Tag Archives: oakboro nc

Oakboro honors fallen officer

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 →

Oakboro approves sewer rate

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After several months of meetings and discussions, the Town of Oakboro, surrounding municipalities, and the county have come to an agreement for the wholesale sewer rate. The commissioners approved a wholesale sewer rate of $4.30 per 1,000 gallons of water.

“For the last four months we have been working with the other municipalities of Locust, Stanfield, and Stanly County to establish a wholesale sewer rate for the next fiscal year. We were able to reach an agreement of $4.30 for 1,000 gallons,” said Interim Town Administrator Doug Burgess.

Last year, the rate was $4.45 for 1,000 gallons and has lowered by 15 cents because of expense cuts at the treatment plant. This new agreement is for the next budget year beginning in July. Continue reading →

Oakboro resident wins national taxidermy competition

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Justin Hinson won Professional Best of Show for his whitetail deer. He is pictured here with his daughter, Taylor. PHOTO COUR- TESY OF JUSTIN HINSON

Wildlife taxidermists from across the nation contended for top honors at the 2013 Big Rock Sports East Dealer Show January 4-6 in Raleigh. Oakboro taxidermist Justin Hinson’s whitetail deer entry won Professional Best of Show.

“I really liked how they had all the habitat trees and everything inside the showroom floor. I hadn’t really seen that at any of the other competitions that I’ve been to,” Hinson said. “The judges were really good. I was able to have a piece in both game head and whitetails, and the judges really knew what they were talking about. I learned a lot from them. It was judged pretty hard. Everybody earned whatever they got. There wasn’t anything really given away at this competition.”

Mounts were scored within four categories (Birds, Fish, Gameheads, Whitetail Shoulder) in the Master Professional and Dealer’s Choice divisions. Judges included world class fish taxidermist Rick Krane, nationally recognized avian artist Page Nethercutt, North American Champion Chris Barnhardt, and 2011 Whitetail World Champion Vincent Fleming. Continue reading →

Oakboro PD approved for ammo purchase

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At the Town of Oakboro Board of Commissioners, Police Chief Joe Lowder informed the board of changes coming in the next week with the departments’ ammunition supplier.

The current ammunition supplier has a contract ending with the state and has not decided whether to continue the contract or not. The supplier presented the police department with the option of purchasing ammunition for the next year ahead of time at a reduced price, which will be less than the planned budget for the coming year. The current budgeted line item is for $6,500 but the chief says the amount would actually be around $5,000 if purchased in advance.

“This will prepare us for the next year by cutting the price down by $1,500,” said Lowder.

Lowder requested for the commissioners to approve the purchase in advance by the February 28 cutoff day for ammunition for the next year. The commissioners voted to allow the police department to go ahead and make the order.

“I would like to thank the chief in his efforts to reduce the cost to the town as much as possible,” said Mayor Pro Tem Chris Huneycutt.

Continue reading →

Oakboro chief receives Order of the Long Leaf Pine

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Police Chief Joe. E. Lowder of Oakboro was presented with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of the highest honors a citizen can receive in the state, at the January 22 Oakboro Board of Commissioners’ meeting.

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is one of the most prestigious awards given by the Governor and is presented to citizens who have a proven record of extraordinary service to the state and community. The order was signed by former Gov. Beverly Perdue.

“We do have a special police force and a police force is only as good as the leadership,” said Mayor Danny Long. “And, I believe we do have good leadership in our police department.”

Lowder has been given “the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary, privileged to enjoy fully all rights granted to members of this exalted order which among is the special privilege to propose the following North Carolina Toast in select company anywhere in the free world: ‘Here’s the land of the long leaf pine, the summer land where the sun doth shine, where the weak grow strong, and the strong grow great, here’s to “down home,” the Old North State!”

“I want to congratulate Chief Lowder. It is such an honor to be recognized by the Long Leaf Pine. It is a tremendous honor. Congratulations,” said Commissioner Georgia Harvey in her closing statements.

Lowder comes from a family of law enforcement officers and has served more than 34 years in law enforcement. ╩He began his career at the Stanfield Police Department and has served in the County Sheriff’s Department and as mayor and commissioner on the Oakboro Board of Commissioners.

“I thought that was a certificate of appreciation. I had no idea what that was,” said Lowder. “I am very humbled.”

$1M investment, eight new jobs in Oakboro

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Carolina Paper Converters located in Oakboro will receive an inducement package as an incentive to make a one million dollar expansion by adding a high speed, fully automated converting machine and will provide eight additional full-time jobs.

Carolina Paper Converters opened its doors in 1999 in the heart of Oakboro with two pieces of converting equipment. The company is a national supplier of paper products, particularly bath tissue, roll tissue, and roll towels and also produces an economic paper good that is environmentally friendly.

They relocated in 2000 to the former Stanly Knitting Mills, which employed more than 600 people before it’s closing in 1999.

Since the beginning, they have expanded its operations and manufacturing practices to better the efficiency of production and quality products. The company changed the name to Carolina Paper Company in October 2010. Now, Carolina Paper Company
wants to expand its operation.

Paul Stratos of the Economic Development Committee presented a performance agreement at the Stanly County Commissioners January 7
meeting and at the Town of Oakboro Board of Commissioners January 24 meeting.

Both the county and the town have each agreed to provide an inducement to “offset additional investment in capital equipment, taxable business property, and additional machinery and equipment in an amount equal to 50 percent of assessed value on the new investment over a five-year period.”

This inducement is on condition that the company will provide proof that the minimum of eight new full-time employees has been hired and the investment numbers have been met. If all conditions have been met, the tax incentives will begin in November 2013.

Oakboro mayor disappointed with Board’s ‘unethical decisions’

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“As a mayor and as a tax payer, I am very disappointed for some of the decisions this board has made,” began Mayor Danny Long during the board comments at the end of the Oakboro Board of Commissioners’ January meeting last Tuesday, January 22.

At the beginning of the meeting during the public comments period, Allen McGuire, planning and zoning commissioner, addressed the board concerning a charity donation made by the board at a special called meeting held January 15. The special meeting was called to discuss donating $500 to St. Stephen’s Wesleyan Church for a benefit concert for Relay for Life.

“I’d like to follow up on the special meeting you had regarding the donation to the charity with tax-payer money,” said McGuire. “I was disappointed that Commissioner [Chris] Huneycutt was not forthcoming with information that he had a family member that was a chair for the community event, which to me seems like a very fair case of conflict of interest.”

Mcguire continued with another point of disappointment for the meeting.

“The second thing was, because I was concerned about tax payer money going to charities not budgeted and not of the tax payers’ choice, I came by the next morning for a copy of the check, and I found out the check had been written for the charity a week ahead of time on January 8. The special meeting to discuss the issue wasn’t until the 15. To me, it made the special meeting seem meaningless and to me, it made a mockery of the process where citizens have an input during public discussion,” said Mcguire.

Later during the meeting, Commissioner Georgia Harvey, who was not present at the special meeting, addressed some of the concerns of McGuire. Harvey explained that there was a general fund in the budget designated for grants and donations totaling $4,000, but said it may not be where the donation totaling $500 would fall. Commissioner Huneycutt then addressed the issue by pointing out a general statute for backing the board’s decision. He did not address the conflict of interest point or the issue of the check dated for a week prior to the meeting made by McGuire.

The issue was not discussed again until the closing comments made by the mayor at the end of the meeting.

“As a mayor and as a tax payer, I am very disappointed for some of the decisions this board has made. The ideology that they can call each other on the phone and call it a board meeting is unethical and is not to be tolerated by this man. It has happened on several occasions, and it is not right,” said Long. “This board has made it legal tonight by policy, but this policy was discussed by telephone. This instance with the check was done prior by conversations by telephone╔ by people calling and getting opinions and making decisions. When the check came across my desk, I put it up until a special meeting was made, because it was done unethically.” Continue reading →

Oakboro zone violators to be notified

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After several months of going over trash ordinances in the town, the Planning and Zoning board presented a list of six of the most offensive violators of the law to the board of commissioners.

Citizens in the town presented a petition regarding trash and junk cars within the town a few months ago. The Planning and Zoning board then combined a complete list of zone violators. Allen McGuire asked the commissioners for guidance about notifying the violators.

Commissioner Georgia O. Harvey expressed her desire to have the notifying letters come from the town so there is no question about legality.

“I think to be good keepers of the town, the notification should be done face-toface first,” said Harvey. “All of our business owners and citizens are important to the town.”

The town administrator will take care of the beginning process of cleaning up the town, and the petition will come before the board again to be resolved.

In other matters

• Commissioner Georgia O. Harvey informed the board that the Town of Oakboro is on budget in its fifth month of the budget cycle.

• The board approved an amendment to the town ordinance to change the vehicle payment to $20 for golf carts.

• Lt. J. J. Curlee gave the board an update for the calls for the month of November: 285 calls in total, including three felonies, eight arrest warrants, two deaths in the town, and three domestic calls.

• The board approved a resolution for the clean water 2013-2015 management trust fund.

• The January meeting will be Tuesday, January 22.

Oakboro council lets go of town administrator

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The Town of Oakboro has experienced big changes in the past couple of months with the most recent of which coming from the board’s decision to relieve the town administrator, Ross Holshouser, from his current position.

“The board has lost confidence in his ability to serve the Town of Oakboro,” said Mayor Danny Long.

The town then swore Taffy Smith in as the Town Clerk. Smith has worked for the town as the deputy town clerk for the past six weeks.

Beginning October 1, Doug Burgess a past commissioner, will be interim town administrator until a more permanent candidate can fill the position.

Oakboro publishes Images of America book

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Dr. Annabelle P. Morgan signs a copy of “Oakboro” for Glenda Austin from the Oakboro Library. PHOTO BY MICHELLE WATERS

The Oakboro Regional Historical Foundation released “Oakboro” from Arcadia Publishing’s Popular Images of America Series Monday, September 24, with an author signing opportunity at the museum.

Dr. Annabelle P. Morgan authored the book with a foreword by Dr. Charles Coble. Morgan, the board of directors, and volunteers spent four months in collaboration to bring the history of Oakboro alive through vintage images for the residents of Oakboro and local history enthusiasts.

The book contains more than 200 vintage images and recollections of businesses, churches, events, and people in Oakboro’s history. The Town of Oakboro will celebrate its centennial in 2015, and the historical foundation hopes to encourage excitement for the celebration of the town’s 100 years of existence.

From Norfolk Southern placing a railroad line through the area in 1913 to recent additions to the town, “Oakboro” covers numerous significant moments for the growth of the community.

“There is a wide diversity of history about Oakboro,” said Morgan.

The historical foundation hopes the images and history in “Oakboro” will inspire residents to search through their attics and old trunks for artifacts from the area to loan or donate to the museum to better preserve the history of the town and community.

“Oakboro” is available from Arcadia Publishing for $21.99 at local retailers, online bookstores such as Amazon and Ebay, or through Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.c om. For more information, call 888-313-2665.