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
feBrUarY 18-24, 2026 vol 48 No 8 | 1 Section | 8 Pages
town council reviews audit summary
By CaROL BROOKs FreeLANCe WrIter cab1hp@gmail.com
Nick Wicker of Strickland Hardee, PLLC, presented the audit report summary for fiscal year 2024-25. He declared it a clean audit, which means a business’s financial statements accurately represent its financial position and comply with accounting standards. Since the previous audit,
the Town’s Governmental Fund Balance increased $1,436,401 over fiscal year 2023-2024. Other governmental funds also increased, leading to a total of $1,751,585. The Fund Balance increased $1,751,585 to $8,145,905. Of that amount, by North Carolina law 40 percent must be kept in reserve, leaving $5,304,365 available to be used. Governmental expendi-
tures were $9,100,114. The General Fund increased $1,436,401. The Water-Sewer fund increased $1,887,374 to $28,686,020. Expenses showed an increase of $743,614 over the previous fiscal year. “I think we should really celebrate the hard effort that Faith [Wilson, financial officer] and her team are doing here,” Wicker said. “Going through an audit is not fun.”
“I believe Faith worked Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve to ensure we had a clean [audit], said Councilmember Pam Burgess. “I wanted to say thank you.” Wilson received applause from the entire Council. Councilmember Jim Westmoreland noted one of the handouts received, the Annual Comprehensive Financial report, contains items that apply to
the upcoming budget discussions. “I was interested in the top 10 property taxpayers in the community from 2025 versus 2016 and see how things have changed,” he said. “I can see the developments out there and what’s taking place.”
calls for service in Jamestown in January. Of those calls, 96 were self-initiated, 25 were traffic stops with an average response time of just under six minutes. Three thefts – two at the Shell station, one at Second Chance Closet – one assault, three frauds, two controlled substance violaSheriff’s Report tions and seven non-crimDeputy Rogers reported inal cases, including an the Guilford County Shersee RevIeW, PAGe 3 iff’s Office received 177
COMPILed By CaROL BROOKs GOLF COURSE The front 9 of the Jamestown Park Golf Course and Driving Range have reopened after the recent ice and snowstorms. LEAVES Loose leaf pickup ends Feb. 20. EARLY VOTING Early voting for the 2026 Primary Election is open through Feb. 28 in the Civic Center at Jamestown Town Hall, 301 E. Main St. Most locations are open 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday hours differ. NOTICE OF INFORMAL GATHERING Members of the Jamestown Town Council will be attending training on Essentials of Municipal Government hosted by the UNC School of Government Feb. 19-20 at the Colonnade at Revolution Mill in Greensboro. BLOOD DRIVE Winter weather has affected blood donations and more blood is needed. The American Red Cross will hold a Blood Drive March 4 from 2-6 p.m. at the Ragsdale Family YMCA, 900 Bonner Dr., Jamestown. For an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). Have an event that you think needs to be included in About Town? Email Norma B. Dennis at ndworddesign@gmail.com or Carol Brooks at cab1hp@gmail.com
Photos submitted
Rhonda sepulveda, center, wearing 100 days of school shirt, is surrounded by many of the men who participated in the Men on Mission to celebrate students at Jamestown elementary school.
men arrive at JeS to celebrate and encourage students By nORMa B. dennIs FreeLANCe WrIter ndworddesign@gmail.com On the morning of Feb. 8, 2024, 100 men walked through the doors of Jamestown Elementary School and received assignments of where to go to greet students as they arrived. Whether arriving by car, bus or walking all students were greeted with enthusiasm. The men included parents, businessmen, a librarian, athletes, college students, deputies and firefighters. The special occasion was in honor of the 100th day of school and had been coordinated by Rhonda Sepulveda, a member of office support at the school. “I saw this online at a school in Georgia and brought the idea up to our principal (Christa
(at left) Ready for a snack. (Center) drawings were held to present participants with prizes. (at right) greeting students was only part of the fun. DiBonaventure),” Sepulveda said. “We felt this was a good way to celebrate the 100th day of school and promote positive male presence within the school community.” With only a week to plan, two parents helped contact participants and sponsors, and
Going above and beyond to help resident “A lot of us feel like sometimes we want to do something when we see something going on,” said Councilmember Jim Gibson. “We don’t always do that extra step to actually do it. Sometimes maybe the situation is very difficult. We come across things and are not really sure if we want to be a part of that even though we know we need to. “One of our town employees took that step forward to reach out and help somebody. They went above and beyond that. “Casey Martin works in code enforcement for the Town and was patrolling. He came across an individual that was not in very good shape — an unhoused person who had a difficult encounter with people. A lot of us would see that and think not to get involved.” Martin called 911 and took the time to stay with the individual
just a celebration of 100 days of school. “The purpose is to promote positive school-community engagement by inviting 100 men from diverse career backgrounds to our elementary see Jes, PAGe 3
Fire Department offers annual report By CaROL BROOKs FreeLANCe WrIter cab1hp@gmail.com
Photo by Carol Brooks
Left to right, Councilmembers Jim Westmoreland and Jim gibson, Casey Martin, Councilmember Pam Burgess and Mayor susan dickenson. and talked with him. The man was having some very difficult times in life and he shared some personal and concerning things with Martin. Martin stayed with him until the ambulance came and took him to the hospital. “I just want to say, on behalf of the Town, I appreciate you, Casey, taking the time to do that,” Gibson said. “A lot of us would like to think we would [help] but you did it. I thank you for that.” Gibson presented Martin with a certificate of recognition of “going above and beyond the
duties of code enforcement officer by ensuring the safety and wellbeing of a community member through prompt action, compassion and professionalism.” Martin, an employee of Alliance Code Enforcement, has been working with the Town on code enforcement since July 2025. His duties include noting violations ranging from junked vehicles, tall grass, minimum housing violations and everything in between. The Town of Jamestown has contracted with Alliance for code enforcement and Martin is not employed by the Town.
The Pinecroft Sedgefield Fire District covers several locations in Guilford County. Jamestown’s Fire Station No. 46 is just one of five stations in the district, which includes Mackay Road (23), Bishop Road (24), Coltrane Photo by Carol Brooks Mill (25) and Vickrey Jamestown station 46 engine. Chapel (22). From the time Station 46 The local station, No. 46, is staffed by one captain, two firefighters and receives the call to the time the several resident firefighters who are engine pulls out, an average of 1:44 minutes elapsed last year. cadets at GTCC’s training class. Fire Chief Derek Carson noted That is 0:12 seconds faster than the that PSFD is still ISO Class 2 and average in 2024. has been so for several years. The “Most times it’s a lot less than Insurance Services Office evaluates that,” Carson said. “The benchfour major areas: fire department mark is 2 minutes. effectiveness, emergency commuTravel time to the incident was nications systems, water supply, 3:50 minutes, 0:06 seconds faster and community risk reduction. It than 2024. is meant to evaluate a fire departQuick response time is important ment's ability to protect the community. see FIRe, PAGe 3
Everyone likes GOOD NEWS and the Jamestown News wants to print a column focused on sharing good things seen happening in the community. To make the column work, you need to participate. email ndworddesign@gmail.com with your observations of a person or group being helpful to others. norma dennis will print them on the fourth Wednesday of each month.
50¢
By CaROL BROOKs FreeLANCe WrIter cab1hp@gmail.com
the event proved to be a huge success. So much so, that the school has named it Men on a Mission and continued the tradition each year since. The school’s mission statement about Men on a Mission is long, but details exactly why the event is much more that