Winston-Salem implements teen curfew
By Emi Moss Staff Writer For Winston-Salem teenagers, 10:00 pm can often mean the night is just getting started; hanging out with friends, getting home from work, or simply being out with family can all happen after this hour. However, under Winston-Salem’s new youth curfew, teens 17 and younger generally can’t be in public places […]
Coach Traz: The passing of a legend
By Colin Ehrman Sports Editor Norman Trzaskoma, better known as “Coach Traz”—a longtime coach and mentor at both R.J. Reynolds High School and Mount Tabor High School—passed away on Friday, August 7th, 2026. During his forty-plus-year tenure at RJR, Trzaskoma became a legend, coaching seven NCHSAA state championships, including five consecutive men’s cross-country titles from […]
Singing praises of Landon Bratt
By Miriam McPhail News Editor At the beginning of this school year, R.J. Reynolds High School’s a cappella program welcomed its new director, Landon Bratt. For the past nine years, Bratt had taught choir and a cappella at Hanes Magnet Middle School. Last year, as district budget cuts threatened to reduce the choral program, several […]
Dutch Bros: Our newest neighbor
By EB Henderson Staff Writer Dutch Bros Coffee recently made its way to Winston-Salem in late March of 2026, replacing Clutch Coffee. Although there was great excitement about this transition, several factors caught the Winston-Salem community by surprise. With the opening of Dutch Bros, traffic became a huge issue. The excited people of Winston-Salem, mainly […]
Are you booked this school year?
By Kara Parker Features Editor When was the last time you picked up a good book? For some people they might have put down a book to pick up this paper, but others may not have picked up a book for months or even years. Whether you have a list a mile long, or don’t […]
Reclaiming focus: R.J. Reynolds High School cellphone ban
By Ellie Spinosa A&E Editor In June of 2024, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools released a policy banning student cellphone use during the school day. This school year, R.J. Reynolds High School has begun implementing the policy more heavily. Almost all teachers now require students to place their cellphones in phone pockets upon classroom entry. While this […]
Punishing parkers: New policies on parking enforcement
By Lucy Stoter Online Editor After years of unenforced parking rules and nasty notes left on cars, the R.J. Reynolds High School administration has decided to start implementing stricter parking rules. For years, the parking lots at RJR have been known as chaotic and unorganized, with the “prime parking spots” in both the junior and […]
New role, same Pressly
By Frazier Jones Staff Writer Following Calvin Freeman’s retirement as principal of R.J. Reynolds High School at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year, the Winston-Salem Forsyth County School Board approved Paul Pressly as Freeman’s successor. Pressly, who previously served as an Assistant Principal at RJR, provides a friendly face for students, and a great […]
Crisis Averted?
By Jackson Colo and Jesper Runheim Editor-in-Chief and Staff Writer In May 2025, the Winston-Salem Forsyth County School District fell $46 million short of its 2024-2025 budget. More than a year later, after careful rebuilding, the district has resolved the debt. But with the crisis in the past, community members are left pondering one question: […]
Passion for the parking lot
By Kate Sturgill Op/Ed Editor It’s that time of year when the R.J. Reynolds High School graduating class of 2026 coats their parking spots in black and passes the paintbrush to the incoming class of 2027 to carry on the annual parking lot adornment. Whether you’ve seen them on the PTSA’s Instagram page or during […]