Northwest Observer | January 11-17, 2018 by pscommunications

Jan. 11 - 17, 2018

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Council weighs possible regulation of door-to-door solicitors by KEVIN SPRADLIN

Photo by Leon Stokes/NWO

The Town of Summerfield will host a special call meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 16, at which time Cube design + research and WithersRavenal will make presentations on architectural plans for renovating and adding to the Gordon Hardware Building (upper right), plans to add bathrooms to the Martin House (lower right) and a master plan for the Summerfield Road and N.C. 150 (Oak Ridge Road) intersection. See details in News Briefs, p. 3.

OAK RIDGE – An update from town staff left Town of Oak Ridge elected officials wanting a little more information before deciding whether to proceed with an ordinance that would require a permit for those seeking to knock on residents’ doors in order to sell goods or services. Still, four out of five elected officials – Mayor Spencer Sullivan, along with council members

State agency investigating spill at Culp Home Fashions Estimated 250500 gallons of processed wastewater discharged into stream Dec. 20 By STEVE MANN STOKESDALE – The state Department of Environ-

mental Quality is investigating whether Culp Home Fashions violated its nondischarge wastewater permit after an estimated 250-500 gallons of processed wastewater spilled into an unnamed Haw River tributary behind the plant a few days before Christmas, according to agency spokespersons.

...continued on p. 30

Photo submitted by NWO reader

Residents in the vicinity of a treated wastewater spill at Culp Home Fashions in Stokesdale on Dec. 20 saw this milky white substance in a nearby stream. The spill may result in the company paying civil penalties of up to $25,000 per day.

George McClellan, Jim Kinneman and Ann Schneider – questioned if an ordinance was needed, or even if there was enough of a problem to warrant action by the council. The discussion took place after Sandra Smith and Bill Bruce, interim co-town managers, presented information they had gathered from nearly a dozen North Carolina municipalities and unincorporated areas. Officials from seven of the

...continued on p. 12

IN THIS ISSUE News in Brief.................................3 Your Questions.............................4 Accident causes road closure...4 Oak Ridge Town Council............8 Pets & Critters............................. 13 A perfect match for Drake....... 14 Pet Adoptions............................ 15 Crime/Incident Report.............. 18 Youth/School news................... 19 Student Profiles..........................20 Community Calendar...............23 Grins & Gripes............................24 Classifieds.................................. 27 Index of Advertisers.................. 31

NEWS in brief

2018 Spring Guilford County School Calendar JANUARY S M T W T 7 14 21 28

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APRIL S M T W T File photos

Architectural plans for the Gordon building (left), Martin House (right) and a master plan for the intersection of N.C. 150 (Oak Ridge Road) and Summerfield Road will be presented at a special call meeting in Summerfield on Jan. 16.

Special call meeting set for Jan. 16 SUMMERFIELD –The Town of Summerfield has scheduled a public meeting for Tuesday, Jan. 16, in order to receive two firms’ updates related to the intersection of Summerfield Road and N.C. 150. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Community Lutheran Church, 4960 Highway 220, in Summerfield. Town Manager Scott Whitaker said the primary intent of the meeting is to allow Cube design + research, of Chapel Hill, to present an update regarding proposed architectural services for the former Gordon Hardware building, located on the southeast corner of the N.C. 150 and Summerfield Road intersection. A second aspect of the firm’s work is to design restrooms for the Martin House, on the southwest corner, which the town purchased in late 2015. Plans for how the historic building will be used have not been finalized, although the town’s Historic Committee is in hopes it will be transformed into a museum where Summerfield’s history can be showcased. “Their work also includes a programming stage and cost estimating to help the town determine desired (or) needed features and aspects for the meeting hall,” Whitaker said via email. “The main intent is for Cube to pres-

ent, but Council will likely have followup questions.” Greensboro-based civil and environmental engineering firm WithersRavenel will also present an update to the master plan for the entire N.C. 150 intersection and Summerfield Road. The scope of the project includes transportation planning – for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic – and an evaluation of parking options related to what is now referred to as the Gordon Meeting Hall, along with streetscape concepts and a landuse recommendation for the 13-acre town tract on the northeast corner of the intersection, which the town also owns.

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3 10 17 24

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MAY F

1 8 15 22 29

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   

Work day Vacation Holiday Last day for students

6 13 20 27

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JUNE

S M T W T

4 11 18 25

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4 11 18 25

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 Early release for students and training for staff  Mandated work day  Inclement weather make-up day

Bobbie Maynard

Walt Maynard

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WithersRavenel’s presentation will focus on a proposed concept related to reworking the intersection from a design and transportation standpoint, Whitaker said. “No one knows anything about these projects and people want to know what’s going on,” Mayor Gail Dunham said at the Jan. 9 council meeting. “These are very important projects.” There will be an opportunity for citizens to ask questions and make comments about the projects after both firms have given their presentations.

...continued on p. 5

Kelli Young (336) 337-4850

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Scott Aldridge

Steve Scott

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Why is it that Anthony Road, between Haw River and Highway 158 (in Stokesdale), is not paved all the way through? “Originally when we converted Anthony Road from an unpaved road to a paved road we were not able to obtain right of way on the section that is unpaved. So we paved what we did have right of way and left the gap unpaved,” Bobby Norris, a district engineer with NCDOT, told us. “Anthony Road should be coming up in the next couple of years to readdress for paving, but if we do not get the necessary right of way we will still not pave it. The funds for this type of work mandate that right of way cannot be bought for the secondary road construction.”

Tractor trailer crash causes road closure

Photo by Kevin Spradlin/NWO

Staff from Best Asset Dedicated, based in Kernersville, help round up turkeys after a tractor-trailer hauling turkeys crashed early Wednesday morning while traveling on Haw River Road in Oak Ridge. Some of the turkeys did not survive the crash. North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the operator of the rig fell asleep at the wheel and lost control of the vehicle. See story on page 10.

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JAN. 11 - 17, 2018

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NEWS in brief

...continued from p. 3

Town schedules round-table discussion on water system STOKESDALE – What is being described by Mayor John Flynt as a round-table discussion about Stokesdale’s public water system will be held Thursday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m.

feasibility study regarding a proposed regional water authority; Gary Matchunis, Stokesdale’s part-time water technician; and Rick Pegram, Mayodan’s public works director.

The meeting will be at Town Hall, 8325 Angel-Pardue Road. The public is encouraged to attend.

The final draft of the $175,000 feasibility study conducted by the Timmons Group involving Stokesdale, Oak Ridge, Summerfield and unincorporated areas of northwest Guilford County is expected to be completed in February, officials said.

In addition to the town council, Flynt said those scheduled to participate include Gene Robertson of Yates Construction, which serves as the town’s utilities contractor; Bill Merritt, president of Meritech, the town’s licensed water-system operator; R.J. Mosley of McGill Associates, the engineering firm hired by Stokesdale to represent the town’s interests during a

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Stokesdale is the only incorporated municipality in northwest Guilford County operating its own water system. For more information, contact Stokesdale Town Hall at (336) 643-4011.

Mayor, council members dabble in minute detail Rotruck appointed to UDO Review Committee

SUMMERFIELD – In general, it takes a mayor and town council less time to approve a routine consent agenda than the time required to read this sentence. In Summerfield, it is not so simple. On Jan. 9, during the mayor and town council’s regular monthly public meeting at the Summerfield Community Center, Mayor Gail Dunham and council members converted the acceptance of the meeting agenda and financial report, along with approval of past meeting minutes, into a marathon adventure that lasted more than 35 minutes. On two occasions during that time, Dunham attempted to gavel herself in control of the meeting.

Not even nine minutes into the threehour, 31-minute affair, Dunham brought the gavel down twice in order to silence Town Manager Scott Whitaker as he attempted to explain that (draft) meeting minutes were not presented to be discussed or corrected, but simply to be accepted by the town’s governing body. Dunham insisted on making a motion to approve the minutes from the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Committee from Nov. 15, but Councilman John O’Day noted that council members could not approve minutes from a meeting they did not attend. Dunham brought the gavel to the table twice more when O’Day tried to explain that a vote from the Dec. 12 council meeting should have been

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JAN. 11 - 17, 2018

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OAK RIDGE town council

Jan. 4 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS as reported by KEVIN SPRADLIN Mayor Spencer Sullivan opened the meeting at 7 p.m. Council members George McClellan, Jim Kinneman, Doug Nodine and Ann Schneider were present.

see something suspicious.

David Gantt, youth pastor at Central Baptist Church, led the opening prayer.

FIRE DEPARTMENT

COMMUNITY UPDATES Sheriff’s Office Report. Capt. Robert Elliott, District 1 commander for the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, said crime in the district fell 8 percent in 2017 compared to 2016. That followed a 12-percent reduction in 2016, he said. Elliott thanked residents for calling law enforcement when they

Deputies responded to 135 calls for service in Oak Ridge in December. That figure includes officer-initiated vehicle stops. Assistant Chief Sam Anders urged residents to check the age of their smoke alarms, noting they should be replaced once each decade. After 10 years, Anders said, “all the sensors are going to be fried.” Anders also asked residents to avoid open burning on windy days. With “a little bit of wind … a fire can go really far really, really fast,” he said. In December 2017, Oak Ridge fire-

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fighters responded to 43 fire-related calls and 33 medical/service-related calls, and logged 210 training hours.

MANAGER’S REPORT MST Committee. Bill Bruce, interim co-town manager, presented the mayor and council with a memo that included a proposed mission statement and list of duties and responsibilities for a Mountains-to-Sea Trail Committee.

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 5  0 to approve the creation of

the MST Committee and its mission, duties and responsibilities. The town is accepting applications for volunteers to serve on the committee. See News Briefs for details. Door-to-door solicitors. The mayor and town council voted to continue the discussion on a possible ordinance to regulate the activity of door-to-door solicitors.

 5  0 to have interim co-town

managers Sandra Smith and Bill Bruce seek additional information from towns that have ordinances addressing doorto-door solicitation and ask about the impact of such ordinances in those towns, and to continue the discussion at the Feb. 1 public meeting. See article on front cover for details. Parking lot. Council discussed P&S Grading’s earlier offer to apply one inch of additional asphalt to the new Redmon Field parking lot to address aesthetic restriping issues which occurred this fall after the parking lot was completed. After discussing the issue with another paving professional, staff expressed concern that one inch of additional asphalt would be inadequate to cover the original stripes on the parking lot.

 5  0 to approve a proposed

credit from P&S Grading in the amount of $9,365, to be applied to the $11,000 outstanding amount due. If after years of aging and weathering it is determined that aesthetic improvements are warranted, the credited funds will more than cover the cost of resealing and restriping the parking lot.

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New sidewalks.

 5  0 to accept the proposal from Davis-Martin-Powell & Associates for civil engineering and surveying services for three sidewalks planned along the north side of N.C. 150 between Oak Ridge Swim Club and Chalet Drive. The distance covers approximately 3,100 feet, or slightly more than onehalf mile. The project will also include a proposed crosswalk across N.C. 150 at Tarleton Drive. According to the terms of the firm’s contract, the fee for the services is not to exceed $29,500. Construction is still “several months” away from being started, said interim co-town manager Bill Bruce.

PUBLIC COMMENTS Army Lt. Col. (Ret.) David Reardon was introduced by Steve Wilson, chairman of Oak Ridge Military Academy’s Board of Trustees, as the new president of Oak Ridge Military Academy. After saying it was “a real honor” to be ORMA president, Reardon focused on reading from a written statement about the Clouds Tobacco shop located in the Village Offices complex, adjacent to ORMA property. Reardon said even though it is not illegal to sell the types of items the shop carries, he questioned the moral dilemma the store’s presence brings. “Is this the right image for Oak Ridge?” he asked. “Do we want to have this within 100 yards of a school? It concerns me when we legitimize

drug use by selling items through a local retail establishment acting deliberately ignorant of what their use is.” William Vaughn, of Elkton Drive, echoed Reardon’s concern. “I had no plans to speak tonight until I just heard that. I live in this community so that my children aren’t exposed to that. If you want my annual income and the people who I associate with in this town, I think you should listen to his words very carefully. That doesn’t belong in our town.” Golden Acres Road resident Rita O. Lewandowski thanked the council for approving the creation of the MST Committee. “We look forward to seeing it develop and grow,” she said. Mike Stone, of Hunting Cog Road, reminded council members that the town passed a solicitation ordinance in March 2016. That ordinance, however, covered only solicitors standing on a street, highway or right of way and not door-to-door solicitors.

COMMUNITY UPDATES Phillip Hanks, president of Oak Ridge Merchants Association, said 2017 was “a really good year” for the group and that membership was “really strong.” Hanks added the association will again offer a scholarship to a Northwest High School student this year and is “looking at expanding that scholarship to other locations.” Debbie Shoenfield, vice chair of the

Historic Preservation Commission, said the group did not meet in December but wanted to highlight the ongoing efforts of Old Mill of Guilford owners Amy and Darrell Klug to preserve the mill. Amy Klug has completed a historic grant application for work they would like to do at the mill and the HPC will complete a site review in the near future.

COUNCIL COMMENTS George McClellan noted that 2018 is the 20th anniversary of Oak Ridge’s incorporation. “I think that’s a tremendous step forward,” he said. Jim Kinneman said he’s “very happy” that the MST Committee is being created in Oak Ridge. Kinneman also urged people who could donate blood to consider doing so, reminding them that Oak Ridge United Methodist Church hosts a blood drive every two months. “It’s a great feeling to save three people’s lives,” he said.

Mayor Sullivan likened the issue to video poker machines being prohibited within a certain distance from schools. “Let’s look into perhaps that being one possibility,” he said, “if we can’t do something else.” Ann Schneider also expressed concern about Clouds Tobacco. “If we don’t spend our money there, or if our kids don’t spend their money there … it may not be happy staying here. So that’s another thing to consider,” she said. Schneider also said that passersby

should note the Old Mill of Guilford has completely resurfaced and repainted the mill. “It’s a new, brighter red. It’s just gorgeous,” she said. Sullivan noted that as the budget process gets underway in the next few weeks, the town has a tax rate that is “very, very low already” – one that is “the lowest tax rate of more than 95 percent of the municipalities in this state. But our finance committee always looks for the opportunity to reduce our tax burden.” Sullivan said approximately 82 percent of a resident’s tax bill is due to Guilford County, not the Town of Oak Ridge, and that only 8 percent is due to the town. “And we’re gonna work to try and reduce that,” he said. The public meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m. to go into closed session to discuss a personnel issue. The council reconvened at 8:23 p.m. and adjourned the meeting for the night at 8:24 p.m.

Doug Nodine said the town could perhaps address the issue surrounding Clouds Tobacco, raised earlier in the meeting by ORMA President David Reardon, by way of a zoning ordinance. Bill Bruce said town staff could research an ordinance that would apply to this type of business. “It (this type of business) detracts from the town. I never thought about the impact it would have on the military academy,” Nodine said.

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Bruce noted that even if the council did address the issue by way of an ordinance, Clouds Tobacco would be a “legal, nonconforming use” – in other words, the ordinance would not prohibit Clouds Tobacco from operating within Oak Ridge since it is already in existence, but it would prevent other businesses of the same kind from operating within town limits.

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BUSINESS notes

PS Communications welcomes Kevin Spradlin PS Communications, publisher of the Northwest Observer, is happy to introduce one of our newest members, Kevin Spradlin. Kevin joined us on Dec. 27 as a full-time staff writer/ reporter. We asked him to introduce himself to our readers and here’s what he had to say…

Kevin Spradlin

“After 20 years of practicing journalism, I returned to college in January 2016 to finally complete my undergraduate degree. Last month I left

college with a bachelor of science in law and society and a minor in sociology, as well as three job offers. I didn’t blink. I knew I was returning to journalism. “You see, I had found a place full of people who still believe in community journalism, and who work day in and day out to provide the best product possible for its readers. The Northwest Observer is not your typical newspaper. There is no corporate parent (or safety net). There is no subscription required, thanks to the many advertisers who are both generous and with apparent business acumen, see the value in supporting the Northwest Observer. The paper is a vehicle that provides the residents of northwest

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Guilford County the news and information they need to know. “All of that might sound rather idealistic, but I have long felt – since I began delivering newspapers at the age of 7 – that playing a role in informing the public is more than a job. It’s a calling. It is one in which I take pride, striving to do well to serve readers. “By the time this edition goes to print, I will have lived in Summerfield

for more than two weeks. That has been time enough to log some miles running on the A&Y Greenway, cycle through town, scout out places to kayak, put eyes on most of the schools in the coverage area, enjoy a lunch under sunshine at Oak Ridge Town Park and complete a 5K race in Colfax. “But there also is plenty of work to do – and more places to play. Let the adventure begin.”

Fire chief: ‘We had power lines down and turkeys escaping’ by KEVIN SPRADLIN OAK RIDGE – A Summerfield man was charged with careless and reckless driving early on the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 10, after the tractortrailer he was driving left the roadway and caught fire. Emergency officials responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash shortly after 5 a.m. on Haw River Road at the intersection of Linville Road. Master Trooper Brandon Baker of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the driver, Devin E. Long, 39, fell asleep at the wheel of his Best Asset Dedicated rig that was hauling dozens of live turkeys. At the time, Long was traveling east on Haw River Road. The vehicle struck the shoulder of Linville Road, which caused it to overturn, Baker said in a news release. The vehicle came to rest on its right side at the intersection. A bystander assisted Long out of the vehicle. Both individuals suffered what were considered to be minor injuries and were transported to Wesley Long Hospital in Greensboro for medical treatment. Some of the turkeys did not survive the crash. Oak Ridge Fire Department Chief Steve Simmons said 10 members of

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

his department arrived on scene and saw a rig engulfed in flames. Long was already out of the vehicle at that time. “We had power lines down and turkeys escaping,” Simmons said. Simmons also had a concern about diesel fuel spilling onto the ground, but said he believed “that much of it burned with the vehicle.” The fuel remaining in the tank was removed without incident, Simmons said. The incident caused a power outage in the area. Grace Roundtree, of Duke Energy, said 425 customers were affected; power was restored before 8 a.m. Also responding to the accident were members of Stokesdale Fire Department, Guilford County Animal Control, Guilford County Emergency Management, North Carolina Division of Highways, Circle S Ranch, Guilford County Sheriff’s Office and Ray Harris Towing. Additionally, workers from Best Asset Dedicated, located in Kernersville, took part in freeing the turkeys stuck in cages on the crashed vehicle and moved them to a second one that was brought to the scene.

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SOLICITORS

68 intersection; five magazine solicitors, all between Sept. 19 and Sept. 24; and one solicitor each for a variety of goods or services, including meat, tree services, vacuum sales, phone sales, detergent sales and pest control. In addition, there were three uncategorized or “unknown” solicitors who operated in Oak Ridge last year.

...continued from p. 1 11 areas surveyed indicated that yes, their jurisdiction had an ordinance on the books regarding door-to-door solicitors. In seven areas, including Pleasant Garden, Summerfield, Walnut Cove and Wentworth, the ordinances did not require solicitors to obtain a permit. Six of the 11 areas had their own police departments. In Archdale, population 11,631, there is a solicitation ordinance and a permit is required but no one has ever registered, Smith and Bruce told council members.

“I’m a little bit surprised,” McClellan said after reviewing the numbers.

“I almost expected to see a hundred of these things. I’m not so certain there’s a problem.”

Smith and Bruce reported that between January and December 2017, there were 19 reported instances of solicitation in Oak Ridge, including: five panhandling complaints that related to solicitors standing at the N.C. 150 and

To pass an ordinance to address the issue, McClellan said, “seems like it would be a waste of time.” McClellan and Sullivan reiterated what Sgt. Eric League, of the Guilford

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County Sheriff’s District 1 office, told the council during the October public meeting. At that meeting League advised town residents to post “No Trespassing” or “No Solicitation” signs on their property in a visible area. League said regardless of whether a resident has such a sign posted, they do not have to open their doors for a salesperson; if, however, they do have a visible “No Trespassing” or “No Solicitation” sign posted on their property and a salesperson comes to their door they can simply ask them to leave – or call 911. And in all cases, if anyone comes on your property and appears to be acting suspiciously, League advised, “don’t answer the door – just call us.” Schneider focused on the town of Stonesville, population 1,047, and the only one of the seven jurisdictions that had a solicitation ordinance on the books but does not have its own police force. The report submitted by Smith and Bruce reflected that the town clerk in Stonesville “cannot remember the last time a permit request was made in the last four years.” Schneider wondered whether adopting an ordinance to address the issue was warranted and “secondly, whether it would make any difference. I don’t currently see an argument that would help me conclude it would make a difference.” Sullivan seemed to share McClellan’s position that current ordinances address what might not even be a problem in Oak Ridge. “The existing ordinances we have … appear to be very adequate in terms of giving our law enforcement authority to act if someone’s on your property and you don’t want them there,” Sullivan said. “I think the ordinance that we have right now, based on this evidence … is sufficient to deal with the very intermittent … issue of someone occasionally coming and knocking on someone’s door.”

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Kinneman wondered if officials in the seven areas that have solicitation ordinances were able to use law enforcement to address the issue effectively. Schneider asked if ordinances in other areas have reduced the number of complaints regarding door-to-door solicitors. The council members ultimately directed Smith and Bruce to acquire additional information from some of the 11 governments that had responded to their earlier inquiries, with plans to continue the discussion at the Feb. 1 council meeting. Sullivan noted there are limits to what the council can do. “We cannot pass an ordinance prohibiting door-to-door solicitation,” Sullivan said. “That’s a constitutionally protected right to free speech.” What the town can do, Sullivan said, is to encourage residents to post signs in their yard to warn away solicitors. “That’s something (police) can enforce,” Sullivan said, noting that if salespeople continue to be on private property, “that becomes a criminal act.” Mike Stone, of Hunting Cog Road, spoke during the public comment section and said the town already set a precedent when it adopted a solicitation ordinance in March 2016. He also challenged the notion that door-to-door solicitation was not an issue, noting that he recently read on nextdoor.com more than 250 comments relating to the issue from over 100 individuals spread throughout 18 Oak Ridge neighborhoods. Town officials, however, maintained that the ordinance adopted in 2016 addressed only roadway solicitors, or panhandlers, and required that they remain out of the rights of way.

Tammy Cross of Stokesdale shared this photo of her 10-year-old Yorkie, Curtis.

January 2018



a monthly feature of the Northwest Observer



Pogo, the alarm cat, is 12 years old. Members of the Webster household wonder if she can tell time, as she comes to their bedroom every morning around 7:30 a.m. and meows to get them up!

Recently our readers have asked why they’ve been seeing so many more vultures. According to the website, “Birds of North Carolina,” the population of black vultures – also called buzzards – is on the rebound since a decline in the 1980s. The Patuxent (Maryland) Wildlife Research Center indicates the number of black vultures in North Carolina increased by nearly 150 percent between 2000 and 2010. One possible cause for the birds’ rebound is the increased deer population across the state, which leads to more deer strikes by motorists; deer are one of a vulture’s favorite foods. By the way, turkey vultures (far right) are often mistaken for black vultures. Both are common along roadsides, suburbs, farm fields and food sources such as landfills, trash heaps and construction sites. Turkey vultures have longer wings than black vultures, and also have a pale red head with a lighter underside, giving them a two-toned appearance. Black vultures have shorter wings and a dark gray/black head.



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Carol Merritt of Oak Ridge shared this photo of her 11-year-old quarter horse mare, Mazy (Smooth Zippin Shadow). Nothing like a picturesque walk through the snow!

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Cogswell said his biggest reward is being able to witness the perfect match between dogs and people. That’s what he saw that day. “You could see it as soon as she grabbed hold of that leash,” Cogswell said. “You could tell it was a match. It “Compassionate, Comprehensive just felt right.” “Compassionate, “Compassionate,

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After talking it over withState-of-the-art her ex- Care” tended family, Lewis decided to bring Karen Nasisse, DVM Karen Nasisse, DVM Karen Nasisse, DVM Drake home. Cogswell dropped him Ph 336-643-8984 Ph 336-643-8984 Ph 336-643-8984 Fax 336-643-8987 Fax 336-643-8987 off on Friday evening and, with the Fax a 336-643-8987 1692 NC 68N, Suite J, 27310 1692 NC 68N, Suite J, 27310 1692 NC 68N, Suite J, 27310 exception of a few “marking” instances in the house, all was going well. “Compassionate, “Compassionate, Comprehensive State-of-the-art Care” “Compassionate,

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Lewis and Cogswell arranged to meet in the park later that week so she could spend some time with Drake and get to know him better.

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Teri Lewis of Pfafftown came to

“I know it sounds a bit hokey, but when Drake came over to me, he had this hopeful look in his eyes,” Lewis said of her first introduction to Drake. “It was kind of like ‘are you the one?’”

Has an appointment

To help find the perfect home for Drake, Cogswell planned to take him to various adoption events. That’s how the two ended up at the annual Canine Capers event in Oak Ridge last April.

Canine Capers simply to connect with a friend before heading to another local event. Over a year earlier, Lewis had lost her much loved canine companion, Kelsie, who was what many people termed her “heart dog.” Lewis had grieved deeply after Kelsie’s death and still didn’t feel she was ready for another dog. But then she met Drake and his story touched her heart. Here was a dog that desperately needed someone to love him. Lewis would soon realize she needed Drake as much as he needed her.

_________________________________ Time

is knowing your dog is loved and cared for

As Cogswell spent more time with Drake, he discovered a lovable personality and keen intelligence. On weekends he took Drake out on walks and he enrolled him in a Nose Work class – something that Drake both enjoyed and excelled at. Not only did Cogswell invest his time in Drake, but also his money, as he paid all the class fees himself.

Photo by Annette Joyce/NWO

Working together, Teri Lewis (left) and Marty Cogswell have given Drake, a black lab mix that spent five years in a rescue facility, the perfect forever home.

_________________________________ Date

Peace of mind

For the last three years Cogswell has made it his mission to find homes for dogs that are having a more difficult time being adopted. During the process, he’s made sure the dogs get lots of love and attention.

_________________________________ Time

A resident of Kernersville, Cogswell has adopted three rescue dogs of his own. Not only does he foster other dogs, but the big-hearted dog lover spends his free time working

“I love dogs and enjoy finding them good homes,” Cogswell said. “My own dogs already have a good home. The ones in the rescue are just looking for a second chance.”

_________________________________ Date

Drake, a black lab mix, had spent five years in a pen at Ruff Love Rescue, a no-kill dog rescue and foster care organization in Thomasville. Identified as an excitable dog that didn’t seem to get along with other dogs, Drake’s future appeared bleak. That is, until Marty Cogswell, a volunteer with the rescue organization, took on the task of finding Drake a permanent home.

one-on-one with rescue dogs that are having problems finding homes – such as dogs like Drake, which people tend to overlook while opting for cute, cuddly puppies.

__________________ Time

This is the story of a dog nobody wanted and of the two people who were willing to take a chance on him.

“I could tell from the look in his eyes, he was as stunned as I was,” she said. For many people, that incident would have been enough to immediately send Drake back. Fortunately, Lewis wasn’t willing to give up that easily. Instead, she took Drake to Nose Work class that day, talked with Cogswell and the two came up with a plan to help ease Drake into his new environment. They decided that Drake needed a lot of exercise to help calm him down. Lewis immediately started increasing the number and lengths of his daily walks and spent extra time playing Nose Work games, throwing balls and taking him for rides in the car. “He’s become my fitness coach,” Lewis joked. “He doesn’t like for me to sit too long. He keeps me moving.” The extra activity worked well for Drake and he’s now a loving member of the Lewis household. He loves being around Lewis and her family and is tail-wagging happy when it’s time to go to Nose Work class. Those are also the nights he gets to see Cogswell, the first human who believed in him. “He’s not a perfect dog and I’m not a perfect person, so we’re a perfect match,” said Lewis. “We just accept each other’s flaws and move on.”

Pet Adoptions

Red Dog Farm Animal Rescue Network

Guilford County Animal Shelter MELVIN Melvin is a neutered male blue and white pit bull terrier. He is about 6 years old and has been at the shelter for four months. Don’t let Melvin’s age fool you – he is a bright-eyed, dapperly dressed dog. Give him a happy new year by sharing your loving home with this sweet dog. Ask for Melvin by ID#A000546.

LOLA Lola is a beautiful 3-year-old spayed mini rex rabbit. She loves attention and playtime with her current foster family and would make a great first-time rabbit pet for any family. Lola enjoys listening to original cast recordings of musicals; her favorite is “Damn Yankees.” Add Lola to your family today; fill out an application online at www.reddogfarm.com. Lola’s adoption fee is $60.

PACO ANNE Anne is a spayed female black and white domestic shorthair. This sweet 3-year-old kitty has been at the shelter since August 2017, waiting for her fur-ever home. Her hobbies include reading and watching movies about characters named “Anne” (“Anne of Green Gables” and “Anne Boleyn” are favorites.) Provide a happy ending for Anne’s own story – ask for her by ID#A001723.

Guilford County Animal Shelter 4525 W. Wendover Ave., Greensboro Mon-Sat 12-6pm (closed Tues), Sun 1-5pm

To check animals’ availability, call (336) 641-3400 or visit www.myguilford.com/animal-shelter

Have some

Paco is a neutered 13-year-old standard donkey that came to us as a stray picked up by animal control. He is very sweet and really enjoys having his ears scratched. Paco is doing great in his foster home; his foster mom says he is a pleasure to have in the herd. Since Paco has been managed properly and has lost weight he is now able to go out and graze in the pasture with the herd. We still do not think he needs to be on lush pasture 24/7 but he has stayed healthy while spending longer time in the pasture with his horse friends. Paco will make a perfect companion or farm guardian. Learn more and apply today at www.reddogfarm.com.

For more info or to apply to adopt Lola, Paco or other animals in need of loving homes, visit www.reddogfarm.com

pet/animal photos to share?

Email your photo to photos@nwobserver.com for possible inclusion in our Pets & Critters section, appearing in the NWO’s first issue each month. When sending a picture, please make sure it is high resolution, with a minimum file size of 300KB.

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CRIME / INCIDENT report

District 1 Sheriff’s Office has recently responded to the following incidents in northwest Guilford County ... The District 1 office encompasses Oak Ridge, Summerfield, Stokesdale, Colfax and northwest and northern Greensboro. It is bounded by Rockingham County on the north, runs east along U.S. 29 South, west along Forsyth County and south along the Greensboro City limits.

ASSAULT Jan. 8 | A 61-year-old Summerfield man suffered minor injuries when a known offender allegedly assaulted him

by punching him in the face and kicking him in the ribs. The man refused medical treatment; the suspect was voluntarily escorted to Wesley Long Hospital.

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Dec. 31 | Sheriff’s deputies found a man in the 7700 block of NC 68 North in Stokesdale to be in possession of heroin and crack cocaine. The offender was arrested and charged with felony possession of a Schedule I controlled substance, felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and other traffic charges. The offender was transported to jail central, where he was given a written promise to appear and a court date of Feb. 8. Jan. 3 | A Stokesdale man was arrested on a charge of possession of marijuana and paraphernalia pursuant to a consensual encounter. The man was cited and released.

THEFT

Dec. 18 | Treeline Landscaping and Nursery on Athens Road in Stokesdale reported an unknown person had cut off locks securing three trailers and unlawfully removed power tools and accessories. The estimated value of the loss is $4,429. Dec. 20 | A woman on Briardenn Court in Summerfield reported an unknown person allegedly stole her pocketbook. The total estimated loss is $200. Dec. 23 | A resident of Bull Road in

Colfax reported the theft of a Honda ATV valued at about $7,000. The theft is said to have occurred between 3 p.m. on Dec. 22 and 6:30 a.m. on Dec. 23. The ATV was unsecured in the back yard prior to the theft. Dec. 28 | A Winston-Salem man reported the alleged theft of property from his vehicle while he was shopping at Tractor Supply in Oak Ridge. The victim reported one chainsaw and two pairs of boots, with an estimated value of $490, were stolen.

BURGLARY

Jan. 2 | The resident of a home on Mabe Drive in Oak Ridge reported a burglary that occurred sometime between Dec. 20 and Jan. 2. The unknown suspect is alleged to have stolen spare keys to two vehicles, a camcorder, personal papers including birth certificates and Social Security cards, an iPhone 4S, shoes, jewelry and at least five handbags. The total loss was valued at more than $6,500.

District 1 Sheriff’s Office 7506 Summerfield Road

Main number: (336) 641-2300 Report non-emergency crime-related incidents by calling: (336) 373-2222 • 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., M-F www.guilfordcountysheriff.com

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technical foul to give him 1,462 points for his career, breaking Jonathan Frye’s previous mark that was established in 2010.

Welcome to

A weekly section in the Northwest Observer focused on our local youth and the adults who positively impact them.

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

1,002 points at the time, but the aftermath of the moment is one that is usually reserved for Hollywood scripts.

Robakiewicz, Pack hit scoring marks for Nighthawks in HAECO There were two notable scoring achievements recently by basketball players at Northern Guilford, and in the case of Kassie Robakiewicz, a heartwarming one as well.

The game was stopped to recognize Robakiewicz’s achievement and she was presented with the ball. Robakiewicz promptly delivered the ball to her mother, Kim, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

Robakiewicz, a senior, scored her 1,000th career point after making a 3-pointer in the first quarter of a 63-30 win against Smith in the first round of the HAECO Invitational.

Another notable moment in the HAECO tournament came during the boys’ game against Page High School, when Andy Pack, a four-year starter, broke the school scoring record. Pack made two free throws after a

The basket gave Robakiewicz

Both Pack and Robakiewicz were named to the HAECO All-Tournament teams along with Elissa Cunane. The Northern girls lost 65-47 in the championship game to Northwest Guilford; the boys downed Page 62-60 to finish third.

Northern Guilford winter sports notes By MARC PRUITT

Pack, who has signed to play at Elon, is averaging 22.2 points per game this season.

Forst impressive at Robert Sawyer Invitational Sophomore Preston Forst continues to turn heads in area swimming pools and came up big at the recent Robert Sawyer Invitational at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. Forst took the top spot in the 200 and 500 freestyle races and swam legs on two winning relay teams to help the boys to a fourth-place finish. Forst established a new meet record in the 500 free with a time of 4:42.58 and swam the backstroke leg on the winning 200 medley relay team, which also established a new meet record in 1:37.74. Forst was joined by Jeremy Lalu-

mondier, Jonathan Wachendorfer, and Bryan Hill on the 200 medley relay and teamed with Ben Snider, Wachendorfer, and Hill on the winning 400 freestyle relay team. The girls team also finished fourth with 435 points.

Indoor track state qualifiers Several members of the indoor track team have already posted qualifying times for the upcoming NCHSAA 3-A state championship, which will be held on Feb. 10 at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem. David Melville, Owen States and Jack Dingman have qualified in the 3200 for the boys’ team. Emma Fredericks, Jessica Hardiman and Katie Howell have qualified for both the 1600 and the 3200 for the girls’ team, with Alyson Davis (55, 300) and Amaya English (55 hurdles) also having punched their tickets so far. Melville, who will attend and run for Harvard in the fall, won 3-A cross country state championships as a sophomore and junior and was a runner-up this season. He also ran in the Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships in San Diego on Dec. 9, where he finished 20th.

...more SPORTS on p. 22

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Student profiles brought to you this week by:

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STUDENT PROFILES Thanks to the coaches and teachers at Northern and Northwest High Schools for their student recommendations and input, which make it possible to recognize these talented, dedicated students for their accomplishments in academics, athletics and cultural arts.

NORTHWEST GUILFORD Elizabeth Kitley, basketball By MARC PRUITT There are plenty of perks that come along with being a gifted 6-foot-5 basketball player. For Elizabeth Kitley, a junior at Northwest Guilford where her father, Ralph, is the principal, the perks come on and off the court. “There are definitely more perks

than disadvantages, such as having access to the fridge and microwave,” Kitley said with a laugh. But as for her basketball talent, it is nothing to joke about. Kitley, who was heavily recruited by several major Division I schools, committed on Dec. 7 to play at Virginia Tech, joining her best friend and teammate Cayla King in the Hokies’ recruiting class for 2019. Basketball wasn’t Kitley’s first love, though. Even with her father’s playing pedigree at Wake Forest, she was drawn to softball when she was younger. “My parents never tried to push basketball on me, even though now my dad tries to take all the credit,” Kitley joked. “But two of my best friends

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played softball and I just gravitated towards that. I played travel softball for eight years, mostly at first or third base. It wasn’t until after my freshman year that I started to take basketball seriously.” Kitley began playing with King’s AAU team, the Greensboro Lady Gaters, after her freshman year and has been on an upward path ever since. She was named the Kay Yow MVP in the NCHSAA 4-A state championship game last season as a sophomore after scoring 15 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. She recently helped lead Northwest to its fourth straight championship in the HAECO tournament, nabbing tournament MVP honors after finishing with 26 points (on 11 of 13 shooting), 15 rebounds and six blocks in the title game. “I know my role has changed this season because of all our injuries,” Kitley said. “I know I need to step up and be more vocal. Everyone wants to beat us and we know we need to focus

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Dr. Kate Tabori

on how we can continue to get better. Our goal is the same… we want to win the state championship.” Besides playing basketball, Kitley is in National Honor Society and Latin Club and volunteers twice a week at Summerfield Elementary where she tutors students in math.

On a side note, we asked Elizabeth Kitley these three questions…

Q: What’s on your bucket list? A: “To visit every continent” Q: What three people, living, dead or fictional, would you invite to dinner? A: “Ed Sheeran (singer/songwriter and record producer), Drake (singer/songwriter, record producer and actor), and Meredith Grey (character from ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ TV show, played by Ellen Pompeo)” Q: Who’s the best teacher you’ve had? A: “Mrs. Melanie Huynh-Duc (English teacher at NWHS)”

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olmstedorthodontics.com NORTHWEST GUILFORD Thomas Smith, basketball By MARC PRUITT As one of only three seniors on Northwest Guilford High School’s boys’ basketball team this season, Thomas Smith understands the important role he needs to play as a team leader. “We lost eight people from last season’s team, most of whom have gone on to play in college,” Smith said. “So, I know part of my responsibility this season is to help bring the new guys along in the program and hopefully teach them some of the things I have learned along the way.” Smith played for the junior varsity team at Northwest as a freshman and sophomore before transition to the varsity team last year. “My expectation when I came here as a freshman was that I would be playing JV,” Smith said. “I had been working out with the team the summer before and I got to play quite a bit my freshman and sophomore years.” Making the varsity team last season was an adjustment. “Last year, I was the shooter,” Smith said with a laugh. “My role was to shoot. And honestly, with all those

other guys we had, I didn’t have to do it all that often.” Kidding aside, basketball has been Smith’s first love since he started playing. “I love the fast pace of it,” said Smith, who also played baseball last year. “I feel like I have a great basketball IQ and I’d love to maybe become a coach someday. I started playing travel ball in sixth grade and have basically been doing that with the same guys every year. I’ve had a lot of fun, but I know this season will be the end of the line for my playing days.” Smith is in National Honor Society and is one of the founding members of the Disc Golf Club. He excels in math and science, getting a score of 780 (out of 800) on the math portion of the SAT, and wants a career in engineering. “I’d love to go to N.C. State,” Smith said. “My sister went to UNC (Chapel Hill) and for a while, that’s where I thought I wanted to go. But I think N.C. State has the program I really want to do.”

Who will be the voice for these children? Over 250 children in Guilford County will go to court alone. Learn how to be an advocate for an abused or neglected child by becoming a Guardian Ad Litem.

On a side note, we asked Thomas Smith these three questions…

Q: Who’s the athlete you admire most? A: “Chris Paul (NBA player with the Houston Rockets)”

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Q: If you could have one superpower, what would it be? A: “Time travel” Q: Who’s the best teacher you’ve had? A: “Ms. Dana Hilliard (AP Human Geography teacher at NWHS)”

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

JAN. 11 - 17, 2018

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

...continued from p. 19

NWHS winter sports highlights By MARC PRUITT

Girls basketball team captures fourth straight HAECO championship It was another championship run in the HAECO Invitational for the Northwest Guilford girls’ basketball team, one that would have even made Yogi Berra’s head spin. For the fourth straight year, the Vikings came away with the title. And for the third time during that run, Northwest defeated Northern Guilford in the championship game – an elite matchup of last year’s defending NCHSAA 4-A and 3-A state champions. With a dominant performance from Elizabeth Kitley (26 points, 15 rebounds, six blocked shots) in the title game, Northwest pulled away for a 65-47 win. Lindsay Gauldin added 15 points and seven assists for the Vikings, who gave Coach Darlene Joyner her seventh tournament title. Northwest dominated the first quarter and took a 21-8 lead, forcing Northern to play from behind the rest of the game. And with standout center Elissa Cunane in early foul trouble for the Nighthawks, they were never quite able to claw their way back. Northwest breezed its way into the championship with wins against Grimsley (72-10) in the first round and Ragsdale (60-16) in the semifinals.

JAN. 11 - 17, 2018

joined on the All-Tournament team by Gauldin and fellow teammates Bria Gibbs and Reagan Kargo. Despite her foul trouble, Cunane managed to lead Northern with 14 points on six of 10 shots in just 16 minutes of play. Cunane, who has signed to play at N.C. State, was named to the alltournament team along with Kassie Robakiewicz, the second straight year the tandem earned those honors. Northern started the week with a 10-4 overall record, including a 5-0 mark in Mid-State 3-A conference play. Two of Northern’s losses came against Northwest. Northwest began the week 13-2 overall and 1-0 in Metro 4-A conference play.

Northwest Guilford boys finish second in KSA Events Tourney in Orlando The Northwest Guilford boys’ basketball team had a successful showing last month before the holiday break with a runner-up finish in the KSA Events Pre-Holiday Tournament in Orlando, which was played at the Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World. The Vikings lost in the championship game 56-50 to Eleanor Roosevelt (Eastvale, California) despite taking a brief lead midway through the fourth quarter.

Northern coasted to the championship game with a 63-30 win against Smith in the first round and a 59-40 win against Greensboro Day in the semifinals.

The Vikings won two nail-biters to advance to the championship game, posting a 37-36 win against Dawson (Pearland, Texas) in the first round and a 44-43 win against Montgomery (San Diego, California) in the semifinals.

Kitley was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and was

Christian Hampton led the Vikings with 22 points, four rebounds and

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

three steals in the championship game. Dean Reiber contributed 10 points, six rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots. Tristan Perry added 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Northwest had a seventh-place finish in the HAECO Invitational after posting a 67-57 win against Grimsley. Perry had a strong showing with 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Zawadzki captures diving title at Robert Sawyer Invitational Noah Zawadzki finished with a score of 536.40 to win the 1-meter diving title at the Robert Sawyer Invitational last month at the Greensboro Aquatic Center, besting a field of more than 50 divers representing 26 schools from across the Southeast in the annual swim meet. Zawadzki dominated the competition, besting runner-up Nicholas Lewis of Western Guilford by 76 points. Northwest finished eighth in the boys’ competition with 178 points, while the girls finished sixth with 164 points.

Full-service small animal hospital Preventive care • General medicine Hospitalization • Medical boarding Laser surgery • Lab services & more

King’s Crossing

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7607 Hwy 68 North, Suite E, Oak Ridge

(336) 644-7606

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mark your

calendar

zz Youth Soccer | Soccer registration for Oak Ridge Youth

Association’s spring season is open through Jan. 26. Register at www.ksasoccer.demosphere-secure.com/ _registration (be sure to choose Oak Ridge as your practice site). Questions: email tom@orya.org.

(336) 644-0802

7309B Summerfield Road, Summerfield M -Th 9 - 5 • Fri 9 -1 • Most insurances accepted

summerfieldfamilyeyecare.com

SATURDAY, JAN. 13

zz Night of Worship | Mount Bethel Christian Church,

The right Realtor for you To me, honesty and integrity are always in style

Tanya Hill

Realtor/Broker • (336) 965-6053 tanyahillrealtor.com

8130 N.C. 65 in Summerfield, invites the community to recharge for 2018 by joining them in song, fellowship and food at 6 p.m. on Jan. 13. More info: (336) 587-6716 or www.mtbethel.life. zz “Twinderella” | Oak Ridge Youth Theatre will perform “Twinderella” on Jan. 13, 7 p.m., at Oak Ridge United Methodist Church, 2424 Oak Ridge Road in Oak Ridge. This is a free event. More info: (336) 549-5554 or Lynnmyers.nc@gmail.com.

Huge Selection, Best Quality, Best Prices • Rent-to-own • 90 days same as cash to qualified buyers (336) 548-2735 3130 US 220, Madison

TUESDAY, JAN. 16

zz Kiwanis Meeting | Kiwanis Club of Northwest Guil-

ford will meet Jan. 16, noon to 1 p.m., at Bill’s Pizza, 1431 N.C. 68 in Oak Ridge. More info: Annette at (336) 382-8629. zz Opioid Crisis Panel Discussion | The League of Women Voters will host a panel discussion about the opioid crisis on Jan. 16, 1:15 p.m., at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 607 N. Greene St., Greensboro. Panel members include Jim Albright, Guilford County Emergency Services; Lt. Dan Moore, Greensboro Police Department; Randy Abbott, parent/advocate; Dr. Jennifer Whitney, UNCG Counseling Center for Student Health services; and Dr. Antonia Reaves, Cone Health Foundation. RSVP Your event will appear on our online community to (336) 547-0824 or Reservations@lwvpt.org. calendar and be considered for print publishing zz Special Call Meeting | The Town of Summerfield will hold a special call meeting on Jan. 16, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Visit our homepage and click “community calendar” at Community Lutheran Church, 4960 U.S. 220 in Summerfield. Cube Design+ Research and WithersRavenel will present project updates on two current projects: renovation of the former Gordon Hardware building and master planning of the town hall intersection.

submit your

events online at nwobserver.com

g Spaces into Elegant Transformin Places

Storage Buildings • Garages • Carports • Gazebos

THURSDAY, JAN. 18

zz Lions Club | Oak Ridge Lions Club will meet Jan. 18,

6:30 p.m., at Bill’s Pizza, 1431 N.C. 68 in Oak Ridge. More info: Danny at (336) 643-6424.

www.houseofstarsinc.com

Carlotta Lytton

, CPA, PC

Individual & Corporate Tax Returns Specializing in Payroll & Accounting for Small Businesses 7805 US Hwy 158, Stokesdale clyttoncpa@bellsouth.net

Oral screening, anesthesia, cleaning and more • Valid Feb. 2018

zz Community Choir | Stokesdale Community Choir Certified Interior Decorator

Call (336) 904-8711 for your free consultation

fax: (336) 644-7038

20% OFF dental packages

MONDAY, JAN. 22 • Any budget • Any style • Holiday decor placement and removal eleganttransformationsbymarcie.com

phone: (336) 644-7033

will resume weekly practices on Jan. 22, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., at Gideon Grove UMC, 2865 Gideon Grove Church Road, Stokesdale. More info: (336) 453-8017 or skbeene@gmail.com.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Dr. Julie Dudak

1726 Oak Ridge Road (336) 644-8789 M - F, 7:30 - 5:30 • Sat, 8 -1

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JAN. 11 - 17, 2018

GRINS and GRIPES

Making a difference in people’s lives for 20+ years When you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, who you work with matters. Ramilya Siegel has likely sold or listed a property near you!

Ramilya Siegel

CRS, GRI, ABR, Chairman’s Circle Award

ramilya.siegel@allentate.com (336) 215-9856 allentate.com/RamilyaSiegel

Delighted or dismayed by something in your community? Share your thoughts in online: nwobserver.com

40 words or less

e-mail: grinsandgripes@nwobserver.com

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

GRINS to... Mim at Triad Animal Hospital, who was quick to help and to reassure us after our dog ingested some medicine. Great client service and holiday spirit! Cadets from Oak Ridge Military Academy who visited Countryside Manor on two separate occasions to help with our resident Christmas party and sing carols. Such nice and polite young men and women. Our residents love them!

Join us for the new year

8:15 am & 11:15 am Worship in Sanctuary 9 am Crosswalk Contemporary Service in Family Life Center 10 am Discipleship classes for all ages 2:30 pm First Wednesday each month Precious Memories Worship Service

Weekly Adult Recreational Opportunities 9:05 am Monday & Thursday Zumba 9:30 am Tuesday Line Dancing 7 pm Monday & Thursday, 9 am Wednesday Yoga 8 am – 5 pm Monday–Thursday, 8 am – 2 pm Friday Walking Track open

2424 Oak Ridge Road, Oak Ridge oakridgeumc.org • 336-643-4690

JAN. 11 - 17, 2018

Officer Phillips of the sheriff’s District 1 office for handling a traumatic incident involving our son with tremendous situational agility and sensitivity. Thanks for defusing a bad situation, providing clear options and keeping us all safe this holiday season. Laugh & Learn Childcare Center staff for being more than just childcare providers, rather extended family. Your dedication to the lives of the families you serve does not go unnoticed! The new Summerfield Town Council and Mayor Dunham. We’ve elected a new team, so let’s all give them our strongest support. Summerfield deserves it! Jeff Bercaw, president of Summerfield Merchants Association, for all his work in delivering almost double the amount of food donations to local backpack programs (Backpack Buddies and Backpack Ministries). Town Manager Scott Whitaker for being focused on the success and

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

growth of Summerfield. Keep up the great work! The man outside of Food Lion who gave me a gift card and told me “Merry Christmas!” I came back to thank you again and cried all the way home. The world needs more kind people like you. Critter Company. Caring, loving people who know their stuff. I will never take my dogs anywhere else. Thanks Rita and Rita! The person(s) who put googly eyes on the tree at the end of their drive on N.C. 68 (on the left side, headed north) between the entrances to Weatherstone. When I saw it I laughed out loud! Oak Ridge Fire Department staff for fixing a meal for the families of those on duty on Christmas Day so we could eat with a family member. Best 4K9 for collecting food and other donations for SPCA of the Triad. We are so lucky to have such wonderful businesses doing so much good in our community! The residents of the house on Martin Lake Road – your Christmas lights were beautiful this year! NWO’s Steve Mann for his thorough follow-up on Culp Home Fashion’s wastewater spill just before Christmas. Stay with it, Steve; Culp still has not returned calls and we want them to know that ignoring their neighbors is not good business! Jonathan at the Happy Vaper in

Summerfield for excellent customer service.

if you walk instead of old people? The person last month who griped about baby boomers. Kids today need to have respect for the baby boomers. And put down your phones for special occasions!

GRIPES to...

The person griping about my gripe (last month) concerning the USPS. I work in healthcare and still have to show up, no matter the weather. The USPS is not any different. The weather was not that bad to not deliver.

Our president, for his constant attacks on American institutions, the FBI, the Justice Department and our intelligence agencies. This is not how a president behaves! Sad!

The person who left condoms and a lighter on a bench in the picnic area of Oak Ridge Town Park. Why?

The driver of a black Suzuki in Stokesdale. I’m wondering what it’s going to take to get you to slow down and respect the speed limits in our neighborhoods.

The driver of a gray Honda Accord who hit my mailbox on Ellison Road. You left behind parts from your car so I was able to look up the part numbers and see what kind of car it was.

The depravity of civic discourse since the election of a man accused of sexual assault and whose senior staff reportedly sees him as unfit and mentally and emotionally unstable. How much lower can we go as a nation?

Those who think the one post office parking space (in Stokesdale) is for you to linger in the restaurant. How about

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Beware of ticks

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ts The effec of too much screen time

Stem Cell Lecture at Greensboro Historical Museum 130 Summit Ave., Greensboro

l Carpal tunne syndrome

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living and healthy about fitnessnications grown stories commu

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football Meet the schedule 2017 game results g bands performances and marchin g bands’ halftime 2016 season cheerleaders Meet the preview of the marchin Get a sneak

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LIMITED SEATING...PLEASE RSVP OR CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION ON UPCOMING SEMINAR DATES

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

JAN. 11 - 17, 2018

NEWS in brief

...continued from p. 5 recorded as a 5-0 vote with a notation that two council members abstained from voting; according to N.C. statute 160A-75, unless there is legal justification for a council member to recuse themselves from voting on an issue, declining to vote is counted as a vote in favor of the motion. Saying she had read Robert’s Rules of Order “chapter and verse,” Dunham argued the vote should be recorded as 3-0. When O’Day said North Carolina statute took precedence over Robert’s Rules of Order and that without legal reason to abstain, anyone who abstained would be considered to have voted in favor of the motion, bang went the gavel… again. “You’re out of order,” Dunham told O’Day. “Let me finish. There’s no one in the room that can physically go over

and pull someone’s hand up in the air (to make them vote).” She then said Teresa Pegram and Todd Rotruck had not voted on the motion because they could neither see nor hear the other council members. One thing the mayor and council accomplished Tuesday was voting to revise the UDO Review Committee ordinance to allow two council members versus one to serve on the committee; that allowed Councilman Todd Rotruck, who campaigned with Dunham and Councilwoman Teresa Pegram last November on an anti-Planned Development platform, to join O’Day as a non-voting council member on the UDO Review Committee. The council voted 4-1 to appoint Rotruck, with Councilman Reece Walker casting the dissenting vote. See details of the Jan. 9 council meeting in next week’s Northwest Observer.

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JAN. 11 - 17, 2018

MST Committee seeks volunteers OAK RIDGE – Town of Oak Ridge officials are seeking volunteers to serve on the town’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail Committee. At the Jan. 4 town council meeting, council members approved a committee mission statement and a list of duties and responsibilities drafted by Bill Bruce, interim co-town manager. The committee will be tasked with planning and coordinating the development of the MST through Oak Ridge. The MST winds its way over 1,175 miles across North Carolina from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks. The Oak Ridge portion of the MST is part of Segment 8, which covers 63.9 miles from Hanging Rock State Park to Bryan Park in Greensboro. Other trail towns in this section include Danbury, Walnut Cove and Summerfield.

for trail maintenance and ancillary improvements such as trailheads, kiosks and signage. Councilwoman Ann Schneider called the committee’s creation “exciting.” “I’m glad to see this happening,” she said at the Jan. 4 council meeting. Councilman George McClellan agreed, noting that though trails have been in the town’s plans “since day one,” they have until now simply been “lines on maps.” Golden Acres Road resident and trails enthusiast Rita O. Lewandowski, who plans to apply to serve on the committee, thanked council members for taking the next step in the development of the MST through Oak Ridge. “I look forward to seeing it develop and grow,” Lewandowski said.

Committee members will help to identify the primary MST corridor through Oak Ridge, and to identify appropriate trail spurs and connections. They will also work to identify appropriate trail surfaces and design based on environmental factors and user preferences, as well as to advocate and promote the trail and serve as the public face for the MST in Oak Ridge.

The committee is expected to report to the Town Council monthly. Those interested in being considered for the committee should pick up a volunteer application at Oak Ridge Town Hall or download one from the town’s website, www.OakRidgeNC.com, by clicking on “Boards and Committees,” then scrolling down and selecting “Town of Oak Ridge Volunteer Application.”

Additionally, the committee will help recruit, train and manage volunteers for the planning and construction of the trail, and develop a plan

Completed forms should be returned in person to Town Hall or can be emailed to Sandra Smith, interim co-town manager, at ssmith@oakridgenc.com.

OR Committee to meet Jan. 16 STOKESDALE – The Stokesdale Ordinance Review Committee will meet Tuesday, Jan. 16. The meeting, scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m., will be held at Town Hall, 8325 Angel-Pardue Road.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

One of the key items on the agenda will be a review of comments from the former town attorney about the committee’s rewrite and review of a nuisance ordinance. The meeting is open to the public.

AUTO SALES & SERVICE

SAVE THE DATE

HOME SERVICES

EUROPEAN AUTO SERVICE & REPAIR We specialize in factory-scheduled maintenance and repairs. Mercedes, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Volvo, Mini, Porsche, and Lexus. 32 years experience. Knight Import Specialty Service, 4559 US Highway 220, Summerfield (across from Food Lion). (336) 337-0669.

Oak Ridge Youth Theatre will perform TWINDERELLA. This is a FREE event for the entire family. Performances are January 13 and 20 at 7pm at Oak Ridge United Methodist Church.

ELECTRICAL

HOME SERVICES CLEANING

EMPLOYMENT

Place online at

DEADLINE: Monday prior to each issue

NEED HELP? Call (336) 644-7035 ext. 10 Mon - Fri • 9am -2pm

PT/FT RECEPTIONIST NEEDED Must have good people and computer skills with own transportation. Please submit resume to Northwest Animal Hospital, 1692 NC Highway 68N, Suite J, Oak Ridge. F/T GENERAL SERVICE AUTOMOTIVE position – oil/lube tech, tire changes, etc. Competitive pay DOE. Apply in person only – no phone calls please. M&M Tire & Auto, 5570 Spotswood Circle, Summerfield.

HIRING? We can help! Reach over 25,000 readers, all in northwest Guilford County, right here! Place your classified ad online at

Auto Sales & Service .................. 27 Employment ............................... 27 Home Care Available ................. 27 Save the Date ............................ 27 Home Services ....................... 27-29 Misc. Services.............................. 29 Misc. for Sale ............................. 29 Misc. Wanted ............................. 29 Pets & Animal Services ................ 29 Real Estate ................................. 29

HOME CLEANING. Afford. rates, ref. avail., 10 years exp. Elizabeth, (336) 453-8592. MAID-2-SHINE. Excellent service, 15 years exp. Free estimates., excellent references. (336) 338-0223. THE CLEANING TECHNICIAN INC. New year is here, why not take some time for yourself? Let us do a detailed cleaning to start the new year off right. Licensed, bonded and insured. Lisa, (336) 207-0770.

HOME CARE AVAILABLE

CHRISTIAN MOM needs work cleaning houses, running errands. Will fit to your budget. Pet taxi/pet sitting also avail. References. Call Laura Bennett, (336) 231-1838.

EXPERIENCED CAREGIVER AVAIL. for homebound adults/seniors; afternoons, evenings, overnight. Exc. ref. (336) 552-3917.

CRYSTAL CLEAR WINDOW CLEANING, gutter cleaning, pressure washing. Fully ins. windowcleaningnc.com. (336) 595-2873.

www.nwobserver.com

INDEX

CastleWorks WINDOW CLEANING Includes gutters, pressure washing, chandeliers and other high ladder work. Fully insured and bonded, free estimates. (336) 609-0677. www.castleworkswindowcleaning.com.

SAVE THE DATE Greensboro Performing Arts presents its 2018 WINTER SHOWCASE, an evening of dance and theatre, at High Point Theatre, on January 13, 7pm. Every winter, some 70 performers in the Triad Tap Company, GPA Ballet and Jazz Companies, and SPVA Musical Theatre Company will showcase their talents through a collection of works created by Triad area directors and choreographers. Tickets can be purchased through the box office, www.highpointtheatre.com/ boxoffice.asp or (336) 887-3001.

AMERICAN MAID New to your area. Two years experience. All your basic housecleaning needs. Call for your free estimate. (336) 409-4554. MAIDS OF HONOR HOME CLEANING $25 off! Locally owned, bonded staff. 40 years in service. BBB A+ rating. (336) 708-2407.

DECORATING EXPERIENCED INTERIOR DECORATOR & personal furniture shopper will help you with style, color, shopping & furniture placement. E-mail appeninc@gmail.com or call Ann Appenzeller, (336) 314-1411.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

BALEX ELECTRICAL COMPANY, LLC Got Power? Residential, commercial and solar electrical services. (336) 298-4192.

FLOORING MONTERO’S HARDWOOD FLOORING Installation of hardwood, laminate & tile; hardwood sanding & finishing. Commercial & residential. Insured, 17 years experience. Free estimates & excellent references. Visit Monteros-hardwood-flooring.com, or call (336) 215-8842. It’s A CARPET thing! Repairs, restretch, replace. (336) 643-6500.

GENERAL REPAIR & SERVICES APPLIANCE REPAIR – Call Mr. Appliance. A step above the rest! (336) 609-5707. L & T SMALL ENGINE SERVICE “We get you mowing!” Commercial, residential, all models. 2103 Oak Ridge Road, Oak Ridge. (336) 298-4314. GREENERTIMES SMALL ENGINE Sales & Service Center. All types sold and repaired; comm./res. 9428 NC Hwy. 65, Stokesdale. (336) 548-9286 or (336) 312-3844.

OLD SCHOOL HOME REPAIR/ IMPROVEMENT

“No Job Too Small”

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(336) 669-7252 oldschoolsjhr@triad.rr.com

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GARY’S HANDYMAN HOME SERVICES “Providing value for the home-ownership experience.” Gary Gellert, serving NC’s Piedmont Triad area. Garygellert@gmail.com, (336) 423-8223.

... continued on p. 28

JAN. 11 - 17, 2018

HOME SERVICES

AFFORDABLE HOME REPAIRS One call fixes it all! A+ rating with BBB! Call (336) 987-0350 for a free estimate.

ORTIZ LANDSCAPING, complete lawn care. Trimming, cleaning, planting & mulch, gutter cleaning, patios & pavers, waterfalls, retaining walls, sidewalks, stonework. Residential and commercial. (336) 280-8981.

MISC. SERVICES & PRODUCTS GAS LOGS, WOOD STOVES & INSERTS Fireplaces, sold, serviced and repaired. Call Don Hill, (336) 643-7183.

WEBSTER & SONS PLUMBING, Inc. (336) 992-2503. Licensed, insured, bonded. 24/7 service. Plumbing, drain cleaning, well pumps. Give us a call, we do it all! Go to www.webstersplumbing.com for more info.

FAY’S LAWNCARE & LANDSCAPING Fall lawn care, seeding & aerating. Tree work. Pine needles & mulch. Reasonable and honest. Call Taylor, (336) 458-6491.

ON EAGLE’S WINGS residential home design/drafting. Call Patti, (336) 605-0519.

PRESSURE WASHING

GRADING / HAULING BRAD’S BOBCAT & HAULING SVCS. LLC Debris removal, grading, gravel/dirt, driveways, concrete work. (336) 362-3647 GAULDIN TRUCKING, grading & hauling, bobcat work, lot clearing, driveways, fill dirt, gravel, etc. (336) 362-1150. PEARMAN QUARRY HAULING Fill dirt, gravel, sand rock, mulch & more. Joel Richardson, (336) 803-2195. E&W HAULING & GRADING INC. Driveways, fill dirt, topsoil, lot clearing, bobcat work, excavating, mulch, etc. (336) 451-1282. ANTHONY’S GRADING & HAULING Excavating, land clearing, demolition, dirt available. Zane Anthony, (336) 362-4035.

Get. Be. Stay. Connected.

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WILSON LANDSCAPING, INC. Lawn maint., landscaping, irrigation/landscape contractor. Hardscaping & landscape lighting. 26 yrs exp. (336) 399-7764. TRACTOR FOR HIRE – Bush hogging, grading, brush/tree removal. (336) 207-6632. CAROLINA STUMP & TREE SERVICE Complete tree service, $1 million liability, workman’s comp. Rick & Judy, (336) 6439332, carolinaStumpAndTreeServices.com.

ALL-SEASON STUMP GRINDING. Owner Alan Winfree. Free est. Call (336) 382-9875. GUZMAN LANDSCAPE & MAINTENANCE Pine needles, mulch, leaf removal, tree pruning, complete lawn maint. (336) 655-6490. BRAD’S BOBCAT. Mulch, landscaping, pine needles and straw. (336) 362-3647. AREA STUMP DUMP. Yard waste, concrete, etc. Fill dirt avail. (336) 602-5820.

JAN. 11 - 17, 2018

The Northwest Observer Keeping you connected for 21 years . . . and counting!

PAINTING & DRYWALL CINDY’S PAINTING – Interior painting, wallpaper removal. References & free estimates available. (336) 708-9155.

STEVE NEWMAN TREE SERVICE. Free est. Lic./Ins. 30 yrs. exp. Bucket truck/chipper, total cleanup. Selective thinning & lot clearing. 24-hr. ER svc. OR, NC. (336) 643-1119.

STILL PERFECTION PAINTING Reliable, skilled, affordable. Painting, pressure washing, handyman services. Scott Still, (336) 462-3683, stillperfectionpainting.com.

ARBOR MASTERS TREE SERVICE Total tree removal, storm damage cleanup, shrub and tree pruning. Bobcat work and more. Free estimates. Licensed & insured. Call Joe at (336) 643-9157.

CARLOS & SON PAINTING, interior & exterior. Free est., lic./ins. (336) 669-5210.

Let us introduce you to our readers (all 25,000+)! Call (336) 644-7035, ext. 10, or email advertising@nwobserver.com

LAWN CARE / LANDSCAPING

WildlifEviction – NUISANCE WILDLIFE TRAPPING & REMOVAL. Hearing noises in your attic or crawl space? Give us a call for a FREE inspection. (336) 908-4709.

MASONRY

PRESSURE WASHING, gutter & window cleaning. Fully insured. Crystal Clear, www. windowcleaningnc.com. (336) 595-2873.

REMODELING / CONSTRUCTION BELEWS CREEK CONSTRUCTION Kitchens/baths, custom decks, garages, siding, dock work, windows, roofing, rotted wood. Sr. disc., 38 years exp. (336) 362-6343. RENOVATION WORKS, INC. New construction, remodeling, additions, kitchen, bath and decks. We are a locally owned, full-service design and build company, A+ accredited with the BBB. Visit www.myrenovationworks.com or call (336) 427-7391 to start your next project. PREMIER CONSTRUCTION. Providing all of your home maintenance needs, remodeling and new construction. (336) 430-9507.

PAINTING – INTERIOR & EXTERIOR 32 yrs. exp. Sheetrock repair. No job too small. Insured. Brad Rogers, (336) 314-3186.

Get the news when it happens, and find out what your neighbors are saying!

BEK Paint Co.

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Residential & Commercial David & Judy Long, owners

(336) 931-0600

SOUTHERN STYLE concrete & landscapes. How about a new patio or fire pit? We can help with all of your outdoor living and entertainment spaces! Fire pits, driveways & sidewalks, patios and more! Give us a call at (336) 399-6619 for all your concrete and landscape needs.

PLUMBING

MASONRY CONCEPTS, brick, block, stone, concrete & repairs. Free estimates. (336) 988-1022, www.masonryconceptsgso.com.

BRANSON PLUMBING & SOLAR No job too small! Experienced, guaranteed. Lic. & insured. Call Mark, (336) 337-7924.

BEKPaintCompany.com • References Available • Licensed & Insured • All Work Guaranteed

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

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HAMMERSMITH WOODWORKING INC. Carpentry, custom cabinetry, built-ins, exterior repairs. ASP - Helping Hand. Over 30 years exp.. Call Carlton, (336) 404-3002. ORTIZ REMODELING – Total restoration & home improvement. Drywall, painting, kitchen cabinets, interior trim & more. Free estimates. (336) 280-8981. JLB REMODELING, INC. Remodeling and additions. Fully insured. NC GC license #69997. Free est. Call (336) 681-2902 or visit www.jlbremodeling.com.

HOME SERVICES

MISC. FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE

KEITH SMITH CONSTRUCTION 30 years experience. Specializing in room additions, kitchens & baths, garages, vinyl siding and windows, painting, ceramic tile, laminate, hardwood and linoleum floors, and remodeling of all kinds. No job too small. Free est. Call (336) 362-7469.

SPLIT & SEASONED FIREWOOD. Delivery available. (336) 643-9332.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

ROOFING KEITH SMITH CONSTRUCTION 30 years experience. Residential shingle & metal roofing. Free est. (336) 362-7469. PREMIER ROOFING CONSTRUCTION Insurance specialist, free inspections, res./ comm., BBB A rating. (336) 430-9507. CLINARD & SON ROOFING, LLC Residential roofing, rubber flat roofs, roof coating, metal roofs. 30 years experience. Now accepting all major credit cards. Call (336) 643-8191 or (336) 580-3245. A.L. CORMAN ROOFING INC. Res. roofing specialist serving Guilford Cty. area since 1983. BBB 25+ years w/ A+ rating. cormanroofinginc.com, (336) 621-6962.

MISC. SERVICES MOBILE SMALL ENGINE TRAILER SVC. and repair. (336) 501-8681. SAM’S AUTO BODY SHOP. Any type of body work. 45 years exp. (336) 347-7470. ERIE INSURANCE – IN KERNERSVILLE Long Insurance Services, (336) 992-5664.

MISC. WANTED FREE PICK-UP of unwanted riding & push mowers, any and all gas items, tillers, gocarts & golf carts, ATVs, generators, power washers, chain saws. (336) 689-4167. $$$ – WILL PAY CASH up to $200 for your junk or wrecked vehicle. (336) 552-0328.

PETS & ANIMAL SVCS. If you’ve found a pet and need help finding the owner, let us know! We’ll be glad to run a classified ad and share it on Facebook!

KPS – KELLY’S PET SERVICES Professional in-your-home PET SITTING. Insured & bonded. Member Pet Sitters International. Openings currently available for Oak Ridge only. Call (336) 706-6706, email kpsforyourpets@gmail.com, www.facebook. com/kpspets, or @kpspets on Instagram.

It’s a good time to buy or sell. Call me for a free consultation!

Gil Vaughan Realtor ®/Broker

(336) 337-4780 JustCallGil.com

We Help Everyone! SELLERS & BUYERS

Charming home loaded with character on 2.29 acres overlooking stocked pond. 4800+ SQ FT with 4 BR & 2000 SQ FT of unfinished basement. Attached 3 car-garage, composite decking and two new 3 season rooms that are fantastic. Freshly painted, new carpet & refinished hardwoods. Recently appraised at $705,000 - Offered at $637,000.

Nancy J. Hess

nancy.hess@bhhsyostandlittle.com (336) 215-1820

(336) 643-4248

www.ANewDawnRealty.com

THE “HAS IT ALL” HOME!

Classified Deadline is Monday at midnight!

HOMES FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE

4,500 SQ FT, 4 BR, 4.5 BA, large screened porch, theater, game room. No detail was spared. Open floor plan, immaculate condition, neutral decor. Great location, great house Summerfield / Northern Schools Offered at $537,000

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OAK RIDGE COMMERCIAL OFFICE Approximately 1,000 sq. ft., 2BA, $1,250/mo. (336) 669-5233.

Selling or Renting? We will help you get the word out!

HOMES FOR RENT

MISC. FOR SALE

OAK RIDGE, 1-rm. furn. apt., LR/BR, bath, kitchenette area, $600/mo. (336) 669-5233.

SEASONED FIREWOOD, delivered and stacked, 1/2 cord, $80. Call (336) 686-6373.

WATER VIEWS – NORTHERN SCHOOLS

PET SITTING / BOARDING

COMPUTER REPAIRS – ITBASICS.COM Inside Mailboxes & More, Oak Ridge Commons. (336) 643-0068.

Sturdy, solid wood ANTIQUE POOL TABLE with billiard balls, cues, stand and plywood top. You move. $1,200. Text (336) 339-7391.

REAL ESTATE

OAK RIDGE, 2BR, 2BA, all appliances, no yard work, private. $750/mo. (336) 669-5233. Oak Ridge BASEMENT APARTMENT for rent, 1BR, 1BA, everything included. $750/ month. (336) 944-4371.

Nancy J. Hess

nancy.hess@bhhsyostandlittle.com (336) 215-1820

3905 Eagle Downs Way, Summerfield New quality construction on approximately 1-ac. lot in popular Eagle Ridge! 3,979 SQ FT, 4 BR, 4.5 BA, covered front porch, 2-story foyer, formal dining room, large great room with fireplace, kitchen with gas range, custom cabinets & granite countertops. $680,000

Jake Letterman (336) 338-0136

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Real Estate Showcase Ads are a great way to promote your new listings, open houses, and price reductions. Call Laura at (336) 644-7035, ext 11 for more information.

JAN. 11 - 17, 2018

SPILL INVESTIGATION ...continued from p. 1

Non-discharge wastewater is wastewater treated onsite, then reused in the manufacturing process. It cannot be discharged onto the ground or into surface water. Civil penalties of up to $25,000 a day may be assessed for violations of environmental regulations, according to state officials. Bridget Munger, DEQ’s public information officer, said a complaint was forwarded Dec. 20 around 11 a.m. to the regional office in Winston-Salem about a milky substance in a stream along Ellison Road that smelled like sewage. The stream eventually flows into Lambert’s Lake in the Moore’s Mill subdivision. When investigators from the DEQ’s Winston-Salem office arrived around 2:20 p.m., they noticed the discoloration of the water but did not detect a smell, Munger said. Shamrock Environmental

was onsite, using hay bales to pool water flowing downstream from the discharge and pumping water into tankers to be hauled away, she said. Munger said Shamrock was “legally responsible for disposing the wastewater in compliance with environmental regulations, typically at a treatment facility.” Todd Gauldin, Stokesdale’s fire chief, said the fire department had been contacted by a resident near the stream but was not involved in the cleanup. Munger said water samples were taken at the discharge point and two sites downstream. She said investigators conducted standard field parameter testing that provides immediate results for such things as dissolved oxygen and temperature. Additional samples were sent to the N.C. Division of Water Resources lab in Raleigh to be tested for foreign particles, oxygen demand, and levels of chloride and such nutrients as nitrogen and phosphorous, she said. As of our press time on Jan. 11, the results had not been returned.

CHILLY IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

IS YOUR HEATING SYSTEM READY?

Neighbors said Shamrock pumped water out of the stream until about 8 p.m. on Dec. 20. Jamie Kritzer, the DEQ’s communications director, said Culp flushed out the stream with water from Stokesdale’s water system.

Phone messages from the Northwest Observer for Creech were not returned. Bill Callahan, the facilities manager, referred all inquiries to Teresa Huffman, Culp Inc.’s vice president of human resources. Huffman did not return calls.

Culp, the town’s largest water user, averages between 20,000 and 25,000 gallons daily, according to the town.

Tim Graves, whose home is next to the stream, said he received a phone message from a neighbor at 6:21 a.m. saying, “Go look at the creek.” Graves did and saw the milky substance and detected a strong sulfur smell.

Stokesdale Mayor John Flynt said he wasn’t notified about the spill by Culp and hasn’t had any discussion with company officials. Flynt said council member Thearon Hooks was in contact with the DEQ regional office in Winston-Salem. Munger said regional office staff was not contacted by Culp. On the same day as the spill, Mark Creech – Culp’s plant manager – filed an incident report with the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, saying suspected vandalism had occurred around 11 a.m. In a supplemental report filed with deputies, Creech said someone intentionally loosened several bolts on a drain pipe and valve cut-off switch. He told deputies the wastewater was stored in a large bin near the back of the business, and that there were no lights or security camera in the area. There is a chain-link fence around much of the Culp plant at 7209 U.S. 158, with a guard station at the front entrance. Munger said Culp representatives said they were planning to order and install a locking valve for security.

Graves said similar incidents have occurred several times since he and his wife moved there in 1998. Sometimes the discharge into the stream smells like sewage, “like a landfill,” he said. Kritzer said the December spill is the second at Culp on record with the DEQ. He said the other occurred in 2011 when a pump failed. Munger said the state’s investigation into possible violations of the plant’s nondischarge wastewater permit is continuing and the conditions of Culp’s permit “pertain to the facility’s industrial activities and the handling of process wastewater, not facility security measures such as fencing, lights, locks or cameras.” Munger said the DEQ did not expect any wells in the area to be impacted since the spill involved surface water only. She suggests those with concerns about well water quality contact the county health department for information on private well testing.

SUMMERFIELD FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

Sunday school • 9am & 10:30am Sunday traditional service • 9am Contemporary service • 10:30am AWANA • 5pm Evening worship • 6pm Wednesday activities • 6:30pm

www.trane.com

Ask about special financing Subject to credit approval, see store for details

7101 US 158, Stokesdale • (336) 643-7397 NEW SYSTEM INSTALLATION • SERVICE • REPAIR

JAN. 11 - 17, 2018

Christian Life Center 2300 Scalesville Rd, Summerfield • (336) 643-6383 • www.summerfieldfbc.com

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

index of DISPLAY ADVERTISERS

Please support our advertisers,

and tell them where you saw their ad! DENTIST

Carlotta Lytton, CPA, PA .................. 23 Samuel Anders, CPA, MSA, PC ........... 9

Infinity Dental ................................... 20

Northern Arts Studio/ Mike Carr Karate ..10

AUTOMOTIVE SALES & SERVICE Prestige Car Wash ............................... 7

CHILDREN’S SERVICES Guardian Ad Litem ............................21

CHURCHES Oak Ridge United Methodist Church .. 24 Summerfield First Baptist Church ...... 30

ORTHODONTIC CARE

BEK Paint Company .......................... 28 Carpet Super Mart ........................16-17 Carpets by Direct ................................ 5 Elegant Transformations by Marcie ... 23 House of Stars .................................. 23 Old School Home Repair .................. 27 Pest Management Systems Inc. .........15 ProStone ............................................19 Stokesdale Heating & Air .................. 30

Olmsted Orthodontics ...................6, 21

INSURANCE

ACCOUNTING

ARTS / DANCE / KARATE

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Gladwell Insurance Agency ................. 9

EYE CARE Summerfield Family Eye Care ........... 23 Vision Source Eye Center of the Triad ... 6

FUNERAL SERVICES Hayworth Miller Funeral Home .......... 4

HAIR CARE Great Clips ......................................... 7

HEALTH & FITNESS YMCA of Greensboro ....................... 18

LEGAL SERVICES Barbour & Williams Law ...................... 8 The Law Offices of Susan Greeson ....12

MEDICAL CARE / PRODUCTS Dove Medical Supply .......................... 2 LeBauer Healthcare .................... 11, 20 Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery ..18 Northwest Pediatrics ......................... 22 Novant – Forsyth Pediatrics ................ 6 Novant – Northwest Family Medicine ..19 Oak Ridge Physical Therapy ............... 7 Physical Medicine of the Carolinas .... 25

PET SERVICES & PRODUCTS Bel-Aire Veterinary Hospital ...............15 King’s Crossing Animal Hospital ....... 23 Northwest Animal Hospital ................14 Veterinary Hospital of Oak Ridge....... 23 Westerguard Kennels .........................14

REAL ESTATE A New Dawn Realty .......................... 29 Bobbie Maynard, Allen Tate ............... 3 Gil Vaughn, Keller Williams ............... 29 Jake Letterman, Berkshire Hathaway .. 29 Nancy Hess, Berkshire Hathaway ..... 29 Ramilya Siegel, Allen Tate ................ 24 Tanya Hill, Realty One ...................... 23

RESTAURANTS Bistro 150/The Oak Ridge Room ........ 7 Rio Grande Mexican Kitchen .............. 6

RETAIL Priba Furniture & Interiors ................. 32 Rainbow Vacuum Sales & Service ..... 26

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late January A directory jam-packed with valuable information for northwest Guilford County residents

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

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2018

JAN. 11 - 17, 2018

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Up to 65% off retail, on all in-stock inventory pribafurniture.com | 210 Stage Coach Trail, Greensboro | (336) 855-9034 | M-F 9am-5:30pm, Sat 9am-5pm