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
JUlY 23-29, 2025 vol 47 No 30 | 1 Section | 8 Pages
seven file for council, two for mayor eXCePTIonal HIGH SCHoolerS GraDuaTe FroM n.C. SCHool oF SCIenCe anD MaTHeMaTICS Three local residents were among almost 500 from all across North Carolina who graduated this year as members of the residential Class of 2025 of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. They included former Southwest Guilford High School students Amy Ahreum Cho, Krish Akhilesh Naik Gaunekar and Tisha Ulak, all of who graduated from the Durham campus. Students with high abilities in math and science began their studies at their local high school, then as sophomores applied to the nation’s No. 1 public high school, which serves all of North Carolina. Those accepted lived on the Durham and Morganton campuses in residence halls during their junior and senior years, taking high-level classes in not just science, technology, engineering and mathematics, but also in the humanities. The state of North Carolina and private, philanthropic donors make all the programs possible at no cost to the students and their families for tuition, room, board or books. Members of the graduating classes hailed from over 150 rural, urban and suburban high schools. THIrD CaSe oF anIMal rabIeS In GuIlForD CounTy For 2025 The Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health is alerting Guilford County residents that a cat on Woodmont Drive in Jamestown tested positive for the rabies virus on July 17. All pets should be vaccinated against rabies even if they live indoors all the time. There is always a chance that one could accidently get out and come in contact with a rabid animal. 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
Candidate filing for Jamestown mayor and two Town Council positions ended at noon last Friday. Several people waited until the last minute to file, but one, current councilmember Rebecca Mann Rayborn must have been at the Guilford County Elections Board office when it opened July 7. Rayborn filed to
Council seat, a primary election will be held in October. In this case, the top four votegetters in the primary election will advance to the general election in November. Candidate profiles will appear in the Jamestown News prior to the primary. Current mayor Lynn Montgomery is retiring after eight years as mayor. She previously served on the Town Council for six years. Rayborn and Wolfe were
both up for re-election this year, as was Montgomery. Several years ago, Jamestown switched to a four-year term, with two members eligible for re-election each two years, thereby nullifying the chance that an entirely new Council could be elected at one time. The Town has tentively scheduled a candidate information session for Aug. 12 and 13. This is a non-partisan race.
Council has a busy schedule By CaROL BROOKs FreeLANCe WrIter cab1hp@gmail.com Several proclamations and resolutions were presented at the July 15 Town Council meeting. After years of hard work, Dr. LaTonya BowFamily members listen to the resolution honorman finally found inforing the historic bond between Jamestown and mation about her ancesMarion, Ind. tors and learned that many of them are tied not only to the Jamestown area but also to the town of Marion, Ind. In recognition of Bowman’s work, Mayor Lynn Montgomery presented a resolution to Bowman honoring the historic bond between the Town of Jamestown and the City of Marion. The resolution noted the significant contributions of families of free people of color who once owned lands in Jamestown areas and who chose to relocate during the antebellum period of the 1840s to dr. LaTonya Bowman 1850s. They engaged in “strategic acts of and Mayor Lynn Montgomery resistance to the Southern slavery system and in doing so became part of a broader movement for freedom and justice in rented by outside organizations, private American history.” They settled free black groups or the general public but as Counfarm settlements in the Northwest Territo- cil Chambers, it can no longer be rented. ries, including Marion, Ind. These settle- However, according to the guide, “The ments often were a destination of those Town Council may approve the use of the traveling the Underground Railroad. Chambers for other appropriate uses not The Council unanimously approved a listed above.” new facility use guide for the Thomas The new guide lists authorized uses by C. Ragsdale, Sr., Council Chambers, for- priority. merly the Ragsdale Civic Center. As see COUnCIL, PAGe 2 a Civic Center, the building could be
Vital information available when communication is an issue By nORMa B. dennIs FreeLANCe WrIter ndworddesign@gmail.com The Community Resource Unit connects the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office with the public through crime prevention, safety education, and community programs. In addition to Project Lifesaver, which is used to locate youths and adults prone to wander due to autism, Alzheimer’s disease or other brain disorders (see story "Bringing loved ones home"), the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office Community Resource Unit endorses the Yellow Dot Program. The program puts essential information into the hands of medical personnel when communication may be a problem, i.e. following a car accident or medical emergency in the home if verbal communication is not possible. During medical emergencies time can be crucial to saving lives. Background information readily available about someone in a medical crisis can have a major impact on his/her care. The Yellow Dot Program provides that information when verbal communication is lacking. Personal and medical information is placed on one’s refrigerator or in
be the town’s next mayor. On the final day of filing, Susan Clinard Dickenson announced her candidacy for mayor. Filing to fill the Town Council seats of Rayborn and Martha Wolfe, both of whom have served on Council eight years, are newcomers Jim Gibson, Phyllis Bridges, Cliff Paddock, Richard Clapp, Darren Myers, Jim Westmoreland and Shakinah Simeona-Lee. Since there are more than two candidates for each open
the glove compartment of a vehicle where emergency medical professionals can easily access it. The program started in Connecticut in 2002 and soon spread to other states. Following an article in USA Today in May 2011 interest in the program rose nationwide. Guilford County was one of the first areas in North Carolina to adopt the Yellow Dot Program. A Yellow Dot packet would consist of a personal photo, completed personal information form, Yellow Dot decals and Yellow Dot Folder. To complete, have someone take a photo of you, print it and tape it to the front of the information form. Fill out the form. There is no financial or identity-sensitive information on it. The form includes medical history, allergies, see vITaL, PAGe 6
PGA’s Wyndham is next week By CaROL BROOKs FreeLANCe WrIter cab1hp@gmail.com
It’s just one week and one day (July 31) until the 2025 Wyndham Championship tees off and the field is filling up. Several previous winners have signed up to play this year, including defending champion Aaron Rai, who is doing well on the PGA Tour this year. Rai had a come-from-behind win last year, outlasting Max Greyserman, who lost a fourstroke lead with five holes to play. Previous champions joining Rai are Si Woo Kim (2016), J.T. Poston (2019), twotime champion Brandt Snedeker (2007, 2018), Webb Simpson (2011), Camilo Villegas (2014), Lucas Glover (2023) and Jim Herman (2020). The tournament enjoys a rich history featuring many of the greatest names in golf and the starting point for many upand-coming golfers. The Wyndham is not only the last chance for the pros to work their way into the FedEx Cup playoffs, it also is a tournament that has seen many first-time PGA Tour winners, going back to 1942 when Sam Byrd posted his first victory. Included on the list are Art Doering (1951) Earl Stewart (1953), Bob Goalby see Pga, PAGe 2
Bringing loved ones home By nORMa B. dennIs FreeLANCe WrIter ndworddesign@gmail.com Some bracelets are worn for beauty, others to make a statement. But one, which is given to select residents of Guilford County, could literally save lives. The bracelets, which are about the size of a watch, and the equipment to track them are part of Project Lifesaver. This 501 (c)(3) venture is a collaborative effort between the Pilot Club of Greensboro and the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office. It is used to locate youths and adults prone to wander due to autism, Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive disorders. Although not especially attractive, its presence on a wrist or ankle could mean the difference between life and death for individuals unable to find their own way. Every second of every day the bracelets emit silent sounds – silent to its wearer, but clearly audible to the sensitive equipment set to detect them. The equipment operates on a frequency of 200 megahertz and is regulated by FCC for tracking. Each bracelet’s frequency is slightly different so just the person who is lost can be tracked. In recent years, drones have also been used to track wearers of the special bracelets.
File photo by Norma B. Dennis
Pictured shortly after Project Lifesaver was implemented in guilford County in 2011 are, left to right, Pilot Club members Laura Keever and Trudy Hennings, and Cpl. Bryan Herndon of the county sheriff’s office Community Resource Unit.
“The average search time is usually less than 30 minutes,” said Laura Keever, Pilot Club member and coordinator for Project Lifesaver. “The bracelets are more for the peace of mind for caregivers who know their loved ones can be found quickly if they wonder away.” Keever noted that not everyone with a cognitive disorder has a tendency to wander, but there are indicators that might imply they could. “If someone often says they Photo by Norma B. Dennis want to go see their mother, Laura Keever shows the oneare going to work, or need to page form currently used to request participation for a see HOMe, PAGe 6 loved one in Project Lifesaver.
adVErtisE in tHE JamEstOWn nEWs! We offer great, affordable packages to fit any budget. Call 336-316-1231.
50¢
COMPILed By nORMa B. dennIs
By CaROL BROOKs FreeLANCe WrIter cab1hp@gmail.com