Jan. 15 - 21, 2016
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Solicitors re-appear at intersection Pastor says fundraising through on-the-street solicitation helps âclientsâ turn their lives around
quenting the intersection at least three times over the last five months, most recently on Jan. 6, they usually solicit for several hours before moving on.
by PATTI STOKES OAK RIDGE â Since first appearing at the N.C. 68/150 intersection in Oak Ridge last August, solicitors for the Charlotte-based Miracle House of Hope have raised both questions and concerns. Fre-
In the months since August, several people have contacted Oak Ridge Town Hall and the Northwest Observer to ask if anything can be done about the solicitors, who typically work in groups of four with a team leader. Those concerned say some of the men, who sport neon-colored vests and hand drivers a bright pink
flyer with information about the Miracle House ministry, have been aggressive in soliciting donations for the organization. Pastor Bruce Little, who says he is a former cocaine addict, founded Miracle House of Hope in 2007; the ministry, which is housed in the basement of Galilean Deliverance Community Church in Charlotte, provides an intervention program for drug addicts and alcoholics. âClients,â as Little refers to them, distribute flyers to people on the street, ex-
Weâre dealing with guys who have been living off the street â weâre dealing with men and women who are trying to kick drug habits and who are lost.â Bruce Little, founder Miracle House of Hope plaining that those in the program receive room and board, counseling, job training, Bible Study and the opportunity to work in the ministry while they are undergoing a nine-month restoration cycle.
...continued on p. 23
Looking back: more news highlights from 2015 In this issue we continue our story highlights and updates to some of the most noteworthy issues we covered last year.
Trail blazers
NW GUILFORD â In 2013, Summerfield formed a Trails and Open Space Committee, tasked with developing a trail route that will extend the A&Y Greenway system from Greensboro to a 12-mile segment of the abandoned Atlantic Yadkin (A&Y) Railway which runs through the towns of Summerfield and Stokesdale. In February 2015, the owner of Summerfield Farms purchased three tracts of land between Pleasant Ridge Road and Summerfield Road and announced heâs willing to provide a trail easement.
The Trails Committee worked hard to come up with a southernsection trail route which will extend the A&Y Greenway from the pedestrian tunnel under U.S. 220 up to the old railroad bed at the Summerfield Elementary school.
IN THIS ISSUE News in brief........................ 3 Your Questions .................... 4 Oak Ridge Town Council ... 6
After receiving citizen feedback, council members voted in September to pay $320,294 for trail and pedestrian structure design, permitting, public involvement, geotechnical engineering, and drainage design.
High School Sports ............. 8
The northern part of the route would be the next phase of the trail, although its pathway is unclear at this time. Ideally, it would continue along the abandoned railroad bed, crossing the Haw River and traveling through Stokesdale.
Community Calendar .......15
...continued on p. 18
Student Profiles ................... 9 Youth/School news ...........10 Business Notes ...................11 Celebration ........................11 Crime/Incident Report ......14 Letters/Opinions ................16 Grins & Gripes ....................17 File photo
While SummerďŹeld is taking steps toward extending the A&Y Greenway through its town, the Stokesdale Town Council voted against following suit.
Classifieds ..........................19 Index of Advertisers ......... 23 NWO on the go! ................ 24