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Before moving forward to the new year, let’s revisit what happened in 2024 with a look back at highlights from the front pages of The Clemmons Courier:

JANUARY

• After a significant renovation of the Tanglewood Park Championship Course several years ago, the next step in an upgrade for the historic layout came just before Christmas when the Forsyth County Commissioners approved nearly $15 million to construct a new clubhouse. The course was the host site of the 1974 PGA Championship and the Champions Senior Tour Vantage Championship from 1987 to 2002. Major renovations were made to the layout in 2018 after it was closed much of that year. Next up is replacing an aging clubhouse, which will be torn down and replaced by Samet Corp. on the same site with a modern facility. (Jan. 4)
• After being denied in 2022 by the Clemmons Village Council, a proposed residential development on Harper Road received unanimous approval in the first meeting of the new year. The first rezoning request came after months of changes and continuances before being struck down in August 2022 prior to coming back before the council in November 2023 with several changes from the previous request – and no one there to protest after residents from nearby Waterford had been vocal in their opposition to the original proposal. The preliminary major subdivision review was for the Jasper Meadows Subdivision by Arden Group, LLC located on 26.76 acres and zoned RS-20 to include 31 lots. (Jan. 11)
• The Town of Lewisville took a stand against billboards along U.S. 421 from the western city limit of Winston-Salem to the Yadkin River in the first council meeting of 2024. Even before it was revealed that the Town Council had already taken action in the previous week’s briefing and action meeting by passing a resolution in opposition to this specific billboard application, resident Christopher Smith offered his take in a public hearing. “I’m against the proposal,” Smith said. “I think it sets a dangerous precedent. There are no billboards from Peace Haven Road all the way down to the river.” (Jan. 18)
• After surging to record highs for the number of vehicles entering Tanglewood Park during the peak of COVID, the Festival of Lights remained a popular attraction despite a slight drop in attendance in the last two seasons. In fact, after an all-time record vehicle count of 64,057 in 2020, followed by 57,925 in 2021, the last two years came in at 52,161 vehicles in 2022 and 52,054 in the most recent year of 2023. “Overall, it was another great year,” said Chris Weavil, the director of Forsyth County Parks & Recreation. “We are leveling off in our number of attendees/vehicles post-COVID.” (Jan. 25)

FEBRUARY

• A constant theme in recent years during Clemmons Village Council meetings has been addressing school traffic and how to make things better and safer along the increasingly crowded roadways. So, it was no surprise the topic was prominent on the agenda for the annual retreat held at the Winston-Salem Foundation. Looking back to a council meeting last July leading into the current 2023-24 school year, Michelle Barson provided an update about an impasse due to a lack of communications from the wide circle of those involved in seeking a solution. (Feb. 1)
• Caribou Coffee is on the way to Bermuda Run. Those driving down N.C. 801 South from I-40 through the big intersection with U.S. 158 past Wells Fargo, you’ve no doubt seen the Davie Construction Co. sign and noticed workers with heavy equipment moving dirt around on the lot behind the bank at the corner of Peachtree Lane. Carl Carney, president and CEO of Davie Construction, confirmed that the global premium coffee house with more than 800 stores in 11 countries will indeed be setting up shop near the town’s busiest crossroads. (Feb. 8)
• A new traffic pattern is coming for those who park or stop along Lewisville-Clemmons Road for pick-up/drop-off at West Forsyth High School, effective on the first day back from Spring Break, which is Tuesday, April 9 – and it could be costly for drivers who don’t comply.
  Those who don’t heed the “NO PARKING OR STOPPING ANY TIME” signs along the busy road during school dismissal time could face hefty fines – $25 for parking a vehicle on a roadway along with the court fee of $191. Village Manager Mike Gunnell gave the most recent update of addressing school traffic in the best interests of safety and traffic flow.(Feb. 15)
• The Lewisville-Clemmons Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 17th anniversary at the Historic Broyhill Office Suites Ballroom. It was the largest attended chamber meeting ever, and the chamber experienced 15.8 percent growth in 2023. During the meeting, several previous presidents spoke, including John Byrd, the first president. The previous presidents spoke about the history of the chamber and how it has served the local business community. (Feb. 22)
• The new Pedestrian Plan in Clemmons was approved, which was great news for Planner Doug Moore in receiving the official confirmation. It’s part of a vision that includes all kinds of possibilities, including 20 miles of greenways, 15 miles of shared-use paths, 27 miles of sidewalks and 46 intersection improvements. The plan was put together in January 2023 and spanning into early this year with four steering committee meetings and two public engagement events. (Feb. 29)

MARCH

• The Clemmons Village Council took time before the business portion of its meeting to pay tribute to Dep. Marty Luffman during a ceremony recognizing his retirement from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office after 16 years of service. He received a fishing rod and reel from the village. Mayor Mike Rogers praised Luffman for his “integrity, community, accountability, excellence and compassion.” Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough was on hand for the meeting. (March 7)
• The Village of Clemmons announced an intent to purchase 12.42 acres of land from Novant Health adjacent to the Village Point Greenway and Fishing Pier for $2,235,600 million. That announcement came after a closed session – with funding coming from money awarded last fall under the House Bill 259 Appropriations Act. Council member Bradley Taylor made the motion for approval, which includes four tracts of 2.59 acres, 2.85 acres, 5.44 acres and 1.55 acres. (March 14)
• James Ayers, who had been the town manager of Lewisville for just over 16 months, announced his resignation March 1. Ayers, who just turned 61, confirmed that he is taking early retirement from local government service, adding his effective retirement date is April 1. (March 14)
• For the second time in less than two years, Stacy Tolbert has added the title of interim manager along with being the planner for the Town of Lewisville, following the resignation of James Ayers, who became the latest town manager in November 2022. Tolbert, who had been the planner in Lewisville since December 2018, took on the extra duties as interim manager the first time after Hank Perkins left his post in May 2022. (March 21)

APRIL

• The developers for the proposed Shallowford Road Golf Driving Range had requested continuing public hearings involving rezonings and annexation before the Lewisville Town Council multiple times, but that didn’t stop a couple of residents from voicing their concerns in a public forum. They both covered a lot of ground about the project, saying it was too close for comfort in a rural area, seemed to be a perfect example of spot zoning and didn’t fit the “careful planning” Lewisville has been known for over the years. (April 4)
• After frequently addressing a new traffic pattern involving those who park or stop during pick-up/drop-off at West Forsyth High School, the Clemmons Village Council took a different route to explore on-street parking regulations in neighborhoods. “I think our ordinance was originally written with the general original flavor to allow parking on the street to be on a temporary basis, but I think in the past years it’s become a permanent situation in some of our neighborhoods,” said Village Manager Mike Gunnell, who recommended taking a second look at the ordinance to address some of these current situations. (April 11)
• Despite a steady stream of objections from an overflow crowd during a public hearing the Bermuda Run Town Council unanimously approved a 10/70 permit request with conditions and an annexation request for the Hall Walker Development. (April 18)
• In Stacy Tolbert’s first budget message as the interim manager for the Town of Lewisville, she had the dubious duty of announcing a proposed property tax increase from 17.7 cents per $100 of valuation to 21.7 cents per $100 of valuation for fiscal year 2024-25. This represented an increase of 4 cents per $100 of valuation, where 1 cent of the tax rate generates approximately $173,510 of revenue, according to Tolbert. (April 18)
• The Village of Clemmons and the City of Winston-Salem agreed on a $737,205 sewer extension off Harper Road. Village Manager Mike Gunnell said after discussions between the two parties that the City of Winston-Salem “took more responsibility of the bid” and that he was asking for council approval to move forward with the project, which they did in a 5-0 vote.
  Clemmons will now be responsible for paying $435,600, and the City of Winston-Salem will pay $301,605. (April 25)

MAY

• So far, so good with the new traffic regulations at West Forsyth High School. This involved the plan that went effect on April 9, the first day back for students from Spring Break, regarding the no parking or stopping during pick-up/drop-off at the school. The initial announcement put out by the village stated: “Those who don’t heed the ‘NO PARKING OR STOPPING ANY TIME’ signs along Lewisville-Clemmons Road during school dismissal time could face hefty fines.” The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office went on the record as saying only warnings would be issued during the first two weeks, and deputies reported there were “no angry or ugly words.” (May 2)
• One person was reported dead and another injured after a shooting on the U.S. 158/Yadkin River bridge May 5. The altercation apparently started at Truist Park, a soccer and sports complex in Davie County near the Forsyth County line. The Davie Sheriff’s Office reported that Antelmo Bryan Salinas Martinez, 26, of Winston-Salem was shot to death as he drove a white Dodge Charger across the bridge. (May 9)
• After being named interim manager twice in the last two years, Stacy Tolbert was appointed as the new town manager in Lewisville. (May 16)
• History was made in Forsyth County with the first drone delivery of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) in a simulated cardiac arrest scenario that took place at Agape Church in Clemmons. (May 16)
• While Manager Andrew Meadwell continued to put the finishing touches on the 2023-24 budget, the Bermuda Run Town Council moved forward with approval of a couple of important contracts and other resolutions. That included the council voting to allow the town manager and town attorney to negotiate and execute a five-year contract with Republic Services for solid waste and recycling services. (May 23)
• When Stacy Howard starts putting together Lewisville’s concert lineup at Shallowford Square each year, she likes to put her years of experience as a musician and songwriter to use.
• Certainly, this is the prime time of year for live music coming to various venues in the area, also including Bermuda Run, Clemmons and Tanglewood Park. Lewisville leads the way with 12 concerts in 2024. Howard said that concerts at Shallowford Square started more than 20 years ago (she has been with the town for 18 years), and her goal is always to offer a wide variety of bands. (May 30)

JUNE

• Manager Mike Gunnell presented his fiscal year 2024-25 budget to the Clemmons Village Council in last Tuesday night’s meeting with the largest increases coming in predictable areas.
  “Solid waste and recycling increased by 25 percent due to the increased cost to recycle, inflation and additional single-family residential units,” Gunnell said. “The Village’s Sheriff’s Office contract for public safety increased by 12 percent.” The council approved an amendment to the agreement with the Sheriff’s Office for a total annual cost of $2,354,580. (June 6)
• On a night when the village’s nearly $14 million budget for fiscal year 2024-25 was officially approved and an amendment to the agreement with Novant Health regarding the purchase of 12.43 acres of land for nearly $2.4 million at Village Point was given the thumbs up, another agenda item involving much less money took considerably more time along with a somewhat contentious exchange. It involved a debate on placing medallions – and the design and putting up to 12 of them at a total price of up to $30,000 – on the bridges spanning I-40 at the Lewisville-Clemmons Road and Harper Road interchanges. (June 13)
• When the Town of Lewisville found out the “old post office” property, which is located between Town Hall and the Town Hall Annex, was for sale, Lewisville quickly moved forward to acquire what Stacy Tolbert, the new town manager, called “a great opportunity.” So in a new item added to the new business part of the council meeting agenda, the council unanimously approved the purchase of the property for $700,000 at 6524 Shallowford Road (former Lewisville Post Office owned by Donald R. Simpson) that included a 3,000-square-foot building on 1.09 acres. (June 20)
• Once again, the Village of Clemmons faced another legislative bill that “was crafted and amended and introduced and forwarded … all with no input from anyone in Clemmons.”
  That was part of a statement read by Mayor Pro Tem Mike Combest to explain why Mayor Mike Rogers was in Raleigh during a council meeting to address the Senate’s Rules and Operations Committee. “Mayor Rogers is there to convey council’s unanimous opposition to House Bill 1064 – titled ‘City of Southport/Remove ETJ Authority,’ ” Combest read. “You may wonder why the Village of Clemmons actively opposes a legislative bill created to deal with Extra Territorial Jurisdiction authority for Southport. The reason is that HB 1064 has been edited and amended to now include provisions that change how Clemmons conducts local elections.” (June 27)

JULY

• With two highway projects ranked among the top 10 for the 2026-2035 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Development Plan, there’s a lot on the line locally. Bermuda Run has the No. 1 ranking on the Winston-Salem Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Prioritization 7.0 list of local point assignment methodology for a project that would widen N.C. 801 to a multi-lane roadway from Oak Valley Boulevard to U.S. 158 with bike lanes and sidewalks at a cost to NCDOT of $49.8 million. Clemmons occupies the No. 9 spot on the list for a project going from the Bermuda Run roundabout to Harper Road and widening U.S. 158 to a 3-lane section with curb and gutter, bike lanes and sidewalks from Harper Road to Lewisville-Clemmons Road and Middlebrook Drive at a cost to NCDOT of $24.1 million. (July 4)
• After taking a step to improve traffic flow and safety along Lewisville-Clemmons Road in the spring at West Forsyth High School, the Clemmons Village Council decided to move forward with addressing a similar situation at Clemmons Elementary School with the start of another school year only about a month away. Jonathan Guy, an engineer with Kimley-Horn, gave a school traffic update on operational recommendations at Clemmons Elementary, presenting a couple of options that might help – Singular One-Way and Split Directions. (July 11)
• At last, Lewisville’s Williams Road Gateway Project is done. Town Manager Stacy Tolbert was the planner when the project got started in the 2017-18 time frame. “I am excited to see this project come to completion,” Tolbert said of the project, which consisted of the widening of Williams Road to accommodate bicycles, a planted median, street lighting and new monument signs.” “A lot of what we want to do in Lewisville is to create a very pedestrian feel, slow things down, be more rural in character.” (July 18)
• After continuing a public hearing from the previous meeting because of changes to the site plan, the Clemmons Village Council unanimously approved a zoning map amendment for Abattoir Properties LLC involving an independent senior living project at the southwest corner of the intersection of Fair Oaks Drive and Harper Road. The vote was 5-0 in favor for property owned by Abattoir Properties LLC with the request from RS-15 (Residential, Single Family) to PB-S (Pedestrian Business – Special), and the petitioner requesting multifamily, for properties addressed 7420 Fair Oaks Drive and 7452 Fair Oaks Drive, consisting of 2.188 acres. (July 25)

AUGUST

• The new principal at West Forsyth High School is a familiar face. The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education approved Ayanna Sutton-Chaplin, the school’s assistant principal last year, to replace Kevin Spainhour, the outgoing principal. Spainhour earlier accepted an administrative position with the school district. (Aug. 1)
• After extensive discussions with Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools, Clemmons Elementary and the Forsyth County Sheriff Department, the Village Council decided to implement some changes to improve traffic flow and safety around Clemmons Elementary.
  Effective on Friday, Aug. 9, three blocks of James Street and one block of Bingham Avenue will be converted to one-way streets. This decision aimed to reduce the congestion and blockages on Stadium Drive caused by school traffic and enhance overall safety for our community. (Aug. 8)
• In golf lingo, it looked like another mulligan for the developers of the proposed driving range on Shallowford Road in Lewisville. Public hearings for rezoning and annexation requests were on the agenda for last Thursday night’s Lewisville Town Council meeting, but similar to the last appearance before the board in March, the petitioner asked for another redo to seek a workable solution. After hearing comments from the public, Ricky Lyons, one of the petitioners, stated he wanted to formally withdraw the application for rezoning and annexation and work toward a resolution for the future.” (Aug. 15)
• Remember the excitement created by the recent highway project rankings for the 2026-2035 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Development Plan when a Bermuda Run project was ranked No. 1 on the list? Well, a detour involving funding issues, including higher inflation, has come up involving the top-ranked highway on the Prioritization 7.0 list of local point assignment methodology. That means the widening project of N.C. 801 to multi-lane from Oak Valley Boulevard to U.S. 158 with bike lanes and sidewalks at a soaring cost to NCDOT of $73.3 million – and no local match – is on hold along with other contenders. (Aug. 22)
• As the 2024-25 school year approaches the Labor Day holiday weekend, the traffic flow around Clemmons Elementary School continues to improve after the implementation of new one-way movements. In fact, Lt. Jody Chatham of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office said in the council meeting that Principal Wendy Brewington and school officials have told him that last year it would take 45 to 50 minutes for release and pickup and in his last check it took only 18 minutes. (Aug. 29)

SEPTEMBER

• It’s been a busy year for Doug Moore, the planning director for Clemmons. Even before the council meeting, the board held a follow-up retreat highlighted by a presentation from Clarion Associates LLC, which was awarded a contract for $229,225 in an earlier meeting for a rewrite of the United Development Ordinance. Also, the council approved a Safe Streets for All Action plan agreement for $160,000 with Kittelson and Associates Inc. and approved accepting a Village of Clemmons Accessibility and Transition Plan in Support of Safe Streets for All Action Plan grant for $160,000 – with the village share being $40,000 each. (Sept. 12)
• For once, Mayor Mike Horn was literally speechless. Lewisville’s longtime leader had just been made aware of a resolution for a new business item being added to the council agenda, but he didn’t know it included the new amphitheater in Jack Warren Park being named in his honor in an emotional announcement. “This really has caught me off guard a little bit,” said the affable mayor, who paused to gather his thoughts on the surprise announcement after Town Manager Stacy Tolbert read the resolution. (Sept. 19)
• The Clemmons Village Council took steps to modernize amendments with the language regarding burning and clarifying what is and is not allowed. Amy Flyte, assistant village manager, led a discussion and highlights of changes, which includes a Clemmons Code of Ordinances Amendment for Chapter 96 – Air Quality Control (Open Burning), and it was unanimously approved by the council. (Sept. 26)

OCTOBER

• As of Sept. 27, Lisa and Chip Glunt don’t live in Lewisville anymore. And there’s a specific reason. The inevitable growth of a place many find appealing to call home is getting a bit too crowded in some areas, Lisa Glunt told the in public comments in September’s meeting, and ultimately she felt like there was nothing they could do to stop it after exhausting all avenues.
  Glunt, a resident at 310 Fox Ridge Circle, appeared before board the first time in August prior to returning a second time to describe her unsuccessful efforts to get some relief from a 56-house project on Shady Brook Lane “that would make a significant impact on my neighborhood. I now know that Lewisville can’t say no. It’s all a part of the United Development Ordinance, which I hope makes us all pillow at night because it’s nothing but a punch in the gut to me.” (Oct. 3)
• Ed Armstrong of Clemmons joined a prestigious club as a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award. Armstrong was recommended by Gary Styers, the local fire chief, for his “remarkable 53-year volunteer tenure” in Clemmons, most of that time serving under Jerry Brooks, the longtime chief who retired at the end of 2022. (Oct. 10)
• After being ranked among the top highway projects for the 2026-2035 State Transportation Improvement Program Development Plan this summer, Clemmons has claimed a spot in what is called the “Fabulous 15” in the latest update provided by the Winston-Salem Urban Transportation Advisory Committee. Council member Bradley Taylor, who serves as the village’s Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) representative, broke the news in a council meeting that the U.S. 158 partial widening and partial road diet with sidewalks and bike lanes that extends from Lewisville-Clemmons Road to the Bermuda Run roundabout received 100 points proposed out of a possible 100. (Oct. 17)
• Bermuda Run is taking an extra step to invest in public safety through a new agreement with the Davie County Sheriff’s Office. Mayor Mike Brannon announced that he wanted to “call an audible” in the council agenda and have Sheriff JD Hartman come forward and share some updates pertinent to the town. “We have worked together on a project to enhance our ability to serve the town,” Hartman said. “So the town is going to help us with a little bit of additional funding for our contract, and that will buy some equipment that will allow to investigate cases a little better.” Brannon later announced that the cost would be around $15,000 in an annual cost and that it is a new camera network. (Oct. 17)
• The long-awaited Great Wagon Road project, which has been in the plans for downtown Lewisville for years, avoided a potential pothole in the council meeting before the ultimate passing of a three-way $6.2 million utility agreement with the City of Winston-Salem and the N.C. Department of Transportation. In fact, the first part in a two-step process – amending the Great Wagon Road improvements Capital Project Ordinance for that amount – was rejected in a 4-3 vote where concerns were raised over depleting the General Fund Reserve. However, after learning there were other possible funding sources, the council opted to reconsider, approving both the ordinance and resolution of the utility agreement unanimously. (Oct. 24)

NOVEMBER

• With temperatures still reaching the 70s in early November, it was hardly beginning to look a lot like Christmas, but nonetheless, the Tanglewood Park Festival of Lights was gearing up for its 33rd season. The annual lights show opened on Nov. 15 and runs through Jan. 1. Things have been pretty much the same as usual, but there has been a slight detour in the route through the massive park because of the ongoing construction involving the new golf clubhouse. Construction for the new facility is ongoing and expected to be completed in the back half of 2025. (Nov. 7)
• Even before the final votes were counted on Tuesday, Nov. 5, it had already been “a historic election” regarding the turnout during early voting in Forsyth County. For most voters in the 2024 election, there wasn’t any middle ground when it came down to the presidential race where Republican Donald Trump prevailed over Democrat Kamala Harris. Tim Tsujii, who is the director of the Forsyth County Board of Elections, said that it was a record turnout in early voting with over 155,000 casting ballots and more than 10,000 going the route of absentee by-mail voting. More than 30,000 went to the polls on election day. (Nov. 14)
• After making significant improvements with traffic flow around Clemmons Elementary School to open the 2024-25 school year, the Clemmons Village Council hopes a possible solution from NCDOT might have a similar impact at West Forsyth High School. At last Tuesday night’s meeting, Mike Gunnell, village manager, offered a project update after a meeting held with village staff, NCDOT and Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools regarding a proposal for improving school traffic flow at West Forsyth that would be paid for by NCDOT. If approved, construction could start as early as June 2025. (Nov. 21)
• In a Lewisville Town Council retreat a couple of years ago, there was a presentation on “the future of fire service in the town.” During the review of all the topics at that February 2022 retreat, Mayor Mike Horn said afterward that one that really stood out to him was the fire service and changes throughout the county involving volunteer departments with some mergers and shifting of funding. That led to a meeting in December “to talk about those issues and to find out if there is a way that we can jointly maybe work together to address those.” (Nov. 28)

DECEMBER

• Heading into Thanksgiving, Manager Mike Gunnell thought it might be an opportune time to provide an update on local transportation projects in Clemmons. Gunnell led off with the Harper Road Sidewalks from Fair Oaks Drive to Peace Haven Road and the Jerry Long Family YMCA, stating that the construction plans are complete and that the village is waiting on the approval for the right-of-way and utility funding. “It’s on the Transportation Board agenda for the December meeting,” he said. Right-of-way and easement acquisition follows on the timeline for the spring of 2025, with construction scheduled to start in the summer. Next up on the agenda was the Lewisville-Clemmons Road Improvements, which has been in the works for years. Gunnell said that construction plans are almost complete. (Dec. 5)
• The Clemmons Village Council unanimously recommended denial of a rezoning proposal being considered by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners that would permit chemical manufacturing and possible impacts to the nearby Peppertree neighborhood. Mayor Mike Rogers said in a statement that the Village of Clemmons concurred with the City-County planning staff’s denial of rezoning docket F-1651 based on concerns outlined in their staff report. The property in question is at 6220 Clementine Drive, which is located near the intersection of Idols Road and Hampton Road in an industrial park and has been used as a warehouse. (Dec. 12)
• It’s the holiday season, but that doesn’t translate into the best of times for those residents in Bermuda Run East waiting to receive packages through the U.S. Postal Service. During the Bermuda Run Town Council meeting, Andrew Meadwell’s town manager’s comments concentrated “on a continuing issue with parcels and packages being delivered to the Bermuda Run East package room. These delivered are unlike any of our other neighborhoods in our town where if the postal service delivers a parcel, if they don’t fit into a parcel locker, they are taken to the residents’ home.” That’s the case at Bermuda Run West and Kinderton Village, according to Meadwell, but not so at the small building about a 1/2 mile from the U.S. 158 entrance where some 750 residents in Bermuda Run East’s gated community receive their mail in parcel lockers from the USPS. If they don’t fit there, they are put in the small package room. (Dec. 19)