Archive - 2012
January 5th
The father of 10-year-old Zahra Baker is expected to be deported soon after his Catawba County felony charges were dismissed this morning.
As a result of a plea deal entered today, Adam Baker’s felony charges of obtaining property by false pretenses and identity theft were dismissed. He pleaded guilty to taking electricity unlawfully and will be required to pay restitution of almost $350, which he paid this morning.
He also received a sentence that included unsupervised probation for the guilty plea on the misdemeanor charge.
It is time for Catawba County property owners to pay up or pay interest. Property taxes are due today. Pick up Thursday’s edition of The O-N-E to find out how to make your tax payment without waiting in line.
Zahra Baker’s father, Adam, is expected to enter a plea deal on felony charges today. Visit www.observernewsonline.com for details about the deal as soon as it is announced.
January 4th
Just a week shy of its conference opener against rival St. Stephens, Fred T. Foard showed Wednesday it’s ready for the challenge.
The Tigers (18-1) lost only one of their 28 total matches against East Burke and Lincolnton, topping both squads in dominating fashion.
Coach Mike Carey said his team is preparing for its upcoming conference slate.
“We’re tuning up for St. Stephens next week,” he said. “That’s kind of our mindset right now. We’re getting ready for conference.”
The Bandys girls basketball team continued its early season roll, knocking off Bunker Hill in Catawba on Wednesday.
The Lady Trojans (13-0, 4-0) quickly jumped out to a 28-2 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, continuing their undefeated streak so far this season.
Three Bandys basketball players reached double-digits in scoring, including sophomore Madi Story, who led the team with 19 points.
Taylor Sigmon and Brittany Moss also scored 11 points each.
Margaret Connor scored 11 points, while Wilbelis Rojas added nine points for the Lady Bears (0-13, 0-4).
By
BRIAN MAHONEY,AP Basketball Writer
NEW YORK — Boris Diaw rebounded from a dreadful game a night earlier with a season-high 27 points, and the Charlotte Bobcats snapped a four-game losing streak with a 118-110 victory Wednesday over the New York Knicks.
Gerald Henderson added 24 for the Bobcats, who capped a three-game road trip by winning for the first time since their opener. Reserve Byron Mullens scored 16 and D.J. Augustin finished with 14 points and 10 assists. Charlotte shot 55 percent from the field.
Herman Cain dropped out first, then Michelle Bachmann. Rick Perry says he's re-evaluating his campaign, and Jon Huntsman appears to be too far behind to catch up.
Meanwhile, former presidential candidate John McCain has endorsed fellow competitor Mitt Romney, and Rick Santorum and Ron Paul's campaigns appear strong after good showings in Iowa.
Is your favorite GOP presidential candidate still in the 2012 race for the White House? Do you support Barack Obama and the Democrats? Do you care about politics at all?
Former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield appeared in court Wednesday for an administrative hearing.
His case was continued until March 5, according to Mayfield’s attorney, David Freedman.
Mayfield was arrested on methamphetamine possession charges Nov. 1, 2011, at his home in Catawba.

Catawba County sheriff's deputies found about 1.5 grams of methamphetamine inside his residence while serving a search warrant for suspected stolen property.
Nancy Lorene Robinson Huffman, 78, of Conover, died Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012, at Catawba Valley Medical Center. Burke Mortuary in Newton is serving the Huffman family.
Crawford Huffines “Huff” Bost, 89, of Newton, died Jan. 3, 2012. The Bost family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Drum Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Conover.
The city of Claremont is again seeking funding to renovate Francis Sigman Park.
The park, located off Keisler Dairy Road near downtown, currently houses two baseball fields, football goalposts and other land leased by the Claremont Optimist Club.
For the second time, the city is seeking grant funding from the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) to help pay for planned improvements, which include a new softball field, greenway and parking lots, according to information provided by the city.
A pet food manufacturer plans to bring 150 new jobs to the region in the next two years.
Carolina Prime Pets, which manufactures premium pet food products, plans to relocate to Lenoir this year.
The Caldwell County Economic Development Commission (CCEDC) expects Friday to announce the plans.
Carolina Prime Pets currently operates in Murphy and plans to relocate to the former NACCO Industries building on Morganton Boulevard in Lenoir.
