Author: Scott D. Yost

 “Dance, dance, dance, the night away…”So goes the excellent song by Van Halen, but now Greensboro residents can dance the day away instead: On Saturday, July 27, Greensboro Downtown Parks Inc. is putting on the city’s third annual National Dance Day celebration in LeBauer Park.

Kevin Costner’s character had one plan in “Field of Dreams” – “If you build it, they will come” – however, the High Point Rockers have a different philosophy for their baseball team:  “After you build it, you have to promote it.”

This week, the High Point City Council voted unanimously to bestow an honor on one of the city’s best known civil right’s figures.

There’s one type of crime that really seems to be getting popular in Guilford County these days, perhaps because of its simplicity.

In August, Thomas Built Buses Inc., which has been a driving force in Guilford County’s economy for over a century, is expanding its bus line with a type of school bus that’s meant to be an extra-power beast when tackling big hills – all while increasing fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. 

Anyone who was hoping to hear anything out of the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department regarding this week’s resignation of the department’s executive administrative assistant or the department’s spokesman should not hold their breath. 

In a phone conversation with the Rhino Times on Monday, July 15, Max Benbassat, the former spokesperson for the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department, offered some details as to why he chose to step down from that job – namely, he didn’t want to go through extensive jail guard training since he had no intention of being one.

Former Guilford County Sheriff’s Department Executive Administrative Assistant Catherine Netter spoke with the Rhino Times about her resignation.

Former Guilford County Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Max Benbassat used to give very measured and business-like pronouncements when he worked for the Sherriff’s Department; however, after resigning, his language got a whole lot more colorful and carefree.

The Guilford County Board of Elections is planning to hold two educational seminars in Guilford County that will help explain to citizens the ins and outs of the state’s new voter ID Law. 

Guilford County Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Max Benbassat resigned on Monday afternoon, July 15. 

When Guilford County Sheriff’s Department Executive Administrative Assistant Catherine Netter resigned from that position effective Monday, July 15, there were some quiet sighs of relief from county officials who had, for over a half a year, been concerned about Netter being hired for that top administrative job.

On Monday, July 15, the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department offered a brief comment on the departure of Executive Administrative Assistant Catherine Netter and indicated that there would likely be more information on her exit made public soon.

Guilford County Sheriff’s Department Executive Administrative Assistant Catherine Netter is no longer with the Sheriff’s Department. 

The City of High Point is putting to good use a technical assistance grant it was awarded from Smart Growth America to promote small-scale manufacturing in that city. 

The Family Support Network of Central Carolina now has another feather to put in its public service cap: That organization is the proud winner of Guilford County government’s 2019 “Safety Makes Cents” award.

Former High Point Mayor Bill Bencini now has a new high-profile position in that city.

Guilford County doesn’t do a whole lot of partnering with Alamance County, however, the two counties are coming together to help prevent diabetes among minority populations in the area.  Minority communities are often hit hardest by the disease that’s become one of the most prevalent in modern day America.

There may be some controversial matters at the next Guilford County Board of Commissioners meeting on Thursday, July 18, but there’s one thing all the commissioners are expected to agree on – that the county should happily accept a $172,000 grant that will fund four new Health Department positions, at least for a limited period of time.

A Facebook post by a top-level Guilford County Sheriff’s Department administrator, and a subsequent article on that post in the Rhino Times, has caused quite a bit of reaction and debate in Guilford County and elsewhere and has even created a lively discussion on social media and internet sites in other areas.

Cone Health CEO Terry Akin has weighed in on the angry, offensive and highly unprofessional email from the Cone Health employee who chastised North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell and the NC Health Plan Board of Trustees for a change in the way the state will pay for the healthcare.

The Guilford County Board of Commissioners has called a work session for Thursday afternoon, July 18 to “receive an update on and consider a proposed contract for additional design services for the Guilford County Animal Shelter.” 

The Guilford County Sheriff’s Department has elaborated further on a change that department is making in the design of the sheriff’s badge.

Your parents probably told you not to play with your food, but this weekend GreenHill Center For North Carolina Art in downtown Greensboro is encouraging everyone to do just that: On Saturday, July 13, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., the gallery is hosting “Play With Your Food,” an event being described as  “a multi-generational food and art party for sweet-lovers of all ages.”

Time flies and the first Tuesday in August is just around the corner once again – which means that area law enforcement agencies and neighborhoods are gearing up for the 2019 National Night Out, just like others all around the country are doing.

“Tennis anyone?”That question, and many more like it, will be questions that the Town of Oak Ridge will start asking its citizens soon as that town tries to figure out what types of recreation projects the roughly 7,000 citizens want to see in their town – and what recreational enhancements those citizens will be willing to pay for with their tax dollars.

High Point Mayor Jay Wagner announced on Tuesday, July 9, that he really does want to hold onto that seat for another term. He did so by going down to the Guilford County Board of Elections office, paying the filing fee and officially becoming a candidate.

The Guilford County Sheriff’s Department has decided that decades of the same badge style is enough: The department is getting new badges for all of its patrol officers.

On Tuesday, July 9, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a summary of grant money for airport projects across the country that includes a grant of $9.3 million for Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTIA).

The Guilford County Historic Preservation Commission has called a special meeting for 6 p.m. Monday, July 15, at 532-536 S. Elm St. to help decide whether to recommend “Landmark Designation” status for the Groom-Shevel Building at the corner of Lewis and South Elm streets in downtown Greensboro.

Some Oak Ridge residents wanted traffic circles built in that town to address increasing congestion issues, while others simply wanted added turn lanes and roads widened at conventional intersections – and now it looks like everyone might get their wish.

A controversial Facebook post by a top-ranking Guilford County Sherriff’s Department administrator has ignited a conversation about what does or does not constitute racism – and, in particular, whether the popular game of Eight-ball is racist and should not be played. 

Since Friday, July 5 fell on the day after a holiday and the day before a weekend, a lot of area businesses and government offices saw very little activity – however, for the Guilford County Elections Office, there was a lot of action because July 5 was the first day of the candidate filing period for municipal races in the county.

Tuesday, August 6.That’s the day that, after waiting through much of 2019, former Summerfield Town Councilmember Todd Rotruck will have his case heard by the NC Court of Appeals. 

Dollar Generals and similar stores have been popping up all over Guilford County in recent years and that’s made them a convenient target for thieves. The Guilford County Sheriff’s Department is seeking the public’s help catching three thieves in back-to-back Dollar General robberies.

The State of North Carolina announced this week that it’s making funds available to help pay the utility bills or get other help for North Carolinians who are in a “crisis” situation when it comes to cooling their residences. 

Six rural North Carolina communities will spilt $1.2 million in federal grant money that’s meant to enhance their ability to address the opioid epidemic through increased planning, prevention measures, addiction treatment and post-treatment care for addicts.

Former Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes had made it no secret that he was going to seek the mayor of Summerfield job, and on Friday, July 5, he wasted no time making that run official:  As soon as the filing period for candidates opened, Barnes filed with the Guilford County Board of Elections Office to run for that position.

The United Way of Greater Greensboro is asking for area citizen’s to pitch in this summer to support the group’s annual meals program – “MeaningFULL Meals” – which the United Way runs along with its community partners: BackPack Beginnings and the Volunteer Center of Greensboro.

On Thursday, July 4 – better known in this country as the Fourth of July – Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers sent out an “Independence Day Message” for the citizens of Guilford County that provided a summary of the progress and goals of the department after Rogers first seven months in office, encouraged citizens to be safe throughout the holiday weekend and reminded them to think about their country and its history.

The Guilford County Animal Shelter has had a second high-profile resignation in two weeks: Nancy Fauser, the outreach and volunteer coordinator for the shelter, turned in her resignation on Saturday, June 29.

Anyone who watches the news knows that ill-advised social media posts can land people in hot water – and, this week, the Board of Directors of the Julian Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department announced that two “members” were dismissed over comments related to immigration that were deemed inappropriate and offensive.

Guilford County commissioners have been getting emails and phone calls lately that aren’t from people telling them what a great job they’re doing – instead, they’re from citizens expressing dissatisfaction over the fact that the new Guilford County Animal Shelter, due to budget constraints, is going to be 30 percent smaller than originally planned.

While February is Black History Month, July is the month in which this country was founded, and, in honor of that event, the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in downtown Greensboro is gearing up for presentations that provide a take on history that may not get proper emphasis in history classes in schools. 

Right now, a lot of presidential candidates are asking for money – but they’re not the only ones seeking funds this summer: High Point Market Authority President Tom Conley just used a chance to speak before the county’s elected leaders to make a plea for more local funding of the High Point furniture market.

Last week, the NC General Assembly approved a new state budget and Governor Roy Cooper vetoed it.

The Guilford County Sheriff’s Department and the Sherri Denese Jackson Foundation announced this week that the two are joining forces to combat domestic violence and offer prevention training for members of the community as well as for law enforcement officers.

Every well-meaning organization could use some free money and right now the City of High Point has some to give out.