🌱 School Bus Driver Shortage + New Violence Reduction Program

Hello, hello. Danielle Fallon-O'Leary here with your fresh copy of the Winston-Salem Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out all the things you need to know about what's happening locally.

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Now, your local weather:

• Thursday: Mostly sunny and pleasant. High: 85 Low: 66.
• Friday: Partly sunny and pleasant. High: 89 Low: 65.

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

1. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is beginning the new school year with a shortage of bus drivers. The district has nearly 60 vacant positions for bus drivers, and district officials say there will likely be delays in getting students to and from school. The district is asking parents to notify their child's school if their child does not need to ride the bus but had previously signed up. (WXII)
2. The City of Winston-Salem and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist have announced a new program aimed at reducing violence in the community. The program was created by three doctors who were motivated to act due to the rising number of stabbing and gunshot wound victims. The program connects trauma victims with a counselor who can connect the victim with violence intervention specialists and community groups in their area. Once the victim leaves the hospital, they are contacted by a case navigator to ensure they have the resources they need to heal. (CBS 17)
3. The Winston-Salem Police Department is warning residents about reports of a recent phone scam that involves the caller claiming to be a law enforcement officer or Chief William Penn. The fraudulent caller tells the victim they must pay a fine or go to jail. The Winston-Salem Police Department confirmed that this is a scam, and the department does not ask for money over the phone. If you are targeted by this scam, the Criminal Investigations Division encourages writing down the number the scammer called from and the caller's name in order to file a police report. (WFMY News 2)

Today and tomorrow in Winston-Salem:

Thursday, August 17

• Coffee And Canvas At Georgia E. Taylor Neighborhood Center (10:30 AM)
• Senior Water Fitness Class At Bolton Pool (11:00 AM)

Friday, August 18

• Winston-Salem Dash Vs. Greenville Drive At Truist Stadium (7:00 PM)
• Mary Poppins At A/perture Cinema (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance has announced an upcoming production of "The Addams Family." This musical comedy will premiere on Sep. 15 and shows will run through Sep. 24. Click here for tickets. (Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance via Facebook)
• MUSE is holding a Trivia Night on Sep. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at Joymongers Barrel Hall. Trivia questions will cover local history, American presidents, and more. (MUSE Winston-Salem via Facebook)
• Comedian An-G will perform at The Art of Laughter on Aug. 26 at 8:00 p.m. An-G is a seasoned comic with over 20 years of experience at comedy clubs and entertainment venues across the country. Click here for tickets. (Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County via Facebook)

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• As temperatures increase, so does roach activity! (Details)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday. See you all soon for another update!

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.