The high winds of a Summer thunderstorm hammered the north shore of Lake Sequoia Tuesday afternoon, July 24, knocking down two-dozen or more trees and damaging at least four homes.

Firetree Lane resident Dennis Mueller told The Times that the impact centered on Pinewood Court, a peninsula that juts out into the lake, with Fawn Court and Lakeview Point also seeing some damage. Mueller provided these photos.

Firetree was blocked by downed trees near Running Brook and at Pinewood Court, leaving the area impassable for approximately thirty minutes, until Seven Lakes Landowners Association [SLLA] maintenance crews cleared the road.

SLLA President Bob Darr, who watched the storm from his home on Pinecone Court, told The Times the winds came in from the west and were particularly fierce on the north shore of Sequoia.

Tree companies were on scene Wednesday clearing trees from yards and removing trees from roofs. Darr said SLLA maintenance crews would be clearing debris from right-of-ways in the area.

It may have been with some trepidation that Director Don Freiert asked for a show of hands by those who opposed a Long Range Planning Committee proposal to spend $40,000 on a Vision and Master Planning Process.

After all, most of the comments made during the Thursday, July 19 Town Hall meeting on the matter had revealed deep skepticism about the idea, despite Freiert's yeoman like defense of the recommendation.

But, in the end, once hands on both sides had been raised, opinion among the three-dozen landowners in attendance echoed the feedback received in an earlier Town Hall, via email and through the website: thirteen opposed, a dozen in favor, and a dozen or so not ready to commit one way or the other.

While the Board stopped short of taking any formal action that would protect the memorial — instead tabling discussion while they await results from an ongoing space allocation study — the vets did not leave the meeting empty-handed.

“As long as I am a commissioner, this will be sacred ground,” said Commissioner Jimmy Melton, before he was drowned out by raucous applause and a standing ovation.

That assurance was echoed by each of his fellow commissioners.

Bojangle’s offer sparked debate

The Veteran’s Memorial at the center of the controversy is actually a recent addition to the county.

Dedicated in 2006, the memorial sits on a grassy corner of the Carriage Oaks property at the intersection of NC Highways 15-501 and 24/27. Initially developed as a strip shopping center, Carriage Oaks was purchased by Moore County in 2004 and renovated to accommodate administrative space for the Department of Social Services and Planning Department offices. However, commercial businesses have also remained at the site, including a Hardee’s restaurant at the far opposite corner from the Veteran’s Memorial.

At issue is an offer from Bojangle’s — another fast food chain — to purchase a 1.3 acre tract adjacent to the memorial — and whether the Board of County Commissioners negotiated, or at least started to negotiate, a deal with that company behind closed doors.

It was the revelation of those closed door sessions that sparked veteran opposition to the proposed sale. But the Commissioners themselves remain divided about the importance of those private discussions.

Though it may have escaped the notice of all but the most politically active citizens, North Carolina will hold a run-off primary election on Tuesday, July 17. The polls open at 6:30 am and close at 7:30 pm.

In Moore County, all of the run-offs are for statewide offices. Republican voters will be able to cast votes in four races -- including one that includes former Speaker of the NC House Richard Morgan, of Eagle Springs. Download sample ballots at the Moore County Board of Elections website.

Democrats have only one race in which to cast votes on Tuesday, deciding whether former NC Commissioner of Labor John C. Brooks or newcomer Marlowe Foster will run against incumbent Republican Commissioner of Labor Cherie Berry in November.

On the Republican ballot, voters will find Morgan up against Mike Causey in the race for Commissioner of Insurance. Morgan pulled 37 percent of the vote in May, to Causey's 35 percent. James McCall pulled in 28 percent -- not enough to stay in the running, but enough to deny either of his competitors the clear victory.

At the top of the GOP ballot is the GOP runoff for Lt. Governor featuring the two top vote-getters from a five-way race in May. Dan Forest won 33 percent of the vote in the primary; Tony Gurley, 25 percent.

Ed Goodwin and Kenn Gardner face off for the GOP nod for NC Secretary of State. Goodwin took 36 percent of the vote in May, while Gardner won 30 percent.

Finally, John Tedesco, who pulled in 28 percent of the vote of NC Superintendent of Public Instruction, will compete with Richard Alexander, who took 24 percent, for the GOP nomination for that post.

Unaffiliated voters who want to vote in Tuesday's runoff must vote in the same party primary they selected in May.

Voters who would like to familiarize themselves with the candidates can consult UNC-TV's website at ncvoterguide.org to find basic background information, as well as links to campaign websites. Or visit votesmart.org, enter your zip code, and look for "statewide offices."

More than forty Westsiders attended a Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, July 11 to weigh in on whether to spend $40,000 to hire an outside firm, Clarion Associates, to guide Seven Lakes West in creating a Vision and Master Plan.

The Seven Lakes West Landowners Association [SLWLA] Board has designated the proposal a matter of significant interest to the community, triggering provisions in the bylaws that call for enhanced opportunity for member input and two separate votes by the Board.

Long Range Planning Director Don Freiert presided over the meeting, and began with a presentation that made the case for the project. [A copy of his presentation is available here.]

“A community-developed master plan will set goals and direction for leadership," Freiert said. "It will help guide future Boards -- whoever they are."

“Without a clear vision and goals, the community stagnates and will not be the best community possible.”