VOLUME 146 ISSUE 45 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2024
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
C HATHAM NEWS & R ECORD THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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BRIEF this week
More student and government IDs approved for voting The State Board of Elections in North Carolina has authorized 21 additional student and government identification cards for use in voting. This expansion, applicable to both primary and general elections in 2024, supplements the 100 IDs previously approved in July 2023. The approved IDs for voting include Sandhills Community College, and employee IDs for numerous municipalities and school districts. The full list of acceptable IDs are available at ncsbe.gov/voterID. The new Voter ID law went into effect last fall in municipal elections, and will be used statewide for the primary election on March 5 and the general election in November. Voters should ensure they have acceptable ID ahead of time. While a driver’s license is the most common form of ID, the state offers a range of options. A free ID can be acquired from your county board of elections or NCDMV.
NC Medicare Advantage open enrollment thru March 31 North Carolina seniors should review their Medicare Advantage plans, with the open enrollment period running from now through March 31, 2024, offering a chance to modify coverage as needed. “Our health can change significantly in a very short period of time,” said Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey. “If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, now is the right time to make sure you have the plan that best meets your needs.” During this period, enrollees in Medicare Advantage Plan (Medicare Part C) can switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan, with or without drug coverage, or revert to Original Medicare. This may also include joining a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. Changes will take effect the first day of the month following the plan’s receipt of the coverage request. Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program counselors, available at 1-855408-1212, provide assistance but are not licensed insurance agents. They do not endorse or sell any products. For further help, the Medicare Plan Finder and 1-800-MEDICARE (1800-633-4227) are also available. This enrollment period is exclusively for current Medicare Advantage Plan enrollees.
PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL
A memorial to Sgt. Nix outside Greensboro Police headquarters on East Police Plaza. Community members and fellow law enforcement have left flowers, department patches, and notes of remembrance.
Greensboro police sergeant killed in off-duty incident at gas station Three suspects arrested after shooting cop over stolen beer
By Jordan Golson North State Journal GREENSBORO — An off-duty Greensboro Police sergeant was shot and killed by suspects who allegedly stole beer from the Sheetz gas station on Sandy Ridge Road in Colfax Saturday night. Sgt. Philip Dale Nix, a 23year veteran of the Greensboro Police Department, witnessed individuals stealing beer from the station and was shot after confronting them. Despite immediate aid from another off-duty Greensboro police officer and a Guilford County paramedic, Nix died at a local hospital.
“I am angry, and I’m sad,” said an emotional Greensboro Mayor Nancy B. Vaughn at a Sunday press conference. “It shows the dedication of our police officers that, whether on duty or off duty, they are always focused on protecting our community and serving our community. And I think he is a hero.” Three Winston-Salem residents — Jamere Justice Foster, 18; Z’quriah Le’Pearce Blackwell, 18; and John Walter Morrison, 28 — were arrested. Winston-Salem police assisted in the arrests. Foster is charged with first-degree murder, while Blackwell and Morrison face accessory charges. Foster and Morrison are held without bond, and Blackwell’s bond is set at $500,000. Additional
COURTESY GREENSBORO PD
See SHOOTING, page 2
Chatham County is booming says ‘State of the County’ report The biggest growth drivers are the Wolfspeed 450-acre site in Siler City and the VinFast 2,000acre site in Moncure.
Sgt. Nix was a 23-year veteran of the department.
By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO – 2023 was a productive year for Chatham County, which experienced unprecedented economic growth, seeing it skyrocket into one of the top ten fastest-growing counties in the state. At the Dec. 4 Chatham County Board of Commissioners meeting, Vice Chair Karen Howard presented a ‘State of the County’ report which detailed the county’s economic growth, initiatives and achievements for 2023. The biggest growth drivers are the Wolfspeed 450-acre site in Siler City and the VinFast 2,000-acre site in Moncure, which both began construction in 2023 and are two of the most significant economic development projects in North Carolina history. Wolfspeed’s plant, which will employ approximately 1,800 people, will be a significant silicon carbide manufacturer, making Chatham County a key figure in the semiconductor industry. VinFast’s plant, which will employ approximately 7,500 people, will be the Vietnamese EV maker’s first in North America and the first auto assembly plant of any kind in North Carolina. These projects are leading the way for Chatham’s growth, with a projected pool of 9,000 new jobs and a total investment of $9 billion. “It is so exciting that the two largest economic development projects in North Carolina history are progressing right here See REPORT, page A7
High Point pastor tries to push wife’s coworker into McDonald’s deep fryer By Jordan Golson North State Journal A PASTOR in High Point is accused of trying to push a man’s head into a deep fryer at McDonald’s on South Main Street, after the pastor’s wife told him her employees were “disrespecting” her. The police investigation accuses Dwayne Waden, 57, of High Point, of entering the McDonald’s, walking around the counter, and placing “his hands around the neck of the victim pushing his head toward the deep fryer.” His wife, Latoya Gladney, was a trainee manager at the restaurant. She is no longer employed there, the local franchise confirmed to CBS News, saying “the safety and security of our employees and customers is our top priority.” Waden’s Facebook page says he is a pastor with Elevated Life International Ministries. In November, he posted a message about purpose being tied to success and a journey in discovering who God is. The incident was caught on the restaurant’s security cameras, which police were able to view. Waden allegedly punched the victim several times in the
His wife, Latoya Gladney, was a trainee manager at the restaurant. She is no longer employed there. face and did not stop until other employees pulled him off. Waden was released on a $1,000 bond and is expected in court later this month. The High Point Police Department has an ongoing “Coffee With A Cop” program where citizens can meet and interact with law enforcement. The next Coffee With A Cop is Tuesday, January 9 at 8 a.m. at the McDonald’s in High Point where the incident occurred.
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