Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Four Catawba County deputies involved in a fatal standoff last week returned to work Monday after spending five days on administrative leave, authorities said.
A Hickory police officer who was also put on administrative leave had not returned to work by Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.
The State Bureau of Investigation continues looking into the Feb. 20 shooting that killed Marty Dale Rogers, 32, in a field near his home north of Conover. SBI investigations can sometimes take months to complete, Catawba County Sheriff David Huffman said.
Huffman said Rogers, hiding in the field's thick brush with a semi-automatic rifle, was a threat to officers surrounding him and that authorities had no choice but to fire.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
2/25/07
New Caldwell sheriff takes reins
Jones says he’ll uphold drug initiatives, work to heal department after Clark’s death
Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
LENOIR - More than 20 years ago, when Alan Jones was attending Appalachian State University, he wasn't sure what he wanted to do after he finished school, his mother remembers.
But then, one day, he picked up a friend's criminal justice textbook and decided to make a career of law enforcement.
"We said, `Uh, like a policeman?' " his mother, Barbara Jones, recalled. "And he said, `Yeah.' We told him that was too dangerous, and he said, `Well, so is crossing the road.' "
Last week, less than two decades after graduating with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, Lenoir native Alan Jones was sworn in as Caldwell County's newest sheriff.
But, unlike most sheriffs taking office, Jones wasn't elected.
Jones, 41, is succeeding Gary Clark, who died Feb. 2, less than three months after winning a second term as sheriff and less than two months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Jones was appointed by the Caldwell County Board of Commissioners last week.
The biggest challenge, at least in the beginning, Jones said, will be making the transition from Clark's administration to his own. Jones, who had been friends with Clark since working with him at the Lenoir Police Department 20 years ago, said the entire department is still recovering from the loss.
"We just swore in Sheriff Clark and to do it again, it hit us pretty hard," he said after his appointment ceremony last week.
Jones doesn't have any plans to change the direction of the Sheriff's Office, he said, and will continue to focus on drug-related crime and bringing drug education into county schools.
"We'll never let up on that," he said.
That's comforting news to some Caldwell County leaders, like board of commissioners Chairman Faye Higgins, who think Clark was taking the office in a good direction.
Jones has "got some big shoes to step into," Higgins said. "Alan takes his responsibility very seriously but can make you feel comfortable when talking to him."
Capt. Scott Brown of the Lenoir police has known Jones for more than 20 years and called him "one of the most professional law officers" he has ever worked with.
"What separates good law enforcement officers from great law enforcement officers are their convictions and their ethics," said Brown, "and I've always considered him right there at the top."
The new sheriff's reputation is promising for the department, said Bob Brady, chief judge for the 25th judicial district, who administered the oath of office to Jones last week.
"He's always professional, competent and capable," Brady said. "He has his bases covered because he's an administrator and a law enforcement officer."
Jones' experience and education, which includes a master's degree in public administration, Higgins said, will help create a stronger office.
"It's a lot of hard work to have a job and go to school," she said. "But (he's) going to encourage his officers to get a higher education."
Jones has been in office for less than a week, most of which was spent at Sheriff's Association meetings in Durham, but some are already campaigning for a second term.
Terry Kemp, a retired furniture worker, has known Jones about 10 years and is already looking to 2010. Immediately after Jones was sworn in as the county's newest sheriff, Kemp pasted the first "Elect Alan Jones Sheriff" sticker on the back window of his pickup.
"I wanted to put this on my truck and be behind him," Kemp said. "He's just like Gary: honest, true. You can't expect a better man."
Alan Clinton Jones
Party: Republican.
Age: 41.
Birthplace: Lenoir.
Family: Wife, Kim; children Garrett Jones and Jillian Jones.
Professional background: Served as patrolman, sergeant, detective and lieutenant during his 14-year tenure with the Lenoir Police Department; chief deputy at the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office, 2002-06.
Education: Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, Appalachian State University, 1988; Southern Police Institute, University of Kentucky, Louisville, 1998; master's degree in public administration, Appalachian State University, 2006.
Religious/civic involvement:
Member of Central Baptist Church; member of the N.C. Sheriff's Association; member of Southern States Police Benevolent Association.
What are the top issues facing the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office?
Jones said making the transition from previous Sheriff Gary Clark, who began serving his second term earlier this year, will be one of the largest hurdles early in his administration. Beyond that, Jones said, he is planning to continue to run the office as Clark had, including focusing on drug-related crime and evaluating budget concerns.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
LENOIR - More than 20 years ago, when Alan Jones was attending Appalachian State University, he wasn't sure what he wanted to do after he finished school, his mother remembers.
But then, one day, he picked up a friend's criminal justice textbook and decided to make a career of law enforcement.
"We said, `Uh, like a policeman?' " his mother, Barbara Jones, recalled. "And he said, `Yeah.' We told him that was too dangerous, and he said, `Well, so is crossing the road.' "
Last week, less than two decades after graduating with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, Lenoir native Alan Jones was sworn in as Caldwell County's newest sheriff.
But, unlike most sheriffs taking office, Jones wasn't elected.
Jones, 41, is succeeding Gary Clark, who died Feb. 2, less than three months after winning a second term as sheriff and less than two months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Jones was appointed by the Caldwell County Board of Commissioners last week.
The biggest challenge, at least in the beginning, Jones said, will be making the transition from Clark's administration to his own. Jones, who had been friends with Clark since working with him at the Lenoir Police Department 20 years ago, said the entire department is still recovering from the loss.
"We just swore in Sheriff Clark and to do it again, it hit us pretty hard," he said after his appointment ceremony last week.
Jones doesn't have any plans to change the direction of the Sheriff's Office, he said, and will continue to focus on drug-related crime and bringing drug education into county schools.
"We'll never let up on that," he said.
That's comforting news to some Caldwell County leaders, like board of commissioners Chairman Faye Higgins, who think Clark was taking the office in a good direction.
Jones has "got some big shoes to step into," Higgins said. "Alan takes his responsibility very seriously but can make you feel comfortable when talking to him."
Capt. Scott Brown of the Lenoir police has known Jones for more than 20 years and called him "one of the most professional law officers" he has ever worked with.
"What separates good law enforcement officers from great law enforcement officers are their convictions and their ethics," said Brown, "and I've always considered him right there at the top."
The new sheriff's reputation is promising for the department, said Bob Brady, chief judge for the 25th judicial district, who administered the oath of office to Jones last week.
"He's always professional, competent and capable," Brady said. "He has his bases covered because he's an administrator and a law enforcement officer."
Jones' experience and education, which includes a master's degree in public administration, Higgins said, will help create a stronger office.
"It's a lot of hard work to have a job and go to school," she said. "But (he's) going to encourage his officers to get a higher education."
Jones has been in office for less than a week, most of which was spent at Sheriff's Association meetings in Durham, but some are already campaigning for a second term.
Terry Kemp, a retired furniture worker, has known Jones about 10 years and is already looking to 2010. Immediately after Jones was sworn in as the county's newest sheriff, Kemp pasted the first "Elect Alan Jones Sheriff" sticker on the back window of his pickup.
"I wanted to put this on my truck and be behind him," Kemp said. "He's just like Gary: honest, true. You can't expect a better man."
Alan Clinton Jones
Party: Republican.
Age: 41.
Birthplace: Lenoir.
Family: Wife, Kim; children Garrett Jones and Jillian Jones.
Professional background: Served as patrolman, sergeant, detective and lieutenant during his 14-year tenure with the Lenoir Police Department; chief deputy at the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office, 2002-06.
Education: Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, Appalachian State University, 1988; Southern Police Institute, University of Kentucky, Louisville, 1998; master's degree in public administration, Appalachian State University, 2006.
Religious/civic involvement:
Member of Central Baptist Church; member of the N.C. Sheriff's Association; member of Southern States Police Benevolent Association.
What are the top issues facing the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office?
Jones said making the transition from previous Sheriff Gary Clark, who began serving his second term earlier this year, will be one of the largest hurdles early in his administration. Beyond that, Jones said, he is planning to continue to run the office as Clark had, including focusing on drug-related crime and evaluating budget concerns.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
2/24/07
Rhodhiss official faces charges in scrap metal case
Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
A Rhodhiss councilman charged with embezzlement made his first appearance in court Friday, officials said.
Clarence Gary Burns, 69, councilman and former Rhodhiss public works supervisor, was charged Wednesday night with misdemeanor willful failure to discharge duties as a town employee and felony embezzlement by a public officer, said N.C. Department of Justice Public Information Officer Noelle Talley.
Burns did not return messages left Thursday. Calls to his home went unanswered Friday, and no answering service was available.
Rhodhiss Police Chief Tim Anthony said Friday that he began an investigation about eight months ago into allegations that Burns, who was the town's public works supervisor, took scrap metal entrusted to him and exchanged it for money.
The allegations span several years, after 2000, but Anthony would not say exactly when they took place.
Anthony would not say precisely how much money they believe Burns took but said that it was less than $10,000 and more than $1,000.
Anthony said he requested help from the State Bureau of Investigation about two months ago. "Because of (Burns') status within the Town Council, I felt like it would be a conflict if interest for me to be the sole investigator," he said.
The District Attorney's Office will review the SBI's completed investigation, said Assistant District Attorney Eric Bellas.
Burns, who could face additional charges, was released Wednesday night after signing a written promise to appear in court, according to the Burke County Magistrate's Office.
He is scheduled to appear in court on March 30 for the misdemeanor charge.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
A Rhodhiss councilman charged with embezzlement made his first appearance in court Friday, officials said.
Clarence Gary Burns, 69, councilman and former Rhodhiss public works supervisor, was charged Wednesday night with misdemeanor willful failure to discharge duties as a town employee and felony embezzlement by a public officer, said N.C. Department of Justice Public Information Officer Noelle Talley.
Burns did not return messages left Thursday. Calls to his home went unanswered Friday, and no answering service was available.
Rhodhiss Police Chief Tim Anthony said Friday that he began an investigation about eight months ago into allegations that Burns, who was the town's public works supervisor, took scrap metal entrusted to him and exchanged it for money.
The allegations span several years, after 2000, but Anthony would not say exactly when they took place.
Anthony would not say precisely how much money they believe Burns took but said that it was less than $10,000 and more than $1,000.
Anthony said he requested help from the State Bureau of Investigation about two months ago. "Because of (Burns') status within the Town Council, I felt like it would be a conflict if interest for me to be the sole investigator," he said.
The District Attorney's Office will review the SBI's completed investigation, said Assistant District Attorney Eric Bellas.
Burns, who could face additional charges, was released Wednesday night after signing a written promise to appear in court, according to the Burke County Magistrate's Office.
He is scheduled to appear in court on March 30 for the misdemeanor charge.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
2/22/07
5 officers on leave as SBI probes shooting
Authorities say man hid in brush with rifle after fleeing in pickup
Thursday, Feb. 22, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Five law enforcement officers involved in a Tuesday shooting that killed a man have been placed on administrative leave, authorities said.
The State Bureau of Investigation is looking into the shooting that killed Marty Dale Rogers, 32, in a field near his home north of Conover and about 70 miles northwest of Charlotte.
Catawba County Sheriff David Huffman said Rogers, who was dressed in camouflage and hiding in the field's thick brush with an automatic rifle, was a threat to the officers surrounding him and that authorities had no choice but to fire.
The Catawba County Sheriff's Office has put four members of the STAR team - the county's version of a SWAT team - on administrative leave through Friday, Huffman said. The team is made up of officers from several police agencies in the county.
Huffman would not name all of the deputies placed on leave but did say that Maj. Coy Reid, the team's leader, was one.
The Hickory Police Department also put one officer on administrative leave, according to a news release. He is expected to return to work after the SBI completes its investigation.
SBI agent David Call would not comment on the investigation.
Deputies from the Catawba County's Sheriff Office were trying to serve Rogers with mental health commitment papers Tuesday when he jumped into his pickup and fled.
The chase ended in a field near the intersection of Three D Ranch Road and Springs Road, where Rogers got out of the truck with the rifle, ran several hundred yards and then hid in a brushy area.
Rogers was shot and killed by a law enforcement officer's bullet after he ignored commands to put down his weapon and unlocked the gun's safety clip, Huffman said.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
Thursday, Feb. 22, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Five law enforcement officers involved in a Tuesday shooting that killed a man have been placed on administrative leave, authorities said.
The State Bureau of Investigation is looking into the shooting that killed Marty Dale Rogers, 32, in a field near his home north of Conover and about 70 miles northwest of Charlotte.
Catawba County Sheriff David Huffman said Rogers, who was dressed in camouflage and hiding in the field's thick brush with an automatic rifle, was a threat to the officers surrounding him and that authorities had no choice but to fire.
The Catawba County Sheriff's Office has put four members of the STAR team - the county's version of a SWAT team - on administrative leave through Friday, Huffman said. The team is made up of officers from several police agencies in the county.
Huffman would not name all of the deputies placed on leave but did say that Maj. Coy Reid, the team's leader, was one.
The Hickory Police Department also put one officer on administrative leave, according to a news release. He is expected to return to work after the SBI completes its investigation.
SBI agent David Call would not comment on the investigation.
Deputies from the Catawba County's Sheriff Office were trying to serve Rogers with mental health commitment papers Tuesday when he jumped into his pickup and fled.
The chase ended in a field near the intersection of Three D Ranch Road and Springs Road, where Rogers got out of the truck with the rifle, ran several hundred yards and then hid in a brushy area.
Rogers was shot and killed by a law enforcement officer's bullet after he ignored commands to put down his weapon and unlocked the gun's safety clip, Huffman said.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
2 more cases of rabies seen as dogs attack infected animals
Thursday, Feb. 22, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Officials in Catawba County confirmed the second and third cases of rabies this year after two dogs attacked infected animals in Vale and Conover last week.
One dog attacked and killed a rabid skunk in Vale on Feb. 13, said Catawba County animal services manager Joaine McKeel. The dog had not been vaccinated, so it was euthanized.
Another dog in Conover attacked a raccoon Feb. 14, and the dog's owner was scratched while trying to beat the raccoon off his pet, McKeel said.
He told authorities that he was unsure whether the scratch came from the raccoon or the dog and was treated by a doctor. The dog had been vaccinated and received booster shots after the attack.
The raccoon and skunk were sent to the state health lab in Raleigh, where technicians confirmed Monday that both animals had rabies, McKeel said.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Officials in Catawba County confirmed the second and third cases of rabies this year after two dogs attacked infected animals in Vale and Conover last week.
One dog attacked and killed a rabid skunk in Vale on Feb. 13, said Catawba County animal services manager Joaine McKeel. The dog had not been vaccinated, so it was euthanized.
Another dog in Conover attacked a raccoon Feb. 14, and the dog's owner was scratched while trying to beat the raccoon off his pet, McKeel said.
He told authorities that he was unsure whether the scratch came from the raccoon or the dog and was treated by a doctor. The dog had been vaccinated and received booster shots after the attack.
The raccoon and skunk were sent to the state health lab in Raleigh, where technicians confirmed Monday that both animals had rabies, McKeel said.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
The Dart: Pockets full of dusty charm
A place to shoot pool, meet old pals and snack on pickled eggs
Not much changes at Baynie’s Pool Room
Thursday, February 22, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
LENOIR - Bumper stickers line the walls at Baynie's Pool Room, where dozens of cues have permanently marked blue chalk across the battered white, green and pink paint.
Some of the pool sticks, secured to a wooden shelf with tiny padlocks, belong to regulars. Others, the ones slathered with paint at the base, are house sticks that anyone wanting to shoot a game or two can use.
Today, the 40-year-old pool hall, where The Dart recently landed, is a dark and dusty room with video and pinball games lining the perimeter, but since her husband Baynie died in 1981, owner Elaine Sipes has made it her own.
Take the stickers, for example. Every time Sipes visits a gas station, she said, she looks for a new clever phrase to add to the walls or to paste across the side of a table.
"Save a cow, eat a vegetarian," she said. "I love that one."
Four worn pool tables rest on the room's unfinished concrete floor as Sipes, 77, flips on the single overhead light. It sputters on, casting a dim glow on the hundreds of decorations she and Baynie have plastered throughout the hall.
"I think that's one of the best signs I've ever seen," Sipes said, pointing to a piece of paper hanging from the doorframe of her makeshift office.
The disclaimer, posted near the snacks and where customers pay for rounds of pool, reads: "Our credit manager is Helen Waite. If you want credit, go to Helen Waite."
For Sipes, running a poolroom isn't a bad gig.
She gets to set her own hours and take as much vacation as she needs. She lives in apartment above the hall and can show up wearing the same sweater she had on the day before.
Business has been slower in recent years, as unemployment rises in the county and furniture factories continue to close, but Sipes said she'll keep coming to work. The 50 cents she charges for a game of eight-ball, combined with the 25-cent video games, juke box fees and snack sales, pays the bills, she said, and that's enough.
But Sipes didn't always think she'd be running a business where pool tables, video games and pickled-egg sales were the main source of income.
The Pittsburgh native met Baynie, a former engineer from Lenoir, while he was taking electronics training classes in Pennsylvania. They married in 1955, and, after having the first of their five boys, moved to Lenoir in 1963.
The couple bought a small store a few miles from Hibriten Mountain and began selling groceries to neighbors.
Then, in 1967, Sipes returned to Pittsburgh for her mother's funeral, leaving Baynie to watch the shop. When she returned a few days later, the boxes of cereal and cans of food had been moved and four green felt-lined pool tables were scattered throughout the store.
Her husband had opened "Baynie's Pool Room."
In the hall's early days, Sipes said, things were a bit more wild and her husband didn't discourage patrons from drinking before coming into the hall. Now she's a bit more strict and likes thinking of the hall as a family place.
"I don't allow drinking," Sipes said. "If there were 30 men drinking in here, and just one female. Uh uh."
The regulars are OK with that, said 48-year-old Brian Swanson, who used to play at the hall and later married Baynie's niece. If someone tries pushing Sipes' rules, Swanson said, she has built-in enforcement.
"The group always protected Miss Baynie," he said. "She never had to have a bouncer because every boy in there was a bouncer for her."
Though Swanson hasn't shot pool at Baynie's for close to a decade, Sipes said she is certain he'd find it exactly the same.
"Some people come back after 20 years and will say, `Oh, you haven't changed at all,' " she said.
It's that consistency, Sipes said, that has made Baynie's what it is today.
"It's home to a lot of people," she said. "That's how you make friends and keep customers."
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.
Not much changes at Baynie’s Pool Room
Thursday, February 22, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
LENOIR - Bumper stickers line the walls at Baynie's Pool Room, where dozens of cues have permanently marked blue chalk across the battered white, green and pink paint.
Some of the pool sticks, secured to a wooden shelf with tiny padlocks, belong to regulars. Others, the ones slathered with paint at the base, are house sticks that anyone wanting to shoot a game or two can use.
Today, the 40-year-old pool hall, where The Dart recently landed, is a dark and dusty room with video and pinball games lining the perimeter, but since her husband Baynie died in 1981, owner Elaine Sipes has made it her own.
Take the stickers, for example. Every time Sipes visits a gas station, she said, she looks for a new clever phrase to add to the walls or to paste across the side of a table.
"Save a cow, eat a vegetarian," she said. "I love that one."
Four worn pool tables rest on the room's unfinished concrete floor as Sipes, 77, flips on the single overhead light. It sputters on, casting a dim glow on the hundreds of decorations she and Baynie have plastered throughout the hall.
"I think that's one of the best signs I've ever seen," Sipes said, pointing to a piece of paper hanging from the doorframe of her makeshift office.
The disclaimer, posted near the snacks and where customers pay for rounds of pool, reads: "Our credit manager is Helen Waite. If you want credit, go to Helen Waite."
For Sipes, running a poolroom isn't a bad gig.
She gets to set her own hours and take as much vacation as she needs. She lives in apartment above the hall and can show up wearing the same sweater she had on the day before.
Business has been slower in recent years, as unemployment rises in the county and furniture factories continue to close, but Sipes said she'll keep coming to work. The 50 cents she charges for a game of eight-ball, combined with the 25-cent video games, juke box fees and snack sales, pays the bills, she said, and that's enough.
But Sipes didn't always think she'd be running a business where pool tables, video games and pickled-egg sales were the main source of income.
The Pittsburgh native met Baynie, a former engineer from Lenoir, while he was taking electronics training classes in Pennsylvania. They married in 1955, and, after having the first of their five boys, moved to Lenoir in 1963.
The couple bought a small store a few miles from Hibriten Mountain and began selling groceries to neighbors.
Then, in 1967, Sipes returned to Pittsburgh for her mother's funeral, leaving Baynie to watch the shop. When she returned a few days later, the boxes of cereal and cans of food had been moved and four green felt-lined pool tables were scattered throughout the store.
Her husband had opened "Baynie's Pool Room."
In the hall's early days, Sipes said, things were a bit more wild and her husband didn't discourage patrons from drinking before coming into the hall. Now she's a bit more strict and likes thinking of the hall as a family place.
"I don't allow drinking," Sipes said. "If there were 30 men drinking in here, and just one female. Uh uh."
The regulars are OK with that, said 48-year-old Brian Swanson, who used to play at the hall and later married Baynie's niece. If someone tries pushing Sipes' rules, Swanson said, she has built-in enforcement.
"The group always protected Miss Baynie," he said. "She never had to have a bouncer because every boy in there was a bouncer for her."
Though Swanson hasn't shot pool at Baynie's for close to a decade, Sipes said she is certain he'd find it exactly the same.
"Some people come back after 20 years and will say, `Oh, you haven't changed at all,' " she said.
It's that consistency, Sipes said, that has made Baynie's what it is today.
"It's home to a lot of people," she said. "That's how you make friends and keep customers."
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.
2/21/07
Officers kill armed man in standoff
He drove off as Catawba County deputies served mental health papers, sheriff says
32-year-old recalled by neighbor as an 'excellent dad' to 9-year-old-boy
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
HICKORY - A Catawba County man who was being served with mental health commitment papers was shot to death during a standoff with authorities Tuesday.
Marty Dale Rogers, 32, was killed shortly after noon in a field near his home north of Conover, about 70 miles northwest of Charlotte, authorities said.
Catawba County Sheriff David Huffman said Rogers, who was dressed in camouflage and hiding in the field's thick brush with an automatic rifle, was a threat to the officers surrounding him.
"We didn't have a choice," Huffman said. "If we had not shot, he could have taken out four or five officers." Huffman was not sure who shot Rogers or who fired first, he said.
The State Bureau of Investigation was investigating.
Rogers' family would not comment, but neighbors remembered him as a loving father to his 9-year-old son.
"He was an excellent dad," said neighbor and lifelong friend Donna Sipe. "They did everything together. They went hunting together, four-wheeling together, you name it."
On Tuesday morning, Huffman said, Catawba County sheriff's deputies went to his house to serve papers that would allow them to take Rogers to a hospital for a mental health evaluation.
Mental health officials told the Sheriff's Office that Rogers had made threats, and deputies received reports that he was armed, Huffman said. Huffman said he did not know details of Rogers' mental problems.
As deputies tried to serve the papers, Rogers jumped into a pickup and led them on a 15-minute chase around the area, Huffman said.
The chase ended less than a mile from Rogers' house, after he stopped the truck behind another home.
Rogers' neighbor and longtime family friend, Jerry Sigmon, said he was working on his car next door and tried to approach the truck. Rogers raised a gun, he said, but lowered it when he recognized Sigmon.
An officer yelled at Sigmon to go into his house, and Sigmon complied, he said.
Shortly after that, about 50 officers arrived, Sigmon said.
Rogers got out of his truck with a weapon, which Huffman said was an automatic rifle, ran several hundred yards and then hid in a brushy area.
Members of the STAR team - Catawba County's version of a SWAT team - surrounded Rogers and saw him raise the gun, Huffman said.
Officers told Rogers to put the gun down several times, and he twice complied.
He raised the gun a third time, unlocked the safety clip, and officers fired several shots, Huffman said. Rogers was struck and killed.
"When someone raises a weapon and takes the clip off, he's ready to shoot," Huffman said. "You have to make a snap decision very, very quickly."
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
32-year-old recalled by neighbor as an 'excellent dad' to 9-year-old-boy
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
HICKORY - A Catawba County man who was being served with mental health commitment papers was shot to death during a standoff with authorities Tuesday.
Marty Dale Rogers, 32, was killed shortly after noon in a field near his home north of Conover, about 70 miles northwest of Charlotte, authorities said.
Catawba County Sheriff David Huffman said Rogers, who was dressed in camouflage and hiding in the field's thick brush with an automatic rifle, was a threat to the officers surrounding him.
"We didn't have a choice," Huffman said. "If we had not shot, he could have taken out four or five officers." Huffman was not sure who shot Rogers or who fired first, he said.
The State Bureau of Investigation was investigating.
Rogers' family would not comment, but neighbors remembered him as a loving father to his 9-year-old son.
"He was an excellent dad," said neighbor and lifelong friend Donna Sipe. "They did everything together. They went hunting together, four-wheeling together, you name it."
On Tuesday morning, Huffman said, Catawba County sheriff's deputies went to his house to serve papers that would allow them to take Rogers to a hospital for a mental health evaluation.
Mental health officials told the Sheriff's Office that Rogers had made threats, and deputies received reports that he was armed, Huffman said. Huffman said he did not know details of Rogers' mental problems.
As deputies tried to serve the papers, Rogers jumped into a pickup and led them on a 15-minute chase around the area, Huffman said.
The chase ended less than a mile from Rogers' house, after he stopped the truck behind another home.
Rogers' neighbor and longtime family friend, Jerry Sigmon, said he was working on his car next door and tried to approach the truck. Rogers raised a gun, he said, but lowered it when he recognized Sigmon.
An officer yelled at Sigmon to go into his house, and Sigmon complied, he said.
Shortly after that, about 50 officers arrived, Sigmon said.
Rogers got out of his truck with a weapon, which Huffman said was an automatic rifle, ran several hundred yards and then hid in a brushy area.
Members of the STAR team - Catawba County's version of a SWAT team - surrounded Rogers and saw him raise the gun, Huffman said.
Officers told Rogers to put the gun down several times, and he twice complied.
He raised the gun a third time, unlocked the safety clip, and officers fired several shots, Huffman said. Rogers was struck and killed.
"When someone raises a weapon and takes the clip off, he's ready to shoot," Huffman said. "You have to make a snap decision very, very quickly."
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
2/18/07
Keeping the faith that lawsuit will be settled
Mountain Grove Baptist Church pastor says case is bringing members together
Sunday, February 18, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
BATON - The Rev. Clifton Black thought a message about coping with change was most appropriate for today's sermon.
Mountain Grove Baptist Church, where Black has been preaching for more than 20 years, is embroiled in a $1.9 million lawsuit with a former contractor, which last week stirred a flurry of rumors that the church was closing.
A week ago, an e-mail from a church member circulated throughout the community claiming that Mountain Grove was being padlocked, and local newspapers reported that the congregation may be forced to move from the building.
Some members were skeptical that the doors of the sanctuary would even open today.
"The possibility of having to start everything over is just sad," said longtime member Chris Smith. "A lot of people were fearful (but) hopeful that something that would work out."
But pastors at the 4,000-member church, site of former Caldwell County Sheriff Gary Clark's funeral this month and one of the largest in the county, said that the rumors that Mountain Grove is closing its doors have been just that - rumors.
"Regardless of what you might have read, we will have all of our services here at Mountain Grove this Sunday," Black said in an e-mail sent to the congregation last week. "We still have lots of options ahead of us, so do not despair."
Pastors at the church say they have received numerous calls from members and others, offering support. A church in Hickory even offered to share worship space with Mountain Grove's congregation.
"It's wonderful when you know people are praying for you," said women's minister Jan Chester. "A lot of it is the encouragement that people are giving the staff."
What isn't rumor is the judgment against Mountain Grove, which said the church owes David Gray, a former contractor from Lenoir, for the new sanctuary and gymnasium he finished building in 2000.
On Wednesday, a judge upheld a June ruling that the church would have to pay Gray $865,835 plus interest and attorney and courts fees, all totaling more than $1.9 million. The church plans to appeal.
Meanwhile, Black and others say the ordeal is, in some ways, making the church stronger.
"Everyone thinks the lawsuit is negative, but it's actually uniting people and bringing new people in," Black said. "These are positive things developing out of something that is negative."
Members of the church, which runs a food pantry, substance abuse programs and other outreach programs, say they'd miss the building, but the real connection to Mountain Grove is through the people.
"I've never been anywhere else like it," said Rick Harris, who plays drums in the church's praise band. "(We'd) just have to get a new building. It will work itself out."
In March 1996, Black signed a $2.2 million contract with Gray's company, White Fox Construction, to build a new sanctuary that would hold 2,000 people and accommodate the thriving congregation. During construction, which began a few months later, the church leaders made a few changes in the building plans and asked that a new gym also be added, increasing costs by $817,614, according to the lawsuit.
Gray claims the church left a balance of more than $865,000, which he had to absorb, according to court documents.
The church, however, says it paid all it was required to - a few hundred thousand dollars to subcontractors and more than $2 million to White Fox.
Gray sued in January 2004.
But Gray said the money he lost forced him to dissolve White Fox Construction, a Granite Falls-based business he owned for more than 22 years.
"It's been one of the biggest struggles of my life," Gray said. "I was obviously very disappointed to close my business, and it's had some negative emotional ramifications with my family." He now works for another contractor.
Both sides say they hope to reach a settlement, but, at this point, they appear far apart.
Meanwhile, Black and his congregation are staying optimistic.
"We're doing awesome," Black said. "Worst-case scenario, we lose this building. We're a church for people, and we'll continue to be Mountain Grove Church, even if it isn't on this site."
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
BATON - The Rev. Clifton Black thought a message about coping with change was most appropriate for today's sermon.
Mountain Grove Baptist Church, where Black has been preaching for more than 20 years, is embroiled in a $1.9 million lawsuit with a former contractor, which last week stirred a flurry of rumors that the church was closing.
A week ago, an e-mail from a church member circulated throughout the community claiming that Mountain Grove was being padlocked, and local newspapers reported that the congregation may be forced to move from the building.
Some members were skeptical that the doors of the sanctuary would even open today.
"The possibility of having to start everything over is just sad," said longtime member Chris Smith. "A lot of people were fearful (but) hopeful that something that would work out."
But pastors at the 4,000-member church, site of former Caldwell County Sheriff Gary Clark's funeral this month and one of the largest in the county, said that the rumors that Mountain Grove is closing its doors have been just that - rumors.
"Regardless of what you might have read, we will have all of our services here at Mountain Grove this Sunday," Black said in an e-mail sent to the congregation last week. "We still have lots of options ahead of us, so do not despair."
Pastors at the church say they have received numerous calls from members and others, offering support. A church in Hickory even offered to share worship space with Mountain Grove's congregation.
"It's wonderful when you know people are praying for you," said women's minister Jan Chester. "A lot of it is the encouragement that people are giving the staff."
What isn't rumor is the judgment against Mountain Grove, which said the church owes David Gray, a former contractor from Lenoir, for the new sanctuary and gymnasium he finished building in 2000.
On Wednesday, a judge upheld a June ruling that the church would have to pay Gray $865,835 plus interest and attorney and courts fees, all totaling more than $1.9 million. The church plans to appeal.
Meanwhile, Black and others say the ordeal is, in some ways, making the church stronger.
"Everyone thinks the lawsuit is negative, but it's actually uniting people and bringing new people in," Black said. "These are positive things developing out of something that is negative."
Members of the church, which runs a food pantry, substance abuse programs and other outreach programs, say they'd miss the building, but the real connection to Mountain Grove is through the people.
"I've never been anywhere else like it," said Rick Harris, who plays drums in the church's praise band. "(We'd) just have to get a new building. It will work itself out."
In March 1996, Black signed a $2.2 million contract with Gray's company, White Fox Construction, to build a new sanctuary that would hold 2,000 people and accommodate the thriving congregation. During construction, which began a few months later, the church leaders made a few changes in the building plans and asked that a new gym also be added, increasing costs by $817,614, according to the lawsuit.
Gray claims the church left a balance of more than $865,000, which he had to absorb, according to court documents.
The church, however, says it paid all it was required to - a few hundred thousand dollars to subcontractors and more than $2 million to White Fox.
Gray sued in January 2004.
But Gray said the money he lost forced him to dissolve White Fox Construction, a Granite Falls-based business he owned for more than 22 years.
"It's been one of the biggest struggles of my life," Gray said. "I was obviously very disappointed to close my business, and it's had some negative emotional ramifications with my family." He now works for another contractor.
Both sides say they hope to reach a settlement, but, at this point, they appear far apart.
Meanwhile, Black and his congregation are staying optimistic.
"We're doing awesome," Black said. "Worst-case scenario, we lose this building. We're a church for people, and we'll continue to be Mountain Grove Church, even if it isn't on this site."
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2/17/07
Republican leaders nominate acting sheriff to take over job
Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
GOP leaders in Caldwell County on Thursday unanimously nominated Maj. Alan Jones as the county's new sheriff.
Jones has been acting sheriff since Sheriff Gary Clark's death two weeks ago and is expected to be officially appointed by Caldwell County commissioners at their meeting Monday night.
Clark died Feb. 2, less than three months after winning a second term and less than two months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Republican Party Chairwoman Jo Murray said Jones told the party's executive committee in a closed meeting Thursday that he will continue running the Sheriff's Office according to Clark's plans, which includes focusing on drug-related crime.
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By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
GOP leaders in Caldwell County on Thursday unanimously nominated Maj. Alan Jones as the county's new sheriff.
Jones has been acting sheriff since Sheriff Gary Clark's death two weeks ago and is expected to be officially appointed by Caldwell County commissioners at their meeting Monday night.
Clark died Feb. 2, less than three months after winning a second term and less than two months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Republican Party Chairwoman Jo Murray said Jones told the party's executive committee in a closed meeting Thursday that he will continue running the Sheriff's Office according to Clark's plans, which includes focusing on drug-related crime.
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2/15/07
Reduction of cable TV debt on priority list
Economic development and personnel policy revisions also discussed
Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Cable television, economic development and revising personnel policies top the Morganton City Council's list of priorities for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1.
Upgrading the city-owned cable television system to digital in 2004 was a critical competitive move, Mayor Mel Cohen said. But the city is still paying back the $7.3 million it borrowed for the improvements.
"We've got to come up with some progressive measures to alleviate that problem," Cohen said.
At the council's recent annual retreat, members discussed ways to increase cable revenue, including the development of a better marketing plan for premium channels such as HBO and Cinemax.
Council members also discussed the expansion of Catawba Meadows Park, a recreational complex about 1 1/2 miles from downtown Morganton.
The project, Cohen said, is key to increasing tourism in the county and will draw visitors interested in the planned mountain biking trails, hiking paths and kayak launch.
"It's part of our economic development (plan) to bring people to our community, to sleep in our hotels and eat in our restaurants," he said. Cohen said he hopes to see Catawba Meadows completed within eight years.
Council member Larry Whisnant said Tuesday that he hopes Burke County, which will also benefit from increased tourism, will help pay for the $9.8 million complex.
"We're certainly not going to raise taxes to get there," Whisnant said.
Other top priorities included revising the city's personnel and nepotism policies, working on capital improvement projects, expanding the city's geographical information system and reviewing the annexation policy.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Cable television, economic development and revising personnel policies top the Morganton City Council's list of priorities for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1.
Upgrading the city-owned cable television system to digital in 2004 was a critical competitive move, Mayor Mel Cohen said. But the city is still paying back the $7.3 million it borrowed for the improvements.
"We've got to come up with some progressive measures to alleviate that problem," Cohen said.
At the council's recent annual retreat, members discussed ways to increase cable revenue, including the development of a better marketing plan for premium channels such as HBO and Cinemax.
Council members also discussed the expansion of Catawba Meadows Park, a recreational complex about 1 1/2 miles from downtown Morganton.
The project, Cohen said, is key to increasing tourism in the county and will draw visitors interested in the planned mountain biking trails, hiking paths and kayak launch.
"It's part of our economic development (plan) to bring people to our community, to sleep in our hotels and eat in our restaurants," he said. Cohen said he hopes to see Catawba Meadows completed within eight years.
Council member Larry Whisnant said Tuesday that he hopes Burke County, which will also benefit from increased tourism, will help pay for the $9.8 million complex.
"We're certainly not going to raise taxes to get there," Whisnant said.
Other top priorities included revising the city's personnel and nepotism policies, working on capital improvement projects, expanding the city's geographical information system and reviewing the annexation policy.
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Sheriff recommendation expected by week's end
Caldwell GOP sifting through list of 11 candidates to fill post that was left vacant by Clark's death
Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Republican leaders in Caldwell County are sifting through a list of 11 nominees to replace Sheriff Gary Clark, who died earlier this month, and hope to recommend their choice to commissioners by the end of the week.
Clark died Feb. 2, less than three months after winning a second term and less than two months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, leaving Republican leaders and county commissioners the responsibility to pick and appoint a successor.
Maj. Alan Jones, who has been acting sheriff since Clark's death, and Capt. Chris Bracket, the county's recently appointed jail administrator, were both nominated for the position, said commissioner Herb Greene.
Brackett, however, said he withdrew his nomination last week.
Jo Murray, county GOP chairman, said earlier this week that the party began taking nominations from local Republicans for a replacement shortly after Clark died. Murray said the party's executive committee is looking at the credentials of 11 nominees, none of whom she would name.
The committee will make its recommendation at Monday's Board of Commissioners meeting.
"We're looking for someone who has the training and education to handle the job," Murray said.
The commissioners, according to state law, are required to appoint the person recommended by the executive committee of Clark's political party, the Republicans..
Murray said she initially thought the commissioners were responsible for picking a replacement. When she reread the statute, Murray said, she realized that the party can pick a replacement, whom commissioners must then appoint, within 30 days of the sheriff's death.
"That's pretty clear," said Robert Joyce, assistant director of the Institute of Government at UNC Chapel Hill. "Not appointing the party's recommendation is not allowed under the law."
If commissioners don't appoint the party's recommendation, Joyce said, Republican leaders in Caldwell County could file a lawsuit asking the board follow the state statute.
Greene, a Republican, said Tuesday that he would not approve a replacement based on the party's recommendation alone.
"We're trying to get it done through the Republican Party," he said. "But if the best person is not nominated, I can only tell you that I will not vote for him." Commission Chairman Faye Higgins was out of town and could not be reached for comment.
Still, Greene said, he isn't expecting any problems.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Republican leaders in Caldwell County are sifting through a list of 11 nominees to replace Sheriff Gary Clark, who died earlier this month, and hope to recommend their choice to commissioners by the end of the week.
Clark died Feb. 2, less than three months after winning a second term and less than two months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, leaving Republican leaders and county commissioners the responsibility to pick and appoint a successor.
Maj. Alan Jones, who has been acting sheriff since Clark's death, and Capt. Chris Bracket, the county's recently appointed jail administrator, were both nominated for the position, said commissioner Herb Greene.
Brackett, however, said he withdrew his nomination last week.
Jo Murray, county GOP chairman, said earlier this week that the party began taking nominations from local Republicans for a replacement shortly after Clark died. Murray said the party's executive committee is looking at the credentials of 11 nominees, none of whom she would name.
The committee will make its recommendation at Monday's Board of Commissioners meeting.
"We're looking for someone who has the training and education to handle the job," Murray said.
The commissioners, according to state law, are required to appoint the person recommended by the executive committee of Clark's political party, the Republicans..
Murray said she initially thought the commissioners were responsible for picking a replacement. When she reread the statute, Murray said, she realized that the party can pick a replacement, whom commissioners must then appoint, within 30 days of the sheriff's death.
"That's pretty clear," said Robert Joyce, assistant director of the Institute of Government at UNC Chapel Hill. "Not appointing the party's recommendation is not allowed under the law."
If commissioners don't appoint the party's recommendation, Joyce said, Republican leaders in Caldwell County could file a lawsuit asking the board follow the state statute.
Greene, a Republican, said Tuesday that he would not approve a replacement based on the party's recommendation alone.
"We're trying to get it done through the Republican Party," he said. "But if the best person is not nominated, I can only tell you that I will not vote for him." Commission Chairman Faye Higgins was out of town and could not be reached for comment.
Still, Greene said, he isn't expecting any problems.
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2/14/07
1st case of '07 rabies found after dog exposed to skunk
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Officials Tuesday confirmed Catawba County's first case of rabies this year after a dog was exposed to a rabid skunk in the Vale community.
Authorities were not sure if the dog killed the skunk or if the animal was already dead when the dog found it, according to the Catawba County's Animal Care and Control Division.
The dog had not been vaccinated and was euthanized, officials said. State health technicians in Raleigh confirmed Tuesday that the skunk was rabid.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Officials Tuesday confirmed Catawba County's first case of rabies this year after a dog was exposed to a rabid skunk in the Vale community.
Authorities were not sure if the dog killed the skunk or if the animal was already dead when the dog found it, according to the Catawba County's Animal Care and Control Division.
The dog had not been vaccinated and was euthanized, officials said. State health technicians in Raleigh confirmed Tuesday that the skunk was rabid.
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Hundreds lose phone, Internet service when fire melts cables
Wenesday, Feb. 14, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Hundreds of homes and businesses in Conover lost telephone and Internet service Tuesday after a fire ripped through a vacant home and burned though phone cables hanging nearby, authorities said.
More than 450 customers were left without service Tuesday when the blaze melted seven phone cables, said Tom Matthews, regional media relations manager for Embarq.
Matthews said he expected phone and Internet connections to be restored to all customers Tuesday evening.
The blaze ripped through the vacant home on Old U.S. 70 in Conover shortly before 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, said Conover Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Bobby Hedrick. Authorities Tuesday were investigating how the fire started.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Hundreds of homes and businesses in Conover lost telephone and Internet service Tuesday after a fire ripped through a vacant home and burned though phone cables hanging nearby, authorities said.
More than 450 customers were left without service Tuesday when the blaze melted seven phone cables, said Tom Matthews, regional media relations manager for Embarq.
Matthews said he expected phone and Internet connections to be restored to all customers Tuesday evening.
The blaze ripped through the vacant home on Old U.S. 70 in Conover shortly before 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, said Conover Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Bobby Hedrick. Authorities Tuesday were investigating how the fire started.
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Authorities unsure whether fire at campground set intentionally
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Officials were investigating a fire that destroyed one wooden tent at Balls Creek Campground and damaged two others Monday.
Authorities from the Catawba County Fire Marshal's Office did not know Tuesday whether the blaze was intentionally set, said fire inspector William Bump.
The campground is the site of the annual Ball's Creek Camp Meeting, a religious revival and gathering of people from the community that has been held for about 150 years.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Officials were investigating a fire that destroyed one wooden tent at Balls Creek Campground and damaged two others Monday.
Authorities from the Catawba County Fire Marshal's Office did not know Tuesday whether the blaze was intentionally set, said fire inspector William Bump.
The campground is the site of the annual Ball's Creek Camp Meeting, a religious revival and gathering of people from the community that has been held for about 150 years.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
2/11/07
A peek behind jails' doors
Beating, escape by inmates in Burke County put spotlight on security needs
Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Last month, a detention officer was distributing medication at the Burke County Jail when three inmates grabbed him, choked him with the metal cord of a nearby pay phone and handcuffed him to the cell.
The inmates took the guard's keys before dousing him with pepper spray and beating him over the head with a flashlight.
They escaped from the cell and soon confronted the second jailer on duty, whom they handcuffed and beat over the head with a baton and flashlight. One of the inmates went into the control room and unlocked a door to the outside.
Within moments, as the guards lay in pools of blood, the three inmates had escaped through the jail's front door.
Normally, jails are out of sight, and we rarely consider what's happening on the other side of the steel doors.
But the recent escape from the Burke County Jail and several inmate deaths in recent months at jails connected to Catawba County have left Unifour residents wondering what's happening behind the concrete walls.
One thing is certain - jails in the region are looking for change. Alexander County officials are making plans for a new and larger facility, while Caldwell County's jail administrator is trying to keep overcrowding at a minimum by moving convicted inmates to prison soon after they are sentenced.
Burke County officials are making progress at adding officers to the downtown jail, which they say has been severely understaffed for years, and Catawba County is getting ready to open a state-of-the-art jail four times as large as its current facility.
The Observer looked at these jails and compared staffing, budget and inmate capacity at each facility. We also talked to sheriffs and administrators about each jail's greatest needs and most pressing issues.
Burke County Jail
Overview: Burke County Sheriff John McDevitt has said that the 31-year-old jail in downtown Morganton is in need of major renovations and is dangerously understaffed. Last month, three inmates escaped from the jail after handcuffing and severely beating the two guards on duty.
Inmates: The 66-bed jail is often near its capacity; in the last month, the number of inmates ranged from 47 to 64. It averages 54 inmates a day; the typical ratio of guards to inmates is 1 to 27.
Jailers: Eight detention officers, allowing for two jailers per shift. Last week, the Burke County Board of Commissioners added two more detention officers, which would bring the nighttime shifts up to three guards. New jailers receive an annual salary of less than $24,000. Since the jail only takes male inmates, only male guards work there.
2006-07 Budget: $1.1 million.
Anticipated 2007-08 Budget: Could not provide.
Needs: Staffing, working security cameras, new doors, an updated key system and a smoke ventilation system.
New Catawba County Jail
Overview: The new Catawba County jail, which is in the final stages of construction and has not been named, is scheduled to begin housing inmates this spring. Sheriff David Huffman says the state-of-the-art facility, which features eight video visitation booths, was designed so that it can be expanded.
Inmates: The 176-bed jail, at 98,000 square feet, is about four times as large as the county's current jail. In addition to a trusty dormitory, the jail has single-bed cells, two-bed cells and four padded holding cells.
Jailers: Guards will work in the new jail as well as in the attached older facility. The jail employs deputies who have detention training, as well as detention officers. Annual salaries for deputies begin at $32,111; salaries for detention officers start at $26,401.
Anticipated 2007-08 Budget: $4.6 million (combined detention budget including the new jail).
Issues: Huffman hopes to house male and female inmates in the new jail and renovate the older facility for juveniles.
Caldwell County Detention Center
Overview: The seven-year-old jail is the region's newest facility currently housing inmates, and the new administrator, Capt. Chris Brackett, is focusing on keeping the jail in good shape.
Inmates: The 185-bed jail, which holds male and female inmates, is often near capacity or overcrowded, peaking at more than 250 inmates last fall. In January, it housed between 171 and 196 inmates. The typical ratio of guards to inmates is 1 to 26.
Jailers: The jail employs 28 full-time detention officers, allowing for seven jailers per 12-hour shift. New jailers receive an annual salary of $22,634. Last month, county commissioners approved hiring eight new detention officers. They have been hired.
2006-07 Budget: $2.2 million.
Anticipated 2007-08 Budget: Could not provide.
Issues: Bracket said the jail needs more staffing and higher salaries. Problems have included an escape in 2002 and a July 2005 suicide when an inmate hanged himself in his cell.
Burke-Catawba Confinement Facility
Overview: The 12-year-old jail, operated jointly by Burke and Catawba counties, is a prefabricated facility that houses men and women. Last month, a 27-year-old female inmate died while being held in an isolation cell. The State Bureau of Investigation is looking into the death.
Inmates: Overcrowding is common at the 176-bed jail. In January, the jail held between 177 and 203, and the typical ratio of guards to inmates is 1 to 35. Two inmates have escaped from the jail in the past 10 years. The most recent escape was in 1998.
Jailers: The jail employs 29 full-time detention officers, allowing for six jailers per 12-hour shift. New jailers receive an annual salary of $23,865.
2006-07 Budget: $2.5 million.
Anticipated 2007-08 Budget: $2.6 million.
Needs: Increased salary and staffing.
Alexander County Detention Center
Overview: Sheriff Hayden Bentley said the 37-year-old jail in downtown Taylorsville desperately needs renovations to accommodate increasing numbers of inmates. He has been looking at designs for a new facility with more than 100 beds and would like to break ground by spring 2008.
Inmates: The 26-bed jail is regularly overcrowded, and in the last month held between 23 and 39 inmates. The typical ratio of guards to inmates is 1 to 15. Most of Alexander County's female inmates are housed at the Caldwell County Jail.
Jailers: Six full-time detention officers. Two jailers work per 12-hour shift. New jailers receive an annual salary of $22,000.
2006-07 Budget: $606,513.
Anticipated 2007-08 Budget: $618,643.
Needs: Staffing, additional cell space, and major renovations and updates.
Catawba County Jail
Overview: Catawba County Sheriff David Huffman has said that the 27-year-old jail attached to the government center in Newton is outdated and needs major renovations and updates. Since September 2004, two men have died in custody. A third died from head trauma in June 2006, two days after being released from the jail.
Inmates: The 98-bed jail is perpetually overcrowded, and in the last month housed between 143 to 180 male and female inmates. Many sleep on mats on the floor. In January 2000, an inmate escaped during visitation hours after hitting a guard over the head.
Jailers: Fourteen full-time detention officers. Three guards work each 12-hour shift. An additional jailer works between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. Jailers are trained deputies and start at an annual salary of $32,111.
2006-07 Budget: $2.9 million.
Anticipated 2007-08 Budget: $4.6 million (combined detention budget including the new jail).
Issues: Insufficient bed space, minimal storage room, staffing, and major renovations and updates.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Last month, a detention officer was distributing medication at the Burke County Jail when three inmates grabbed him, choked him with the metal cord of a nearby pay phone and handcuffed him to the cell.
The inmates took the guard's keys before dousing him with pepper spray and beating him over the head with a flashlight.
They escaped from the cell and soon confronted the second jailer on duty, whom they handcuffed and beat over the head with a baton and flashlight. One of the inmates went into the control room and unlocked a door to the outside.
Within moments, as the guards lay in pools of blood, the three inmates had escaped through the jail's front door.
Normally, jails are out of sight, and we rarely consider what's happening on the other side of the steel doors.
But the recent escape from the Burke County Jail and several inmate deaths in recent months at jails connected to Catawba County have left Unifour residents wondering what's happening behind the concrete walls.
One thing is certain - jails in the region are looking for change. Alexander County officials are making plans for a new and larger facility, while Caldwell County's jail administrator is trying to keep overcrowding at a minimum by moving convicted inmates to prison soon after they are sentenced.
Burke County officials are making progress at adding officers to the downtown jail, which they say has been severely understaffed for years, and Catawba County is getting ready to open a state-of-the-art jail four times as large as its current facility.
The Observer looked at these jails and compared staffing, budget and inmate capacity at each facility. We also talked to sheriffs and administrators about each jail's greatest needs and most pressing issues.
Burke County Jail
Overview: Burke County Sheriff John McDevitt has said that the 31-year-old jail in downtown Morganton is in need of major renovations and is dangerously understaffed. Last month, three inmates escaped from the jail after handcuffing and severely beating the two guards on duty.
Inmates: The 66-bed jail is often near its capacity; in the last month, the number of inmates ranged from 47 to 64. It averages 54 inmates a day; the typical ratio of guards to inmates is 1 to 27.
Jailers: Eight detention officers, allowing for two jailers per shift. Last week, the Burke County Board of Commissioners added two more detention officers, which would bring the nighttime shifts up to three guards. New jailers receive an annual salary of less than $24,000. Since the jail only takes male inmates, only male guards work there.
2006-07 Budget: $1.1 million.
Anticipated 2007-08 Budget: Could not provide.
Needs: Staffing, working security cameras, new doors, an updated key system and a smoke ventilation system.
New Catawba County Jail
Overview: The new Catawba County jail, which is in the final stages of construction and has not been named, is scheduled to begin housing inmates this spring. Sheriff David Huffman says the state-of-the-art facility, which features eight video visitation booths, was designed so that it can be expanded.
Inmates: The 176-bed jail, at 98,000 square feet, is about four times as large as the county's current jail. In addition to a trusty dormitory, the jail has single-bed cells, two-bed cells and four padded holding cells.
Jailers: Guards will work in the new jail as well as in the attached older facility. The jail employs deputies who have detention training, as well as detention officers. Annual salaries for deputies begin at $32,111; salaries for detention officers start at $26,401.
Anticipated 2007-08 Budget: $4.6 million (combined detention budget including the new jail).
Issues: Huffman hopes to house male and female inmates in the new jail and renovate the older facility for juveniles.
Caldwell County Detention Center
Overview: The seven-year-old jail is the region's newest facility currently housing inmates, and the new administrator, Capt. Chris Brackett, is focusing on keeping the jail in good shape.
Inmates: The 185-bed jail, which holds male and female inmates, is often near capacity or overcrowded, peaking at more than 250 inmates last fall. In January, it housed between 171 and 196 inmates. The typical ratio of guards to inmates is 1 to 26.
Jailers: The jail employs 28 full-time detention officers, allowing for seven jailers per 12-hour shift. New jailers receive an annual salary of $22,634. Last month, county commissioners approved hiring eight new detention officers. They have been hired.
2006-07 Budget: $2.2 million.
Anticipated 2007-08 Budget: Could not provide.
Issues: Bracket said the jail needs more staffing and higher salaries. Problems have included an escape in 2002 and a July 2005 suicide when an inmate hanged himself in his cell.
Burke-Catawba Confinement Facility
Overview: The 12-year-old jail, operated jointly by Burke and Catawba counties, is a prefabricated facility that houses men and women. Last month, a 27-year-old female inmate died while being held in an isolation cell. The State Bureau of Investigation is looking into the death.
Inmates: Overcrowding is common at the 176-bed jail. In January, the jail held between 177 and 203, and the typical ratio of guards to inmates is 1 to 35. Two inmates have escaped from the jail in the past 10 years. The most recent escape was in 1998.
Jailers: The jail employs 29 full-time detention officers, allowing for six jailers per 12-hour shift. New jailers receive an annual salary of $23,865.
2006-07 Budget: $2.5 million.
Anticipated 2007-08 Budget: $2.6 million.
Needs: Increased salary and staffing.
Alexander County Detention Center
Overview: Sheriff Hayden Bentley said the 37-year-old jail in downtown Taylorsville desperately needs renovations to accommodate increasing numbers of inmates. He has been looking at designs for a new facility with more than 100 beds and would like to break ground by spring 2008.
Inmates: The 26-bed jail is regularly overcrowded, and in the last month held between 23 and 39 inmates. The typical ratio of guards to inmates is 1 to 15. Most of Alexander County's female inmates are housed at the Caldwell County Jail.
Jailers: Six full-time detention officers. Two jailers work per 12-hour shift. New jailers receive an annual salary of $22,000.
2006-07 Budget: $606,513.
Anticipated 2007-08 Budget: $618,643.
Needs: Staffing, additional cell space, and major renovations and updates.
Catawba County Jail
Overview: Catawba County Sheriff David Huffman has said that the 27-year-old jail attached to the government center in Newton is outdated and needs major renovations and updates. Since September 2004, two men have died in custody. A third died from head trauma in June 2006, two days after being released from the jail.
Inmates: The 98-bed jail is perpetually overcrowded, and in the last month housed between 143 to 180 male and female inmates. Many sleep on mats on the floor. In January 2000, an inmate escaped during visitation hours after hitting a guard over the head.
Jailers: Fourteen full-time detention officers. Three guards work each 12-hour shift. An additional jailer works between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. Jailers are trained deputies and start at an annual salary of $32,111.
2006-07 Budget: $2.9 million.
Anticipated 2007-08 Budget: $4.6 million (combined detention budget including the new jail).
Issues: Insufficient bed space, minimal storage room, staffing, and major renovations and updates.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
2/8/07
Burke adds 2 to jail staff
But sheriff says more steps needed to improve security at downtown facility
Issue promts heated debate among county commissioners, followed by 4-1 vote
Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
MORGANTON - Burke County will hire two new jailers to improve security at the downtown jail in Morganton, but more steps are needed, Sheriff John McDevitt said.
After a heated debate Tuesday, county commissioners approved funding the two new jail positions, along with more money for deputies to work extra shifts at the jail.
Less than a month ago, three inmates escaped from the Burke County jail and severely beat the two guards on duty. The attack, which left one jailer with stitches and staples in his head, prompted commissioners to reconsider staffing and security at the 66-bed facility.
"They took an awful beating, and they could have been killed," Chairman Wayne Abele said.
By last week, all five commissioners had toured the jail, and in a 4-to-1 vote Tuesday, the board approved hiring two additional jailers and paying for deputies to work overtime shifts until the new detention officers are hired.
"We can make do with that," McDevitt said after Tuesday's vote. "We've got to fix it so it's at least safe."
Commissioner Maynard Taylor voted against the motion.
The move, McDevitt said, allows the Sheriff's Office to add a third guard to each nighttime shift, providing more security at the 31-year-old jail. Currently, the jail has eight jailers, or two per shift.
The meeting dissolved into a yelling match after Taylor said he was opposed to approving the hiring of additional guards without a discussion of spending by the Sheriff's Office on other items, such as patrol vehicles.
He began to discuss other spending issues and to present a packet of documents but was stymied by other commissioners, who said the discussion was unrelated to the staffing shortage.
Abele told Taylor to raise the issues with McDevitt later, but Taylor raised his voice and continued to talk about the Sheriff's Office spending.
"If you'd like to have a meeting with the sheriff later, then you can do that," Abele shouted back.
As Taylor continued to talk, Abele pounded his gavel, shouted, "as chairman, I am saying we are not going to continue this" and ordered a 10-minute recess.
When the meeting resumed, commissioner Ruth Ann Suttle asked the board to vote on a motion to hire the jailers.
Still, McDevitt said, the additional positions offer only temporary relief at a jail that is out of date and dangerous. Other top concerns, he said last month, include the need for working security cameras, new doors, an updated key system and a smoke ventilation system.
Abele said commissioners are also seriously looking at ways to improve detention facilities in the county and haven't ruled against building a new jail. The first priority, he said, was to add staff.
"This will be on our minds going forward," Abele said at Tuesday's meeting. "We can't make a hasty decision on the facility."
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
Issue promts heated debate among county commissioners, followed by 4-1 vote
Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
MORGANTON - Burke County will hire two new jailers to improve security at the downtown jail in Morganton, but more steps are needed, Sheriff John McDevitt said.
After a heated debate Tuesday, county commissioners approved funding the two new jail positions, along with more money for deputies to work extra shifts at the jail.
Less than a month ago, three inmates escaped from the Burke County jail and severely beat the two guards on duty. The attack, which left one jailer with stitches and staples in his head, prompted commissioners to reconsider staffing and security at the 66-bed facility.
"They took an awful beating, and they could have been killed," Chairman Wayne Abele said.
By last week, all five commissioners had toured the jail, and in a 4-to-1 vote Tuesday, the board approved hiring two additional jailers and paying for deputies to work overtime shifts until the new detention officers are hired.
"We can make do with that," McDevitt said after Tuesday's vote. "We've got to fix it so it's at least safe."
Commissioner Maynard Taylor voted against the motion.
The move, McDevitt said, allows the Sheriff's Office to add a third guard to each nighttime shift, providing more security at the 31-year-old jail. Currently, the jail has eight jailers, or two per shift.
The meeting dissolved into a yelling match after Taylor said he was opposed to approving the hiring of additional guards without a discussion of spending by the Sheriff's Office on other items, such as patrol vehicles.
He began to discuss other spending issues and to present a packet of documents but was stymied by other commissioners, who said the discussion was unrelated to the staffing shortage.
Abele told Taylor to raise the issues with McDevitt later, but Taylor raised his voice and continued to talk about the Sheriff's Office spending.
"If you'd like to have a meeting with the sheriff later, then you can do that," Abele shouted back.
As Taylor continued to talk, Abele pounded his gavel, shouted, "as chairman, I am saying we are not going to continue this" and ordered a 10-minute recess.
When the meeting resumed, commissioner Ruth Ann Suttle asked the board to vote on a motion to hire the jailers.
Still, McDevitt said, the additional positions offer only temporary relief at a jail that is out of date and dangerous. Other top concerns, he said last month, include the need for working security cameras, new doors, an updated key system and a smoke ventilation system.
Abele said commissioners are also seriously looking at ways to improve detention facilities in the county and haven't ruled against building a new jail. The first priority, he said, was to add staff.
"This will be on our minds going forward," Abele said at Tuesday's meeting. "We can't make a hasty decision on the facility."
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
It’s a horse lover’s dream
Equestrian center develops from a childhood memory
Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
CONNELLY SPRINGS - Decades ago, when Oscar Vasquez was a boy living in El Salvador, he would play with the work horses on his grandfather's tiny farm.
Then, one day, the fair came through Vasquez's town.
"The people who had money would show off, and there was this guy who rode a black stallion," Vasquez said. "And I was just `whoa,' you know? He was such a beautiful animal."
Years later, that memory sparked the idea for a community on Lake Rhodhiss, a 320-lot development in Burke County called Paradise Harbor.
Vasquez said he envisions residents riding horses across the development's 873 acres, through wooded trails behind their homes and along the water.
Vasquez started developing the land, which curves along Lake Rhodhiss, in June 2004, and started selling lots about four months later. In November 2006, the first resident finished building his home and moved in.
"There's a need for that," Vasquez said. "There's a lot of people who want to have horses, and it seemed like a good way to market the property."
Vasquez, a 50-year-old former fisherman, has been developing properties across the Unifour for more than 15 years, starting with 10-acre developments and gradually moving to larger projects with hundreds of lots, some as big as 14 acres.
When Vasquez was 15, he moved from El Salvador to Texas and began working on a shrimp boat. Later, when he was living in Florida and fishing for scallops, Vasquez met a woman from Whitnel and soon began visiting her in Caldwell County.
The relationship didn't work out, but Vasquez liked the area, with its rolling mountains, and decided to move here and get his contractor's license.
In 2001, he decided to focus solely on waterfront properties and began developing land on Lake Hickory and Lake James.
The equestrian angle on Lake Rhodhiss, he said, was inspired by a lifelong attraction to horses and the 40 mares and stallion Paso Finos he keeps at his private Caldwell County farm, Rancho de Sueños, or "Ranch of Dreams."
"I worked very hard for a few years, and then I saw a Paso Fino, and it reminded me of the horse I saw at the fair," he said. "I found what I was looking for."
The Caldwell County ranch, which he bought about 10 years ago, features a two-story clubhouse and a 26-stall barn and is the prototype Vasquez plans to use when he begins construction on the equestrian center at Paradise Harbor in about six weeks.
The center, he said, will also include riding rinks, a bathhouse and grooming stables. Residents, who are required by law to have at least 3 acres before they can keep a horse, could either board horses at the center or ride any of the 20 Paso Finos Vasquez plans to bring from Rancho de Sueños, he said.
Prices range from $107,000 for some interior 1.5-acre lots to more than $450,000 for a 5-acre lot on the water. As of Monday, the company, N.C. Lakefront Properties, had sold 102 waterfront lots and 23 interior lots, said sales manager Cathy Crisp.
Three months ago, Scott Nelson's family was the first to move into Paradise Harbor, and since then two more houses have been built and a fourth is nearly completed. For Nelson, the community's biggest draw was the lakefront property, he said.
But with two daughters, ages 5 and 13, Nelson said, the equestrian center might be something his girls would use. "We have family members that ride," he said. "It's a nice feature."
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
CONNELLY SPRINGS - Decades ago, when Oscar Vasquez was a boy living in El Salvador, he would play with the work horses on his grandfather's tiny farm.
Then, one day, the fair came through Vasquez's town.
"The people who had money would show off, and there was this guy who rode a black stallion," Vasquez said. "And I was just `whoa,' you know? He was such a beautiful animal."
Years later, that memory sparked the idea for a community on Lake Rhodhiss, a 320-lot development in Burke County called Paradise Harbor.
Vasquez said he envisions residents riding horses across the development's 873 acres, through wooded trails behind their homes and along the water.
Vasquez started developing the land, which curves along Lake Rhodhiss, in June 2004, and started selling lots about four months later. In November 2006, the first resident finished building his home and moved in.
"There's a need for that," Vasquez said. "There's a lot of people who want to have horses, and it seemed like a good way to market the property."
Vasquez, a 50-year-old former fisherman, has been developing properties across the Unifour for more than 15 years, starting with 10-acre developments and gradually moving to larger projects with hundreds of lots, some as big as 14 acres.
When Vasquez was 15, he moved from El Salvador to Texas and began working on a shrimp boat. Later, when he was living in Florida and fishing for scallops, Vasquez met a woman from Whitnel and soon began visiting her in Caldwell County.
The relationship didn't work out, but Vasquez liked the area, with its rolling mountains, and decided to move here and get his contractor's license.
In 2001, he decided to focus solely on waterfront properties and began developing land on Lake Hickory and Lake James.
The equestrian angle on Lake Rhodhiss, he said, was inspired by a lifelong attraction to horses and the 40 mares and stallion Paso Finos he keeps at his private Caldwell County farm, Rancho de Sueños, or "Ranch of Dreams."
"I worked very hard for a few years, and then I saw a Paso Fino, and it reminded me of the horse I saw at the fair," he said. "I found what I was looking for."
The Caldwell County ranch, which he bought about 10 years ago, features a two-story clubhouse and a 26-stall barn and is the prototype Vasquez plans to use when he begins construction on the equestrian center at Paradise Harbor in about six weeks.
The center, he said, will also include riding rinks, a bathhouse and grooming stables. Residents, who are required by law to have at least 3 acres before they can keep a horse, could either board horses at the center or ride any of the 20 Paso Finos Vasquez plans to bring from Rancho de Sueños, he said.
Prices range from $107,000 for some interior 1.5-acre lots to more than $450,000 for a 5-acre lot on the water. As of Monday, the company, N.C. Lakefront Properties, had sold 102 waterfront lots and 23 interior lots, said sales manager Cathy Crisp.
Three months ago, Scott Nelson's family was the first to move into Paradise Harbor, and since then two more houses have been built and a fourth is nearly completed. For Nelson, the community's biggest draw was the lakefront property, he said.
But with two daughters, ages 5 and 13, Nelson said, the equestrian center might be something his girls would use. "We have family members that ride," he said. "It's a nice feature."
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
2/7/07
Nearly 1,000 gather to honor Caldwell sheriff
Lenoir native died of cancer after 27-year law enforcement career
Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
BATON - Nearly 1,000 friends, family and colleagues gathered Tuesday morning to say goodbye to Sheriff Gary Clark, who was remembered for his wit and fierce loyalty to Caldwell County.
"My, did he love to laugh," childhood friend and UNC Chapel Hill Police Chief Derek Poarch said in his eulogy. "Mischievous and smart. What a combination."
Clark died Friday afternoon, three months after winning a second term and less than two months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was 47.
"Gary fought a good fight," said longtime friend the Rev. Roger Beck. "He was a man of deep convictions, unshakable courage and great vision. He was a champion of the law, and ... he loved the people of Caldwell County."
Clark, a Lenoir native and former Lenoir Police Department captain, worked in law enforcement for more than 27 years. A Republican, he was elected sheriff in 2002 and won a second term in November.
A month later, Clark was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which has few early symptoms, and was hospitalized two weeks ago. He died shortly after 1 p.m. Friday at Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory.
At Tuesday morning's funeral, the parking lots at Mountain Grove Baptist Church were filled with at least 60 vehicles from police departments and sheriff's offices. Hundreds of cars filled adjoining parking lots.
After the service, nine pallbearers, dressed in crisp Caldwell County Sheriff's Office uniforms, carried the coffin from the church to the hearse waiting outside.
Although Clark's administration was marked with controversy, including a 2002 vote-buying scandal led by a few renegade supporters and two 2006 investigations by the State Board of Elections, friends Tuesday remembered Clark's dedication to Caldwell County.
"The sheriff had two very contentious elections, both filled with hurtful and personal attacks," Poarch said. "In both situations, he always held his head high and moved forward because he was a man with principles and believed in what he was doing."
Clark is survived by his wife, Kim, and daughters Megan and Michelle. In lieu of flowers, a trust fund for his daughters has been established at the Bank of Granite.
Maj. Alan Jones, who is next in command at the Sheriff's Office, will fill the sheriff's role until county commissioners appoint a replacement.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
BATON - Nearly 1,000 friends, family and colleagues gathered Tuesday morning to say goodbye to Sheriff Gary Clark, who was remembered for his wit and fierce loyalty to Caldwell County.
"My, did he love to laugh," childhood friend and UNC Chapel Hill Police Chief Derek Poarch said in his eulogy. "Mischievous and smart. What a combination."
Clark died Friday afternoon, three months after winning a second term and less than two months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was 47.
"Gary fought a good fight," said longtime friend the Rev. Roger Beck. "He was a man of deep convictions, unshakable courage and great vision. He was a champion of the law, and ... he loved the people of Caldwell County."
Clark, a Lenoir native and former Lenoir Police Department captain, worked in law enforcement for more than 27 years. A Republican, he was elected sheriff in 2002 and won a second term in November.
A month later, Clark was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which has few early symptoms, and was hospitalized two weeks ago. He died shortly after 1 p.m. Friday at Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory.
At Tuesday morning's funeral, the parking lots at Mountain Grove Baptist Church were filled with at least 60 vehicles from police departments and sheriff's offices. Hundreds of cars filled adjoining parking lots.
After the service, nine pallbearers, dressed in crisp Caldwell County Sheriff's Office uniforms, carried the coffin from the church to the hearse waiting outside.
Although Clark's administration was marked with controversy, including a 2002 vote-buying scandal led by a few renegade supporters and two 2006 investigations by the State Board of Elections, friends Tuesday remembered Clark's dedication to Caldwell County.
"The sheriff had two very contentious elections, both filled with hurtful and personal attacks," Poarch said. "In both situations, he always held his head high and moved forward because he was a man with principles and believed in what he was doing."
Clark is survived by his wife, Kim, and daughters Megan and Michelle. In lieu of flowers, a trust fund for his daughters has been established at the Bank of Granite.
Maj. Alan Jones, who is next in command at the Sheriff's Office, will fill the sheriff's role until county commissioners appoint a replacement.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
2/6/07
Driver faces DWI charge in wreck that left his brother dead
Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
A Conover man is facing an impaired-driving charge for a wreck that killed his brother Sunday evening.
Sean Vandinter, 28, was charged with driving while impaired Sunday after his 1987 Honda Accord swerved into oncoming traffic in southeast Hickory and collided with a 1999 Toyota 4Runner, which hit another vehicle, said Hickory police Lt. Gary Lee.
Vandinter's brother, 23-year-old Ernest O'Shields, was sitting in the Honda's front passenger seat and died at the scene. Another passenger in the Honda and the drivers of the other vehicles were not seriously injured.
Vandinter was in stable condition at Catawba Valley Medical Center Monday afternoon, said Hickory police Capt. Clyde Deal. Deal said authorities will consider other charges once they complete their investigation of Sunday's crash.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
A Conover man is facing an impaired-driving charge for a wreck that killed his brother Sunday evening.
Sean Vandinter, 28, was charged with driving while impaired Sunday after his 1987 Honda Accord swerved into oncoming traffic in southeast Hickory and collided with a 1999 Toyota 4Runner, which hit another vehicle, said Hickory police Lt. Gary Lee.
Vandinter's brother, 23-year-old Ernest O'Shields, was sitting in the Honda's front passenger seat and died at the scene. Another passenger in the Honda and the drivers of the other vehicles were not seriously injured.
Vandinter was in stable condition at Catawba Valley Medical Center Monday afternoon, said Hickory police Capt. Clyde Deal. Deal said authorities will consider other charges once they complete their investigation of Sunday's crash.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
2/3/07
Caldwell County sheriff loses fight with cancer
27-year lawman won re-election in Nov., diagnosed in Dec.
Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
LENOIR - Caldwell County Sheriff Gary Clark died Friday afternoon, three months after winning a second term and less than two months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Clark, 47, died at Frye Regional Medical Center shortly after 1 p.m. Friday, said Sheriff's Office Capt. Chris Brackett.
"Caldwell County lost a leader today in a short but courageous fight," Brackett said.
Clark, a former Lenoir Police Department captain, worked in law enforcement for more than 27 years. He was elected sheriff in 2002 and won a second term in November.
A month later, Clark was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which has few early symptoms, and was hospitalized two weeks ago.
Maj. Alan Jones, who is next in command, will fill the sheriff's role until county commissioners appoint a replacement, according to N.C. law.
"He wanted us to continue to provide professional law enforcement to the county," Brackett said. "That's what we're going to do."
Brackett said the Sheriff's Office, which flew the state and American flags at half-staff Friday, has asked the public to pray for Clark and his family, including wife Kim and daughters Megan and Michelle.
"He was my friend before he was my boss," Brackett said.
Funeral arrangements had not been made Friday afternoon.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
LENOIR - Caldwell County Sheriff Gary Clark died Friday afternoon, three months after winning a second term and less than two months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Clark, 47, died at Frye Regional Medical Center shortly after 1 p.m. Friday, said Sheriff's Office Capt. Chris Brackett.
"Caldwell County lost a leader today in a short but courageous fight," Brackett said.
Clark, a former Lenoir Police Department captain, worked in law enforcement for more than 27 years. He was elected sheriff in 2002 and won a second term in November.
A month later, Clark was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which has few early symptoms, and was hospitalized two weeks ago.
Maj. Alan Jones, who is next in command, will fill the sheriff's role until county commissioners appoint a replacement, according to N.C. law.
"He wanted us to continue to provide professional law enforcement to the county," Brackett said. "That's what we're going to do."
Brackett said the Sheriff's Office, which flew the state and American flags at half-staff Friday, has asked the public to pray for Clark and his family, including wife Kim and daughters Megan and Michelle.
"He was my friend before he was my boss," Brackett said.
Funeral arrangements had not been made Friday afternoon.
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2/1/07
`The Hill' survives in memories
Decades ago, Ridgeview was a thriving, bustling neighborhood
Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
HICKORY – Old photos show a red Coca-Cola sign hanging from the facade of the South Center Dinette, where teenagers in pressed slacks and starched shirts leaned against the diner's brick wall.
Women shopped for thick cuts of meat and fresh vegetables at local markets. Taxis owned by black businessmen drove along 12th and 13th streets, where dozens of other black-owned shops and offices catered to the community.
Those are the iconic images from the 1940s, 50s and early 60s that longtime Ridgeview residents remember of "the Hill."
Decades ago, Ridgeview was a thriving community with many names - Bob Town, Colored Town and Southside, said longtime resident and community historian Drucella Sudderth Hartsoe.
Because it sloped slightly upward from downtown Hickory, "the Hill" became the bustling neighborhood's best-known name.
In Ridgeview, residents say, black history is more than the civil rights movement or a month-long celebration each February.
Here, black history survives in memories of places like Horton's Cafe, The Spot Grocery, Ridgeview High School, and in old photographs and stories.
It lives on the corner of First Street and Fourth Avenue, where, in the 1950s, the Embassy Theater stood and beckoned hordes of children dressed in bandanas and oversized hats to Saturday screenings of the newest Western films.
"There were more cowboys than you could count on the Hill," recalled Hartsoe in her 2001 pictorial memoir of the community. "The kids would take an old worn out broom or a tree limb, which made a good horse by a cowboy."
Until the late 1960s, African Americans from as far as Morganton and Statesville traveled to this mile-wide and mile-long patch of southwest Hickory to visit the dentist, plan a funeral or grab a sandwich.
"All those places are gone," said 72-year-old Eloise Rose, who graduated from Ridgeview High School in 1952 and has worked as the community's library for 38 years.
"They had barber shops and pool halls, and a little soda shop," she said. "It was a fun place."
Blacks started to settle south of Hickory's train tracks in the 1870s, drawn to the area by railroad jobs. During segregation, the Hill supplied the new residents with just about everything they needed, while also serving as the region's African American hub.
But today, Ridgeview is a shadow of its old self, longtime residents say. The Embassy Theater and Horton's Cafe are long gone, while other buildings, such as the Talk of the Town club, sit empty.
Hartsoe's book, "The Hill: Memories of the Ridgeview Community," was published in 2001 is an anthology of the neighborhood.
It describes church gatherings, black business owners repairing shoes and high school students cheering and competing in basketball games in the high school gym.
"The place was packed," Hartsoe said. "Oh, the games were fun. They started selling sweaters with `Ridgeview' across the front and they had the big, black panther mascot on there."
Though Hartsoe recalls good memories from the Hill of the 1940s, '50s and early '60s, she said the dirt roads and rundown homes were a constant reminder that blacks in Hickory weren't treated equally.
"It was a pitiful sight. Little houses with no paint. No sidewalks," she said. "I would watch our kids walk to school in the mud."
In 1964, after reading an article about integration in Southern schools, Hartsoe decided to see if her youngest daughter, Mabel "Bunny" Sudderth, would be interested in attending Hickory High School.
Both blacks and white opposed the idea, Hartsoe said, but there was enough support that she and Bunny agreed that integrating Hickory High School would be worth the effort.
That fall, as an incoming freshman, Bunny became the school's first black student. In the months that followed, more black students began transferring from the Hill's high school to Hickory High.
"People got mad at me," Hartsoe said, "but then the next year everybody went."
Some residents believe that the community started to lose its vitality after Ridgeview High School closed in 1967. Integration, meant to help blacks achieve equality, led to the Hill's demise, they said, by giving blacks a choice of other places to shop or work.
In her book, Hartsoe describe modern-day Ridgeview as "a landscape of vacant lots." By her estimate, 128 of the community's homes and businesses were demolished from the 1950s to the 1980s.
The Hill was no more.
Rose said she treasures the memory of Saturday night dates with her high school boyfriend - dates that ultimately ended with swing dancing at Horton's Cafe on 12th Street.
"That was the favorite hangout," she said. "We'd go to the movies on Saturday afternoon and head over to Horton's Cafe and drink soda and have a sandwich. Then we'd dance."
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
HICKORY – Old photos show a red Coca-Cola sign hanging from the facade of the South Center Dinette, where teenagers in pressed slacks and starched shirts leaned against the diner's brick wall.
Women shopped for thick cuts of meat and fresh vegetables at local markets. Taxis owned by black businessmen drove along 12th and 13th streets, where dozens of other black-owned shops and offices catered to the community.
Those are the iconic images from the 1940s, 50s and early 60s that longtime Ridgeview residents remember of "the Hill."
Decades ago, Ridgeview was a thriving community with many names - Bob Town, Colored Town and Southside, said longtime resident and community historian Drucella Sudderth Hartsoe.
Because it sloped slightly upward from downtown Hickory, "the Hill" became the bustling neighborhood's best-known name.
In Ridgeview, residents say, black history is more than the civil rights movement or a month-long celebration each February.
Here, black history survives in memories of places like Horton's Cafe, The Spot Grocery, Ridgeview High School, and in old photographs and stories.
It lives on the corner of First Street and Fourth Avenue, where, in the 1950s, the Embassy Theater stood and beckoned hordes of children dressed in bandanas and oversized hats to Saturday screenings of the newest Western films.
"There were more cowboys than you could count on the Hill," recalled Hartsoe in her 2001 pictorial memoir of the community. "The kids would take an old worn out broom or a tree limb, which made a good horse by a cowboy."
Until the late 1960s, African Americans from as far as Morganton and Statesville traveled to this mile-wide and mile-long patch of southwest Hickory to visit the dentist, plan a funeral or grab a sandwich.
"All those places are gone," said 72-year-old Eloise Rose, who graduated from Ridgeview High School in 1952 and has worked as the community's library for 38 years.
"They had barber shops and pool halls, and a little soda shop," she said. "It was a fun place."
Blacks started to settle south of Hickory's train tracks in the 1870s, drawn to the area by railroad jobs. During segregation, the Hill supplied the new residents with just about everything they needed, while also serving as the region's African American hub.
But today, Ridgeview is a shadow of its old self, longtime residents say. The Embassy Theater and Horton's Cafe are long gone, while other buildings, such as the Talk of the Town club, sit empty.
Hartsoe's book, "The Hill: Memories of the Ridgeview Community," was published in 2001 is an anthology of the neighborhood.
It describes church gatherings, black business owners repairing shoes and high school students cheering and competing in basketball games in the high school gym.
"The place was packed," Hartsoe said. "Oh, the games were fun. They started selling sweaters with `Ridgeview' across the front and they had the big, black panther mascot on there."
Though Hartsoe recalls good memories from the Hill of the 1940s, '50s and early '60s, she said the dirt roads and rundown homes were a constant reminder that blacks in Hickory weren't treated equally.
"It was a pitiful sight. Little houses with no paint. No sidewalks," she said. "I would watch our kids walk to school in the mud."
In 1964, after reading an article about integration in Southern schools, Hartsoe decided to see if her youngest daughter, Mabel "Bunny" Sudderth, would be interested in attending Hickory High School.
Both blacks and white opposed the idea, Hartsoe said, but there was enough support that she and Bunny agreed that integrating Hickory High School would be worth the effort.
That fall, as an incoming freshman, Bunny became the school's first black student. In the months that followed, more black students began transferring from the Hill's high school to Hickory High.
"People got mad at me," Hartsoe said, "but then the next year everybody went."
Some residents believe that the community started to lose its vitality after Ridgeview High School closed in 1967. Integration, meant to help blacks achieve equality, led to the Hill's demise, they said, by giving blacks a choice of other places to shop or work.
In her book, Hartsoe describe modern-day Ridgeview as "a landscape of vacant lots." By her estimate, 128 of the community's homes and businesses were demolished from the 1950s to the 1980s.
The Hill was no more.
Rose said she treasures the memory of Saturday night dates with her high school boyfriend - dates that ultimately ended with swing dancing at Horton's Cafe on 12th Street.
"That was the favorite hangout," she said. "We'd go to the movies on Saturday afternoon and head over to Horton's Cafe and drink soda and have a sandwich. Then we'd dance."
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