Nov. 1 - 7, 2013
bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996 • nwobserver.com •
Barber ‘on vacation’ after 31 years Vern Harden says goodbye his way by PATTI STOKES OAK RIDGE – Vern Harden doesn’t like goodbyes. That’s why on Oct. 22 this soft-spoken man of 75 who has endeared himself to so many in the northwest community quietly headed to his car for the 45-minute drive to his home in Liberty – just as he had done
He wanted no fanfare or prolonged goodbyes – he says all of that would have just been too emotional for him.
for the past 31 years. On this day, however, Harden’s heart was much heavier than usual. He had just posted a sign on the door of the barber shop he had occupied at the Oak Ridge Military Academy, thanking his patrons for “participating in his barber service.”
Harden was hired by the late Buster Linville in 1982 to cut the hair of the academy’s cadets. He took over from the previous Vern Harden
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Mayor looks back on 22 years of service Randy Jones will preside over his last town council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 19 by ANNETTE JOYCE STOKESDALE – Randy Jones joined the Stokesdale Town Council on Nov. 5, 1991. It’s now 22 years later, Randy Jones and Jones will step down as mayor on that same day, Nov. 5. A private practice attorney, Jones was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine last December from Gov. Pat McCrory. One of the highest honors the governor can bestow on a North Carolina citizen, this award was given in recognition of Jones’ impressive 30 years of public service.
IN THIS ISSUE News in brief................................3 Your Questions ............................4 Pets & Critters ..............................9 Student Profiles ......................... 15 Crime/Incident Report ............. 18 Community Calendar..............20 Bits & Pieces ..............................22 Letters/Opinions ......................22 Grins & Gripes ...........................25 Classifieds ................................. 27 Index of Advertisers ................. 31 Turn your clocks back one hour this Sunday, Nov. 3 at 2 a.m. Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 5. See p. 3 for how to access our 2013 Election Guide.
A native of the northwest area, Jones started his career in Guilford County law enforcement as a jailer; after numerous promotions, he left the department as a lieutenant. Over the years he served as assistant public defender and assistant prosecutor. And during this time he has also spent 22 years on the Stokesdale Town Council, 18 of those as mayor. Jones’ decision to run for town council was originally prompted by the murder of a member of his church on the town’s main street. With his law enforcement background, he was extremely concerned with the high rate of crime in what should
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Photo by Laura Pullins/NWO
Northern Guilford High School’s mens and womens basketball players teamed up with the 2013 Special Olympics team on Oct. 23 in its annual “fun”draising game for Special Olympics of Greensboro. The Nighthawk’s gymnasium was filled with over 300 people who came out in support; over $400 was raised from the event and donated to Special Olympics. See photo gallery from the Oct. 23 game at facebook.com/northwestobserver.