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
deC. 27 - Jan. 2, 2023 Vol 45 No 52 | 1 Section | 6 Pages
council swears in new members By CaROL BROOKs FreeLANCe WrIter cab1hp@gmail.com It did not take long to go through the Jamestown Council’s Dec. 19 agenda — slightly over half-an-hour. There was no public comment during the continued public hearing on the adoption of a Storm Water Utility Fee to the Town’s Code of Ordinances. Councilmember Martha Wolfe pointed out the state of North Carolina mandates such a fee. The fee would bring in approximately $100,000 yearly, according to Town Manager Matthew Johnson. The vote was 3-1 to create
this new fee, with Councilmember Lawrence Straughn voting against. The fee will go into effect Jan. 1, 2024. There will be a public hearing at the Jan. 16 meeting to consider a text amendment to the Solid Waste Ordinance relating to the new fee. Mayor Lynn Montgomery recognized outgoing councilmembers John Capes and Straughn with resolutions of appreciation for their service to the town. Capes has been on the council for six years and Straughn for four years. Following a brief recess to rearrange the council table, North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby related some of his family life in Jamestown
as well as the town’s history. He noted that the state of North Carolina adopted its first constitution Dec. 18, 1776, 247 years and one day ago. “There is nothing closer to ‘We the people’ than a town council,” Newby noted, quoting the preamble to the North Carolina Constitution. “Article 7 of the state constitution talks about local government and that the General Assembly establishes that. The people rely on local government.” Newby conducted the oaths of office, often the privilege of the town clerk, to not only newlyPhoto courtesy of Martha Wolfe elected Pam Burgess and Sarah n.C. supreme Court Chief Justice Paul newby, a Jamestown native, stands between new councilmembers sarah glanville, see COUnCIL, PAGe 2 left, and Pam Burgess.
By nORMa B. dennIs FreeLANCe WrIter ndworddesign@gmail.com First Baptist Church of Jamestown has a new pastor. Although it is the first church in which Matt Surprenant has served as lead pastor, it is not his first experience with Christian ministry. He has worked with student ministry at a church in Greensboro, helped as a pulpit supply minister and was an associate pastor at a church in Browns Summit. Surprenant preached for First Baptist Church of Jamestown on Father’s Day of 2022. Michael Barrett from the Piedmont Baptist Association was helping to provide pulpit supply for them and had asked Surprenant if he would preach one Sunday. “They had been looking for a part-time pastor, which I was not sure I could do,” Surprenant said. “At the time I was working with Guilford County Schools. We lost touch for about a year, but in October we reconnected when they called me to guest preach for several Sundays. We
Business
oak Street Health provides focus on older adults
Corner
First baptist church of Jamestown acquires new pastor
By nORMa B. dennIs FreeLANCe WrIter ndworddesign@gmail.com
Photo by Norma B. Dennis
Pastor Matt surprenant relaxes at a local coffee shop as he reviews some sermon notes. ended up discussing the possibility of me coming on to be their pastor.” By that time Surprenant had resigned from the school system to pick up supply work. He had been wondering how First Baptist Church was doing when he received the call from Jane Marlowe who said they still needed a pastor. Surprenant was teaching fitness classes at a gym in Greensboro and attending classes at Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, but felt he could add this to his schedule part time as the church members desired.
“Things just seemed to line up well for both sides,” Surprenant said. “I began my official duties as pastor there on the third Sunday in November.” Surprenant calls the Outer Banks his home. He became a Christian the summer before entering high school and shortly thereafter felt a call to go into vocational ministry with a leaning toward being a music and worship pastor. He attended the University of North Carolina Greensboro where he studied music. see PasTOR, PAGe 2
Oak Street Health could be considered unique in the medical profession. Founded in 2012, it is a network of value-based primary care centers for adults on Medicare. Specifically designed to meet the unique needs of older adults who face chronic illnesses, it focuses on equity and on closing Photo submitted health disparities. The lobby at Oak street Health is spacious and “Our mission is welcoming. rebuilding healthcare as it should be,” said Erin Desloge-Eriksen, and caring for them proactively. community relationship manager. “Our Oak Street Health offers same-day/ primary care providers and every mem- next-day appointments at most locations, ber of our care team take the time to get a 24/7 patient support line, help with to know individuals, spending more time understanding Medicare benefits, hasslewith them so we can give personalized free transfer of medical records and care and support when and where it is health history and convenient locations. needed. Every patient is assigned a full “We strategically place our centers care team in addition to a provider. Our in neighborhoods and cities that need team connects patients to the right pro- access to quality primary care,” Deslogegrams for their health, including support Eriksen said. “We are located in High in navigating insurance and coordinating Point at 2850 South Main Street, Unit specialist care.” 104.” Preventive care also plays a big part in Oak Street Health is open Mondayservices provided by Oak Street Health. Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Contact the Its goal is keeping older adults out of the business at 336-899-8338 or by email at hospital by really getting to know them oakstreethealth.com/contact-us.
mike’s exxon to close New Year’s eve
It’s the end of an era. On Dec. 31, Mike Tester will be closing the Exxon service station at 106 W. Main St. Tester and his employee Penn Farr are both retiring. Farr has been with Tester for 20 years. Tester and his wife Jacqueline opened the station as a Citgo station in March of 1996, leasing it from Harold and Martha Hall. Hall was the second mayor of Jamestown. The mayor built the building in the 1960s and is believed to have been a Sunoco and possibly Mobile gas station under his ownership. The Bundy family originally owned the property. Tester purchased the station from Martha Hall in 2001. Light mechanical work has been a mainstay but
Tester is proudest of one other thing. Unlike most other gas stations, he still comes out and pumps gas at one or two pumps, rather than making the driver do it. It is the personal service customers loved. “There probably aren’t very many people in Jamestown and the surrounding area who have not been touched positively by these two gentlemen,” said Patricia Small Simpson. “I remember when Sheetz came to the area and the financial challenge it presented to Mike but even though it may have been a few pennies more, I, and I am sure many others, continued to patronize Mike’s because Jamestown needed this local station and these two great guys.” “Mike is such a wonderful person,” said Janet Odum. “ An all-around nice person. Always willing to put air in
tires, car inspections, etc. Jamestown will miss having him at the Exxon.” “It’s been a blessing to help other people,” Tester said. “When we started we thought it was an opportunity to show the love of God to people. These are the greatest people in the world.” He will often pray with see exxOn, PAGe 2
Photo courtesy of Mike Tester
(above) Mike Tester stands in front of his new Citgo station during the open house in June 1996 at 106 W. Main st., Jamestown. notice the price of gas at the time. The race car was driven by nasCaR driver Michael Waltrip who was sponsored by Citgo.
Photo by Carol Brooks
(at left) Mike Tester at his pumps in 2023.
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By CaROL BROOKs FreeLANCe WrIter cab1hp@gmail.com