Archive - Jul 2011 - News Article
July 11th
The town of Catawbaâs newest police chief said he plans on upholding the townâs reputation as a âfairly quietâ place to live.
The Catawba Town Council officially swore in police chief Mike Nash on Monday to serve more than 750 citizens that live in the town.
Nash, a Chicago native, has served with Catawba Police Department since September 2004. In August 2010, Nash was briefly promoted to sergeant before becoming the interim police chief after former chief Cecil Cook left a month later.
Area citizens are remembering a âfamily restaurantâ Monday that has served Conover residents for decades.
Drumâs Restaurant in Conover was destroyed by a fire early Saturday morning after an electrical surge protector initially sparked a blaze inside the historic city landmark, fire officials told Drumâs owner Douglas Travis.
The restaurant was built in 1972.
âIt had a little, cozy, family atmosphere,â said Conover resident Joyce Rice, adding that she ate at Drumâs two or three times a week.
âEverything about the restaurant was good â it was amazing.â
July 9th
Drum's Restaurant in Conover was destroyed by a fire early Saturday morning.
The fire was first reported at 1:19 a.m. Saturday, and the Conover Fire Department was dispatched to the downtown Conover restaurant by 1:30 a.m. for a working fire, said Drum's owner Douglas Travis, Jr.
Travis said no one was in the building when the fire was reported. He said he had no idea how the fire started.
The SBI Arson Team, Conover Fire Department and Conover Police Department were all investigating the fire Saturday.
July 8th
A tractor-trailer overturned at about 11:35 a.m. Thursday at the intersection of Startown Road and West Maiden Road in Maiden.
A driver for Queen Transportation said he was making a right turn onto West Maiden Road on Thursday when his tractor-trailer overturned on its right side on a grass embankment.
The driver said he did not know what happened. Maiden Police Officer Chad Long said the driver was not speeding. The tractor-trailer was delivering paper to the VonDrehle Corporation.
With one week of filing remaining for some area municipalities, 17 candidates officially declared for the 2011 Catawba County municipal elections.
Two non-incumbent candidates filed for Newtonâs mayoral race, which is the only election that currently has multiple people filed for one position. Newton Mayor pro Tem Anne Stedman, along with the Newton Merchant Groupâs President Wes Weaver, officially filed for the mayoral election that will take place later this year. Newtonâs current mayor Robert Mullinax said, earlier this year, he will not seek re-election.
The area American Red Cross chapter urges people to donate blood during a time when supplies are traditionally low.
â¨The Catawba Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross will team with the Texas Roadhouse in Hickory on Monday to hold a blood drive from 4-8 p.m. Monday's blood drive comes during a season when Red Cross officials say blood supplies are dangerously low.
â¨Suzan Anderson, executive director for the Catawba Valleyâs Red Cross chapter, said blood donations and supplies are typically lower in the summer months.
By
Nathan Key (Lenoir News-Topic)
Twenty-fifth Prosecutorial District Attorney Jay Gaither reinstated Eric Bellas to active status in his role as chief assistant district attorney this week, but that doesnât necessarily mean Bellas will be handling prosecution of Elisa Baker if and when her case goes to trial.
In an emailed response to inquiries by the (Lenoir) News-Topic, Gaither indicated that he is taking the lead in the case against Elisa Baker, who was charged in February with second-degree murder in the death and dismemberment of her 10-year-old stepdaughter Zahra Baker.
July 7th
Catawba County's assistant district attorney was recently reinstated to full duty after being placed on administrative leave following an arrest and DWI charge in Sunset Beach.
Catawba County's assistant district attorney Eric Robert Bellas, 45, of Morganton, was allegedly riding a bicycle on Clubhouse Road at Sunset Beach at about midnight June 20 when he apparently flipped over a guardrail and fell off the bicycle, according to Sunset Beach Police reports and reliable O-N-E sources.
Claremont officials recently approved amendments to its sign ordinance that will allow businesses to incorporate high-rise signs close to its property.
Claremont City Council members approved amendments Tuesday that will establish a high-rise sign overlay district adjacent to Interstate 40 that will let business owners incorporate up to 80-foot-tall signs either on or near their property.
âWe are trying to be a little more business friendly,â said Claremont City Manager Doug Barrick. âWe are also trying to attract new businesses to the interchange.â Â Â
If you walk around the Hickory American Legion Flea Market on an early Thursday morning, youâre bound to see some interesting things for sale.
Thereâs military gear. Piles of used tires. Comic book collections.
Miniature cacti farms. Live animals. Basically, if the flea market had a motto, it would probably read â âYou want it, we sell it.â
