West Rowan News, Events, and Fun

  Discussions about food trucks and wine/beer town regulation guidelines continued tonight 8-31-2020 at the scheduled Cleveland, NC zoning and planning board meeting. Proposals on these topics were requested by the Cleveland Town Board, and guidelines hammered out by the committee will ultimately go to the Board for review and possible adoption. Alcohol Sales (wine/beer only) The board agreed tonight on a definition of a restaurant which may seem pretty straightforward but can get complicated.  Members of the committee also were in agreement that beverage sales would be limited to beer and wine with liquor being excluded at restaurants in the town.  From there, things got more complicated. The sample copy reviewed allowed for 49% of restaurant sales to be alcohol, but board members weren't keen on sales of beer and wine being that high. Member Jim Brown suggested that the sales limit be at 35%, and board members agreed.   Committee members discussed the sale of beverages for off pr

  Keith Townsend -House Candidate District 77 NC It is not often that one of our West Rowan neighbors runs for a House seat in North Carolina, so this year is one of note with Keith Townsend of Mt. Ulla, NC putting his name on the ballot for 2020.  The NC District 77 House seat was unopposed (after another candidate withdrew) with Julia Craven Howard (R) on the ballet to take the seat. Howard has held the office (though with district changes over the years) for decades. But, it still concerned Townsend that there were no options for voters.  He says that democracy is based on choices, so when members of the community encouraged him to run for office he put his life on hold and signed up. After all, you can't really legitimately complain if you're not willing to do something yourself.  Retired West Rowan High School Teacher Members of the community may know Keith Townsend but may remember him as Mr. Townsend, since he was a teacher at West Rowan, first at the middle school and t

      What would you do if someone in your family or a close friend had a medical crisis? Would you know where to go? Would you know who to talk to? Are you aware of the services that are available for your loved one? Have you had the conversations that ensure that the wishes of those closest to you are carried out? Medical care can be complicated and especially so during this age of coronavirus.  Carolina Cares and Rowan County EMS are holding a FREE workshop on Wednesday August 18 at the Cleveland Town Hall from 1:30 to 3:00.  The workshop is ideal for anyone living with chronic medical concerns and for family members who may be working closely with a sick relative or friend. The focus is on planning ahead, so it's better to attend and get information before an emergency which can obviously happen to any of us at any time. At the session, attendees will learn how to assemble a full care team. Anyone can have top notch care if he/she knows how to find and navigate the resources. T

  The bulk of the August monthly Cleveland, NC town board meeting was spent discussing how to spend $61, 619 in government funds allocated to the town for coronavirus related expenditures.  Mayor Pat Phifer said that it was critical to make decisions and get a preliminary spending budget turned in. He noted that the town was not required to decide on specifics at this time and could make spending decisions in the next few weeks. The pressing matter was to get the request turned in. Gerald Osborne, commissioner, asked questions about assistance for individuals and small businesses in town. He questioned whether it might be possible for some funds to be spent for grants or subsidies. Specifically mentioned were small businesses in town that had not been able to (or were not required to) pay water bills during the economic downturn associated with coronavirus. All are now paid up or have arranged payment plans. Commissioner Travis Summitt said that the county usually handled grant funds f