Archive - Oct 2011
October 17th
A federal drug trial has been postponed for Elisa Baker, the North Carolina woman who pleaded guilty last month to killing 10-year-old Zahra Baker.
The drug trial for Elisa Baker – who was sentenced in September to 15-18 years for the second-degree murder of Zahra – has been delayed until Jan. 9. It was originally scheduled for Nov. 7.
Attorneys requested more time to prepare for the trial
In May, a federal grand jury indicted Baker on seven drug charges that accuse her of illegal drug activity between 2006 and 2010. She's accused of misusing painkillers and anxiety medicine.
With seven candidates vying for three open seats, the Maiden Town Council race is competitive this year.
Both familiar and new names line the 2011 ballot, and candidates say increasing jobs and industry in the town will be key issues to address.
Early voting for the Maiden council race – and all municipal elections – begins Thursday at the Newton Main Library.
All three incumbents are running for re-election on the Maiden council. They are challenged by four candidates who offer varying degrees of public-office experience.
A Catawba County man is lucky to be alive after running his car off an exit ramp and slamming into a tree Friday night.
Jamie Lee Abernathy was driving on the I-40 westbound off-ramp at exit 135 on Friday night when he drove off the road and slammed into a tree at a high speed.
Police say Abernathy sustained a cut to his forehead in the accident and was taken to Catawba Valley Medical Center with minor injuries. His car was totaled in the wreck.
Claremont police say Abernathy was intoxicated, and authorities are still investigating what caused the wreck.
Sidewalk signs are currently prohibited outside businesses in downtown Newton, but that could all change.
A measure that will be discussed during Newton City Council's meeting tonight proposes new rules for temporary signs in the city's central business district. Under the proposed ordinance, business owners could apply for an annual permit to display sidewalk signs outside their downtown storefronts.
The measure comes after city staff met with representatives from the Downtown Newton Development Association and the Newton Merchants Association, according to Newton Planner Max Sigler.
October 16th
Matt Kenseth may have started second in Saturday's Bank of America 500, but he played second fiddle to no one when all was said and done.
The driver of the No. 17 Fluidmaster Foard passed Kyle Busch with 25 laps to go on his way to his 21st career victory and second-ever win in Chase races.
October 15th
Leading 7-0 early in the second half, Fred T. Foard’s defense defined itself in the Tigers’ conference contest at St. Stephens.
With the Indians punting from their own end zone, Foard’s Tanner Fleming knew the game was on the line.
“I gave it all I had. I knew it was important. I knew it was a big play to make,” Fleming said of a play where he blocked a Zach Bryant punt that was recovered by Sam Benfield in the end zone for a Foard touchdown.
“It felt like a dream,” he continued. “We are not a team that wins often, but right there, it clinched the victory.”
You could say Matt Johnson had the “Midas Touch” on Friday.
The senior quarterback, ran for three touchdowns on three runs in Friday’s game, making his last regular-season home game at Maiden High School a memorable one.Â
Johnson, along with teammate Will Jenkins, helped the Blue Devils pull ahead 27-0 in the first half and never looked back, earning a 48-7 conference victory over the visiting East Burke Cavaliers.
October 14th
After first serving black students in Catawba County and later low-income pre-schoolers, Central High School in Newton now faces an uncertain future.
"The building is empty, and now the question is, what do we do with it?" said Newton City Manager Todd Clark.
Marian Lara and Oscar Clemente turned their eyes to the sky above Shuford Elementary School on Friday as two rockets floated down into a field behind the school.
Marian and Oscar cheered as parachutes opened and their classmates chased after the vessels.
The rockets were launched by Shuford fifth-graders on the final day of a science program presented by N.C. Starbase, a Charlotte-based organization that has taught science, technology, engineering and math concepts to children for 16 years. Many of the Starbase staff members are former public school teachers and principals.
Consistent growth has forced St. Stephens Fire Department to expand to meet residents' needs.
The department’s services and personnel have ballooned since its original two-bay station and small crew of the late 1950s. Today, the department serves more than 16,000 residents in northeast Catawba County and boasts a staff of about 40 full-time and volunteer members.
More members – and more calls – demands more space, something the department has anticipated for the past two years.
