Northwest Observer | December 15-21, 2017

Page 1

Dec. 15 - 21, 2017

bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996

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Storm creates havoc BY PATTI STOKES

Capt. Robert Elliott of Guilford County Sheriff’s District 1 Office said his officers were in “all hands on deck” mode on Friday, Dec. 8, after snow that had been forecast as a mere “dusting” accumulated through the course of the morning and afternoon. “Every officer was out with either stranded motorists or accidents for several hours,” Elliott said. Local fire departments were also busy with calls – Stokesdale Fire District Chief Todd Gauldin said his department responded to nine weather-related calls,

involving downed trees and power lines and two vehicle accidents. Summerfield Fire District Chief Chris Johnson said his department responded to 28 weatherrelated calls between 7:30 a.m. on Friday and 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. Fortunately, there were no major accidents – one vehicle overturned early Sunday morning after hitting a patch of black ice, but the driver was not injured.

Simmons said his department responded to six weather-related calls on Dec. 8, including assisting Photo courtesy of Katie Handyside with traffic control while school buses This photo taken by a driver on Alcorn Road in northwest were being pulled Greensboro at 4:59 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8, captures some of the havoc the winter weather created for travelers. out of ditches.

“We actually staged people in different areas of our district during rush hour on Friday night so we could get to all areas of our district as fast as we could,” Johnson said.

Guilford County Schools has been criticized for not calling for early dismissal on Friday after snow continued to accumulate throughout the morning and early afternoon. Road conditions mid- to

And in Oak Ridge, Fire Chief Steve

Council members both collide and agree on issues in first meeting Town attorney’s knowledge of municipal law questioned by new mayor; votes split on mayor pro tem and council member liaison to UDO Review Committee By PATTI STOKES SUMMERFIELD – The first order of business after newly elected council members Teresa Pegram, Todd Rotruck and Mayor Gail Dunham took the oath

of office was to elect a mayor pro tem – and with that came the newly formed town council’s first disagreement. Rotruck promptly nominated Teresa Pegram as mayor pro tem and Councilman John O’Day made a substitute motion to nominate council member Dena Barnes, with Reece Walker seconding O’Day’s motion. Dunham interjected that Pegram should have the position, since she was the highest vote getter in any election in Summerfield but O’Day argued that experience with government operations and serving on the council were important before taking on the

role of mayor pro tem. After further discussion Dunham called the vote and Walker, O’Day and Barnes voted for Barnes as mayor pro tem. Immediately after Barnes was reelected as mayor pro tem the issue of which council member would be an authorized check signer came up for discussion (check signers include the mayor, town manager, finance officer and one council member). Walker’s motion for O’Day to be an authorized check signer was seconded by Barnes, and Walker, Barnes and O’Day proceeded to vote in favor of the motion.

...continued on p. 3

late afternoon on Friday were attributed to five school bus accidents in which three students and a school bus driver received minor injuries and several school buses slid off the road.

IN THIS ISSUE Your Questions ............................4 Oak Ridge Town Council ...........6 Bits & Pieces ................................9 News in Brief .............................. 10 NWO Business & Real Estate .... 11 Real Estate Highlights ............... 13 Real Estate Transactions .......... 14 Real Estate Cover Story ............ 18 Business Briefs ........................... 19 Real Estate Q&A ....................... 19 Student Profiles ......................... 21 Fund the Viking Voyage ..........22 Community Calendar ..............23 Grins & Gripes ...........................24 Crime/Incident Report .............26 Classifieds ................................. 27 Index of Advertisers ................. 31


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