MONITORING THE ECONOMIC PULSE OF THE TRIAD | BY JORDAN GREEN

Larco Construction, a division of Branscom, has received a $4 million contract from the state of North Carolina to resurface 26 miles of roads in Forsyth County, the NC Department of Transportation announced. The company is based in Winston-Salem. Roadways that will see improvements include Reidsville Road, Union Cross Road, Seward Road, Fishel Road and Darwick Road. The work is scheduled to begin on July 30 and continue through early November.

Non-governmental jobs initiative meets mark

Reggie Delahanty, small-business coordinator for the city of Greensboro, writes in a July 5 memo to City Manager Denise Turner Roth that the One Job for Greensboro Challenge launched by the Greensboro Partnership has met its goal of 1,000 jobs pledged, with 142 companies committing to add 1,164 jobs. Companies have until Aug. 31 to make a pledge, and can do so either through electronic submission at onejobgreensboro. com or by calling 336.373.2489 and choosing option 2 for busi nesses.Participating companies are receiving publicity through the city’s television production unit.

Shoelace company launched in Winston-Salem

Two Forsyth Country Day School graduates, Alex Hilleary and Speight Carr, both 18, have launched a shoelace company called Kix Remixed. The young entrepreneurs say in a press release that their product is colorful, trendy, affordable and made in North Carolina. The shoelaces are currently for sale at an online store at kixremixed. com, but the two are in talks with retail store owners to bring their product to brick-and-mortar establishments.

Uptowne Market scheduled for Saturday

The Uptowne Market, offering fresh produce, art and other retail items, materializes at Main Street Square, located at 819 Main St. in High Point, on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 336.207.5216 for more information.

[SCUTTLEBUTT]

ITEMS FROM ACROSS THE TRIAD AND BEYOND | BY JORDAN GREEN

council might intervene on behalf of kalvin michael smith Members of the Winston-Salem City Council expressed interest in intevening with the federal courts on behalf of Kalvin Michael Smith during a meeting of the public safety committee on Monday.

Smith was convicted of brutally beating Jill Marker, an employee of the Silk Plant Forest store, in 1995. A review by former FBI Assistant Director Christopher Swecker found that the original investigation “was seriously flawed and woefully incomplete, thus calling into question whether the original jury rendered their verdict based on all the relevant and accurate facts of the case.”

“We want justice, that’s all,” said Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke, who chairs the public  safety committee. “And we want this community to move forward.”

Southeast Ward Councilman James Taylor Jr. said he is in favor of filing an am icus brief with the court, as did East Ward Councilman Derwin Montgomery. South Ward Councilwoman Molly Leight echoed their sentiments.

“There comes a time when we must do what is just and right,” North Ward Councilwoman Denise D. Adams said. “We have to use our political will to always right injustice.”

Montgomery added, “I do not believe the city can use the courts as a scapegoat, to say that because this is no longer in the purview of the city of  Winston-Salem to say that we can no longer have any influence on the case. District attorneys, prosecutors and defense attorneys use information gathered by police department investigations to support their cases. And if that whole process is flawed it is our responsibility both morally and politically to provide them with the full information.”

Council members plan to confer with City Attorney Angela Carmon n closed session about legal options and potential liabilities of intervening in the case when the full council meets on Monday.

[AGENDA]

DON’T JUST SIT THERE!

Local government

• The Winston-Salem City Council meets on July 16 at 7 p.m. in Room 230 of City Hall,

Healthcare

• Occupy Winston-Salem and Health Care for All NC host a forum entitled “Is Big Business Health Care Making Us Sick?” at Parkway United Church of Christ, located at 2151 Silas Creek Parkway in Winston-Salem, on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.  located at 101 N. Main St.• The Greensboro City Council meets on July 17 at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers of the Melvin Municipal Office Building, located at 300 W. Washington St. Women
• The Greensboro Commission on the Status of Women meets on July 17 at 1 p.m. in council chambers in the Melvin Municipal  Office Building, located at 300 W. Washington St.