Hanes-Lowrance community
residents still wait on action
BY TEV1N STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
After waiting more
than two months Vor an
update on the groundwater
contamination in their
neighborhood, residents
who live in the Hanes
Lowrance neighborhood
will have to wait at least
another month before they
know if they are in danger
in their own homes.
During a meeting held
at Hanes Hosiery
Recreation Center,
Director of Storm Water
and Erosions Keith Huff
said the results from the
groundwater testing should
be available by April 12.
A number of residents
said that while they are
waiting on test results, they
could be exposing them
selves to dangerous chemi
cals. Brenda Williams said
she hasn't been told any
thing about the testing or
the possibility that she
could be in danger.
"This is eerie to the
Hint, Michigan situation,"
continued Williams, "as in
the lack of transparency
and communication."
"I know there are a
number of people in this
community just like me
who don't know what's
going on. It shouldn't be
this hard to get informa
tion."
The city is testing for
two chemicals that have
been linked to cancer,
tetrachioroethylene (PCE)
and trochlorothylene
(TCE). While residents do
not consume the contami
nated groundwater, vapors
from the chemicals can
work their way through the
soil and into the air.
According to records,
22 homes in the area have
been tested for the cancer
causing chemicals.
While the city designat
ed only 19 homes for test
ing, three voluntarily par
ticipated. A presentation
shown during the meeting
noted 29 indoor air sam
pies have been collected, as
well as eight sub-slab sam
ples.
Huff mentioned that
while testing has halted,
they are still monitoring
water wells in the area on a
regular basis. He men
tioned anyone who is con
cerned and would like to
have their home tested can
still do so.
"We want to make sure
everyone is safe," Huff
said.
Another meeting to dis
cuss the test results has
been scheduled for 6 p.m.
on April 22 at Hanes
Hosiery Recreation Center,
501 Reynolds Blvd.
For more information
on the testing that was con
ducted and to have your
home or property tested,
visit the city's official web
site, www.cityofws.org and
click on stormwater-ero
sion-control listed under
departments.
1
J
Phuoios by Tevin Stinsoa
Aayor Pro Tempore
ttvlan Burke speaks to
?esidents during a meet?
ng held at Hanes
hosiery Recreation
1enter to address
groundwater contamina
ion in the area.
.JIU?^>T" ^
L) Director of Storm Water and Erosions Keith Huff and (R) Assistant City
Manager Greg Turner discuss the testing done in the vicinity of Hanes and
Lowrance middle schools on Thursday, March 17.
Commissioners split on MWBE
requirements for parking deck repairs
said Witherspoon.
The contract is $841,969 to repair
structural issues in the sheriff's park
ing deck. The Sheriff's Office is
located in the former Phillips
Building, which was built in the early
1970s. The Sheriff's Office moved
into the renovated building in 2013
and issues with the parking deck were
discovered the next year. The deck
continues to be used with problem
areas being roped off. The repairs
involve removing and replacing steel
and concrete, as well as providing a
protective sealant to prevent moisture
from seeping in.
Eveiette said that larger jobs that
require a variety of disciplines like
the renovations of the Forsyth County
w'.7 ...4 * ?|n mJ.'i.'fCx.
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
Forsyth County Commissioners
split 5-2 in their Monday, March 14
meeting on a contract to repair the
Sheriff's Office parking deck.
The two dissenting commission
ers, Walter Marshall and Everette
Witherspoon, objected that Frank L.
Blum Construction Company, the
lowest bidder, did not meet the 10
percent minority and women business
enterprise (MWBE) participation
goal. The second lowest bidder,
which was about $8,000 higher,
exceeded the MWBE goal.
"When you're dealing with public
dollars, then you have the responsi
bility to meet these MWBE goals,"
Library, which is also being done by
Blum Construction, usually have no
problem meeting MWBE standards.
He said it's smaller, specialized jobs
like the parking deck repairs that keep
coming in below the MWBE goal.
Ten percent minority and women
contractor participation is a goal but
not a requirement, as long as the bid
der can meet county standards for
"good faith efforts" to try to get
MWBE participation, which Blum
did according to county officials.
Both Witherspoon and Marshall
said they believed the requirements
for MWBE participation and the
standards for good faith efforts on
County projects are too low, especial
ly when compared to other counties.
Marshall
N.C.GOP's 1st black
chairman feels the heat
\X> Wake Forest* In partnership with ^MEDCOST* I
Baptist Health -ilHj
BY GARY D. ROBERTSON
ASSOCIATED PRESS
RALEIGH, N.C. -
Less than a year after the
North Carolina Republican
Party's first black chairman
was elected over an estab
lishment candidate, a pow
erful committee :
Daniel Rufty, one of his
allies on the Central
Committee, called the
committee's actions part of
a " witch hunt" by party
leaders against Harnett's
efforts to give more influ
ence to grassroots
Republican
-wti victc \i/hr\ #*!??<'! -
has reprimand
ed him and
restricted his
duties, accusing
him of over
stepping his
authority. j
The state I
GOP's Central I
Committee cen
sured Hasan
Harnett on
Sunday with a "no confi
dence" resolution partly
due to his actions on the
party's upcoming conven
tion and its computer sys
tem.
"I certainly think that
he has not demonstrated
the leadership capacity that
is needed to be the chair
man of the Republican
Party," said state Rep.
David Lewis, a Republican
National Committee mem
ber and Central Committee
member. He called
Harnett's actions the result
of either" intentional
malfeasance or just inepti
tude."
Lewis himself faced an
unsuccessful effort by
party activists to remove
him as an RNC member in
January. The committee's
resolution alleges Harnett
wrongly acted on person
nel decisions and improp
erly evaluated attempts to
remove party leaders.
Harnett declined to
comment when reached by
phone. But he has recently
defended himself in social
media postings, referring to
"silly tricks, attacks and
UVU T low IT 11V VIVVt
ed him last June.
""They're out to
destroy Harnett,
and they've been
doing that since
day one," Rufty
said Monday. The
state GOP also said
? the committee had
censured Rufty on
StnnHav s%fnr fakp
and malicious statements
about other Republicans."
Removing Harnett
from office would require a
two-thirds vote of the 500
plus member GOP execu
tive committee.
The fight comes as
Republicans in North
Carolina hold control of the
legislature and the gover
nor's mansion simultane
ously, a prize they won in
2013 for the first time in
more than 140 years. But
redistricting lawsuits and
Donald Trump's potential
presidential nomination
raise uncertainty about.
how GOP down-ballot can
didates will fare in
November.
Harnett, from the
Charlotte suburb of
Harris.burg, had been a
campaign manager for a
2014 congressional candi
date and minority outreach
director for the state GOP
when he ran for chairman
last year. Gov. Pat
McCrory, Lewis and nearly
every top , elected
Republican politician in
the state endorsed Harnett's
rival. ,
Harnett has tried to
Harnett
beginning. Arriving for his
nomination speech, Harnett
entered the delegate hall
with a small marching
band drum line banging out
a beat to rev up the crowd.
By September, the
Central Committee, with
about 50 voting and non
voting members, chose vet
eran conservative activist
Dallas Woodhouse as the
party's executive director,
instead of a candidate
favored by Harnett's allies.
And GOP legislative lead
ers passed a bill letting
them control their own cau
cus funds otherwise over
seen by the party brass.
Earlier this month,
when he was locked out of
his party email account
during what Woodhouse
called a server security
sweep, Harnett referenced
his race, seemingly out of
frustration.
"I really question your
purpose and motive,"
Harnett wrote in a March 9
email to Woodhouse and
the party treasurer. V"1
mean seriously, is this
some form of ritual or haz
ing you would put the first
black chairman of the
NCGOP state party
through? Or is it because I
am not white enough for
you?'
The conflict climaxed
recently with a dispute over,
the cost to attend this May's
state convention, according
to Republicans. The
Central Committee resolu
tion said Harnett reduced
prices unilaterally and
usurped the committee's
power to set the rates.
The party's financial
health "has suffered great
ly under Mr. Hamett's
tenure because he has fall
en well short of his own
fundraising goals and
promises," the state GOP's
April community health seminars,
screenings and events
Visit WakeHealth.edu/BestHealth for class descriptions and other events.
Events are FREE of charge and require registration, unless otherwise noted.
SUNDAY. APRIL 3
Fitness Training \ 3 to 4 pm
D1 Sports, Football Field, 1901
Mooney St., Winston-Salem
MONDAY, APRIL 4
Joint Sports Medicine
3:30 to 4:30 pm
Wake Forest Baptist Health Medical
Plaza-Country Club, 4610 Country
Club Road, Winston-Salem
TUESDAY, APRIL 5
Cindy Silver on Spring Cleaning
Your Pantry \ 6 to 7 pm
Wake Forest Baptist Health Medical
Plaza-Clemmons, 2311 Lewisville
Clemmons Road, Clemmons
Witherspoon
THURSDAY, APRIL 7
Arthritis: Keeping it Under Control
2 to 3 pm
Wake Forest Baptist Health Medical
Plaza-Country Club, 4610 Country
Club Road, Winston-Salem
SATURDAY, APRIL 9
Zumba \ 9 to 10 am
Wake Forest Baptist Health Medical
Plaza-Country Club, 4610 Country
Club Road, Winston-Salem
TUESDAY, APRIL 12
Supplements and Vitamins: Diets
Don't Work \ 5:30 to 6:30 pm
Wake Forest Baptist Health Medical
Plaza-Clemmons, 2311 Lewisville
Clemmons Road, Clemmons
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13
Proper Stretching \ 5:30 to 6:30 pm
Fleet Feet, 278 Harvey St.,
Winston-Salem
TJA.711.RtCT WWftl \ Wi
MONDAYS, APRIL 4, 11, 18
and 25 \ 8:30 am
Looking to be
more active? ,2^1
If you're 50
or older, have 0?W bdlonc?
, winstofv*al?m
been inactive
or have diabetes, high blood
pressure or other risk factors for
heart disease, join us for a series
of walks. Each week we'll increase
the distance some. Complete all
, four walks and receive a t-shirt and
gift card. Walks depart from New
Balance Winston-Salem, Thruway
Shopping Center, Stratford Road,
Winston-Salem. Visit WakeHealth.
edu/BestHealth for details and
registration.
THURSDAY, APRIL 14
Preventing Joint Injuries
5:30 to 6:30 pm
Fleet Feet, 278 Harvey St.,
Winston-Salem
MONDAY, APRIL 18
Gluten-free Made Easy
6 to 7:30 pm
Wake Forest Baptist Health Medical
Plaza-Country Club, 4610 Country
Club Road, Wipston-Salem
TUESDAY, APRIL 19
Varicose Vein Screening
5 to 7 pm
Wake Forest Baptist Health Medical
Plaza-Clemmons, 2341 Lewisville
Clemmons Road, 2nd floor, Clemmons