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
AUG. 26 - SEPT. 1, 2026 Vol 48 No 35 | 1 Section | 8 Pages
Council approves Sheriff ’s Dept. contract
BY CAROL BROOKS FREELANCE WRITER cab1hp@gmail.com
The discussion has been going on for several years: Should Jamestown pay extra for extra services from the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department. No other municipality in the County pays extra. Discussion about what the Town pays has also been a major discussion point at several special Town Council budget meetings. “The staff requests Council approval of a new lnterlocal Agreement (ILA) between the Town, Guilford County, and the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office
(GCSO) for law enforcement services, effective July 1, 2026 (retroactive),” said Town Manager Matthew Johnson. “This Agreement replaces the original 1991 contract, which has been in continuous effect for approximately 35 years. “The Town contracts with GCSO for two components of law enforcement service: Traditional Law Enforcement - the same baseline coverage GCSO provides to all municipalities in the County, continuing independent of this agreement for as long as Jamestown remains incorporated. “Augmented Law Enforcement [is] four dedicated, specifically assigned Deputy Sheriffs funded
by the Town, providing enhanced coverage within Town limits. Johnson listed several key terms to the new contract: Continues year-to-year with no renewal required; any party may terminate with 90 days’ writ-
ten notice, or immediately for an uncured material breach. Terminates automatically if the parties cannot agree on the Annual Payment Amount by June 15 for the upcoming fiscal year. Fiscal Year 2026-2727 Annual Payment Amount is $473,682. The County will propose future-year amounts by March 1 annually. GCSO retains sole authority over deputy selection, training, discipline and assignment. Vehicle ownership change: The prior arrangement – Town purchases vehicles, transfers title to County, then title reverts to Town at end of life– is terminated. Going forward, the County will own, pur-
chase, lease and maintain all vehicles used for Augmented Services. The Town releases any claim to the vehicles previously titled under that arrangement. No indemnification or agency relationship is created between the parties; each retains its own immunities and legal defenses. Councilmembers felt glad the contract has been updated, the first time since 1991. “I want to personally thank the sheriff and his team for the work and the effort they put into it,” said Councilmember Jim Westmoreland. “I guess [for] the county SEE CONTRACT, PAGE 2
ABOUT Rezoning hearing Overcrowded animal TOWN shelter desperate for help continued INCREASE YOUR BUSINESS The Jamestown Business Association monthly meeting will be held Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. in The Gathering Table restaurant at Furnitureland South, 5635 Riverdale Dr., Jamestown. Topic for the evening is Marketing 101 with a focus on growing your business and reaching more customers. There will be information for all budgets, even if you currently have no funds to allocate to marketing. Whether you are just getting started or looking to sharpen your strategy, this meeting is for you. The Jamestown Business Association may be found on Facebook. 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
until Sept. 15
BY CAROL BROOKS FREELANCE WRITER cab1hp@gmail.com It is not raining cats and dogs at the Guilford County Animal Shelter but it may seem like it is to employees. The shelter has more cats and dogs than it can handle — over 700. This is one the highest numbers ever at the shelter and more than the shelter can hold. Shelter staff is overworked, to say the least. The problem is all the animals that are being surrendered by owners to the shelter. There are wait times of two to three hours to allow employees time to evaluate each animal, address medical needs and arrange housing. “Our team is working tirelessly to provide the best care possible,” Guilford County Animal Services Director Jorge Ortega said recently in the media. “The sheer volume of animals means we must prioritize their immediate needs and safety. We’re asking for the community’s patience and support during this challenging time.” Ortega said the shelter received about 1,500
Photos courtesy of Guilford County Animal Services
Wonton the kitten and Burberry the dog are current residents of the shelter.
dogs and cats during June and July alone. The Shelter is designed for only 550. The solutions are simple: adoption, foster or donate to the shelter. The Shelter has dropped the adoption fee for all cats and dogs to $10 through Aug. 31 in the national Clear the Shelter campaign. All animals are vaccinated, microchipped and spayed or neutered. Guilford County Animal Services especially needs foster families willing to provide temporary living arrangements for animals in its foster program. As a
Carter Bank acquires new look BY NORMA B. DENNIS FREELANCE WRITER ndworddesign@gmail.com It is not unusual for people to want to redecorate their homes from time to time — either inside, outside, or both. The same can be said for businesses. A refresh can make the structure more appealing and comfortable to those who frequent it. After approximately nine months of creating changes to its interior and exterior, Carter Bank at 5715 West Gate City Blvd., near McDonald’s, has finally put Photo by Norma B. Dennis the finishing touches to its Bank manager Bob Callicutt and assisnew look. tant manager Beata Szekely are never Although customers have too busy to offer customers a smile. watched the changes as they progressed, Carter Bank teammates are inviting everyone The interior changes are the to an open house Sept. 2 from 11 most noticeable. a.m-2 p.m. to tour the facility and “They were the biggest changenjoy refreshments. es,” said Bob Callicutt, manager. Planning for the remodeling of “Every room has been modified.” the bank actually began in early New flooring, paint and furniture 2025 as part of a project to rebrand brightened the area. The old, dark and renovate all branches of Carter wooden teller line was removed Bank located in Virginia and North Carolina. SEE BANK, PAGE 2
foster parent, you are a volunteer and part of a massive life-saving mission to help prevent animal homelessness and overpopulation. By fostering an animal, space is opened up for another animal. Animals that commonly need foster homes include puppies and kittens under eight weeks old, animals SEE SHELTER, PAGE 3
BY CAROL BROOKS FREELANCE WRITER cab1hp@gmail.com The rezoning hearing for 4909 Guilford College Road from AG to CZSFR was continued from the July Jamestown Town Council meeting to the August 18 meeting. Since then, the applicant, Harvest Church has revised some of the conditions. However, those conditions were not read. “Tonight my intent was to share additional comments to the updated conditions and also our leadership team from Harvest wanted to give several good faith considerations we’re willing to do just to continue to do our best to be good neighbors,” said Harvest Church Pastor Joe Coyne. “That was my intent tonight. However, around 4:00 I received two documents from our neighbors and one of those documents had additional requests I hadn’t seen. The other [was] a civil engineer report. I haven’t been able to read it thoroughly. I want to respectfully request our
team has to be able to take a look at it thoroughly.” Coyne then requested the hearing be continued until the Sept. 15 Town Council meeting, “… so we can have adequate time to review this and be able to properly respond.” “That seems to make some sense,” said Councilmember Jim Westmoreland. “We, too, received a copy of those documents. My perspective is everybody has been working together and what you say you’re going to do.” Westmoreland’s motion to continue the meeting until Sept. 15 was unanimously approved.
MANAGER’S REPORT “Unfortunately, the weather got the best of us again this year for National Night Out,” said Town Manager Matthew Johnson. “We will be hosting Camel City Yacht Club who will be bringing us the top Yacht Rock hits from the 70s and 80s on Friday, Sept. 4, from 6-10 p.m. at Wrenn Miller Park. HopeSEE REZONE, PAGE 3
Jamestown Friends celebrate start of new school year BY NORMA B. DENNIS FREELANCE WRITER ndworddesign@gmail.com
Members of Jamestown Friends Meeting treated teachers and staff at Jamestown Middle School to a special lunch on Aug. 17 to celebrate the beginning of a new school year. “For the past 10 years we have had a partnership with JMS,” said Jan Photos submitted Purser, presiding clerk at (At left) Virginia Sills, left, and Susan Bulla were among approxiJamestown Friends. “We mately 12 members of Jamestown Friends Meeting who hosted a have collected school meal for the staff at Jamestown Middle School in the school library. supplies each year and at (At right) Wallace Sills, also a member was among the group serving Christmas adopted one food provided by the meeting. of the families from the school to help. This is the first best fit for the school’s schedule. have worked with the school to year we have served the staff “The school staff was so appre- collect school supplies that were lunch.” ciative for the lunch and excited specific to their needs,” Purser The meeting hosted a com- to have us there,” Purser said. said. “Last year we collected spimunity luncheon in the Spring at Approximately a dozen JFM ral notebooks and pencils. This Jamestown Friends Meeting, 509 members served 100 Jamestown year, it was loose-leaf paper and Guilford Road. Members enjoyed Middle School staff. Part of the colored pencils. the occasion so much they decid- meal was catered, but the mem“Many members of our meeted to host a luncheon for JMS bers supplemented the meal with ing are retired teachers and staff before school started. A several homemade sides and des- school support staff so this projteacher workday was suggested serts. ect is very dear to our hearts – to for the event and the 17th was the “For the past few years we help as we can.”
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