July 11 - 17, 2014
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Phil Berger Jr. versus Mark Walker Republicans will vote for one candidate in July 15 runoff election North Carolina’s 12 other representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives and succeed U.S. Congressman Howard Coble, the longest-serving Republican in the history of the North Carolina congressional delegation.
Berger earned a law degree from Wake Forest University before joining his family’s law practice. For the past seven years he has served as the district attorney for Rockingham County. He and his wife Jodie, a public school teacher, have two sons.
SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT– Since neither Phil Berger Jr. nor Mark Walker received 40 percent of the vote in the May 6 primary, the two top vote-getting Republicans from that election will go headto-head in a runoff election on July 15.
Coble, who was first elected to represent the Sixth Congressional District on Nov. 6, 1984, and re-elected 14 times, announced last November that he would not seek a 16th term. Though he says he still has the energy for the job, the longtime congressman cites chronic back problems and an ongoing battle with skin cancer as the reasons for his retirement.
The winner of the runoff election will go on to face Democrat Laura Fjeld in the general election on Nov. 4; the top vote-getter in that election will join
In recent months, Berger and Walker have intensified their rhetoric in an effort to differentiate themselves and give voters a clear choice on July 15.
Berger’s platform centers on several key issues, ranging from Obamacare to amnesty. He has said he would work to repeal Obamacare and put healthcare decisions in the hands of healthcare providers and their patients. He would also work to cut government waste and spending, strengthen the First Amendment, which he says has been repeatedly threatened, uphold the Second Amendment (the right to own and carry firearms), and increase government accountability.
Phil Berger Jr.
by PATTI STOKES
Mark Walker
to increase education choices in North Carolina, and takes a strong stand on securing our nation’s borders and opposing “pathways to citizenship, which are simply a pathway to amnesty.” “We cannot keep rewarding the breaking of our laws with citizenship,” he says. Self-described as the “only true Conservative candidate,” Berger also
Berger is a pro-life advocate, wants
Explosive materials found at town park Seven suspects arrested
about suspicious materials found in and around trash cans at the park.
vestigation to find the persons responsible for constructing the hazardous devices.
by LAURA PULLINS
While picking up trash throughout the 80-acre park, a park employee discarded a water bottle into a trash can inside the park’s metal maintenance building. Moments later, park employees were startled by a loud “pop” during their morning meeting, said Terry Lannon, Oak Ridge’s parks and recreation director.
After increasing after-hours surveillance at the town park, efforts by the sheriff’s office paid off three days later.
OAK RIDGE – Seven people have been arrested for second-degree trespassing and possession of weapons of mass destruction after materials for constructing explosive devices were found at the Oak Ridge Town Park. Park personnel notified the Guilford County District 1 sheriff’s office on July 2
Deputies immediately launched an in-
On July 5 at about 4 a.m., Deputy J.G. Robertson of the District 1 sheriff’s office observed a silver Honda Civic driving through the park with its headlights off and stopped the vehicle for trespassing.
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IN THIS ISSUE News in brief ......................3 Your Questions...................4 Road to the Horse .............6 Bits & Pieces ..................... 10 Crime/Incident Report ... 14 Community Calendar .... 15 Letters/Opinions ............. 16 Grins & Gripes .................. 17 Classifieds ........................ 18 Index of Advertisers ........23 NWO on the go! ..............24