Author: Scott D. Yost

The makeup of Guilford County government has changed in a major way.  But that’s not a reference to the fact that the nine-member Board of Commissioners went from a Republican majority to a Democratic majority.  No, the more interesting power change here is that the five women commissioners now outnumber the men on the board.  That’s thought to be the first time in Guilford County history that that’s ever happened – and the unity and the power of the female commissioners was in clear display at the Board of Commissioners’ Thursday, Jan. 21 meeting.

The Andy Griffith Show went off the air in 1968, but the affable and laid-back sheriff of Mayberry has been making a comeback among local leaders who’ve been citing Andy as a symbol of a better way of enforcing pandemic rules – as opposed to the threatening way the county and cities have been going about it lately. 

On Tuesday, Jan.19, Guilford County health officials announced a round of coronavirus vaccinations – the thing that has by far been the most popular ticket in town since the county began those vaccinations to the general public earlier this month. Registration for the next  COVID-19 vaccination appointments – open to those who are 65 years old or older –  will reopen on Wednesday, Jan. 20.  As everyone probably knows, it’s important to get in early on the action because vaccination appointments go like hotcakes as soon as they’re available.

Guilford County Tax Director Ben Chavis said this week that, if you haven’t paid your 2020 property taxes yet, you’re past due and the county will soon be in touch with you.  Chavis said that, starting on Wednesday, Jan. 20, the county is going to send notices to late payers reminding them that taxes are due.  Anyone who has not paid will also have to pay a penalty.

There are a few perks to living in Guilford County and one of them is that every year the county makes available some very good prices on trees, seeds and other nature-related items.  In 2021, that time of year has arrived.  The county is holding its annual Guilford County Soil and Water District Tree Sale from Tuesday, Jan. 19 to Friday, Jan. 22.

Recently, Guilford County opened up COVID-19 vaccinations to anyone 75 and older, and, from the moment registration for appointments began, the county’s phone system was completely overwhelmed and virtually no one could get through.  

Most people don’t like hearing complaints – but right now City of High Point leaders are asking a lot of people in High Point to share what they can’t stand about the place.

On Friday, Jan. 15, the county announced that it has begun giving out the vaccine to those who are 65 years old and up – 10 years younger than the previous age limit.

A lawsuit originally filed in 2019 over legal fees paid out by the Town of Summerfield has made it to the NC Court of Appeals nearly two years later – and that court is finally going to hear the suit on Wednesday, Feb. 10. 

Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston – after consulting with Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan, Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers and others – has amended the county’s stay-at-home pandemic order to stop bars and restaurants from using an existing take-out exception that was allowing patrons to stay on the premises after 10 p.m.

But, in 2021, every now and then there are some green shoots – signs of air travel at the airport getting healthier.  This week, Allegiant Air announced that it would start non-stop service from PTIA to Nashville in the summer.

For most of the coronavirus pandemic, Guilford County’s two jails have been able to avoid major outbreaks. However, on Wednesday, Jan. 13, the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department announced that 26 inmates in a housing pod inside the county jail in Greensboro had tested positive for COVID-19.

The year 2020 wasn’t kind to Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTIA) but a new aviation report that’s based on 2019 numbers shows that the airport has been a tremendously positive driver of economic activity in this region.   According to the new report from the state, before the pandemic, PTIA was adding nearly $9 billion to the local economy annually.

Former Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes, now the mayor of Summerfield, has just published his first novel – one of international terrorism and intrigue set in Sunset Beach, North Carolina.   Barnes and his wife, Dena, have a vacation home at that beach, which is one of the former sheriff’s favorite places.

The City of High Point Planning and Development Department gathered a good deal of citizen input in 2020 for a study of the Jamestown Bypass project, and the department has now prepared a draft assessment that’s ready for public review.

A few years ago, former Guilford County Commissioner Ray Trapp announced that he’d be leaving his job as a commissioner to take a job working at North Carolina NC A&T State University.  Now, Trapp has taken a new job with the 61-year-old Research Triangle Foundation – the steward organization of Research Triangle Park that promotes economic development in the Park and the surrounding region.

Following what Guilford County government officials are calling “unprecedented” demand for the coronavirus vaccine, the county has modified the way appointments are made.  The massive demand for the COVID-19 vaccine overwhelmed 13 phone lines and 13 staffers that the county had dedicated for that purpose on Friday, Jan. 8 – the first day that Guilford County residents age 75 or older could call in to set up an appointment to get the vaccine.

Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTIA) is one of the airports that’s been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, but now it’s asking you to help out – and fortunately that request doesn’t involve boarding into a small contained area alongside of potential virus carriers. Instead, the airport is asking for your online vote to help it become named one of the best small airports in the country.

On the state level, there’s a lot of attention being paid to potential changes in health care as well. On Friday, Jan. 8, NC Gov. Roy Cooper met with members of the North Carolina Council on Health Care Coverage to explore options and agree upon some “guiding principles” meant to expand access to health care coverage for North Carolinians.

Former Guilford County Commissioner John Parks was a man of few words when he served on the Board of Commissioners, but he made a big impression on those he served with.

Guilford County staff has obviously been putting a great deal of time and effort into setting up a COVID-19 vaccination plan for county residents who are 75 and older, but they can’t change one simple fact. There isn’t nearly enough vaccine for everyone who wants it.  Starting on Friday, Jan. 8 at 8 a.m., those 75 and older began calling (336) 641-7944 to set up an appointment – but getting through was not – and will not be – easy since demand greatly outpaces supply.

Guilford County Manager Mike Halford attended his first public meeting as the new county manager on Thursday, Jan. 7. 

On Thursday, Jan. 7, Summerfield developer David Couch spoke before the Guilford County Board of Commissioners and got what he requested.

There’s some very good news for Guilford County residents who are 75 years of age and older. Starting on Monday, Jan. 11, they’ll be able to get vaccinated for COVID-19.

The State of North Carolina has been doing a lot during the pandemic to make life easier on those who receive Food and Nutrition Services benefits from social services departments across the state.

It might be 2021 now, with a New Year bringing optimism and positive thinking to many – but apparently no one let the COVID-19 virus in on that. On Tuesday, Jan. 5, the state released the latest coronavirus stats and – as one might suspect after the holiday period of family and friend get togethers – those numbers aren’t good at all.

On Thursday afternoon, Jan. 7, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners will hold a work session to discuss Summerfield Farms Village a proposed development that has divided that community.

Christmas is over and the City of High Point is telling people what they can do with their Christmas trees. 
Namely, they can put them in front of their houses and city crews will pick them up.

Through a public records request, the Rhino Times has obtained a copy of the resignation letter of former Guilford County Manager Marty Lawing, who was shown the door in December by Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston and other Democratic commissioners on the board. 

Last year, the coronavirus shut down the Guilford County Courthouse in downtown Greensboro and now a large water leak that occurred during building repairs has done the same for major sections of the Guilford County Courthouse in High Point.

Guilford County government has a new county manager for the New Year; and that man, former Guilford County Budget Director Michael Halford, said his first day on the job will be Monday, Jan. 4.

Despite very concerning coronavirus numbers in Guilford County and highly restrictive regulations from state and local government, businesses are doing what they can to stay open and generate some revenue. 

Starting on Monday, Jan. 4, those facing financial distress in Guilford County, and across the state, can apply for help with their energy bills. 

For months, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has been focusing much of its attention on how to battle COVID-19 in minority communities and in medically underserved communities. 

It’s been a long time coming but, on Wednesday, Dec. 30, brand new Guilford County Commissioner Mary Beth Murphy will be sworn in and will officially take the place of Republican Guilford County Commissioner Alan Branson

Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston, who just got elected to that leadership position a few weeks before Christmas, said this week that he wanted the board to be engaged in helping citizens right away – which is why, Alston said, he came up with the idea for the Guilford County commissioners and county staff to hold a holiday food drive.

Until Tuesday, Dec. 22, it wasn’t known how long newly elected District 4 County Commissioner Mary Beth Murphy would have to wait on the sidelines before serving.

The Rhino Times has obtained a copy of the severance agreement between Guilford County and former Guilford County Manager Marty Lawing through a public records request – and that agreement reveals that Lawing will collect his full manager’s salary and benefits through July 31, and get a pay raise in January.

If your smartphone, smartwatch or other smart device just went crazy at noon, Tuesday, Dec. 22, it’s because the State of North Carolina temporarily took over your devices to make absolutely sure that you and those around you are aware that there’s a coronavirus pandemic going on.

A High Point pastor just got the thrill of a lifetime.

He performed the national anthem at the 2020 ACC Football Championship game in Charlotte on Saturday, Dec. 19, 

The well-known Rev. Frank Thomas, who is pastor at Mt. Zion Baptist Church of High Point, does a lot of singing in addition to preaching – and his deep and melodic voice caught the attention of game organizers earlier this year.

Everyone knows that the big guy is coming to town on December 25, but Guilford County officials want to make sure that property owners know that another thing that’s quickly coming to town is the deadline to pay property taxes. 

Despite the pandemic, Guilford County has done a good job collecting taxes this year and now the county’s tax officials are reminding the laggards and dawdlers that they only have until Tuesday, Jan. 5 to pay their 2020 property taxes.

Republican County Commissioner Alan Branson, who has represented the largely rural District 4 for the past eight years, has ceased pursuing options that might let him hold onto the seat longer after coming up 72 votes short in the November 3 election. 

There may be some local “anti-vaxxers” who don’t care when and how the coronavirus vaccines are being distributed in Guilford County – but there sure are a lot of people who are intently focused right now on how they can get that shot in the arm for virus protection. 

During a pandemic, everyone does what they can to help out, and, on Monday, Dec. 21, the Guilford County Social Services Department announced that it will be offering “an emergency childcare alternative” for many parents in a bind next year.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections issued a brief statement on Friday, Dec.18 that’s likely to be the nail in the coffin for the current term of Guilford County Commissioner Alan Branson. 

However, an official Thursday night, Dec. 17 press release from the county on the resignation of former Guilford County Manager Marty Lawing and the hiring of former Guilford County Budget Director Michael Halford as the new manager made it sound like the county had done something about as exciting as appointing a new member to the Board of Equalization and Review.

There was a very uncomfortable scene going on at the Old Guilford County Court House in downtown Greensboro on Thursday, Dec. 17, just after 7 p.m.   On one side of the foyer on the second floor, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners was meeting in the board’s large meeting room, while, on the other side of the foyer, at the exact same time, Guilford County Manager Marty Lawing was loading up his things from the manager’s office onto a rolling cart and making elevator trips back and forth to his car in the underground parking lot.

County employees usually get at least one day in the sun if they work in county government long enough, and, on Thursday, Dec. 17, Guilford County Clerk to the Board Robin Keller finally got her day in the sun. 

Former Guilford County Manager Marty Lawing turned in his resignation on Thursday, Dec. 17, and many county employees and department heads were upset by the news.

A lot of people in Guilford County were sorry to see former County Manager Marty Lawing resign on Thursday, Dec. 17, but perhaps no one was as sorry to see that happen has former Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Jeff Phillips, who was instrumental in Lawing’s hiring and who worked intensely alongside Lawing for eight years.