County Manager Shontell Robinson reflects on Forsyth County Governments efforts in 2025.
January 2026 - Vol. 16
Forsyth County's Fire Division held an awards ceremony honoring its firefighters on Dec. 13.
Assistance Available for Heating Bills
Forsyth County residents can apply for help paying their heating bills. Forsyth Social Services Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) helps eligible families pay a portion of their heating bills during the winter.
The application process is open for residents 60 years-old or older and for people with a disability receiving services through the Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS). Disabilities can include those that qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Administration (SSA), or Veterans Administration (VA) disability benefits.
Starting Jan. 2, all other households can apply.
Program eligibility is based on income and household size. Payments are made directly to your heating provider. Residents can apply in person at the Department of Social Services, 741 Highland Ave, by phone at 336-703-3800, or online at epass.nc.gov.
COVID Shots Available for Uninsured and Underinsured
Forsyth County Department of Public Health, 799 Highland Ave, has free walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations available for uninsured and underinsured individuals 6 months and older. Underinsured individuals are those with insurance that does not cover the COVID shot.
COVID vaccinations, along with flu shots, are available Monday-Wednesday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Thursday from 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Flu shots are available for everyone 6 months and older, regardless of insurance. Individuals can get both their flu and COVID shots in the same visit. Vaccines are available while supplies last.
County Manager
In This Issue
County Commissioner Update
Forsyth County Commissioners have a new meeting schedule for next year, including a once per month evening meeting.
Briefings will still be on Mondays at 2 p.m., followed by meetings on Thursdays, usually twice per month. Each month will normally have a meeting held at 2 p.m. and another that will be held at 6 p.m. The public hearing on the budget will also be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 18.
Here’s this month’s full county commissioners meeting schedule:
- Monday, Jan. 12 Briefing at 2 p.m.
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Thursday, Jan. 15
Bimonthly Morning Discussion Meeting at 10 a.m.
Meeting at 2 p.m. - Monday, Jan. 26 Briefing at 2 p.m.
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Thursday, Jan. 29
Winter Work Session at 9 a.m.
Meeting at 6 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.
Commissioners also held a reception for the volunteer members of their appointed citizen boards and committees in December to thank them for their invaluable work. For more information about committees, visit the Volunteer Boards and Committees page .
Free Test Radon Kits Available
It’s Radon Action Month and you can order free Radon test kits from the NC Radon Program.
Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas emitted from decaying uranium in the ground. It can make its way into homes and buildings through crawl spaces and cracks in walls and floors, and exposure can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US (after smoking). Radon-induced lung cancer claims an estimated 450 lives in North Carolina each year.
You can also order radon test kits through the Forsyth County Office of Environmental Assistance and Protection (EAP). They have staff who are available to answer questions about radon and to assist you in obtaining the proper type and number of test kits for your home. They sell short-term test kits for $10.85 and long-term test kits for $33.00, including postage. To learn more, or to order a kit, call their office at 336-703-2440.
EAP's Radon webpage also provides a comprehensive overview on radon, including what it is, how to test, what to do if levels are high in your home and other helpful resources.
Virtual Listening Session on Behavioral Health
Forsyth County Behavioral Health Services (BHS) is holding virtual listening sessions on Jan. 14 to get community input on local mental health, substance use, intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), and behavioral health services in Forsyth County.
BHS has partnered with the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) to assess the community's system of services and supports for youth, adults and families with mental health, substance use and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities. While the assessment includes county provided or contracted services, HRSI is looking for feedback on all behavioral health services offered in the community.
Residents are invited to participate and share their experiences, needs and ideas to help strengthen support for youth, adults and families in our community.
Register for the session on Jan. 14 from 6–7 p.m. here.
If you are unable to attend the virtual listening sessions, you can contribute to the assessment by leaving your feedback online.
Findings from the assessment will be presented in a final report available to the public later this year.
Fire and EMS Recognize Employees
Forsyth County’s Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) divisions both held awards last month honoring their employees. Pictured is Fire Director Brock Smith recognizing Fire Engineers Mike McCoy and Jon Ingram for their rescue efforts involving a construction vehicle that overturned into a pond. It’s just one of many emergency situations that firefighters and paramedics respond to on a regular basis.
The EMS Division awards honored the dedication and excellence of their first responders. You can learn about the honorees on the EMS Division’s Facebook page.
The Fire Division awards included recognitions for rescue efforts that ranged from a car crashing into a home to cardiac arrests. You can see the honorees and read their stories on the Forsyth County Facebook page.
New Fire Commission Begins
The new Forsyth County Fire Commission held its first meeting on Dec. 1, where they heard an overview of the County Fire System from Forsyth County Fire Division Director Brock Smith.
The Fire Commission, which consists of individuals representing the county fire service and those served by the fire service, will continuously study the county's fire and rescue service and provide recommendations on how to improve them to the county commissioners.
The Commission is comprised of (Front Row) County Firefighter Association VP Gary Styers, Shane Moore, Fred Franklin, David Williamson, Commissioner Richard Linville, Vienna Assistant Chief Walt Beroth, (Back Row) County Firefighters Association President Carl Walker, William Gray, Brian Tuttle, Walkertown Chief Eddie Bottoms, Commissioner Don Martin and King Chief Steven Roberson.
Commissioners Make Year-End Remarks
In their annual tradition, the Forsyth County Commissioners made year-end remarks during a special meeting last month. Items of note included monthly evening meetings in 2026, a new radio system for first responders, new county parks and more.
Commissioners in Holiday Parades
County Commissioners and the manager’s office spread some holiday cheer last month as they participated in parades in Winston-Salem, Kernersville, Walkertown, Rural Hall and Clemmons.
Juvenile Crime Prevention Grants
The Forsyth County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) has issued a Request for Proposals for programs that will serve delinquent and at-risk youth for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026. The JCPC anticipates funds from the NC Dept. of Public Safety Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in the amount of $940,852 to fund these programs.
A virtual information session will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 7, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. This meeting is mandatory for new programs that are interested in applying for funds. Please email Will Fulbright at fulbriwh@forsyth.cc to RSVP and to request the meeting link.
You can read the Request for Proposals here.
Animal Advocate Funded Low-Cost Adoption Fee
There were 64 pets adopted last month for just $5 and part of the thanks goes to Winston-Salem Resident Eric Meyer who funded the bulk of the adoption fees for the last half of December.
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