Archive - Feb 2012
February 7th
Eleanor Kay Sopala Robinette, 66, of Conover, died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, at Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory. Burke Mortuary in Newton is serving the family.
Larry Evans died in December in the lobby of the West Wilkes High School gym.
The experience changed his life.
Evans, 67, of Conover, was revived thanks to several students, their parents and school staff members.
“There are some really, really nice people up there,” Evans said. “I think if it had happened anywhere else, I wouldn’t be here. The Lord had everything in place.”
Paige Tart, Evans' daughter, shared the following story of what happened Friday, Dec. 16, the day her father's heart stopped beating.
Completely lifeless
Conover plans to offer citizens a new place to enjoy fresh fall air this year.
Officials expect the city's new Conover Station Park to be completed by fall, opening opportunities for walking along trails, enjoying a playground and taking in the area's newest outdoor recreation site.
Along with a $7,900 city investment, nearly $750,000 in N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund and Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant money is funding the project.
Local health officials say washing your hands with soap and water is the most effective way to avoid norovirus, the “stomach bug” that has affected citizens across Catawba County and the state.
There have been multiple outbreak reports throughout North Carolina in the past month, including more than 130 Catawba County residents who contracted the virus at a Conover seafood restaurant.
There have been eight reports of norovirus outbreaks across the state in the past month — including outbreaks in the Charlotte area, Alamance County and Orange County.
Two gas leaks within 24 hours in Conover forced several residential evacuations and road closures.
First responders and gas crews responded to leaks Monday night and Tuesday afternoon near the main entrance to the Rock Barn Golf and Spa in Conover.
Fire officials say both leaks started when utility crews cut a gas line while installing new equipment for AT&T.
“They were doing some underground boring and ran into it,” said Claremont Fire Chief Gary Sigmon. “When you’re digging, that can happen.”
Maiden Town Council appointed a new town resident to fill a vacant seat on the elected body.
Details from Maiden leaders’ Monday night meeting only in Tuesday’s print and online editions of The O-N-E.
In Newton, city leaders are investing about $24,000 for improvements to its compost facility after a citation from state inspectors. The decision opposes staff recommendations to close the facility and begin depositing leaves and brush in the county landfill.
February 6th
Entering Tuesday’s first and second rounds of the dual team state wrestling tournament, Newton-Conover is rolling.
The Red Devils, tied for 10th in the country in wins with 38, try to capture something that has evaded them the past few seasons — a state championship.
It starts with a first-round match-up against Ashe County.
N-C wrestling coach Eddy Clark said it all starts with a formula.
Newton-Conover High School's athletic director will soon leave the post.
Ericia Turner, who has served as NCHS' AD for three years, accepted a job directing athletics in the Alamance-Burlington Schools system.
“This job just came along,” Turner said. “Once I learned about the position, I got excited about it. I thought it was a good position for me. When I got selected, that was my confirmation.”
Turner has tendered a 60-day notice to Newton-Conover City Schools (NCCS).
For the third-straight season, a Bandys girls swimmer is the best in the Catawba Valley 2A.
Senior Michaela Beatty, who placed in the top three of each of her individual events Saturday at the 2A regionals, won the 2012 CVAC girls swimmer of the year. She claimed the award in 2010 and 2011 as a sophomore and junior, respectively.
Beatty is the only girl from a Catawba County school represented on the CVAC’s all-conference teams.
Joining her as All-CVAC are Draughn’s Haley Brinkley, Emily Farris, Alexis Lynn, Elizabeth Phillips and Karoline Pittman.
The extortion and obstruction of justice case involving ex-district attorney candidate Shawn Clark was delayed Monday after lawyers sought to resolve an “administrative issue” in the case.
Clark, a defense attorney based in Hickory, is accused of issuing threats and false affidavits to cover up an alleged sexual relationship with a former client, Tiffany Turnmire, in 2009.
The charges against Clark surround a series of alleged incidents that occurred a few months prior to Clark’s May 2010 district 25 attorney primary race against incumbent James C. Gaither Jr.
