🌱 Hanes Mall Violent Incidents + Local Recovers From Kidnapping

Good morning, Winston-Salem. Michelle Paul here with your fresh copy of the Winston-Salem Patch newsletter, filled with everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Cooler with a shower in spots. High: 53 Low: 47.
• Thursday: Warmer with some sun. High: 75 Low: 57.

Are you looking to set yourself apart from the crowd of average real estate agents? Our exclusive sponsorship showcases your expertise with targeted messaging that attracts new clients in Winston-Salem. Click here to see how we can help you stand out in the market.

Here are the top three stories in Winston-Salem today:

1. Hanes Mall has experienced several violent incidents including fights, shootouts, and drive-bys over the past three years. Despite this, Mayor Allen Joines and Councilmember Kevin Mundy do not feel that the city needs to intervene, as the mall hasn't reached the threshold to become a nuisance. However, shoppers are concerned for their safety and feel that more needs to be done to make them feel safe. (FOX 8)
2. The Wake Forest women's basketball team lost to Florida in the second round of the WNIT, despite a late surge in the third quarter. Jewel Spear led the team with 25 points, while Olivia Summiel kept the Deacons in the game with three three-pointers in the second quarter, and Alexandria Scruggs hauled in a career-high 13 rebounds. (WFMY News 2)
3. Eric Williams, a Winston-Salem man, expressed his gratitude to those who supported him during his recovery following a violent kidnapping on Mexico's Northern border, where he was among four Americans taken hostage, while two others died. Williams was shot in the leg and underwent several surgeries to repair the damage. The kidnappers are suspected members of a drug cartel, and five of its members allegedly involved have been turned over, and the cartel apologized for the murders. (WXII 12)

From our sponsor:

Today’s Winston-Salem Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Winston-Salem Patch newsletter possible.

Today and tomorrow in Winston-Salem:

Wednesday, March 22

• Line Dancing - Beginners At Martin L. King, Jr. Community Center (12:45 PM)
• More Barn Concerts: Rob Ickes And Trey Hensley At 106 Reynolda Village (7:30 PM)

Thursday, March 23

• Winston-Salem Job Fair (Virtual) Hosted By DiversityX (11:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• A free water treatment plant tour is being offered today, Mar. 22, as part of Forsyth Creek Week. The Thomas Water Treatment Plant, located at 1201 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, will host the event, which includes a presentation on the water treatment process and a tour of the plant, as well as free gifts and prize drawings. (City of Winston-Salem)
• Winston-Salem Writers is currently accepting submissions to the Flying South literary contest until May 31. Prizes of $400, $200, and $100 will be awarded for first, second, and third place in the fiction, non-fiction, and poetry categories respectively, with a total of $2,100 in prizes. (Yes! Weekly)
• Heather McGhee, a New York Times bestselling author and expert on the American economy, will be the keynote speaker at the Winston-Salem Foundation’s 2023 Community Meeting, which will be held on May 8 at the Benton Convention Center. McGhee will discuss her book “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together,” and tickets to the event cost $25, which includes a copy of the book. The foundation is accepting registrations for the event until May 2. (Yes! Weekly)

You're officially in the loop for today! See you soon for your next update.

— Michelle Paul

About me: Michelle Paul is a Utah-based writer and photographer with a professional background in content management and registered nursing. When not working on projects ranging from photo editing to copywriting, they enjoy traveling, video games, and expanding their skills.