Cat Trivia...............................13
Index of Advertisers ............31