County struggles with recycling efforts
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
Forsyth County is having difficulty
maintaining contractors for its recycling
program in the unincorporated parts of the
county.
County commissioners were told about
the issue during their Thursday, June 16,
briefing. The county's current recycling
contractor, Waste Industries, has agreed to
serve out its contract, which runs out at
year's end, but will not be renewing it.
County commissioners are considering
recycling options for those who do not live
in a city or town in Forsyth County.
Minor Bamette, director of Forsyth's
environmental assistance and protection
office, outlined the problem. Waste
Management, the world's largest waste
management company, was the recycling
contractor in 2012. It charged $2.65 a
month per household but only had 13 per
cent participation. The
2,900 households
weren't enough for the
company to make
money and it discon
tinued the contract the
next year.
After that. Waste
Industries was the only
bidder. It charged
$8.65 and had 12 per
cent participation. ,
Marshall
Barnette said there were
several problems, aside from low partici
pation, like the distance trucks drive to
collect, since the subscribing households
are so far from each other. There's also a
problem in the recycling industry with a
downturn in the price of commodities like
plastic, cardboard and paper that makes it .
more difficult to turn a profit.
Barnette said he was still in discus
sions with Waste Industries to see if a way
the Hanes Mill Road
mtherspoon landfill These three
can be found to keep
its seryices. Without
recycling pick-up,
residents in non
incorporated areas
would have to rely on
county drop-off recy
cling centers near
L e w i s v i 1 1 e ,
Kernersville and at
centers can be a twenty
minute drive for some residents, Barnette
said.
County Commissioner Walter
Marshall thought a mandatory recycling
program with a required fee could be an
option.
"I think the only way we're going to
solve that problem is to face it head on,"
said Marshall.
County Commissioner Everette
Witherspoon said if a voluntary fee pro
gram couldn't work for a giant company
like Waste Management, it's going be hard
to find any company it could work for. He
also thought a mandatory program is the
way to go.
"That's the only way you can make
this program stick," said Witherspoon.
Other municipal governments often
pay for recycling with a mandatory fee or
with the regular property tax residents pay.
According to Winston-Salem Recycle
Today Director Dereck Owens, the city
also utilizes Waste Management, which it
pays $13 million to out of the general
fund. The city also receives 33 percent of
the revenue from therecyclables. There's
no fee or special tax city residents have to
pay. He said Winston-Salem has 90 per
cent participation in its voluntary recy
cling program, which collects 1,000 tons
of recyclables a month.
As a recipient of the 2016 Cedric S.
Rodney Unity Award, LaRue P.
Cunningham thanks the Old Salem
Juneteenth Steering Committee after
receiving her award on Thursday,
June 16.
Photo by Tevin Stinson
Dr. Jon Sensbach describes what life was like in Salem for slaves before artd
after the abolishment of slavery in June 1865. Sensbach is a professor of histo
ry at the University of Florida.
Dr. T. Sharee Fowler addresses the
crowd after receiving the St. Philips'
Cedric S. Rodney Unity Award dur
ing the Juneteenth Luncheon held at
the Old Salem Visitors Center on
Thursday, June 16.
Luncheon features community leaders
Juneteenth
Luncheon honors
two local women
BYTEVIN STINSON
TOE CHRONICLE
Two outstanding com
munity leaders were hon
ored for their contributions
to the city of Winston
Salem and Forsyth County
last Thursday during the
Juneteenth Luncheon held
at the Old Salem Visitor
Center.
LaRue P. Cunningham
and Dr. Sharee T. Fowler
were presented the St.
Philip's Cedric S. Rodney
Unity Award.
The award was named
after the Rev. Dr. Cedric
Sydney Rodney, who
served as pastor of St.
Philips' Moravian Church
from 1968 to 1976 and
1984 to 2003. Rodney was
considered a "bridge
builder" who upheld the
ethics of the Moravian
Church. As pastor of one of
the oldest black congrega
tions in the United States,
Rodney stressed the impor
tance of community and
cooperation, which helped
shape the history of
Winston-Salem and make
this community a better
place.
During the luncheon,
held inside the James A.
Gray Jr. Auditorium,
Cunningham and Fowler
received a handcrafted pot
tery plate and wooden
stand created by artisans
and craftsmen in Old
Salem's Trades
Department. After receiv
,ing the prestigious award,
Cunningham, a twice
retired teacher, thanked
Old Salem and others for
honoring her.
"I am honored to be
receiving this award here
today," she said. "This is a
day I will never forget."
Since retiring after 30
years of service to
Granville, Davidson and
Forsyth County Schools,
Cunningham currently
serves as a volunteer and
mentor at Kimberly Park
Elementary School.
She also finds time to
support Little Dresses for
Africa, a nonprofit
501(cX3) Christian organi
zation that provides relief
to vulnerable children by
making dresses out of pil
low cases for children in
Africa and beyond, who
have limited to no clothing
of their own. Since joining
the organization,
Cunningham has created
more than 1,000 dresses.
"I can, and most posi- .
tively will impact the
world around me because I
have not done my part until
the whole is done,"
Cunningham said.
The second recipient.
Fowler, works with the
United Way of Forsyth
County and serves as the
partnership director with
?
Forsyth Promise, a collab
orative network committed
to supporting the success
of every child from cradle
to career. She also serves
as an adjunct assistant pro
fessor of sociology at her
alma mater, Salem
College. After accepting
her handcrafted plate.
Fowler said she will con
tinue to fight for social jus
tice and equity.
"I have a personal mis
sion to enrich the lives of
the people in this commu
nity who need it most,"
said Fowler. "I will contin
ue on this path until that
mission is complete."
Following die presenta
tion of the awards,
University of Florida histo
ry professor Dr. J.on
Sensbach delivered the
keynote address. Sensbach
teaches the graduate course
on early America and has
taught a graduate seminar
on the Black Atlantic as
well as undergraduate
courses on the Atlantic
slave trade. During his
address, Sensbach dis
cussed what life was like
for slaves in Salem before
and after slavery was
ended in June 1865.
The Juneteenth
Luncheon is held in part
nership with Winston
Salem State University.
Juneteenth is the oldest
known celebration com
memorating the ending of
slavery in the United
States.
Photos by Tevin Stinson
Fathers and sons hold
hands and pray follow
ing the father and son
brunch held on the
campus of Winston
Salem State University
on Saturday, June 18.
My Brother's Second
Chance, a nonprofit
organization designed
to provide positive male
role models for those in
need, sponsored the
brunch.
Local organization honors male mentors
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
f " "'i .. ?
For young men grow
ing up without a father.
Father's Day isn't always a
pleasant celebration, but
' for some kids that hole is
filled by special men who
volunteer as mentors.
Just one day before
; Father's Day, My Brother's
? Second Chance (MBSC), a
\ local non-profit organiza
tion, held a brunch on the
! campus of Winston-Salem
J State University to cele
? brate those who volunteer
i as mentors for young boys
J in the community.
MBSC was started by
J WSSU Hall of Fame foot
j ball star Antonio Stevenson
' 7
in 2010, with a vision to
save lost youth by provid
ing knowledge and life
skills that will prepare
them to become produc
tive, successful adults.
Over the years, MBSC
has conducted over 170
workshops and seminars,
performed over 100 hours
of mentor training sessions,
and mentored over 500
youth. The organization
also feeds families in need
and takes children in the
area on college visits. On
some occasions, mentors
have even attended PTA
meetings.
Stevenson said he
decided to start the non
profit organization because
he grew up without his
father and understands how
hard it can be, not having a
Stevenson,
male role model in the
home. He said, "If it wasn't
for my grandfather, uncle,
mentors, and coaches
growing up, I would not be
the man I am today.
"When I needed some
one to talk to, they were
always right there. So
many people had a direct
impact on my life. I attrib
ute all my success on and
off the field to the mentors
I had."
A four-year letterman
with the Rams, Stevenson
earned a number of confer
ence and national honors as
a defensive lineman. Along
with a number of All-CIAA
Team Honors (1991-1994),
in 1992 he was named a
Black College Sports All
American. Today,
Stevenson works as a case
manager at Goodwill
Industries. He also is a per
sonal trainer at thr Jerry
Long YMCA and helps
coach at Parkland High
School athletes.
7
During the brunch held
in the Donald J. Reaves
Student Activity Center,
Stevenson said, "You don't
have to be a old man to be
a role model or an good
influence. All it takes is a
little effort."
He then urged fathers
and mentors to continue to
give back.
'Today is a day we cel
ebrate not only fathers, but
good influences," noted
Stevenson. "I'm begging
you fathers and mentors to
continue to give back.
Continue to get better
every day at being a role
model for these young men
because they need our
help."
Following the powerful
4
words from Stevenson, the
fathers, mentors, young
men and others in atten
dance joined hands and
formed a giant circle.
Before leading the group in
prayer, a longtime friend of
Stevenson's, Reginald
McCaskill, pledged to
make a $100 donation to
MBSC. Following his
announcement, others ?
pledged to make $100
donations to the organiza
tion as well.
"I believe in what
Antonio is doing,"
McCaskill said.
For more information ,
on My Brother's Second
Chance visit
www.mybrotherssecond
chance.com.
r