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 29 - Aug. 4, 2026 Vol 48 No 31 | 1 Section | 8 Pages
Town Council has a busy evening
The Jamestown Town Council meeting on July 21 lasted just over four hours, full of important business to discuss or adopt. Strategic Plan update The Council was expected to adopt the Town’s updated Strategic plan at its July 21 meeting. However, staff learned the Council would like to revisit portions of the plan prior to adoption. It had been tabled at the June 23 meeting. The Council will meet Aug. 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. to have a dialogue with key staff members regarding suggested changes. Oakdale Sidewalk Project Town Manager Matthew Johnson explained why the Oakdale
Road sidewalk project has been delayed. “It’s been on the books a long time, Johnson said. “It’s been delayed a bit and a good portion of that time was at the request of NCDOT who wanted to complete the [Jamestown] bypass project first. Since then, staffing, engineering and funding challenges have continued to plague the project. “The most significant issue is the large increase in costs for the project over the amount of funding from the Congestion, Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant, which was initially $700,000. Some of those funds have been used for engineering. “The Town is at a crossroads. If the project is scrapped, NCDOT has indicated that they would not require reimbursement for funds spent to date. If we decide to move forward, the costs will far out-
Compiled By Carol Brooks Riverdale Drive closed for four weeks N. C. Department of Transportation crews temporarily closed Riverdale Drive near Furniture Avenue in southern Guilford County earlier this week. The road will be closed for four weeks in both directions while crews replace a large underground crossline pipe. Detour signs will be posted during the detour. The suggested detour route is to take northbound Interstate 85 Business Loop on Riverdale Drive, then turn right onto Business I-85 for 1.3 miles. Take the ramp toward Vickrey Chapel Road for 0.2 miles, turn right onto Vickrey Chapel Road for 1.3 miles, then turn right onto Kivett Drive for 1.5 miles. Turn left onto Riverdale Drive. Music in the Park and National Night Out Jamestown’s Music in the Park, which usually is on Friday nights, will take place instead on Tuesday, Aug. 4 at 6 p.m. to coordinate with National Night Out. The featured band is The Olsons, formerly AM rOdeO. Jamestown Rotary Club members will be onsite collecting school supplies, canned food and backpacks for Jamestown schools. Wrenn Farm outparcel sold A site plan application for Wrenn Farm Dental Office at 1410 Greensboro Road in front of the Wrenn Farm Village residential community has been submitted to the City of High Point. The location is just outside the Jamestown Town Limit and across from Pennybyrn. This vacant, 1-acre outparcel was purchased in May by Sabre Holdings LLC, which is co-managed by Dr. Preston Ford, a High Point dentist. The purchase price was $485,000, and the seller was Jemsite Development of Ashe County, the original developer of Wrenn Farm Village. 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
weigh the available grant funding,” Johnson added. “The revised cost estimates below for the Oakdale Road sidewalk are based on recent project costs. Funds needed are $1,140,000. “In discussions with Council members, Councilmember Jim Westmoreland indicated that he would be willing to have this discussion with the High Point Metropolitan Planning Organization (HPMPO) and NC DOT to see if additional funding would be available. We wanted to bring this to the attention of the Council and the public. “CMAQ is typically funded with 20 percent local match and 80 percent from NCDOT that’s federal funding,” Westmoreland said. “Right now we have a gap that will, hopefully, need to be filled by the DOT with additional CMAQ funding. “I’m being cautiously
Personnel Policy amendment The Council approved an amendment to the Town’s Personnel Policy to to accept prior service with a previous employer who participates in the state retirement system when calculating vacation leave accruals. “[Councilmember Sarah Glanville] identified one of the challenges sometimes for employees coming from other jurisdictions that participate in the state or local retirement system is that they
Proclamations and Resolutions Councilmember Pam Burgess read a proclamation declaring July as Parks and Recreation month in Jamestown. Burgess also presented a resolution honoring Charles Clapp, Jr., on the Parks and Recreation Committee. Clapp has served on the committee since being an alternate in 2018. The entire Town Council gath-
By CAROL BROOKS freelance writer cab1hp@gmail.com
There are several reasons people might need to go to a laundromat — they cannot afford a washer and dryer, their home is too small to accommodate the appliances, or the ones they own might be temporarily broken. Whatever the reason might be, having a local laundromat accessible can be a huge convenience. Greg Earnhardt saw the need and worked to fulfill it for Jamestown and the surPhoto by Norma B. Dennis rounding area. He purchased Greg Earnhardt is excited to open the the old laundromat at 730 Soapbox Laundromat, a totally renoW. Main St. in Jamestown vated laundry facility in Jamestown. and spent several months upgrading the facility, making sure all permits were in place most part, bathroom, laundry basand work was completed to code. kets and washers. The dryers are To start the process, he closed used, but new to the business.” on the building Dec. 31, 2025, ran There are currently change the business for a month to evalu- machines and in the near future ate what was needed, closed its there will be snack machines and doors Feb. 1 for renovations and Internet service. reopened June 25 as the Soapbox Earnhardt, who has worked in Laundromat. the insurance business for approxi“I tried to find an original name, mately 20 years, was encouraged to but later learned there are many open the laundromat after seeing his with the same name throughout the friend Glen Francis handle two such U.S. But we are the only one any- businesses in High Point. where nearby. “He is my business partner and “Everything is new except the has been my mentor,” Earnhardt dryers and Darlene (attendant),” said. “He owns half the building Earnhardt said smiling. “We redid see soapbox, page 6 the wiring, plumbing, AC for the
Photo by Norma B. Dennis
Jamestown Park Ladies Golf Association members, left to right, Tami Eade, Chris Sullivan and Anne Prevo, along with Jamestown Golf Pro Marcy Newton, recently met at the Jamestown Park clubhouse to talk about the upcoming JPLGA Member/ Guest Golf Tournament.
see busy, page 3
Council delays decision on Harvest Church rezoning request
By NORMA B. DENNIS FREELANCE WRITER ndworddesign@gmail.com
By NORMA B. DENNIS FREELANCE WRITER ndworddesign@gmail.com
see jplga, page 3
would have to start back at zero,” Johnson said. “Their tenure is not recognized.” Currently, if the Town hired a 10-year employee from other town, the vacation they would be earning at a rate with their tenure would not transfer over. The amendment allows the inclusion of the previous 10 years.
Soapbox upgrades laundromat service in Jamestown
Members of JPLGA host benefit for first responders For the first time in recent memory, members of the Jamestown Park Ladies Golf Association (JPLGA) are hosting a Member/Guest Golf Tournament. There will be four flights based on players’ handicaps, along with raffle prizes donated by members and the community. The tournament is not just for fun, however, although there is sure to be plenty of that. It is a benefit for First
optimistic. I feel good about our abilities to make the case with the DOT and have it funded in fairly short order. CMAC seems to have some flexibility in it.” The Capital Improvement Plan includes $300,000 taken out of fund balance. Johnson will check how much of the original $700,000 has already been spent.
Two public hearings brought a larger-than-normal audience to the July 21 Jamestown Town Council meeting. The Council considered the rezoning of property located at 4909 Guilford College Road beside the church from Agriculture (AG) to Conditional Zoning-Single-Family Residential (CZ-SFR), which accommodates a church. According to the rezoning application, the church planned expansion of its campus and to use the 1908 Ann Wiley White House on the property for church events. Additional parking was also planned. While Town staff approved the rezoning, the Planning Board voted down the request June 8. Pastor Joe Coyne spoke in defense of the rezoning and invited several others to speak. Glenn Laivins is the current owner of the property. He said he had made a mistake at the Planning Board meeting. “I’m the one that approached the church,” Laivins said. “No one from the church has asked me to sell. The house is more than we can handle and the church has been phenomenal neighbors. All our neighbors have been wonderful.” “If you look at agricultural use as defined in the LDO, there are many things that can be done on this property that I’m not sure the neighbors are aware of,” said Keith French, a member of the church’s executive team. “Under that zoning, you could have cattle, poultry, chickens, roostsee rezoning, page 3
Wyndham is teeing off soon By CAROL BROOKS freelance writer cab1hp@gmail.com
It’s almost here, the premier sporting event in the Triad. The 87th annual Wyndham Championship will be held Aug. 6-9 at Sedgefield Country Club, which is celebrating 100 years. Defending champion Cameron Young has indicated he will return to defend his title. The 2025 Wyndham was Young’s first victory on the PGA Tour but it was a stepping stone for 2026. Since last year, the Wake Forest grad has moved to No. 3 in the world and third on the FedEX Cup points list. He is also a contender for the PGA Tour’s player of the year. Photo courtesy John Gillooly/ The Wyndham kicked off victories at Wyndham Championship the Players Championship, Doral, Cadil- Cam Young kisses the Sam Snead Cup following his 2025 victory at the see wyndham, page 6 Wyndham Championship.
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By CAROL BROOKS freelance writer cab1hp@gmail.com