Tag Archives: City of Locust

Foundation to honor police with awards dinner, silent auction

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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

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 →

New homes help pave way for future of Locust Town Center

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True Homes, based out of Monroe, unveiled four model single-family homes in the Locust Town Center last Tuesday. There are a projected 200 more homes in the future plans. PHOTO BY MICHELLE WATERS

True Homes, based out of Monroe, unveiled four model single-family homes in the Locust Town Center last Tuesday. There are a projected 200 more homes in the future plans. PHOTO BY MICHELLE WATERS

The dream of a revolutionized and rejuvenated community took a big step last Tuesday when four single-family model homes built by a Monroe-based company were unveiled to Locust community leaders and real estate agents in the Locust Town Center.

True Homes has three divisions: True Homes, Tribute Homes, and True Customs. True Homes is currently building homes within approximately 100 new-home communities in Charlotte, in addition to the Locust Town Center

“This is going back to the small town concept of living in a Mayberry-type atmosphere where you live, shop, and eat all in the same space,” said Chan Howell of True Homes. “That lifestyle is what people are craving for-to get out of suburban land and to get back into a town where they can walk around and enjoy it.”

Construction on the first four of 200 projected single-family homes by True Homes began in December of 2012 and was completed in three short months for the unveiling this past week.

“The timing is ideal for Locust Town Center to offer single-family homes in addition to the new town homes by Whitley Builders and new senior apartment homes by Wynnefield Prop- erties,” said Developer Bob Barbee. “We are especially pleased that True Homes appreciates the same values and traditions that we at Locust Town Center consider important to the continued success of small towns in America like the City of Locust.” Continue reading →

Locust welcomes new city administrator

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The City of Locust council approved Tim Fesperman as the new Locust City Administrator at the council meeting last Thursday, August 9.

Former city administrator, James Inman, left his position in June, and Fesperman was chosen as the interim city administrator while a hiring committee was formed.

On the search committee, council members Mike Hinson, David Walker, and Mike Haigler received a large amount of applications and went through a process of reviewing applications and conducting interviews.

“We received a number of resumes and spent a lot of time reviewing those. There is absolutely no question that Mr. Fesperman is the right person for this position. I have absolute confidence in that.

Tim, thank you for what you’ve done and thank you for what you will do,” said Walker.

Fesperman worked alongside Inman for many years and was a key player in many of the projects that have occurred in Locust in the past several years.

“There’s a lot of stuff going on the City of Locust, and Tim has done a good job so far. I appreciate all of Tim’s hard work and all that he has done,” said Mayor Scott Efird.

Locust Historical Society and Museum now open

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Above are LHSM board members Gary Tucker, Kendra Tucker, Pat Long, and Bill Tucker. Not pictured is Scott Carpenter.

The Locust Hisorical Society and Museum opened its doors this past Sunday, August 5. The museum is located in a building between Officer Jeff Shelton Park and the back of Locust School.
The museum sparkled Sunday, thanks to the hard work of the LHSM board and many others in the community who volunteered their time, skills and supplies. There are approximately 20 exhibits in the room. The board plans to have the museum open 2-4 pm every Sunday. Volunteers are needed to help with the Sunday schedule. Contact Gary Tucker at 704-888-8413 if you are interested in serving on a Sunday.
The grand opening for LHSM is set for September 30.

Locust mourns loss of vital leader, citizen

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The City of Locust is in mourning after the loss of former council member and community leader, Joel Huneycutt last Friday. Huneycutt had been battling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, for several years.
“In the face of his diagnosis, Joel continued to display strength, courage, dedication, and faith for which he has long been admired,” said Mayor Scott Efird in a letter sent to residents and the community.
Huneycutt graduated from N.C. State University in 1964 and went on to serve on several Boards of Trustees, retired as President of Locust Lumber Company, and served as a Sunday school teacher and deacon at his church, First Baptist Church in Locust. Continue reading →

Locust Town Manager resigns position

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Locust city administrator James Inman offered his letter of resignation last week to Mayor Scott Efird after nearly a decade of working for the city and more than seven years as the police chief. Inman has accepted a new position in Bessemer City in Gaston County. The population is twice the size of Locust with a budget four times the size of Locust’s.
Inman will officially turn his position over to Tim Fesperman, assistant city administrator, with the council’s approval. Fesperman and Inman have worked closely together and have known each other since the mid-80s, and Inman feels confident the city will feel no change when he leaves. Continue reading →

A gem within the city; Locust Historical Society prepares to open doors

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The “City with a Soul” will soon unveil a gem rich with the history of Locust. For the past six months, the Locust Historical Society has been hard at work beautifying their new home for housing and displaying historical artifacts from the Locust area.
“We hope this will be an enduring contribution to the community that will continue when we are long gone and our children’s grandchildren are here,” said Bill Tucker, chairperson. Continue reading →

Motion sparks debate, disagreement at Locust meeting

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A heated debate kicked off last Thursday’s Locust Town Council meeting amongst the council members over a proposed motion made by Council Member Harry Fletcher, which was tabled at the last meeting in April.
The motion proposed by Fletcher stated “to recover duties and responsibilities of City Council as enumerated in North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 160A Cities and Towns, and rescind and revoke all responsibilities previously delegated to others, until such time as the Board determines on an individual basis, which responsibilities should reasonably be delegated in the best interests of the City of Locust. Further, that as each responsibility is delegated, a list of each delegated responsibility be updated so that each Council Member knows exactly which responsibilities have been delegated with no questions or ambiguity. This process will serve as the method to inform new board members immediately which responsibilities have been delegated, and to whom.”
Fletcher said the motion would have “no impact what-so-ever on the day-to-day operations.” The purpose, Fletcher pointed out, was to decide what responsibilities were to be delegated by the council members to staff. Continue reading →

Special planting for Mom

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More than 70 children gathered at Charlie’s Hardware in Locust the Saturday before Mother’s Day to plant flowers for their mothers. Children watched as Charlie’s Hardware staff showed them how to mix the soil and properly place flowers in pots for their moms. Christin Mullis of Stanfield won the Mother’s Day raffle, a patio table and chairs set.  PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARLIE’S HARDWARE