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 4-10, 2026 Vol 48 No 6 | 1 Section | 6 Pages
COMPILED BY NORMA B. DENNIS
ANNUAL BOOK SALE Save the date – The Friends of the Jamestown Public Library will host their 9th Annual Book sale Feb. 19, 20 and 21. The Thursday and Friday dates will be held from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. Saturday’s hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday will include a special rate of $10 per a bag of books, and bags will be furnished. (This rate excludes choice books and a few selected items.) The book sale includes a huge selection in many categories. Expect to find hardcover and paperback books (recent to vintage); fiction, history, biography, cookbooks, crafts and more; as well as DVDs, children’s books, games and puzzles. Sales will be cash or check only. Anyone who wishes to help sponsor the event may find sponsorship forms at the front desk of the library. Sponsors will be acknowledged in the Jamestown Friends of the Library newsletter, on fliers distributed at the book sale, on Facebook and at all other book sales throughout 2026. Proceeds from the sale and sponsorships will go to enhance the library’s book collection, as well as its summer reading program and other activities. The library is located at 200 W. Main St. In case of inclement weather, check the library’s website at www.jamestownpubliclibrary.com for the latest information. DAVID LAMOTTE ENTERTAINS Local singer, author songwriter and storyteller David LaMotte will perform at Jamestown Presbyterian Church, 1804 Guilford College Road, on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. Admission is free but tickets are needed. To order tickets, use the QR code listed below or call the church at 336-4543718 if you need help.
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
Council begins budget talk BY CAROL BROOKS FREELANCE WRITER cab1hp@gmail.com It’s that time of year again, the time when the Jamestown Town Council begins to review items that should be addressed in the upcoming 2026-27 budget. “Oftentimes anger about government spending is real,” said Town Manager Matthew Johnson in his opening remarks at a special Council meeting on Jan. 22. “The story behind it is often very wrong. This workshop is where we begin to replace stories with facts.” He noted that taxpayers want the town to run efficiently at the lowest possible cost. “That can be achieved with the hard work of good governance,” he added. “This is not a meeting about numbers alone. It’s about direction, priorities and alignment.”
He said the Town must be “honest in knowing what they can do, cannot do and what tradeoffs are required to deliver superior services and amenities responsibly and well.” At the special budget work session, department heads and the town attorney updated the Council about the status of current capital improvement projects and Council talked about updating the Town’s Strategic Plan for the 2026-27 Fiscal Year. Several citizens also attended the meeting but did not offer comments.
Capital Improvement Program Johnson said the staff wanted to clarify what plans are working, sharing updates to reflect new perspectives and priorities. It is important to finish current projects before tackling new, larger ones.
Jamestown man accused of attempted murder BY CAROL BROOKS FREELANCE WRITER cab1hp@gmail.com A Jamestown man was arrested and accused of trying to kill his roommate, according to the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office. Scott Alan Fanter, 44, reportedly shot Evan Keith Aldridge, 31, about 12:20 a.m. Jan. 28, at their residence in the 5300 block of Lenard Road, the Sheriff’s Office said. Lenard Road is off Bales Chapel Road, near Harvey Road. Aldridge was taken to a local hospital with what the Sheriff’s Office called “critical injuries.” No other information about his injuries or condition was released. Fanter was charged with felony attempted first-degree murder, felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious
Photo courtesy of Guilford County Sheriff’s Office
Scott Alan Fanter injury and felony assault by pointing a firearm. He is being held in the Guilford County Detention Center in High Point with no bond allowed. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 27. No other information about the shooting was released. Investigators ask that anyone with information contact Detective J. Allen at 336641-2799 or Guilford County Crimestoppers at 336-3731000.
Photos by Carol Brooks
As part of the Special Budget Work Session, Town councilmembers had the opportunity to place dots on items they deemed most important as well as add comments via sticky notes.
Parks and Recreation Director Scott Coakley went over P&R items in the current Capital Improvement Program. He noted several items that had been accomplished in the current fiscal year: purchase of a mower for the golf course, painting of the Pro Shop, purchase of
a trailer, purchase of a pump and motor, tractor replacement and purchase of reels for golf maintenance. These were indicated as “must do” in the CIP. “Should do” items accomplished were replacement of the concrete floor at Shelter No. 1 and construction of
a new storm shelter on the golf course. This was done by P&R workers rather than hiring the job out, saving the Town $38,000. The shelter is made from trees that fell on the course during storms. Asphalt along the cart paths SEE BUDGET, PAGE 2
Snow removal basics A public service announcement from the Town of Jamestown Who clears your road during winter weather? We’ve had lots of great questions, so we created a graphic to help clear things up. Here’s the quick breakdown: Town-owned roads: Neighborhood streets and local roads are maintained by the Town of Jamestown. State-maintained roads (NCDOT): Major roads such as Vickrey Chapel Road, Main Street (US 70), Guilford Road, Guilford College Road, Scientific Street and Penny Road are owned and maintained by NCDOT. As we watch the possibility of upcoming winter weather, please know our crews will be working to keep town roads safe, clear and passable. For plowing to be effective, there generally needs to be 2-3 inches of snow on the roadway.
Emergencies only: For weather-related or water/ sewer emergencies, please call 336-454-1218. We have a small but dedicated team, and everyone will be on call to serve
How the Quakers Invented America
BY CAROL BROOKS FREELANCE WRITER cab1hp@gmail.com
Quakers (The Religious Society of Friends) have had a profound impact on the shaping of the United States from the time of William Penn through modern times. A special program is planned to look at how colonies, revolufoundational documents, some of the tion and foundbasic freedoms, and even the charers, to the civil acter of North Carolina have been rights movements of modern times: influenced by Quaker practices and freedom, equalprinciples. ity, community, Max Carter, professor emeritus at straightforwardGuilford College will present the proness, and spirituality. gram, which is part of the America 250 In a 2007 interview with C-Span, Yount celebration on Feb. 7, 10:30 a.m. at the said: “They gave the real truth to what the High Point Public Library, 901 N. Main St. American character became. They were the first to have true democracy (in the Book There is also a book by nationally syndi- legislature in Pennsylvania). From Rhode cated author David Yount titled “How the Island they gave us literally the Bill of Rights to the Constitution. They were the Quakers Invented America.” Yount’s book tells how Quakers and the pioneers in the trial by a jury, in the equal Society of Friends shaped the basic fea- rights for women, education. The Liberty tures of American life, from the days of the Bell was cast by Quakers.”
BY CAROL BROOKS FREELANCE WRITER cab1hp@gmail.com The Jamestown Town Council will meet Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. This meeting is one week early due to early primary voting in the Council Chambers the following two weeks. Pinecroft Sedgefield Fire Department Chief Derek Carson will present the annual fire department report. Nick Wicker from Strickland Hardee, PLLC, will present the audit report summary for fiscal year 2024-25. In old business, the Council will consider awarding a contract for the East Main Street Sidewalk Project. The group will also discuss the January finan-
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Jamestown when conditions require it. Thank you for your patience and understanding, and for helping us direct questions to the right place. Stay safe and stay warm.
Town Council to meet one week early
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ABOUT TOWN
cial position of the Town, financial reporting for the Town and scheduling regular work sessions for the Council. Under new business, the Council will consider approving a Girl Scout Flag Retirement Drop Box at Wrenn Miller Park. Mayor Dickenson will lead a discussion regarding the publication of legal notices for the Town. The Town Council meetings may be viewed live at www.youtube.com/c/ TownofJamestownNC. Click on “live.” They are also available after the meetings.