Early voting begins across the state
More voters cast early.bal
lots in Forsyth County
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
Early voting is seeing a slight increase
this election year as thousands of residents
have already cast their ballots for the 2016
election.
Voting records show the first and last
day are usu
ally the
busiest days
during early
voting.
Numbers
show 1,566
people voted
on the first
day polls opened last Thursday, Oct. 20. In
2012 1,552 people voted on the first day of
early voting.
For the first time, the County is offering
an app that shows how long the wait will
be. The wait time for the majority of the
day topped 30 minutes. Forsyth County
Board of Elections Director Tim Tlsujii
said the free app will also provide the
board with information that will help them
plan for future elections.
"The app is a great idea," said James
Dawkins from Winston-Salem. "I didn't
Phoio by Tevin Slioaon
Hillary Clinton supporter holds a sign
that reads "Hill Yes She Can" outside
the Forsyth County Board of Elections
on the first day of early voting
Thursday, Oct. 20.
know about it before I came, but I will let
others know who haven't voted."
Before making her way inside the
Forsyth County Board of Elections on
Chestnut Street to cast her ballot amongst
a group of Democrats, Joyce Banks said
she decided to vote early to avoid the rush
on Nov. 8.
"1 usually wait until Election Day, but
this year I wanted to get out early," she
said.
After casting her ballot, city native Sue
Atkins was proud to show her support for
the Republican presidential candidate
when she was met by a group of Trump
protestors. In response to negative chants
made by the group of peaceful protestors,
Atkins shouted. Trump, Trump, Trump,
Trump."
While Forsyth County saw a slight
increase, 17 counties in the state saw a
decrease in early voting numbers. Overall,
state numbers saw an overall 3 percent
decrease. Despite the decrease in turnout,
national poles show Hillary Clinton is well
on her way to becoming the next President
of the United States.
The New York Times' national poll
shows Clinton ahead of Trump by more
than 5 percentage points. CNN polls shows
Clinton ahead as well.
While early voting locations were lim
ited to the Board of Elections Building at
201 N. Chestnut St. in the first week, sev
eral other locations opened across the
county this morning. Here is a complete
list of early voting locations:
""Brown & Douglas Community
Center, 4725 Indiana Ave. 2000, Winston
Salem
?Clemmons Banch Library, 3554
Clemmons Rd. Clemmons
?Harper Hills Commons, 150 Grant
Hill Ln., Winston-Salem
?Kemersvillle Senior Center/Library
130 East Mountain Street, Kernersville
?Lewisville Branch Library, 6490
Shallowford Rd., Lewisville
?Mazie Woodruff Center, 4905
I anting Dr., Winston-Salem
?Miller Park Recreation Center, 400
Leisure Ln., Winston-Salem
?Old Town Recreation Center, 4550
Shattalon Dr., Winston-Salem
?Polo Park Recreation Center, 1850
Polo Rd., Winston-Salem
?Rural Hall Branch Library, 7125
Broad St., Rural Hall
?Sedge Garden Recreation Center, 401
Robbins Rd., Winston-Salem
?Southside Branch Library, 3185
Buchanan St., Winston-Salem
?Sprague Street Recreation Center,
1350 Sprague St., Winston-Salem
?St. Paul United Methodist Church,
2400 Dellabrook Rd., Winston-Salem
?Walkertown Branch Library, 2969
Main St., Walkertown
?W.R. Anderson Jr. Center, 2450
Reynolds Park Road, Winston-Salem
Polls open daily at 10 ajn.; closing
times vary. Monday through Friday polls
close at 6:30 pm. On Saturday, in October
polls close at 4:30 pm. The last day to cast
an early ballot is Saturday, Nov. 5. That
day, polls will close at 1:30 p.m.
Voting
from page A!
Tramp," Tripp J^ffers, a
teacher at Parkland High
School, said he was very
confident that both Clinton
and Cooper will win. He
said, "If all goes well, the
candidates who have the
right idea about public edu
cation will win."
When asked about the
three bond packages total
ing $430 million for local
.schools on the ballot this
year, Jeffers said, the fact
that the county commis
sioners felt the need to put
it on the ballot shows they
are dedicated to the growth
of our schools.
"Forsyth County is well
over due for a bond like
this. It will ensure that our
school district will contin
ue to grow and evolve," he
continued. "We must grow
if we want to support our
students."
If approved by voters,
the funds for the bonds will
be used for repairs, renova
tions and new buildings.
The bond also includes sys
temwide improvements,
such as technology
upgrades in every class
room, media center updates
hnd 3-D printers.
Forsyth County
Association of Educators
President Rhonda Mays
said, "This election is not
only one of the most impor
tant of our lifetimes, but it
is critical to our livelihood
and the future of our chil
dren."
She said in order to
ensure that our public
schools are well funded
and that our students have
the resources they need, it
is important that educators
exercise their right to vote.
"We must elect candi
dates who care about pub
lic education in this state
across the nation," Mays
said.
President of the Forsyth County Association of Educators Rhonda Mays shows
her support for Roy Cooper outside the Forsyth County Board of Elections on
Thursday, Oct. 20.
QEA
from page A1
This year the event
included performances
by the band, chorus,
school choir and a num
ber of talented students.
The Walkertown
High School Marching
Band also participated
in this year's celebra
tion. Dozens of parents
attended the event as
well.
On QEA's Facebook
page, various pieces of
culture have emerged.
'Tell me and I'll for
get. Show me, and I may
not remember. Involve
me, and Fll understand.
- Native American
Saying" comes from one
entry.
"Milk and honey
have different colors,
but they share the same
house peacefully. -
African proverb" comes
from another entry.
? ? ?? - : T ^ '? .
Photos by Tevin Stinson
Students from Quality Education Academy enjoy Culture Day on Friday, Oct.
21. The day of celebration is designed to connect students with heritages.
A teacher leads her students during the Culture Day
parade on Friday, Oct. 21.
Legacy
fmmpagt A1
While she spent most
of her teaching career at
North Forsyth, Griffin's
first job with the local
school district was at then
all black Atkins High
School, where she taught
for two years. When she
got news that she would be
moving to North Forsyth
to start the 1970 school
year. Griffin questioned if
the move was for her.
Griffin said she had built a
relationship with the stu
dents at Atkins and at the
time she felt North Forsyth
wasn't the place for her.
At the time, North was
recovering from race riots
following mandatory inte
gration.
"At first they gave me
a choice and I said I didn't
want to go. Then they
came back and told me I
was going and I didn't
have choice," she laughed.
"It was hard leaving the
students at Atkins but
looking back I know it was
the right decision."
When she arrived at
North Forsyth, Griffin
4
quickly got to woik bridg
ing the gap between black
and white students. A
number of former students
said Griffin would go out
side the classroom to
ensure their success. One
former student, Oliver
Helsabeck, said the lessons
he learned from Griffin are
grounded in his heart and
mind.
He said, "Maggie was
more than a teacher. She is
that friend that helps you
believe in yourself and
pushes you to look beyond
what is easy."
Mike Muse, Wake
Forest University director
of basketball operations
and player development
and North Forsyth alum
nus, said, "because of
Maggie Griffin, everyone
of us knows who we are.
He said, "We know
what God expects of us
because she made sure that
we knew."
During the celebration,
an official proclamation
from Mayor Allen Joines
was read, officially renam
ing . the auditorium and
marking Oct. 22 as Maggie
Griffin Day.
Superintendent Dr.
Xrn
A
Superintendent Dr.
Beverly Emory speaks
iiurint the auditorium
enaming emony M
?????????? 1 ??
Last weekend the auditorium at North Forsyth High School, was renamed in honor of longtimTmusic and
drama instructor Margaret *Maggie" Griffin. Griffin smiled from ear to ear throughout the event on
Saturday. Oct. 22.
* W ~ - ?
Beverly Emory said
Griffin is a model of what
we need in our school
today to help every student
build a pathway to success.
"I can't think of a more
amazing legacy than that
of Margaret Griffin,"
Emory said.
When asked how it felt ,
to have her name forever
connected North Forsyth,
Griffin said,
"I loved that school
like it was my own home.
So this is an honor that I
can't even begin to
explain."
V*
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J x