Grins and Gripes

from Northwest Observer / August 18 - 31, 2022

Classifi eds

Delighted or dismayed by something in your community? Share your thoughts in 40 words or less

online: nwobserver.com email: grinsandgripes@nwobserver.com

Grins & Gripes are published based on available space and editor’s discretion.

The late Doug Nodine, erstwhile lone conservative on Oak Ridge Town Council, and all-around good guy. Thanks for all your efforts on behalf of the citizens of Oak Ridge. We’re already missing you sorely. Requiescat in pace. Republic Waste. We have used them for many years and have only received great service – thank you, guys! (Maybe people need to be more thankful for those doing a thankless job). The Town of Stokesdale for being a model town. Small government, no drama and no taxes. Bank of Oak Ridge in Summerfield for always being a great help and so kind. Always great to see their friendly faces! (Also, they have a great garden that is thriving.) Mrs. Bennett, principal at Stokesdale Elementary School, for working so hard at finding a donor to pay for a sheriff’s deputy to help with traffic the first week of school. We appreciate all you do! Mr. Gilley, owner of Gilley’s Lawnmower Repair, for running a fine repair shop. On time for the pick-up, great service, very fair price, and a quick return were all very appreciated. The late Harold “Shorty” Wilson, owner of Wilson’s Grocery at the corner of Carlson Dairy and Pleasant Ridge roads in Summerfield, for the many years he worked day and night and offered a welcoming community gathering place. Gone, but never forgotten. Editor’s note: For those who may not have heard, “Shorty” Wilson died Aug. 6 at age 87. The anonymous person(s) who agreed to pay for a sheriff’s deputy to help with traffic the first week of school in Stokesdale. Thankful that someone is looking out for the community. The grinner who grinned about the griper who griped about other gripers griping about other gripers. I look forward to the grins and gripes in each issue about the previous issue’s grins and gripes. I’m glad somebody else appreciates them.

Guilford County sheriff’s District 1 office. Since January I have not seen the deputies out and about like they were before. I used to see them stopping cars and deterring crime; now I never see them. The homeowner in Oak Ridge’s River Oaks subdivision with the leaf blower obsession. A few times in the fall is okay, but literally every single day seems a bit excessive. The person who griped about Bojangles in Oak Ridge. Recognize that the employees are high schoolers in the midst of a worker shortage and the restaurant is only one of three

...continued on p. 34

fast food, drive-through restaurants in town. The newest Dollar General on N.C. 158, for already letting the Stokesdale community down. In less than a year, the place looks and is dirty. The parking lot and store are a hazard. Nice employees, but poor management. Guilford County Schools for spending $800,000 per year on body scanners. Please explain what a body scanner will do during an active shooter situation. This is security theater and a complete mismanagement and waste of already limited resources. People who mistreat senior citizens and widows by trying to buy their homes and not even caring if they have a place to live. Come on people – we need more doers than takers. The family in our Oak Ridge neighborhood who recently allowed their teen to have an all-night party with alcohol available to her underaged friends. This is illegal and encourages irresponsible and reckless behavior. The driver of the Chevy hatchback who pulled out of River Oaks and proceeded to tailgate me. Pray I do not need to slam on my brakes next time. The person who grinned about NCDOT’s road crew doing a great job on N.C. 150 in Oak Ridge. You should ride in the eastbound lane, from the Guilford County line to Claxton Drive, and see all the bad bumps. Editor’s note: See questions on p. 5 in this issue. People who turn their yards into Motocross tracks. Your neighbors don’t want to listen to that. Please get a clue. The person in River Oaks who feels the need to use their leaf blower. Every. Single. Day. Give it a rest, already! Neighbors without a clue that many people work from home. Nothing worse than being on a work call with leaf blowers and loud engines constantly going off in the background. Please get a clue or move to a secluded area.

Outside the …

The following reader-submitted GRIPES express opinions about state and/or national topics, and have been separated from the other Grins and Gripes as a courtesy to those who do not want to read others’ opinions on state and/or national political and other non-local topics in a local newspaper. GRIPES to...

The person griping about mainstream media reporting temperature change since 1880. To clarify, this is 0.08 C per decade. The problem is the rate has increased to .14 C per decade since 1981. So, is this global warming or not? Both of our state senators, for voting against supporting our veterans and against capping the price of lifesaving medicines. They both voted against the Burn Pit Bill, and both voted against capping the price of insulin. Who are they representing? 87,000 new armed IRS agents. Who do you think they’ll target? What playbook do you think this comes out of? How long before they affect our local news? Mid-term manipulation at its finest. Welcome to Venezuela! Federal government’s recent decision to provide funding for 87,000 more IRS agents. America would be better served if the new 87,000 agents concentrated on Medicare fraud and not the average American.

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