Sept. 5 - 11, 2014
bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996 www.nwobserver.com
Girl Scout project brings attention to dog tethering On Sept. 10, a donation night will be held at Rio Grande in Oak Ridge to collect dog items for care packages by SHARON NEELY NW GUILFORD COUNTY – For some well-meaning canine owners, chaining a dog is a way to keep it close to home and away from harm when containing it in a fence is not an affordable option. Unfortunately, many chained dogs are left unattended for long periods of time with little opportunity for exercise, play, shelter from severe weather or contact with humans.
Photo courtesy of Unchain Guilford
A team of Unchain Guilford volunteers built their first fence in July for a Guilford County family and their dog, Thor. Project Bark also provided a dog house for Thor.
In November 2013, Guilford County Board of Commissioners approved an animal ordinance that prohibits unattended tethering of dogs. The ordinance defines unattended tethering as “restraining a dog with a chain, cable, wire or other devise to a tree, post or similar object without its owner present while the dog is tethered/chained.” The animal ordinance went into effect in March, and Guilford County residents have until March 2015 to become compliant. The county is using the interim period for community outreach and education, during which time no citations are being issued. In response to the new animal ordi-
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That’s a lot of dirt! Dirt is being brought in to fill holes on property, but developer said it will be a while before construction gets underway by PATTI STOKES SUMMERFIELD – Bulldozers moving gigantic mounds of dirt are getting a lot of attention from passersby, who are curious about what’s going on at the 80-acre site bordering Deboe Road and N.C. 150. About 45 acres bordering N.C. 150 was zoned for commercial use in 2005 but never developed. An adjoining 34acre tract bordering Deboe Road was zoned for commercial use last October; together, the approximate 80-acre site will be developed for a shopping center by Summerfield resident and developer David Couch of Blue Ridge Companies. At the rezoning hearing last October, Couch described the future shopping center as one that would be “walkable” and have a “village-style” design. Attracting a high-end grocery store to the shopping center is the No. 1 priority, said Couch, and bringing in medical care facilities is the next priority for addressing the needs and wants of Summerfield residents and it neighbors.
Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO
Of the recent activity at the site, Couch said the property is “one big hole,” and 75,000 yards of dirt are being brought in to fill it. “We needed dirt, and we’re taking advantage of a contractor who had dirt and needed a place to put it,” said Couch, who added that dirt is an expensive commodity right now. “We’re doing it (filling in the holes) in a legal fashion,” Couch pointed out. “40,000 square feet at a time.” Regarding the status of the shopping center, Couch said it will be a while
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IN THIS ISSUE News in brief ............................... 2 Your Questions............................ 4 Pets & Critters ............................. 7 Crazy about birds ...................... 8 Brandy the therapy horse ......... 9 High School Sports ....................10 Business Notes ........................... 11 Bits & Pieces ............................... 11 Community Calendar ..............14 Crime/Incident Report .............15 Grins & Gripes ............................17 Classifieds ..................................19 Index of Advertisers ..................23