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
MARCH 12-18, 2025 Vol 47 no 11 | 1 Section | 8 Pages
Wyndham to be a week earlier this year
ComPiled By Carol BrooKs BooK signing Author Linda Willard will have a book signing at 11 a.m. March 15 at the High Point Museum for her new book “Breaking the Chains of Oppression: Abolitionist Quakers.” The museum is located at 1859 E. Lexington Ave. history Presentation Jamestown, n.C. free People of Color and african american families (the Jamestown freedom Pioneers) The High Point Museum and the Historic Jamestown Society have joined together to host a program about the free people of color and African American families of Jamestown. You will hear stories and learn about the history of the Free People of Color and the African American families in the area, and where they resided in Jamestown, N.C. You will also learn how they assisted with the abolitionist movement, helped to build the nation, and developed impactful legacies that reach beyond this area. The presentation will be March 15 at noon at the High Point Museum, 1859 E. Lexington Ave. This event is free and open to the public. Plans anD PreserVation of the menDenhall Blair house On March 19 at 10 a.m., the High Point Historical Society will host staff from the Mendenhall-Blair House to discuss the future of the historic house. This event is free and open to the public. The museum is located at 1859 E. Lexington Ave. metro 4a ConferenCe all-ConferenCe 24-45 Winter season Winners Boys’ Basketball Ragsdale: Josiah Beatty girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year: Ren Stewart, Ragsdale Ragsdale: Aaliya Boddie, Ja’Mya Boddie, Brooke Parker Boys swimming and Diving Ragsdale: Luke Golinski Wrestling Ragsdale: Hake Cyrus 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
By Carol BrooKs FReeLAnCe WRITeR cab1hp@gmail.com If you are planning to attend the 86th Wyndham Championship golf tournament this year, don’t forget to dress for hot weather. The dates are July 30-Aug. 3 at Sedgefield Country Club. No reason was given for the date change, which was established by the PGA Tour. “With our PGA Tour event starting in July, we want to be sure everyone knows our new dates so they can make sure they’re in town,” said Executive Director Mark Brazil. “Summer can be a really busy time of year so we’re hoping if people get the dates on their calendars now, they’ll plan those great summer vacations on other weeks. The Wyndham Championship is one of the best weeks of the summer.”
After bouncing around the calendar with play in August, October, April and March, several years ago the PGA landed in the month of August for the tournament, making it the final tournament of the PGA Tour regular season. That position has several important factors to it, not the least of which is determining the 70 players who qualify for the FedExCup playoffs. It also helps the Presidents and Ryder Cup captains determine who will play for their respective teams. The Wyndham Championship, founded in 1938 as the Greater Greensboro Open but played under several other names over the years, is the
seventh-oldest professional golf tournament except for the majors and it is the oldest professional golf tournament in North Carolina. tickets Individual day or season tickets are available at https://www. wyndhamchampionship.com/ spectators/tickets. All Wyndham Championship tickets and parking passes will now be digitally delivered. All tickets must be purchased in advance. Neither on-site ticket sales nor Will Call will be available, but fans arriving at the Wyndham Championship without tickets can purchase them on their mobile devices prior to entering.
Other tournaments The Wyndham is not the only professional golf tournament in North Carolina. This year the PGA Championship will take place at Quail Hollow Country Club in Charlotte. The course is usually the home of the Wells Fargo Championship — now the Truist Championship — but since Quail Hollow is hosting the PGA Championship, the Truist Championship will be held at the Philadelphia Cricket Club this year and return to Charlotte in 2026.
History talk explores new view on cause of Civil War By norma B. dennis FReeLAnCe WRITeR ndworddesign@gmail.com There was a different twist on history during the March 6 First Thursday History Presentation at the Jamestown Public Library. Jamestown resident Jim Lutzweiler critiqued the book “The Demon of Unrest: A saga of Hubris, Heartbreak and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War” by Eric Larson, adding his own take on the cause of the Civil War. Although Larson is one of Lutzweiler’s favorite authors, he disagrees with Larson’s view that the war was all about slavery. His favorite line in Larson’s book appears on page 8, “Jilted at the altar of the Railroad Age, South Carolina had retreated into its own world of indolence and myth.” He feels Larson did not expand on this comment as needed. Lutzweiler also believes China plays a central theme in American history including the Civil War. Growing up in Illinois, Lutzweiler was taught like school children everywhere that slavery caused the war. As an adult discussing the Civil War with a friend at a function, someone overheard the conversation and tapped Lutzweiler on the shoulder.
Photo by Norma B. Dennis
Jim lutzweiler shared a new viewpoint about the Civil War during his talk at the First thursday History series at the Jamestown Public library. “Son, that was a railroad war,” he said, before disappearing into the crowd. Intrigued by the man’s comment, Lutzweiler knew he wanted to learn more about this concept and write about it. While studying at North Carolina State University, he was sidetracked by the story of Emily D. West and the part she may or may not have played in occupying Santa
Cobras coiled and ready to strike By ogi oVerman FReeLAnCe WRITeR
Anna in his tent during what became know as the Battle of San Jacinto. “I deferred interest in the railroad to write my M.A. thesis about Emily,” Lutzweiler said. While working on a PhD at Duke University, he continued his study of the North see War, PAGe 2
Town denied sidewalk approval By Carol BrooKs FReeLAnCe WRITeR cab1hp@gmail.com
the Year in 2023 and Coach of the Year in 2024, even with a 6-4 record. “We were 6-2 overall and 5-1 at home but lost our last two games on the road and missed a
The Town of Jamestown’s application to construct a half-mile “side-path” sidewalk along East Main Street in front of Christine Joyner Greene Education Center has been denied by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. At 10 feet wide, the sidewalk, which was to connect to the current sidewalk along Vickery Chapel Road, would follow East Main Street to just short of Millis Road, according to a map in the application. The route is along property owned by the Guilford County School Board. The letter from DEQ General Counsel Dan Hirschman denying the “401 Quality Certification Application, East Main Street from Vickery Chapel Road to Millis Road,” was sent to Town Manager Matthew Johnson and dated Feb.
see CoBras, PAGe 2
see sideWalK, PAGe 2
PHoto By riCK Cornell
about his family, football occupies most of his time from early spring to mid-summer. He has gradually moved up the ladder from coaching in youth leagues, to middle school, to high school, and, as of 2020, arena football. He began his career with
the Cobras as the offensive and defensive line coach; moved to special teams and offensive line; took 2022 off during the pandemic; in 2023 moved to assistant coach; and became the head coach last year. He was named the league’s Assistant Coach of
ADVERTISE IN THE JAMESTOWN NEWS! We offer great, affordable packages to fit any budget. Call 336-316-1231.
50¢
Brandon Negron is a busy man these days. No, make that a very busy man. As both head coach and president of the Carolina Cobras arena football team, he has a full-time, year-round job. But with practice just now gearing up for the March 15 openingday kickoff, his schedule will be fairly non-stop for at least the next three months. And if all goes well and the Cobras make the National Arena League (NAL) playoffs, add another week or, hopefully, two before he can come up for air. Oh, and there’s one other item that contributes to his whirlwind life — he and wife Donna are parents to seven offspring (four grown) and grandparents to Kyla, who turned one Feb. 16. “She’s my best friend,” beamed the hulking coach. “Being a granddad is the best.” Still, as passionate as he is
Volunteers needed Volunteers are always needed at the Wyndham Championship. Not only is this a good way to help the PGA and local organizers, volunteers are right on the edge of the action. Visit https://www.wyndhamchampionship.com/volunteers/registration to sign up.