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
Oct. 15-21, 2025 Vol 47 No 42 | 1 Section | 6 Pages
Compiled By Norma B. Dennis Give the gift of life Emergencies often grab headlines, but the need for blood is constant. Blood has a short shelf life and can only come from volunteer blood donors. Make an appointment to give blood or platelets by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor app. Greensboro Oct. 21: 2-6 p.m., Sedgefield Country Club, 3201 Forsyth Dr. Many dates open at Greensboro Blood Donation Center, 1501 Yanceyville Street, Greensboro. High Point Oct. 16: 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Southwest Guilford High School, 4364 Barrow Road. Oct. 23: 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., High Point University Slane Center, 1 University Pkwy. Oct. 23: 2:30-8 p.m., High Point University Slane Center, 1 University Pkwy. Oct. 30: 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Phoenix Academy High School Building, 7847 Clinard Farms Road. Oct. 30: 11 a.m.-3 p.m., State Employees Credit Union Penny Road, 3850 John Gordon Lane.
Primary election shows Council preferences
By CAROL BROOKS freelance writer cab1hp@gmail.com
The number of candidates in the race for Town Council is now down to four following the Oct. 7 primary election, as three candidates lost their bid. With all precincts reporting, the Jamestown Town Council candidates moving on to the Nov. 4 election are Jim Westmoreland (245 votes or 27.84 percent of the votes), Jim Gibson (224 votes or 25.45 percent), Cliff Paddock (170 votes or 19.32 percent) and Richard
Jim Westmoreland
Jim Gibson
Clapp (87 votes or 11.02 percent). These candidates will join current Councilmember Rebecca Mann Rayborn and Susan Clinard Dickenson on the ballot for Jamestown mayor. Greg Pittman is also running for mayor
Cliff Paddock
as a write-in candidate, having not registered to run by the July deadline. Losing in their bid for Town Council were Shakinah Simeona-Lee (90 votes or 10.23 percent), Phyllis Bridges (45 votes or 5.11 percent) and Darren
Richard Clapp
Myers (9 votes or 1.02 percent). Myers had officially dropped out of the race the end of August but his name remained on the ballot. A total of 880 eligible people voted in the Jamestown election. Early voting will be Oct. 16 – Nov. 1.
Jamestown Halloween events mean safe fun for kids
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 The Jamestown Town Council will meet Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Brandon Emory, Alliance Code Enforcement, will have a presentation about code enforcement in Jamestown. Parks and Recreation Director Scott Coakley will give the P&R quarterly report. Eli Arnold will take his seat as the new high school representative this school year. Darlene Fete and Robert Garland will be reappointed to the Planning Board. Several proclamations are on the agenda: Veterans Day 2025, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2025, declaration of October as Fire Prevention Month in Jamestown and declaration of Oct. 20-26 as Friends of the Library Week. Items scheduled in the consent agenda include approval of an agreement between Guilford County and the Town of Jamestown concerning addressing responsibilities and approval of an easement agreement between the Town and Barton Weeks. The Town Council meetings may be viewed live at www.youtube.com/c/ TownofJamestownNC. Click on “live.” They are also available after the meetings.
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It is almost difficult to distinguish who has more fun, the children who attend Ragsdale High School’s Trunk or Treat or the students who host it.
Ragsdale High School hosts Trunk or Treat By NORMA B. DENNIS FREELANCE WRITER ndworddesign@gmail.com When Jason Reynolds was a youth, he remembers his parents checking all his trick-or-treat candy before he was allowed to eat any. That is one reason the theatre director at Ragsdale High School likes the school-sponsored Trunk or Treat that Ragsdale has held since 2019. “This gives families something fun and safe to do for Halloween,” Reynolds said. “We have kids look forward to this and come back every year. Seeing the little kids get excited makes my day.” The Ragsdale Tiger Theatre and Interclub Council sponsor the Trunk or Treat, which has become an annual event. This year it will be held Oct. 25 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the circle lot in front of the school at 1000 Lucy Ragsdale Dr. Drama Club students run the event, including set up, break down, directing parking, providing water and clearing trash. Clubs from the Interclub Council sponsor decorated trunks and provide candy at their vehicles. The Interclub Council is made up of all the clubs at the school. It gives each
Loose leaf collection to begin By CAROL BROOKS freelance writer cab1hp@gmail.com Jamestown’s annual leaf collection begins Oct. 21 and runs for four months, until Feb. 20, 2026. The program provides residents with the opportunity to have loose leaves collected at the side of the street without the need to bag. To prepare for collection: Rake leaves to the edge of the yard Do not park vehicles on, in front of or behind the curb. near your leaves. Remove sticks, rocks and other debris. The program is operated on a routing These could damage the equipment. system that is based on completion of If Town staff encounters debris in the leaf one leaf collection route of the town in pile, they will not continue to collect at that property. see leaf, page 2
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Trunk or Treat is one of the favorite activities that children enjoy in downtown Jamestown.
club a voice, allowing them to book events without overlapping the same date. “Last year we had 20 trunks and this year we have 90 percent of the clubs participating, as well as athletes and cheerleaders,” Reynolds said. “It is an opportunity for our students to give back to the community that supports them, a thank you for coming to our various events. It also gives clubs an opportunity to promote their groups.” The event involves more than getting candy. It is somewhat of a carnival with each club sponsoring a game to add to the fun. There is also face painting, music, coloring and food trucks including Tommy D’s Cuisine and Kona Ice. Those who attend are encouraged to wear costumes. The first year, approximately 350 people attended the Trunk or Treat. Attendance has grown each year with 750 coming last year and 80 students working the event. Clubs are allowed to choose the theme for their vehicle with selections made on a first-come, first-served basis. The only rules are the themes must be school and family appropriate and kid friendly. Drama students give each person who
The days when children in colorful costumes went trick or treating door-todoor in their neighborhoods seem pretty much a thing of the past. Today, churches, schools and other organizations are conducting Trunk or Treat events to provide a safer alternative for Halloween fun. For Bridgid Murphy, the owner of Cakes by B’s Blue House Bakery, the concept of a safer trick or treat experience began in 2020 when the pandemic was keeping people from close contact. “I thought kids could be spread out if
see trunk, page 2
see PARTY, page 2
Jamestown businesses sponsor Halloween party By NORMA B. DENNIS FREELANCE WRITER ndworddesign@gmail.com
True Tales of the Macabre return to Homeplace By CAROL BROOKS freelance writer cab1hp@gmail.com It’s Halloween time. Are you ready to be scared? If so, “True Tales of the Macabre: An After-Dark Tour of Mendenhall Homeplace” will take over the decorated 200-plus-yearold home with true spooky tales — many of them related to the Mendenhall family. For the fourth year, on Oct. 24 visitors can hear see tale, page 2
Photo courtesy of Historic Jamestown Society
Mendenhall Homeplace will again be the home of “Tales of the Macabre” Oct. 24.
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Town Council to meet Oct. 21