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Unlike some other places, the local police in Clemmons seem to be appreciated.

Sgt. Brian Geiger, the head of the Clemmons community policing division of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, weighed in with his opinion at the most recent village council meeting,

“A lot of the citizens of Clemmons are making sure my guys eat well, so they’ve been putting on a few pounds here and there,” Gieger said with a chuckle.

To which Mayor John Wait responded, “Then tell them to stop doing that. In case an emergency comes up, we need you to be ready for action.”

The exchange came at the end of the Sheriff’s Office report when councilwoman Mary Cameron asked Gieger how things have gone in the last three-plus months as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s been business as usual,” Gieger said. “I think our crashes are down because they’re not as many people out on the road. But as far as call volume, it’s down compared to the way it has been.”

Wait acknowledged the work being done by the local force to protect and serve.

“I’ve been receiving comments from the public with respect to the protests,” Wait said. “On the one side, people are wanting to make sure that police are supported, on the other side asking what are you doing to make sure that the protests are supported, etc. There’s not a lot of that in Clemmons, but what I would like to say is we’ve very happy with the job you guys do.”

Relatively speaking, the village is a quiet community for the most part, but you never know what might happen anytime and anywhere.

Remember that 36-hour stretch in late March when Clemmons was the scene of two serious incidents — a deputy-involved shooting in the heart of town resulting in a death after a vehicle chase, and then being the starting point for another chase on the other end of Lewisville-Clemmons Road that ultimately covered three counties before ending near Lexington where Davidson County deputies shot and killed one of the occupants in the vehicle?

One of the employees from Mock Tire at the Village who witnessed the first incident said, “It was like a hometown version of Live PD right here.”

Yes, even in Clemmons.

So, thanks to the law enforcement officers and all the first responders for all that you do for the Clemmons community.

• • • • •

It was a quiet night in Lewisville this July 4^th when the spectacular light show, which remained the only large fireworks display in western Forsyth after Tanglewood discontinued them during the recession 10 years or so ago, was canceled.

Blame it on the success of the town’s growth and road system along with more commercial development resulting in Lewisville running out of room for a fall back area to continue the fireworks show.

It was almost surreal to drive by Shallowford Square at dusk last Saturday night and have no sense of it being a holiday.

The town actually planned to still have an Independence Day celebration — even without fireworks — but that was canceled too because of the coronavirus restrictions.

Usually, the Winston-Salem Dash offered another local option for fireworks, but even that plan struck out when the Minor-League Baseball season was called off because of … yes, COVID-19.

Certainly, there were lots of store-bought fireworks on a smaller scale set off in backyards, neighborhoods and other remote areas, but America’s birthday just had a different feel this year.

• • • • •

On a personal note, my 95-year-old aunt passed away last week. She was such a sweetheart and had just lost her 98-year-old husband, a prince of a man, in March.

They had been married for 75 years, and the day of his funeral was when the coronavirus restrictions (there’s those words again) forced the assisted-living facility where they resided in their final years to close to visitors.

Unfortunately, their loving daughters could only wave and blow kisses to her through the window of her room from outside the building, and they couldn’t talk or “Facetime” much as my aunt’s eyesight along with her hearing had deteriorated.

I know you’ve seen and heard similar stories that just break your heart. It’s so sad it had to end that way, but I rejoice in their lengthy life together and their long-stated goal of being reunited in heaven.