Feb. 6 - 12, 2015
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New detour poses challenges for businesses, neighborhood
Photo by Annette Joyce/NWO
by ANNETTE JOYCE SUMMERFIELD – The state giveth and the state taketh away. At least, that’s what seems to be happening to three local businesses that have found themselves further disconnected from their customers and the drive-by traffic which has been the lifeblood of their existence. N.C. Department of Transportation recently relented and put up directional signage to
guide traffic, but quickly made the path to the businesses’ doors longer and more confusing; in the process, they have also upset residential neighbors. Until a few months ago, the three Summerfield businesses – M&M Tire and Auto, Gilley’s Small Engine Service and Petro 220 convenience store – sat on a major highway exposed to a constant stream of traffic. Once the newly widened U.S. 220 opened, the business-
es were left stranded on what appeared to be an inaccessible access road. All three put up signs on U.S. 220 and U.S. 158 in an attempt to direct traffic to their locations. Originally, the only signage DOT placed directed drivers to the old U.S. 220, something that Mark Middleton, owner of M&M Tire, says “didn’t do us any good.” Recently, NCDOT placed
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Town, fire department review options for water access by PATTI STOKES SUMMERFIELD – In April 2014 the Summerfield Town Council requested that the Public Safety Committee begin exploring improvements to the town’s fire protection. With no municipal water system or fire hydrants, the fire department relies on ponds and lakes for its water
Mark Middleton, owner of M&M Tire and Auto, believes the state could have done a better job of detouring traffic to his and other businesses located near U.S. 220.
source when responding to a structure fire.
point, fill the tanks and get back to the scene of the fire.
In addition to the frontline firefighters, Summerfield Fire Chief Chris Johnson explains several other people needed on the scene of a structure fire include those who drive the water tankers to a water access point, run the hoses from the tank to the access
About how long does that process take? Once you are at the water access point, an average of seven minutes. For Johnson, that’s far too long in a critical situation when every minute counts. A diminishing number of water access points (what
Everything is costing us time – and time is not our friend when it comes to fire.” Summerfield Fire Chief Chris Johnson was at one time 28 is now 13) and a diminishing number of volunteer firefighters to work along with paid staff members on the scene is placing a strain on the department and
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IN THIS ISSUE News in brief ......................................3 Your Questions ..................................4 ‘Gibby’ honored ...............................6 Pets & Critters ....................................7 Bearded dragon is mascot.............8 HorsePOWER gala ............................9 High School Sports .........................10 Student Profiles ............................... 11 Community Calendar ...................14 Bits & Pieces ....................................15 Letters/Opinions ............................16 Crime/Incident Report ..................17 Classifieds .......................................19 Index of Advertisers .......................23