YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1978 w w w. j a m e s t o w n n e w s . c o m
WEEkLy EdITION
JULY 22-28, 2020 Vol 42 No 30 | 1 Section | 6 Pages
Roney girls follow mother’s footsteps By CAROL BROOkS FreeLANCe WrIter cab1hp@gmail.com It’s a good bet that before Elaina and Hanna Roney graduated from college – in 2019 and 2020 respectively – they already knew what they wanted to do with their lives. After interning several years with their mother, attorney Georgia Nixon, the logical step for the girls was to go into law. And they picked their mother’s alma mater, Campbell Law School, to follow in her footsteps. Elaina, 23, a graduate of the University of Tennessee, worked with her mother and in her grandparents’ restaurant for a year, waiting for Hannah, 22, to graduate
from the University of South Carolina. Both were political science majors and that background helped them get into several law schools, but they chose Campbell. “It made sense,” Hannah said. “It’s a very good school and I wanted to stay in North Carolina.” “It was always where I wanted to go,” Elaina said. “It’s a great school,” said Nixon of her alma mater. Nixon graduated from Campbell in 1990 but attended in Buies Creek, N.C. The law school moved to Raleigh in 2009. “I’m super excited they’re going together,” Nixon said, “and to my alma mater.” Both girls admit their mother’s profession definitely influenced their
decision to study law. “We grew up knowing it,” Elaina said. “It’s always been in the back of my mind.” Hannah went into college undecided then found she liked government and history. “Going to court with [Mom] was always interesting,” Hannah added. “It was interesting to hear her cases. “I don’t necessarily want to do the same type of law, but it was a huge push in that direction. There are so many kinds that I haven’t even seen. I’m excited to explore all opportunities.” Elaina also is excited to learn all the different kinds of law from which to choose. PHOTO by Carol Brooks The girls say Nixon did georgia Nixon, a longtime councilmember in Jamestown, and daughters Hannah and Elaina Roney. The girls will attend their mother’s alma mater, Campbell SEE RONEy, PAGe 2 University School of Law, in the fall.
Wyndham returns Colt Baseball participants next month receive Bill White Scholarships without spectators By NORMA B. dENNIS FreeLANCe WrIter ndworddesign@gmail.com
The Wyndham Championship returns to Sedgefield Country Club Aug. 13-16. Spectators, however, will not be returning. The PGA tour made the decision July 12 and the ban on spectators includes the remaining PGA and FedEx Cup playoff season. Players are used to having fans cheering them on and those surrounding the greens will indicate how well the approach shot did.
The golfers say all the energy on the course helps. On the other hand, these days there are no distractions from fans yelling “you da man” or “in the hole” SEE WyNdHAM, PAGe 5
Comp Plan committee has to work around virus barriers By CAROL BROOkS FreeLANCe WrIter cab1hp@gmail.com In a few weeks, drivers through some neighborhoods will see representatives of the U.S. Census knocking on select doors in town of people who had not filled out their census information. Additionally, a different group of representatives might be seen canvassing perhaps the entire town of Jamestown to receive input on the upcoming revision to the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee has met virtually several times during the COVID-19 quarantine, most recently on June 22 and July 6. The group, which included town staff and Vagn Hansen from Benchmark Planning, wrestled with how to best get the community – town and extra-territorial jurisdiction residents – involved in the document which will act as a guide for land use, development, capital investments and growth management decisions for the next decade and beyond. Meetings in May and June were canceled due to state
mandates that only 10 people could be in a meeting room at a time. The July or August meeting will probably also be canceled. At the June 22 meeting, the committee members discussed having community meetings within neighborhoods or developments, like Forestdale North, Whittington Hall, etc. However, they decided weather, scheduling and need to RSVP to such a meeting would be hard to accomplish. “We may do the plan without public engagement, but we don’t want to,” Hansen said. Several committee members suggested the Town delay the update until people can again meet in large groups. “We need to get results, not rush it,” said committee member Cory Rayborn. “We don’t want to get an inferior product,” said Martha Wolfe, a committee member and also a member of the Town Council. She suggested scheduling meetings for September or October, providing the virus scare is over. Matthew Johnson, Jamestown planning director, said SEE PLAN, PAGe 5
Four decades after the Bill White Scholarship was established, participants in the Colt Baseball League are still benefiting from it. In 1965, White was responsible for starting Colt Baseball locally for 15 and 16 year-olds. Following his death from cancer in 1980, the scholarship fund was created in his memory and since 1981 has continued to award scholarships to former Colt Leaguers who are entering a college or university. The criteria include academic excellence, exemplary citizenship, and financial need. Bobby Dawson was the first recipient, and to date 278 scholarships have been awarded totaling over $245,000. The amounts range from $500 to $2,000. Local 2020 recipients include Derek Martinez and Luke Pritchett, graduates of Ragsdale High School, and Tyler Lloyd of Southwest Guilford High School. • Martinez believes he has been playing baseball ever since he could walk. He explained that statement by noting his dad played baseball professionally and helped create a love of the sport in his son. “I have been involved in orga-
derek Martinez
Luke Pritchett
nized baseball since I was 3,” Martinez said. “I played on my middle school and high school teams.” Although he played football, basketball and soccer when he was younger, in high school his focus was baseball. “You do not have to be extremely athletic to play the sport, but you do have to work hard to improve your skills,” he said. Martinez was a first baseman and pitcher. He will continue to play at North Carolina A&T University where he plans to major in sports medicine. Before team play was suspended in the spring due to the coronavirus, schools were able to play five baseball games. Martinez had been injured before the season and had to sit the bench during those games. “We had a good team and it would
Tyler Lloyd have been interesting to see what we could have done,” he said. “The hardest thing is going off to college after missing a season of play and trying to stay in shape for the future. I have been participating with the HiToms (baseball team) this summer. SEE BASEBALL, PAGe 2
Shepherding an invisible flock
or email. Greene did meet a few members outdoors when they came to a recent blood drive at the church. “Members have been underAs the new senior pastor of standing,” Greene said. “This Jamestown United Methodist is a new situation for all of us. Church, The Reverend DocI have never had to move to a tor David Greene has been new church in the midst of a busy since July 1 connecting pandemic.” with the staff and congregaGreene preached his first tion. But COVID-19 has made sermon July 12 via video. Greene’s JUMC appointment Services are prerecorded on especially challenging since Wednesdays and aired Sunmost church members are day mornings at 10 a.m. on invisible. Facebook, YouTube and the Not to be confused with church’s website. Photo submitted The Invisible Man, members “If the pandemic continues, do have physical bodies. With The Reverend doctor david greene stands we will explore using phones worship services and other in front of the durham Cathedral at durham to connect to those who do meetings still suspended, University in England. Parts of the building not use social media,” Greene however, they simply cannot were constructed in the 12th century. said. “We want a way to allow be seen at church. all members the opportunity to “The church office is technically closed, but I have worship. JUMC has a large membership who are older been meeting with staff one-on-one and with some adults and that makes it more challenging.” of the lay leaders,” Greene said. “They all have been Greene comes to JUMC from Salem United Methodvery welcoming and helped me to understand the life ist Church in Denver, N.C. He grew up in a Methodist of Jamestown United Methodist. The staff continues to Church in Shelby and was baptized and confirmed in work mostly offsite, occasionally allowing 10 people or that church. less to meet using masks and social distancing.” “There was never a time I did not feel part of But getting to know the congregation is proving to be more difficult and has been done mostly by phone SEE FLOCk, PAGe 2 By NORMA B. dENNIS FreeLANCe WrIter ndworddesign@gmail.com
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