Author: Scott D. Yost

At the Thursday, Dec. 7 meeting of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, the board plans to finalize an agreement regarding water infrastructure in Summerfield that the county commissioners and county staff have been discussing for nearly a year and a half.

 In addition to health issues experienced by people of all ages, teens face more than their share of certain health issues, such as sexually transmitted diseases, acne, specific immunization needs, teen pregnancy and other concerns.

Generally, at board of commissioner meetings – in Guilford County and elsewhere – the clerk to the board keeps quiet and takes notes, and speaks up at meetings only to answer questions from the commissioners. 

About  $90,000 – that’s how much Guilford County government is getting in grant money to run a program meant to help provide healthcare access to parents and newborns in “vulnerable populations.”

As new mayors prepare to take their top dog jobs in cities across the country, brand new High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson announced on Wednesday, Dec. 6 that he had been selected as one of a group of 29 newly-elected US mayors who will participate in the “Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University’s Program for New Mayors: First 100 Days.”

The Guilford County Sheriff’s Department is inviting everyone in the county out to the 2023 ‘Celebration of Life’ event – this year’s ceremony that’s held annually to remember those who died in traffic-related incidents in Guilford County during the preceding year.

August 23, 1934 to Dec. 2, 2023. That was the lifespan of Clarence Richard Tate – a prominent Democrat and trial attorney in High Point who held in life, among many other key positions, the seat of chairman of the Guilford County Board of Elections.

It’s one thing to catch and lock up criminals after they’ve committed a crime, but it’s a much better thing to get to those would-be criminals early enough in life to put them on the right course. 

On Thursday, Dec. 7, when the Guilford County Board of Commissioners reelects Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston to that top leadership position, the commissioners will also reelect the board’s Vice Chair Carlvena Foster to that role for another 12 months.

The Public Health Division of the Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services, along with Guilford County Schools, put out a press release on Monday night, Dec. 4 announcing that county health officials are investigating a case of Tuberculosis involving someone at Ragsdale High School.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS ) has launched a performance dashboard for the “988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline” and it offers some insights into how the line is operating in the state and who’s using it. 

The Guilford County Sheriff’s Department is seeking a firm with a unique set of skills to take on a job inside the county’s two jails – run the commissary where inmates purchase things like candy and other snacks, toiletries and other personal items.

Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston, who will be renamed to that top position for another year later this week, is already thinking hard about 2024.

On Friday, Dec. 1, the Guilford County Board of Elections heard a challenge to the results of the November election brought by Summerfield Town Councilmember Reece Walker, who came only a handful of votes away from winning a third and final open seat on the council that was up for grabs.

There’s been a whole lot of discussion nationally about what books kids in school should be allowed to read and which ones should be offered in school libraries – but the High Point Public Library is going to help a lot of people decide for themselves.  

The weeks that follow Thanksgiving may be a time for many to slow down and take it easy, however, there’s no rest for the weary staff and leadership of Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTIA) – even at this time of year.

The students at High Point University – probably the state’s best known university worldwide – were engaged in the holiday spirit of giving this week. 

Former Guilford County Commissioner James Upchurch, who was elected to the Board of Commissioners as a Democrat in 2020 and then turned Republican a year later, exited the board in early October without completing his first term in office in order to take a job in Georgia – and he told the Rhino Times this week that he’s very glad he did.

December is a month when the deputies and others in the  Guilford County Sheriff’s Department take some time away from chasing bad guys to spread a little Christmas cheer to needy kids.

Guilford County has been preparing all year to serve a whole new group of Medicaid enrollees, and Friday, Dec. 1 is the big day.

By now, just about everyone in the state knows that North Carolina is moving to expanded Medicaid services on Friday, Dec. 1, when a lot more state residents will qualify for the program. 

The Guilford County Board of Elections just finished holding the 2023 municipal elections for offices across the county, and now those results – minus a couple of loose ends – are in the bag. 

It’s been said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Toward the end of every month, the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority – the seven-member board that oversees Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTIA) – gets together to carry out the business of the airport.

There’s been a whole lot of discussion in Guilford County lately as to how to help the homeless, and one group working with the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department is focusing on a particular segment of society who very often do become homeless – newly released jail and prison inmates. 

The Guilford County Board of Commissioners will have a lot on its plate next year and that could mean that there might be some brand new taxes on what’s on your plate when you go out to eat. 

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced on Monday, Nov. 27, that 102 hospitals across the state will begin receiving payments totaling $2.6 billion this week.

Christmas shopping is in full swing this year and you’re probably already buying gifts for the humans in your life – however, Guilford County Animal Services staff hope that you’ll check out the animal shelter’s Amazon gift registry and pick out a few things for the dogs, cats and various other animals who will be spending Christmas at the shelter.

Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston is going to be elected by his fellow commissioners to that lofty position once again on Thursday, Dec. 7, so he’s already making plans for 2024. 

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Low Income Energy Assistance Program will begin accepting applications from older adults and people with disabilities on Friday, Dec. 1.
It will accept other applications after the first of the year…

On Tuesday, Nov. 21, the Guilford County Board of Elections held a preliminary hearing to determine whether or not there was “probable cause” to move forward on an election challenge brought by long-time Summerfield Town Councilmember…

One of the greatest joys of Thanksgiving holiday travel is the excitement of heading to the airport, breezing through the check in and security stations and quickly…

Beginning on Sunday, Dec. 3, Archdale, Burlington, Greensboro, High Point, Jamestown, Randleman, Reidsville and the Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority…

High Point City Manager Tasha Logan Ford announced on Tuesday, Nov. 21 that High Point Police Department Major Curtis Cheeks III has been appointed as the city’s interim chief of police – effective on the first day of December…

The Guilford County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to give the Interactive Resource Center (IRC) in Greensboro $306,000 as part of the county’s effort to make the…

On Monday, Nov. 20, the City of Greensboro released its latest report as to how things are going with regard to the implementation of the city’s strategic plan for the year 2040…

Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston said this week that he sees no reason at all for county residents to get a property tax increase next summer when the county adopts its new 2024-2025 fiscal budget…

Two Guilford County officials and two others teamed up to shoot an impressive golf score that has resulted in $25,000 in prize money that will go to help feed the hungry and buy presents this holiday for kids who otherwise might not get any…

The International Civil Rights Center and Museum is inviting everyone to come to Downtown Greensboro on Friday, Dec.1 and, from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., celebrate the season with a line-up of performers and entertainers on the night that Downtown Greensboro comes to life with holiday cheer…

The small town of Whitsett in eastern Guilford County was the scene of an apparent domestic violence incident this weekend that left two dead.
The Guilford County Sheriff’s Department is reporting that, on Sunday, Nov. 19, sheriff’s deputies were called to the residence at 6523 Donahue Dr. in Whitsett in response to a domestic dispute…

The High Point Public Library is hosting a Veterans Day Celebration on Tuesday, Nov. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is billing it as “a tribute honoring veterans as well as their families.”

A new agreement reached between Guilford County government and the Guilford County Tourism Development Authority means that, going forward, the county will handle a lot of logistical and accounting functions for the authority in return for about $60,000 a year…

Guilford County Commissioner Pat Tillman knows a thing or two about the military and national defense. He joined the Marines within weeks after graduating from Appalachian State University and he has said that serving his country – both in peacetime and in armed conflict – has been one of the greatest privileges he’s ever known..

It used to be, years ago, that when the parents in a family had problems, relatives would take care of the kid or kids until those issues got worked out. And they would do so for free…

It’s not even Thanksgiving yet, however, in High Point, it’s already beginning to look a lot like Christmas. On Wednesday, Nov. 15, the High Point Public Library hosted its annual tree lighting ceremony and also opened up the very popular Guilford Merchant Association “Selfie Sleigh”…

Guilford County government wants everyone to know that you don’t have to be a Native American to participate in National Native American Heritage Month – which is this November. The county’s website has a banner headline announcing the…

Anyone who’s ever watched the City of Greensboro’s government in action knows that one very high priority is promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. And one index that measures such things – specifically, the city’s treatment of the LGBT…

Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan and Greensboro City Councilmember Goldie Wells are inviting everyone in the local community to take time out of their busy day and do something unique on November 21: Stop whatever you’re doing at noon…

A surprisingly large number of Greensboro residents truly enjoyed getting and reading the City of Greensboro’s print periodical – the “At Your Service” newsletter – that came included in water bills. But, alas, the city has announced that Greensboro residents should no longer bother looking for it…

ProKidney, the biotech company that’s planning a $458 million facility in Greensboro, has seen its stock fall precipitously in recent months; however, in a Tuesday, Nov. 14 financial report, ProKidney officials stated that the company is well capitalized for its future growth plans…