🌱 School Janitor Receives Praise + Local NASCAR Participant

Hello again. It's Friday in Winston-Salem and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Partly sunny. High: 83 Low: 63.
• Saturday: A stray afternoon t-storm. High: 84 Low: 64.

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

1. Police responded to an apparent altercation at the Enclave at North Point Apartments shortly before midnight on Wednesday. Upon arriving at the scene, they found 24-year-old Mason Williams suffering from a stab wound to the upper torso. He was transported to the hospital by Forsyth County EMS where he eventually lost his life. According to officers, Williams and another individual got into a physical altercation in the parking lot of the apartment complex before the suspect stabbed him. Currently, no information has been released involving the suspect as the case is under investigation; this marks the 23rd homicide of the year already surpassing the 19 during this time in 2022. (WXII12 Winston-Salem)
2. Jimmy Durham is a janitor at Redeemer School in Winston-Salem, but his role in the school is much greater than that; the organization Tripp's Heroes held a celebration for "Hero Jimmy" for being a kind and hardworking individual. Jen Sanders from Tripp's Heroes praised Durham as a hero who spreads kindness and deserves celebration and honor. Durham's giving nature is evident in his assistance as an assistant basketball coach, sharing his passions for chess, the Arabic language, and teaching kindness to students through his actions. (WGHP FOX8 Greensboro)
3. For the first time in over two decades, NASCAR events are returning to the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway as part of the 75 Years of NASCAR celebration. Among the participants in the All-Star events is Rajah Caruth, 20, a student at Winston-Salem State University and a professional driver in NASCAR's truck and Xfinity series circuits. Caruth, who values time management and balance, navigates between his studies and his racing career, prioritizing his education while chasing his dreams on the racetrack. (WFMYNews2.com)

Today and tomorrow in Winston-Salem:

Friday, May 12

• Winston Salem Mayor's Council For Persons With Disabilities At The Adaptables (11:30 AM)
• Mom's Night Out At Polo Park Community Center (5:30 PM)

Saturday, May 13

• Fairgrounds Farmer's Market At Dixie Classic Fair Grounds (6:00 AM)
• Mother's Day High Tea At Be Kind Coffee Co. (8:30 AM)

From my notebook:

• The Special Olympics is right around the corner and the Winston-Salem Police Department is requesting support from the community for extra funding. Come out today from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Dunkin' Donuts on Hawthorne Road; the annual Torch Run for the event will be held on May 19. (Winston-Salem Police Department via Facebook)
• Tomorrow, May 13, the Winston-Salem Police Department will hold a recruiting fair from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Alexander Beaty Public Safety Training Center. Several openings are available in multiple different departments; in addition to the recruitment, attendees will receive a tour of the training center and see demonstrations. (City of Winston-Salem, NC - Government via Facebook)
• The Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance will be hosting the second annual Rainbow High LGBTQIA+ Pride Theatre Festival on Jun. 10 at 6:00 p.m. completely free to the public. Registration will be available at the Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance website soon. (Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance via Facebook)
• According to recent data, the state of North Carolina had the fourth-highest rate of U.S. teen driver fatalities in 2022. Bumper.com reports that “young drivers are statistically more likely than other age groups to be involved in fatal accidents.” (Bumper.com)

You're all caught up for today! I'll see you soon.

— 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.