Foundation to honor police with awards dinner, silent auction

The Officer Jeff Shelton Memorial Park in Locust continues to honor the memory of Officer Jeff Shelton who was fatally shot in the line of duty in Charlotte six years ago. PHOTO BY MICHELLE WATERS

For the sixth year, the City of Locust and Officer Jeff Shelton Memorial Foundation will partner to observe National Police Week beginning next Sunday, May 12 through Saturday, May 18. This year the collaboration will host a Thin Blue Line Silent Auction and Awards Dinner to honor members of law enforcement and raise funds for various projects within the foundation.

Officer Jeff Shelton, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer and Locust citizen was killed in the line of duty April 1, 2007 after responding to a disturbance call. His partner, Sean Clark was also killed responding to the same call.

Shelton and Clark were the first Charlotte-Mecklenburg officers fatally shot in the line of duty in more than a decade. Continue reading →

Talley dedicates fountain to his wife

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Judy Talley receives the dedication plaque from Dr. Jerry E. McGee. PHOTO COURTESY OF WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Wingate University held a dedication ceremony re- cently for a new fountain on campus located near the Batte Center. Stanfield businessman Windell Talley’s generosity to the University honoring his wife, Judy, allowed the fountain to be named on her behalf.

Judy Talley, a 1987 graduate of Wingate, was an adult art major who went to college after raising her children Nelson, Paul, and David. She founded Bluemoon Emporium. The plaque was presented to her by Wingate University

President Jerry E. McGee. “Judy is beloved for her nurturing, patience, caring, hard work, determination, loyalty, and commitment to family,” is engraved on the plaque.

All three sons work in the family business, Talley Farms, which Windell founded in 1963. Windell also attended Wingate from 1958-1960, chaired Stanly Memorial Hospital’s Board of Directors, served on N.C. Board of Agriculture and the National Turkey Federation Board, as well as the N.C. Agricultural Foundation Board.

Officer shot in Midland, suspect receives two gunshot wounds

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A Midland man, William Brian Morrison, 35, of Sleepy Hollow Road, while appearing to be intoxicated and possibly under the influence of other substances, fired shots at Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Department officers while hiding in the basement the evening of Tuesday, April 16.

Officer were called to the residence, according to a press release, after receiving a call concerned about shots being fired by a white male potentially close to other residents in the area.

When officers arrived on the scene, they engaged in conversation with Morrison’s father who said he was no longer in the residence and said he could have returned back into the basement of the residence. Continue reading →

Tractor Supply celebrates grand opening

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The Tractor Supply team, along with Rep. Richard Hudson, Midland Mayor Kathy Kitts, council members Rich Wise, Doug Tucker, and Mike Tallent, town administrator David Pugh, and Cabarrus County EDC President and CEO John Cox cut the ribbon Saturday morning, officially opening the leading national ranch and farm supply store on Hwy. 601 in the heart of Midland.

The day-long celebration of the store commenced with a petting zoo, giveaways, hot rod mowers, a wood carver, and circle pony rides for the entertainment of attendees. Tractor Supply is located at 11855 Hwy. 601 and is open Monday through Saturday, 8 am until 8 pm, and Sunday from 9 am until 6 pm.

Kilah’s Law to be signed by governor

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Kilah’s Law will officially be signed into law Wednes- day by Gov. Pat McCroy nearly a year after three-year old Kilah was admit- ted to the hospital.

Nearly a year after three- year-old Kilah Davenport was admitted to the hospital with potentially life threatening brain injuries, the Kilah Davenport Foundation has announced Kilah’s Law will officially be signed into legislation by Gov. Pat McCrory Wednesday, April 24.

In the hours following the tragic beating Kilah Davenport suffered at the hands of her stepfather, Kilah’s doctors told her family she would never live after the May 16, 2012 beating. Later, the doctors said she would be in a vegetative state for the rest of her life. In the months since, Kilah has grown stronger each day and is slowly learning to eat, walk, and talk again.

The family, in conjunction with The Justice for All Coalition, has been in the process of gathering support from communities to introduce a tougher sentencing guideline for anyone who causes permanent and debilitating physi- cal injury to a child. The bill has gone through the N.C. House and most recently, the N.C. Senate passing unanimously. The final step will occur Wednesday when Gov. McCrory signs the bill into law. Continue reading →

Midland approves text amendment at April meeting

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A small change within a text amendment made all the difference for six homebuyers in Tucker Chase in Midland, at the April Midland Town Council meeting.

The council began the meeting with a public hearing to modify a date from January 1, 2008 to January 1, 2009 on Section 2.19-1 of the Midland Development Ordinance. The reason for the change, according to Harry Grimmer, member manager of Tucker Chase, LLC, was due to a hardship case relative to the Tucker Chase subdivision’s six zoning permits which did not meet design requirements.

The previous design standard would require garages to be recessed 3.5 feet behind the primary plane of the front façade of the structure if the lot is greater than 50 feet and less than 80 feet in width if established on or before January 1, 2008. The six zoning permits, which did not meet the standards, were recorded in March of 2008. Continue reading →

Oakboro honors fallen officer

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The flags were flown at half staff and an arrangement of flow- ers was set up outside of the Oakboro Police Department Monday, April 15 in memory of Officer Damon Smith who was killed in the line of duty. PHOTO BY MICHELLE WATERS

Oakboro council mem- bers held a moment of silence at the beginning of the April 15 council meeting in memory of the 17th anniversary of Officer Damon Smith whose end of watch was April 15, 1996.

Smith, 29, was shot in the chest after responding to a domestic disturbance call. A .30-30 hunting rifle was used, which pierced through the protective vets and killed him.

Oakboro Police Department Chief Joe Lowder informed the council of several events coming up to honor police officers. This year, National Police Week is May 12-18.

Council member Chris Huneycutt read the proclamation for National Police Week 2013 stating, “to recognize National Police Week 2013 and to honor the service and sacrifice of those law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty while protecting our communities and safeguarding our democracy.”

Lowder informed the council of the silent auction to be held May 16 supporting the Jeff Shelton Memorial Foundation of Locust. Continue reading →

Locust council discusses memorial plans, illegal signs

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At the City of Locust Council meeting, the council held several discussions on the image of the city, from plans for a future memorial to illegal signs that have been dotting the landscape of roadways and curves as the warmer weather has rolled in.

Scott Efird, City Planning and Zoning Director, along with Tate Osborne, Parks and Recreation Director, unveiled preliminary plans for a veteran’s war memorial to be located next to the government center on Ray Kennedy Drive.

The plans include stone benches, five flags representing each branch of the military, and memorial brick pavers situated under a canopy of trees.

“We’ve been talking about this for a long time and there have been light- years of progress made in the past two months,” said city administrator Tim Fesperman. “This is going to happen sooner rather than later.” Continue reading →

Tractor Supply opens doors

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Above: Customers will see a familiar face around the store. Charlie Hinson formally of Charlie’s Hardware is the Assistant Store Manager of Tractor Supply. PHOTOS BY MICHELLE WATERS

Tractor Supply, a national chain supply store with a heart for small communities and the first major chain store in Midland, will host its grand opening this Saturday, April 20, at 7:50 am with a ribbon cutting. After several months of construction, Tractor Supply will officially open their doors to the public with a day of celebrations.

Celebrating its 75 year anniversary, the Midland location is the 1,199th store to be opened for the rural and ranch supply store. After looking at the zip codes of customers at the Albemarle, Concord, and Monroe stores, the national chain decided to bring Tractor Supply closer to their customers in the southern Cabarrus and western Stanly part of the state. Continue reading →

Tell us your Mother’s Day Story!

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Mother’s Day is May 12, and we want to hear why your mother is special. E-mail us in 100 words or less what your mother means to you. You may also send us a picture. Email: news@minthilltimes.com or post it on our Facebook page. You may also mail us your story to PO Box 690577, Mint Hill, NC 28227. The best story will receive a gift card and will run in our Mother’s Day issue May 9.

The deadline for submissions is May 6, 12 noon.