HE WAS HURT IN CRASH AS DEPUTIES TRIED TO SERVE A WARRANT
Friday, September 29, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Authorities continued searching for a Lenoir man who signed himself out of a Winston-Salem hospital Tuesday after he was injured in a Saturday crash while deputies tried to serve him with a warrant.
Jeremy David Greene, 30, was injured Saturday after Caldwell County sheriff's deputies approached him with a warrant charging him with misdemeanor larceny and failing to pay child support, said Capt. David Anderson.
The deputies confronted Greene on foot, Anderson said, and Greene then ran to his pickup truck and drove away. Within moments, he crashed into a Lexus SUV, which then struck a Sheriff's Office patrol car, Anderson said.
Greene, who suffered broken ribs and head injuries in the wreck, was taken to Caldwell Memorial Hospital before being airlifted to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, Anderson said.
He was listed in critical condition but signed himself out of the hospital on Tuesday against the advice of hospital staff, Anderson said.
Anderson said hospital security and local police in Winston-Salem were told to notify the Sheriff's Office when Greene was released.
"Somehow, it slipped through the cracks," Anderson said.
Greene's sister, Anderson said, picked him up at the hospital and briefly took him to his parents' home in Lenoir before dropping him off in the city's Piney community.
Greene's family said they have not heard from him since Tuesday, Anderson said. Authorities worry that Greene is still critically injured and is not receiving medical treatment.
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and may not be republished without permission.
9/27/06
Lenoir -- Where sculpture reigns
CALDWELL COUNTY IS DOTTED WITH NEARLY 50 OUTDOOR WORKS OF ART
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
New York. Paris. Lenoir?
Major cities boasting public art collections have a rival in Caldwell County, now officially one of the nation's premier areas for public outdoor sculpture.
Nearly 50 works of art, including Mike Roig's prominent West Wind Sentinel on U.S. 321, are scattered around the county, putting it among the largest outdoor public sculpture collections, per capita, in the U.S.
Residents of Caldwell County knew the collection was one of the nation's most extensive, said Caldwell Arts Council executive director Carol Lee Giduz, but it was something the arts council had never officially confirmed.
The Smithsonian in Washington, however, had been tracking the county's collection as part of its Save Outdoor Sculpture initiative, said art council member Norma Suddreth.
"They (told us) that we had a large number of sculpture for a town our size," she said, "but the number they credited us with was lower than what we actually had."
A study by the mathematics department of Appalachian State University and graduate student Jane Robertson confirmed that the county ranked No. 1 for communities its size, and in the top 2 percent in the U.S.
"No one of a similar population even came close to the collection size," Robertson said.
The statistics were confirmed by the N.C. secretary of cultural resources.
Said Giduz: "There's sculpture gardens and sculpture parks, but we have a sculpture county."
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
and may not be republished without permission.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
New York. Paris. Lenoir?
Major cities boasting public art collections have a rival in Caldwell County, now officially one of the nation's premier areas for public outdoor sculpture.
Nearly 50 works of art, including Mike Roig's prominent West Wind Sentinel on U.S. 321, are scattered around the county, putting it among the largest outdoor public sculpture collections, per capita, in the U.S.
Residents of Caldwell County knew the collection was one of the nation's most extensive, said Caldwell Arts Council executive director Carol Lee Giduz, but it was something the arts council had never officially confirmed.
The Smithsonian in Washington, however, had been tracking the county's collection as part of its Save Outdoor Sculpture initiative, said art council member Norma Suddreth.
"They (told us) that we had a large number of sculpture for a town our size," she said, "but the number they credited us with was lower than what we actually had."
A study by the mathematics department of Appalachian State University and graduate student Jane Robertson confirmed that the county ranked No. 1 for communities its size, and in the top 2 percent in the U.S.
"No one of a similar population even came close to the collection size," Robertson said.
The statistics were confirmed by the N.C. secretary of cultural resources.
Said Giduz: "There's sculpture gardens and sculpture parks, but we have a sculpture county."
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and may not be republished without permission.
9/26/06
Sheriff's Office says rash of cigarette thefts possibly related
Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer
Staff Writer
A rash of thefts of cigarettes in the Catawba Valley have authorities wondering how many of the incidents are connected.
Investigators for several agencies have responded to seven reports of cigarette thefts with breaking and entering during the last two weeks. Since Friday, more than $3,400 in cigarettes - about 120 cartons - were taken from three retailers in Hickory and Conover, according to police reports.
Catawba County Sheriff's Office Maj. Coy Reid said at least three of the five larcenies in the county are connected. One suspect, who authorities believe is a woman, appears in the security videos from three thefts, Reid said.
Hickory Police Department officers responded to similar calls on Friday and Saturday, but police administrative assistant Libby Grigg said city officers are unsure if the incidents were related.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer
Staff Writer
A rash of thefts of cigarettes in the Catawba Valley have authorities wondering how many of the incidents are connected.
Investigators for several agencies have responded to seven reports of cigarette thefts with breaking and entering during the last two weeks. Since Friday, more than $3,400 in cigarettes - about 120 cartons - were taken from three retailers in Hickory and Conover, according to police reports.
Catawba County Sheriff's Office Maj. Coy Reid said at least three of the five larcenies in the county are connected. One suspect, who authorities believe is a woman, appears in the security videos from three thefts, Reid said.
Hickory Police Department officers responded to similar calls on Friday and Saturday, but police administrative assistant Libby Grigg said city officers are unsure if the incidents were related.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
9/24/06
Orchestra putting string quartets through tryouts
Sunday, September 24, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
It's a string quartet Battle of the Bands.
For its upcoming season, the Western Piedmont Symphony is mixing things up by inviting four string quartets from around the nation to audition for a three-year stint with the orchestra.
The Degas Quartet, which joined the symphony after a similar tryout, completed its residency last season.
Conductor John Gordon Ross said he's both excited and a little nervous about bringing in a new principle string group, with four new musicians.
"Having those people in those front chairs will change the sound of the orchestra," Ross said. "(But) this is the best four groups we've had come to town in a single year. I think maybe this takes us a step up."
The quartets auditioning are LaCatrina from Kent State University, Kailas from Rice University, Hyperion from San Diego State University the Vega String Quartet from Emory University.
The musicians in those quartets are from all over the world, symphony Executive Director John Brown said, including Mexico, Great Britain and Japan.
"The fact that we have the four quartets challenging each other and bringing different backgrounds and cultural emphasis to the community is important," Brown said.
Each quartet will have two main performances in its audition - one with the orchestra in the Masterworks series and one in the Friends of the Quartet Chamber Classics Series.
Ross said each quartet will keep busy while here. Their itineraries include performances at schools, community centers and retirement homes, formal dinners and B-flat concerts.
At the end of the season, Ross and a committee of symphony board members, members of the community and orchestra musicians will select one of the quartets to join the symphony for the 2007-08 season.
It isn't just the auditioning quartets that make the upcoming season unique, Brown said. The Masterworks Series will hold its first performance at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center in Lenoir. Previously all concerts have been held at First Baptist Church in Hickory.
"We've become more of the western Piedmont, which we are," Brown said. "We're not the Hickory Symphony."
As in past years, the symphony will host a 6 p.m. dinner before each performance. Masterworks dinners will be held at Michael's on Fourth, and Chamber Classics dinners will take place in the north lobby of the SALT Block. Each costs $30.
Ross said he's looking forward to the season.
"I've been here 15 years, and it's always very interesting," he said. "There's a little bit of excitement and well-directed anxiety, and that makes it kind of fun."
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
and may not be republished without permission.
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
It's a string quartet Battle of the Bands.
For its upcoming season, the Western Piedmont Symphony is mixing things up by inviting four string quartets from around the nation to audition for a three-year stint with the orchestra.
The Degas Quartet, which joined the symphony after a similar tryout, completed its residency last season.
Conductor John Gordon Ross said he's both excited and a little nervous about bringing in a new principle string group, with four new musicians.
"Having those people in those front chairs will change the sound of the orchestra," Ross said. "(But) this is the best four groups we've had come to town in a single year. I think maybe this takes us a step up."
The quartets auditioning are LaCatrina from Kent State University, Kailas from Rice University, Hyperion from San Diego State University the Vega String Quartet from Emory University.
The musicians in those quartets are from all over the world, symphony Executive Director John Brown said, including Mexico, Great Britain and Japan.
"The fact that we have the four quartets challenging each other and bringing different backgrounds and cultural emphasis to the community is important," Brown said.
Each quartet will have two main performances in its audition - one with the orchestra in the Masterworks series and one in the Friends of the Quartet Chamber Classics Series.
Ross said each quartet will keep busy while here. Their itineraries include performances at schools, community centers and retirement homes, formal dinners and B-flat concerts.
At the end of the season, Ross and a committee of symphony board members, members of the community and orchestra musicians will select one of the quartets to join the symphony for the 2007-08 season.
It isn't just the auditioning quartets that make the upcoming season unique, Brown said. The Masterworks Series will hold its first performance at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center in Lenoir. Previously all concerts have been held at First Baptist Church in Hickory.
"We've become more of the western Piedmont, which we are," Brown said. "We're not the Hickory Symphony."
As in past years, the symphony will host a 6 p.m. dinner before each performance. Masterworks dinners will be held at Michael's on Fourth, and Chamber Classics dinners will take place in the north lobby of the SALT Block. Each costs $30.
Ross said he's looking forward to the season.
"I've been here 15 years, and it's always very interesting," he said. "There's a little bit of excitement and well-directed anxiety, and that makes it kind of fun."
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and may not be republished without permission.
9/23/06
Officer kills man after woman reports assault
RAMPAGE, ATTACK ON GIRLFRIEND END WITH CLOSE-RANGE SHOOTING
Saturday, September 23, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
HICKORY -- The girlfriend of a man killed by a Hickory police officer praised the officer Friday for protecting her and her baby.
Officer Melissa Hildebrand killed Garry Wayne McCloud, 51, Thursday night after responding to a call at Ridgeview apartment complex in southeast Hickory, police said.
Hildebrand, who has worked as an officer since April, is on administrative leave with pay until the State Bureau of Investigation and Hickory Police Department complete their investigations, police said.
Linda Andrews, 31, told the Observer she was holding her baby Thursday night when McCloud, her boyfriend of two years, kicked through a window. Andrews said McCloud threw a chair at her, and she had to lift her arm to protect their 1-year-old daughter. She said she handed her child to a friend just in time.
"(He) knocked me down from behind," Andrews said, "and starting hitting my head on the ground."
Andrews said she called police about 6 p.m., as McCloud was thrashing through the living room, kitchen and upstairs bedroom of her apartment. By the time Hildebrand got there eight minutes later, Maj. Tom Adkins said, McCloud had left.
Andrews said Hildebrand, 33, had been at her apartment for only a couple of minutes when McCloud returned. He rounded the corner of the complex's parking lot in his pickup truck and smashed into Andrews' 1996 Buick.
McCloud then got out of the truck, Andrews said, and began yelling and walking toward them. Andrew's friend Maresia Covington, who was with Andrews when she called police, said McCloud was visibly agitated and hostile.
"The way it looked to me, he wanted to take the gun from the officer and kill (Andrews)," Covington said.
Hildebrand told McCloud to stop approaching, Adkins said. Covington and Andrews said McCloud stopped only briefly before coming toward the group again.
Then, they said, Hildebrand forcefully told McCloud to lay on the ground, pulling out the 9 mm semi-automatic handgun from her holster. McCloud continued to walk toward Hildebrand. Covington recalls Hildebrand backing up and repeatedly yelling, "Sir, I don't want to have to shoot you."
McCloud was within five feet of Hildebrand when the officer pulled the trigger, Adkins said.
Andrews said she heard two shots before McCloud fell to the ground. Andrews ran around the corner of the apartment and said she recalls hearing three more shots.
Adkins would not say how many shots were fired or where the bullets penetrated McCloud's body.
Adkins said Hickory police officers are trained to "defend themselves reasonably." They do not have specific guidelines saying an officer must first see a weapon, where to aim or when to shoot, he said. Officers carry a baton and pepper spray in addition to a gun, he said.
"The key is to take the force necessary to stop the threat, whatever that might be," Adkins said. "Every situation is different. Every person is different. You can't say `aim here.' "
Backup officers were on the way to the apartment when McCloud was shot, Adkins said.
Court records show McCloud had been arrested twice for assault on a female, and he appeared in court Monday for striking Andrews in July. The district judge released him on a 60-day suspended sentence and two years' probation.
Police would not say whether McCloud was armed, but Andrews said her boyfriend didn't carry a weapon. Still, Andrews said, she was worried McCloud, who did not live at the apartment, would kill her and hurt her children.
Andrews and Covington said they are collecting money from other residents to send Hildebrand flowers as a thank-you.
"(Hildebrand) saved our lives," Andrews said. "She saved me and my babies."
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and may not be republished without permission.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
HICKORY -- The girlfriend of a man killed by a Hickory police officer praised the officer Friday for protecting her and her baby.
Officer Melissa Hildebrand killed Garry Wayne McCloud, 51, Thursday night after responding to a call at Ridgeview apartment complex in southeast Hickory, police said.
Hildebrand, who has worked as an officer since April, is on administrative leave with pay until the State Bureau of Investigation and Hickory Police Department complete their investigations, police said.
Linda Andrews, 31, told the Observer she was holding her baby Thursday night when McCloud, her boyfriend of two years, kicked through a window. Andrews said McCloud threw a chair at her, and she had to lift her arm to protect their 1-year-old daughter. She said she handed her child to a friend just in time.
"(He) knocked me down from behind," Andrews said, "and starting hitting my head on the ground."
Andrews said she called police about 6 p.m., as McCloud was thrashing through the living room, kitchen and upstairs bedroom of her apartment. By the time Hildebrand got there eight minutes later, Maj. Tom Adkins said, McCloud had left.
Andrews said Hildebrand, 33, had been at her apartment for only a couple of minutes when McCloud returned. He rounded the corner of the complex's parking lot in his pickup truck and smashed into Andrews' 1996 Buick.
McCloud then got out of the truck, Andrews said, and began yelling and walking toward them. Andrew's friend Maresia Covington, who was with Andrews when she called police, said McCloud was visibly agitated and hostile.
"The way it looked to me, he wanted to take the gun from the officer and kill (Andrews)," Covington said.
Hildebrand told McCloud to stop approaching, Adkins said. Covington and Andrews said McCloud stopped only briefly before coming toward the group again.
Then, they said, Hildebrand forcefully told McCloud to lay on the ground, pulling out the 9 mm semi-automatic handgun from her holster. McCloud continued to walk toward Hildebrand. Covington recalls Hildebrand backing up and repeatedly yelling, "Sir, I don't want to have to shoot you."
McCloud was within five feet of Hildebrand when the officer pulled the trigger, Adkins said.
Andrews said she heard two shots before McCloud fell to the ground. Andrews ran around the corner of the apartment and said she recalls hearing three more shots.
Adkins would not say how many shots were fired or where the bullets penetrated McCloud's body.
Adkins said Hickory police officers are trained to "defend themselves reasonably." They do not have specific guidelines saying an officer must first see a weapon, where to aim or when to shoot, he said. Officers carry a baton and pepper spray in addition to a gun, he said.
"The key is to take the force necessary to stop the threat, whatever that might be," Adkins said. "Every situation is different. Every person is different. You can't say `aim here.' "
Backup officers were on the way to the apartment when McCloud was shot, Adkins said.
Court records show McCloud had been arrested twice for assault on a female, and he appeared in court Monday for striking Andrews in July. The district judge released him on a 60-day suspended sentence and two years' probation.
Police would not say whether McCloud was armed, but Andrews said her boyfriend didn't carry a weapon. Still, Andrews said, she was worried McCloud, who did not live at the apartment, would kill her and hurt her children.
Andrews and Covington said they are collecting money from other residents to send Hildebrand flowers as a thank-you.
"(Hildebrand) saved our lives," Andrews said. "She saved me and my babies."
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and may not be republished without permission.
9/22/06
Hickory's past making a comeback
Friday, September 22, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
HICKORY -- It's been more than six decades since Roger Cooke, 65, created his first mural - a crayon piece scrawled above his bed.
His father didn't appreciate his 2-year-old son's artistic talents much then, but now, in Hickory's Union Square, Cooke is still decorating walls. And people are loving it.
"It's really neat," said 9-year-old Cameron Amos. "It shows how they used to live and how they traveled."
Cameron's favorite part? The Piedmont Wagon.
"I like horses and watching people ride them," Cameron said during a field trip to the mural with his Oakwood Elementary third-grade class.
Cooke is nearly finished with the 25-by-34-foot mural. He expects to finish the project next week, and the city is planning a reception to unveil the completed project during the Sept. 28 art crawl.
The horses, Cooke said, are his favorite, too.
"They were most fun," he said of the six panels, which also depict the Hickory Tavern, a historic view of Union Square, the Southern Railroad, the Huffrey Hotel and workers in front of the Hickory Manufacturing Co.
Four prominent Hickory residents - principal E.T. Moore, merchant Alex Shuford, newspaper publisher Lester Clark Gifford and manufacturer Alfred Moretz - are also featured in the mural.
Bambi Small, Cameron's teacher, says the mural not only allows her students to bring their parents downtown and share what they are learning but teaches the children about history, math and reading, as well.
Cooke, an Oregon-based artist, has been painting the mural on the west-facing wall of the Deitz & Taylor Jewelry Store in Union Square since Aug. 29. And after three years of planning, city officials are pleased with the way it's turning out.
"It's a wonderful gift to the community," said Beth Watts, a member of the city's public art commission. "It's a great way for Hickory to embrace its history."
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
and may not be republished without permission.
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
HICKORY -- It's been more than six decades since Roger Cooke, 65, created his first mural - a crayon piece scrawled above his bed.
His father didn't appreciate his 2-year-old son's artistic talents much then, but now, in Hickory's Union Square, Cooke is still decorating walls. And people are loving it.
"It's really neat," said 9-year-old Cameron Amos. "It shows how they used to live and how they traveled."
Cameron's favorite part? The Piedmont Wagon.
"I like horses and watching people ride them," Cameron said during a field trip to the mural with his Oakwood Elementary third-grade class.
Cooke is nearly finished with the 25-by-34-foot mural. He expects to finish the project next week, and the city is planning a reception to unveil the completed project during the Sept. 28 art crawl.
The horses, Cooke said, are his favorite, too.
"They were most fun," he said of the six panels, which also depict the Hickory Tavern, a historic view of Union Square, the Southern Railroad, the Huffrey Hotel and workers in front of the Hickory Manufacturing Co.
Four prominent Hickory residents - principal E.T. Moore, merchant Alex Shuford, newspaper publisher Lester Clark Gifford and manufacturer Alfred Moretz - are also featured in the mural.
Bambi Small, Cameron's teacher, says the mural not only allows her students to bring their parents downtown and share what they are learning but teaches the children about history, math and reading, as well.
Cooke, an Oregon-based artist, has been painting the mural on the west-facing wall of the Deitz & Taylor Jewelry Store in Union Square since Aug. 29. And after three years of planning, city officials are pleased with the way it's turning out.
"It's a wonderful gift to the community," said Beth Watts, a member of the city's public art commission. "It's a great way for Hickory to embrace its history."
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
and may not be republished without permission.
9/8/06
Gas prices cover wide range here
IN TAYLORSVILLE, YOU COULD GET IT FOR $2.35; IN HICKORY, ONE PLACE WAS ASKING $2.79
WHY THE DISCREPANCY? IT DEPENDS ON RETAILERS' RENT, LOCATION, VOLUME AND WHOLESALE COSTS
Friday, September 8, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Like most motorists in the Catawba Valley, Robert Morrison is paying anywhere from $2.35 to $2.79 for a gallon of gasoline.
Swelling gas prices are one thing, but it's the discrepancy in what some local stations charge for a gallon of regular unleaded - a difference of 44 cents, in some cases - that he doesn't understand.
"That's a big gap," said Morrison, who moved here from California in 1995 to retire. "I've never seen anything like it."
A Wal-Mart in Taylorsville, about 20 miles from downtown Hickory, was selling regular unleaded gas for $2.35 Wednesday. Gas stations on Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard, by comparison, peaked at $2.79 on the same day.
For Morrison, that's $9.24 in savings every time he fills up his 21-gallon truck.
"That's a lot of money," he said. "Some people are getting bargains, and some people aren't."
Around Hickory, stores in the southwest area of the city generally offered lower prices, about $2.56 on average, than most stations in southeast Hickory, which hovered between $2.65 and $2.79, according to a survey of stations on Wednesday.
Several local gas station owners declined to discuss how they price gas.
Retailers look at a number of factors when setting prices, said Jonathan Cogin, energy information specialist at the Energy Information Administration in Washington.
Retailers often look at wholesale gas prices and competition with other stores. Rent and staff costs can also affect prices.
Some stores could see more traffic than others, he said, allowing owners to reduce what they charge per gallon.
"An isolated station in a rural area isn't going to be turning their product over as quickly as a station on a major highway," Cogin said. "There's a lot of factors and people have problems seeing that."
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and may not be republished without permission.
WHY THE DISCREPANCY? IT DEPENDS ON RETAILERS' RENT, LOCATION, VOLUME AND WHOLESALE COSTS
Friday, September 8, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Like most motorists in the Catawba Valley, Robert Morrison is paying anywhere from $2.35 to $2.79 for a gallon of gasoline.
Swelling gas prices are one thing, but it's the discrepancy in what some local stations charge for a gallon of regular unleaded - a difference of 44 cents, in some cases - that he doesn't understand.
"That's a big gap," said Morrison, who moved here from California in 1995 to retire. "I've never seen anything like it."
A Wal-Mart in Taylorsville, about 20 miles from downtown Hickory, was selling regular unleaded gas for $2.35 Wednesday. Gas stations on Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard, by comparison, peaked at $2.79 on the same day.
For Morrison, that's $9.24 in savings every time he fills up his 21-gallon truck.
"That's a lot of money," he said. "Some people are getting bargains, and some people aren't."
Around Hickory, stores in the southwest area of the city generally offered lower prices, about $2.56 on average, than most stations in southeast Hickory, which hovered between $2.65 and $2.79, according to a survey of stations on Wednesday.
Several local gas station owners declined to discuss how they price gas.
Retailers look at a number of factors when setting prices, said Jonathan Cogin, energy information specialist at the Energy Information Administration in Washington.
Retailers often look at wholesale gas prices and competition with other stores. Rent and staff costs can also affect prices.
Some stores could see more traffic than others, he said, allowing owners to reduce what they charge per gallon.
"An isolated station in a rural area isn't going to be turning their product over as quickly as a station on a major highway," Cogin said. "There's a lot of factors and people have problems seeing that."
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and may not be republished without permission.
9/6/06
Man apprehended and charged in robbery of credit union
Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer
Staff Writer
Hickory police charged a man in the Tuesday robbery of a Hickory credit union.
Edward Leon Foushee, 47, was charged in the robbery of the Telco Credit Union on U.S. 70, said Sgt. Scott Hildebran of the Hickory Police Department.
A man walked into the bank around 1 p.m. and passed a teller a note saying he had a gun. The man, who did not conceal his face or reveal the weapon, demanded $20, $50 and $100 bills. He then ran into a wooded area, where several officers quickly surrounded him, Hildebran said.
Foushee was being held with bond set at $25,000, and he was scheduled to make his first court appearance today.
Police would not disclose how much money was taken but did say they were able to recover all of the money. Responding officers did not find a weapon, Hildebran said.
© THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer
Staff Writer
Hickory police charged a man in the Tuesday robbery of a Hickory credit union.
Edward Leon Foushee, 47, was charged in the robbery of the Telco Credit Union on U.S. 70, said Sgt. Scott Hildebran of the Hickory Police Department.
A man walked into the bank around 1 p.m. and passed a teller a note saying he had a gun. The man, who did not conceal his face or reveal the weapon, demanded $20, $50 and $100 bills. He then ran into a wooded area, where several officers quickly surrounded him, Hildebran said.
Foushee was being held with bond set at $25,000, and he was scheduled to make his first court appearance today.
Police would not disclose how much money was taken but did say they were able to recover all of the money. Responding officers did not find a weapon, Hildebran said.
© THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
The Dart: More than a market
SURE YOU CAN BUY TERRIFIC PRODUCE AT B AND S - BUT THERE'S ALSO A SENSE OF HISTORY AND COMMUNITY HERE, TOO
Wednesday, September 6, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
MORGANTON -- The sign painted on the building's outside wall has weathered and faded from years of exposure, but the letters - U.S.B. Dale's - are still visible.
For more than 106 years, the grocery that Grant Dale started just off Enola Road has flourished in a single-story, red-brick building that made the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
The three-aisle market is stuffed with jars of pickled eggs, honey from a local beekeeper and vegetables.
In the early 1900s, items were stacked high in shelves, and customers would point out the items they needed so store employees could fetch the goods. Credit accounts would allow regulars to go shopping and carry a balance until payday.
"When Old Man Grant was in here, it was just like what you saw in the movies," said owner Tim Buff. "It's a thing of the past."
When he was just a kid, Buff would wander into Dale's while his mother washed bedding at the Laundromat next door. He'd splurge on a piece of candy or two, wait for the laundry to finish and head back to the family farm.
"I would have never dreamed I'd even work in the grocery business," he said, eyeing the shelves stocked with canned goods, vegetables and spices.
Buff bought the business in 1980 and renamed it B and S Discount Foods - B for Buff and S for Shuffler, his wife's maiden name. Together the couple would chat with customers and stock shelves while their young daughters curled up for naps on cardboard boxes.
Last week, a longtime neighbor and customer pulled up to the store on his lawn mower to pick up a few items and joke with the staff.
Gone are the days of credit at the store, but Buff has worked hard to hang onto the things that make the vintage store special - great deals and a sense of community.
"That's the biggest accomplishment," he said. "We've been able to make money and save people money."
Last week, asparagus sold for a dollar a bunch - far below the $4-plus asking price at local chains. The week before, it was strawberries at $5 for two cases. Shoppers have come to expect great deals, becoming regulars and cultivating the sense of community.
Over the years, Buff has made contacts in the grocery business and has learned that larger chains will often pass over quality produce if a shipment is late by even a few hours.
By snapping up the fruits and vegetables at discount prices, Buff has been able to pass the savings on to his customers.
"Some people come by just to connect and visit," Buff said. "This is the kind of place where everybody is somebody."
When Buff's girls got older, they joined their parents in the store, serving customers, sweeping the floor and doing whatever they could to make the store succeed. Now, Buff is excited to see his grandchildren starting to learn the family business.
"We've raised our family in here," he said, watching his 4-year-old grandson carry large stalks of celery. "We're trying to train another generation."
Mike Dale, the great-grandson of the store's founder, has worked beside Buff for 23 years and says the tight community Buff has cultivated is the most appealing thing about the business.
"It's just a family business," he said. "I know all the customers, and I know how we want it done."
A few years ago, Buff, who serves on the Burke County Board of Education, had an offer to sell to business. It was a substantial offer, he said, and he gave it a long thought. But, in the end, Buff decided the loss far outweighed the gain.
"What would I do if I lost that family?" he said.
The Point of the Dart
The idea behind the Dart is simple: We're looking for the kind of news the media don't usually report. We throw a dart at a map of one of the counties in the Catawba Valley, and we'll write about what's happening at that spot. We hope this feature will bring out stories that too often are ignored and will help you meet some of your neighbors in the region.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
and may not be republished without permission.
Wednesday, September 6, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
MORGANTON -- The sign painted on the building's outside wall has weathered and faded from years of exposure, but the letters - U.S.B. Dale's - are still visible.
For more than 106 years, the grocery that Grant Dale started just off Enola Road has flourished in a single-story, red-brick building that made the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
The three-aisle market is stuffed with jars of pickled eggs, honey from a local beekeeper and vegetables.
In the early 1900s, items were stacked high in shelves, and customers would point out the items they needed so store employees could fetch the goods. Credit accounts would allow regulars to go shopping and carry a balance until payday.
"When Old Man Grant was in here, it was just like what you saw in the movies," said owner Tim Buff. "It's a thing of the past."
When he was just a kid, Buff would wander into Dale's while his mother washed bedding at the Laundromat next door. He'd splurge on a piece of candy or two, wait for the laundry to finish and head back to the family farm.
"I would have never dreamed I'd even work in the grocery business," he said, eyeing the shelves stocked with canned goods, vegetables and spices.
Buff bought the business in 1980 and renamed it B and S Discount Foods - B for Buff and S for Shuffler, his wife's maiden name. Together the couple would chat with customers and stock shelves while their young daughters curled up for naps on cardboard boxes.
Last week, a longtime neighbor and customer pulled up to the store on his lawn mower to pick up a few items and joke with the staff.
Gone are the days of credit at the store, but Buff has worked hard to hang onto the things that make the vintage store special - great deals and a sense of community.
"That's the biggest accomplishment," he said. "We've been able to make money and save people money."
Last week, asparagus sold for a dollar a bunch - far below the $4-plus asking price at local chains. The week before, it was strawberries at $5 for two cases. Shoppers have come to expect great deals, becoming regulars and cultivating the sense of community.
Over the years, Buff has made contacts in the grocery business and has learned that larger chains will often pass over quality produce if a shipment is late by even a few hours.
By snapping up the fruits and vegetables at discount prices, Buff has been able to pass the savings on to his customers.
"Some people come by just to connect and visit," Buff said. "This is the kind of place where everybody is somebody."
When Buff's girls got older, they joined their parents in the store, serving customers, sweeping the floor and doing whatever they could to make the store succeed. Now, Buff is excited to see his grandchildren starting to learn the family business.
"We've raised our family in here," he said, watching his 4-year-old grandson carry large stalks of celery. "We're trying to train another generation."
Mike Dale, the great-grandson of the store's founder, has worked beside Buff for 23 years and says the tight community Buff has cultivated is the most appealing thing about the business.
"It's just a family business," he said. "I know all the customers, and I know how we want it done."
A few years ago, Buff, who serves on the Burke County Board of Education, had an offer to sell to business. It was a substantial offer, he said, and he gave it a long thought. But, in the end, Buff decided the loss far outweighed the gain.
"What would I do if I lost that family?" he said.
The Point of the Dart
The idea behind the Dart is simple: We're looking for the kind of news the media don't usually report. We throw a dart at a map of one of the counties in the Catawba Valley, and we'll write about what's happening at that spot. We hope this feature will bring out stories that too often are ignored and will help you meet some of your neighbors in the region.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
and may not be republished without permission.
Ready for a water fight?
UNIFOUR LEADERS OPPOSE PROPOSAL TO TRANSFER MILLIONS OF GALLONS DAILY FROM RIVER BASIN
OFFICIALS CONTEND THAT REQUEST COULD LEAD TO SHORTAGE IN DROUGHT; MEETING IS THURSDAY
Wednesday, September 6, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
A meeting Thursday on a plan to take millions of gallons of water a day out of the Catawba River basin is shaping up as a contest to see which side can turn out a bigger crowd.
Leaders from the Catawba Valley are trying to increase turnout at a public meeting in Valdese on Thursday on a proposal to transfer up to 36 million gallons of water a day from the river basin to the cities of Concord and Kannapolis.
By comparison, the city of Hickory uses about 14 million gallons of water a day, according to the public works department.
Concord and Kannapolis want the transfer to supplement the projected area's water supply shortfall over the next 30 years.
The Catawba Valley officials, whose communities draw water from the river, worry that, if approved, the proposal could create a shortage during a drought.
"Everyone is finally recognizing the importance of the Catawba River and what a crucial natural (resource) it is to this region," said Jeff Morse, Valdese town manager. "We've been through a drought and we recognize (its) impact ."
The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Resources, is holding the meeting to hear comments on Concord and Kannapolis' water transfer request.
The N.C. Environmental Management Commission is scheduled to decide on the proposal on Nov. 7.
John Cox, president of Cabarrus Regional Chamber and Economic Development, said the chamber is planning to bring more than 100 people to the meeting, many by bus.
Many opponents, like Conover attorney Martin Pannell, hope residents and leaders from the Catawba Valley will attend to oppose the transfer.
"The gloves are off," he said. "If they want to come here and make a show, all bets are off."
The concentrated action is coming late from Hickory, the largest city in the region, but City Manager Mick Berry said officials have been paying attention to the water transfer issue for months.
Opponents of the water transfer, including Hickory Mayor Rudy Wright, aren't sure what kind of argument to expect from officials in Concord and Kannapolis but are sure proponents of the transfer will come armed with research saying the Catawba Valley won't be hurt if the action is passed.
"They'll probably have data that says this won't hurt anyone in any way," Wright said. "Don't tell me there's not potential for droughts."
Cox said Concord and Kannapolis officials have been researching, studying and planning for this water transfer since 2001 and are hoping it will finally become a reality.
"This has been a moving and an elongated process, and we have jumped through every hurdle that has been put in front of us," Cox said. "We'd like for it to conclude and be decided on science."
Leaders in the Unifour region are hoping to respond to the research with evidence that the transfer would be bad for the valley in times of drought, said Berry.
Donald Duncan, Conover city manager, has been working to prevent the transfer since it was first proposed five years ago. He said that Concord and Kannapolis have not fully explored other alternatives.
"They live in one basin, but they want to take water from another basin that other people live on," Duncan said. "If you're taking it from the river, you're taking it from the river, no matter where (it's coming out)."
Officials in the Catawba Valley are anticipating what could be a decade-long battle over the water transfer, said Duncan. The city of Conover, he said, has voted to add $50,000 over the next five years to a water transfer legal defense fund.
They're hoping to avoid future fights over resources, Duncan said, by figuring out a way to manage the region's water.
"If this goes well, no one will ever know it," he said. "If this goes badly, our children and grandchildren are going to be cussing us."Want to Go?
The public meeting to discuss the Catawba River basin water transfer will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the Old Rock School Auditorium, 400 West Main St. in Valdese.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
and may not be republished without permission.
OFFICIALS CONTEND THAT REQUEST COULD LEAD TO SHORTAGE IN DROUGHT; MEETING IS THURSDAY
Wednesday, September 6, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
A meeting Thursday on a plan to take millions of gallons of water a day out of the Catawba River basin is shaping up as a contest to see which side can turn out a bigger crowd.
Leaders from the Catawba Valley are trying to increase turnout at a public meeting in Valdese on Thursday on a proposal to transfer up to 36 million gallons of water a day from the river basin to the cities of Concord and Kannapolis.
By comparison, the city of Hickory uses about 14 million gallons of water a day, according to the public works department.
Concord and Kannapolis want the transfer to supplement the projected area's water supply shortfall over the next 30 years.
The Catawba Valley officials, whose communities draw water from the river, worry that, if approved, the proposal could create a shortage during a drought.
"Everyone is finally recognizing the importance of the Catawba River and what a crucial natural (resource) it is to this region," said Jeff Morse, Valdese town manager. "We've been through a drought and we recognize (its) impact ."
The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Resources, is holding the meeting to hear comments on Concord and Kannapolis' water transfer request.
The N.C. Environmental Management Commission is scheduled to decide on the proposal on Nov. 7.
John Cox, president of Cabarrus Regional Chamber and Economic Development, said the chamber is planning to bring more than 100 people to the meeting, many by bus.
Many opponents, like Conover attorney Martin Pannell, hope residents and leaders from the Catawba Valley will attend to oppose the transfer.
"The gloves are off," he said. "If they want to come here and make a show, all bets are off."
The concentrated action is coming late from Hickory, the largest city in the region, but City Manager Mick Berry said officials have been paying attention to the water transfer issue for months.
Opponents of the water transfer, including Hickory Mayor Rudy Wright, aren't sure what kind of argument to expect from officials in Concord and Kannapolis but are sure proponents of the transfer will come armed with research saying the Catawba Valley won't be hurt if the action is passed.
"They'll probably have data that says this won't hurt anyone in any way," Wright said. "Don't tell me there's not potential for droughts."
Cox said Concord and Kannapolis officials have been researching, studying and planning for this water transfer since 2001 and are hoping it will finally become a reality.
"This has been a moving and an elongated process, and we have jumped through every hurdle that has been put in front of us," Cox said. "We'd like for it to conclude and be decided on science."
Leaders in the Unifour region are hoping to respond to the research with evidence that the transfer would be bad for the valley in times of drought, said Berry.
Donald Duncan, Conover city manager, has been working to prevent the transfer since it was first proposed five years ago. He said that Concord and Kannapolis have not fully explored other alternatives.
"They live in one basin, but they want to take water from another basin that other people live on," Duncan said. "If you're taking it from the river, you're taking it from the river, no matter where (it's coming out)."
Officials in the Catawba Valley are anticipating what could be a decade-long battle over the water transfer, said Duncan. The city of Conover, he said, has voted to add $50,000 over the next five years to a water transfer legal defense fund.
They're hoping to avoid future fights over resources, Duncan said, by figuring out a way to manage the region's water.
"If this goes well, no one will ever know it," he said. "If this goes badly, our children and grandchildren are going to be cussing us."Want to Go?
The public meeting to discuss the Catawba River basin water transfer will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the Old Rock School Auditorium, 400 West Main St. in Valdese.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
and may not be republished without permission.
9/1/06
Lenoir considers rezoning for new industrial park
CITY HOPES TO ATTRACT MAJOR EMPLOYER TO ADD JOBS, BOOST AREA ECONOMY
Friday, September 1, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Lenoir city officials want to turn a tract of land into an industrial park, hoping to lure a major employer to the city, which has been hard hit by a slumping economy.
Officials from the city and the Caldwell County Economic Development Commission want to rezone about 150 acres in Lenoir from residential to heavy industrial and transfer a portion of Overlook Drive to the N.C. Department of Transportation.
The Caldwell County Economic Development Commission and Duke Energy bought the land over the summer, said Lenoir Planning Manager Chuck Beatty.
Lenoir officials will hold two public hearings at the Sept. 19 City Council meeting to discuss the road transfer request and the rezoning.
Lenoir Mayor David Barlow said the goal is to make the region more appealing to major potential employers. "We're doing all the things we need to do if this company were to come to our city," he said.
A large company is looking at opening a facility in Caldwell County, Barlow said, though he would not disclose the name of the company.
Regardless of whether the company locates in Lenoir, turning the land into an industrial park would likely make the city more attractive to other businesses considering opening shop in the area, he said.
"Even if this doesn't work out, we know we need an industrial park (to be prepared) for any future prospects," he said.
State officials recently told the Observer that Internet giant Google is considering opening a data center in Caldwell County.
In July, General Assembly leaders included a Google-requested provision into the state budget that would provide a tax break on electricity and equipment for Internet data centers in counties with limited economic growth.
Google spokesman Barry Schnitt said the company is growing but would not say if Caldwell County is a site they are considering.
The lot includes land that belonged to the Bernhardt furniture factory and property zoned for homes, said Beatty.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
and may not be republished without permission.
Friday, September 1, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Lenoir city officials want to turn a tract of land into an industrial park, hoping to lure a major employer to the city, which has been hard hit by a slumping economy.
Officials from the city and the Caldwell County Economic Development Commission want to rezone about 150 acres in Lenoir from residential to heavy industrial and transfer a portion of Overlook Drive to the N.C. Department of Transportation.
The Caldwell County Economic Development Commission and Duke Energy bought the land over the summer, said Lenoir Planning Manager Chuck Beatty.
Lenoir officials will hold two public hearings at the Sept. 19 City Council meeting to discuss the road transfer request and the rezoning.
Lenoir Mayor David Barlow said the goal is to make the region more appealing to major potential employers. "We're doing all the things we need to do if this company were to come to our city," he said.
A large company is looking at opening a facility in Caldwell County, Barlow said, though he would not disclose the name of the company.
Regardless of whether the company locates in Lenoir, turning the land into an industrial park would likely make the city more attractive to other businesses considering opening shop in the area, he said.
"Even if this doesn't work out, we know we need an industrial park (to be prepared) for any future prospects," he said.
State officials recently told the Observer that Internet giant Google is considering opening a data center in Caldwell County.
In July, General Assembly leaders included a Google-requested provision into the state budget that would provide a tax break on electricity and equipment for Internet data centers in counties with limited economic growth.
Google spokesman Barry Schnitt said the company is growing but would not say if Caldwell County is a site they are considering.
The lot includes land that belonged to the Bernhardt furniture factory and property zoned for homes, said Beatty.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
and may not be republished without permission.
Plans for halfway house dropped
NEIGHBORS FIGHT PASTOR'S EFFORT TO PUT HOME FOR EX-CONVICTS ON N. MAIN ST. IN LENOIR
NEARBY HOMEOWNERS SAY TRANSITIONAL HOME IS A GOOD IDEA, BUT NOT AT THAT LOCATION
Friday, September 1, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
A Lenoir pastor has abandoned plans to open a halfway house in a North Main Street church after residents opposed bringing newly released ex-convicts to live in their neighborhood.
Sherry Hicks, pastor at the Love Walk church, had hoped to bring a number of programs to the community, including Bible study, a food pantry and a transitional home for men coming out of jail.
But close to a dozen residents came to a Lenoir Planning Board meeting Monday in opposition, Hicks said, and it was clear her plan might not succeed on North Main.
"We're trying to help the community," Hicks said. "(But) if the community doesn't want it, we're not going to go to war over it."
Nearby homeowners say they think opening a halfway house in the area is a great idea but don't think North Main Street is the best location for a transitional home.
"This is a neighborhood that is really progressing," said Paul Stoecklein, who lives about a block from the church. "I think we all agree it's a noble cause. It's just not the right place."
Joel Kincaid, a Lenoir native, decided to restore a decrepit home next door to his residence after seeing the wood paneling inside. "This was a project not only to save a house, but to save the neighborhood," he said.
Kincaid wants to focus on revitalizing the area and said he worries that potential buyers would pass over a North Main home if they knew a halfway house was operating down the street.
The goal of the renovations, Kincaid said, is to draw homeowners to the neighborhood, encourage revitalization and develop a sense of community. "It's not just beautiful houses," he said.
Stoecklein, who moved to Lenoir with his wife less than two years ago, said the neighborhood has seen a surge in revitalization as people move into the 100-year-old homes and begin renovating.
Before, he said, many of the buildings were falling apart, and prostitution and drug use were more common. He called that neighborhood "iffy."
"We don't want the iffy to continue. We want the iffy to go away," he said. "A halfway house impedes that progress."
Although plans for opening the halfway house have been abandoned, Hicks said, inexpensive rent in the area makes North Main and the surrounding streets appealing to former convicts. Opponents "don't realize that when people get released from prison, this is the neighborhood that they are coming back to," she said.
Hicks withdrew the request Tuesday morning but said the services and Bible study will continue at the church, which opened in July. Hicks said she has not given up on the idea of opening a halfway house in the city.
"Regardless of what you've done in your past, you still deserve a chance for life," she said. "We (are) hoping to give them structure and some accountability."
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
and may not be republished without permission.
NEARBY HOMEOWNERS SAY TRANSITIONAL HOME IS A GOOD IDEA, BUT NOT AT THAT LOCATION
Friday, September 1, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
A Lenoir pastor has abandoned plans to open a halfway house in a North Main Street church after residents opposed bringing newly released ex-convicts to live in their neighborhood.
Sherry Hicks, pastor at the Love Walk church, had hoped to bring a number of programs to the community, including Bible study, a food pantry and a transitional home for men coming out of jail.
But close to a dozen residents came to a Lenoir Planning Board meeting Monday in opposition, Hicks said, and it was clear her plan might not succeed on North Main.
"We're trying to help the community," Hicks said. "(But) if the community doesn't want it, we're not going to go to war over it."
Nearby homeowners say they think opening a halfway house in the area is a great idea but don't think North Main Street is the best location for a transitional home.
"This is a neighborhood that is really progressing," said Paul Stoecklein, who lives about a block from the church. "I think we all agree it's a noble cause. It's just not the right place."
Joel Kincaid, a Lenoir native, decided to restore a decrepit home next door to his residence after seeing the wood paneling inside. "This was a project not only to save a house, but to save the neighborhood," he said.
Kincaid wants to focus on revitalizing the area and said he worries that potential buyers would pass over a North Main home if they knew a halfway house was operating down the street.
The goal of the renovations, Kincaid said, is to draw homeowners to the neighborhood, encourage revitalization and develop a sense of community. "It's not just beautiful houses," he said.
Stoecklein, who moved to Lenoir with his wife less than two years ago, said the neighborhood has seen a surge in revitalization as people move into the 100-year-old homes and begin renovating.
Before, he said, many of the buildings were falling apart, and prostitution and drug use were more common. He called that neighborhood "iffy."
"We don't want the iffy to continue. We want the iffy to go away," he said. "A halfway house impedes that progress."
Although plans for opening the halfway house have been abandoned, Hicks said, inexpensive rent in the area makes North Main and the surrounding streets appealing to former convicts. Opponents "don't realize that when people get released from prison, this is the neighborhood that they are coming back to," she said.
Hicks withdrew the request Tuesday morning but said the services and Bible study will continue at the church, which opened in July. Hicks said she has not given up on the idea of opening a halfway house in the city.
"Regardless of what you've done in your past, you still deserve a chance for life," she said. "We (are) hoping to give them structure and some accountability."
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
and may not be republished without permission.
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