March 22 - 28, 2018
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Priorities, pay increases, policies debated at council’s first budget session A draft budget will be released April 16 By PATTI STOKES
March 20 to discuss project priorities and provide staff with direction for developing the FY 2018-19 budget veered off in wild directions before jumping back on track.
SUMMERFIELD – At times, discussion at a scheduled budget workshop on
The meeting of the Summerfield Town Council, Town Manager
Scott Whitaker and Finance Officer Dee Hall began at 6:30 p.m., with the council wasting no time before digging into two of its most highly debated topics – whether, or how to move forward with the Martin house
...continued on p. 6
Bridge repair underway by KEVIN SPRADLIN STOKESDALE – By now, motorists on both sides of the Eversfield Road bridge on the border of the towns of Stokesdale and Oak Ridge have no-
ticed an NCDOT work crew patching potholes in the bridge. Depending on the weather, that work could be completed next week. However, that is simply a hint of
things to come as the bridge is schedule to be replaced later this spring. Tim Powers, bridge maintenance engineer with NCDOT, said the project to replace the 51-year-old bridge is expected to go to contract in June. Powers did not have a timetable for the project’s start date. The bridge is in close proximity to N.C. 150, U.S. 158 and Interstate 73, and NCDOT Traffic Supervisor Jeff Brown said the area’s high traffic volume made it “imperative that we address these pothole issues to maintain the safety of the bridge.” As workers repair the potholes on the 67-foot span over the Haw River, drivers are able to detour in both directions around the closure using Oak Ridge Road, East Harrell Road, N.C. 68 and Athens Road.
Photo by Kevin Spradlin/NWO
NCDOT workers shovel off debris after using a jackhammer to loosen the asphalt on the Eversfield Road bridge inside the limits of the Town of Stokesdale.
IN THIS ISSUE News in Brief.................................3 Your Questions.............................4 Town Council Highlights..............6 Bits & Pieces............................... 12 Community Calendar............... 15 Crime/Incident Report.............. 18 Student Art Gallery....................20 Teens to stage 5K for cancer ...22 Buzzed for a cause....................23 Letters/Opinions................ 24 Grins & Gripes.................26 Classifieds................... 27 Advertiser index....23