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 4-10, 2026 Vol 48 no 10 | 1 Section | 8 Pages
Dam planning continues In August of 2022 the Public Services Department of the City of High Point began serious discussions regarding the fate of the dam at Arnold Koonce City Lake within City Lake Park. They saw only two options: repair the old dam constructed in 1928 or construct a new one. Either option had an estimated cost of the low $20 millions. In April of the following year the answer was clear: new dam. Robby Stone, High Point Public Services director, said in 2023 it was more cost-effective to construct a new dam slightly downstream rather than repair the old one, which will be demolished. The City received plans for both repair and rebuild options from Schnabel Engineering of Greensboro. The previous estimate was $23 million but the new estimate was higher. Recently, the City announced it was looking for $20 million
in federal funding for structural repairs to the dam. In May 2017 Schnabel began evaluating options to either “rehabilitate” or replace the dam. “There was no regulatory agency then to standardize how dams were built [in the 1920s],” Stone said. “They obviously did a good job. It has held up 100 years.” Now the dam does not meet state safety requirements for either stability or spillway capacity. At one time, visitors to the park were allowed to walk onto the dam, but the gate was closed permanently in the late 1950s-early 1960s. Stone does not believe the dam is in immediate danger of failure but it is something that needs to be addressed. “If there were a failure, it would impact those downstream,” he said. Adjacent to the spillway are the Jamestown Village apartments, West Main Street and, of course, City Lake Park. Schnabel is working on a design for a new dam. The design calls for construction downstream from the existing dam of a “roller
COMPIleD By NOrMA B. DeNNIs AND CArOl BrOOKs PLANNING BOARD The Jamestown Planning Board will hold its regular meeting March 9 at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, 301 E. Main St. The public is invited to attend. The agenda was not available at press time. NOVEL TEA FUNDRAISER FEATURES LOCAL AUTHOR Members of the Woman’s Club of Southwest Guilford are taking the word novelty to a new level. They are hosting a Novel Tea at Jamestown United Methodist Church March 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. Guests can enjoy tea and treats while listening to local author/novelist Frank Morelli talk about his past and present writing experiences. Morelli started writing as a youth, making up new story lines to his favorite video games. His fiction and essays have been featured in the Saturday Evening Post, Cobalt Review, Philadelphia Stories, Boog City Review and Highlights magazine. His first young adult novel, No Sad Songs, garnered much recognition, including a 2019 American Fiction Award for best coming-of-age story. The cost to attend the Novel Tea is $20 and proceeds will benefit Guilford County non-profits. For tickets to the event contact Deb Frisbee at 336-6870438, Cindy Griffie at 336-314-0657, or Marilyn Joyce at 336-880-1816. 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
Local athletes shine By CArOl BrOOKs freeLance Writer cab1hp@gmail.com Ragsdale High has an MVP athlete on the school’s track team. Taraji Jordon won Most Valuable Player at the NCHSAA 6A Indoor Track State Championship on Feb. 12 with a time of 7.13 in the 55-meter race. The Ragsdale team was state runner-up. Jordon is a freshman who also runs with the High Point Blaze Track Club. Jordon is also on Ragsdale’s 4x200 relay team and a long-jumper. She was the 13-yearold long jump gold medalist at the 2024 Greensboro Junior Olympics and competed in the Houston Junior Olympics in 2025.
Her coach at Ragsdale, Simeon Platt, would not be surprised if she made the big Olympic stage in a few years. Across East Main Street, GTCC’s sophomore guard Nikel Rodgers broke the NJCAA record on Feb. 20 for three-pointers in a single basketball game by a one player. Rodgers made 17 of the shots during the Titan’s victory over Pitt Community College. This broke the previous record of 16 threes made in 2017. He did miss six attempts, however. His game total was 54 points, with most of them coming in the second half. Rodgers hopes to play with the UNC Tarheels after he leaves GTCC after this season.
compacted concrete dam topped with a piano key weir.” The old dam will be demolished once the new one is in place. Costs are estimated to be $32.5 million. If all goes to plan, construction would not begin until 2028 – if then. High Point is hoping to receive the $20 million in federal funding in the form of reimbursements. A City spokesman said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are required by law to directly manage every project such as this, which results in delays, unobligated funds and extended timelines for critical water and wastewater infrastructure improvements. However, reimbursements would speed up the project. In 2023, High Point purchased two properties on Knollwood Drive for the project. The properties back up to the lake on the Jamestown side and Stone said the properties are crucial for access and construction. Technically, the City of High Point now owns property within the Town of Jamestown. It
Photo by Carol Brooks
High Point City lake Dam also appears City Lake Park is in Jamestown, but once a vehicle turns off West Main Street, it is within the High Point limits. Construction began on the dam in the 1920s where the east and west forks of Deep River converged, creating a lake for a 1.5-billion-gallon water supply for High Point. Through the years, the dam has had superficial repairs but more extensive repairs are now needed. Many High Pointers [including this writer] and Jamestown-
ers over the years have enjoyed the park, whether for picnicking, swimming, fishing or boating. During Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) swimming competitions in 1950, 1954 and 1963, platforms were constructed on the dam for contestants to dive into the lake. Some of these competitions were trials for participation in the Olympics. ABC’s “Wide World of Sports” broadcasted from High Point during the U.S. Senior Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships in 1963.
St. Patrick’s Day Tea features 'wearing of the green'
By NOrMA B. DeNNIs freeLance Writer ndworddesign@gmail.com
The special event at Pennybyrn Retirement Center March 1 could have easily been called “Shades of Green.” Most of the guests that attended were wearing some variation of green attire. But it was actually the 58th St. Patrick’s Day Tea held each year sometime in the month of March. Guests included residents, future residents, board members, ambassadors, donors and volunteers. Annette Benson was the presenting sponsor. Special guests were Sister Lucy Hennessy and Sister Gabriella Hogan who returned to visit Pennybyrn after retiring to their homeland of Ireland in June of 2025. Sister Lucy continues to serve remotely on Pennybyrn’s Board of Directors. Dancers from the Lismore Academy of Irish Dancing provided entertainment while guests enjoyed a variety of Irish food and drink. A 50-50 raffle was held to raise funds for the Resident Care Fund.
(At left) Pennybyrn President rich Newman welcomes sister lucy Hennessy to the stage during the 58th annual st. Patrick’s Day Tea. sister lucy and sister Gabriella Hogan had returned for a visit following retirement to their homeland of Ireland. (Center) sister Gabriella Hogan chatted with a resident at the closing of the program. (At right) resident Barbara McKusick appeared to be dressed to impress in her leprechaun-looking apparel. “About 35 percent of the residents here have outlived their resources and rely on this fund to continue their care at the facility,” said Sarah Barker, director of Philanthropy & Public Relations. Pennybyrn began as a nursing home in 1947 in the former Penny mansion on the corner of Penny and Greensboro Roads. Originally designed to care for the sick and elderly, the facility now includes independent, assistant living and skilled nursing care. There is also a rehab center and newly opened Adult Day Center.
(At right) Father Pat Hoare was a hit with the residents and guests when he took the stage dressed totally in green. (Above) Dancers from the lismore Academy of Irish Dancing prepare to entertain with their fancy footwork to jigs and reels.
Quaker influence on America’s founding By CArOl BrOOKs freeLance Writer cab1hp@gmail.com Quakers, or technically, The Religious Society of Friends, have had a major impact on the shaping of the United States from before the time of William Penn through modern times. Max Carter, professor emeritus at Guilford College, presented a special program at the High Point Public Library Feb. 7 about this influence. Carter, a member of New Garden Friends Meeting in Greensboro, began by explaining the title of his talk, “How Quakers invented America.” “We didn’t quite invent America but [rather had] a good deal of Quaker influence on the founding documents and the founding character of the
United States,” he said with a smile. “You’re probably familiar with the Quaker influence locally, certainly in High Point. You have streets named after the Englishes and Nathan Hunt and the Blairs and Mendenhalls and there is a Hayworth or two mixed in.” There is an abundance of Quaker Meetings in the Jamestown and High Point areas, including Jamestown Friends, Deep River, New Garden, Springfield, Concord, Friendship, First and High Point. “The beginning of the industries that defined High Point furniture and the Model Farm program helped save not only this community but the Southern Quaker community that Photo by Carol Brooks was established around the Spring- Max Carter spoke at the Feb. 7 High Point Public library about see QUAKer, Page 2 Quaker influences.
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By CArOl BrOOKs freeLance Writer cab1hp@gmail.com