July 17 - 23, 2015
bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996
CrossFit stands to lose power
Combs vacates mayor’s seat
The town prepares to have fitness facility’s power cut off over CO violation
Former mayor will continue to serve the remainder of his term as a councilman while some citizens demand opportunity to directly elect the mayor
by PATTI STOKES
by GERRI HUNT
Shortly after the Oak Ridge Town Council meeting began on July 9, Town Manager Bruce Oakley offered a brief summary of the ongoing conflict between the town and its next door neighbor, CrossFit (owned by CMT Commons).
OAK RIDGE – An hour and a half into a Town Council meeting in which issues of neighborhood flooding from an adjacent develop-
“They (CMT Commons/ CrossFit) were issued a temporary CO (Certificate of Occupancy) in October 2012 after they agreed to meet stipulations of the Certificate of Appropriateness that was issued by the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). They’re on record saying they agreed with the stipulations for this temporary CO,” Oakley said. Despite 27 meetings with CrossFit and the town’s Planning and Zoning Board, Town Council, HPC and Board of Adjustment that have ensued
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ment under construction, a rezoning hearing and threats to the historic district had been discussed, Mayor Ray Combs said he wanted to “change the tune a little bit” … then proceeded to resign as mayor. “Council, I’m really addressing this to you. I have been mayor for 12 years. Most of you know that Carol and I have done a lot of traveling and we plan on doing a lot more. It has become increasingly difficult for me to do my job from New Zealand, where one
Combs
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Sullivan
Kinneman
Ray Combs has served on the Oak Ridge Town Council since 2001, and has served as mayor since 2003; on July 9 he resigned his mayor’s seat and Councilman Spencer Sullivan was promptly elected from among the council members as mayor; Jim Kinneman was elected mayor pro tem.
Double K’s alcohol permit suspended Deputies respond to 104 calls in 5 years by GERRI HUNT
File photo
Double K Sports Bar, located at 8603 Belews Creek Road in Stokesdale, was notified on July 11 that its ABC permit has been suspended.
STOKESDALE – The North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Commission has suspended Double K Sports Bar’s ABC permit, following a stabbing at the Belews Creek Road bar a week earlier – the latest in a series of incidents at the establishment over the last several years. The suspension order,
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IN THIS ISSUE News in brief......................... 3 Business Notes ..................... 7 Bits & Pieces ......................... 7 Oak Ridge Town Council ...10 NWO Real Estate .................13 Real Estate briefs ................18 Real Estate transactions.....19 Community Calendar ........21 Letters/Opinions ................ 22 Grins & Gripes .................... 22 Crime/Incident Report ...... 25 Classifieds ...........................27 Index of Advertisers ...........31 NWO on the go! ................. 32