That’s why the Wake Forest Police Department is urging residents to save 919-556-9111 in their telephone contacts and use the 10-digit number to report police-related emergencies in Wake Forest. Although 911 is recognized as the official number for reporting emergencies, Wake Forest is not a part of the Raleigh-Wake 911 network. As a result, any time a Wake Forest resident dials 9-1-1, the call is answered by a Raleigh-Wake Emergency Communications Center telecommunicator who must spend precious time determining where the call originated then transferring the caller to Wake Forest Police. By dialing 919-556-9111 directly, the caller is automatically connected to a Wake Forest Police Department telecommunicator who can immediately send police assistance. The Wake Forest Police Department established the alternate number several years ago. Wake Forest residents are encouraged to save the 10-digit number in their telephone contacts for easy access during police-related emergencies only. Urgent situations requiring fire

The Wake Forest Police Department is coordinating a DWI checking station (checkpoint) this weekend. Other Wake County law enforcement agencies are expected to participate in the operation, along with additional state and local resources, as part of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program Multi-Agency task force. The task force is aimed at reducing impaired driving through enforcement efforts and public awareness. The checking station will be operational from 11 p.m. Friday, April 24, until 2 a.m. Saturday, April 25. The Wake Forest Police Department has no reservations concerning the release of information about the fact that a checking station will be operating within the town this weekend. Please feel free to report that the checkpoint will be taking place as such information may serve the public interest by convincing some to not drive if they have been drinking. In addition to the DWI enforcement work performed at the checking station, Wake

The Sanford Creek Elementary School PTA will sponsor their Spring Fever Shopping Extravaganza Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The school is at 701 Granite Falls Boulevard in Rolesville. Local crafters, vendors and artisans will be selling their wares, and the proceeds from the event will go to support social programs at the school for students in need. The largest project is the Giving Tree Service Learning Project, which provides about 20 Thanksgiving baskets and the Giving Tree which provides needed holiday items for all of our Backpack Buddy families plus some others who request assistance. Gina Haines, the school counselor says she always needs weather appropriate clothing, undergarments and shoes for students who find themselves in need throughout the year. Also, Haines said, although North East Wake Backpack Buddy program serves 35 students at our school with bags of food for the weekend, about half of

The college professors and presidents, the storekeepers and housewives, the soldiers and their survivors may not be able to speak from the graves in the Wake Forest Cemetery, but their descendents and friends will speak Saturday, May 9, during the annual self-guided walking tour at the cemetery on North White Street. The tour will last from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It is sponsored by the Wake Forest Cemetery Advisory Board. Docents will be stationed at various locations throughout the cemetery to share interesting stories about specific gravesites, as well as photographs of loved ones bearing their ancestral names. Representatives of the Sons of Confederate Veterans clad in Confederate uniforms and carrying Civil War-era firearms will also be on hand to share tales of soldiers who served in the War Between the States. Ladies in period costume from the same era will also participate, along with representatives of the Wake

Wake Electric is now accepting applications for two different grant programs for public school teachers, Bright Ideas and Classroom Technology. Public school K-12 teachers in Durham, Franklin, Granville, Johnston, Nash, Vance and Wake counties can apply for the Bright Ideas education grants of up to $3,000 for the 2015-2016 school year. Teachers in K-12 public school classrooms with creative ideas for hands-on learning projects are encouraged to apply. Grant applications will be accepted from April 1 through September 15 at 5 p.m. All teachers who submit their applications by the early bird deadline of August 15 will be entered into a drawing for one of five $100 gift cards. Teachers can apply individually or as a team, and grants are available for all subjects. To apply visit www.wemc.com/brightideas.aspx. Classroom Technology grants of up to $3,000 will be awarded to area K-12 public school teachers as well as community college teachers.