Top Charlotte Area Local News Stories
Source: MedleyStory
A California church is planning to put up a billboard in west Charlotte, offering an apology to homosexuals for North's Carolina's vote in support of Amendment One.
The amendment, passed on May 8, defines marriage between a man and woman as the only union legally recognized in the state.
The billboard will stand off Billy Graham Parkway near Interstate 85. It's paid for by the Missiongathering Christian Church in San Diego.
The billboard will read, "Missiongathering Christian Church is sorry for the narrow-minded, judgmental, deceptive, manipulative actions of those who DENIED rights and equality TO so many in the Name of God."
Eyewitness News spoke with church leaders via Skype today, who said they first displayed a similar billboard in San Diego in 2008, after the Prop 8 marriage amendment passed in California.
After Amendment One passed in North Carolina, images of their old billboard resurfaced online and went viral.
Alex Roller, one of the church's pastors, said, "As we began receiving emails and phone calls thanking us being encouraged by it from all across the country, even Canada, then we thought what if we put up the billboard again in response to Amendment One, not in San Diego but there in North Carolina."
David Hains with the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte said he disagrees with what the church's billboard represents and says the voters of North Carolina took a clear stance on defining marriage as between a man and woman.
"I'm proud of what the people of North Carolina have done and what they said on May 8," said Hains. "It's disappointing that Christians would call people names, but I have no apologies for what the people of North Carolina said."
The church is now collecting donations in hopes of adding billboards around the city, including uptown Charlotte. Their goal is to keep the billboards up for as long as possible, which means they could be standing when the Democratic National Convention comes to town in September. It's an idea Ralph Belk with the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party supports.
"We were very much against the amendment and felt like it was an attack on civil rights," said Belk. "Anyone who's willing to help us continue that conversation and show that there is support still for civil rights I'm in favor of that."
The church fronted the money for the $3,000 billboard. But will be collecting donations online to keep the billboard up longer. For now, it's scheduled to stay up for three weeks.
Published: Mon, 28 May 2012 14:43:10 -0400
Darlene Zenwick uses auto drafts to pay bill and says it is super convenient. The money transfers from your bank account every month to pay things like cellphone bills and mortgages.
But increasingly, Zenwick and others have discovered auto drafts can be a costly nightmare.
"I felt as though they had tricked me,” Zenwick said.
She said she had closed her accounts at a Florida Fifth Third bank. But then a month later, she was slammed with $560 overdraft fees after the bank paid several auto drafts from her closed account.
“When an account is zero and it’s closed, you expect that’s the end of the relationship,” she said.
In a letter, Fifth Third told Zenwick if auto drafts arrive for payment it could reopen her account and make the payments. "It felt like I had been robbed," she said.
But turning off and stopping auto drafts can seem impossible.
Jerry Nasworthy canceled dental insurance auto drafts, but the company kept taking money from his account, he said.
The bank told him it could not stop the payment.
“Once they started that, they don’t stop it,” Nasworthy said.
Consumer groups said many big banks ignore federal rules that require banks to stop auto payments and no agency is enforcing it.
“I think it’s outrageous that consumers are having problems exercising their legal rights,” said one consumer activist.
And yet, most customers are told they have to close their bank accounts to stop it.
The best protection may be to avoid setting up auto drafts entirely.
Published: Mon, 28 May 2012 13:31:30 -0400
Police said it took 15 rescue workers to help save a person who flipped their car over and slid about 300 feet.
Firefighters in Gaston County had to shut down York Highway near Little Mountain Road Monday morning as they worked to flip over the SUV around 2 a.m.
Photos sent to Channel 9 from Crowder’s Mountain Fire and Rescue show debris from the accident covered the road.
Only one person was inside the car.
Medical personnel treated that person on the scene.
Published: Mon, 28 May 2012 11:44:34 -0400
A popular home security company has a warning for customers Monday morning.
CPI Security emailed its subscribers in Plaza-Midwood to keep an eye on people going door-to-door claiming to be part of the company.
They said the person will asked to upgrade the homeowner’s system without an appointment.
CPI reminds customers that it never just shows up unannounced.
They ask you to call them right away if someone shows up at your door.
Published: Mon, 28 May 2012 11:21:50 -0400
The Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway finished 400 laps in the fastest time yet – three hours and 52 minutes.
Kasey Kahne earned his third win at the Coca Cola 600, NASCAR’s longest race.
"Our team is solid. Our car is solid. Mr. (Rick) Hendrick gives us everything we need to win races and run up front," Kahne said. "I just knew for myself I needed to step up."
And he did just that. Kahne crossed the finish line almost five seconds ahead of Denny Hamlin. Kyle Busch was third and series point leader Greg Biffle finished fourth.
For Kahne, it was his first win at Hendrick Motorsports.
Danica Patrick, the first woman to drive in the race since Janet Guthrie in 1976, was five laps down in 30th -- her best finish in three career Sprint Cup races.
Businesses around the speedway received a major boost in customers over the last few days.
Cabarrus County visitor’s officials said each race brings about $100 million to the area.
Families make the trip to the races a week-long visit, spending hundreds at hotels, restaurants and other businesses.
“For the region, it’s a huge economic impact. It’s bringing thousands of people, not just from our area. Most of them are coming from the southeast from all across the country. So it helps put Concord, Cabarrus County and the Charlotte region on the map,” said Cabarrus County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau representative John Agresti.
The city of Concord sees the biggest economic impact from race week.
Published: Mon, 28 May 2012 10:59:40 -0400
People from all across the Charlotte area are remembering our veterans who gave their lives to protect our freedom.
A local charity that supports military families held a special event for all families to enjoy this Memorial Day.
With American flags in hand, people of all ages attended the Patriot Festival at Symphony Park.
“I’m a veteran, three years in the Navy,” said Mike Ackerman. Ackerman said he came to meet new friends and fellow veterans.
“We have a lot of stories to tell. That’s what keeps us together,” he said.
The highlight of the event came as members of the Ranger Group Veterans Parachute Team flew through the sky.
“It makes you feel so good when you land and people come out and they say, ‘Thank you for your service.’ It means so much to our military,” said Sgt. 1st Class Michael Elliott, who led the team.
Elliott spent 25 years in the Army, including time with the 83nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg.
He now travels the country to pay tribute to our military servicemen and woman.
“Right now, while we’re here having a great time, our soldiers are over there making sure we’re free,” Elliott said.
Nine Family Focus is one of the sponsors of the Patriot Festival.
The Patriot Charities raises money to help other nonprofit groups that help military families, like the USO and Wounded Warrior project.
Published: Mon, 28 May 2012 10:36:42 -0400
Two weeks after a deadly shooting in southeast Charlotte, the victim’s mother helped police rack down the suspect.
Edward Hicks was on the run for two weeks since Nakio Cousart was fatally shot on Zircon Street in the Grier Heights neighborhood.
It was the third shooting in the neighborhood in just two weeks.
On Monday morning, Cousart’s mother called police and said Hicks was at a motel on Nations Ford Road.
Channel 9 spoke to Cousart’s mother and brother who both said they are relieved the man they call a “cold-blooded killer” is finally behind bars.
Cousart’s cousin, Shawana Currence, stood just yards away from the memorial that marks the spot where Cousart was shot.
“The shooting made me very angry because he helped to change my life,” Currence said.
Another memorial sits just a street away in the front yard of Cousart’s mother’s home.
His family told Channel 9 that Cousart was killed in a setup, orchestrated by Hicks after an argument that had been brewing for weeks.
They said it was fitting that Hicks’ arrest came from a tip generated by Cousart’s mother.
A rally was held recently to end violence in the neighborhood after the latest shootings.
Curtis Roseborough said Hicks’ arrest does little to bring back the man so many remember fondly and simply as Kio.
“He was a good friend,” Roseborough said.
Hicks is being held in the Mecklenburg County jail.
Of the other two shootings, the homicide of Ronald Martin remains unsolved.
Published: Mon, 28 May 2012 09:46:42 -0400
The National Hurricane Center reports Beryl is weakening and predicts it will move back out to sea by Wednesday.
It was downgraded to a tropical depression Monday afternoon with winds at 35 mph.
A storm must have wind speed between 39 mph and 73 mph to be considered a tropical storm.
Residents in the Charlotte area can expect wet weather from Beryl on Monday late afternoon into Tuesday. Eyewitness News meterologists are predicting about a half inch of rain for the area.
Meteorologist John Ahrens said expect heavy rain and possible lightning to hit the Charlotte area around 4 p.m. Monday.
The National Hurricane Center reported Beryl made landfall in northeastern Florida late Sunday night.
By Monday morning, the storm had settled over north Florida and south Georgia, threatening to wipe out Memorial Day events.
Beryl's strong winds knocked out power across the region. Some wind gusts were reported at 50 miles per hour.
In Jacksonville, Florida a power company reported 21,000 customers without electricity.
On Georgia beaches, officials warned vactioners about dangerous rip currents.
Sunday, Tybee Island lifeguards conducted 48 rescues because of rip currents. It was the island's second-busiest day on record.
Tourists vacationing on Jeckyll Island for the holiday weekend stayed inside their hotels.
The biggest threat for most of southeast Georgia is flooding. Beryl could bring anywhere from 4 inches to 12 inches of rain in that area.
Published: Mon, 28 May 2012 07:41:06 -0400
Troopers in North Carolina are taking new steps to educate drivers about the dangers of texting and driving.
They have designated June as "No Texting, Just Driving" Awareness Month.
The new campaign is focused on all drivers with a keen focus on teens.
Troopers plan to spread the message by using posters as well as radio and television announcements.
Drivers who are caught texting behind the wheel face a $100 fine.
Published: Sun, 27 May 2012 23:28:37 -0400
A jet ski accident on Lake Wylie Sunday left two people injured.
Officials were patrolling the lake when they noticed two injured people in the water around 3:30 p.m.
They were taken onto a fire boat where they were stabilized.
Later they were transported to a nearby hospital.
Published: Sun, 27 May 2012 21:56:29 -0400
Residents are in a fury with Catawba County leaders for making an exception to an existing rule.
Protestors were allowed to demonstrate Sunday against a pastor who made anti-gay comments during a sermon on Mother's Day.
County ordinance requires groups to submit a request for a permit to use public grounds 14 days ahead of their planned event.
In this case, the county said it only got the request four days before the protest.
Because of that, several people who publicly support Pastor Worley said they want to know why county officials made an exception.
An email campaign this week demanded answers and called for commissioners to step down for bending the existing county rules.
In a statement, county attorney Debra Bechtel said this case raised questions about the Constitutionality of the county's 14-day review process for requests to use public grounds.
But for some that answer was not good enough.
"I think we as Catawba County citizens have the right to know how they went around the book and I'm opposed to it," said one resident.
In response, county officials said they are reviewing the existing ordinance, but no suggestions on changing it have been presented yet.
Published: Sun, 27 May 2012 18:01:41 -0400
A Lancaster man died when he crashed his motorcycle Saturday afternoon.
Troopers said Ricky Baker, 57, ran off Highway 97, hit a ditch and overturned his motorcycle.
The Herald in Rock Hill reports that Baker was thrown off his Harley Davidson.
He was wearing a helmet, officials said.
Baker died at a nearby hospital.
Published: Sun, 27 May 2012 18:00:58 -0400
Catawba County sheriff's deputies were on hand Sunday for what has been called the largest protest in the county in decades.
Nearly 2,500 people gathered outside of the Justice Center in Newton.
Most of them spoke out against Providence Road Baptist Church Pastor Charles Worley. He pastors a church in Maiden.
In a sermon, the pastor suggested getting rid of homosexuals by putting them behind an electric fence.
The vast majority of people at Sunday's protest condemned the comments.
"I just can't believe that Jesus Christ would be about the kind of hate that we were hearing. It's important for all of us to stand up against that," said Liz Snell, a protester from Vermont.
Across the street from the main protest, counter-protesters from a church in Georgia stood up for some of the pastor's comments.
"I don't totally agree with some of the extra-biblical things he said, but as far as homosexuality being a sin, I believe that," said protester Brad Cheatham.
Catawba County Sheriff Coy Reid said two citations were handed out Sunday. One was given to a pastor from Georgia who used a bull horn, but there were no arrests.
Reid said a couple of protesters showed up at Providence Road Baptist Church even though they were asked not to.
Published: Sun, 27 May 2012 17:58:01 -0400
A woman shot in the head during a robbery attempt at a Dollar Tree Friday night has been released from the hospital.
Police said a man approached Hannah Utter, 20, working at the store on University City Boulevard and demanded the store's deposit bag.
According to officials, when Utter turned her head, the man shot her. They said the position of her head may have saved her life.
Police are still searching for the suspect.
Published: Sun, 27 May 2012 10:47:30 -0400
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Published: Sun, 27 May 2012 10:33:49 -0400
Three people were transported to the hospital Sunday morning after a house caught fire in west Charlotte.
Charlotte Fire Department spokesman, Capt. Rob Brisley, said 27 firefighters responded to a single-story house fire at 1021 Crestmere St. shortly after 4:00 a.m. The fire started in the kitchen and firefighters had the fire under control in less than 15 minutes.
Three residents from the home were transported to Presbyterian Hospital for treatment of possible smoke inhalation.
Medic personnel said one person has life-threatening injuries and two are being treated for potentially life-threatening injuries. The names of the victims have not been released.
The cause of the fire was due to uattended food being left on the stove, according to fire investigators.
"This continues to be the number one cause of residential fires in Charlotte," Brisley said.
Officials estimated the house to have suffered approximately $15,000 worth of fire and smoke damage.
The Red Cross of Charlotte has been contacted and is assisting the family with any emergency assistance or temporary housing they may need.
Published: Sun, 27 May 2012 09:21:45 -0400
The bodies of two fishermen, who were also military veterans, were found in a pond on Sunday.
Authorities identified the victims as Richard Maple, 64, and Isiah "Sonny" Macon, 59. Both men were from Charlottte.
The men were fishing Saturday on a neighborhood pond behind Macon's home on Williams Road off East WT Harris Blvd.
Search crews found Maple in the pond around 10:30 p.m. Saturday and Macon around 1 a.m. Sunday.
Macon joined the Navy after graduating from Harding High School. He retired and opened a hair salon, Hair Generation.
His wife said he enjoyed fishing and repairing vintage cars.
Charlotte Fire Capt. Rob Brisley said there is no limit on the number of resources in a search of that nature.
"It's difficult when you're dealing with a tragic situation like this, but knowing that the resources are readily available, we're going to do what's necessary throughout the night," said Brisley.
Fire crews said there are a lot of small residential ponds in the area.
Police said foul play is not suspected.
Funeral arrangements have not been arranged as of Sunday.
Published: Sun, 27 May 2012 08:39:48 -0400
Kannapolis Police have issued new warrants in the murder of a high school senior.
Police issued warrants for 17-year-old Damarick Lamar Harper for robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon.
Police are also still looking for 19-year-old Darius Jamal Smotherson.
Smotherson is wanted for in the murder of Daniel Lee Cooper.
Cooper, 17, was shot in the neck Monday on in the 300 block of West 22nd Street in Kannapolis.
He died at Carolinas Medical Center. Police still don't know what led to the shooting.
Cooper would have graduated from A.L. Brown High School this year.
Published: Sat, 26 May 2012 21:36:38 -0400
According to The Enquirer Journal, a woman was sent to the hospital after hitting a cement truck Friday morning.
Police said Barbara Brown, 47, of Monroe was driving a Mazda 3 when she blacked out on Old Charlotte Road. She collided with Christopher Crook, 30, also of Monroe, who was driving a cement truck.
The Enquirer Journal reports that Brown had to be cut out of the vehicle and transported to Carolinas Medical Center. Crook was also taken to CMC- Union where he is able to walk and talk.
The road was closed for several hours during the investigation, but reopened sometime Saturday.
Published: Sat, 26 May 2012 17:57:04 -0400
Harmony is a small, quiet town in a rural part of Iredell County, but it drew quite a crowd Saturday.
"This is a peaceful place and we just want to keep it that way," said Lori Dalton, who lives in the town.
Dozens of people gathered Saturday to protest a planned KKK rally there.
"This is 2012. You don't hear of stuff like this," said Renee Stevens, who traveled from Troutman.
"Their message is outdated," said Maggie Gordon, who helped organize the protest.
Barbara O'Brien, of Statesville, helped organize the protest. She said National Geographic has been following her family and members of the KKK. She was supposed to meet with them Saturday for a dialogue.
"My question will be, 'Why? Just why?'" she said.
The rally was announced Wednesday and members of the media were even invited to attend, but as Saturday's planned event came closer, members of the KKK never provided information on the location of the rally or returned calls for comment.
Later in the afternoon, O'Brien got some news from the National Geographic group with the KKK and shared it with the protesters.
"They passed the word that they were moving from Harmony to Virginia," O'Briensaid.
She is still planning to meet with the group, but already she feels like the protest was worth it.
"I didn't want to ignore injustice. I didn't want to ignore hate. I want to try and make a difference and I think it did make a difference," she said.
The protesters said they feel like Harmony has been put back in the town's name.
Published: Sat, 26 May 2012 17:53:12 -0400
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