Northwest Observer | Sept. 1 - 7, 2017 by pscommunications

Sept. 1 - 7, 2017

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The cross on the side of the road Twenty-one years after his murder, Skipper Parker’s mother shares the story behind her son’s cross by PAGE PARKER, guest writer

Photos courtes of Page Parker

(Above) To make it more visible to passersby, Page Parker visits this site along N.C. 68 each year on the anniversary of her son’s death and refreshes it with new ﬂowers and white spray paint. She said the cross, which marks the spot where her son died, was placed there by a stranger who she later met. (Inset) Skipper Parker was 19 when he was murdered on Aug. 2, 1996.

We have all noticed crosses scattered along the sides of our highways and byways. The lone memorials that pass our peripheral space for a brief moment may peak our curiosity. What we can assume is that a tragic, sudden death has taken a loved one – forever. Located on N.C. 68 North, between Old Bryan Boulevard and Pleasant Ridge Road, stands my son Skipper’s rugged, white cross. If you travel

that route, even once daily, you’ve passed it approximately 7,700 times since Aug. 2, 1996. If you are local, you may know its history. If not, your assumption would be that a fatal traffic accident occurred there. Yes, a truck left the highway, hit a tree, and continued into what was then deeper brush. But my son, at age 19, died there from a fatal gunshot wound, a vicious homicide that would shatter his entire family. The first few days immediately following Skipper’s death were filled with unspeakable anguish and despair. The preparation for a funeral and meetings

with homicide detectives were simultaneous. With murder, there is no escaping this miserable duality. Skipper’s father, Joe, and I were immediately propelled into a media blitz of painful on-air and news article reporting. As we bared our raw souls to everyone, I thought that we would get some answers. Little did I know that 21 years later, I would still be baring my soul … and still be looking for answers. The effects of our son’s murder exacerbated Joe’s lengthy history of poor health (heart disease, hypertension and insulin

...continued on p. 18

Town manager says farewell after nearly 15 years Bruce Oakley served as Town’s ﬁrst administrator, manager by PATTI STOKES OAK RIDGE – Bruce Oakley worked his last day as town manager on Aug. 30. He left behind a long trail of notes, files and reminders – and a mountain of well wishes from citizens, co-workers and town council members. “In preparing to leave, I’m trying to recall contacts that Bill (Bruce, planning director) and Sandra (Smith, town clerk) will need when I’m gone so they will be ready to handle whatever comes up,” Oakley said a few days before turn-

ing in his keys to Town Hall. Bruce and Smith will temporarily serve as co-town managers.

IN THIS ISSUE

“I’ve been discussing things with them and giving insight,” Oakley said. “I have complete confidence in their abilities.” Oakley was an urban planner with Guilford County in 2002 when he occasionally filled in for Roger Bardsley, a fellow county planner contracted to provide planning services to Oak Ridge. The two men later worked with community volunteers to create the Town’s first land use plan. At the encouragement of former Mayor Tom Brown, Oakley applied for and was sub-

...continued on p. 6

Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO

News in Brief ...................... 3 Your Questions .................. 4 Pets & Critters .................... 7 Charlie & me ..................... 8 Pet Adoptions.................... 9 Youth/School news .........11 High School Sports ..........13 Bits & Pieces .................... 22 Community Calendar .... 23 Crime/Incident Report ... 24 Grins & Gripes ................. 25 Classifieds ....................... 27 Index of Advertisers ........31

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NEWS in brief

Council discusses projects for $33,333 grant STOKESDALE – Turning an almost 1.5acre area behind the Stokesdale Fire Department into a park or parking lot were among the possible uses of a $33,333 grant discussed during the Stokesdale Town Council’s weekly meeting Aug. 23. Stokesdale was notified almost two months ago it was awarded $33,333 for downtown revitalization through the Rural Economic Development Division of the N.C. Department of Commerce. Mayor Randy Braswell said the space behind the fire department is the only property owned by Stokesdale in the downtown area. He said pine trees could be removed, the area cleaned up and a park created. He also said the space could be turned into a parking lot to address a

critical need in the downtown area. Council member Tim Jones wondered whether the Town could allow the fire department or Stokesdale Parks & Recreation to use the space and take over the maintenance so the Town wouldn’t have a long-term budget commitment. The council decided to direct the town attorney to conduct a title search and have the area surveyed. The council has until Sept.15 to submit its project proposal to the Department of Commerce, although it voted 5-0 to have the town administrator send a letter or email asking if the deadline could be extended. The discussion was continued until Aug. 30.

First citizens academy ‘nice success’ STOKESDALE – As a resident of Stokesdale for just two weeks, Debbie Nadel figured attending the Town’s first Citizens Academy/Open House would give her the opportunity to meet people and learn about local government. She was right on both counts. “I enjoyed it,” said Nadel, who moved with her husband, Mark, from Long Island, New York, to northwest Guilford County. “It was very informative, and it gave me a flavor of the Town and the people.” And she likes the fact that Stokesdale has no property tax. “I just assumed there was,” she said. That wasn’t all she learned. An almost 75-minute PowerPoint presentation from Town Administrator/ Finance Officer Kim Hemric covered a myriad of topics, from the duties of a municipal clerk and Stokesdale’s form of government (mayor-council) to the budget process, how to get on the Town’s Sunshine List for meetings and serving

on committees. Mayor Pro Tem Bill Jones explained the Town’s loss of sales and use tax distribution in 2003 and why he is working to get it restored, and Jeff Bartley of North Carolina 811 explained how to use the nonprofit free service to link with local utility providers to mark underground lines before digging. The state’s 811 organization is the second-largest and busiest 811 in the nation, Bartley said. Mark Nadel said he thought the presentation was good overall, although he’s not sure how many cared about the details of how government runs.

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“It’s really how the people interact and what goes on,” he said. “I want to try to get involved in the community.” “I think what I see just from the meeting and listening there’s a great lack of communication,” said Mark Nadel, a ham radio operator. “I know for myself – having meetings, getting involved politically – it’s very difficult to

...continued on p. 5

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Why do some businesses require identification to buy lottery tickets when others don’t? The N.C. General Assembly set up the restrictions for the North Carolina Education Lottery, which was started in 2005. Among those restrictions is the requirement that people under 18 be prevented from playing the lottery. Kathleen Jacob, a media specialist for the state lottery, said it’s up to retailers to decide how they determine whose identification should be checked. “They can create the policy they want,” Jacob said. “They can card everyone if they want.” Some do it visually – i.e., by not carding people who are clearly 18 or older. “The lottery is meant to be fun,” Jacob said. “We want to make it fun in a responsible way, which is why the restrictions are in place.”

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All retailers that participate in the lottery are trained in the laws that apply to it. Jacob said in an email to the Northwest Observer that the lottery constantly monitors and enforces the law concerning lottery players’ ages through various means, including random checks of retailers. The lottery also provides $2.1 million annually to Alcohol Law Enforcement to help make certain retailers comply with the law. Any retailer found to have sold lottery tickets to someone younger than 18 could face a misdemeanor charge, a $50 fee and about $150 in court costs, according to the lottery’s website. They also could lose the right to sell lottery tickets. Recognizing the threat of addictive behavior associated with its product, the lottery contributes $1 million annually to the N.C. Problem Gambling Program. The statewide program covers prevention and education about problem gambling. It also provides outreach and treatment, Jacob said. “We want people to enjoy the lottery, but we want them to play responsibly,” she said in her email. “We want a lot of people playing a little, not a little playing a lot.”

SEPT. 1 - 7, 2017

Your memory is partially correct. In 2010 we wrote several articles about a proposed cell tower in Oak Ridge. The tower was not proposed in Oak Ridge Town Park, however, rather on privately owned property beside the park. At that time the owner of the property asked the town’s permission for a 130-foot-tall cell phone tower to be placed on his land. As the Town’s Planning and Zoning Board and Historic Preservation Commission (because the property was in the Town’s historic district) deliberated over the request, the owner of the property changed it to limit the tower height to 112.5 feet. Because the town’s ordinance says communications towers must not be “noticeably

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I remember about eight years ago you ran an article on the cell tower in the town park. The article revealed how much the town makes on the cell tower lease. Where can I find that article?

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dissimilar to nearby vegetation in terms of height, scale, texture and color,” American Tower, the company proposing the tower, agreed to make it look like an evergreen tree. The town’s Planning and Zoning Board, Historic Preservation Commission and Town Council spent months deliberating the issue. The council eventually approved the cell tower in March 2011 by a 3-2 margin and American Tower built it later that year. Oak Ridge Town Manager Bruce Oakley confirms the cell tower on Linville Road is not on Town property and the Town does not receive any revenue from it.

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“Several years ago, the Town Council considered allowing the construction of a cell tower in the park but decided against it,” Oakley said.

NEWS in brief

Town Hall – two were Town employees, three were council members, two were candidates for mayor and two were candidates for town council; another was a member of the Ordinance Review Committee. Hemric said she was pleased with the response. “The first Citizens Academy/Open

...continued from p. 3 draw people out. … I don’t know what the answer is to that.” To his point, most of the 15 people in attendance already had a connection to

House for the Town of Stokesdale was a nice success,” Hemric said. “It was a very positive experience, and the Town will build on it for future academies.” She also said she was heartened to hear citizens promote the frequency of the event, some suggesting every six months or at least annually.

Contractor to use diamond on rough parts of I-73 Now that a new 9.7-mile stretch of I-73 is open, extending the highway from Joseph M. Bryan Boulevard to N.C. 68 and on up to Summerfield, the N.C. Department of Transportation has rewarded a contract to rehabilitate a stretch of the interstate south of the boulevard. Triangle Grading and Paving will begin smoothing the surface along 3.9 miles of the interstate from I-40 to the boulevard. The process, called diamondgrinding uses diamond-tipped grinders to smooth the surface of the concrete. Construction of the highway was completed in 2007, according to NCDOT construction engineer Patty Eason.

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highway. Eason said that although part of that stretch of I-73 was being used as a detour for the boulevard while the new section of the interstate was being built, it did not necessarily affect the timing of the rehabilitation.

The smoothed highway will be quieter and more skid-resistant. The $5.5 million contract also calls for some replacement of cracked concrete. Work, which is to begin this month, will involve nighttime lane closures Eason said.

Money has been set aside for interstate improvements. The repairs are among $204.5 million in projects the agency was recently awarded.

The work includes some repairs to drains on the highway shoulders. “We’ve got some drainage boxes on the shoulders of the road that we’ve got to correct,” Eason said.

“It just kind of worked out that this was the timeframe,” she said. “All of our interstate is getting some dressing up and refinishing.”

Once smoothing is done and repairs are made, the contractor will repaint the

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SEPT. 1 - 7, 2017

TOWN MANAGER

and a community park, establishing a municipal water system and a Historic Preservation Commission, and updating and codifying the Town’s ordinances.

...continued from p. 1

sequently hired as Oak Ridge’s town administrator (and first full-time employee) in November 2004.

Finalizing the design and construction of the town hall building became the first priority, and Oakley credits the Town’s volunteer Building Committee and chairman Danny Yanusz for being so helpful throughout the process.

“It was a big transition (from planner to administrator),” he said. “I had my master’s degree in public affairs, so this is what I was trying to get into. But, there were a lot of new things I hadn’t done, such as overseeing construction projects.”

As he took on new challenges, Oakley adjusted not only to having five bosses (town council members), but to dealing so directly with citizens on issues like property disputes between neighbors and noise complaints. Over the years those challenges were still part of the job, but he

“My first day on the job, (Mayor) Ray Combs (who succeeded Brown), gave me a list of projects to take on over the next several years,” Oakley recalled. “On the list was building a town hall

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said most council members have shared similar goals, and the citizens have been great to get to know. Oakley has fond memories of the Town’s first council, and most of the council members he has since worked with. He expressed appreciation to Ray Combs, who he said was a mentor to him while Combs served on the town council and as mayor for almost 14 years. Of former town council member Roger Howerton, Oakley said, “He’s always been a great help, and he still comes by and checks in on staff.” The grand opening/dedication of Town Hall is one of Oakley’s favorite memories as a Town employee. “It was great to see all the past town council members, citizens and volunteers who made the town and the town hall possible come together to celebrate the facility and the town’s future,” he said. He also has fond memories of lunchtime runs in the park. “I’m proud of what was created on that old farmland and it’s great to see so many people enjoying it.” Oakley spoke highly of his co-workers, who he said are all cross-trained. “In a bigger city, if there is an issue with the well or with a sign, you defer it to that department. Here, any one of us may take the call,” he said. “We don’t directly handle law enforcement or public works, but we still have to handle the calls

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and make sure things get taken care of.” Next week Oakley will begin his new job as city manager of Southport, a historic coastal community near Wilmington. There, he’ll oversee a police department, public works department and several other departments. He’ll also become familiar with the environmental challenges that coastal communities face. And he’ll get accustomed to overseeing a community of about 3,400 permanent residents that swells to over 45,000 residents in the summer season. “It’s such a beautiful place with the beaches and Wilmington and Bald Head Island close by,” said Oakley, who enjoys spending time with his wife by the water, and hopes to do more of that. Southport will also be a great place for their daughter, a sophomore at UNC-G, to spend time when not in school. “We’re excited about the change – it will be a different lifestyle,” Oakley said. In closing, Oakley voiced appreciation to the Oak Ridge community for treating him so well, and to the Town’s many dedicated volunteers. “I’ve made some great friends during my time here,” he said, then added, “I also would like to thank Sam Anders (town finance officer), and Michael Thomas (town attorney), along with Sandra (Smith), Bill (Bruce) and Terry (Lannon) and his crew, for being such a great team. They are not just employees and colleagues, they have become close friends.”

September 2017 a monthly feature of the Northwest Observer

Emmy McHone of Greensboro sent us this photo of her sleepy chihuahua, Mojo. Emmy says Mojo has a great sense of humor, and even though it was past his bedtime, he still found energy to make a goofy face for the camera!



Hailey (top) and Bella live in Stokesdale with their humans, April and Paul Mattina. The Mattinas say the dogs love looking out the windows of their home (perhaps daydreaming about playing outside, if we were to guess!).

Shane Nelson of Oak Ridge sent in this photo of an argiope spider hanging behind his well house. Argiopes are often called writing spiders for the zig-zag patterns they weave into their webs, which resemble handwriting.



We love your photos, and so do our readers

Erica Jobe shared this photo of her loyal friend, Dabo, named after Dabo Swinney, the head football coach at Clemson University. Dabo is all business in this picture, but he really prefers playing!

Send your pet/animal photos to photos@nwobserver.com

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SEPT. 1 - 7, 2017

Green beans and extra walks make for a slimmer, ﬁtter companion by ANNETTE JOYCE When I took Charlie to our veterinarian last March for his yearly check-up, I knew he’d gotten a bit pudgy but I wasn’t expecting anything major. After all, Charlie’s a big dog. He’s supposed to weigh a lot. However, when my sweet black lab finally settled down on the scale – after much wiggling and wagging and two or three treats from the office coffers – much to my chagrin, Charlie’s weight had skyrocketed over the winter months and he’d gone from a rather svelte 83.2 pounds to an obese 96.2 pounds.

Photo by Annette Joyce/NWO

With fewer treats and the addition of green beans, Charlie’s youthful physique is re-emerging.

Still, although I was a bit horrified at the weight gain, I wasn’t terribly concerned. That is, until our vet, Dr. Humberto Marti, informed me of how serious this could be. Carrying excess weight is as detrimental for pets as it is for

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humans. In Charlie’s case, Dr. Marti said the extra weight could cause problems with his knees and hips and require expensive surgery down the road. But the problems don’t end there. As with humans, the extra weight can result in diabetes, heart disease, blood pressure issues, heat intolerance and an increased risk of cancer. The weight definitely had to come off. The issue was, how? Our vet asked me lots of questions about Charlie’s eating habits and I proudly answered that he never gets table scraps and we don’t leave his food out so that he has access to it whenever he wants (if we did, with his appetite, he would barely be able to walk). I wanted to blame my husband for the heaping amounts of food Charlie received at breakfast and dinner, but it didn’t take long for Dr. Marti to discover that I was the problem and it related to the enormous amount of treats I was giving him. I admit, I could barely walk by Charlie without giving him a handful of treats and he got loads of goodies when we were nosing around at nosework classes and trials. We left the office with a plan. We would cut back a bit on Charlie’s food and I’d do everything I could to beat the habit of giving him so many treats. The vet also suggested I swap some of the processed treats I had been giving him for carrots and apples. We also planned to increase the amount of exercise Charlie gets. Although it initially took remarkable restraint, I soon managed to eliminate most of the treats. I did try giving Char-

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lie carrots, but he wasn’t interested. I couldn’t even get him to take a nibble. However, he liked the apples. After two weeks, we were doing so well that I was sure Charlie had lost at least a few pounds. The poor dog was nearly starving – at least in my opinion. So off to the vet we went. I was so excited! When Charlie finally settled on the scale, it showed he had lost a whopping .2 pounds. You’ve got to be kidding me – .2 pounds, after all our hard work? I was discouraged, but then I went walking with a friend who has two labs and a sister who’s a veterinarian. After my friend’s sister had read her the riot act because she’d let her dogs become so fat, my friend had worked hard to get

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her dogs’ weight under control. They looked great. She suggested supplementing Charlie’s diet with green beans. Hmmmm… it was worth a try. We started replacing half of Charlie’s evening meal with green beans. That first night, he ate all around them. The ones he did get by accident because they were mixed in with his other food, he spit out on the floor. But, being the food hound that he is, Charlie made certain both the bowl and the floor were spotless before he walked away.

Pet Adoptions

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Basil, a handsome domestic shorthair male, is a member of the “veggie litter”! (Or should that be the “Herb and Spice Kitties”?) He came to RDF from a very nice lady who found him and his two brothers at only 2 weeks old. They are now 17 weeks old and ready for forever homes! These guys are social, very friendly and have been around both cats and dogs. Basil likes to nap in a comfy cat bed and be petted by his human friends. All three kittens have been neutered and are up-to-date on vaccines. If interested in adopting Basil or his brothers, please apply at www.reddogfarm.com.

KING LOUIE When this big fellow comes walking outside you can almost hear Bert Lahr singing “If I Were King of the Forest.” King Louie is a 3-year-old boy who was found as a stray; he loves all things squeaky and gives great big sloppy hugs and kisses. King Louie is a stocky boy, weighing about 75 pounds, but he thinks he’s a 15-pound lap dog like Toto! If you’d like to add a bit of royalty to your castle, ask for King Louie by ID#A35592717.

CHIP Chip is a 2-month-old male who was brought to the shelter as a stray. This handsome guy looks ready to step onto the set of a James Bond ﬂick – and he likes his kitty crunchies “shaken, not stirred.” Ask for Chip by ID#A35883901.

Since then, he has learned to love green beans. Both he and I have adjusted to the reduction in treats and we enjoy the extra walks. Best of all, when Charlie weighed in last month, he was down 10 pounds! It’s got me wondering: how well would this green bean thing work with humans?

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youth / school NEWS

Veterans’ memorial gets spruce-up

Historic Oak Ridge A celebration of our historic heritage

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Northwest High School students in Paul Egleston’s leadership class last semester raised money to give the veterans’ memorial outside the school a facelift. As part of the project, which was completed over the summer, students replaced the stones in the memorial and added landscaping materials.

The veterans’ memorial at Northwest High School has new stones honoring former students as well as a longtime assistant principal and coach

by JOE GAMM NORTHWEST GUILFORD – The veterans’ memorial at Northwest High School has gotten an update and a facelift in recent months. Paul Egleston, a social studies teacher

...continued on p. 14

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The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

SEPT. 1 - 7, 2017

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PUBLIC SCHOOL PORTRAIT DAYS

E. P. Pearce Elementary ................... Wednesday, Sept. 6 The Early College at Guilford............ Wednesday, Sept. 6 Northwest Guilford Middle School ......... Monday, Sept. 11 Northwest Guilford High School............ Thursday, Sept. 14 Gate City Charter Academy................. Thursday, Sept. 21 Jefferson Elementary ............................. Monday, Sept. 25 Oak Ridge Elementary.............................Friday, Sept. 29 Cornerstone Charter Academy..................Friday, Oct. 6 Northern Guilford Middle School ........... Tuesday, Oct. 10 Kernodle Middle School .................. Wednesday, Oct. 25

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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

Northwest improves to 2-0 after win against Western Guilford by MARC PRUITT Northwest Guilford opened its home schedule on Aug. 25 with a convincing 53-26 win against Western Guilford. This was the Vikings’ second win in a week, after they defeated Smith on Aug. 21 in a game that had been re-scheduled because of inclement weather. The Vikings were dominant on offense, piling up 317 rushing yards and six touchdowns from eight different players and 358 passing yards and four touchdowns from quarterback Jacob Leonard. Tre’ Turner had five catches for 248 yards and three touchdowns to go along with one rushing touchdown. Jacob Hardy (82), Caleb Andrews (76), and Cameron Cloud (71) all had touchdown runs and at least 70 yards rushing. “Our kids came out fired up,” head coach Kevin Wallace said. “Right from the beginning, our defense made a

big play with a fumble recovery on Western’s first play. Our offense scored two plays later and we kept it going after that. Our offensive line did a great job and our defense has been really good in both games now. Most of the points they scored came late in the game. Peter Hennigan, Jordan Harrison and Tristan Kilgannon, who has been a rock for us up front, all made some big plays. Donnell Stewart played big in the secondary.”

Northern took an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter and tied the game at 14-14 going into the second quarter before Page took control and led 21-14 at halftime. Two third-quarter touchdowns gave Page a 35-14 lead, and the Nighthawks failed to catch up. “They took away our run game and made us throw it a lot,” head coach

Look for it inside next week’s issue! TOU R BO OKL ET

LOOKING AHEAD: Northwest (2-0) will play at Southeast Guilford (2-0) this Friday (Sept. 1). “One of their wins was against Smith, and their score (11-6) was comparable with ours (17-6),” Wallace said. “I’m expecting it to be a tough matchup against a team that I know is well coached.”

Northern Guilford falls to Page, evens record at 1-1 Northern Guilford started strong but faded in the second half in a 38-27 loss at Page last Friday.

5th annual edition coming Sept. 8

Erik Westberg said. “And we missed a lot of tackles defensively and didn’t manage the ball very well. Our defense was on the field way too much and they made us pay for it.” Quarterback Jakob Lenard, making his second start, threw for 198 yards and four touchdowns while

Coming Sept. 15 Look for it inside the Northwest Observer’s Sept. 15-21 issue published by

publisher of the Northwest Observer

These – and all our publications – are also posted at facebook.com/ NorthwestObserver and online year-round at nwobserver.com

...continued on p. 14

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

SEPT. 1 - 7, 2017

SPORTS

...continued from p. 13 completing 14 of 39 passes. J.J. Julian had five receptions for 82 yards and touchdown catches of 26 and 43 yards. Ford Moser and Chad Turner also had touchdown receptions for the Nighthawks, while Christian Herbin notched his fourth interception of the season.

LOOKING AHEAD: Northern (1-1) will play its home opener this Friday night (Sept. 1) against Statesville (2-0). “They’ve won two close games and I think it’s a good matchup for us,” Westberg said. “We’re pretty evenly matched, but we’ve got some guys who are banged up and we’ll have to plug some holes, especially on defense. Offensively, we have to pick it up and get the run game going.”

MEMORIAL

...continued from p. 11 at the school, said he wanted to add a marker stone to the memorial in honor of longtime Northwest assistant principal and coach John Crooks Bailey III, who died in 2015 at 75. Bailey had participated in four Vietnam campaigns and spent 30 years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. But, the 8-year-old memorial – honoring former students Kevin Adam Lucas, Andrew David Russoli, Nicholas Ray Gibbs, James Edward Crosby and Bruce W. Westmoreland – was showing some age. “It was in disarray,” Egleston said. “It was looking bad.”

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Last year he gathered a group of five boys from his leadership class and convinced them to make improving the memorial one of their projects. The memorial needed weeding and cleaning. The stone listing Russoli was chipped and had to be replaced. Russoli was killed in combat near Nasser Wa Salaam, Iraq. His parents have since created a scholarship in his name, to be given each year to a student pursuing a career in firefighting. NWHS alum Joël Hage, a 2009 Morehead-Cane Scholarship recipient, initially created the memorial using stones from his father’s granite company, Egleston said. Hage’s father used a handengraver to mark the stones. Hage said he couldn’t remember his inspiration for the memorial, he just knew it was what he did as a senior project. But as he reached out to families to speak about their loved ones who died for their country, he connected with them. “I didn’t know any of them (the fallen veterans) personally,” Hage said. “After I did all this research, I felt like I knew them. Speaking to their parents felt almost like bringing them back to life.” Hage said he tried to set up a system to maintain the stones, but it didn’t work out very well.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Eight years took a toll. Egleston had to acquire two new stones, one for Bailey and one to replace Russoli’s, and was able to get Everlasting Monument Company to prepare the stones. The company precisely laser-cut, polished and returned the stones. “They were beautiful,” Egleston said. “But then I realized I couldn’t put these two beautiful markers out here and have these others hand-done. I couldn’t be disrespectful.” With an estimated cost of $1,200 to get the other stones to match the new ones, Egleston’s leadership students in charge of the spruce-up project last year held fundraisers. One of the boys’ parents also donated to the cause. Then, it was a matter of putting it all together, Egleston said. The boys raised more money for plants and landscaping materials and he sent them to pick out everything they needed. “We were able to get shrubbery and things of that nature,” he said. “It’s interesting when you send young men out to get plants. They paid $50 for five bags of mulch,” he said with a chuckle. Egleston, who is a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, said he was personally motivated to work on the memorial because he knew several of the soldiers from when they attended the school. “I knew Lucas,” he said. “I knew Russoli. Russoli and Lucas were in ROTC. Gibbs was in my class his freshman year. At that time he couldn’t even carry his own bookbag.” Hage said that honoring the veterans who’d given their lives for their country became more meaningful by the day as he did the research. He felt that placing the memorial at the entrance to the high school did the community a service. “They were kids my age or a little older when they died,” Hage said. “They chose to go off to Afghanistan and Iraq, where they tragically lost their lives. It felt to me as if their stories were being lost.”

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SKIPPER PARKER ...continued from p. 1

dependent diabetes). It was no surprise that, six weeks following our loss, he had a massive heart attack. Seven bypasses were immediately performed. While still in intensive care and on a ventilator, he had a significant stroke. As Joe recovered that winter, and as we struggled through our grief, our search for the killer continued. It was sadly apparent that Joe’s residuals from the stroke (vision and short-term memory loss) would never improve. However, we persevered. We distributed flyers, agreed to more

interviews, did a nationally syndicated TV unsolved mysteries show, put up a billboard offering a reward to anyone who knew anything about the murder, and had constant meetings with the police. It was important to keep talking about it, hoping someone would come forward with information. On the first anniversary of Skipper’s death, we held a memorial service at the church. Our lives had completely changed, but we were only beginning this long journey. One year turned into two, then three. The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation had now taken over the case, but there was still not enough evidence to make an arrest. As the years passed, we tried to

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adjust to our new normal. We continued to go through the motions. I worked; we celebrated family birthdays, Christmas and special times. There was always the presence of the “empty chair,” however, and everyone felt it. Lacking the infusion of Skipper’s insatiable zest for life, our home became the real tomb. We were lost in suffering. No one knows the personal relationship between a husband and a wife under any circumstances. When the child you share is murdered, that tragedy can permanently alter the dynamics. Ironically, one might assume you can lean on each other. The opposite is usually the case. Grief saps your energy, making it difficult to simply get through the day. Many of your friends, even those closest to you, pull back because they don’t feel comfortable around you, you’re no fun to be around, and they feel their laughter isn’t appropriate. Joyful expectations are no longer possible because being carefree isn’t possible. You can’t help your other children, who are drowning in their own grief. The sadness simply envelops you, and then rips you apart. By this time, the case had gone cold and was not being investigated. The challenges were made worse by the proximity of the crime scene, Skipper’s grave, and the school he loved (Oak Ridge Military Academy).

The daily reminders, memories and increased frustrations caused a breakdown in communication. No longer able to find a reasonable solution, Joe and I began living apart in 2004. There was not a plan to legally separate or divorce. We would continue to stay married, and to try to cope the best we could. Adding to the stress, a house fire destroyed our home in Oak Ridge in February 2006. We lost everything, including most of Skipper’s personal items. After the fire, Joe agreed to move to Greensboro and purchased a condo near my work. Although non-traditional, our marriage continued. When I wasn’t working, we remained constant companions, even traveling when possible. As time went on, more challenges faced us. In spite of all the efforts, the painful memories and the aftereffects of our past would prove fatal to our relationship. After 37 years of marriage, Joe and I divorced. There are two facts: One, nothing can ever bring Skipper back. Two, I am never going to “get over it.” Is an arrest still important after 21 years, considering these truths? Absolutely. Understand that as his mother, no amount of time will make it less important. No amount of time makes the shooter less guilty. There is no greater sin than taking

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The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Photo courtesy of Page Parker

Page Parker cherishes this photo of her and Skipper, a graduate of Oak Ridge Military Academy. The photo was taken on Mother’s Day 1995, a little more than a year before Skipper’s murder.

greed and violence resulting in daily homicides are causing more and more parents to experience the unthinkable. It’s impossible to comprehend the damage unless you live it.

a life. This murder caused irrevocable pain and suffering, and destroyed a family. As the years go by, the grief doesn’t disappear – it only goes deeper. Joe passed away five years ago. I hope now he has the answers to all of the questions that plagued us for years. Here on earth, I am the mother, the parent left to see this through. We are living in a time of adversity. Horrible things are happening. Hatred,

I hope that you, the reader, never have your child’s cross on the side of the road, and that you never experience burying your child for any reason. I know one thing: there is never anything, at any time or place, or any person or circumstance, that can ever, ever, ever prepare a parent to see their child dead.

salvation, but that requires a sincere confession, a penalty, and a life of remorse. Otherwise, the killer will be eternally separated from God. Skipper’s murder case was reopened some time ago and continues to be under investigation. Justice will be served. With no arrest in 21 years, my survival has depended on this belief. If there is no punishment here on earth for this crime, God’s punishment will be infinitely worse. Meanwhile, I pray for strength, understanding, faith and patience. I somehow make it through another day by putting one foot in front of the other. But, as for my soul? It stays wounded, and it will until I see Skipper again. Each August, I return to the scene of the crime to refurbish the cross. Armed with a fresh can of white spray paint, gloves, colorful flowers and a shovel, I work to make it more visible. To repeat, it is still important to keep talking about it, hoping that someone will come forward with answers.

Forensic technology has made great strides since Skipper Parker’s death in 1996, and Hinson said that, plus the benefit of hindsight were reasons the

...continued on p. 26

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Det. Tony Hinson is a cold case detective in Greensboro Police Department’s homicide unit. In 2007 the department received a cold case grant from the National Institute of Justice, which enabled it to review all of its open homicide cases.

YO sta G Se rting A p i

I know where Skipper is. He is happy, and with the only One who can love him as we did. However, the greatest of sins was committed against the Creator. Skipper belonged to God, and his time on earth was God’s decision. I believe in

A+

EDITOR’S ADDITION: Page Parker visited the Northwest Observer’s office on Aug. 29, the day Skipper would have turned 41 had he lived. She visits Skipper’s grave each year on his birthday, and said she will continue to mourn the loss of her son as long as she lives. She acknowledges finding his killer wouldn’t bring her son back, nor would it erase the pain of losing him. Still, she prays for the day when she and Skipper’s siblings will see justice served and finally close at least one chapter of the story that has haunted them for the last 21 years.

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BITS & PIECES

Cone Health breaks ground on new addition Construction on the 151,000-squarefoot addition to the Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital began Aug. 17. The $100 million project will unite the women’s services at Women’s Hospital with the children’s services at Moses Cone Hospital. The project provides a “clean-slate approach to caring for women and

infants for the next several decades. The new building will offer amenities and ways of providing care not possible in today’s Women’s Hospital,” stated Cone Health’s external communications manager, Doug Allred, in a press release. Additional information about the project can be found at www.conehealth.com/ reinventingcare.

Mental health support group to begin meeting Sept. 13 Statistics indicate 25 percent of people (61.5 million) in our country are touched by a diagnosed mental health

issue, but 30 to 40 percent are being dismissed because it’s misunderstood. People who experience mental

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health issues in their families often don’t know where to turn for help and don’t know how to support their loved one in their desire to recover. After successfully launching the Family Grace ministry last spring, Westover Church, located at 505 Muirs Chapel Road in Greensboro, is excited to continue a support group for families of those dealing with a mental health issue. Family Grace is a faith-based community support group providing comfort for the families of those living with a mental health issue. Together, members of the group will share, learn and navigate the journey of mental health recovery. The group will meet on Wednesday evenings, beginning Sept. 13 at 6:15 pm. Community is the key to supporting families through a mental health diagnosis or crisis, which is why the Family Grace support group is a vital commu-

nity outreach for Westover. The group is curriculum-based and psycho-education and practical tools will be offered by family members or lay leaders within a supportive community. The class covers topics such as the stigma of mental illness, communication with loved ones dealing with mental illness, medication, grieving and grace, cycles and triggers, the importance of community, problem solving, negative and destructive behaviors, boundaries to rebuild, the difference between enabling and empowering, and many other topics. Westover is the first church in North Carolina to implement the Family Grace program, open to anyone who wants to learn how to help their family members, or close friends, who are suffering. For more information or to register for this class, visit www.westoverchurch. com/mentalhealth.

Volunteer adult literacy tutors needed There are currently over 70 adults in Guilford County waiting for literacy instruction. Reading Connections, the largest community-based adult literacy agency in North Carolina, is looking for volunteers who are able to spend two to four hours a week working with adult students on reading, writing, English language, math and technology skills.

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Volunteers do not need a background in teaching. Reading Connections provides a free three-part training which will prepare volunteers to work with native English speakers or English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). The next training will be offered in Greensboro in September.

...continued on p. 26

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 Hike 1,175 Miles in a Day | Hikers and trail lovers are invited to collaborate with hundreds of others across North Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 9, to hike and paddle a “leg” of the 1,175-mile Mountains-to-Sea Trail in one day. Most legs are three to five miles. Hike any time on Sept. 9, alone or with friends and family. More info or to register: www.MSTinaday.org.

 5K Run/2.5K Walk | Register to walk or run in the Inaugural maCares Tribute 5K Run/2.5K Walk on Sept. 9, at Country Park/Jaycee Park in Greensboro, to honor service members and first responders from the past, present and future. Event proceeds will help sponsor additional service dog teams. Teams, strollers and friendly, leashed dogs are welcome. Enjoy the opening tribute ceremony and your choice of a timed 5K run or 2.5K walk, followed by an awards ceremony, a variety of silent auction items, 50/50 raffle, great food and more. More info or register at runsignup.com/Race/NC/ Greensboro/maCares5K.  Explore Historic Oak Ridge | To celebrate both the 20th anniversary of Oak Ridge’s Historic District and the 250th anniversary of the Old Mill of Guilford, the Historic Preservation Commission is planning Explore Historic Oak Ridge, a first-ever event that will give attendees exclusive access to a number of the historic sites in Oak Ridge. On Saturday, Sept. 16, visitors may tour 17 historic sites in the community and hear stories about their founders. Enjoy hay rides, musical performances and a variety of food options from local merchants. Local artists, craftspeople and merchants will also host booths. Tickets are required to tour most event sites. Purchase discounted advance tickets at www.merchantsofoakridge.com/events/.

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 Senior Program & Lunch | Oak Ridge United Methodist Church, 2424 Oak Ridge Road in Oak Ridge, will host a monthly program and lunch for residents age 60 and over on Sept. 6, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. RSVP to Amanda Clark at (336) 373-4816 or ruraloutreach@ senior-resources-guilford.org.

FREE wellness exam for certified service dogs

THURSDAY, SEPT. 7  Town Council Meeting | Oak Ridge Town Council will meet Sept. 7, 7 p.m. at Oak Ridge Town Hall, 8315 Linville Road. More info and agenda: www.oakridgenc.com.

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CRIME / INCIDENT report Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, District 1 has recently responded to the following incidents in northwest Guilford County.

Beware of donation scams The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of scammers soliciting donations for Hurricane Harvey victims. “With the recent hurricane damage in Texas and some parts of Louisiana, it will be a matter of time before the ‘donation scams’ start rolling in,” Sgt. J.S. Eaton recently wrote on nextdoor.com. “This is when scam artists contact you (by phone, mail or email) asking for donations to

help with the relief effort. You’ll know it’s a scam when you’re asked to purchase a Green Dot card or some other brand of pre-paid money card. The scammers might even ask for your credit or debit card information. The best way to donate is for you to initiate contact with the charity organization of your choice (Samaritan’s Purse, Salvation Army, Red Cross, etc.).”

ASSAULT

is charged with possession of heroin, marijuana, Hydrocodone, Carisoprodol (a muscle relaxer) and other unidentified pills. He also had a marijuana grinder and two multi-color glass smoking pipes. Aug. 23 | Deputies arrested a man on drug charges at 5:45 p.m. in the 7500 block of N.C. 68 in Oak Ridge. The known offender, who was found to be in possession of six smoking pipes, was released after being charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Aug. 27 | A Summerfield woman was arrested during a traffic stop at 9:44 p.m. in the 6600 block of Lake Brandt Road in Summerfield after being found to be in possession of .2 ounces of marijuana and a glass smoking pipe. She was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana paraphernalia and failure to complete community service. She was placed in the Guilford County jail under a $1,000 secured bond, her car was impounded and she received a Sept. 26 court date.

Aug. 22 | A suspect was hospitalized on involuntary commitment papers after allegedly assaulting a woman at 10:05 p.m. in a parking lot in the 2200 block of Oak Ridge Road in Oak Ridge.

BURGLARY Aug. 19 | A resident in the 6300 block of U.S. 158 in Summerfield reported his home was unlawfully entered between 10 p.m. Aug. 19 and 4 p.m. Aug. 20. According to the police report, an unknown person entered the home using a key, and once inside, took a box of medications.

DRUGS Aug. 18 | A 54-year-old Browns Summit woman was arrested at 9:43 p.m. during a traffic stop in the 4200 block of Oak Ridge Road in Summerfield after being found in possession of a stolen handgun, an open container of alcohol and about .2 ounces of cocaine; she faces charges of possession of cocaine, possession of a stolen firearm, driving while license revoked and driving with an open container of alcohol in the vehicle. Aug. 22 | A known offender was arrested at 5 p.m. in the 3900 block of Battleground Avenue in Greensboro on multiple narcotics charges. The man

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

FRAUD Aug. 20 | Employees of Domino’s Pizza in Oak Ridge reported an unknown person made multiple fraudulent orders

...continued on p. 26

GRINS and GRIPES Delighted or dismayed by something in your community?

 All those hard workers who were out in the heat and endured unsafe conditions while making a wonderful new stretch of highway!

Share your thoughts in

 Dan and Tyler at Batteries & Bulbs on Battleground Avenue in Greensboro for being so cheerful about not only selling, but installing, my car remote battery and numerous watch batteries. Great attitudes and service, especially for such a small monetary purchase!

40 words or less online: nwobserver.com e-mail: grinsandgripes @nwobserver.com

Grins & Gripes are published based on available space and editor’s discretion.

GRINS to...  The person who wrote the gripe last week about the Grasshoppers not stopping the game (for the eclipse). That was the funniest thing I had read in a long time. Thank you for the laugh.  Andy at the Happy Vaper in Summerfield. Outstanding customer service and great prices, too!  President Trump. The progressive swamp is deep and putrid. Thanks for trying to clean up the massive corruption. Never give in.  Jennifer Mun and staff at Bistro 150 in Oak Ridge on your restaurant’s 10th anniversary. You’ve done a great job of picking up where former owners Randy and Vicki Floss left off, and are a wonderful fit to our community!  Town Manager Scott Whitaker for being so honest and so committed to Summerfield. Keep up the great work!  Northwest High School football team’s performance at last Friday’s first home game and to the Viking marching band’s debut of “The Lost Boy” – a great start to the season! Best of luck to both the football team and marching band.

The area’s premier martial and fine arts instructors, all under one roof Mike Carr Karate

• Noble Ninja Program

Kenpo Karate for children with special needs (ages 5+)

• Adult Cardio Kickboxing (ages 14 - 80)

GRIPES to...

• Kenpo Karate

 The driver of the older model Chevy pickup with the window stickers and single working tail light who passed me at high speed across the double-yellow line on Bunker Hill Road’s blind rise. Chill before you kill.

• Adult Beginner Kenpo Karate

 Target customers who think doing business somewhere entitles them to be rude to the employees. For the record, I’m a third party, and I don’t shop or work at Target.

(ages 3+, beginner to advanced) (ages 12 - 80)

• MMA Fit Class (ages 12 - 80)

• Black Belt Academy and more

Southeast School of Dance • Creative Movement (ages 2½ - 4)

• Ballet / Jazz Foundations (ages 5 -7)

• Ballet / Jazz 1 & 2 (ages 6 -12)

• Hip-Hop

(ages 7-12)

Classes begin Sept. 5

Tumblebees Ultimate Gym

• Beginner & Intermediate Tumbling afternoon classes (ages 4 -12)

Classes filling up quickly! Pre-registration is closed, but you can still register the first day of class!

 Town of Stokesdale leaders. Write a certified letter to owners of nuisance properties and give them a deadline. If they don’t respond, send a final warning. Then pay to clean up the property yourself and put a lien on it.  The reckless driver of a Honda Pilot who demolished my mailbox on Aug. 24 and drove away, leaving me with the expense of replacing it.  The drivers of Subarus who insist on driving through Elmhurst Estates at unreasonably high rates of speed. Your aggressive driving is unsafe, not to mention annoying. Slow down before you hurt someone.

1011-D NC Hwy 150 W, Summerfield • (336) 681-3255

www.northernartsstudio.com

 Mail carriers who smoke in their vehicles while delivering our mail. I have to leave my mail in the garage to air out due to the terrible smoke smell.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

SEPT. 1 - 7, 2017

CRIME/INCIDENTS

...continued from p. 24

online and never picked them up. The orders were placed between 12:02 p.m. Aug. 20 and 12:53 p.m. Aug. 21. The estimated loss was $157. Aug. 23 | A resident of the 4300 block of Vinsanto Way in Summerfield reported being the victim of a fraud after the resident mailed a diamond engagement ring to another person, but did not receive payment for the ring; the loss is estimated at $10,000.

THEFT Aug. 17 | A contractor remodeling the Food Lion in the 4500 block of U.S. 220 North in Summerfield reported the theft of tools from a work trailer. Sometime be-

BITS & PIECES

tween 4:30 p.m. Aug. 17 and 9:30 p.m. Aug. 22, a suspect cut the lock off the 53-foot trailer, which was behind the grocery store, and removed a jackhammer, powder-actuated anchoring gun, grinder, router, impact wrench, demolition saw, band saw, finish nailer, chipper, jig saw, orbital sander, belt sander, television and two cordless drills. The estimated value of the stolen items is $5,340. Aug. 26 | Multiple items including a Bluetooth speaker, Ray-Ban sunglasses and a 24-piece socket set, were taken from an unlocked car in the 7700 block of Notees Lane in Kernersville between 5 and 11:33 a.m. The stolen items were valued at $585.

...continued from p. 22

Orientation: Wednesday, Sept. 6, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Session I: Thursday, Sept. 7, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Session II: Tuesday, Sept. 12, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. All sessions will be held in Greensboro at the Self Help Building located at 122 N. Elm St. on the 8th floor. Parking can be found in the Davie Street Parking Deck on Davie Street, between Market Street and Friendly Avenue.

The training will include an introduction to the agency, requirements for becoming a tutor or instructor, the four components of reading, working with different learning styles, lesson planning and much more. Once volunteers are trained, they will be eligible to work with one or more students. Volunteer opportunities are available in Greensboro and High Point. To register for training or for more information, call (336) 230-2223 or email info@readingconnections.org.

SKIPPER PARKER

...continued from p. 19

homicide unit decided to renew its focus on Skipper’s homicide case. After more closely examining the case, Hinson began interviewing people who might have some knowledge of the circumstances leading up to or surrounding Skipper’s murder. “I have traveled to Florida, Massachusetts and Texas in the past 10 years, interviewing people who were initially interviewed or who had yet to be interviewed,” Hinson said. “We’ve gotten several leads regarding a potential motive.” The case has also been listed on the GPD’s Cold Case Homicides webpage and on the Crime Stoppers webpage; from that, Hinson said his department has received six or seven tips. As for hindsight, “It is much easier to look backwards than for an original investigator to look forward,” Hinson said. “The original motive appeared to be road rage, where maybe the victim and the suspect got into some type of altercation. But given the location and time that it occurred (about 3:30 a.m.), we thought it might have been something specific with the victim… going that route has definitely opened up several avenues.” As he continues to piece together circumstantial evidence and combine it with advanced forensic technology, Hinson holds out hope that he will eventually see Skipper’s homicide case tried in court.

Skipper Parker’s case is one of 96 unsolved homicide cases the GPD’s homicide unit is actively working on, with the oldest case dating back to 1969. The GPD says on its website that bringing some small degree of peace to the victim’s family and holding offenders accountable for their acts are the reasons why it never closes an unsolved homicide case.

can you help?

Det. Hinson asks anyone who knew Skipper and was either not interviewed after his murder or might have a recollection that could help shed some light on it to contact him at (336) 574-4004. “What I am looking for is any and all friends and associates of Skipper Parker who may not have been interviewed back then,” Hinson said. “If they feel they may have any related information – the more people who can call or provide any input, the better.” Anyone with specific information about Skipper’s murder is asked to call Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at (336) 373-1000 and reference his case. “Frequently, these cases are solved because someone had the courage to come forward and provide a vital piece of evidence that was previously unknown to authorities. That one piece of evidence could be the missing piece needed to bring justice and closure to a grieving family,” reads the GPD’s website page that lists all open homicide cases.

Vacation? Can we come? You don’t have to leave the NWO behind! Read it online at nwobserver.com

SEPT. 1 - 7, 2017

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Place online at

EMPLOYMENT

SAVE THE DATE

P/T BUILDING MAINTENANCE, Saturday and Sunday evenings, 4-10pm, for Greensboro church. Perform a variety of maintenance duties including: securing the church at night, cleaning restrooms and other areas as needed, changing table and chair setups, respond to needs of church members and staff, etc. Must have a servant attitude and ability to work with a variety of people. About 12 hrs/wk. Send resumes to: employment@lawndalebaptist.org.

Encore Kids Consignment FALL/WINTER PREMIERE WEEKEND, Fri., Sat. & Sun., September 1-3, 305 W. Mountain Street, Kernersville, (336) 993-3444. Bring this ad in during weekend premiere & receive $10 off your purchase of $100 or more.

BELEWS CREEK CONSTRUCTION seeks a skilled carpenter with experience in remodeling. Transportation/DL a must. Pay commensurate w/skill set. (336) 362-6343.

DEADLINE: Monday prior to each issue

NEED HELP? Call (336) 644-7035 ext. 10 Mon - Fri • 9am -2pm

INDEX Employment ............................... 27 Home Care Available .................. 27 Save the Date ............................ 27 Yard/Garage Sale ....................... 27

TOWN CLERK (F/T), Town of Summerfield; complete info & requirements can be found at www.summerfieldgov.com. AUTO TECHNICIAN POSITION Great pay and opportunity for motivated and qualified automotive technician. Minimum three years experience required. Diagnostic skills a must. Alignment experience would be a plus. Apply in person only – no phone calls please. M&M Tire & Auto, Inc., 5570 Spotswood Circle, Summerfield. OPERATION XCEL, a local after-school tutoring program, is hiring 2 part-time tutors, 1 part time tutor assistant, and 1 part-time math specialist (elementary). For complete job descriptions, please visit guilfordnonprofits.org/jobs and search Operation Xcel or email jobs@operationxcel.org.

Home Services ....................... 27-29 Misc. Services.............................. 29

HOME CARE AVAILABLE

Misc. for Sale ............................. 29

TWO KIND, LOVING CAREGIVERS are now available for F/T or P/T position. Ref References avail. Call Gerri, (336) 690-3999, or Carolyn, (336) 441-2315.

Misc. Wanted ........................ 29-30 Pets & Animal Services ................ 30 Real Estate ................................. 30

CNA AVAILABLE FOR HOME CARE, 17 years exp. References. (336) 456-9377.

SAVE THE DATE

Something

Tell northwest Guilford County

KIDS CONSIGNMENT SALE, Fri., Sept. 8, 9am-8pm; Saturday, Sept. 9, 8am-1pm (some items 50% off on Sat.), St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 2715 Horse Pen Creek Road, GSO. www.stpaulskidssale.com. You’re invited to hear TIFFANY COBURN in concert, Sunday, September 10, Liberty Wesleyan Church, Summerfield. Tiffany has toured with Sandi Patty, TRUTH, The Continentals, and Day of Discovery Singers. She resides in Orlando, Florida, sings with Disney’s “Voices of Liberty” at Epcot Center and the a capella group “Voctave.” She’s performed with the Boston Pops, the Orlando and Charlotte Philharmonic orchestras. She has performed as a soloist at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and has four solo albums. For more information, call the church office at (336) 643-6968, or (336) 643-4176.

Something going on? Reach over 25,000 readers right here! LADIES NIGHT OUT, Thursday, Sept. 14, 6pm-9pm, Golden Antiques & Treasures, 341 Ram Loop, Stokesdale. Food, jewelry, vintage, art, skin care, raffles, handbags, and much more! EXPLORE HISTORIC OAK RIDGE, Sat., Sept. 16, from 12n-7:30pm, a celebration of Oak Ridge’s historic heritage. Enjoy self-guided tours of over 15 sites, plus merchants’ booths, food, fun, and live music. Discounted advance tickets available now at merchantsofoakridge.com. VINTAGE MARKET DAYS, September 22-24, Summerfield Farms, 3203 Pleasant Ridge Road. See display ad on page 3 for all the details.

going on

Place your Save the Date online at

LOCAL ARTIST MARKET, Sat., October 7, from 10am-6pm, Golden Antiques & Treasures, 341 Ram Loop, Stokesdale. We are looking for artists and craftspeople who design and create quality products including, but not limited to, home and garden décor, metal work, mixed-media, pottery, jewelry, etc. Application deadline is September 9; call (336) 949-4958. This is an outside, juried event with a rain date of Sunday, Oct. 8, 12n-6pm.

YARD/GARAGE SALE COMMUNITY YARD SALE, Saturday, Sept. 9, 7am, Golden Antiques & Treasures. Vendor space available for $10; bring your own table. Register by Friday, Sept. 8, by stopping by the store, 341 Ram Loop, Stokesdale, or call (336) 949-4958.

HOME SERVICES CLEANING CARPET CLEANING. We clean the dirt out of your carpet, not the money out of your pockets! Member BBB. Call David, The Cleaning Solutions, (336) 989-4318, or visit thecleaningsolutions.org. HOME CLEANING. Afford. rates, ref. avail., 10 years exp. Elizabeth, (336) 453-8592. ANA’S HOUSECLEANING. Good references, free est., 25 years exp. (336) 309-0747.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

...continued on p. 28

SEPT. 1 - 7, 2017

HOME SERVICES

CastleWorks WINDOW CLEANING Includes gutters, pressure washing, chandeliers and other high ladder work. Fully insured and bonded, free estimates. (336) 609-0677. www.castleworkswindowcleaning.com.

GARY’S HANDYMAN HOME SERVICES “Providing value for the home-ownership experience.” Gary Gellert, serving NC’s Piedmont Triad area. Garygellert@gmail.com, (336) 423-8223.

ANTHONY’S GRADING & HAULING Excavating, land clearing, demolition, dirt available. Zane Anthony, (336) 362-4035.

DELIMA LAWNCARE. Licensed and in-

MAID-2-SHINE. Excellent service, 15 years exp. Free estimates., excellent references. (336) 338-0223. THE CLEANING TECHNICIAN INC. Schedule your detailed cleaning now! Licensed & insured. Call for your free quote! Lisa, (336) 207-0770. CRYSTAL CLEAR WINDOW CLEANING, gutter cleaning, pressure washing. Fully ins. windowcleaningnc.com. (336) 595-2873. $25 OFF CLEANING SPECIAL Maids of Honor. Bonded staff. 40 years in service. Call (336) 708-2407. ANA’S HOUSECLEANING. Good references, free est., 25 years exp. (336) 309-0747.

DECORATING EXPERIENCED INTERIOR DECORATOR & personal furniture shopper will help you with style, color, shopping & furniture placement. E-mail appeninc@gmail.com or call Ann Appenzeller, (336) 314-1411.

ELECTRICAL BALEX ELECTRICAL COMPANY, LLC Residential, commercial & solar electrical services. (336) 298-4192.

OLD SCHOOL HOME REPAIR/ IMPROVEMENT

“No Job Too Small”

Jerry & Lisa Potkay, Owners • Oak Ridge, NC

(336) 669-7252

Accredited A+ Rating, oldschoolsjhr@triad.rr.com BBB of Central NC Home Repairs & Improvements • Painting Wood Rot Repairs • Bathroom Remodeling Decks and much more! • Insured

L & T SMALL ENGINE SERVICE LLP “We get you mowing!” Free pickup and delivery. 2103 Oak Ridge Road, Oak Ridge. (336) 298-4314. GREENERTIMES SMALL ENGINE Sales & Service Center. All types sold and repaired; comm/res. 9428 NC Hwy. 65, Stokesdale. (336) 548-9286 or (336) 312-3844. APPLIANCE REPAIR – Call Mr. Appliance. A step above the rest! (336) 609-5707.

Decks | Sun & Screened Porches Roofing | Windows | Gutters REPAIRS | RENOVATIONS (336) 643-0531 haleyhahn.com

FLOORING It’s A CARPET thing! Repairs, restretch, replace. (336) 643-6500.

Licensed & insured

GENERAL REPAIR & SERVICES

GRADING / HAULING

SMALL ENGINE & MOWER REPAIR. Any type mower, weld and repair mower decks. Free pickup and delivery. Call or text Morris, (336) 880-7498 or Rick, (336) 501-8681.

GAULDIN TRUCKING, grading & hauling, bobcat work, lot clearing, driveways, fill dirt, gravel, etc. (336) 362-1150.

EXTRA HANDS 4 U Handy Man Serivce Call or text (336) 501-8681.

SEPT. 1 - 7, 2017

E&W HAULING & GRADING INC. Driveways, fill dirt, topsoil, lot clearing, bobcat work, excavating, mulch, etc. (336) 451-1282.

PEARMAN QUARRY HAULING Fill dirt, gravel, sand rock, mulch & more. Joel Richardson, (336) 803-2195. BRAD’S BOBCAT & HAULING SVCS. LLC Debris removal, grading, gravel/dirt, driveways, concrete work. (336) 362-3647. LDL GRADING & HAULING Insured and licensed. Site grading, driveway gravel, driveway construction, waterproofing. 20 years experience, competitive pricing! (336) 362-6181.

LAWN CARE / LANDSCAPING TRACTOR FOR HIRE – Bush hogging, grading, brush/tree removal. (336) 207-6632. ARBOR MASTERS TREE SERVICE Total tree removal, storm damage cleanup, shrub and tree pruning. Bobcat work and more. Free estimates. Licensed & insured. Call Joe at (336) 643-9157.

sured. Free estimates. (336) 669-5210. WILSON LANDSCAPING, INC. Complete lawn care & landscaping. NC lic. irrigation contractor. 20 years exp. Hardscaping, fertilization & weed control. (336) 399-7764. AREA STUMP DUMP. Yard waste, concrete, etc. Fill dirt avail. (336) 602-5820. BRAD’S BOBCAT.

Mulch, landscaping,

pine needles and straw. (336) 362-3647.

Shouldn’t your business be here? To learn about advertising in the NWO, call (336) 644-7035, ext. 10. CAROLINA STUMP & TREE SERVICE Complete tree service, $1 million liability, workman’s comp. Rick & Judy, (336) 6439332, carolinaStumpAndTreeServices.com. ALL-SEASON STUMP GRINDING. Owner Alan Winfree. Free est. Call (336) 382-9875. COLFAX LAWNCARE Complete lawn care maintenance. Fertiliz-

ORTIZ LANDSCAPING, complete lawn care. Trimming, cleaning, planting & mulch, gutter cleaning, patios & pavers, waterfalls, retaining walls, sidewalks, stonework. Residential and commercial. (336) 280-8981.

ing, mowing, trimming, pine needles. Res./

GUZMAN LANDSCAPE & MAINTENANCE Pine needles, mulch, leaf removal, tree pruning, complete lawn maint. (336) 655-6490.

est. Lic./Ins. 30 yrs. exp. Bucket truck/chipper,

CUTTING EDGE LAWNCARE. Affordable. Dependable. Mowing, aeration, leaf removal and more! Please call anytime for free estimate, (336) 706-0103. AQUA SYSTEMS IRRIGATION. Quality irrigation systems. NC licensed contractor. We service all systems. Free estimates. (336) 644-1174. FAY’S LAWNCARE & LANDSCAPING Spring lawn care & general yard clean up. Pine needles and mulch. Reasonable and honest. Call Taylor, (336) 458-6491.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

comm., HOA & annual agreements. Fully insured. Serving the Triad for 28 years. (336) 362-5860. STEVE NEWMAN TREE SERVICE. Free total cleanup. Selective thinning & lot clearing. 24-hr. ER svc. OR, NC. (336) 643-1119.

MASONRY SOUTHERN STYLE concrete & landscapes. How about a new patio or fire pit? We can help with all of your outdoor living and entertainment spaces! Fire pits, driveways & sidewalks, patios and more! Give us a call at (336) 399-6619 for all your concrete and landscape needs. MASONRY CONCEPTS, brick, block, stone, concrete & repairs. Free estimates. (336) 988-1022, www.masonryconceptsgso.com.

HOME SERVICES

Fireplaces and firepits

8605 Triad Dr, Colfax (336) 996-4918 marshallstone.com

HOME SERVICES

MISC. SERVICES

CARLOS & SON PAINTING, interior & exterior. Free est., lic/ins. (336) 669-5210.

BELEWS CREEK CONSTRUCTION Kitchens/baths, custom decks, garages, siding, dock work, windows, roofing, rotted wood. Sr. disc., 38 years exp. (336) 362-6343.

ACT/SAT PREP CLASS at NWHS, runs Sept. 5-Oct. 5. Limited space avail. More info and registration: www.nwhsptso.org.

CINDY’S PAINTING – Interior painting, wallpaper removal. References & free estimates available. (336) 708-9155.

BEK Paint Co. Residential & Commercial David & Judy Long, owners

Outdoor kitchens

(336) 931-0600

BEKPaintCompany.com • References Available • Licensed & Insured • All Work Guaranteed

8605 Triad Dr, Colfax (336) 996-4918 marshallstone.com

MISC. SERVICES & PRODUCTS GRILLS, FIRE PITS, tankless water heaters. General home repairs. Call Don Hill, (336) 643-7183.

PLUMBING BRANSON PLUMBING & SOLAR No job too small! Experienced, guaranteed. Lic. & insured. Call Mark, (336) 337-7924. WEBSTER & SONS PLUMBING, Inc. (336) 992-2503. Licensed, insured, bonded. 24/7 service. Plumbing, drain cleaning, well pumps. Give us a call, we do it all! Go to www.webstersplumbing.com for more info.

PRESSURE WASHING PRESSURE WASHING, gutter & window cleaning. Fully insured. Crystal Clear, www. windowcleaningnc.com. (336) 595-2873.

336/404-1471 www.fmtriad.com

CUTTING EDGE PRESSURE WASHING Affordable. Dependable. Please call anytime for free estimate, (336) 706-0103.

RENOVATION WORKS, INC. New construction, remodeling, additions, kitchen, bath and decks. We are a locally owned, full-service design and build company, A+ accredited with the BBB. Visit www.myrenovationworks.com or call (336) 427-7391 to start your next project. PREMIER CONSTRUCTION. Providing all of your home maintenance needs, remodeling and new construction. (336) 430-9507.

ROOFING

LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED

Gated access with 24/7 camera surveillance We carry moving & shipping supplies

(336) 643-9963 • 8207 B & G Court, Stokesdale

PREMIER ROOFING CONSTRUCTION Insurance specialist, free inspections, res./ comm., BBB A rating. (336) 430-9507.

MISC. FOR SALE

A.L. CORMAN ROOFING INC. Res. roofing specialist serving Guilford Cty. area since 1983. BBB 25+ years w/ A+ rating. cormanroofinginc.com, (336) 621-6962.

ANTIQUES, ANTIQUES, ANTIQUES! Buildings and a house full – everyone says it’s a museum! Items from 1800’s-2000. Everyone welcome! Peggy, (336) 339-3556.

CLINARD & SON ROOFING, LLC Residential roofing, rubber flat roofs, roof coating, metal roofs. 30 years experience. Now accepting all major credit cards. Call (336) 643-8191 or (336) 580-3245.

MOVING SALE. Vision folding tread mill, Model T9450, $150. Schwinn recumbent exercise bike, like new, $200. Vacuum cleaner, Miele S5001, $200. Frigidaire window air conditioner unit, 10,000 BTU, 115 volts, $50. Round glass table top, 48”, $35. Stokesdale. Call (336) 420-0119.

RED RHINO ROOFING, based in Oak Ridge, NC. Storm damage specialist experienced with all types of roofing. BBB accredited A and listed with Angie’s List. Call (336) 9446118, or visit redrhinoroofing.com.

MISC. SERVICES

REMODELING / CONSTRUCTION

PIANO LESSONS, all ages and levels, Summerfield area. Patti, (336) 298-4181.

PAINTING – INTERIOR & EXTERIOR 32 yrs. exp. Sheetrock repair. No job too small. Insured. Brad Rogers, (336) 314-3186.

ORTIZ REMODELING – Total restoration & home improvement. Drywall, painting, kitchen cabinets, interior trim & more. Free estimates. (336) 280-8981.

COMPUTER REPAIRS – ITBASICS.COM Inside Mailboxes & More, Oak Ridge Commons. (336) 643-0068.

STILL PERFECTION PAINTING Reliable, skilled, affordable. Painting, pressure washing, handyman services. Scott Still, (336) 462-3683, stillperfectionpainting.com.

JLB REMODELING, INC. Remodeling and additions. Fully insured. NC GC license #69997. Free est. Call (336) 681-2902 or visit www.jlbremodeling.com.

PAINTING & DRYWALL

ERIE INSURANCE – IN KERNERSVILLE Long Insurance Services, (336) 992-5664.

PIANO & BEGINNING BAND lessons. Northwest Guilford area. (336) 993-3190. SAM’S AUTO BODY SHOP. Any type of body work. 45 years exp. (336) 347-7470.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

CRAFTSMAN DRILL PRESS and radial arm saw. Extra carbide blade for saw. $150 each. (336) 420-1360. FRESH PRODUCE. Knight’s Produce, 14809 Highway 158, Summerfield. Call (336) 708-0485.

MISC. WANTED RESPONSIBLE ADULT BOW HUNTER seeks farm / woods to bow hunt deer. Call Chris, (336) 601-4564. $$$ – WILL PAY CASH up to $200 for your junk or wrecked vehicle. (336) 552-0328.

...continued on p. 30

SEPT. 1 - 7, 2017

MISC. WANTED

REAL ESTATE

FREE PICK-UP of unwanted riding & push mowers, any and all gas items, tillers, gocarts & golf carts, ATVs, generators, power washers, chain saws. Also tools, bikes, metal toys, brass, copper, aluminum, batteries, electrical wire, etc. (336) 689-4167.

LAND FOR SALE

HOMES FOR SALE

CLASSIC CARS WANTED! Sport Auto in Summerfield will buy your classic car. Contact Steve, (336) 643-9595. FABRIC NEEDED for Sew to Sow Ministry to make dresses for girls in Kenya. Cotton fabrics work best, any amount. Also need gently used, usable sewing machines, buttons, ribbon, lace trimming, elastic and thread. Call Beth, (336) 644-8155.

23+ ACRES, STONEVILLE, NC, Grogan Road, within minutes of Lowes and Walmart. Up-and-coming growing area, hunting stand, feeders, well, pond, stream running along property, large 30’x50’ storage building. Hunting retreat with A/C, mini kitchen, sleeping area, open fields, wooded areas, last perked in 2014. Showings by appointment only. Cash or pre-qualified buyers only. $199K. Call (561) 704-6179.

The Northwest Observer 13,300 copies printed every week! Direct-mailed to every mailbox with an Oak Ridge, Summerfield and

PETS & ANIMAL SVCS.

Stokesdale zip code, and available for pick-up at 70+ area businesses.

PET SITTING / BOARDING

Ready for a new family member? See our Pets & Critters section in this issue for animals in need of adoption.

One-of-a-kind home on 2.26 acres in Summerfield. Just reduced to $425,000 – sellers will consider a lease-purchase as well. Over 3,900 square feet with 4 large bedrooms and 3.5 baths. Popular Elmhurst Estates.

Affordable building lots in Northern schools! Level, acre-plus lots available now for your dream home in this desirable school district. $54,000 - $59,900; 1.2-3.0 acres. Ready to go.

Nancy J. Hess

nancy.hess@bhhsyostandlittle.com (336) 215-1820

Nancy J. Hess

nancy.hess@bhhsyostandlittle.com (336) 215-1820

Call (336) 644-7035 or email advertising@nwobserver.com for information.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES It’s a good time to buy or sell. Call me for a free consultation!

REAL ESTATE

Gil Vaughan

HOMES FOR RENT STOKESDALE MOBILE HOME, 2BR, 2BA, private lot, storage building & carport. No pets. $650/mo. (336) 338-2536. STOKESDALE DUPLEX, 2BR, 1BA, near Food Lion. $700/mo., $700 dep. No pets. (336) 706-1887. OAK RIDGE, 3BR, 2BA, office/den, deck, large yard. (336) 644-8710 or 708-0522.

Realtor ®/Broker

(336) 337-4780 JustCallGil.com

We Help Everyone! SELLERS & BUYERS

HOME FOR SALE THREE BEDROOM CONDO on Belews Lake. Includes 2 boat lifts and 2 jet ski lifts. Please call (336) 254-3084.

SEPT. 1 - 7, 2017

BUILD YOUR DREAM HOUSE!

Want to reach our 25,000+ readers?

Professional in-your-home PET SITTING. Insured & bonded. Member Pet Sitters International. Openings currently available for Oak Ridge only. Call (336) 706-6706, email kpsforyourpets@gmail.com, www.facebook. com/kpspets, or @kpspets on Instagram.

SERENITY IN THE WOODS

(336) 643-4248

www.ANewDawnRealty.com

123 Dream Lane Welcome to Drummond Estates! Ask about an $8,000 incentive for this one-story home with sunroom and stunning kitchen featuring stainless steel appliances. Minutes from Oak Ridge!

Real estate showcase ads in the NWO get noticed! Include a photo and description of your listing, Realtor photo, logo and contact info – all for only $75!

Ramilya Siegel CRS, GRI, SRES, Chairman’s Circle Award ( 336 ) 215.9856

ramilya.siegel@atcmail.com www.allentate.com/RamilyaSiegel

Place your real estate showcase today (336) 644-7035, ext. 10 advertising@nwobserver.com

Want to be a part of our next NWO Real Estate section? Reserve your ad space today (336) 644-7035, ext. 10 advertising@nwobserver.com

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

index of DISPLAY ADVERTISERS

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AUTOMOTIVE SALES & SERVICE Foreign Cars Italia ..............................15 Piedmont Truck Tires, Inc. ....................5 Prestige Car Wash ..............................16

CHILDREN’S SERVICES Guardian Ad Litem .............................18

CHURCHES

ARTS / DANCE / KARATE Northern Arts Studio ..........................25

Fall

REAL ESTATE

MEDICAL, PT, EYE CARE

ORTHODONTIC CARE

HAIR CARE

Carlotta Lytton, CPA, PA ....................23 Samuel Anders, CPA, MSA, PC ...........23

Attorney Bill Barbour ............................3 Law Office of Susan Greeson ...............9

HEALTH & FITNESS

Explore Historic Oak Ridge.................. 11 Vintage Market Days of Greensboro .....3

SNAP Fitness ......................................19

Olmsted Orthodontics ........................17

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES

PET SERVICES & PRODUCTS

BEK Paint Company ............................29 Carpets by Direct ................................24 ................................ Furniture Medic ..................................29 .................................. Haley Hahn Home Solutions ..............28 ..............

PHOTOGRAPHY

LEGAL SERVICES

Great Clips .........................................16

Oak Ridge United Methodist Church ..18

King’s Crossing Animal Hospital .........23 Northwest Animal Hospital ...................9 Veterinary Hospital of Oak Ridge.........23 Westergaard Kennels ............................9

Lifetouch ............................................12 Strawbridge Studios ............................10

Carolina Priority Care ..........................14 Dove Medical Supply .................... 20-21 LeBauer Healthcare .............................2 Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 22 Novant – Forsyth Pediatrics ................16 Novant – Northwest Family Medicine ...4 Oak Ridge Physical Therapy ...............17 Summerfield Family Eye Care .............23 Vision Source Eye Center ....................17

EVENTS

ACCOUNTING

Marshall Stone ...................................29 New Garden Select ............................26 Old School Home Repair ....................28 ProStone..............................................19 Stokesdale Heating & Air.....................22 Stokesdale Storage .............................29

A New Dawn Realty ............................30 Gil Vaughan, Keller Williams ...............30 Nancy Hess, Berkshire Hathaway .......30 Ramilya Siegel, Allen Tate ..................30 Tanya Hill, Realty One ........................23

RESTUARANTS Bistro 150 / The Oak Ridge Room ......16 Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant .........17

RETAIL Bi-Rite Galaxy Supermarket ...........Insert Colfax Furniture & Mattress ..................6 David Cole Pottery ................................6 Midtown Furniture .........................Insert Priba Furniture & Interiors ...................32

Bel-Aire Veterinary Hospital ..................8 Critter Company ...................................8

2017 edition

Coming Sept. 29 At Home features homegrown stories about everything from maintaining and improving your home to housing trends, history and humor of life in northwest Guilford County

Reserve your ad space today! advertising@nwobserver.com (336) 644-7035, ext. 10

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

SEPT. 1 - 7, 2017

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

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Oak Ridge, NC Permit No. 22 ECRWSS

LABOR DAY SALE SEPTEMBER 1-30 TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EARLY FALL SAVINGS IN THIS SPECIAL DISCOUNT EVENT

MOST MAJOR BRANDS FEATURED DURING THIS SALE Best deals of the year on leather furniture including Elran Furniture and Luxury Motion by Bradington Young

Additional discounts on all floor merchandise pribafurniture.com | 210 Stage Coach Trail, Greensboro | (336) 855-9034 | M - F 9 am - 6 pm, Sat 9 am - 5 pm