April 14 - 20, 2017
IN THIS ISSUE News in Brief.................................. 3 Your Questions.............................. 4 Oak Ridge Town Council............. 6 Youth/School News...................... 9 Student Profiles........................... 13 GALs fill vital role........................ 14 Bits & Pieces................................ 18 Crime/Incident Report...............20
Photo by Leon Stokes/NWO | An aerial view of the bridge over I-73 near an interchange on N.C. 150 in Summerfield. Near-finish snags with the major road construction project have pushed the opening of I-73 from U.S. 220 to N.C. 68 out a few more weeks, but the opening date is within sight, says Patty Eason, NCDOT construction engineer. Getting power to the traffic signals near the interchange on N.C. 68 are among some of the last-minute kinks to be worked out, she noted, adding “The contractor has been diligently working hard trying to get this open and has made great progress.” NCDOT expects the I-73 segment from U.S. 220 to N.C. 68 to open late April; the segment from N.C. 68 to Bryan Boulevard, which includes a taxiway bridge, has a separate completion date of August.
Longtime community servant, advocate will be missed Mary Hardin, who died April 3, was on the frontlines of the Stokesdale community, from serving on the town council for 10 years to spearheading the first annual Christmas parade by STEVE MANN STOKESDALE – Service over self. Talk to anyone who knew Mary Sewell Hardin, and it always comes back to that. Hardin, who Mary Hardin died April 3 at age 74, was her happiest helping others, said Luann Hardin Leonard, the oldest of her three daughters.
“She liked people, all kinds of people,” Leonard said. “When she thought she was helping somebody, she would do anything.” Whether as a member of the Stokesdale Town Council for 10 years, a businesswoman, a farmer’s wife, a PTA president, a certified member of the Red Cross or spearheading efforts to start a Christmas parade, Hardin served her community. “There was no hidden agenda from her,” said Randle Jones, who served 22 years on the Stokesdale Town Coun-
cil, including 18 as mayor. “She was a tireless worker for the town and the northwest area.” Though she didn’t consider herself a politician, the lifelong Republican found herself in politics in 1991, just two years after Stokesdale had been incorporated a second time. “The town wanted to take this farm into the city,” said Rush Hardin, her husband of 52 years, referring to their 180acre operation on Millrun Road. “And we
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John Hughes, 89, poses with a photo of himself and eight classmates who made up Laughlin School’s Class of 1944. Hughes was the oldest graduate in attendance at Laughlin’s historic marker dedication ceremony on April 7. More photos on p. 21.
Community Calendar................22 Letters/Opinions.........................24 Grins & Gripes.............................25 Classifieds................................... 27 Index of Advertisers................... 31
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