Jan. 17 - 23, 2014
bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996 • nwobserver.com •
Fire chief wades through icy water to save life by PATTI STOKES SUMMERFIELD – When Chris Johnson signed on to be a firefighter, he knew he would find himself in dangerous situations. He also knew he would have an opportunity to save lives. What he may not have imagined, though, was that the danger wouldn’t always come from fire, and humans wouldn’t be the only ones he rescued. On Jan. 9 at about 2:30 p.m., the sheriff’s department got a call about a baby deer that was stuck on an icy pond behind the Vineyard neighborhood that backs up to Bronco Lane. Soon afterward, the Summerfield Fire Department was asked to assist. “The deer was about 15 feet out in
If my trailer can’t be moved, we’re going to have to sell what we can and move in with my parents.” Jennifer Tucker Summerfield resident
by PATTI STOKES SUMMERFIELD – A pending sale of land that has been on the market for over two years has caused some tenants who live in a mobile home park on the land to cry foul, and the landowner and Town of Summerfield are taking the heat. On Nov. 26, 2013 the Summer-
the pond,” says Johnson, the fire department’s chief. “It just couldn’t stand up and it was looking weak.” Johnson didn’t hesitate long before deciding to bust the ice and wade into the water, hoping to get close enough to reach the deer with a long pole and help it get up. The deer kept falling, however, and that’s when Johnson decided to just go all the way out to it and carry it back to safety. “My guys were chomping at the bit to go out there, but I didn’t want to put anyone else out there, so I made a call for myself to go. I know I broke some rules, but it was the right thing to do,” Johnson said. “I couldn’t stand by and watch that deer die on the ice.”
Photo courtesy of Summerfield Fire Department
Property purchase sparks
controversy
Town and property owner come under fire for sale that will require mobile home park tenants to move field Town Council announced it had entered into an agreement to purchase two tracts of land totaling 16.01 acres. The larger of the two tracts is 15.66 acres and includes one occupied house, an unoccupied house, a barn and a mobile home park where nine families live. One tenant has lived in the mobile home park for 24 years and
another for 39 years. The second tract of land is .35 acres and is located across the street from the town hall at the intersection of NC 150 and Summerfield Road. On it rests the former Gordon Hardware building. Similar to the town hall in architectural
...continued on p. 30
IN THIS ISSUE News in brief...................................... 3 Your Questions.................................. 4 We asked, you answered................ 8 Business Notes................................ 12 Bits & Pieces.................................... 12 Looking for love.............................. 18 Community Calendar.................... 20 Student Profiles............................... 22 Crime/Incident Report................... 23 Letters/Opinions ............................ 24 Grins & Gripes................................. 25 Classifieds....................................... 26 Index of Advertisers....................... 31 NWO On The Go!............................ 32