Shontell Robinson looks back on her first year as County Manager.
August 2025 - Vol. 11
Airport Terminal Ribbon Cutting is August 11
Smith Reynolds Airport, 3801 N. Liberty Street, will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate its newly renovated terminal on August 11 at 10 a.m.
The Terminal Building was originally built in 1941 and was used by the public for decades. The most recent renovation restores and modernizes the building to better serve travelers and tenants who now use the airport for general aviation, corporate aircraft and air charter services.
The restoration also honors the past, with photos and displays showcasing the storied history of the airport lining the walls. In the main lobby, a1930 Savoia Marchetti S-56 hangs from the ceiling. This aircraft is the same make and model that Zachary Smith Reynolds used in his flight from London to Hong Kong in 1931-32.
Along with the airport’s administrative office, the Terminal Building houses tenants like Signature Aviation, a Fixed Base Operator offering amenities for private and corporate aviation customers. Other tenants include Avis Budget Group, which provides on-site car rental service; AVCON, a consulting and engineering firm; and Eye Candy, an aircraft management company.
Meet the Emergency Services Directors
The Forsyth County Emergency Services department has promoted the Fire, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and 911 Communications divisions deputy chiefs to be directors of their respective divisions.
The three Emergency Services divisions will continue to work closely together and collaborate to ensure the highest level of emergency response and service under their individual directors.
Jamie Fore is the director of 911 Communications, which receives emergency calls in Forsyth County and dispatches medical and fire responders. Fore has 24 years of emergency services experience, including as deputy state fire marshal. His most recent service to Forsyth County includes serving as 911 systems manager, Emergency Services assistant chief and Emergency Services deputy chief.
Andrew Davis is the director of EMS, which provides emergency ambulance service to Forsyth County. Davis has 20 years of experience in Emergency Medicine and his most recent service to Forsyth County includes being a training and quality management coordinator, EMS operations officer and Emergency Services deputy chief.
Brock Smith is the director of Fire, which does fire inspections, fire prevention and also provides support services and training programs for volunteer fire departments within Forsyth County. Smith has 24 years of firefighting experience, starting as a Winston-Salem firefighter. He joined Forsyth County as an assistant fire marshal in 2004 and has since served as fire marshal and Emergency Services deputy chief.
The three divisions will continue to operate as one unified department under the leadership of the respective division directors. The three division directors will report directly to Deputy County Manager Kyle Haney, which will also provide a higher level of oversight.
County Manager
In This Issue
County Commissioner Update
Last month, Forsyth County Commissioners attended the National Association of Counties (NACo) Conference with other county officials from across the country in Philadelphia, Pa. The conference included discussion of federal policies impacting counties and workshops highlighting best practices for county government.
In August, they’ll attend the NC Association of County Commissioners Conference in Greenville, NC.
The commissioners are also back to their regular meeting schedule:
- Monday, August 11 Briefing at 2 p.m.
- Thursday, August 14 Meeting at 2 p.m.
- Monday, August 25 Briefing at 2 p.m.
- Thursday, August 28 Meeting at 2 p.m.
During briefings, staff brief the commissioners on the items they'll vote on in that week's meeting. During meetings, they vote on various items and hear from residents during their regular public comment session.
Meetings and briefings are held at the Forsyth County Government Center, 201 N. Chestnut St. Meetings are streamed live in their entirety on Forsyth County YouTube and Facebook, as well as the Forsyth County website and are also broadcasted live on WSTV13 on Spectrum cable.
Chairman Don Martin discusses some of the workshops they attended at the NACo conference, and how they affect Forsyth County.
Early Voting starts August 21
This year’s Primary Election will be held Tuesday, Sept. 9, for Forsyth County's municipalities outside of Winston-Salem.
Candidate filing for the election took place last month. There are primary elections being held for contests in Tobaccoville and Rural Hall. No other municipalities have primaries, and their contests will be held on Election Day, which is Tuesday, November 4.
Primary Early Voting will be held weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. beginning Thursday, August 21, at the Forsyth County Government Center, 201 N. Chestnut Street. The final day of Primary Early Voting will be Saturday, Sept. 6, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
The elections are conducted by the appointed five-member Board of Elections and Elections staff. The current board was sworn-in last month and consists of (left to right) Adam Draper, Chad Doomy. Catherine Jourdan, Chair Buddy Collins, and Alfred Harvey.
Mental Health Crisis Services Townhall
Residents are invited to a Town Hall Meeting on Local Mental Health Crisis Services at the Health and Human Services Annex 1 Auditorium, 725 N. Highland Avenue, on Wednesday, August 7, from 6-7:30 p.m. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.
The town hall is being held by Forsyth County Behavioral Health Services to raise awareness about the behavioral health crisis resources available in the area and to foster open dialogue between community members and local service providers.
Panelists will include:
- Ashley Golds – Daymark Recovery Services
- Brent Motsinger – Forsyth County Mobile Integrated Health (MIH)
- Kristin Ryan – Winston-Salem Behavioral Evaluation and Response (BEAR) Team
- Marti Webb – RHA Health Services
All residents, service providers, and community stakeholders are encouraged to attend. No registration is required.
Men’s Health Community Basketball Game
A Community Basketball Game with teams from Forsyth County Health and Human Services, Winston-Salem Police and Fire departments, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Probation and Parole and a Community Team, will be held at the Hanes Hosiery Community Center, 501 Reynolds Blvd, on Saturday, August 2, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The community is invited to come out and cheer on their favorite team.
The free event is sponsored by the Men’s Health Program at the Forsyth County Department of Public Health. It will include a resource fair of health and wellness services and supports, including free health screenings by Novant Health. There will also be raffle drawings for prizes.
Please call 336-703-3366 or 743-900-2211 for more information or email Men’s Health Coordinator Stanley Howard at howardsw@forsyth.cc.
Animal Shelter - Dogs Playing for Life Training
Forsyth County Animal Shelter has partnered with Dogs Playing for Life, a nonprofit dedicated to enriching the lives of shelter dogs through play and socialization. This training, led by experienced trainers, aims to enhance staff skills, improve dogs' quality of life, and boost their adoptability. By allowing dogs to engage in natural behaviors and social interactions, the program has shown significant success in reducing the length of stay in shelters nationwide.
Sign up for emergency alerts
Want to receive notifications in an emergency?
Forsyth County residents outside Winston-Salem can sign up to receive alerts from Forsyth Emergency Services with CodeRED.
If you live in Winston-Salem, you can sign up for emergency alerts from Smart911.
Types of notifications include severe weather, evacuation notices and missing child reports.
ARPA Grant- Providence Culinary Arts
Providence Culinary received a grant from Forsyth County Commissioners from their American Rescue Plan Act funding.
Backpack giveaway helps local families
Forsyth County Health and Human Services and Mia Magazine held a backpack and school supply giveaway on July 26 in the Compare Foods parking lot on Silas Creek Parkway. HHS staff gave away 1,700 donated backpacks to local families and there were 37 community organizations there with information about their services. Forsyth HHS would like to thank all its community partners that participated and all the families who attended!
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