🌱 Women Charged With Animal Cruelty + Retired Sergeant Celebrates 101

Good morning, hello! I'm back with your fresh edition of the Winston-Salem Patch newsletter. Here's all the local news you need to know right now.

But first, your local weather:

• Monday: Plenty of sunshine, but cool. High: 51 Low: 30.
• Tuesday: Partly sunny and warmer. High: 60 Low: 42.

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Here are the top stories in Winston-Salem today:

1. Winston-Salem police are currently investigating a shooting that landed a 21-year-old woman in the hospital suffering from gunshot wounds. Friday night, officers responded to a call around 9 p.m. of a shooting happening at Pearl Court. Officers arrived at the scene of a woman being shot in her apartment by West 14th Street, it has not been confirmed if the shots were meant for the victim, but she is expected to recover. Investigators say that several shots were fired at the scene. (WXII12 Winston-Salem)
2. Maquana Trinishe Wiyonda Simmons was charged with animal cruelty after her dog was found malnourished and was later euthanized due to the veterinarian's recommendation because of the dog's poor condition. Forsyth County Sheriff's Office was contacted on Mar. 8 that a dog was being neglected and chained in a backyard, and the deputy observed the dog from nearby before making contact with the owner. The owner said her dog Diamond had not been to a vet since 2018 due to aggressiveness, and the sheriff's office took custody of the dog a week before being put to rest. The investigation is still ongoing, but Simmons was taken into custody last Thursday and will be appearing in court on Apr. 20. (WGHP FOX8 Greensboro)
3. Retired fire sergeant Robert Grier celebrated his 101 birthday this past Wednesday, and he talked about what it was like being a part of the force while racial segregation was legal. Grier joined the Winston-Salem Fire Department in 1951, a little more than a decade before racial segregation was outlawed in the country. Grier stated it was fun integrating the force, and the squad did it together, with no fights or issues, just devotion to the team. With this level of unity, his unit was one of the best in the city. (WXII12 Winston-Salem)

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Today and tomorrow in Winston-Salem:

Monday, March 20

• Snappy Tappers - South Fork Community Center (9:30 AM)
• Kids in the Kitchen - Georgia E. Taylor Neighborhood Center (6:00 PM)
• City Council Meeting - 101 North Main Street Council Chamber (6:00 PM)

Tuesday, March 21

• Quilting Class - Georgia E. Taylor Neighborhood Center (9:00 AM)
• Community Appearance Commission - Kernersville Town Hall (12:15 PM)
• International and Intergenerational Conversational English Improvement Group - Trinity United Methodist Church (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Chief Penn and a couple of other officers took a recruiting team down to Carver High School's career fair to talk with students about their roles as officers in the community. Thank you, Chief Penn, for leading the charge and talking to prospective officers of the future! (Winston-Salem Police Department via Facebook)
• Mark your calendars in advance because, in May 2024, the Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance will celebrate storytelling with the Calypso-favored tale Once on This Island. This wonderful tale will have six different showings, all in the month of May. (Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance via Facebook)
• Calling out to all teen writers, bring your work to Paddison Memorial library and receive feedback and tips on publishing from experienced writers. This will be taking place today at 4 p.m. don't miss an opportunity to become a better writer. (Forsyth County Public Library, Winston-Salem, NC via Facebook)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you back in your inbox soon with another 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.